EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 10/31/24
PIPELINE NEWS
Bloomberg: As America Votes, These Big Energy Projects Hang in the Balance
Globe Gazette: Pressure is on Worth County over pipeline ordinance
Energynews: Occidental develops a CO₂ pipeline network in Southeast Texas
Substack: Climate groups called on Governor McKee to deny all future pipeline permits
KCLU: Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approves controversial ownership change for oil pipeline
The Oregonian: NW Natural customers to see smaller rate increase, won’t pay for pipeline expansion
DeSmog: Chicago Utility’s Plan for Aging Natural Gas Pipelines Runs Up Against Energy Transition
WASHINGTON UPDATES
Reuters: US Sets New Safety Measures As Deep Sea Oil Drillers Test New Depths
Reuters: US elections pose bearish risk to global LNG markets, Goldman says
The Hill: Oil bigwigs open wallets for Trump after billion-dollar request
Utility Dive: How will the presidential and Senate election outcomes affect FERC and its policies?
The Hill: Inside the climate movement’s final push for Harris
E&E News: Trump says RFK Jr. won’t ‘touch the oil and gas’
E&E News: Meet the Texas oilman who wants to gut US climate policy
STATE UPDATES
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Industry experts defend carbon dioxide storage, discuss report
E&E News: Democrat running for Pennsylvania AG rejects climate lawsuits
KYMA: Tribal representatives call on President Biden to designate new desert national monuments in California
WRIC: People’s Hearing’ held by Chesterfield residents against Dominion Energy’s proposed natural gas plant
Charleston Gazette-Mail: PSC approves rate hikes to keep bills rising for Mountaineer Gas, Hope Gas customers
EXTRACTION
The Hill: Governments subsidizing ‘unprecedented’ health threats from fossil fuels, leading medical journal finds
The Energy Mix: Redirect Trillions from Fossil Fuels to Protect Health, Global Health Update Urges
Reuters: Alberta files federal court challenge to Canada carbon tax exemption
The Narwhal: Pathways Alliance’s oilsands carbon capture project won’t undergo Alberta environmental assessment
DeSmog: Alberta’s Oil Sands Operators Still Won’t Pay for Their Own Cleanup
Bloomberg: South Korea’s Green Transition Hinges on Expanding Clean Power and Developing Carbon Capture and Storage
NOAA Climate.gov: Microbes, not fossil fuels, are behind recent methane surge
Channel News Asia: Climate Conversations - Breaking down the complicated business of carbon capture
CLIMATE FINANCE
E&E News: SEC climate rule unlikely to survive a Trump victory
TODAY IN GREENWASHING
Press release: Pathways Alliance Brings Fans Closer to the Action at Grey Cup
OPINION
Brookings Register: Vote ‘yes’ on pipeline measure
Cleveland.com: Ohio Should Protect Its Pristine Public Lands From Further Harm Of Fracking: Editorial
Center for Western Priorities: Hydrogen: Fuel of the future, or another pipe dream?
PIPELINE NEWS
Bloomberg: As America Votes, These Big Energy Projects Hang in the Balance
Ari Natter and Jennifer A Dlouhy, 10/31/24
“The outcome of next week’s US presidential election is poised to have profound implications for a handful of multi-billion-dollar energy projects,” Bloomberg reports. “...The future of Venture Global LNG Inc.’s proposed liquefied natural gas export facility in Louisiana, known as CP2, was thrown into question earlier this year when Biden paused issuing new LNG export licenses following vocal opposition from climate activists. Even though a federal judge halted the moratorium in July, the situation has been little changed. Before he leaves office, Biden could lift the pause himself or direct the Energy Department to write new rules governing when proposed LNG exports are in the public interest. But even if he were to kick off changes, the outcome would be shaped by the next president… “Other companies waiting for such export licenses include Energy Transfer LP and closely-held Commonwealth LNG… “Eight years ago, Energy Transfer’s Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) that transports oil from North Dakota to Illinois was thrust into the national spotlight following a series of grassroots protests near the Standing Rock reservation. Now, the next president may have a chance to make or break its future… “Even if that recommendation comes as part of a final environmental impact statement before the end of the year, the new president could still step in… “Progressives prioritizing DAPL’s closure face long odds, Christine Tezak, a senior director with Washington-based consulting firm ClearView Energy Partners, told Bloomberg “It’s a lot harder to shut something down once its operating.”
