News bites: Cheap natural gas upends energy markets

The New York Times reports that three states are forcing insurance companies to disclose how they’re responding to risks their businesses and customers face from severe storms and other consequences of climate change.

The Washington Post reports that low natural-gas prices are jumbling energy markets. From their piece:

For the past three years, promoters of shale gas and environmentalists opposed to coal-fired power plants have hailed the sudden abundance of U.S. natural gas as a bridge to a renewable-energy future.

But natural gas has become so cheap that many energy experts and environmentalists now wonder whether it will turn into a long, bumpy detour.

The Associated Press reports that Royal Dutch Shell’s fourth-quarter profit dipped as refining woes offset high oil prices.

“Over the previous year, Shell said its net profit fell 4.3 percent to $6.50 billion as an advance in the production side of its business was offset by a loss in its refining operations,” AP reports.

AFP reports that Spain’s renewable energy efforts might be faltering because “the government slammed the brakes on generous subsidies as part of an austerity drive.”