EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 11/4/22
PIPELINE NEWS
Iowa Public Radio: Shelby County establishes setbacks for carbon capture pipelines
The Gazette: Navigator seeks condemnation powers for its CO2 pipeline
Cherokee Chronicle Times: Navigator moves forward with IUB permit process
Atlantic News Telegraph: Adair County Supervisors consider pipeline ordinance
Fairmont Sentinel: County briefed on pipeline project
York News Times: Easements being gathered for carbon dioxide pipeline
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Facts: Preemption of state and local pipeline laws [VIDEO]
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Facts: Jim Walsh: Carbon Capture & Hydrogen [VIDEO]
Press release: Enbridge Announces Expansion of T-South Pipeline Segment of B.C. Pipeline System
WORT: Big Money Flows From Enbridge To Tim Michels
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: White House releases net-zero road map
Reuters: Drillers ask U.S. to exempt smallest wells from looming methane rule
Grist: Transmission impossible: Are Democrats punting on permitting reform?
E&E News: Federal landlord phasing out fossil fuel equipment
STATE UPDATES
Montana Free Press: Groups appeal Badger-Two Medicine oil and gas lease decision
Longmont Times-Call: Boulder County Commissioners unanimously reject lease offer
E&E News: Will Colorado’s strict oil and gas rules spread to other states?
EXTRACTION
Reuters: Canada's Suncor unveils steps to improve oil sands safety after fatalities
Energy Live News: ‘LNG is creating 10 times the emissions of pipeline gas’
Reuters: Sempra set to approve Texas Port Arthur LNG export plant in Q1 2023
Reuters: Methane emissions seen as top threat to climate stability
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Methane research takes on new urgency at MIT
The Hill: Few corporations on pace to reach long-term net zero emissions targets: research
OPINION
Algona Reminder: Actions speak louder than Summit’s ads
Oelwein Daily Register: CO2 Pipeline – A personal perspective
NRDC: Mountain Valley Pipeline: "Uniquely risky"
PIPELINE NEWS
Iowa Public Radio: Shelby County establishes setbacks for carbon capture pipelines
Kendall Crawford, 11/2/22
“A southwestern Iowa county voted to establish setbacks for hazardous liquid pipelines on Tuesday,” Iowa Public Radio reports. “At a public hearing in Harlan, residents and landowners voiced their concerns of Summit Carbon Solution’s proposal to construct a carbon capture pipeline throughout the state. The county adopted a new pipeline zoning ordinance, in hopes it can regulate where the project can be built within the community. County supervisor Steve Kenkel said residents are worried about the safety of the project and how it could impact economic development. That led to a unanimous decision by the board of supervisors to regulate how close the hazardous liquid pipeline could be to homes and community buildings. “If you want to build a house or you want to build a shed or you want to put in a utility line, you have to get a permit and you have to follow zoning ordinances,” Kenkel said. “I don't know why hazardous pipelines would be any different.” “...But, Summit’s director of public affairs Jesse Harris told IPR the ordinance is inconsistent with Iowa code – which gives the Iowa Utilities Board the power to approve hazardous liquid pipeline routes. He told IPR the company does not have to comply with local regulations. “To have each county have their own set of requirements would mean that the 47,000 miles of pipelines that are in active service across the state, those projects just would not be possible anymore,” Harris told IPR. “And I think you'd see a significant impact to our economy.” “...Still, other counties across the state are considering similar ordinances. Kenkel said nearly 30 counties have reached out to him for help in building their own regulations… “Jennifer Lefeber works as an emergency department manager at Harlan’s local hospital. She said she doesn't believe local emergency responders have the resources to mitigate a potential rupture. “This places more responsibility and burden on an already very limited valuable resource in our community: our volunteers,” she said at Tuesday’s public hearing.
The Gazette: Navigator seeks condemnation powers for its CO2 pipeline
11/3/22
“Navigator Heartland Greenway last week became the second developer of a carbon dioxide sequestration pipeline to ask Iowa regulars to allow it to use eminent domain to force landowners to sell it easements for the underground hazardous pipeline route,” The Gazette reports. “...Navigator told regulators that “It is uncertain at this time whether and to what extent the right of eminent domain will be required.” The company has not yet submitted a list to the board showing the description of the lands in question… “Navigator also noted that “strong and durable ethanol and fertilizer plants benefit farmers. The ethanol industry is the largest purchaser of Iowa corn, consuming approximately 57 percent of Iowa’s corn crop each year.” In a questionnaire sent to Eastern Iowa candidates for the Iowa Legislature by The Gazette, a majority of those who responded said the Iowa Utilities Board should not approve the use of eminent domain for the companies. Of 29 Eastern Iowa candidates for Iowa House or Senate who did respond, 21 said they did not think the board should grant eminent domain rights for the pipelines.”
