EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 1/20/25

PIPELINE NEWS

• E&E News: Biden admin leaves pipeline methane rule in Trump’s hands

• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA): USDOT Advances Rule to Modernize Gas Pipeline Methane Emissions Detection Requirements

• Pipeline Fighters Hub: Understanding PHMSA's Draft CO2 Pipeline Safety Rules: Webinar (1/28)

• South Dakota Public Broadcasting: Hundreds gather in Watertown to talk CO2 pipeline at PUC meeting

• Argus Media: Canada's Trans Mountain investigating capacity increase

• The Energy Mix: Indigenous Chiefs Propose Protected Area to Block Controversial LNG Pipeline

• Squamish Reporter: FortisBC to start blasting rock for Squamish pipeline project

• Pipeline & Gas Journal: $3 Billion Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion to Add 1.3 Bcf Capacity in Southeast Region

• Columbus Dispatch: Why Columbia Gas is replacing pipeline, adding regulator station in Upper Arlington

• Bnamericas: Mexico energy minister meets pipeline giant TC Energy as natgas demand surges

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• E&E News: GOP leaders briefed on Trump’s blizzard of executive orders

• E&E News: What to expect from Trump’s Day 1 orders on climate and energy

• Washington Post: How Trump-proof is Biden’s environmental legacy? See our analysis

• E&E News: Trump will determine Biden’s environmental legacy

• Politico: Zeldin zips through confirmation hearing with no serious hiccups

• New York Times: Lee Zeldin, Trump’s E.P.A. Nominee, Is Short on Environmental Experience

• InsideEPA: Zeldin Affirms EPA GHG Authority But Opens Path To Scaling Back Rules

• The Hill: GOP states, oil lobbying group sue White House over offshore drilling restrictions

• Politico: GOP Bid To Overturn Biden Offshore Ban

• Nevada Current: Amodei introduces bill to end presidential National Monument designations

• E&E News: Trump names DOE undersecretary nominees

• Press release: Trump’s 14 New LNG Export Facilities Will Cause U.S. Energy Bills to Rise, Emissions to Skyrocket

• E&E News: DOE issues 3 more loans for EVs, hydrogen, virtual plants

• Washington Free Beacon: The Biden Admin Forced Gas and Coal Plants To Embrace Carbon Capture—Then Privately Told Climate Activists To Fight It

• Reuters: US FTC finalizes consent order for $53 bln Chevron-Hess merger

• Grist: Young conservatives want to push Trump on climate change — the ‘America-First’ way

STATE UPDATES

• Los Angeles Times: Climate protesters storm Phillips 66 oil facility in L.A., demanding oil companies ‘pay up’ for recent wildfires

• Texas Tribune: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, 22 other states sue to halt planned federal methane fines

• Oil & Gas Journal: EPA grants West Virginia Class VI well primacy

• Mahomet Daily: Rose Introduces Bill to Protect Sole Source Aquifers from Carbon Sequestration Activities

• Fairmont Sentinel: Green Plains to end operations in Fairmont

EXTRACTION

• Globe and Mail: Trump’s tariff pledge weighing heavily on U.S. refiners that rely on Canadian crude

• Reuters: Canada minister says retaliatory tariffs could include critical minerals

• CBC: Banned Russian oil is coming to Canada. Here's how

• CBC: Alberta regulator lays charges against Imperial for failing to contain, report oilsands berm overflow

• Upstream: Woodside slammed for planning CCS scheme at gas megaproject

• Firstpost: Russia: Nearly 140 people cleaning up massive Black Sea oil spill report health issues

• Newsweek: Russia Could Lose Billions in 'Worst Ecological Disaster of 21st Century'

CLIMATE FINANCE

• Axios: Fed pulls out of global climate change group before Trump inauguration

• Reuters: Top Canadian banks quit global climate coalition ahead of Trump inauguration

OPINION

• Dakota Scout: Commissioner must sit out or undermine pipeline hearing integrity

• The Alpana News: ‘Extraordinarily risky’

• Inforum: Things are looking bright for carbon capture under the Trump administration

• Wall Street Journal: Biden Issues Flurry of Executive Orders in Final Days. Trump Might Roll Them Back

• Fraser Institute: Our energy policies have made us more vulnerable to Trump’s tariffs

• Center for American Progress: The Biden Administration Took Record-Breaking Conservation Action
  

PIPELINE NEWS

E&E News: Biden admin leaves pipeline methane rule in Trump’s hands
Mike Soraghan, 1/17/25

“The Biden administration released Friday the final draft of its plan to crack down on natural gas pipeline leaks, but it will be up to the Trump administration and Congress to decide whether proposed changes go into effect,” E&E News reports. “Tristan Brown, deputy administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration — which wrote the rule — told E&E officials in the new administration should recognize that the rule has significant industry support. He also noted that the crackdown was mandated by legislation signed into law by President-elect Donald Trump near the end of his previous term. "There should be nothing controversial about a rule with industry support that comes from a mandate from Donald Trump," Brown told E&E. The proposed regulation, which would require pipeline companies to find and fix methane leaks from pipelines, was sent to the Federal Register on Friday by the Department of Transportation. Normally, that would lead to publication in a few days, which kicks off a process that leads to enactment.”

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA): USDOT Advances Rule to Modernize Gas Pipeline Methane Emissions Detection Requirements
1/17/25

“Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) transmitted a final rule to the Federal Register to enhance the safety of natural gas pipelines through updated leak detection and repair requirements. The rule is expected to deliver up to $1.5 billion in annual net benefits to the public and eliminate up to 500,000 metric tons of methane emissions from approximately 2.8 million miles of gas transmission, distribution, and gathering pipeline facilities, 398 underground natural gas storage facilities (UNGSF), and 173 liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities across the United States… “The rule issued by PHMSA updates decades-old leak detection rules to require pipeline operators to establish advanced leak detection programs aimed at detecting and repairing all gas leaks by: Increasing the frequency of required surveys and requiring use of commercially available advanced leak detection technology—such as aerial or vehicle surveys, handheld detection devices, and continuous monitoring systems; Reducing volume of gas released due to unintentional emissions such as leaks and equipment failures and revising the reporting minimum threshold to detect smaller leaks sooner; Minimizing releases caused by equipment venting or blowdowns, associated with pipeline maintenance, repair, and construction and encouraging operators to consider cost-effective equipment that can capture methane and other gases for later use; Establishing clear criteria and timeframes for timely repair of all leaks that pose a risk to public safety or the environment.”

