St. Louis Energy News

arch city · PostJan 10, 2013#262013-01-10T21:32+00:00

gone corporate wrote:
Then again... What alternative natural deposits are proximate to STL?
Rare Earth Elements.

Search for stories on the Rare Earth Elements site about 100mi down 44 from STL. One of the largest sites for these elements in the continental US, MO has been pushing the Feds for permission to harvest the site in recent years.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/bond-b ... 59562.html

From this, one could perhaps attract new Thorium reactors:

Talk about one hell of an industry to start proximate to STL...

I read this a while ago. I was excited about the prospects. Unfortunately, nothing has materialized. I don't know if it has to do with the current environment-friendly administration in office or what.

It'll be good for St. Louis because from what I understand, it could also bring production/manufacturing plants to the area. "Thorium typically co-exists in rocks that also contain rare earths, the metals that are vital to the world’s economy. Manufacturers build them into missiles, radar, cars, wind turbines, iPods, mobile phones, light bulbs and many other everyday products." (Source)

This is supposedly one of two big Rare Earth mines in the United States. Great news for St. Louis, right?

I fear, however, that those entities which stand to gain the most would use Pea Ridge, owned by St. Louis-based ThREEM3, and drain Pea Ridge for all of its Rare Earth contents and resources then leave the St. Louis area with the headaches and no new jobs from manufacturers. The only jobs created would have been mining.

I hope that won't be the case if this thing ever gets going.

wabash · PostJan 10, 2013#272013-01-10T23:30+00:00

You're really behind this vision. That's cool. I just take issue with you posting this at the beginning of the thread:

"Dynegy, Inc. $1.6-million (Co-corporate HQs)"

A "corporate office" can be anything: a global headquarters is a corporate office, a small back office with a handfull of people is a corporate office. To call what Dynegy has in O'Fallon a co-corporate headquarters is disingenuous.

You might be onto something with Apex and Center Oil. I looked into the refiners and distributors and Marathon Petroleum Company is based in Findlay, Ohio of all places. If they can do it, so can we.

arch city · PostJan 11, 2013#282013-01-11T00:39+00:00

wabash wrote:You're really behind this vision. That's cool. I just take issue with you posting this at the beginning of the thread:

"Dynegy, Inc. $1.6-million (Co-corporate HQs)"

A "corporate office" can be anything: a global headquarters is a corporate office, a small back office with a handfull of people is a corporate office. To call what Dynegy has in O'Fallon a co-corporate headquarters is disingenuous.

You might be onto something with Apex and Center Oil. I looked into the refiners and distributors and Marathon Petroleum Company is based in Findlay, Ohio of all places. If they can do it, so can we.

Oh Lord, wabash. First, Dynegy is not global.

Second....You know, like I do, that the bigger decisions are made out Houston most of the time, but that doesn't negate the relevance of the local corporate office in St. Louis. Most firms do not have two corporate offices. So what does that make O'Fallon? O'Fallon is a co-corporate office albeit minor, wabash. Apparently, someone in O'Fallon can make some very important "corporate" decisions.

Anyway, I guess the St. Louis Business Journal and Dynegy-Houston office are being disingenuous too? Also, you keep focusing on the size of a corporate office, but size is irrelevant. And get this...Dynegy doesn't have to officially call O'Fallon a "corporate" office. If it were just a "back office", wouldn't they call it so? Why not call it a "regional" office? The Illinois office? The St. Louis office?

In regards to Marathon Petroleum, which is based in the Cincinnati area, do you know that Marathon Oil, which is based in Houston, spun off Marathon Petroleum in 2011. After the spin off, why is Marathon Petro still in Cincinnati when it could have chosen Houston? Or OKC? Or Denver? Many of its refineries are in Houston (Texas City). This is why St. Louis (RCGA) should dangle some carrots for Dynegy considering many of its assets are in the St. Louis region.

In regards to Apex and Center oil companies, perhaps you aren't completely on board, but I am glad you are doing some research and are beginning to see what I've been saying all along. I am not trying to slam you either.