Globe Gazette: Pressure is on Worth County over pipeline ordinance
Ailis Mccardle, 10/30/24
“Tensions were high during a Worth County Zoning Commission meeting in Kensett on Monday night over a draft ordinance designed to protect rural residents from potential ruptures of a carbon capture pipeline proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions,” the Globe Gazette reports. “A Summit spokesperson claimed the ordinance is beyond the county's authority and would prevent the pipeline from being constructed… “Brent Niese, project manager with Summit Carbon Solutions, attending the meeting via Zoom, said current plans for the pipeline would not comply with the ordinance, and if the ordinance were enforced the pipeline could not be greenlit. “In all practical aspects, the ordinance would prohibit Summit Carbon Solutions from building through the county,” Niese said. According Jeff Gorball, chair of the zoning commission, the ordinance was intended to protect the homes and livelihoods of the residents of Worth County. "(The ordinance) would make it so they can't put the pipeline in such a location that somebody's homes and things of that nature would be within that blast zone, hazard zone, or fatality zone,” Gorball said… “Several attendees asked increasingly hostile questions during public comments. Concerns included whether local emergency services are equipped to handle an emergency with the pipeline, if the impact of a leak or accident would be greater during Iowa's cold weather, and whether the concentrations of carbon dioxide involved would impact children, the elderly, or those in ill health more than they would a healthy adult. There were also questions about whether other pipelines would follow, and if Summit’s carbon capture pipeline would harm livestock if it began to leak… “Denise Ehlenfeldt said she didn't think the ordinance went far enough. “Why are we even concerned about half a mile? We might as well just put it up against everything. Because once it leaks, everything within two miles is dead,” Ehlenfeldt said. Gorball said he didn’t believe a C02 leak would be fatal for a two-mile radius. Someone from the crowd suggested they ask Niese at what distance from a leak the saturation of C02 in the air would lose toxicity. “Hey, Summit guy. Answer us,” Ehlenfedlt said… "Whether the supervisors ultimately decide to pass an ordinance of this nature is purely up to the supervisors, and whether the appeals court determines that counties have the authority to enforce these regulations is yet to be seen,” Gorball said.”
Energynews: Occidental develops a CO₂ pipeline network in Southeast Texas
10/30/24
“Occidental Petroleum, in collaboration with Enterprise Products Partners, recently announced the creation of a vast CO₂ pipeline network in Southeast Texas,” Energynews reports. “...According to the company, these pipelines will be co-located with existing infrastructure in the region, thereby facilitating logistical integration and minimizing additional impacts on the territory… “Indeed, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $500 million to 1PointFive to develop its Direct Air Capture (DAC) hub in South Texas… “So far, Occidental has not specified which third-party partners will supply the captured CO₂ in the Houston area, but further announcements are expected as the project progresses… “The United States Department of Energy recently proposed a carbon management strategy aimed at encouraging the deployment of capture technologies for priority use cases. This approach is especially intended for industries where there are few or no alternatives to emissions reduction. Occidental and its partners’ initiatives fit well within this strategy by providing a tangible solution to current environmental challenges while paving the way for new economic opportunities.”
Substack: Climate groups called on Governor McKee to deny all future pipeline permits
Steve Ahlquist, 10/30/24
“Today, a group of Rhode Island’s climate justice organizations rallied at the Rhode Island State House in opposition to Enbridge’s proposed Project Maple fracked-gas pipeline expansion,” Substack reports. “The groups hand-delivered a letter addressed to Governor Daniel McKee’s office and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Eleven State Representatives and three State Senators signed on opposing the project. The petition signers and community members at the rally demanded the denial of all future Project Maple permits. Project Maple is a state-crossing gas expansion project proposed by Enbridge, owner of the interstate “Algonquin” gas pipelines. If approved, emissions from Project Maple are estimated to equal seven coal plants, threatening to erase all of Rhode Island’s emission-reduction progress… “We urge you to protect Rhode Island communities, and the health and safety of all residents by publicly opposing Project Maple and the Sakonnet River Pipeline project, and directly your agencies to reject all permits for both projects.” “...Despite intense local opposition, construction has already begun on an initial phase of the project, which will double the pipeline’s size from the east side of the Sakonnet River—in the town of Little Compton—to the west side of the River—in the town of Portsmouth. Earlier this month, during work on the Sakonnet River pipeline replacement, toxic drilling fluid leaked into a wetland in Portsmouth. Rhode Island has been at the forefront of the movement to stop pipeline expansions for the past ten years.”
KCLU: Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approves controversial ownership change for oil pipeline
Lance Orozco, 10/30/24
“The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approved a controversial change of ownership application for the oil pipeline which ruptured in 2015, causing a massive spill on the Gaviota Coast,” KCLU reports. “...A coalition of environmental groups sought denial, arguing restarting the pipeline could lead to another disaster. They contended Sable doesn’t have the proper plans in place, or the financial ability to deal with a major spill. Commissioners approved the change in ownership application on a 3-1 vote. The commission noted the question they were facing wasn’t whether it was appropriate for the pipeline to reopen, but the much narrower issue of whether Sable was qualified to take over ownership. They felt it is qualified. The pipeline still needs approvals from other regulators to resume operations.”
The Oregonian: NW Natural customers to see smaller rate increase, won’t pay for pipeline expansion
Gosia Wozniacka, 10/30/24
“NW Natural’s residential customers will see a rate increase of 4.5% on November bills, a much smaller increase than the company wanted,” The Oregonian reports. “Customers will also no longer bear the cost of paying for the expansion of the natural gas system in Oregon and for the gas company’s political lobbying… “As part of its decision last week, the commission also ordered NW Natural to remove costs for the company’s lobbying activities from rates and to stop charging customers for gas pipeline expansion by 2027… “Over time, those costs would have become substantial. We’re nipping the problem at the bud to prevent costs from escalating in the future. Everything adds up,” Earthjustice attorney Jaimini Parekh told The Oregonian… “Parekh told The Oregonian phasing out the subsidies may slow the expansion of the natural gas system that contributes to climate warming and lead to the electrification of more buildings.”
