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September 01, 2015 ENERGY (MSM)

With help, small island states ditch diesel for cheaper, cleaner energy

By Megan Rowling BARCELONA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – After oil prices hit a record high in July 2008, the tiny Pacific nation of the Marshall Islands was forced to declare an economic emergency since around 90 percent of its energy needs were met by imported petroleum products. The fuel price shock was a major incentive for the low-lying island country to reduce its reliance on diesel and other fossil fuels,

September 01, 2015 REAL ESTATE

Brokers fume as U.S. looks to protect investors from expensive duds

By Jed Horowitz NEW YORK (Reuters) – For most people saving for retirement, buying a non-tradeable real estate investment trust that charges fees and commissions of 11 percent or more doesn’t sound like a good deal. Many brokers are fuming over a proposed U.S. Department of Labor rule that would block them from selling any investment into a retirement account in return for a commission. Instead, the DOL would restrict

August 31, 2015 ENERGY (MSM)

XTO Energy well in North Dakota suffers blowout, leaks 550 barrels

(Reuters) – A North Dakota oil well owned by Exxon Mobil subsidiary XTO Energy blew out on Saturday, leaking more than 550 barrels (23,100 gallons) of crude, some of which left the wellpad and seeped into surrounding grasses. The well, located in a rural area 25 miles southeast of Watford City, was being hydraulic fractured when its pressure control valves failed and it leaked the oil and about 110 barrels