http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorThu, 28 Aug 2008 7:54:12 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/36035/china-makes-3b-deal-to-develop-iraqi-oil.html?refid=rss_all_defaultChina and Iraq have dusted off an oil deal that was in the works before the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, giving China the rights to develop the Ahdab field, reports the AP. The agreement—which has grown from an estimated $1.2 billion to $3 billion—was originally struck by the Saddam Hussein government in 1997, to take effect once UN sanctions on Iraq's oil industry were lifted.http://www.newser.com/story/36035/china-makes-3b-deal-to-develop-iraqi-oil.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 28 Aug 2008 7:04:17 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35971/gop-leaves-alaska-drilling-off-platform.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe committee assembling the Republican Party’s election platform has officially taken drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge off the table, in an effort to help John McCain’s presidential campaign, the AP reports. McCain doesn’t support tapping the protected lands, and committee members say they’d rather convert McCain on the issue after he’s elected.http://www.newser.com/story/35971/gop-leaves-alaska-drilling-off-platform.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 27 Aug 2008 12:31:13 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35908/outdated-power-grid-blowing-wind-energy-hopes-experts.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe nation's outdated and congested power grid is putting a damper on plans to expand renewable energy programs, the New York Times reports. Generating power from the wind and sun is becoming easier—but getting the power to consumers who live far from the country's windiest and sunniest places remains a problem.http://www.newser.com/story/35908/outdated-power-grid-blowing-wind-energy-hopes-experts.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 26 Aug 2008 23:23:18 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35692/drilling-boom-sends-natural-gas-supplies-soaring.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe US is ramping up natural gas production in a manner not seen since the post-World War II boom—scoring a nearly 9% increase through the first five months of 2008, reports the New York Times . The drilling boom comes as new technology is able to release gas long believed to be out of reach, sparking hopes that growing domestic supplies will help keep heating costs down and American industries competitive.http://www.newser.com/story/35692/drilling-boom-sends-natural-gas-supplies-soaring.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 25 Aug 2008 5:02:04 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35481/stocks-mixed-as-oil-surges.html?refid=rss_all_defaultStocks saw mixed results today as the Dow and S&P 500 managed to claw back from early losses due to surging oil and a weak dollar, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow closed up 12.78 at 11,430.21; the Nasdaq fell 8.70 to 2,380.38, while the S&P 500 gained 3.18 to finish at 1,277.72.http://www.newser.com/story/35481/stocks-mixed-as-oil-surges.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 21 Aug 2008 15:21:56 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35420/why-you-should-stop-worrying-about-oil-shortages.html?refid=rss_all_defaultEnergy security has become a matter of major public hand-wringing, but everyone ought to calm down, write Eugene Gholz and Daryl G. Press in the New York Times . Our oil supplies are perfectly safe—the US, its businesses, and its allies have more than enough oil to weather any short-term disruption in supplies. No matter the trouble in Iran, Venezuela or Nigeria, America will be fine.http://www.newser.com/story/35420/why-you-should-stop-worrying-about-oil-shortages.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 21 Aug 2008 6:39:27 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35408/small-cadre-of-speculators-control-oil.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA surprisingly small group of investors and oil traders control the vast majority of the world’s oil contracts, and they are exerting tremendous influence over the market, reports the Washington Post. Regulators have found that a few financial firms speculating for themselves or their clients hold 81% of the oil contracts on NYMEX—a far bigger share than had been previously reported. A single Swiss firm was found to hold as much as 11% of the contracts in July.http://www.newser.com/story/35408/small-cadre-of-speculators-control-oil.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 21 Aug 2008 5:36:22 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35304/mayor-aims-to-make-big-apple-windmill-city.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMayor Mike Bloomberg has unveiled a bold plan to harness alternative energy to power New York City, the New York Times reports. The mayor is calling for windmills to be built on the city's bridges and skyscrapers, and for offshore wind farms to be created that could supply 10% of the city's electricity in 10 years. Bloomberg has asked companies for proposals for renewable energy projects.http://www.newser.com/story/35304/mayor-aims-to-make-big-apple-windmill-city.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 19 Aug 2008 23:12:44 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35249/wholesale-prices-rising-at-fastest-pace-since-1981.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWholesale prices jumped 1.2% in July—more than twice the rate economists expected and  the fastest pace in 27 years, according to government data released today, the AP reports. Core prices, which exclude food and energy, rose 0.7%, the biggest since November 2006; new home construction in July fell to the lowest pace in more than 17 years.http://www.newser.com/story/35249/wholesale-prices-rising-at-fastest-pace-since-1981.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 19 Aug 2008 9:37:12 CDT