NPR Coverage
Energy Policy & Politics (14.4 | 28.8)
Weekend Edition Saturday, September 23, 2000
One day before President Bill Clinton decided to tap the strategic petroleum reserve, Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore urged for such a move. Listen as NPR's Madeleine Brand reports.
U.S. Energy Policy (14.4 | 28.8)
All Things Considered, September 22, 2000
The U.S. government is releasing up to 30 million barrels will be released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson denied that the move was political -- but instead said it was aimed at ensuring enough supply heading into the winter heating season. Listen as All Things Considered host Linda Wertheimer speaks with NPR's Pam Fessler about the decision.
U.S. Energy Policy (14.4 | 28.8)
All Things Considered, September 21, 2000
U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson returned to Capitol Hill for a grilling by yet another Congressional committee -- the House Committee on Government Reform. Questions had to do with the high price of gasoline and home heating fuel. NPR's Brian Naylor reports that Richardson has warmed up to the idea of releasing some of the national oil reserves as a means of lowering prices.
Oil & Politics (14.4 | 28.8)
All Things Considered, September 21, 2000
Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore urged President Bill Clinton to tap the strategic petroleum reserve as a means of lowering prices before the cold weather arrives. But Republican candidate George W. Bush accused his opponent of playing politics with the nation’s energy policy, arguing the reserve should only be tapped in a national emergency. Listen as NPR's Madeleine Brand reports.
'Big Oil's' Role (14.4 | 28.8)
All Things Considered, September 21, 2000
NPR's John Ydstie reports that there is scant evidence of oil company collusion, and the industry is probably just profiting from OPEC's success in driving up the price of oil.
Gas Company Execs Meet (14.4 | 28.8)
Morning Edition, September 21, 2000
In Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, gas company executives and officials from more than 30
states convened to draw up a plan to help governors deal with the increasing cost of natural gas, used by many Americans to heat homes in the winter months. Hear more from Bill Cohen of Ohio Public Radio. (3:59)
OPEC to Meet (14.4 | 28.8)
Morning Edition, September 21, 2000
OPEC nations meet next week in Venezuela where they are expected to discuss
rising oil prices. Concern is growing in the U.S. and other western
countries that OPEC's recent production increases haven't done enough to
stabilize costs. Listen as NPR's Jim Zarroli reports. (2:08)
EU Transport Ministers Meet (14.4 | 28.8)
Morning Edition, September 21, 2000
In Luxembourg, European Union transport ministers met to discuss rising prices and the ensuing fuel protests. France is calling for an urgent meeting involving the European Union, the United States and OPEC nations. Listen as NPR's Sarah Chayes reports. (4:09)
Gas Taxes Suspended (14.4 | 28.8)
Morning Edition, June 30, 2000
Illinois lawmakers overwhelmingly approved suspension of the state sales tax on gasoline for six months. Gas prices in the Chicago area have climbed well above $2 a gallon. The suspension, starting July first, is expected to cost the state $180 million dollars. (2:56)
Gas Meeting (14.4 | 28.8)
All Things Considered, June 15, 2000
NPR's Cheryl Corley reports the governors of Illinois
and Wisconsin have asked the Environmental Protection Agency to suspend new
fuel regulations that they blame for soaring gasoline prices in the Midwest. Others say they know a fill-up has become costly but clean air is important. (4:00)
Gas Meeting (14.4 | 28.8)
All Things Considered, June 12, 2000
Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency met in Washington with representatives of gas companies to determine why gas prices are suddenly high in the midwest. NPR's Guy Raz reports some suspect price gouging while others blame new federal regulations. (3:00)
Midwest Gas (14.4 | 28.8)
All Things Considered, June 12, 2000
NPR's Cheryl Corley reports from Illinois -- the state with the nation's highest gasoline prices. In Chicago and elsewhere, motorists are paying more than $2 per gallon of regular unleaded. The city is one of the metropolitan areas that must use a cleaner reformulated gasoline to fight pollution. State and local officials are calling for investigations into charges of price gouging and are looking for ways to curb the high cost of fuel. (4:30)
Coast Guard Hit by High Gas Prices (14.4 | 28.8)
Morning Edition, June 5, 2000
Capella Tucker of member station KUHF in Houston reports on a less-obvious symptom of the spiking gas prices -- affecting the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard cutters are prevented from making as many drug and safety
patrols as they would normally do, and some say serious consequences may
result. (3:42)
Pogo (14.4 | 28.8)
All Things Considered, May 26, 2000
Pogo is the nickname of a Washington watchdog group otherwise known as the Project on Government Oversight. Pogo helps and encourages whistle-blowers inside the government to uncover fraud. In recent years, it's been trying to make oil companies pay more for the oil they drill for on federal lands. But recent Pogo efforts may have backfired on Pogo, as some on Capitol Hill now want to cite the group for contempt-of-Congress. NPR's Peter Overby reports. (5:00)
