Energy Roundup: Ike and Gustav's Wrath, Dems Eye Regulation, and More

MMS: 60 platforms confirmed destroyed by hurricanes — The major hurricanes, Gustav and Ike, destroyed 60 rigs in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico last summer, the U.S. federal Minerals Management Service has confirmed. [Source: Energy Current]

Democrats eye oil market regulation — According to an analysis piece in the Francisco Chronicle, House and Senate Democrats will likely call for increased regulations in oil markets just as they are seeking them in financial markets, a move that they hope will mitigate the kinds of major price swings seen last summer. [Source: San Francisco Chronicle]

API’s Gerard says Obama won’t meet oil reduction goals — Speaking to editors at The Washington Times, American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard said that president elect Barack Obama’s vision of cutting U.S. petroleum consumption by 10 million barrels a day by 2030 was unlikely to be realized. But then he would say that, wouldn’t he? [Source: Washington Times]

VeraSun receives take-over bid — In what promises to be the first of many shake-outs in the ethanol business in the coming year, VeraSun Energy, the nation’s second largest ethanol producer, has received an unsolicited takeover bid just a month after filing bankruptcy. [Source: Houston Chronicle]