David Sandalow, the Energy Department’s assistant secretary for policy and international affairs, said in a Huffington Post article about electric vehicles on Tuesday that “It’s strange that we are utterly dependent on [gasoline] for mobility.” But in a market-based economy, it’s not “strange” that petroleum-based products remain the transportation fuel of choice; it’s a century of real-world economics.

Only the most fiscally fit companies can survive in the intensely competitive global marketplace for energy. But a new study by IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates (IHS CERA) and Deloitte paints a troubling picture of how federal tax rules – and pending tax legislation – are weakening the ability of U.S.-based oil and natural gas companies to compete against international companies.

I really appreciate this opportunity to discuss what truly is an unprecedented effort by our industry to improve oil spill response capability. As we continue to work to understand the reasons behind the tragic Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico, exchanges like this – where those from government, industry and the public can openly talk about next steps – are going to be important.

An interesting opinion piece posted on Ethical Corporation’s website says that the Deepwater Horizon disaster has prompted soul-searching among members of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) community, and should spur reforms to the way in which companies are determined to be “responsible.”