Cherokee Chronicle Times: Navigator moves forward with IUB permit process
Loren G. Flaugh, 11/3/22
“Omaha-based Navigator Ventures recently completed the Iowa Utilities Board’s required public information meetings for its proposed 1,300-mile Heartland Greenway carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) pipeline system,” the Cherokee Chronicle Times reports. “...According to information filed in its IUB application, Navigator currently identifies approximately 811 miles of 6-inch, 8-inch, 12-inch, 16-inch and 20-inch diameter high-strength carbon steel pipeline that’s to be built through Iowa… “For the balance of 2022 and throughout much of 2023, Navigator will continue surveying activities as needed and negotiating voluntary landowner easement agreements. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Navigator anticipates receiving its federal and state permits… “Navigator’s reasoning goes on to say, in part, that the HGPS will promote the public convenience and necessity in multiple ways by strengthening the ethanol and fertilizer industries. The ethanol industry supports approximately 407,000 jobs in the United States each year, including approximately 39,000 jobs in Iowa. The fertilizer industry supports roughly 487,000 jobs nationwide each year, including 32,000 in Iowa… “Based on 63 miles of pipeline infrastructure proposed to be built in O’Brien County, the yearly property tax revenue benefit there could eclipse $2 million. Based on 5.51 miles of 12-inch diameter pipeline crossing the northwest corner of Cherokee County, yearly property tax revenue benefit there could approach $173,653.”
Atlantic News Telegraph: Adair County Supervisors consider pipeline ordinance
Jennifer Nichols, 11/3/22
“The Adair County Board of Supervisors are considering adding a new ordinance related to hazardous liquid pipelines in the county to help protect residents health, safety and welfare,” the Atlantic News Telegraph reports. “The board reviewed a draft of the ordnance Wednesday morning, which says the purpose is “to facilitate the construction, installation, and operation of any Hazardous Liquid Pipeline in Adair County in a manner that preserves and protects the rights, privileges, and property of the County and its residents, that ensures the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the county’s residents, and that provides an opportunity for economic growth and development.” The draft is being reviewed by the county attorney, and will be considered by the board at a future meeting. Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg said the board wanted to be proactive in creating the ordinance in case any pipeline projects are proposed in Adair County. The draft includes separation distance for several places including:. from the city limits of an incorporated city, not less than two miles.;. From a church, school, nursing home, long-term care facility, or hospital, not less than one half of one mile; From a public park or public recreation area, not less than one quarter of one mile.; From any occupied structure, not less than 1,000 feet; From a confined animal feeding operation or facility, not less than 1,000 feet; From an electric power generating facility with a nameplate capacity of 5MW or more,an electric transmission line operating at 69kV or higher, or a public wastewater treatment plant, not less than 1,000 feet. Board member Jodie Hoadley wanted to add a separation distance for operational wells… “The Shelby County Board of Supervisors recently passed a law to put limits on any CO2 pipelines coming through the county. Those against the pipeline say they have concerns about health issues and property rights.”
Fairmont Sentinel: County briefed on pipeline project
BROOKE WOHLRABE, 11/4/22
“The Martin County Commissioners were presented with an update on the Summit Carbon Solutions Pipeline Project during their meeting on Tuesday,” the Fairmont Sentinel reports. “Joe Caruso, Minnesota External Affairs Coordinator, said they were last in the area in June for a public open house, which was well attended. He said at that time questions were raised and good conversations were had… “Caruso said SCS is investing $4.5 million system-wide over the five states and about 12 percent of the investment will be in Minnesota… “Commissioner Elliot Belgard asked what the concerns are with a leak. He asked if it could cause respiratory issues. It was explained that quick action would take place and that there are shut-down procedures. If there was a large release that came with a cloud, an evacuation of the area might be necessary. However, it was said that it dissipates quickly in the wind. “If there was a leak and you didn’t respond quick enough and there was a cloud over a hog barn, could it kill the hogs? That’s what I need answered,” Belgard said. “It could if it could get inside the hog barn in a very large concentration. The dissipation is very quick,” said Scott O’Konek, Project Manager for Minnesota. He talked about an incidence in Mississippi which he called “worst case scenario,” where the cloud went over a town… “The difference between us and that would be the hydrogen sulphide. It’s very nasty,” said O’Konek.
