Ports To Plains News and Eventshttp://www.PortsToPlains.com/Rss/Ports To Plains News and EventsCopyright 2010 www.PortsToplains.com. All rights reserved.A look at the Transportation Reauthorization Bills passed this week by House Committees ... Links to the various bills, amendments and summaries from Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means and Natural Resources.http://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/2/3/a-look-at-the-transportation-reauthorization-bills-passed-th.html2/4/2012 12:00:00 AMRebuilding transportation is key ... Transportation is essential to our nation's competitiveness and economy. Congress has the opportunity in the coming weeks to put job creation and economic development in the fast lane with the American Energy and Infrhttp://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72295.html2/1/2012 12:00:00 AMATA Leaders Say House Highway Bill Will Improve Safety, Infrastructure ... Leaders of American Trucking Associations praised Chairman John Mica, and other House leaders, for their work to craft a surface transportation bill that will not only make neededhttp://www.truckline.com/pages/article.aspx?id=977%2F8e1c7279-ed27-4c03-b189-ceeee26bbb121/31/2012 12:00:00 AMCongress should restore authority to the states to make decisions about which roads are suited for more productive trucks including longer combination vehicles (LCVs.) In 1991 Congress passed a provision that stripped the states of their authority to reguhttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/31/support-the-american-energy-and-infrastructure-jobs-act-that.html1/31/2012 12:00:00 AMTransportation bills: House and Senate versions have major differences ... With two months remaining to get a long-term surface transportation bill done, the House and Senate are racing this week to mark up several portions of their dueling legislation. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72165.html1/30/2012 12:00:00 AMA brighter energy future? It may be better than you think... Together, these two articles address the latest data on the United States energy future. Both point to a future that is better and more secure. Both indicate the opportunities that Canadian oihttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/27/a-brighter-energy-future-it-may-be-better-than-you-think.html1/27/2012 12:00:00 AMThe Myth of Oil & Gas Industry Subsidies, Credits & Grants: Understanding Oil & Natural Gas Industry Tax Deductions ... Many people think the oil and natural gas industry receives tax subsidies, which is simply not true. API Tax Policy Advisor Brian Johnhttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/30/the-myth-of-oil-gas-industry-subsidies-credits-grants-unders.html1/27/2012 12:00:00 AMTransportation Reauthorization: 3 House Committees Will Mark Up 5-Year, $260 Billion Bill Next Week ... Three House of Representatives committees will mark up next week a five-year, $260 billion highway and transit reauthorization bill. The key policy lehttp://www.aashtojournal.org/Pages/012712house.aspx1/27/2012 12:00:00 AMU.S. Senator Rick Santorum Confirms Attendance at Colorado Election Energy Summit ... Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), has partnered with the Colorado Oil and Gas Association and Colorado Farm Bureau to host the upcoming 2012 Colorado Election Energy Summhttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/30/us-senator-rick-santorum-confirms-attendance-at-colorado-ele.html1/27/2012 12:00:00 AMPorts-to-Plains Alliance: Commercial Traffic Rising Del Rio ... Commercial traffic into Mexico from Del Rio continued to increase last year, a sign that the maquiladora industry in Cuidad Acuña has held onto its momentum. However, the number of personalhttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/31/ports-to-plains-alliance-commercial-traffic-rising-del-rio.html1/26/2012 12:00:00 AMSenate moves toward agreement on transportation bill ... As House Republicans prepared to release a spending proposal intended to overhaul the federal transportation system, Senate Democrats on Thursday rushed to complete a bipartisan effort to end a stahttp://www.washingtonpost.com/local/senate-moves-toward-agreement-on-transportation-bill/2012/01/26/gIQAD0nxTQ_story.html1/26/2012 12:00:00 AMCEA Applauds President’s New Dedication to U.S. Energy Policy ... "All of the Above" Strategy Needed, but Federal Agencies Remain Fixated on Blocking US Oil and Gas Production. HOUSTON, TX - In response to the President's third State of the Union addreshttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/25/cea-applauds-presidents-new-dedication-to-us-energy-policy.html1/25/2012 12:00:00 AMSenator Mark Udall: Congress, Renew the Production Tax Credit ... As Congress goes back to work this week, I'm