There's no crusade or vision by me, but I would like for St. Louis to pay attention to what's going on around it. St. Louis can be lazy and its laziness causes its stagnation.

For me, it's just time for St. Louis to play the energy game like all of the others! Charlotte's doing it. Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus are doing it - and none of them are as loaded with the number of diverse energy firms as St. Louis - at least not yet.

PostJan 11, 2013#292013-01-11T01:35+00:00

FutureFuel Corporation's competitors are Airgas of Philadelphia, Kuraray of Japan and Albemarle of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In terms of revenue, FutureFuel is the smallest.
______________________________________

Jan 10, 2013, 4:49pm CST
Tony Novelly becomes CEO of FutureFuel
Matthew Hibbard
Social Engagement Manager -
St. Louis Business Journal

The Board of Directors at FutureFuel Corp. approved the reassignment of executive officer positions among its senior managers, company officials announced Thursday.

Chairman of the Board Tony Novelly adds CEO to his title, effectively immediately. Novelly has been a board member since 2005. Lee Mikles, who served as both president and CEO since 2005, retains his position as president and will remain active in management of the company.

Clayton-based FutureFuel Corp. (NYSE: FF) is a manufacturer of custom and performance chemicals and biofuels. Its annual revenue was $309.9 million in 2011.

wabash · PostJan 11, 2013#302013-01-11T03:26+00:00

arch city wrote:In regards to Marathon Petroleum, which is based in the Cincinnati area

Careful with the misinformation, Arch. Marathon Petroleum is based in Findlay, not Cincinnati.

arch city · PostJan 11, 2013#312013-01-11T11:17+00:00

wabash wrote:Careful with the misinformation, Arch. Marathon Petroleum is based in Findlay, not Cincinnati.

Likewise, but you’re right on this one. I wrongly mistook Findlay for being suburban Cincinnati. For some reason, I’ve always thought it was. Nothing deliberate or “disingenuous”.

The question remains, if Houston is such a draw for oil and gas energy, especially considering that Marathon Petroleum has major assets in Houston (Texas City), why didn't MP bolt for Texas when it had the chance after the spin-off from Marathon Oil?

Truth is, MP has many of its assets in the Midwest - like Dynegy.

If you are losing major "corporate" headquarters damn near every other month, what are doing to lure or "recruit" (in Charlotte terms) new ones? St. Louis needs to dangle a few carrots like it has done in the past.

PostFeb 13, 2013#322013-02-13T04:16+00:00

Obama floats 'Energy Security Trust' in State of the Union address
By Zack Colman
02/12/13 09:46 PM ET

President Obama proposed a program in Tuesday's State of the Union address that would divert some revenues from federal oil-and-gas drilling into research for alternative fuel technology.

In a nod to the economic challenges facing many families, Obama cast the initiative, which he called an “Energy Security Trust,” as a way to reduce household gasoline expenses.

“Let’s … free our families and businesses from the painful spikes in gas prices we’ve put up with for far too long,” Obama said.

The proposal was one of many energy items mentioned in Obama’s speech, underscoring the prominent space it occupies in his second-term agenda.

Obama also touched on employing executive action to tackle climate change, which E2-Wire’s Ben Geman has written about here.

Enacting the “trust” proposal, however, would require an act of Congress.

Currently, royalties from oil and gas drilling on onshore and offshore lands are shared amongst the federal Treasury and states.

The idea of establishing such a trust from those revenues has existed for quite some time as a way to lessen dependence on foreign oil.

Obama said the funds would do just that by sparking investment in electric vehicles, biofuels and natural gas-powered cars to “shift our cars and trucks off oil for good.”