Pipeline Fighters Hub: Understanding PHMSA's Draft CO2 Pipeline Safety Rules: Webinar (1/28)
1/17/25

“The U.S. Dept. of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has released long-awaited draft rules for carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines, in the final days of the current administration,” the Pipeline Fighters Hub reports. “Join hosts Bold Alliance, Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN), Illinois Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines, Dakota Rural Action (South Dakota), Dakota Resource Council (North Dakota) and Iowa Chapter Sierra Club on Jan. 28, for an overview of the proposed new rules and discussion of their implications for impacted landowners and communities. Speakers will include Bill Caram from the Pipeline Safety Trust, and Paul Blackburn, attorney and pipeline expert with Bold Alliance.”

South Dakota Public Broadcasting: Hundreds gather in Watertown to talk CO2 pipeline at PUC meeting
Evan Walton, 1/17/25

“Summit Carbon Solutions is trying to soothe concerns over a proposed CO2 pipeline in a series public input meetings,” South Dakota Public Broadcasting reports. “But some are still not convinced by the company’s promises. Hundreds gathered for the Watertown meeting Thursday evening, one of several arranged by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission to discuss the pipeline… “Dave Daum is the Sr. Director of Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental for Summit. He said the company is ready to give the project a second shot with certain guarantees. “We have also offered to present our dispersion model in every county along the route. To date, 11 counties have taken us up on that offer and we hope that the others pick us up on that offer soon… “Despite these promises, some opponents voice concerns about safety and impacts to farmland along the pipeline’s route. James Elijah owns land near the pipeline route. He said SCS continues to be a dishonest business partner. “Summit claims they can build the safest CO2 pipeline ever made. Even though they’ve never built a CO2 pipeline or any other pipeline for that matter. And though they're prone to lying, we are to believe that with all of the newest and highest tech safety equipment that this Titanic isn’t going to sink. For those reasons, it is obvious to me Summit Carbon Solutions is not worthy to do business in South Dakota. And I respectfully request you once again, ‘deny since they can’t comply,'” said Elijah.”

Argus Media: Canada's Trans Mountain investigating capacity increase
Brett Holmes, 1/17/25

“The operator behind Trans Mountain's 890,000 b/d pipeline system in western Canada is looking into increasing its capacity as export congestion looms, while threatened US tariffs may prompt the country to re-examine its broader pipeline strategy,” Argus Media reports. "We have started to identify and investigate opportunities that could improve the throughput efficiency of the system and increase capacity of the pipeline — ideally in the next four to five years," Trans Mountain told Argus on Friday. Federally-owned Trans Mountain would not say how much of an increase it was contemplating, but any plans would be subject to thorough regulatory reviews and approval before proceeding… “Trans Mountain is expected to be full by 2028, chief executive Mark Maki told a parliamentary committee in October, as are other lines which have operators like Enbridge also looking to up egress capacity. The laying of new pipe may not necessarily be a big part of these increases as both are looking at making their systems more efficient… “Alberta premier Danielle Smith on 16 January called on Canada to "immediately start construction on the Northern Gateway and Energy East pipelines" to decrease the country's reliance on US customers in the wake of threatened tariffs by president-elect Donald Trump.”

The Energy Mix: Indigenous Chiefs Propose Protected Area to Block Controversial LNG Pipeline
Tova Gaster, 1/17/25

“As the company behind a controversial liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline in British Columbia tries to prove its expired environmental assessment remains valid, hereditary Indigenous chiefs are aiming to block the development by protecting a piece of their territory under ancestral law,” The Energy Mix reports. “On November 25, Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs marked the expiry of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline’s provincial environmental certificate. In its place, they declared plans for an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) at the site of ancestral villages and critical wild salmon runs at the confluence of the Cranberry, Nass, and Stikine rivers. The proposal marks a new chapter in their opposition to the PRGT pipeline—a project designed to transport LNG from northeastern B.C. to the Nisga’a Nation co-owned Ksi Lisims floating terminal, which plans to export 12 million tonnes of LNG annually. The proposed 800-kilometre pipeline route now overlaps with the planned IPCA. Gitanyow chiefs argue it poses significant risks to their salmon-dependent culture and livelihood, and that its outdated environmental certificate no longer makes sense in an accelerating climate crisis. “This is a bit of a defensive move,” Wilp (house group) Sustainability Director Tara Marsden, whose Gitksan name is Naxginkw, told The Energy Mix. “The IPCA will be protected first in our law, and then we will seek to have the provincial government recognize that in whatever form they choose.” The IPCA, called Ganeda, stems from Gitanyow ayookx or ancestral law, upheld by the Nation’s governance system comprising eight hereditary chiefs who make collective decisions.”

Squamish Reporter: FortisBC to start blasting rock for Squamish pipeline project
1/19/25

“FortisBC has announced the start of controlled blasting activities along Ray Basin Road, beginning on January 20 and continuing through late February. The work is part of ongoing preparations for a gas pipeline construction project,” according to the Squamish Reporter. “...Our contractor has resumed tunnelling at the BC Rail site on the Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline Project in Squamish,” the company announced… “The controlled blasting is a standard construction technique used to break apart rock in preparation for the pipeline installation safely. FortisBC has been conducting similar activities in the surrounding area for several months and plans to continue work northwest along the pipeline route toward town as the project progresses into 2025.”

Pipeline & Gas Journal: $3 Billion Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion to Add 1.3 Bcf Capacity in Southeast Region
1/18/25

“Kinder Morgan, one of the nation's largest energy infrastructure companies, has proposed the South System Expansion 4 Project, which aims to deliver an additional 1.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day across the Southeast,” Pipeline & Gas Journal reports. “The $3 billion project, as reported by WSFA, could be operational by 2028 or 2029, pending approval. The initiative was introduced to landowners during an open house event held at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tuskegee. The proposed route spans 279 miles, incorporating new pipelines alongside existing ones and enhancing compressor stations to maintain gas flow. “Alabama Power have indicated to us, and they’re a part of this project, that they need additional natural gas capacity for really the next 20 to 30 years,” Allen Fore, Kinder Morgan’s vice president of public affairs, told WSFA.”