renewing my call to extend the critical renewable energy tax credits, like the production tax credit for wind, set to expire at the end of 2012http://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/26/senator-mark-udall-congress-renew-the-production-tax-credit.html1/25/2012 12:00:00 AMDel Rio economy booming: Border city credits improved image, more jobs for growth ... DEL RIO, Texas - It might not look like much when you first get to town, but Del Rio is on the rise. "We've had a pretty big recent boom for the past year and a half,"http://www.ksat.com/news/Del-Rio-economy-booming/-/478452/8495458/-/1ht4o9z/-/index.html1/24/2012 12:00:00 AMTransportation Reauthorization: Summary of American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act ... The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act is a reauthorization and reform of federal transportation programs, combined with an expansion of domestic energy phttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/24/transportation-reauthorization-summary-of-american-energy-an.html1/24/2012 12:00:00 AMPorts-to-Plains Webinar on January 20, 2012 (Video) ... Federal Update ... Senate Transportation Reauthorization Bill ... House Transportation Reauthorization Bill ... Details on Washington D.C. Spring Fly-In ... Transportation Advocates of Texas Updatehttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/21/ports-to-plains-webinar-on-january-20-2012-video.html1/23/2012 12:00:00 AMModular Construction & Prefabrication North America: The Only Modular Construction Event in North America Dedicated to the Energy Sector ... The province of Alberta remains at the forefront of the modular and prefabrication frontier with industry professhttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/20/modular-construction-prefabrication-north-america-the-only-m.html1/21/2012 12:00:00 AMPorts-to-Plains Alliance Supports Transportation Advocates of Texas ... Transportation Advocates of Texas is a coalition of businesses, individuals, associations, chambers of commerce, economic development entities and local governments from across the shttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/20/ports-to-plains-alliance-supports-transportation-advocates-o.html1/21/2012 12:00:00 AMRetrasan nueva autopista / Delay new highway ... La autopista Durango-Mazatlán estará terminada a finales de este año, pero la conexión entre el Pacífico y la frontera de Coahuila con Estados Unidos quedará incompleta porque no ha iniciado la vía San Pedhttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/20/mexico-retrasan-nueva-autopista-delay-new-highway.html1/20/2012 12:00:00 AMObama administration to reject Keystone pipeline ... The Obama administration will announce this afternoon it is rejecting a Canadian firm’s application for a permit to build and operate a massive oil pipeline across the U.S.-Canada border, according to http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/2012/01/18/gIQAwoVE8P_story.html1/18/2012 12:00:00 AMPresident Obama will be sending a clear message with Keystone XL decision ... OKLAHOMANS should hope President Barack Obama eventually comes to his senses and gives the go-ahead to construction of TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone XL pipeline, because it willhttp://newsok.com/president-obama-will-be-sending-a-clear-message-with-keystone-xl-decision/article/36410891/18/2012 12:00:00 AMRep. Gardner puts pressure on Obama Administration to approve Keystone XL Pipeline ... It's been three years since the application was filed which would create a pipeline that extends from the oil sands in Alberta to the gulf coast, bringing significant http://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/23/rep-gardner-puts-pressure-on-obama-administration-to-approve.html1/18/2012 12:00:00 AMWyoming Trade through Ports-to-Plains Region – 2004-2010 ,,, The purpose of this report to provide a picture of the trade, specifically by truck and rail associated with the state of Wyoming, which is using the current transportation system to move goodshttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/16/wyoming-trade-through-ports-to-plains-region-2004-2010.html1/17/2012 12:00:00 AMSteffy: Oil in, gasoline out, and U.S. benefits ... For the first time in six decades, the U.S. is exporting more gasoline and diesel fuel than it imports. That, if you believe the critics, shows that the Keystone XL pipeline, which would ship crude oilhttp://www.chron.com/business/steffy/article/Steffy-Oil-in-gasoline-out-and-U-S-benefits-2523433.php1/14/2012 12:00:00 AMThe Trans-Canada Highway through Medicine Hat is a thorn in the side of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and its 4,500 carriers coast to coast. In December, the CTA placed the need for a ring