Source

Note: Lots of potential benefits for St. Louis firms if such a trust ever materializes. Companies like start-up, Emerald Automotive, as well as alternative fuel firms like Abengoa Bioenergy and LaClede Gas (CNG/LNG fueling stations) could benefit greatly from the proposed trust.

pat · PostFeb 13, 2013#332013-02-13T16:32+00:00

^ I don't want this to spiral off into a political discussion, but St. Louis's major energy industry is coal. I don't really see the benefit to major St. Louis industries.

stlien · PostFeb 13, 2013#342013-02-13T17:32+00:00

pat wrote:^ I don't want this to spiral off into a political discussion, but St. Louis's major energy industry is coal. I don't really see the benefit to major St. Louis industries.

You don't see a benefit? Explain.

pat · PostFeb 13, 2013#352013-02-13T18:07+00:00

There is a potential small benefit to fledgling industries here. Just not a large benefit.

We have large coal companies based here that provide a lot of jobs and benefit the local economy. Almost all of our electricity comes from coal. The U.S. has some of the largest coal reserves in the world. IMO, an energy policy that would promote more coal in some form or fashion would be more beneficial economically for STL than what the President is proposing.

stlien · PostFeb 14, 2013#362013-02-14T03:56+00:00

We also have a lot of alternative energy companies like solar panel and wind turbine manufacturers. So im not sure that you can say we'll benefit more economically. Also this could cause Peabody to maybe get in the solar manufacturing business. A lot of opportunities with this. Peabody will be ok.

gone corporate · PostFeb 14, 2013#372013-02-14T20:28+00:00

Biz Journal: Nidus portfolio company Electrochaea developing power-to-gas technology
Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... oping.html

That's some rather innovative R&D and application towards new energy, supported by a local entrepreneur-based partnership. Such partnerships are exactly what STL needs to advance the region in commercializing new technologies.

arch city · PostFeb 15, 2013#382013-02-15T02:47+00:00

gone corporate wrote:Biz Journal: Nidus portfolio company Electrochaea developing power-to-gas technology
Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... oping.html

That's some rather innovative R&D and application towards new energy, supported by a local entrepreneur-based partnership. Such partnerships are exactly what STL needs to advance the region in commercializing new technologies.

Great energy innovation. But what is St. Louis doing to help these firms grow to the next level in terms of funding (venture capital) and lab space? These firms need to innovate and STAY in St. Louis - not bolt like a few biotech firms that got their starts in STL then bolted for "GREENER" pastures.

With that said, Nidus' focus on energy innovation is great. I hope more energy start-ups find the incubator home.

I just wonder why Nidus hasn't joined the Clean Energy Alliance's list of certified incubators?

deformative · PostFeb 15, 2013#392013-02-15T05:34+00:00

Missouri has one of the best potentials for biomass in the country. See http://www.lowcarboneconomy.com/Resourc ... 20x320.jpg. Biomass is also one of the most efficient forms of energy, renewable or not. Whoever decides to take advantage of this could stand to make a lot of money.

arch city · PostFeb 16, 2013#402013-02-16T05:48+00:00

Here are screen captures from the St. Louis energy PR website I am working on. It's basically a "kickstarter" prototype to draw real attention from local leadership and energy players in St. Louis. It is far from complete.

Nothing is final. The website may or may not be officially published. The website is not official by any means and some permissions i.e. photo usage, links etc. have not been sought yet.

I had to reduce the images so that they could be seen in full without saving them to your computer, however, the third photo should be saved to your computer in order to see the full image.

Click for larger, photo credit, Dan Robinson

Click for larger

PostFeb 17, 2013#412013-02-17T01:02+00:00

Why Coal Isn’t Going Anywhere: Arch Coal Inc (ACI), American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP)
By THE MOTLEY FOOL in News
Published: January 25, 2013 at 7:50 am

The coal industry has taken a beating in recent years. The discovery of natural gas in the U.S. has reduced the role of coal in the electric power industry: In 2012, the demand for coal has declined and coal companies, such as Arch Coal Inc (NYSE:ACI) , have suffered from this drop in consumption. So, is it time to count out coal? I think this sentiment is premature.