Columbus Dispatch: Why Columbia Gas is replacing pipeline, adding regulator station in Upper Arlington
Anna Lynn Winfrey, 1/18/25

“Columbia Gas of Ohio continues to replace some older gas pipelines and add more facilities in the Columbus area. Planning and community engagement continue in Upper Arlington, where planning for a second phase of its ongoing work to comply with new federal safety standards is underway,” the Columbus Dispatch reports. “The project has received pushback from some Upper Arlington residents concerned about the location of the pipeline and proposed facilities, but Columbia Gas officials have emphasized the safety of the system… “The gas company is holding numerous listening sessions to get feedback from the community as it rebuilds much of its existing infrastructure to meet new safety standards… “Columbia Gas is doing this project because of updated federal rules that affect the supply side of the gas distribution system, public affairs manager Luka Papalko told local residents Monday evening at a library open house. To comply with the regulations, the company needs to replace some of the older pipes and add new facilities… “Columbia Gas is planning to work with a local architect to design the new regulators so they blend in more with the neighborhood.”

Bnamericas: Mexico energy minister meets pipeline giant TC Energy as natgas demand surges
1/17/25

“Amid rising demand for natural gas from Mexican power plants, energy minister Luz Elena González Escobar has held what she called "a strategic meeting" with François Poirier, CEO of Calgary-based pipeline operator TC Energy,” Bnamericas reports. “In a post on social media on Wednesday, González said the meeting aimed "to advance key projects that strengthen the country's energy infrastructure." The Mexican government wants to increase access to natural gas across the country. TC Energy is one of the main developers of natural gas infrastructure in Mexico. The company will start operations at its US$4bn Southeast Gateway pipeline in mid-2025… “The 17 gas-fired plants that CFE is building across Mexico will increase demand for the fuel… “About 60% of Mexico's electricity is generated using natural gas. TC Energy expects Mexican natural gas demand to grow 68% by 2035, the company said at an investor day in November… “TC Energy is also working with CFE on the US$400m Villa de Reyes pipeline, a 420km project in the same region of central Mexico.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

E&E News: GOP leaders briefed on Trump’s blizzard of executive orders
Benjamin Guggenheim, Meredith Lee Hill, 1/19/25

“Aides to President-elect Donald Trump briefed Republican leaders Sunday on a slew of executive orders Trump plans to unleash Monday — including a 35-page energy omnibus geared toward unlocking energy pipelines and opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, according to two people familiar with the discussion,” E&E News reports. “In addition to summarizing immigration, energy and government reform executive orders, the officials also discussed the process for removing “insubordinate employees” and the legal and constitutional guardrails that may prevent Trump from firing employees who don’t follow orders… “An executive order on unleashing American energy will be particularly detailed. It will include permitting, coal and natural gas policies, and put a stop to Green New Deal and climate spending initiated by Democrats.”

E&E News: What to expect from Trump’s Day 1 orders on climate and energy
Scott Waldman, 1/17/25

“When Trump held a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort earlier this month, he railed against wind projects, saying “we’re going to try and have a policy where no windmills are being built,” E&E News reports. “The comments reinforced the perception that the incoming president will take action to restrict wind development, particularly projects built offshore in federal waters. But exactly what form that executive order takes remains the source of considerable speculation. Many observers expect Trump to halt leasing new tracts of land and ocean for wind development, and to pause reviews for projects currently in the midst of a permitting review. But many projects in the permitting and leasing stages are likely years away from starting construction, lessening the practical impact of such orders. The bigger question is whether Trump will go after projects that have already been permitted by the federal government and have, in some instances, already begun construction. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) told The Associated Press that he discussed an executive order with Trump about a month ago that would pause offshore wind activities along the East Coast for six months so the Interior Department could review permits issued to projects.”

Washington Post: How Trump-proof is Biden’s environmental legacy? See our analysis
Maxine Joselow, John Muyskens and Kathleen Rudell, 1/17/25

“...Biden administration officials and many environmental lawyers, however, contend that many of the Democrat’s actions will be difficult to dismantle because of legal, scientific and political challenges,” the Washington Post reports. “The expanse of this work makes it incredibly durable,” White House National Climate Adviser Ali Zaidi told the Post. “When you go sector by sector in the United States economy, that approach was built for durability, even if there are zigs and zags in policy priorities in Washington.” “...The Environmental Protection Agency lies at the center of Biden’s climate agenda, finalizing the United States’ toughest-ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and power plants. Trump is expected to issue executive orders directing EPA to repeal and replace many of these regulations… “Greenhouse gas standards for power plants: Difficulty of repeal: Medium… “Challenges: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held oral arguments in December in a challenge to the rule brought by Republican attorneys general and industry groups… “Limits on methane from drilling operations: Difficulty of repeal: Medium… “Challenges: Trump could face pressure from his allies in the oil industry to keep the rule in place. Fee on methane from oil and gas facilities: Difficulty of repeal: Difficult… “Challenges: The fees were authorized by Biden’s signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act. Scrapping the charges would probably require Congress to pass new legislation… “Plan for offshore oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico: Difficulty of repeal: Medium… “Challenges: It could take months or even years for Interior to craft a new plan. But in the meantime, the Republican-controlled Congress could pass legislation that requires more lease sales to offset the costs of extending expiring tax cuts.”

E&E News: Trump will determine Biden’s environmental legacy
Robin Bravender, 1/17/25

”After four years unraveling Trump policies, issuing climate rules, conserving public lands and incentivizing clean energy, President Joe Biden’s allies are hailing him as one of the great environmental presidents of all time,” E&E News reports. “But Biden’s legacy will be determined in large part by his nemesis. When President-elect Donald Trump assumes the White House next week, he’s expected to methodically begin knocking down Biden’s achievements, with energy and environmental policies at the top of his target list. How far Trump will go, and whether his moves will hold up, remains to be seen. But with both chambers of Congress controlled by the GOP, four years of prep-work under their belts and a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, the second Trump administration could have more success this time around at getting its policy wishes. Biden signaled that he’s worried about what lies ahead. In his farewell address to the country Wednesday, Biden said that “powerful forces want to wield their unchecked influence to eliminate the steps we’ve taken to tackle the climate crisis to serve their own interest for power and profit.” “We must not be bullied into sacrificing the future, the future of our children and our grandchildren,” he said… “Environmental advocates who battled against the first Trump administration are preparing to do what they can to uphold Biden’s legacy… “Not everyone in the environmental world is enamored by Biden’s record. “His overall environmental legacy is at best mixed,” Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity, told E&E. “This administration often prioritized “too much the symbolic action over the substantive thing.”