DeSmog: Chicago Utility’s Plan for Aging Natural Gas Pipelines Runs Up Against Energy Transition
Sharon Kelly, 10/30/24
“If you ask Chicago’s gas pipeline utility, Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, or PGL, the best way to fix the problem of leaks from underground gas pipelines, their answer is the most ambitious option — running new, upgraded plastic pipelines throughout the city, leaving their old network of leak-prone iron pipes behind,” DeSmog reports. “Consumer watchdogs, however, are calling foul. A newly published report by the Illinois Citizens Utility Board (CUB), a nonprofit utility watchdog established by the state legislature, finds PGL’s cost projections underestimate how expensive and time-consuming those upgrades would be, while massively overestimating how costly other options might be. Going forward with the full pipeline upgrade plan backed by PGL would cause “historically unprecedented rate hikes, even assuming a stable customer base,” the CUB report warns. Chicagoans could see their average annual charges spike from $1,206 today to $2,424 or more by 2040, it finds, and customers could keep paying off those upgrades until the year 2100. Plus, those new plastic pipes would represent a massive investment in an energy future that may never materialize, the report adds… “Instead of helping the city achieve its climate goals by cutting leaks, upgrading PGL’s pipeline grid could have the opposite effect, the report warns. “PGL’s strategy of expanding and modernizing fossil fuel infrastructure increasingly conflicts with the aggressive climate goals of the city of Chicago and Illinois,” it concludes… “Already, Illinois regulators have hit the brakes on PGL’s proposed system upgrades, demanding a closer examination. An administrative judge’s recommendation is expected on November 25.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
Reuters: US Sets New Safety Measures As Deep Sea Oil Drillers Test New Depths
Georgina Mccartney, 10/29/24
“The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) rolled out new rules for U.S. offshore drillers on Tuesday, as breakthrough technology enables them to operate under extreme subsea pressures and unlock billions in untapped oil reserves,” Reuters reports. “BSEE’s final rule comes after Chevron in August started production at its Anchor asset, owned with TotalEnergies, which was the first ever project to operate at 20,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure, reaching reservoir depths of 34,000 feet (10,363 m). The new technology could unlock some 5 billion barrels of previously inaccessible crude globally, or about 50 days of current production, analysts have said, but some safety concerns have loomed. British oil major BP was drilling at 15,000 PSI when a blowout on its Deepwater Horizon project killed 11 workers and spilled 3.19 million barrels of oil into the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in 2010. BSEE’s final rules apply to projects with more than 15,000 PSI, or temperatures of more than 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177°C).”
Reuters: US elections pose bearish risk to global LNG markets, Goldman says
10/29/24
“The upcoming U.S. election could pose a bearish risk to global natural gas markets, specifically liquefied natural gas (LNG), despite the anticipated limited near-term impact on domestic markets, Goldman Sachs said on Tuesday,” Reuters reports. “Any significant changes to U.S. sanctions or tariff policies would potentially soften LNG and thus European and Asian gas markets at the margin,” the bank said in a note… “However, if Republican Donald Trump wins the presidential election, the risk of incremental tariffs on U.S. imports of Chinese goods means a direct risk to China’s manufacturing sector and could impact China LNG imports, it added… “Further, Goldman Sachs suggests that although global LNG market changes will not directly affect U.S. gas markets in 2025, they could from 2026 due to expected Qatari LNG export growth. This could limit U.S. LNG export arbitrage and possibly lead to U.S. export cancellations for market balance.”
The Hill: Oil bigwigs open wallets for Trump after billion-dollar request
Rachel Frazin and Taylor Giorno, 10/31/24
“Oil and gas tycoons made significant contributions to the Trump campaign after the former president asked the industry for $1 billion to support his reelection bid — and reportedly said it would be a “deal” for them to do so,” The Hill reports. “A source told The Hill earlier this year that the $1 billion request at an April fundraiser was not framed as any sort of quid pro quo. Nevertheless, Democrats have described the incident as corruption and said they would investigate it, and this was the first election where several oil industry donors opened their pockets for Trump. Two executives who reportedly attended Trump oil industry fundraisers this spring later made significant contributions to Trump-aligned political committees — something they hadn’t done in previous presidential cycles. Cheniere Energy CEO Jack Fusco donated $250,000 to the joint fundraising Trump 47 Committee in June, according to records from the FEC. The committee then distributed $6,600 to the Trump campaign and $243,400 to the Republican National Committee (RNC)... “Trump specifically promised Occidental better treatment after Hollub complained that the agency is delaying Occidental’s acquisition of oil and gas producer CrownRock and probed her phone, according to The Post… “Bryan Sheffield, who founded the oil and gas-focused private equity group Formentera Partners, told The Hill that Hamm had called him “and talked me into joining his efforts on helping [T]rump.” “...Other energy executives who reportedly attended April or May Trump fundraisers have also made significant contributions to the Trump campaign and groups supporting him. Warren, executive chairman of Energy Transfer Partners — one of the owners of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline — donated a whopping $5 million to pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again Inc. in late May… “Soft money” contributions from individuals and PACs affiliated with the oil and gas industry have skyrocketed during the 2024 election cycle. These donors have given at least $147.7 million to party committees and outside groups, according an analysis from OpenSecrets of reports filed with the FEC as of Oct. 17. In line with historical trends, the vast majority of that total — $134 million — has gone toward groups supporting conservatives.”