York News Times: Easements being gathered for carbon dioxide pipeline
Melanie Wilkinson, 11/3/22
“Officials representing the Summit Carbon Solutions say they have acquired 28% of the needed easements in York County to build their planned carbon dioxide pipeline in 2023,” the York News Times reports. “Rob Latimer and Ben Fuller met with the county board this week, to make their regular, periodical update reports… “This week, Fuller told the board the project “will help keep ethanol plants viable as regulations are coming in the future.” He also added that concerns about the pipeline, which he’s heard, have centered on safety. He said the company, to address those concerns, has decided to go to four feet of cover (instead of the required three), install shut-off valves every 20 miles, have operations at all times in Nebraska with 24-7 monitoring. Latimer further addressed the land easements, reiterating that it is currently at 28% of what they will need, which compares to the 14.5% mark they were at when they last addressed the commissioners in the summer… “It was noted that last summer, the size of the pipe was being planned with a four-inch diameter in York County – that has since increased to 10 inches, after some reassessments, Latimer said… “Commissioner Jack Sikes asked what the company will do “with those who refuse easements on their land.” Latimer said his company hopes the acquisition pace carries on at the rate it has been. “It takes time, many visits and understanding people’s issues.” “So eminent domain is still on the table,” Sikes commented. “At the end of the day, if we can’t reach people or if people refuse to negotiate, eminent domain is there to help work out those issues,” Latimer said. Sikes also asked if a leak could cause safety problems, such as killing cattle in low-lying areas, etc. He said he had read a story about this happening somewhere in the country, where carbon dioxide allegedly poisoned killed animals… “York County Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier said a route agreement will have to be signed with the county before then, to which the Summit representatives agreed.”
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Facts: Preemption of state and local pipeline laws [VIDEO]
Paul Blackburn, Bold Alliance, 11/3/22
“Companies building dangerous carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines claim that state and local governments have no power to set ANY regulations for Co2 pipelines. Attorney and pipeline expert Paul Blackburn of the Bold Alliance says this is just plain not true,” Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Facts reports.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Facts: Jim Walsh: Carbon Capture & Hydrogen [VIDEO]
Jim Walsh, Policy Director of Food and Water Watch, 11/3/22
“Jim Walsh, Policy Director of Food and Water Watch, discusses carbon capture and hydrogen.”
Press release: Enbridge Announces Expansion of T-South Pipeline Segment of B.C. Pipeline System
11/4/22
“Enbridge Inc. announced today the successful completion of an open season for increased transportation capacity on the T-South segment of its B.C. Pipeline (T-South), a natural gas pipeline system, which originates near Chetwynd, British Columbia (B.C.) and extends south to the Canada-U.S. border at Huntingdon-Sumas. The open season was over-subscribed, and Enbridge has sanctioned and is proceeding with a 300 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) expansion at a capital cost of up to CAD $3.6 billion. "This expansion illustrates the immense strategic importance of our B.C. natural gas system in supplying regional and global energy demand with low-emission natural gas," said Cynthia Hansen, Executive Vice President and President of Gas Transmission and Midstream at Enbridge. "And it also demonstrates how we're able to leverage our conventional energy transportation assets to extend our growth and generate value for our shareholders." The T-South expansion will involve adding pipeline loops and additional compression under a cost-of-service framework, backed by long-term contracts with a weighted average term of 65 years. The location of the loops and accompanying compression will be determined in the coming months after detailed consultation with Indigenous communities and stakeholders and after environmental and routing assessment have been completed.”
WORT: Big Money Flows From Enbridge To Tim Michels
11/3/22
“Join 8 O’Clock Buzz host Tony Castaneda as he gets the backstory on Tim Michels’ rise to GOP Gubernatorial candidate, his long-time business ties with Enbridge and his plans for the Wisconsin DNR should he be elected,” WORT reports. “Guest Marc Rosenthal is is the co-chair of the People’s Green New Deal committee of Democratic Socialists of America and a member of Wisconsin 350 and of the State Wide Line 5 Coalition. He recently authored an opinion piece at the Capital Times, titled “Chase Bank and Tim Michels cashing in on polluters.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: White House releases net-zero road map
David Iaconangelo, 11/4/22
“The White House announced a new initiative this morning to help reach net-zero emissions and promised to direct research and billions in federal dollars toward 37 “game-changing” energy technologies,” E&E News reports. “The Net-Zero Game Changers Initiative, as it’s known, is led by a working group of 17 agencies, chaired by President Joe Biden’s climate advisers. The administration also released a new road map identifying five initial key areas for energy research and development to reach net zero by 2050: power grids, aviation, fusion energy, efficient buildings and net-zero fuels and industrial products… “As part of the initiative, the administration will pour funds from the bipartisan infrastructure law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act into the five areas, the White House said… “They include advanced forms of nuclear, solar and geothermal power generation; advanced batteries, electric aircraft and high-speed rail; low-carbon forms of aluminum, chemicals and concrete; emissions reductions from livestock and agriculture; and direct air capture or other forms of CO2 removal… “The International Energy Agency has concluded that nearly half of the emissions reductions necessary for net-zero will have to come from technologies in their demonstration or prototype phase — a finding cited by the White House working group… “However, some of the technologies backed by the White House have faced criticism. Carbon capture and its associated transport and storage infrastructure, for example, is disliked by some environmentalists who say it prolongs use of fossil fuels and is expensive.”