Politico: Zeldin zips through confirmation hearing with no serious hiccups
Annie Snider, Alex Guillén, James Bikales, Kelsey Tamborrino, 1/16/25

“Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead EPA, easily steered through his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday, even as Democrats showered him with sharp questions about climate change, EPA’s budget and his connections to fossil fuel interests,” Politico reports. “The former New York Republican congressman with little environmental record, who made his way into Trump’s inner circle by lauding him on cable news, fashioned himself as a moderate before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. He acknowledged the science of climate change, committed to assisting California in response to the devastating wildfires besieging Los Angeles, and touted the bipartisan aspects of his record in Congress. The hearing surfaced no major issues that would threaten his glidepath to an easy confirmation, with the panel’s Republicans treating Zeldin’s confirmation as fait accompli. Zeldin can lose two GOP votes, but at least one Democrat voiced an openness to supporting him. “I’ve got a few more questions for him, but he’s a qualified candidate for this job, and I’ll review some of the other things he’s said in answering my colleagues’ questions, but he’s well qualified for this,” Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) told Politico.”

New York Times: Lee Zeldin, Trump’s E.P.A. Nominee, Is Short on Environmental Experience
Coral Davenport, 1/16/25

“Former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, president-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency, told senators on Thursday that he would “enthusiastically uphold” the agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment and that he grasped the basic science of climate change,” the New York Times reports. “Mr. Zeldin’s tone was markedly different from that of Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly called global warming a “hoax” and said he would “kill” major environmental regulations, particularly those aimed at fighting climate change. People close to the Trump transition have also recommended ousting E.P.A. career staff, eliminating its scientific advisers, and closing an office that helps minority communities that disproportionately struggle with polluted air and water. The nomination of Mr. Zeldin, 44, who ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York in 2022, baffled many, since he has little background in environmental regulation. Appearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Mr. Zeldin struggled to answer specific questions from some lawmakers about various environmental issues, telling them he was eager to learn about them… “Over the course of his political career, Mr. Zeldin received more than $270,000 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry, according to OpenSecrets, which tracks campaign finances. In recent years, Mr. Zeldin opened a consulting business. He served on the board of America First Works and had ties to its sister organization, America First Policy Institute, conservative groups that have worked with the Trump transition on plans to roll back climate regulations and promote fossil fuels… “Still, Republicans from fossil fuel producing states seemed confident that they had an ally in Mr. Zeldin.”

InsideEPA: Zeldin Affirms EPA GHG Authority But Opens Path To Scaling Back Rules
1/16/25

“Trump EPA administrator nominee Lee Zeldin during his Senate nomination hearing affirmed the agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions but embraced a role for fossil fuels and made clear his readiness to reconsider Biden-era climate and other standards to enable ‘pragmatic’ approaches to regulation,” InsideEPA reports. “Zeldin during a Jan. 16 hearing before the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee also hedged on how he would respond to calls to roll back funding under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) or the bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL), pledging to follow the law but also promising to thoroughly account for funding distributed under those statutes and potentially claw back inappropriately spent funds. “We can and we must protect our precious environment without suffocating the economy,” Zeldin told lawmakers.”

The Hill: GOP states, oil lobbying group sue White House over offshore drilling restrictions
Zack Budryk, 1/17/25

“The primary lobbying group representing the fossil fuel industry joined five Republican attorneys general Friday in a lawsuit challenging restrictions on offshore drilling announced in the waning days of the Biden administration,” The Hill reports. “The American Petroleum Institute (API) joined Mississippi, Alaska, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia in suing over the restrictions, which closed off several million acres to new drilling. The plaintiffs sued in the Western District of Louisiana, which previously granted an injunction in 2022 against one of President Biden’s first acts in the White House, a freeze on new gas and oil leasing on federal lands… “However, any move by the White House is likely to trigger a court fight with environmental advocacy groups, which won a similar fight after Trump sought to undo Obama-era restrictions in his first term. If the plaintiffs secure a favorable ruling in the Friday lawsuit, it may happen on a speedier timeline than Trump’s efforts to undo the restrictions.”

Politico: GOP Bid To Overturn Biden Offshore Ban
1/17/25

“Reps. Clay Higgins (R-La.), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) and Randy Weber (R-Texas) are introducing legislation today that would overturn President Biden’s ban on offshore oil and gas lease sales on 625 million acres, while creating a new process for withdrawals for future leasing determinations,” Politico reports. “The bill from the Republicans — who would stand to see benefits to their districts from drilling in the Eastern Gulf — would limit withdrawals to under 100,000 acres in total or contiguous with any other withdrawal and set an expiration after 20 years. It would also require geological, economic, and security assessments for future withdrawals; mandate congressional approval if a president withdraws more than 500,000 acres; and make withdrawals subject to the Congressional Review Act. Trump has said he plans to immediately reverse Biden’s order, while Republicans have also teased the possibility of mandating lease sales in a reconciliation bill within some of the areas that are part of the withdrawal.”

Nevada Current: Amodei introduces bill to end presidential National Monument designations
Jeniffer Solis, 1/16/25

“Nevada’s only Republican in Congress, Rep. Mark Amodei, announced plans Thursday for legislation that would require Congressional approval of all future national monuments in Nevada,” the Nevada Current reports. “That would mark a major change from current federal laws that allow the President to designate a monument with or without congressional approval under powers granted through the Antiquities Act of 1906. Since the passage of the Antiquities Act in 1906, 18 presidents – nine Democratic and nine Republican – have established or expanded more than 160 national monuments, according to the Congressional Research Service. The “Ending Presidential Overreach on Public Lands Act” — sponsored by Amodei and Republican Utah Rep. Celeste Maloy — would strip presidential authority to unilaterally designate national monuments and require congressional approval for future designations.”