Utility Dive: How will the presidential and Senate election outcomes affect FERC and its policies?
Ethan Howland, 10/29/24
“The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and key agency-related issues such as electric transmission and natural gas policy could be set in different trajectories depending on the outcome of the Nov. 5 elections, according to former FERC chairmen and other commission experts,” Utility Dive reports. “Whoever wins the White House — Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump — will be able to decide who runs FERC as soon as they are sworn in. The FERC chair plays a major role in determining the agenda for the commission — what’s voted on and what the staff spend their time on, Richard Glick, GQS New Energy Strategies principal and former FERC chairman, told Utility Dive… “But if Trump wins and appoints a different chair, that chair could set a new agenda for the commission, he told Utility Dive. However, even if Trump is elected again and selects a new leader at FERC, Democrats could have a majority among the agency’s five commissioners for at least a year and a half, Timothy Fox, a managing director for research firm ClearView Energy Partners, told Utility Dive. The confirmation of three new FERC commissioners in June — Judy Chang and David Rosner, both Democrats, and Lindsay See, a Republican — could ensure a Democratic majority, Fox told Utility Dive… “However, “there’s a very high likelihood that if Kamala Harris would win that Chairman Phillips would stay on for some period of time, because I think he has been widely recognized on both sides of the aisle for doing a good job and trying to forge bipartisan consensus,” he told Utility Dive.”
The Hill: Inside the climate movement’s final push for Harris
Rachel Frazin, 10/29/24
“Advocates from multiple climate and environmental advocacy groups will make calls, unleash advertisements, knock on doors and utilize star power in support of Vice President Harris in the final stretch of the 2024 campaign, underscoring how critical they consider the White House race to be for the future of their cause,” The Hill reports. “...Climate activists see this election as having dire consequences for the planet, marking a starkly contrasting choice between Harris, who they believe could implement significant policies to mitigate climate change, and former President Trump, who has repeatedly minimized the issue and pledged to repeal a number of measures aimed at combating it… “Khanna has said he’s been visiting college campuses, and will continue to do so in places such as Georgia, which, like Michigan, is among the group of tightly contested swing states that could determine the outcome of the election. Other movement leaders also detailed their planned efforts in the days ahead… “Meanwhile, David Kieve, president of Environmental Defense Fund Action, told The Hill his group has spent $6 million, including $3 million this coming week, on Spanish-language ads, saying the organization hopes to sway undecided Latino voters. In a press release Tuesday, the progressive Sunrise Movement said that so far it has reached more than 1.9 million young voters in swing states and will continue phone and text banks and in-person canvassing in Arizona, North Carolina, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
E&E News: Trump says RFK Jr. won’t ‘touch the oil and gas’
Robin Bravender, 10/30/24
“Robert Kennedy Jr. won’t have sway over oil and gas policy in a future Trump administration, former President Donald Trump said Wednesday,” E&E News reports. “...Kennedy said Monday that Trump has promised him “control” of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, according to a video obtained by POLITICO. “He also has a big thing on the environment,” Trump said Wednesday of Kennedy. “I’ll tell you what, I said: ‘That’s OK, but you can’t touch our liquid gold,’” Trump said. “He’s very strong on, you know, the pesticides and all of the different things.” “He says, ‘We’re going to make it a healthy country.’ I said, ‘Good, Bobby, but do me one favor: Don’t touch the oil and gas. Let me handle that. I’ll handle the oil and gas.’ We’re not going to let him get involved,” Trump said.
E&E News: Meet the Texas oilman who wants to gut US climate policy
Scott Waldman, 10/31/4
“Greenhouse gases are — by definition — air pollutants. The classification has been a bedrock principle of U.S. climate policy for years, and because of it, the federal government has the authority to set limits on all kinds of planet-warming pollution, from tailpipe exhaust to power plant emissions,” E&E News reports. “Republican megadonor Tim Dunn wants to undo all of it. And the Texas oil billionaire is spending millions of dollars to help elect former President Donald Trump to try and reverse that policy, along with other U.S. efforts to address global warming.”
STATE UPDATES
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Industry experts defend carbon dioxide storage, discuss report
Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, 10/30/24
“Carbon removal was the focus of a two-day, national symposium held at Indiana University Indianapolis, including one controversial state project,” the Indiana Capital Chronicle reports. “A mile underground, much of Indiana’s rock is porous — and great for safely storing carbon dioxide, industry experts said Tuesday…Steve Whittaker, a subsurface executive at Vault 44.01., said his carbon capture and storage (CCS) company was “bullish on Indiana” “because its geology comes with “great storage capabilities.” “...University of Texas at Austin Professor Susan Hovorka, who’s worked on CCS for 25 years, said she started as a skeptic. But, Hovorka said, “It works.” “...Hovorka sought to address opposition about potential water contamination, earthquakes and explosions. She told the audience that the industry is highly regulated to protect the water supply — although she said carbon dioxide is “not harmful” to water… “We put on monitors to make sure we’re safe, but it’s not as dangerous as people think,” Hovorka said. Agribusiness company Archer-Daniels-Midland made headlines this month after discovering a potential underground leak at its Illinois CCS facility, Reuters reported. It paused injections… “Indiana is home to four U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Class VI permits for CCS projects. Wabash Valley Resources External Affairs Vice President Greg Zoeller told the panel that his company has filed two… “Government Affairs Vice President Pete Rimsans told the Capital Chronicle that the company has met with about 80% of the 200 area organizations it’s identified, and holds weekly meetings with such stakeholders. There are still skeptics, he said, but, “If they don’t engage in the conversation, there’s not much we can do about it.”
