News•October 11, 2013

U.S. Energy, Emissions Information Source Shuts Down

Since the federal government shut down on Oct. 1, the U.S. Energy Information Administration kept operating, sending out daily reports to policymakers and the public about energy prices, U.S. energy production and other vital statistics.

Credit: U.S. Energy Information Administration

The EIA was behind the announcement a week ago that the U.S. is on track to becoming the world’s leading producer of crude oil and natural gas hydrocarbons, surpassing Russia and Saudi Arabia. The agency publishes regular energy forecasts and analyses, updating the public on trends in greenhouse gas emissions, U.S. energy production and consumption and U.S. energy markets.

But on Friday, the EIA’s steady stream of data and reports ceased because its funding finally ran dry. The agency updated its website for the last time at 1 p.m. Friday, announcing that the EIA is closed because of a lapse in appropriations.

Calls to the EIA seeking comment were not returned Friday, and an email to an EIA spokesman bounced back, saying the agency is closed until further notice.

Many EIA databases, a vital source of U.S. energy statistics, will be unavailable until the government reopens, the EIA announced.

Those who regularly submit reports to the EIA’s data collection program should continue to do so to maintain continuity in U.S. energy data, the agency announced. But the EIA says that “there will be no one present at EIA offices during the shutdown to answer questions or deal with technical issues that may prevent the filing of reports.”

After complete Twitter silence since Oct. 1, the EIA sent this tweet Friday afternoon: “We're sorry, but we will not tweet or respond to @ replies while we are closed. We'll be back as soon as possible!”