E&E News: Trump names DOE undersecretary nominees
Brian Dabbs, 1/16/25

“President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday tapped three new appointees to fill top Senate-confirmed positions at the Department of Energy,” E&E News reports. “Two first Trump term veterans and a former Republican lawmaker are included. Darío Gil is nominated for next undersecretary for science and innovation at DOE. Gil is chair of the National Science Board, a position he was elected to last year. He’s also the senior vice president and director of research at IBM, according to his LinkedIn page… “Meanwhile, Wells Griffith, who worked in several parts of the first Trump administration, including at DOE, received the nod for “the next Under Secretary of Energy at the United States Department of Energy.” That position currently does not exist at DOE. The third DOE undersecretary role is currently titled “Under Secretary of Infrastructure.”

Press release: Trump’s 14 New LNG Export Facilities Will Cause U.S. Energy Bills to Rise, Emissions to Skyrocket
1/17/25

“President-elect Donald Trump may be on the verge of approving exports of liquified methane from 14 planned export facilities, which have been striking deals to sell their output to gas buyers worldwide. These approvals would feed an explosion of fossil fuel exports, delivering liquified methane (also known as natural gas or LNG) predominantly to Asian markets, including China, and drive up prices for U.S. energy consumers, according to a new study released today. Friends of the Earth and Public Citizen examined announced agreements between exporters and LNG buyers to sell LNG from roughly two dozen terminal and terminal expansions in the U.S. and Mexico. The analysis found that 14 terminals have signed at least one deal with a disclosed buyer. All told, 76 million metric tonnes per year of LNG is currently under agreement to be sold from these facilities. The analysis also found that Of those LNG exports, more than 51% will go to Big Oil companies and oil and gas trading firms. Nearly a third of LNG volumes analyzed in the report is to be sent to customers in the Asia-Pacific region, including numerous Chinese companies. Only about 19% of the volume is destined for Europe, where LNG imports surged after the war in Ukraine but have since declined, indicating that industry lobbyists have exaggerated the impact on Europe. To date, the agreements reached to sell gas from these 14 terminals would generate more than 510 million metric tons of climate pollution—equivalent to the annual emissions of 135 new coal plants. “This research reveals the disturbing reality of an LNG export boom under a second Trump term,” said Raena Garcia, senior energy campaigner at Friends of the Earth, “This reality will cement higher energy prices for Americans and push the world into even more devastating climate disasters. The incoming administration is poised to haphazardly greenlight LNG exports that are clearly intended to put profit over people.”

E&E News: DOE issues 3 more loans for EVs, hydrogen, virtual plants
Brian Dabbs, 1/17/25

“The Department of Energy on Thursday finalized three new loans totaling more than $8.5 billion, just days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office,” E&E News reports. “...Hydrogen firm Plug Power is getting a nearly $1.7 billion loan guarantee to build up to six hydrogen production facilities across several states. Plug Power produces hydrogen with electrolyzers, a low-emissions energy technology when powered with renewable electricity.”

Washington Free Beacon: The Biden Admin Forced Gas and Coal Plants To Embrace Carbon Capture—Then Privately Told Climate Activists To Fight It
Thomas Catenacci, 1/17/25

“Last April, the Biden administration finalized environmental rules that effectively force gas and coal plants to adopt carbon capture—an expensive and controversial process in which emissions are stored underground—or risk shutting down. Months later, in November, a senior Biden EPA official told activists to "keep fighting" an ExxonMobil carbon capture project in Texas, the Washington Free Beacon has learned. The comments were made by Earthea Nance, who leads the EPA's Region 6 office, at a meeting held on Nov. 18 in Jefferson County, Texas, according to contemporaneous notes from a meeting attendee reviewed by the Free Beacon. And they came in response to environmentalists' protests regarding ExxonMobil's proposed Rose Carbon Capture and Storage Project, which the EPA is tasked with permitting… "I'm disappointed, but certainly not surprised," Tom Pyle, the president of the Institute for Energy Research, told the Free Beacon. "The Biden administration touts these technologies and uses them to justify their rulemakings that make it harder to use fossil fuels, but then they undermine the very technologies they're promoting because, in reality, they would prefer they not be utilized at all." "They have also slow-walked nearly all of the permitting applications for these projects as well," Pyle added… "What is an acceptable amount of death for you all to allow this ExxonMobil application to pass?" one attendee asked the EPA officials at the November meeting in Texas. "Exxon feels like they can just come in and do what they want because they've spent a lot of money," another participant said. A third participant added, "we're paying for Exxon to kill us," noting the tax benefits ExxonMobil is leveraging to fund the project. In response, Nance encouraged the activists to "keep fighting" and advised them to "document the stress the community is feeling, document property value changes, start gathering evidence." Later in the meeting, Nance expressed her own frustration that there were loopholes in the EPA's permitting process for carbon capture and stated that she had her own questions about the agency's authority on the matter.”

Reuters: US FTC finalizes consent order for $53 bln Chevron-Hess merger
1/17/25

“The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on Friday it had approved a consent order to resolve antitrust issues concerning Chevron’s $53 billion takeover of Hess,” Reuters reports. “According to the order, John Hess, CEO of the oil and gas producer, will be barred from joining the combined company’s board over allegations that he communicated with oil producers’ group OPEC during its efforts to curtail production… “A three-judge arbitration panel is due to consider the case later in May.”

Grist: Young conservatives want to push Trump on climate change — the ‘America-First’ way
Kate Yoder, 1/17/25

“For most environmentalists, the day that Donald Trump got elected president in November was “a dark day.” But there was one small, overlooked corner of the movement that celebrated. In a statement congratulating Trump on his victory, the leaders of the American Conservation Coalition saw a chance to bring “an America-First climate strategy” to fruition,” Grist reports. “...The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit was founded in 2017 by college students who wanted to prove that there was a conservative case for climate action. Since then, it’s evolved from a group on the right’s fringes into a political force. The American Conservation Coalition has wide grassroots support, with some 60,000 members in branches around the country and connections all over Congress. Trump’s second term, which starts on Monday, will be a test of how strong its influence has become. “I think there’s a golden opportunity right now for Republicans to shift the environment from a left-wing issue that Republicans lose on to a conservative issue that they can win on,” Chris Barnard, the organization’s president, told Grsit. “And by the end of this administration, that is what we hope to achieve, and hope to have real, tangible progress and solutions that point back to that show that.” “...The top three priorities are unleashing nuclear energy, reforming the permitting process to make it easier to build new energy projects, and beating China by “leading the world in all-of-the-above energy production.” That includes more oil and gas development, in line with Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda.”