E&E News: Democrat running for Pennsylvania AG rejects climate lawsuits
Lesley Clark, 10/29/24
“The Democratic nominee for attorney general in Pennsylvania has declined to support climate litigation against the oil and gas industry, calling a lawsuit brought by Bucks County “not a direction” he plans to follow,” E&E News reports. “Eugene DePasquale told the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry in an interview released Monday that he supports climate action but that “simply punishing companies is not going to get us there.” Bucks County outside Philadelphia in March became the first Pennsylvania locale to sue the fossil fuel industry to pay up for the effects of climate change, joining a sprawling legal fight launched by more than two dozen local governments across the nation that charge that oil executives misled the public for decades about the dangers of burning fossil fuels. The county’s move came after the Center for Climate Integrity, which encourages local governments to sue the industry, released a report that estimated that municipal governments in the Keystone State will need to spend nearly $1 billion a year to protect residents from extreme heat, rising seas, and heavy rain and snow.”
KYMA: Tribal representatives call on President Biden to designate new desert national monuments in California
Dillon Fuhrman, Danyelle Burke North, 10/28/24
“Tribal representatives are calling on President Joe Biden to designate new national monuments in the California Desert,” KYMA reports. “...The press release says the representatives issued their call to action from Cali, Columbia, "where they are participating in the 16th United Nations Conference on Biological Diversity (COP16)," and the proposed national monuments in the desert include the following: Kw'tsán National Monument in Imperial County; Chuckwalla National Monument in Riverside and Imperial Counties; Sáttítla National Monument in northeastern California. "Indigenous people have waited long enough for our demands about protecting biodiversity to be taken seriously by state and federal governments. For us, it's about more than protecting the environment. Our culture, spirituality, and identity are connected to the ecosystems our people have inhabited for thousands of years. If a species goes extinct, if a mountain is destroyed by mining, if a river runs dry due to over-extraction - that is the same thing to us as losing a relative or having someone close to us harmed. We lose a part of ourselves and our history,” said Lena Ortega, Kw'tsán Cultural Committee Member, Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe… “The press release says, "To date, President Biden has designated five new national monuments and expanded two, protecting over 1.6 million acres of public lands using the Antiquities Act," but with this call to action, the press release says the president "can secure an immense achievement: protecting more public lands using the Antiquities Act of any recent president in their first four years in office."
WRIC: People’s Hearing’ held by Chesterfield residents against Dominion Energy’s proposed natural gas plant
Victoria Lucas, 10/29/24
“Controversy continues to ensue over the construction of Dominion Energy’s proposed natural gas plant — the Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) — as those against the site hosted a meeting Tuesday night,” WRIC reports. “Chesterfield County community group Friends of Chesterfield held a “People’s Hearing” at Thomas Dale High School to voice their concerns on Tuesday, Oct. 29. According to the group, this meeting is in response to the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors’ failure to provide it with a public hearing on the matter. “The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors is turning a blind eye by refusing to conduct the investigations to determine whether a site in Chesterfield County is suitable for this plant,” Nicole Martin, President of the Chesterfield Branch of the NAACP, told WRIC. Alongside Chesterfield residents, meeting attendees included community organizations, lawmakers and students. “Low-income families, including children and elders, face harm from additional combustion from fossil gas –that’s including hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds,” said Mary Finley-Brook, Chesterfield resident and associate professor at the University of Richmond. “Dominion Energy is not concerned about community safety — there has not been a comprehensive risk assessment for this project, in spite of the possibility of gas leaks, fires or explosions.” “...Testimonies will be presented to the county board of supervisors and the state’s Department of Environmental Quality. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality responded to 8News’ inquiry and said in an email that an air permit has not been issued for the proposed site.”
Charleston Gazette-Mail: PSC approves rate hikes to keep bills rising for Mountaineer Gas, Hope Gas customers
Mike Tony, 10/30/24
“The West Virginia Public Service Commission has approved rate hikes to cover pipeline replacement and expansion costs for Mountaineer Gas Co. and Hope Gas Inc. that will extend yearslong trends of bill increases,” the Charleston Gazette-Mail reports. “...The Mountaineer Gas rates are slated to take effect Jan. 1 and follow a July company proposal to spend $418 million on infrastructure replacement, system upgrades and expansion projects from 2025 through 2029, including $74 million in 2025. The PSC signed off on Mountaineer Gas’ request for an increase of annual revenues to cover infrastructure replacement and expansion totaling roughly $18.5 million — an increase of nearly $8.9 million, or 91.6%, compared with annual revenues generated by the company’s current approved rates, per the agency.”
