DOWN IN THE OIL PATCH

Down in the oil patch has really always been about Capitol Hill. It's not often that both sides in a conflict come away winners. But that's what seems about to happen when Repulicans and Democrats finally take down the nation's 40 year ban on exporting oil.

Like most issues of this kind and magnitude, you find unhappy campers on both sides. But the bill looks set to make it through both chambers and get signed into law.

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S., seemingly awash in crude oil after an energy boom sent thousands of workers scurrying to the plains of Texas and North Dakota, will begin exporting oil for the first time since the 1973 oil embargo. The lifting of the embargo is part of a spending deal expected to be pushed through the House and Senate by the end of the week. Here’s a brief look at why the ban was in place, and the reasons why that ban is now being lifted after four decades.

The end to the four-decade ban on U.S. crude exports was the big prize in the budget battle for Republicans, who saw it as an arcane policy given the nation’s exploding production of oil and natural gas. In return, they agreed to the demand from Democrats for a five-year extension of credits for wind and solar energy producers and a renewal of a land and water conservation fund. Democrats also blocked a push by Republicans to GOP proposals to impede Obama administration clean air and water regulations.

The above article appeared on fuelfix.com/blog/2015/12/16/heres-why-the-u-s-will-export-oil-for-first-time-in-decades.

Early stories suggest big oil will be the winners in the oil pact has. We gave yet to see any about who the big winners in solar and win are.