Underground Tanks (14.4 | 28.8)
All Things Considered, May 8, 2000
Lester Graham of the Great Lakes Radio Consortium reports on small towns where the implementation of a national environmental regulation has hurt the local economy. In 1998, the EPA required gas stations to upgrade their underground gasoline storage tanks. Some gas stations closed, rather than pay for the upgrade. And in some cases, that's had an effect on other local businesses. (6:00)
Greenpeace/BP Amoco (14.4 | 28.8)
Morning Edition, April 14, 2000
NPR's Julie McCarthy reports that Greenpeace is demanding that BP Amoco company stop drilling in the Arctic. Yesterday Greenpeace called on the company to act on a historic vote at its annual general meeting calling on the company to cancel its Arctic expansion. (3:45)
Lead and Autos (14.4 | 28.8)
All Things Considered, April 4, 2000
Robert talks with reporter Jamie Lincoln Kitman about The Secret History of Lead in the March 20th issue of The Nation magazine. According to Kitman, General Motors, Standard Oil and Dupont conspired to make gasoline with lead, even though they knew safer alternatives were available. And with the federal government's help, the companies suppressed scientific data showing how lead kills. Kitman says that while leaded gasoline was completely phased out in the United States in the 1980s -- it is still sold in other countries. (7:30)
OPEC Eases Up on Consumers (14.4 | 28.8)
Weekend Edition, April 1, 2000
This week, the OPEC nations decided to increase oil production to allay shortages that have been driving gas prices up. Host Scott Simon speaks with Daniel Yergin, author of The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power. (6:15)
OPEC Agrees to Production Increase
Morning Edition, March 29, 2000
 NPR's John Ydstie reports from Vienna where 9 of the 11 OPEC members signed an agreement to increase their daily crude oil production quotas.
OPEC Considers Pumping More Oil
All Things Considered, March 27, 2000
Oil ministers from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries met in Vienna, Austria, to consider steps to control the upward pressure on oil prices and ease worries about inflation in the West. Listen as NPR's John Ydstie reports from Vienna.
Congress Demands Action Against OPEC
Morning Edition, March 23, 2000
The Republican-controlled Congress is putting political pressure on President Bill Clinton to take on OPEC member nations blamed for the increased cost of imported oil and the resulting price spike in retail gas prices. Listen as NPR's Brian Naylor reports for Morning Edition.
Gas on the Hill
All Things Considered, March 15, 2000
NPR's Brian Naylor reports on a shift in tactics for congressional Republicans in response to the rise in gasoline prices.
Clean Cars
All Things Considered, March 15, 2000
NPR's Don Gonyea reports from Detroit that Honda Motor Company was recognized as the "cleanest" automaker by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Isuzu was cited as the worst offender.
BP-Amoco
All Things Considered, March 15, 2000
The Federal Trade Commission suspended its antitrust lawsuit aiming to block BP Amoco's takeover of the Atlantic Richfield company, or ARCO. NPR's Jack Speer reports that regulators are saying the companies have made significant progress in answering concerns that the merged company would have a stranglehold over production and distribution on the West Coast.
Rising Gas Prices
Morning Edition, March 14, 2000
NPR's John Ydstie reports on the steep upward trend in retail gasoline prices and the political debate over the implications. Prices at the pump have risen quickly to around a $1.60 a gallon, compared to less than $1 a gallon a year ago, and they show no signs of stabilizing.
Oil Vox
All Things Considered, March 13, 2000
The national average for regular unleaded gasoline is $1.59 per gallon. the price has gone up with record speed over the last two weeks -- up 12-cents in that period of time. Motorists talk about how it's affecting them, and if they've changed their behavior at the gas pumps as a result.
Oil Prices
All Things Considered, March 13, 2000
Host Noah Adams speaks with Daniel Yergin, Chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates and author of The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power, about the reasons behind the rising cost of oil, and its economic effects.
Pipeline Problems
All Things Considered, March 13, 2000
North America sits on a vast complex of oil and gas pipelines. Many were constructed decades ago and have begun to age, causing more leaks and occasionally fatalities. NPR's John Nielsen reports on the industry's point of view -- that "third parties" such as construction crews are the real culprit. Nielsen also covers the view of skeptics who say the industry is trying to shift attention away from itself.
Truckers' Protest
All Things Considered, March 11, 2000
A convoy of independent truckers drove to the National Mall in Washington for a rally to protest rising gasoline prices. All Things Considered spoke with some of the drivers about how rising diesel prices are hurting them.
For more information:
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
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