EXTRACTION
The Hill: Governments subsidizing ‘unprecedented’ health threats from fossil fuels, leading medical journal finds
Saul Elbein, 10/29/24
“World governments are “fueling the fire” of a global health crisis with the trillions of dollars per year they direct toward subsidizing fossil fuels, according to findings published Tuesday,” The Hill reports. “Research in the Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, found that residents of every country on earth are facing the unnatural and unprecedented effects of a crisis the governments of wealthy nations are actively funding. “This year’s stocktake of the imminent health threats of climate inaction reveals the most concerning findings yet in our eight years of monitoring,” warned Marina Romanello, executive director of Lancet Countdown, which for nearly a decade has tracked the globe’s progress on health and climate change… “Even as this threat looms, Romanello added, “we see financial resources continue to be invested in the very things that undermine our health.” “...While investment in renewable energy is increasing — helping double the generation of clean electricity between 2016 and 2023 — the Lancet study found that investment in new fossil fuels still made up more than a third of new energy spending in 2023, and 84 percent of world governments still subsidize their use, in effect paying an estimated $1.4 trillion dollars per year to worsen the crisis. Such support, in tandem with the high oil-sector profits that followed Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, helped the world’s 114 biggest oil and gas companies to push their production to record levels in 2023 — a production volume that the Lancet study found puts the maintenance of a safe climate out of reach. The Lancet authors called for redirecting the money governments are now using to subsidize fossil fuels toward public health initiatives, which Romanello said “would provide the opportunity to deliver a fair, equitable transition to clean energy and energy efficiency, and a healthier future, ultimately benefiting the global economy.”
The Energy Mix: Redirect Trillions from Fossil Fuels to Protect Health, Global Health Update Urges
Gaye Taylor, 10/30/24
“World leaders must urgently redirect the trillions invested annually in fossil fuels to safeguard human health and survival against the devastating impacts of global heating, urge the authors of the latest Lancet Countdown report,” according to The Energy Mix. “...”Repurposing” the vast subsidies currently propping up the fossil fuel industry can fund this critical transition, the authors say… “And yet, Lancet finds “persistent delays in adaptation.” As of December 2023, only 61% of countries that committed to boosting their health systems’ resilience to climate change had completed vulnerability and adaptation assessments, and only 52% had developed health adaptation plans. Meanwhile, oil and gas companies are strategizing to expand production and reinforce the global dependence on fossil fuels, “pushing the world further off track” from the goals set in Paris, and “threatening people’s health and survival,” the authors write… “This trajectory is fueled by public funding, with fossil fuel subsidies totalling $1.4 trillion in 2022… “Financial resources continue to be invested in “the very things that undermine our health,” Lancet Countdown Executive Director Marina Romanello said in the release. “Repurposing the trillions of dollars being invested in, or subsidizing, the fossil fuel industry every year would provide the opportunity to deliver a fair, equitable transition to clean energy and energy efficiency, and a healthier future, ultimately benefiting the global economy.”
Reuters: Alberta files federal court challenge to Canada carbon tax exemption
10/29/24
“Canada’s main oil-producing province Alberta has filed a federal court challenge to Ottawa’s carbon tax exemption for home heating oil, arguing it is unconstitutional and unlawful, the Alberta government said on Tuesday,” Reuters reports. “The court challenge from Alberta’s conservative government, which frequently clashes with the federal Liberals on climate and energy issues, is the latest attack on the consumer carbon tax ahead of a federal election due to take place within the next year… “Canada’s consumer carbon tax, intended to help cut climate-warming emissions, has become increasingly unpopular among voters and politicians, who claim it adds to high living costs despite the revenue-neutral policy returning money to most Canadians in the form of rebates… “Alberta strongly opposes the federal carbon tax exemption on heating oil, as the federal government is no longer creating minimum national standards that apply evenly across the country, and is instead creating a regime that favors one region and fuel type over others,” the provincial government said in a statement.
The Narwhal: Pathways Alliance’s oilsands carbon capture project won’t undergo Alberta environmental assessment
Sharon J. Riley and Carl Meyer, 10/30/24
“The massive $16-billion carbon capture plan proposed by Pathways Alliance — a group of the largest oilsands companies — will not undergo a provincial environmental assessment, according to a letter from the Alberta Energy Regulator dated Oct. 25 and provided to The Narwhal. “...In May, a group of landowners, a First Nation and environmental groups requested an environmental assessment. The project aims to bury 10 to 12 megatonnes of carbon dioxide deep underground each year, roughly equivalent to the carbon pollution emitted by the oilsands every six weeks. The group, which includes Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, the Alberta Wilderness Association, Climate Action Network Canada, Environmental Defence Canada and the No to CO2 landowners’ group, requested an assessment to “ensure that the project does not have significant adverse impacts on the regional environment and local communities, including on Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.” A letter from the regulator to the group, dated Oct. 25, says the agency considered details about the proposed activity such as its location, size and complexity, and other public concerns that have been expressed, and decided “that further assessment of the activity is not required.” “...In response to previous questions from The Narwhal, a spokesperson for the Alberta Energy Regulator noted the project does not automatically trigger a provincial environmental assessment… “In the absence of an assessment, the spokesperson said the risks associated with the project would be evaluated under the standard application process. Local residents told The Narwhal they are concerned groundwater is at risk and that an explosion or a leak could mean asphyxiation caused by odourless, invisible carbon dioxide. Some First Nations have also voiced concern about implications for Treaty Rights, including the ability to hunt, trap and fish… “It’s unclear if the project will undergo a separate federal environmental assessment — sometimes carried out in conjunction with the provincial process — if officials determine the project has the potential for significant impacts within federal jurisdiction, including fish, migratory birds, species at risk and Indigenous Rights… “The Conservative Party of Canada, currently the official Opposition, plans, if elected, to replace the federal government’s “anti-resource bureaucracy” with an approval process that would “green-light” carbon capture and storage projects, as well as fossil fuel projects that produce liquefied natural gas, or LNG, according to deputy leader Melissa Lantsman.”