During 2012, the consumption of coal in electric power industry declined compared to previous years: in the first nine months of 2012, total consumption reached 615 million short tons; during the same time in 2011, consumption reached 722 million short tons. This represents a nearly 15% drop. Moreover, the share of coal in the electricity generating sector fell from nearly 50% in 2005 to 37.6% in 2012. Total consumption in 2012 is expected to reach 829 million short tons – the lowest since 1992. The drop in demand for coal is also reflected in the decline in revenues of major coal companies: during the third quarter of 2012, revenues of Arch Coal Inc (NYSE:ACI) fell by 9.3% compared to the same quarter in 2011. The company's operating profit margin reached 13% as of the third quarter of 2012.

On the other hand, revenues of Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU) have slightly increased by 3.9% in Q3 2012 compared to Q3 2011, but its operating profitability has declined from 19% to 13% in the third quarter of 2012. This means the operating profit fell by nearly 31%.

Read More

PostFeb 17, 2013#422013-02-17T01:08+00:00

OP-ED: Pennsylvania to be the new 'energy capital' of U.S.
Updated: 12/26/2012 12:19:18 PM EST

It is now unanimous: America's potential domestic energy production is off the charts and Pennsylvania is the sweet spot.

The International Energy Agency just issued its landmark annual World Energy Outlook report, forecasting that the United States will pass Saudi Arabia in energy production and that North America will be at the forefront of a sweeping transformation in oil and gas production that will affect the entire world.

This comes on the heels of recent reports from Standard & Poor's and ITG showing that the amount of recoverable gas in the Marcellus Shale play may be much greater than any previous government estimate.

This is good news. With Pennsylvania as the centerpiece, real American energy security and a real force in American job growth are available to us right now -- if we continue to make the right decisions to obtain and use what we have right here.

The studies confirm that Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale formation is the global superstar of natural gas formations and is a key driver in true American energy independence. Marcellus shale gas will help make Pennsylvania the energy capital of the nation and spark the rebirth of our petrochemical and manufacturing base.

Production from Marcellus wells is exceeding expectations, and some of the wells are among the most productive in the world. We already have 240,000 jobs related to our oil and natural gas extraction activities. When it comes to production numbers, Standard & Poor's own words confirm that this is a "mere drop in the bucket" of the Marcellus' full potential.

These reports also say that the potential natural gas liquids recoverable from the Marcellus are proportionally higher than any other shale gas formation. This is terrific news for Pennsylvania, validating Royal Dutch Shell's announcement that it is exploring the construction of an ethane cracker facility in Beaver County, a project that would account for 10,000 jobs in the construction phase alone.

Also reported is a dramatic and historic change in the direction of natural gas flows in America.

Flows have always been from the west or southwest United States to the east. Not anymore. Pennsylvania became a natural gas exporter in 2010 and is perfectly located to be the supplier to the tremendous growth markets of the northeastern United States.

This new energy revolution is also being seen in Philadelphia.

Read More

PostMar 03, 2013#432013-03-03T13:05+00:00

Feb 28, 2013, 1:36pm CST
Good news for CIC and Laclede: A gas boom 'for decades'
Greg Edwards
Reporter-St. Louis Business Journal

CIC Group, Inc.'s headquarters in Town and Country

Here's a headline from the front page of The Wall Street Journal today that must have warned the hearts of our friends at CIC Group and Laclede Group: "Gas boom projected to grow for decades."

"We are looking at multi, multi decades of growth," said Scott Tinker, director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas, which conducted a study funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Revenue at CIC Group, a St. Louis-based company in the energy construction industry, increased 30 percent last year, to $1.2 billion, thanks to the natural gas boom. The company is conservatively projecting $1.5 billion in three years.

Utilities such as Laclede, which operates Laclede Gas, also are benefiting, President and CEO Suzanne Sitherwood told the Business Journal.

Both companies are seeking and making acquisitions.