Reuters: Drillers ask U.S. to exempt smallest wells from looming methane rule
Valerie Volcovici and Nichola Groom, 11/2/22
“Oil and gas companies have asked the Biden administration to exempt hundreds of thousands of the nation's smallest wells from upcoming rules requiring drillers to find and plug leaks of methane, according to industry groups, despite studies showing they emit huge amounts of the powerful greenhouse gas,” Reuters reports. “The Independent Petroleum Association of America and a coalition of some 20 state drillers' associations have asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to exclude wells producing less than 6 barrels per day from the rule, arguing that including them would be costly and inefficient, according to the IPAA and the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association… “Biden's EPA last year unveiled a proposal that would require oil and gas companies to monitor 300,000 of their biggest well sites every three months to find and fix leaks, ban the venting of methane produced as a byproduct of crude oil into the atmosphere, and require upgrades to equipment such as storage tanks, compressors, and pneumatic pumps. But the rules left aside how the industry should manage methane emissions from its smaller "marginal" wells - those producing less than 15 barrels per day - an issue that will be dealt with in the EPA's supplemental ruling expected in the coming weeks… “The problem, environmentalists tell Reuters, is that collectively, the smaller wells produce a massive amount of climate-damaging methane… “Exempting wells that produce less than 6 barrels per day would effectively exclude more than 80% of those marginal wells from the EPA rule, according to KIOGA. "The fact that those studies show that half of the problem comes from these wells shows that you can't leave half of the pie on the table," Jon Goldstein, who leads EDF's efforts to regulate oil and gas operations, told Reuters.
Grist: Transmission impossible: Are Democrats punting on permitting reform?
Zoya Teirstein, 11/2/22
“Massachusetts has to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, the deadline the United Nations says is consistent with a livable planet, under a sweeping climate law signed by the state’s Republican governor last year,” Grist reports. “...But the project has run into a roadblock: stiff opposition from the nearby state of Maine… “As more states commit to new climate plans, more interstate transmission lines like the one Massachusetts is fighting to build will have to crisscross the United States… “Congress could speed up transmission construction by becoming the ultimate referee on interstate power lines, but so far lawmakers have declined to step into that role… “If Democrats can’t figure out a way to reform the permitting process before the end of the year, they may not get a chance to revisit it for a long time. Meanwhile, experts predict that interstate squabbling over where transmission lines can go and who should shoulder their costs will continue to jeopardize new renewable energy projects as the nation scrambles to pump its patchwork of power grids full of renewable energy and make the tardy transition away from fossil fuels… “There’s also a scenario in which Republicans take back one or both houses of Congress next week and permitting reform is revisited under their terms. On Tuesday, Politico reported that House Republicans are planning an energy agenda that centers around much more aggressive permitting reforms that would significantly shorten environmental reviews for all types of energy projects. But they’re unlikely to be successful in the next two years. “In the scenario where we lose one chamber, I’m not sure you do any of this,” Casten told Grist. “For all the lip service Republicans pay to oil and gas permitting reform and NEPA repeal, they won’t have a White House that will sign off on it.”
E&E News: Federal landlord phasing out fossil fuel equipment
Kelsey Brugger, 11/3/22
“The federal government’s real estate management agency is working on going fossil fuel-free,” E&E News reports. “The General Services Administration announced Thursday that Inflation Reduction Act funding will not be used to install fossil fuel-based equipment at any of its 1,500 buildings across the country. That includes natural gas boilers, industrial pumps or chillers. The pledge reflects the Biden administration’s push to infuse climate policies at agencies that are not traditionally considered energy- or climate-related — from the GSA to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service. GSA has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by midcentury… “The Inflation Reduction Act allotted $3.4 billion to GSA, which the agency will spend through its Federal Buildings Fund. The program includes support for sustainable building materials and converting federal facilities to high-performance green buildings. Historically, when GSA has had to replace a broken piece of equipment like a chiller, the agency has gotten a similar chiller. The new approach will promote the use of newer, greener technologies.”