DeSmog: Alberta’s Oil Sands Operators Still Won’t Pay for Their Own Cleanup
Mitch Anderson, 10/30/24
“In a scathing 2023 report, University of Calgary researchers summed up provincial oversight of the oil patch with the following opening sentence: “Alberta policy on inactive and orphan oil and gas wells is a massive regulatory failure characterized by a historical lack of transparency, excessive regulatory discretion, and regulatory capture…,” DeSmog reports. “That storied tradition apparently continues with recent news that the Alberta government will not seek to increase the security posted by oil sands mining operators despite ballooning mine reclamation liabilities that have more than doubled in the last six years to an official estimate of $57.3 billion. Only 3 percent of this amount is currently covered by the Mine Financial Security Program (MFSP) meant to protect Albertans from footing the bill for mine clean-up costs that have doubled from an estimated $28 billion in 2018. During this period, the MFSP saw only a 17 percent increase – all of which was contributed by coal mining companies. Oil sands operators have only contributed a single dollar to this fund since 2010 under rules that do not require them to make additional deposits until they have 15 years of profitable bitumen reserves remaining. And what would happen if high-cost low-value Alberta bitumen became uneconomic to extract as the world shifts away from fossil fuels? The Alberta taxpayer would likely be left holding the bag for billions in mine reclamation costs, as they have for other unfunded messes foisted on the public by the oil industry… “As they say in business, there is no free lunch. Oil companies may have captured provincial regulators, but private investors are seeing a mounting risk from environmental liabilities allowed to accumulate under such lax government oversight.”
Bloomberg: South Korea’s Green Transition Hinges on Expanding Clean Power and Developing Carbon Capture and Storage
10/31/24
“It’s still possible for South Korea to get on track for net-zero emissions by 2050 and help limit global warming to well below 2C. Doing so rests on a rapid scale-up of clean electricity and carbon capture and storage capabilities, according to a report published today by Bloomberg. “...In order to do so, the country needs to accelerate the deployment of renewables and electric vehicles, while laying the groundwork to reduce emissions from hard-to-abate sectors over the next five-years… “Carbon capture and storage does the heavy lifting for emissions reduction in South Korea in the Net Zero Scenario, accounting for 41% of abatement by 2050 versus a ‘no transition’ pathway. That’s much higher than the 14% seen at the global level… “The high share of abatement for carbon capture and storage highlights South Korea’s geographical challenges”, said Seohee Song, an analyst in BNEF’s Energy Economics Team and the lead author of the report. “Finding suitable land for large-scale renewable energy projects is becoming increasingly challenging in the country, putting upward pressure on the cost of solar and wind, thus creating more need for carbon capture and storage to fully decarbonize power and industry.” In addition, almost a third of the country’s 73 gigawatts of fossil-fuel-driven power plants would need to be equipped with carbon capture by the end of this decade. Right now, no power plants in South Korea are fitted with carbon capture technology. The journey to net-zero emissions hinges on $2.7 trillion of investment and spending between now and 2050 to decarbonize South Korea’s energy system, 37% higher than in an economics-led transition. On an annual basis, this translates to $102 billion of capital outlay in the Net Zero Scenario, equivalent to 6% of the country’s gross domestic product in 2023.”
NOAA Climate.gov: Microbes, not fossil fuels, are behind recent methane surge
10/29/24
“A recent study by University of Colorado, Boulder researchers reveals that microbes, rather than fossil fuels, have been driving the surge in global methane emissions since 2020,” according to NOAA Climate.gov. “Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, traps significantly more heat than carbon dioxide, making its reduction critical for mitigating climate change. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights that microbial sources, such as wetlands and livestock, now contribute over 90 percent of methane emissions. However, reducing fossil fuel emissions remains essential for addressing climate impacts.”
Channel News Asia: Climate Conversations - Breaking down the complicated business of carbon capture
10/31/24
“Carbon dioxide is responsible for 76 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. And yet, the potential to lock up harmful emissions is big business. Jack Board speaks to a world leader in this space, the CEO of Climeworks Christoph Gebald,” Channel News Asia reports.