Video: U.S. GAS BOOM PROJECTED TO GROW FOR DECADES

PostMar 13, 2013#442013-03-13T03:50+00:00

Although they lost initial round funding to the Tennessee Valley Authority and Babcock & Wilcox, why wouldn't Ameren pursue future SMR funding? "May"? What's to consider? Afraid it would hurt the coal industry? This is a great opportunity for Ameren, Missouri and St. Louis. Check out the NexStart Alliance (Ameren, Westinghouse and others) video and website here.

Rendering of an SMR (Small Modular Reactor)

Mar 12, 2013, 6:45am CDT UPDATED: Mar 12, 2013, 7:51am CDT
Ameren may enter race for federal nuclear funds

Staff
St. Louis Business Journal

The U.S. Energy Department is seeking proposals for small nuclear reactors that could be producing energy by 2025, and Ameren Missouri is expected to throw its hat in the ring.

The small reactors are typically less than a third of the size of current plants, thus reducing construction time and costs and making them feasible solutions for smaller electric grids that don't need a full-size plant, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Ameren Missouri officials have not yet said they would pursue the new grant opportunities, but in the past they have said that the state is "well-positioned" to compete for federal funding for nuclear projects.

Last year, Ameren Missouri and Westinghouse Electric Corp. partnered to seek U.S. Department of Energy funds to develop small modular nuclear reactors at Ameren Missouri's Callaway County plant near Fulton, Mo. They lost out to a team that included Babcock & Wilcox and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Check out this video of Missouri's pursuit of SMR production.

PostMar 13, 2013#452013-03-13T18:00+00:00

Great move on the part of MEMC. The name denotes solar and energy. No more trying to figure out what "MEMC" means?

MEMC of O'Fallon, Mo., seeks to change name to SunEdison
4 hours ago • By Lisa Brown

MEMC Electronic Materials is seeking to change its name to SunEdison, a name the company says better reflects its business.

The O'Fallon, Mo.-based maker of silicon wafers for the solar and semiconductor industries said if shareholders approve the name change, it would make the switch after its annual shareholders meeting May 30.

"This name change does not reflect a change in business strategy related to either of the company's segments," the company said in a statement. "Rather, the name change will better reflect the synergistic nature of the two businesses and help create and maintain one powerful, global brand name."

MEMC said SunEdison, the name of its subsidiary, was selected because it "best represents the business, has greater long-term brand equity, scalability and broader appeal in the marketplace."

MEMC also said it's creating a new division within SunEdison, called SunEdison Capital, to raise funds to develop, build and finance solar power plants. The company appointed Carlos Domenech to lead the division as president. MEMC also announced that it has invested in establishing independent private equity firm EverStream Energy Capital Management to support the SunEdison Capital business. EverStream will begin with a $300 million fund and will fund third parties.

MEMC said it expects the average price in its solar energy systems to drop to between $3.10 and $3.40 per watt in 2013, down from $3.79 in 2012. Its solar energy business accounts for two thirds of MEMC's revenue.

Read More

PostMar 13, 2013#462013-03-13T18:21+00:00

Plus, I am still working on my prototype energy marketing website.

Below are domestic and international companies with an energy presence in St. Louis

Below are domestic and international energy companies with headquarters in St. Louis.

Canada and Houston-based Enbridge has operations in Wood River, Illinois.

PostMar 13, 2013#472013-03-13T18:25+00:00

Another article about MEMC's name change.

MEMC to morph into SunEdison

In a statement, MEMC said; “This name change does not reflect a change in business strategy related to either of the company's segments. Rather, the name change will better reflect the synergistic nature of the two businesses and help create and maintain one powerful, global brand name. The company believes the SunEdison name best represents the business, has greater long-term brand equity, scalability and broader appeal in the marketplace.”

MEMC Electronic Materials has said it plans to drop its name that has been in existence for decades and take on its subsidiary SunEdison as the corporate moniker.

The move was said to better reflect the business model changes and future developments of the company, which has morphed from originally being a leading polysilicon producer to semiconductor and more recently into a leading PV project developer, via the acquisition of SunEdison several years ago.