road around Medicine Hat on its list of areas of national ihttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/18/truckers-want-ring-road-pronto.html1/13/2012 12:00:00 AMTexas Trade through Ports-to-Plains Region – 2004-2010 ... The purpose of this report to provide a picture of the trade, specifically by truck and rail associated with the state of Texas, which is using the current transportation system to move goods thrhttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/11/texas-trade-through-ports-to-plains-region-2004-2010.html1/12/2012 12:00:00 AMThe State of American Business 2012 -- Address by Thomas J. Donohue President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commercehttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/16/the-state-of-american-business-2012-address-by-thomas-j-dono.html1/12/2012 12:00:00 AMBuilding tomorrow's roads today: Legislators to learn about design-build… Cal Klewin, Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Association executive director, has been making his way around the state to educate officials on design-build, a method of construction thhttp://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event/article/id/54519/1/11/2012 12:00:00 AMHoeven: Pipeline Will Transport Bakken Crude More Safely and Efficiently, Provide Greater U.S. Energy Independence ... Senator John Hoeven was joined today by TransCanada’s President (Energy and Oil Pipelines) Alex Pourbaix and MDU Resources President anhttp://hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2012/1/hoeven-pipeline-will-transport-bakken-crude-more-safely-and-efficiently-provide-greater-u-s-energy-independence1/11/2012 12:00:00 AMSouth Dakota Trade through Ports-to-Plains Region – 2004-2010 ... The purpose of this report to provide a picture of the trade, specifically by truck and rail associated with the state of South Dakota, which is using the current transportation system to http://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/11/south-dakota-trade-through-ports-to-plains-region-2004-2010.html1/11/2012 12:00:00 AMTime to reassess our national transportation program ... The Ports-to-Plains Alliance finds this an interesting article addressing national transportation needs and possible funding. Several comments are certainly supported. “Thinking local is not enouhttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/11/time-to-reassess-our-national-transportation-program.html1/11/2012 12:00:00 AMHarmonizing Large Transport Standards Across Canada and Modular's Role in Future Construction (Podcast) ... Len Mitzel, Member of Legislative Assembly, Constituency of Cypress-Medicine Hat, Alberta, Parliamentary Assistant for Transportation, and board mhttp://www.modularconstructionna.com/Event.aspx?id=6870841/10/2012 12:00:00 AMOklahoma Trade through Ports-to-Plains Region – 2004-2010 ... The purpose of this report to provide a picture of the trade, specifically by truck and rail associated with the state of Oklahoma, which is using the current transportation system to move goohttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/10/oklahoma-trade-through-ports-to-plains-region-2004-2010.html1/10/2012 12:00:00 AMTransCanada steps up Keystone PR campaign ... TransCanada Corp has stepped up its publicity campaign for the politically charged Keystone XL pipeline, releasing a detailed breakdown of where the $7-billion project would create 20,000 jobs in the United Shttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/transcanada-steps-up-keystone-pr-campaign/article2297205/1/10/2012 12:00:00 AMKeep the lights on ... But what about the big picture boys and girls? As our lawmakers are grandstanding and whining and complaining about the other side of the aisle before Christmas in regard to saving the working class Americans' money, the real hit http://www.hpj.com/archives/2012/jan12/jan9/0103LoosTalesMRsr.cfm1/9/2012 12:00:00 AMNorth Dakota Trade through Ports-to-Plains Region – 2004-2010 ... The purpose of this report to provide a picture of the trade, specifically by truck and rail associated with the state of North Dakota, which is using the current transportation system to http://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/9/north-dakotas-trading-relationship-through-the-ports-to-plai.html1/9/2012 12:00:00 AMThe Best Ways to Pay for Our Failing Infrastructure ... …suggested that infrastructure banks might be the best way to fund our failing highways and public transit systems. …calls on drivers to pay their share. …proposed public-private partnerships…http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/01/best-ways-pay-our-failing-infrastructure/898/1/9/2012 12:00:00 AMNew Mexico Trade through Ports-to-Plains Region – 2004-2010 ... The purpose of this report to provide a picture of