STATE UPDATES
Montana Free Press: Groups appeal Badger-Two Medicine oil and gas lease decision
Amanda Eggert, 11/2/22
“The Pikuni Traditionalists Association, a group representing the cultural and religious interests of the Blackfeet Tribe, has appealed a ruling reinstating a federal oil and gas lease in the Badger-Two Medicine,” Montana Free Press reports. “Today’s appeal represents the latest development in a 40-year saga over federal energy permitting in a 165,000-acre region of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest that’s often described as the spiritual homeland of the Blackfeet Tribe. The Badger-Two Medicine features in Blackfeet creation stories, supplies tribal members with traditional foods and medicines, and serves as a corridor for wildlife traveling between Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. It’s designated a traditional Cultural District and closed to motorized recreation. Louisiana-based Solanex seeks to build a well pad and temporary bridges in the Badger Two-Medicine for oil and gas drilling with a lease that has featured in administrative, judicial and legislative fights for decades. The Clinton administration suspended the 6,200-acre lease in 1993, a move that subsequent administrations repeated under pressure from conservationists and tribal representatives seeking to stop energy development in the area… “U.S. District Judge Richard Leon of Washington, D.C, sided with Solanex in his Sept. 9 decision, chastising the Interior Department for subjecting the company to “a never-ending series of administrative reviews [that] have precluded any activity for nearly forty years.” “...The Blackfeet Confederacy, the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, which represents tribes across Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, and the National Congress of American Indians are all standing together with the Blackfeet Nation,” Pikuni Traditionalist Association member and state Rep. Tyson Running Wolf, D-Browning, said in a Nov. 2 emailed release about the appeal. “We will never cede sacred ground to those who would defile it. And it’s not just about Indian Country, for decades now, Republican and Democratic administrations have supported a lease-free Badger because the place is important to all the people of Montana.” The Blackfeet-Headwaters Alliance, Glacier Two-Medicine Alliance, National Parks Conservation Association, the Wilderness Society and Wild Montana (formerly Montana Wilderness Association) joined in the appeal.”
Longmont Times-Call: Boulder County Commissioners unanimously reject lease offer
AMBER CARLSON, 11/2/22
“The Boulder County Commissioners have unanimously voted to turn down a lease offer from Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., for county-owned mineral rights in eastern Boulder County at a public hearing,” the Longmont Times-Call reports. “The decision came Tuesday in response to a July 5 letter in which Extraction threatened to pursue forced pooling if the county did not agree to lease mineral rights for its Blue Paintbrush drilling project. Although the Blue Paintbrush area is located in Weld County, Boulder County owns a conservation easement on the land, and plans for the project include horizontal drilling under several square miles of Boulder County. At an Aug. 25 hearing, the Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee unanimously voted to recommend that the County Commissioners reject Extraction’s lease offer. The public was invited to attend the County Commissioners’ hearing Tuesday and provide feedback on the lease project, and almost all of the nearly 100 written responses received before the hearing were opposed to the lease offer, according to a news release. “Leasing Boulder County open space oil and gas property rights … would expose residents to toxic well gasses, increase ozone pollution and emit supercharged climate change gas,” Commissioner Matt Jones said at the hearing. “Boulder County taxpayers voted seven times to protect open space for environmental protection, agriculture and trails, the opposite of oil and gas development.” Additionally, Jones added, the act of forced pooling — in which a county is forced to do business with oil companies — “violates both constitutional and statutory requirements.”
E&E News: Will Colorado’s strict oil and gas rules spread to other states?
Mike Soraghan, 11/4/22
“Bill Coffee’s neighbors in this outer suburb of Denver figured they were doomed to lose their fight against the oil company’s plan to drill 26 wells next to their subdivision,” E&E News reports. “But Coffee grew cautiously optimistic as he learned about a 2019 state law that prioritized health, safety and the environment ahead of oil and gas production. “That leveled the playing field, so to say,” Coffee told E&E. It leveled it enough that they won their fight against Occidental Petroleum Corp. Thanks to the law and the concerted efforts of Coffee, his neighbors and activists, state regulators blocked the company’s plan to drill. Colorado’s law and the slew of regulations it engendered were one of the biggest regulatory responses to the fracking-powered drilling resurgence that revived the country’s withered oil industry more than a decade ago. The package, commonly referred to by its legislative moniker, SB-181, led to numerous limits on the oil and gas industry, such as banning routine flaring of gas and requiring wells to be 2,000 feet from homes. The industry warned that the new restrictions would “shut down” Colorado’s energy production... “And Colorado was still the fifth-largest crude oil producer in the country last year. .. “Some industry executives have now come to accept the rules, even embrace them. There’s a sense that Colorado’s approach is where the industry is headed nationally. That acceptance is part of the reason the industry also fears Colorado’s restrictions might spread to other states. “We certainly worry about things like that making their way outside of Colorado,” Lynn Granger, executive director of the American Petroleum Institute Colorado, told E&E. Particularly vexed by the 2,000-foot buffer zone, she worries about opponents arguing that “they’re doing it there, and they were able to make it work.” Granger calls Colorado’s rules “the strictest in the world.” But the new law doesn’t do enough for many environmentalists and local activists. People are still harmed by oil and gas operations, they tell E&E, and attempts to help them often come up short.”
EXTRACTION
Reuters: Canada's Suncor unveils steps to improve oil sands safety after fatalities
Nia Williams, 11/3/22
“Canada's Suncor Energy on Thursday outlined steps it is taking to improve safety at oil sands operations in northern Alberta, after a string of fatalities in the last two years that led to the resignation of the company's chief executive officer,” Reuters reports. “Interim CEO Kris Smith promised to improve Suncor's poor safety and operational record when he took over following former CEO Mark Little's resignation in July. Five employees and contractors have died in accidents at Suncor sites since 2019, by far the worst safety record among oil sands companies. Smith on Thursday said Suncor, the second-largest oil producer in Canada, was reducing its contractor workforce in the mining and upgrading business by 20%, installing collision awareness technology on more than 1,000 pieces of mobile mining equipment and increasing training for team leaders. "My priority has been to remove distractions from the organization and to focus our employees on safe reliable operations and our biggest opportunities," Smith said on a third-quarter earnings call. Lianne Lefsrud, assistant professor of engineering safety and risk management at the University of Alberta, told Reuters using contractors could impact safety by fragmenting the reporting structure, training and standard operating procedures on a site. "You may have 10 companies with very different cultures and 10 very different understandings of how work is done around here," she told Reuters. "It complicates operations because you're not necessarily all reading from the same songbook."
Energy Live News: ‘LNG is creating 10 times the emissions of pipeline gas’
Kiran Bose, 11/3/22
“The increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports to combat the Ukraine War is putting climate targets at risk. That’s according to a report by Rystad Energy, which claims the emissions involved in LNG are not being monitored and are impacting global targets,” Energy Live News reports. “It warns that LNG production and transport generates 10 times the amount of carbon emissions, compared with pipeline gas – although LNG has regularly been touted as a cleaner alternative.,LNG has become highly popular in recent months across Europe and the UK, as countries have looked to stabilise energy supply, following the volatility of the energy market from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine… “The issue regarding emissions is that the burning of the gas remains the same whether its piped or liquid – so the research intimates that the unreported impact of making the gas a liquid is just creating more emissions. Rystad’s Patrick King explains: “For piped gas from Norway, we see around 7kg of carbon per barrel – but for LNG imports into Europe, we estimate the average is over 70, so around 10 times lower for piped gas versus LNG. “By the end of next year, if Russia fully turns off the gas taps, and all that additional gas needs to come from LNG sources, we will see an additional 35 million tonnes of imported upstream carbon emissions compared to 2021.”
Reuters: Sempra set to approve Texas Port Arthur LNG export plant in Q1 2023
11/3/22
“California energy company Sempra Energy said Thursday that its Sempra Infrastructure unit planned to greenlight the first phase of its proposed Port Arthur liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in Texas during the first quarter of 2023,” Reuters reports. "We have made significant progress on advancing development at Port Arthur LNG, where we now expect to take a final investment decision on Phase 1 in the first quarter of next year," Sempra Chief Executive Jeffrey Martin said in a press release on the company's third quarter earnings. If approved, the roughly $10.5 billion plant could enter service around 2027… “Sempra said it was also actively marketing LNG from a proposed 6-13 MTPA second phase at Port Arthur. The Wall Street Journal said Sempra was in talks to sign a 20-year non-binding agreement to provide U.S. pipeline company Williams Cos Inc with 3 MTPA of LNG out of Port Arthur, according to people familiar with the matter… “In addition, to the Port Arthur plant, Sempra is building a 3-MTPA LNG export plant at its Costa Azul LNG import plant in Mexico and is developing a second 6-MTPA phase at Cameron, a second 12-MTPA phase at Costa Azul and a new 2-MTPA export plant at Vista Pacifico in Mexico.”
Reuters: Methane emissions seen as top threat to climate stability
Tim Cocks, 11/3/22
“Methane emissions have emerged as a top threat to the global climate, with scientists and policymakers calling for aggressive action to curb the output,” Reuters reports. “At last year’s U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, more than 100 countries pledged a 30% cut from 2020 methane emissions levels by 2030. But few have since carved out clear plans to reach that goal. Instead, scientists using satellite monitoring are discovering new emissions sources, including leaks from oil wells and natural gas pipelines. About 60% of the methane in the atmosphere comes from industrial sources, including oil and gas pipelines and drill sites, as well as feed lots, croplands and landfills. Research increasingly shows that reducing emissions of methane is vital to keeping planetary warming to within 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times to avert the worst impacts of climate change… “If I thought we had 100 years to deal with climate change, I’d be an awful lot more relaxed about it,” Mike Berners-Lee, expert and author on carbon footprints, told Reuters. “If you’re interested in the climate impacts, we’ll be experiencing in 2050 ... you’d be absolutely screaming about methane emissions.” “...Petroleum-producing companies and nations are lobbying hard for natural gas as a “bridge fuel” to renewables as the world undertakes a clean energy transition to fight climate change. Their argument: burning natural gas emits half as much carbon per kilowatt as coal. But factor in gas industry leaks from drill pads, pipelines, compressors, and other infrastructure, and those gains can quickly be erased. “There’s a break-even point in how much methane is leaked for ... natural gas (to be) actually worse than coal for the climate,” Sam Abernethy, co-author of the February study, told Reuters.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Methane research takes on new urgency at MIT
Eric Brown, 11/2/22
“One of the most notable climate change provisions in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act is the first U.S. federal tax on a greenhouse gas (GHG). That the fee targets methane (CH4), rather than carbon dioxide (CO2), emissions is indicative of the urgency the scientific community has placed on reducing this short-lived but powerful gas. Methane persists in the air about 12 years — compared to more than 1,000 years for CO2 — yet it immediately causes about 120 times more warming upon release. The gas is responsible for at least a quarter of today’s gross warming… “Because GHGs have a runaway effect on climate, reductions made now will have a far greater impact than the same reductions made in the future. Cutting methane emissions will slow the thawing of permafrost, which could otherwise lead to massive methane releases, as well as reduce increasing emissions from wetlands. “The goal of MIT Methane Network is to reduce methane emissions by 45 percent by 2030, which would save up to 0.5 degree C of warming by 2100,” says Plata, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at MIT and director of the Plata Lab… “Methane-related projects at the Plata Lab include a filter made of zeolite — the same clay-like material used in cat litter — designed to convert methane into CO2 at dairy farms and coal mines. At first glance, the technology would appear to be a bit of a hard sell, since it converts one GHG into another. Yet the zeolite filter’s low carbon and dollar costs, combined with the disproportionate warming impact of methane, make it a potential game-changer.”
The Hill: Few corporations on pace to reach long-term net zero emissions targets: research
ZACK BUDRYK, 11/3/22
“More than 90 percent of large companies that have stated commitments to reaching net-zero emissions will miss such goals at their current pace, according to a new report,” The Hill reports. “Among 2,000 global corporations analyzed by consulting firm Accenture, about a third, 34 percent, have a public net-zero commitment — an increase from last year, the report states. However, 93 percent are on track to miss their goals by midcentury unless they quicken their pace. Even an “accelerated scenario,” in which the pace of emissions cuts doubles through the end of the decade and quintuples through 2050, still means 40 percent of companies will miss their goals — and a quarter will miss the target by 2050, which climatologists have called the deadline to stave off catastrophic warming… “Among companies with net-zero targets throughout the supply chain, emissions dropped 18 percent between 2011 and 2020 and 5 percent between 2011 and 2019, according to the report. By comparison, emissions only decreased 1 percent between 2011 and 2020 for those focused on more direct emissions — known as scope 1 and scope 2 emissions — and increased 3 percent from 2011 to 2019. “This report – while extremely worrying with regards to the delivery trajectory on net zero – shows a clear pathway for companies to create value and impact at a time when capital markets, governments and other organizations will create even more pressure to deliver on targets set through transparency, comparability and consistency,” Peter Lacy, Accenture’s global Sustainability Services lead and chief responsibility officer, told The Hill.
OPINION
Algona Reminder: Actions speak louder than Summit’s ads
Nancy Erickson, 11/2/22
“Summit Carbon Solutions is running large ads to tell us they care. I personally believe someone cares when they show me. Actions speak much louder than Summit’s ads. So far, their actions show they do not care about anyone,” Nancy Erickson writes for the Algona Reminder. “They only care about raking in your tax dollars. They are not paying for this hazardous pipeline. Your tax dollars are supporting it. I recently received an increased offer and easement to sign… “Take your time reading the section about Location. Once you sign, they can move the easement location anywhere. They do not need your approval… “They also refuse to say how hazardous this pipeline can be. They tell you it’s the same as the fizz in your pop. There is a definite difference between drinking CO2 in pop and inhaling CO2 from a ruptured pipeline. One makes me burp. The other can kill me. The air we breathe is only 0.04 concentration of CO2. The pipeline is 100 percent CO2. What if your child, grandchild, or friend’s child is on a school bus when this ruptures along Highway 169? The CO2 will turn into a gas and it is an asphyxiant. It will stall the school bus and has the potential to kill everyone on board… “As little as 10 percent concentration has the power to kill people, pets and livestock. Summit says it will quickly dissipate. Tell that to the people in Satartia, Mississippi where the CO2 hung in the air for hours after a pipeline ruptured a mile from their town.”
Oelwein Daily Register: CO2 Pipeline – A personal perspective
Kathy Hoeck, Hazleton, 10/28/22
“I preface this writing by saying that I have lived in Buchanan County all my life. I am not typically a person who writes letters to the editor; however, this time, I find that I cannot remain silent. My husband and I own a small farm that will supposedly be in the path of the CO2 pipeline proposed to come into our county and state,” Kathy Hoeck writes for the Oelwein Daily Register. “...At one meeting, we found out that the pipeline would probably cross our land, first west to east, then making a 90-degree angle turn and then proceeding north to south, cutting through every fence, waterway, and tile line that it has taken us almost 50 years to establish. We were told at one meeting to put up “NO TRESPASSING” signs on our property to show our opposition to this project, and we did so accordingly… “Later, with the 40-day window closing, our good neighbor called at 7 a.m. and said there were three vehicles parked in front of our field. My husband and I got into the truck and drove the half-mile to the field and sure enough, now only one vehicle remained but was parked with orange traffic cones around it. Our “NO TRESPASSING” sign was again tossed into the ditch. The two other vehicles were driving away. We were able to speak to two of these men who informed us that they were with the pipeline and had legal right to be on our property without permission. We asked for ID … they had none, other than a driver’s license. There was no company logo marking their vehicle and they wore no identifying clothing that indicated that they were employees of Navigator. The plates on their vehicles were from NY, IL, and MN. They would answer no questions only saying they didn’t know. One of the men announced that “they had been all over our farm about a week ago,” about the same time our signs were coming down. A second man said he was the land agent and that he had been on the job for two weeks. He added that he would be back sometime in the near future (no specific date was given) with easement papers for us to sign. We did not respond to this statement but as he walked back to his car he remarked, “and if you won’t sign, we will see you in court.” “...My personal experience is that they intend to isolate individual landowners, threaten, and strong-arm them into doing what they want. We are in the direct path of the pipeline and still have really no information about the specifics of it, and obviously we have no rights. This is a private corporation bullying private landowners with threats of eminent domain. As God as my witness, I swear this account to be accurate.”
NRDC: Mountain Valley Pipeline: "Uniquely risky"
Amy Mall, 11/3/22
“Corrosion in a pipeline is extremely dangerous, leading to catastrophic explosions and death. Indeed, corrosion problems are the second greatest cause of pipeline failures,” Amy Mall writes for NRDC. “Fortunately, coatings can be applied to pipes to help protect against corrosion. Ideally, pipes are coated both internally and externally to protect from both types of corrosion. Unfortunately, federal regulations only require external coatings for oil and gas pipelines. And pipe coating is not permanent or indestructible. It has to be carefully maintained to retain its protective qualities. If coated pipes are stored outdoors and exposed to the elements, the pipe coating can degrade due to rain, wind, and—especially—ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight. As coating degrades, its protective function also diminishes. Even a tiny imperfection in the coating can create a concentrated area of accelerated corrosion. The rate and extent of coating degradation will vary by the particular circumstances at a site, but according to the National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators: “Above ground storage of coated pipe in excess of 6 months without additional Ultraviolet protection is not recommended.” A 2020 study found that coated pipes that were not provided with additional protection and were exposed to UV rays for many years beyond the recommended six-month maximum “completely failed to retain their original properties and attributes” and were “no longer fit for purpose." “...Pipes for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) were purchased years ago… “MVP pipe has coating date stamps from as long ago as December 2016—six years ago. Local citizens report they have not come across any pipe dated later than 2017… “MVP claims that they will inspect the pipe and repair any damaged coating or thin spots on exposed pipe before installing it in the ground. But there aren't any federal regulations that specify standards for repair… “Leaving pipeline inspection and repair up to the pipeline company is simply wrong. The communities along the route need to able to sleep at night with confidence that their lives and those of their loved ones are being considered—the most important purpose of the coatings. These pipes are sitting on private property that belongs to real people who live in what is known as the “blast zone”—the distance from an explosion where death or serious injury is likely. And they won’t be able to sleep at night knowing that a pipeline company that has been fined millions of dollars for hundreds of state alleged violations is allowed to decide how to address the risks associated with deteriorating pipe coating that has been exposed to the elements for far too long.”