STATE UPDATES

Los Angeles Times: Climate protesters storm Phillips 66 oil facility in L.A., demanding oil companies ‘pay up’ for recent wildfires
Noah Haggerty, 1/16/25

“Dozens of climate protesters with Sunrise Movement LA rallied outside Phillips 66’s Los Angeles Lubricant Terminal on Thursday morning, with 16 demonstrators storming the facility’s office building,” the Los Angeles Times reports. “As Los Angeles reels from what is projected to be one of the most costly natural disasters in U.S. history, the youth climate activist group says big oil companies are culpable, by emitting greenhouse gases while internally acknowledging the practice’s link to climate change, which, in turn, has worsened wildfires in California. Sunrise Movement LA is demanding big oil companies, including Phillips 66, “pay up” to support wildfire relief and aid the state’s transition to clean energy. “Fossil fuel CEOs are responsible for the destruction that is happening right now in Los Angeles,” said Simon Aron, 18, a Sunrise Movement volunteer and the action lead for Thursday’s protest. “They are responsible for the fact that me and my neighbors had to evacuate our homes, that we still can’t drink our water.” An hour after the protest began, police escorted some demonstrators out of the office space. No arrests were made… “Phillips 66 announced in October that it would shut down the refinery and its sister site in Wilmington by the end of 2025 amid the growing popularity of electric vehicles and community demands for cleaner air. The two facilities produce various petroleum products and about 8% of the state’s gasoline.”

Texas Tribune: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, 22 other states sue to halt planned federal methane fines
Alejandra Martinez, 1/16/25

“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, joined by a 22-state coalition, filed a lawsuit Thursday against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to block the implementation of a methane emissions tax created under the Inflation Reduction Act,” the Texas Tribune reports. “The lawsuit, filed in the final days of President Biden’s administration, argues that the EPA rule — which imposes a monetary penalty on certain oil and gas facilities that exceed methane emission limits — is unlawful and exceeds the federal agency’s authority. “Over the past four years I have opposed the Biden Administration more than 100 times to stop its radical attempts to undermine the law. I am positive this last-minute effort to harm the energy industry will be halted as well,” Paxton said in a press release. “In only four days, when President-elect Trump resumes office, America will no longer be burdened by a runaway bureaucracy intent on destroying our liberties.” “...Most of the methane emissions in the U.S. come from the energy sector — particularly facilities in Texas, the nation’s largest oil and gas producing state… “Critics of the methane tax have expressed concerns about the complexity of reporting methane emissions and the disproportionate impact they believe it has on smaller operators who might release methane… “Reversing the rule would require extensive regulatory review, public input, and potentially congressional action — a process that could take years.”

Oil & Gas Journal: EPA grants West Virginia Class VI well primacy
Mikaila Adams, 1/17/25

“The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted West Virginia primary enforcement responsibility of Class VI wells under the Underground Injection Control Program,” Oil & Gas Journal reports. “he state is the fourth—after Louisiana, North Dakota, and Wyoming—given primary authority by EPA to oversee and administer its Class VI program, known as primacy… “US Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, made the announcement Jan. 17. “I have frequently said that the states are better suited than Washington to carry out this authority and get these projects up and running. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage is essential to protecting our ability to provide reliable, baseload power in West Virginia through coal and natural gas, while reducing our power and manufacturing sector emissions,” Chairman Capito said.”

Mahomet Daily: Rose Introduces Bill to Protect Sole Source Aquifers from Carbon Sequestration Activities
1/17/25

“Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose introduced a new bill on January 17, 2025, aimed at prohibiting carbon sequestration activities over federally designated sole source aquifers,” the Mahomet Daily reports. “This legislation, designated as SB0182, seeks to amend the Environmental Protection Act to ensure the protection of these crucial water supplies. The bill specifies that no person or entity is allowed to conduct carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) operations over any sole source aquifer, such as the Mahomet Sole Source Aquifer, a critical water supply for central Illinois. This provision is set to prevent potential contamination risks associated with CCS technologies, which involve capturing carbon dioxide emissions and storing them underground to mitigate climate change. Under the proposed legislation, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is also barred from issuing permits for carbon sequestration activities if they are to take place over any sole source aquifer… “Clean water is not negotiable,” said Sen. Rose. “The Mahomet Aquifer is a lifeline for central Illinois, and we cannot keep ignoring the risks posed by CO2 storage beneath it,” he continued… “Rose’s new bill has been met with support from various environmental groups and local communities who rely on these aquifers for their daily water needs. Rose encourages residents to join his petition.”

Fairmont Sentinel: Green Plains to end operations in Fairmont
Brooke Wohlrabe, 1/17/25

“On Thursday employment at Green Plains in Fairmont ended for roughly 60 employees,” the Fairmont Sentinel reports. “Green Plains is a leading ag technology using innovative processes to transform annually renewable crops into sustainable, high value ingredients. Locally, it’s had a plant at 1125 Bixby Road since 2014 when it bought out another plant which had been idle since 2012… “Several local leaders in the Fairmont community also said they were unaware of the closure until Thursday. It’s unclear whether the plant will reopen in the future.”