CLIMATE FINANCE
E&E News: SEC climate rule unlikely to survive a Trump victory
Avery Ellfeldt, 10/31/24
“A victory by former President Donald Trump next week would likely upend a yearslong federal effort to require public companies to disclose the threats they face from climate change,” E&E News reports. “But a win by Vice President Kamala Harris doesn’t guarantee the controversial plan will go through either. The Securities and Exchange Commission finalized its climate risk disclosure rule in March — only to later suspend it amid an onslaught of litigation that now sits in front of a conservative-dominated appeals court. But even if the courts uphold the rule, a potential Trump administration could take a range of steps to ensure the rule never takes effect or is short-lived, experts say. “If there’s a Trump victory, the rule will not likely survive,” Allison Herren Lee, a Biden-era SEC commissioner who kick-started the process to propose the rule in 2021, told E&E.
TODAY IN GREENWASHING
Press release: Pathways Alliance Brings Fans Closer to the Action at Grey Cup
10/30/24
“Pathways Alliance is teaming up with the Canadian Football League (CFL) to provide unforgettable fan experiences at this year’s Grey Cup. The group of oil sands producers will support various activities, including game-day events and giveaways for fans. “As an organization representing Canada’s largest oil sands operators, we’re excited to work with the CFL for the Grey Cup. It’s a national celebration where people across the country gather to cheer on their favourite team, and we look forward to enhancing the game-day experience for fans,” says Kendall Dilling, President, Pathways Alliance… “We’re grateful for all their support, and this sponsorship with Pathways Alliance will help us celebrate our fans and bring them closer to the game they love,” said Tyler Keenan, the CFL’s Chief Revenue Officer.
OPINION
Brookings Register: Vote ‘yes’ on pipeline measure
Jim Seurer, CEO Glacial Lakes Energy, 10/30/24
“Without a doubt, ethanol has been the most prosperous opportunity agriculture has ever seen,” Jim Seurer writes for the Brookings Register. “...There are significant challenges ahead and the potential for failure exists if we don’t find our place in the global shift toward a low-carbon economy… “Competing in this new low-carbon world could be bigger than ethanol itself, particularly if we can qualify for the production of jet fuel (sustainable aviation fuel) which is three times the size of our current market… “Please remember, a lower demand for ethanol equals a lower demand for corn. How does a future of consistently lower corn prices pencil out for South Dakota’s agricultural sector, our economy, and our businesses? Please join me and Vote “Yes” for RL21.”
Cleveland.com: Ohio Should Protect Its Pristine Public Lands From Further Harm Of Fracking: Editorial
Editorial Board, 10/30/24
“The recent approval to opening 62 acres of preserved wildlife area in eastern Ohio to drilling marks a troubling step toward transforming our public lands into profit centers at the expense of their ecological value. Now, with two new applications proposing to explore drilling across thousands of additional acres in Salt Fork State Park, the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission should carefully weigh the long-term consequences of such actions on Ohio’s largest state park,” the Cleveland.com Editorial Board writes. “At stake is the environmental integrity of a park spanning 20,000 acres, which has been a haven for wildlife and a retreat for countless Ohioans who seek peace, recreation and natural beauty. The commission’s deferral of a decision on these latest applications, citing the need to review 360 public comments — largely opposing fracking in the park — is a necessary step. But more than a formality, these comments should be taken seriously, as they reflect Ohioans’ growing concerns over the destructive impact that drilling has on air, water and natural habitats… “The commission should reject further drilling expansion in Salt Fork. Ohio’s state parks are treasures worth preserving, not exploiting.”
Center for Western Priorities: Hydrogen: Fuel of the future, or another pipe dream?
Rachael Hamby, 10/28/24
“Hydrogen is an energy source that can be used as fuel for vehicles and airplanes, and to power many of the same things powered by natural gas. Technologies that use hydrogen as a fuel source emit only water, making them seem like appealing potential alternatives to technologies that rely on fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change,” Rachael Hamby writes for the Center for Western Priorities. “....Hydrogen production requires significant inputs of energy and water and is currently very expensive. The lack of existing infrastructure to safely store and transport hydrogen adds to the expense and makes it impractical in many cases. While a hydrogen leak would not have the same dangers to human health that a carbon dioxide leak would have, a release of hydrogen into the atmosphere would lead to chemical reactions with other gases in the air that would result in an increase in greenhouse gases such as methane… “While the development of a hydrogen production industry is in its early stages, Western policymakers have been laying the groundwork for attracting the industry to their states and incorporating hydrogen into their energy portfolios… “Other Western states are also laying the regulatory groundwork for a potential hydrogen industry.Meanwhile, the Biden administration has made significant investments in hydrogen production using funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed into law in November 2021… “Even the cleanest of hydrogens still raise significant questions… “Hydrogen production also requires significant energy input… “Proponents will argue that this is a reasonable way to offload excess solar and wind when energy demand is low, but considering the costs involved, society would be better served by investing in improving ways of storing this energy in batteries or passive storage systems. Producing green hydrogen for fuel makes sense only for uses that are extraordinarily difficult to decarbonize using renewables, such as powering trains and trucks or producing cement and steel. In this sense, hydrogen is similar to carbon capture; it has a limited role to play in the energy transition, but it is not the solution to climate change on its own.”