E2 Morning Roundup: The BP well is dead, big battles remain on policy and cleanup, climate talks take New York, and much more

Ding-dong the well is dead



Oil giant BP has completed the final seal on the blown out Gulf of Mexico well that spewed nearly five million barrels of oil. 

Federal officials announced the well's death Sunday morning, following a pressure test completed at roughly 7 a.m., Eastern time.



How it ends: Cement at 18,000 feet below



Here's the obit from National Incident Commander Thad Allen:



"After months of extensive operations planning and execution under the direction and authority of the U.S. government science and engineering teams, BP has successfully completed the relief well by intersecting and cementing the well nearly 18,000 feet below the surface,” the retired Coast Guard Admiral said Sunday.

“With this development, which has been confirmed by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, we can finally announce that the Macondo 252 well is effectively dead,” he said.



The well was initially blocked in mid-July, nearly three months after the blowout that touched off the worst spill in U.S. history and left 11 workers dead, while the "static kill" sealed it from above with mud and cement in August.



Obama: The spill response continues

President Obama heralded the “final termination” of the well, but added: “We also remain committed to doing everything possible to make sure the Gulf Coast recovers fully from this disaster.”

“This road will not be easy, but we will continue to work closely with the people of the Gulf to rebuild their livelihoods and restore the environment that supports them. My administration will see our communities, our businesses and our fragile ecosystems through this difficult time,” Obama said Sunday.

BP’s tally so far: Almost $10 billion and rising

The company has spent $9.5 billion thus far on the disaster, which accounts for the spill response, well containment, relief wells, claims aid thus far, grants to states and other costs, BP said over the weekend.

Policy changes, lawsuits await in spill’s aftermath

The death of the well is hardly the end of the story.

“Though the well is now plugged for good, the repercussions of the disaster will be felt for years, possibly decades, to come. The U.S. offshore oil industry, which was unprepared for a disaster on this scale, is bracing for change as government regulation and oversight increases. BP is facing civil and criminal probes and a wave of litigation that could tie it up in the courts for years. And the work of restoring the tarnished ecosystems of the Gulf Coast is only just beginning,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

On tap Monday: Big countries seek progress on climate in New York

The Major Economies Forum – which links up big carbon polluters including the U.S., China, the EU and India – begins a two-day meeting in New York City.

A number of analysts see the MEF as a venue for international progress on climate outside the messy United Nations process, which yielded the underwhelming Copenhagen climate summit late last year.

U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern will lead the U.S. delegation in the meeting of the group that includes 17 big economies.

AFP takes a closer look at the meeting, but warns not to expect a big breakthrough that will enable success at the next big UN summit late this year.

On tap Monday II: Smart grid goes global

The heads of “smart grid” groups from several countries are joining forces to help speed up the badly needed grid modernization. They’ll meet in Washington, D.C. to launch the Global Smart Grid Federation.

The smart grid refers to a suite of technologies aimed at making power grids more efficient, reliable, and integrating renewable energy into the network. Guido Bartels, who heads a U.S. group called the GridWise Alliance, will launch the global group along with advocates from Korea, Japan, Ireland, Canada, and India.

“In addition to working to provide solutions to the most challenging obstacles to global smart grid implementation, GSGF will work with government policymakers to execute a national agenda on smart grid. GSGF will help governments understand these challenges, including consumer engagement, innovation and capacity building,” the groups said.

In case you missed E2 Wire yesterday

Here are a few posts from the weekend and Friday:

Obama lauds 'final termination' of well

Sen. Brown: Chinese trade practices could undermine the U.S. stimulus law

Salazar, Chu convene panel to probe oil well blowouts

Excess coal dust found inside doomed West Virginia mine

Rep. Perriello’s GOP foe cites Pelosi praise for cap-and-trade vote

Energy Department loses two top officials

Begich says Alaska oil drilling ‘lost in the mix’ following BP spill

Corporate progress on carbon is uneven, U.S. companies lag absent climate rules – report

The grades are in for big companies on their progress addressing climate risks, courtesy of the non-profit Carbon Disclosure Project’s annual report.

“European companies are working harder at disclosing their financial risks associated with greenhouse gas emissions than North American companies,” Reuters reports.

“In this year's survey, Europe had 20 percent of the best performing companies in the CDP's global list of 500 companies who are taking action to outline the risks, while North America only had 6 percent,” their piece states.

“Since 2005, the European Union has put mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions from large sources. The United States, the world's second biggest greenhouse gas polluter after China, has no federal limits on emissions of the gases blamed for warming the planet. There is no clear plan for it to do so, since climate bill supporters failed to secure passage in the Senate in July.”

Energy forecasters reboot



The government's influential energy data wonks are changing how they do business.



The Energy Information Administration – which produces closely watched legislative analyses and market-moving energy price, supply and demand data – is reorganizing.

“By successfully changing our business processes and our organizational structure, we will create an innovative environment that will allow the valuable work of our employees to meet the needs and surpass the expectations of our customers,” said Richard Newell, administrator of EIA, which is the Energy Department’s independent statistical arm.

The reboot announced Friday is supposed to streamline EIA by chopping down the number of sub-agencies reporting to Newell from eight to four, which will be headed by assistant administrators. There will be assistant administrators for: Energy Statistics, Energy Analysis, Communications, and Resource and Technology Management.

Sen. Sherrod Brown wants a renewables mandate this fall



Count the Ohio Democrat among the lawmakers who want the Senate to try and pass a renewable electricity standard, or RES, in a lame duck session.



“I think there is a pretty good chance that when we return after the election that we will work on . . . a renewable portfolio standard,” said Brown, a leader among rust belt pro-labor Democrats, in a Sunday interview on Platts Energy Week. “We need a national standard. I hope we do that in the fall.”

An RES would force utilities to supply escalating amounts of power from renewable sources in coming years. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) recently opened the door to trying to move an RES this fall (after shutting the door before the August recess).

But the RES effort faces huge challenges gaining traction in the Senate. The Associated Press takes a great look at the lobbying battle.

Sought: Ideas on offshore wind energy

Interested in helping launch the offshore wind power industry in the United States? The Energy Department wants to hear from you.

The agency has crafted a 2011-2015 strategic plan to develop what’s now a fledgling industry. Several projects are tentatively slated to pop up in East Coast waters – notably the Cape Wind project that has gotten federal approval – but none have been built yet.

DOE, in a Federal Register notice slated to run Monday will seek comment on its draft plan. “Offshore wind energy can help the nation reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, diversify its energy supply, provide cost-competitive electricity to key coastal regions, and stimulate economic revitalization of key sectors of the economy,” DOE finds, but the plan also notes a suite of barriers, including relatively high costs, grid interconnection challenges and others.

The agency is also holding seminars in Ohio on Sept. 21 and Washington, D.C. Sept. 28. The Interior Department, which handles permitting for wind projects in federal waters, is also trying to promote development and has increased cooperation with East Coast governors. 

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