EXTRACTION

Globe and Mail: Trump’s tariff pledge weighing heavily on U.S. refiners that rely on Canadian crude
Emma Graney, 1/17/25

“...This area of Galveston County, separated from the Gulf of Mexico by its namesake island, is thick with massive refineries that rely on heavy Canadian crude to fuel their operations,” the Globe and Mail reports. “But that supply is the target of president-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to slap a 25-per-cent tariff on all U.S. imports from Canada, including oil and gas… “Already investors are souring on the U.S. oil refining sector, citing forecasts for softer fuel demand and worries about tariffs… “Marathon recently completed a project to increase its capacity to handle heavy Canadian crude at its Texas City refinery so it could take advantage of the discounted price from its northern neighbours. It’s indicative of how imports from Canada have become increasingly important to refineries on the Gulf Coast and in the American Midwest; those two regions combined receive three-quarters of Canada’s crude oil exports. About 40 per cent of U.S. refineries are specifically tooled for heavy crude – the kind produced in Canada, predominantly from the oil sands. So while the U.S. energy sector is by and large thrilled by Mr. Trump’s promise to “Drill, baby, drill!” and increase domestic oil and gas production, American Petroleum Institute president and chief executive officer Mike Sommers is also a realist… “Yet he acknowledges that the free flow of Canadian and Mexican oil to U.S. refineries has played an outsized role in keeping domestic fuel prices low. “We rely on imports of those crude products from other parts of the world that have heavier quality crude, like Canada,” Mr. Sommers told the Globe and Mail. And while he’s confident that the Trump administration “understands the importance of that kind of trade,” Mr. Sommers told the Globe and Mail his industry trade association will work with the new president to ensure Canada is not forgotten as the government hashes out trade policy… “Adam Waterous, CEO of Waterous Energy Fund, told the Globe and Mail that Canada wouldn’t be in the crosshairs of a trade war if the federal government had done more to support the Energy East and Northern Gateway pipeline projects.”

Reuters: Canada minister says retaliatory tariffs could include critical minerals
1/16/25

“Centre Block Canada is preparing a list of potential US retaliatory tariffs and some of those could be on critical minerals, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said on Thursday,” Reuters reports. “Wilkinson said that Canada was looking at points of leverage that will create maximum pressure on the United States to come to table to find a resolution to the tariff issue. Canada could impose countermeasures on up to C$150 billion ($105 billion), a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.”

CBC: Banned Russian oil is coming to Canada. Here's how
Eric Szeto, Ivan Angelovski, Jordan Pearson, Christian Paas-Lang, 1/17/25

“Millions of dollars worth of Russian oil is coming into Canada thanks to a loophole in federal sanctions, providing much-needed income for the Kremlin to fuel its ongoing invasion of Ukraine,” the CBC reports. “CBC News's visual investigations team, in collaboration with the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), found that since the start of the Ukraine war roughly 2.5 million barrels — or $250 million worth of refined petroleum products like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel — have ended up in Canada. Based on calculations made by CREA, those Canadian oil imports have provided the Kremlin with just over $100 million in revenue, enough to recruit thousands of soldiers in Russia. "When consumers in Canada are buying vehicle fuels or getting on flights, there is a high probability that a proportion of those jet fuels or diesels ... could be made from Russian crude," Isaac Levi, Europe-Russia Policy and Energy Analysis team lead at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, told CBC… “Using trade data and satellite imagery, CBC News tracked marine traffic carrying sanctioned oil — some aboard Russia's 'shadow fleet.' "We're calling for the refining loophole to be closed and this process to be banned," Levi told CBC.

CBC: Alberta regulator lays charges against Imperial for failing to contain, report oilsands berm overflow
Wallis Snowdon, Janet French, 1/17/25

“Imperial Oil is facing nine charges for allowing millions of litres of contaminated wastewater to leak from its Kearl oilsands mine in northern Alberta, and for failing to mitigate the environmental damage,” the CBC reports. “The move by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) pleasantly surprised a local First Nations leader and some environmentalists, including Ecojustice staff lawyer Zachary Biech. "It's a sign that the pressure and scrutiny that members of the public and members of the media have been putting on Imperial and the AER for the spill incidents is having an impact," Biech told CBC. The charges announced Friday are in connection to a January 2023 overflow of industrial wastewater at the company's Kearl mine, about 70 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, Alta. The berm overflow was the second of two significant leaks at the Kearl mine, which put Alberta's regulatory practices in the spotlight and raised questions about transparency in the oilsands. The first of the two incidents, which happened in May 2022, was known only to the company and the AER for nine months… “The charges allege Imperial failed to immediately report the release to the regulator as required, and failed to take adequate steps to contain and mitigate the damage… “AFCN Chief Allan Adam told CBC the charges against Imperial are welcome news for community members. However, he remains skeptical that the AER will hold the oil industry accountable for environmental harm.”

Upstream: Woodside slammed for planning CCS scheme at gas megaproject
Amanda Battersby 1/19/25

“Woodside Energy has submitted plans for an offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) scheme as part of its proposed multibillion-dollar Browse project, which is intended to exploit Australia's largest untapped offshore conventional gas resource, however the move has angered — rather than pleased — the Greens party and some environmentalists,” Upstream reports. “This is nothing but greenwashing,” acting Greens leader, Sarah Hanson Young, told Upstream. “Woodside’s blatant attempt at greenwashing their polluting projects will not stop extinctions and will not protect our oceans and climate.” “...The federal regulator this month opened for public consultation Woodside’s plans to sequester up to 4 million tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide under the seabed near Scott Reef off the coast of Western Australia. However, documents uncovered by Greenpeace under Australia’s Freedom of Information Act showed that the federal government had earlier warned Woodside of numerous environmental risks from its plans including CO2 toxicity, risks of earthquakes, risks of leakage and the marine impacts of seismic testing… “Dumping carbon pollution under Scott Reef would put already endangered species like the green sea turtle, pygmy blue whale and the dusky sea snake at serious risk. This wildlife needs urgent protection, not more destruction and pollution in the places they call home…“Woodside’s plans in Scott Reef are an environmental disaster in the making. The Prime Minister should rule out all polluting projects in this pristine ecosystem,” Hanson Young told Upstream.”

Firstpost: Russia: Nearly 140 people cleaning up massive Black Sea oil spill report health issues
1/1625

“Nearly 150 volunteers and workers cleaning up a massive oil spill along the Black Sea coast have sought medical help in the past month, health officials in Russia’s Krasnodar region said Wednesday (January 15),” Firstpost reports. “Krasnodar Health Minister Yevgeny Filippov reported that 146 individuals required medical attention during the ongoing cleanup efforts. Of those, three were hospitalised while 142 received outpatient treatment. Filippov did not specify the nature of the health issues but said no medical cases had been reported in Crimea, where the spill has also reached. He added that six medical stations were established in affected areas, and mobile medical teams are patrolling cleanup zones, Moscow Times reported. The announcement followed the death of a 17-year-old university student who had reportedly been helping with cleanup efforts in the resort town of Anapa. The exact cause of death remains unknown, but pro-Kremlin media suggested the teenager may have been exposed to toxic fumes.”

