Community

U.S. Proposes Fee on Methane from Big Oil and Gas Producers

The U.S. on Friday proposed a fee on emissions of methane from big oil and gas producers as required under the 2022 climate law and as a backstop to wider regulations on the greenhouse gas from energy operations.

Marie Tecnimont, Newcleo Team Up to Produce Carbon-Neutral Hydrogen

Newcleo has signed an agreement with Maire Tecnimont's units NextChem Tech and Tecnimont to use its nuclear reactors to decarbonize the chemical industry, including hydrogen production, the two companies said on Wednesday.

Enbridge and EDF Renewables Launch Fox Squirrel Solar Complex in Ohio

EDF Renewables North America and Enbridge Inc. have announced that Phase 1 of Fox Squirrel Solar, the largest solar complex in Ohio, is fully operational and delivering decarbonized electricity to the PJM grid.

EIA: U.S. Energy-Related CO2 Emissions to Remain Unchanged in 2024

U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are expected to remain unchanged in 2024, as increased natural gas and petroleum emissions offset decreased coal emissions, the Energy Information Administration said in a monthly report on Tuesday.

Texas Explosion Likely Caused by Gas Leak Injures 21

At least 21 people were injured Monday in an apparent gas leak explosion at the Sandman Hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, the city's fire department said.

Swiss Fossil Fuel Group Closes First Sale of Paris Agreement Carbon Offsets

A Thai electric bus operator said on Monday it had sold the first carbon offsets under a new system created by the Paris Agreement to a Swiss fossil fuel group, a major landmark for putting into action the eight-year-old United Nations climate accord.

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Exxon's Bid to Move Minnesota Climate Lawsuit to Federal Court

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a bid by major fossil fuel companies and an industry trade group to move a lawsuit filed by Minnesota accusing them of worsening climate change out of state court and into federal court, the energy industry's favored venue.

BlackRock to Invest Up to $400 Million in Dubai Decarbonization Firm Positive Zero

BlackRock has agreed to invest up to $400 million in Dubai-based decarbonization company Positive Zero through a diversified infrastructure fund, Positive Zero said in a statement on Monday.

RNG Outlook Offers Mixed Message for Midstream

(P&GJ) – In mid-2023, the international management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG) issued an assessment of renewable natural gas (RNG) that offered a mixed message.

Crucial Role of Testing Labs in Pipeline Emergency Response

(P&GJ) — Emergency situations, like explosions due to pipeline ruptures, often happen instantly and without warning. Pipeline managers know about the risks that come with the job, but the aftereffects of pipeline ruptures and leaks are often secondary to protecting human life.

Smart Tech Takes Aim at U.S. Methane Emissions

(P&GJ) — It’s hardly surprising that major gas leaks hit international headlines. Known as super-emitter events, these leaks cause plumes of methane to escape into our atmosphere — sometimes for days on end. However, these leaks are often spotted by satellites orbiting our planet before they are even known about on Earth.

CNX Resources Pulls Out of Adams Fork Ammonia Project

CNX Resources said on Friday it had pulled out of the Adams Fork ammonia project and is evaluating several alternative sites in southern West Virginia for clean hydrogen projects.

Climate-Tech Firm Climeworks to Sell Carbon Credits to BCG

It is an important step toward building credibility for the nascent direct air capture (DAC) industry - which uses minerals and chemicals to suck carbon dioxide out of the air - as it ramps up commitments that will help it attract new funds for expansion.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Warns of 2-Year Delay Over Regulatory Setback

Canadian government-owned Trans Mountain Corp. asked the country's energy regulator on Thursday to reverse a decision rejecting proposed construction changes on its oil pipeline expansion, warning of a possibly "catastrophic" two-year delay and billions of dollars in losses.

U.S. Coast Guard Finds Sheen Near Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico

The U.S. Coast Guard said on Wednesday it found a light sheen west of an area in the Gulf of Mexico where it was leading the clean-up of a million-gallon (liters) oil spill for nearly three weeks but could not confirm if the sheen was from that spill.