In a statement, MEMC said: “This name change does not reflect a change in business strategy related to either of the company's segments. Rather, the name change will better reflect the synergistic nature of the two businesses and help create and maintain one powerful, global brand name. The company believes the SunEdison name best represents the business, has greater long-term brand equity, scalability and broader appeal in the marketplace.”

The name change is subject to a preliminary proxy statement filing to shareholders, which if approved would be effective after its AGM on May 30 2013.

gone corporate · PostApr 02, 2013#482013-04-02T16:22+00:00

Arch City:

This is for you as you put together your list of local companies in the industry. This week’s Biz Journal reviews the 150 largest private companies, with a few deep in the industry and including a few I’ve never heard of beforehand…

5. Apex Oil Company
6. Center Oil Company
7. Piasa Enterprises, Inc.: “… the parent company of HWRT Oil Company, a petroleum and renewable products marketer offering gasoline, ethanol, diesel and biodiesel. HWRT owns four pipeline terminals along with its main facility in Hartford-Wood River, IL. The company markets petroleum and renewable fuels through 18 additional facilities.”
17 (tie). CIC Group, Inc.
17 (tie). Novus International, Inc.
38. Moto, Inc., the parent company of Motomart gas stations (74 locations)
57. J.D. Street & Company, Inc.: “The petroleum wholesaler, lubricants manufacturer and retailer operates two petroleum terminals; formulates and packages motor oils, transmission fluid, and antifreeze; and operates service stations / convenience stores in MO and IL.”
59. Midwest Petroleum Company
78. Home Service Oil Company
93. American Piping Products (whose products are used by the power generation and petrochemical industries)
121. Roeslein & Associates, Inc., a designer & constructor of factories (shipped to build) which has recognized considerable year-over-year growth in building a niche clientele for companies in the domestic energy exploration & production sectors (wildcatters)

arch city · PostApr 04, 2013#492013-04-04T22:34+00:00

gone corporate wrote:Arch City:

This is for you as you put together your list of local companies in the industry. This week’s Biz Journal reviews the 150 largest private companies, with a few deep in the industry and including a few I’ve never heard of beforehand…

5. Apex Oil Company
6. Center Oil Company
7. Piasa Enterprises, Inc.: “… the parent company of HWRT Oil Company, a petroleum and renewable products marketer offering gasoline, ethanol, diesel and biodiesel. HWRT owns four pipeline terminals along with its main facility in Hartford-Wood River, IL. The company markets petroleum and renewable fuels through 18 additional facilities.”
17 (tie). CIC Group, Inc.
17 (tie). Novus International, Inc.
38. Moto, Inc., the parent company of Motomart gas stations (74 locations)
57. J.D. Street & Company, Inc.: “The petroleum wholesaler, lubricants manufacturer and retailer operates two petroleum terminals; formulates and packages motor oils, transmission fluid, and antifreeze; and operates service stations / convenience stores in MO and IL.”
59. Midwest Petroleum Company
78. Home Service Oil Company
93. American Piping Products (whose products are used by the power generation and petrochemical industries)
121. Roeslein & Associates, Inc., a designer & constructor of factories (shipped to build) which has recognized considerable year-over-year growth in building a niche clientele for companies in the domestic energy exploration & production sectors (wildcatters)

Thanks for the information.

I knew about most of them, but a few are new to me. Novus is an animal nutrition firm though.

Thanks for posting.

PostApr 07, 2013#502013-04-07T16:31+00:00

Here are sand fracking companies with operations in metro St. Louis. These companies mine sand used for fracking in various gas shales throughout the United States.

-Mississippi Sand, LLC is headquartered in Kirkwood. Has operations in Festus.
-U.S. Silica is based in Frederick, Maryland. Has operations in Pacific.
-Unimin Corporation is based in Connecticut. Has operations in Pevely.
-FTS International is based in Fort Worth, Texas. Has operations in Perryville.

Source

U.S. Silica's Pacific operations seem to send sand to most gas shales in the United States.

Below are operations maps.

St. Louis Energy News

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