the trade, specifically by truck and rail associated with the state of New Mexico, which is using the current transportation system to movehttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/7/new-mexico-trade-through-ports-to-plains-region-2004-2010.html1/8/2012 12:00:00 AMColorado Takes the Lead in Fracking Regulation .. With a top government scientist calling for more research into the possible health effects of hydraulic fracturing, Colorado has enacted the toughest fracking disclosure rules in the country…http://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/6/colorado-takes-the-lead-in-fracking-regulation-video.html1/5/2012 12:00:00 AMEconomic Opportunity and Energy Security — Not False Choices ... Last week the newly appointed head of the Sierra Club, Michael Brune, penned a scathing opinion piece that claimed the Keystone XL pipeline would “cost the American people far more than we http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/01/05/economic-opportunity-and-energy-security-not-false-choices/1/5/2012 12:00:00 AMNebraska Trade through Ports-to-Plains Region – 2004-2010 ... The purpose of this report to provide a picture of the trade, specifically by truck and rail associated with the state of Nebraska, which is using the current transportation system to move goohttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/5/nebraskas-trading-relationship-through-the-ports-to-plains-r.html1/5/2012 12:00:00 AMMontana Trade through Ports-to-Plains Region – 2004-2010 ... The purpose of this report to provide a picture of the trade, specifically by truck and rail associated with the state of Montana, which is using the current transportation system to move goodshttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/4/montana-trade-through-ports-to-plains-region-2004-2010.html1/4/2012 12:00:00 AMColorado Trade through Ports-to-Plains Region – 2004-2010 ... The purpose of this report to provide a picture of the trade, specifically by truck and rail associated with the state of Colorado, which is using the current transportation system to move goohttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/3/colorado-trade-through-ports-to-plains-region-2004-2010.html1/3/2012 12:00:00 AMEditorial: Highway funding stuck in slow lane: While state and U.S. roads wait for upgrades and repairs, the government keeps ignoring reforms... News that Colorado has lost out on a federal grant to make needed highway improvements across the state — inchttp://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_196484661/3/2012 12:00:00 AMKeystone XL Pipeline Updates ... The bill that was signed into law which temporarily extended the payroll tax cut included a Republican-written provision compelling the President to make a speedy decision on whether to build the pipeline. Below are two ahttp://www.ptpblog.com/official-blog-for-ptp-alliance/2012/1/3/keystone-xl-pipeline-updates.html1/3/2012 12:00:00 AMPhotos and Context on Oil Sands ... From a post on the Climate Progress website (cross-posted on Grist), on the environmental effects of Canadian oil sands production: “Extraction of Alberta's energy-intensive tar sands has expanded steadily in recent yhttp://energytomorrow.org/blog/photos-and-context-on-oil-sands21/3/2012 12:00:00 AMThe lessons behind the North Dakota miracle (Opinion) ... What exactly is causing the miracle of North Dakota? The state's economy has proved profoundly resilient. While the rest of the country is still mired in recession, the Roughrider State has builthttp://newsok.com/the-lessons-behind-the-north-dakota-miracle/article/363586412/30/2011 12:00:00 AMBelle Fourche to host regional Oil Patch update ... "The North Dakota oil patch is moving our direction," Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce executive Teresa Schanzenbach said. "Will we be prepared for it?" She is inviting Black Hills and Northwest Southhttp://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/belle-fourche-to-host-regional-oil-patch-update/article_0edb14be-3238-11e1-a859-0019bb2963f4.html12/29/2011 12:00:00 AMCanadian companies flock to N. Dakota’s Bakken oil play ... Kim Lindsay looks up at the gleaming steel of Precision Drilling Corp.’s Rig 560, dusted in snow and towering above the North Dakota prairie, and smiles. “This is hot off the press – been out ahttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/canadian-companies-flock-to-n-dakotas-bakken-oil-play/article2285575/12/29/2011 12:00:00 AMMore Energy Charts … Hope we didn’t sound irked last week because The Atlantic’s best charts of the year didn’t include any of ours or, for that matter, any showing America’s energy abundance. In fact, Carpe Diem’s Mark J. Perry points out that America’shttp://energytomorrow.org/blog/more-energy-charts312/29/2011 12:00:00 AM