Republican States Challenge EPA's Pipeline Veto Power Expansion in Federal Lawsuit

A group of 11 Republican-led states and energy industry groups have challenged a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule that bolsters state and tribal veto power over pipelines and other major infrastructure projects that might pollute rivers and streams.

Exxon Mobil CEO Rebuffs IEA Criticism of Carbon Capture Strategy

Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods on Saturday rejected the International Energy Agency's recent claim that using wide-scale carbon capture to fight climate change was an implausible "illusion", saying the same could be said about electric vehicles and solar energy.

CO2 Projects Look to Overcome Siting Opposition

(P&GJ) – In the last two years, while the Biden administration has been embracing direct-air capture (DAC) hubs, Houston-based Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oxy) and its one-time spinoff, California Resources Corp. (CRC), have been leading increased industry interest in the transportation and storage of carbon, in the transition to a zero-emissions energy world.

INGAA Publishes 2023 Climate Report

(P&GJ) — The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) has published its second Climate Report, highlighting member company progress in delivering reliable energy while reducing emissions.

Riposte Capital Pushes for Board Overhaul at Energy Producer SilverBow

One of SilverBow Resources Inc.'s largest investors is pushing the U.S. oil and gas producer to revamp its board to address governance concerns and boost its lagging performance, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters on Thursday.

Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of Lawsuit by Dakota Access Pipeline Protesters

A recent ruling by a three-judge panel from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the decision made by a federal judge in 2021 to dismiss a legal action brought forth by demonstrators opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline.

ConocoPhillips' $8 Billion Willow Project Approvals Upheld by US Judge

A federal judge in Alaska upheld U.S. approvals for ConocoPhillips’ multibillion-dollar Willow oil and gas drilling project in the state’s Arctic on Nov. 9, rejecting environmental and indigenous groups' concerns that the project poses too large of a climate threat.

Biden Wants to Count Emissions Downstream of Pipeline Projects

(P&GJ) — The Biden administration announced its latest effort to throw a wrench in pipeline construction. The Biden Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) wants to roll back Trump administration pro-pipeline changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

U.S. Court Invalidates Sempra's Port Arthur LNG Permit Over Emission Limits

A U.S. court has removed an emissions permit for Sempra's Port Arthur LNG export terminal in Texas, potentially halting construction of the facility.

Analysis: Challenges to CO2 Pipelines Pose Threat to U.S. Ethanol's Role in Green Jet Fuel Development

The U.S. drive to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using ethanol could be slowed because of growing opposition to proposed pipelines that would curb greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol plants by capturing carbon dioxide and carrying it away to other states for storage.

Mountain Valley Pipeline Sues Protesters Hindering $7.2 Billion Construction Project

The developer of the Mountain Valley Pipeline has sued two protesters it says blocked construction on the $7.2 billion natural gas project, seeking compensation and orders barring them from interfering in the future.

Environmental Group Urges FERC Not to Extend License for Tellurian LNG Plant

The Sierra Club environmental group on Wednesday urged the U.S. energy regulator to reject a request by liquefied natural gas developer Tellurian Inc. for a three-year extension to complete construction of its $25 billion LNG export facility.

New Pipeline Meeting Format Implemented by Army Corps in Response to Criticism

(P&GJ) — Responding to concerns raised by the public, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has modified the manner in which oral comments are accepted for the draft environmental review of the contentious Dakota Access oil pipeline, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Untangling Environmental Rules Can Lead to Permitting Success

(P&GJ) — Oil and gas pipelines are considered critical infrastructure, and the process of routing, permitting, designing and building them often elicits significant public pushback associated with perceived environmental concerns.

Clean Energy, TotalEnergies First Renewable Natural Gas Facility Begins to Sell Environmental Credits

(P&GJ) — Clean Energy Fuels Corp. and TotalEnergies SE have announced that renewable natural gas (RNG) from Del Rio Dairy in Friona, TX, began flowing in June to the transportation market and recently began generating D3 renewable identification numbers credits under the U.S. EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard.