OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Keystone bill gets VIP treatment

SIGNING CEREMONY: GOP leaders in the House and Senate will hold a signing ceremony on Friday for legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline.

The event is meant to put a spotlight on the first piece of legislation Congress will send to the White House this year. Republicans have touted it as a jobs bill, and hope to put pressure on the White House.

{mosads}President Obama has vowed to veto the bill, arguing it goes around the administrative process and ongoing review at the State Department. 

While the ceremony is being held Friday, there is also the possibility that Congressional leaders may hold off on sending the bill to Obama until after the week-long recess next week. 

By holding on to the bill until the week of February 23, it ensures Congress will be in town to drum up noise when Obama vetoes the controversial bill.

Read more here.

FRIDAY’S AGENDA: 

Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Asian Studies will wrap up its three-day event on shale oil in the United States, the Middle East and China. Friday’s panels will feature academics and researchers discussing the political economy of shale oil and the policy implications. 

The Hudson Institute will hold a forum Friday on the economic, political and geopolitical impacts of falling oil prices. The panelists at the event will represent the United States Energy Security Council, the Senate Republican Policy Committee and Scotiabank. 

AROUND THE WEB:

A toxic orange cloud is floating over two cities in Spain after a chemical fire, the International Business Times reports. 

Organizers of Alaska’s Iditarod sled dog race are moving the route because of a lack of snow, Reuters reports. 

Pacific Gas & Electric wants to install 25,000 electric-car charging stations in California and have customers pay for them, the Press Democrat reports. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 

Check out Thursday’s stories…

– Arctic offshore analysis brings drilling closer

– GOP to hold Keystone signing ceremony

– Court deals Keystone new setback

– Saudi Arabia budget able to weather low oil prices, feds say

– EPA assailed for leaving coal country off climate hearing tour

– New bill: No more porn at federal agencies

– Shell CEO wants oil industry to join climate fight

– Sen. Murkowski meets with Kerry on Arctic issues

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