Newsweek: Russia Could Lose Billions in 'Worst Ecological Disaster of 21st Century'
Maya Mehrara, 1/17/25

“Speaking to the Russian news outlet Kommersant, Viktor Danilov-Danilyan, a scientific director at the Russian Academy of Sciences, deemed an oil spill in the Black Sea to be the "worst ecological disaster of the 21st century," Newsweek reports, “Cleaning up the damage from the spill in Crimea's Kerch Strait could cost Russia $14 billion, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Svitlana Grynchunk, the Ukrainian Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources… “Moscow is facing an impending economic crisis, with soaring inflation and billions being spent on the war with Ukraine, which could trigger a recession. Cleaning up the oil spill will further drain scarce resources… “Oil has been detected on the shores of Sevastopol, approximately 155 miles from the Kerch Strait and 96,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil have been removed by officials and volunteers from the shoreline of Russia's Krasnodar region... “Danilov-Danilyan said the oil spill was unprecedented and could have been avoided, highlighting the ages of the ships involved saying "it was not worth using vessels that should have been written off as unsuitable 20 years ago."

CLIMATE FINANCE

Axios: Fed pulls out of global climate change group before Trump inauguration
Courtenay Brown, 1/17/25

“The Federal Reserve said on Friday that it will quit a group dedicated to addressing the risk climate change poses to the global financial system,” Axios reports. “...Central banks, Wall Street and other corporations once faced backlash for not taking enough climate action. The Fed leaving the France-based group — called the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System — follows several large banks pulling out of a UN-backed net zero agreement in recent days… “Of the seven governors on the Fed board, two abstained — both of whom were appointed by President Biden: the Fed's top bank cop Michael Barr and economist Adriana Kugler. Two other Biden appointees, Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson, voted in favor of pulling out of the group.”

Reuters: Top Canadian banks quit global climate coalition ahead of Trump inauguration
Nivedita Balu, 1/17/25

“Four of Canada's biggest lenders said on Friday they were withdrawing from a global banking sector climate coalition, joining six major U.S. banks,” Reuters reports. “The departures from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance began with Goldman Sachs' announcement on Dec. 6 and come ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House next week. Trump has been critical of efforts by governments to prescribe climate-change policies. The four Canadian banks are TD Bank, Bank of Montreal, National Bank of Canada and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The other big U.S. banks that have withdrawn are Wells Fargo, Citi, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan The Net-Zero Banking Alliance, a UN-sponsored initiative set up by former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, was launched in 2021 to encourage financial institutions to limit the effects of climate change and push toward achieving net-zero emissions. The Canadian banks said in separate statements that they were equipped to work outside the alliance and develop their climate strategies.”

OPINION

Dakota Scout: Commissioner must sit out or undermine pipeline hearing integrity
Patrick Gruber, Jim Seurer, Robert Baurle, Jeff Lautt, Eric Baukol & Walt Wendland, 1/18/25

“As ethanol plant leaders and partners with Summit Carbon Solutions, we understand the critical importance of regulatory certainty and transparency in ensuring South Dakota remains competitive for business. That’s why we respectfully call on Commissioner Kristie Fiegen to recuse herself from Summit’s current case before the Public Utilities Commission,” Patrick Gruber, Jim Seurer, Robert Baurle, Jeff Lautt, Eric Baukol & Walt Wendlandwrite for the Dakota Scout. “For ethanol producers, access to emerging low-carbon markets is essential for long-term viability. The pipeline is a key component of competing in these markets, including sustainable aviation fuel, ensuring our plants remain profitable and South Dakota farmers benefit. The proposed sustainable aviation fuel plant by Gevo, a major economic opportunity for South Dakota, depends on the pipeline to proceed with its project. None of this is possible without a regulatory process we can trust — one that provides clarity and avoids delays caused by appeals or questions of fairness.”

The Alpana News: ‘Extraordinarily risky’
Greg Awtry, 1/17/25

“...The 55-page report was specifically about the Enbridge Inc. Line 5 pipeline that runs through Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, through the lakebed of the Straits of Mackinac, and down through the middle of northern Michigan on its way to Sarnia, Ontario,” Greg Awtry writes for The Alpana News. “We all know that Line 5 is a controversial pipeline, but do we all know it is 71 years old? Do we all know that Line 5 has spilled many times, releasing over a million gallons of oil into the environment? Do we all know that an exhaustive study by the University of Michigan said a significant spill in the Straits would be the worst place for a spill? Well, most of us have heard of the risks Line 5 poses to the Great Lakes, but the IEEFA study didn’t focus on the environmental risks. It focused on the financial feasibility of such a project, including Enbridge’s desire to build a tunnel 370 feet below the Straits lakebed… “They focused on three financial issues: the financial risks to the debt-to-earnings ratio for Enbridge, the rising costs of construction both on Line 5’s reroute in Wisconsin and the tunnel under the Straits, and, finally, the changes in the entire energy market… “Also, a declining use of propane, the growing switch to electricity, and global efforts to curb oil-based plastics are all reasons why a long-term commitment to Line 5 is being questioned. The new IEEFA information is confirmation to me that it is time to end Line 5, especially when added to the environmental risks that remain to the hundreds of rivers and streams it crosses and the devastation that would occur to shipping, tourism, and recreation if and when a spill into the Great Lakes might happen… “The report ended with this recommendation: “Both the United States and Canada, as well as the administrative agencies involved in the tunnel pipeline project, should also consider the substantial advantages of a non-Line-5 solution. Considering the no-Line-5 alternative makes sense given the risks and policy implications of building the tunnel pipeline.” The IEEFA presenter said, “They (Enbridge) should walk away from Line 5 and the tunnel. And leaving Line 5 if there is no tunnel is irresponsible and extraordinarily risky.” I fully agree. Do you?”

Inforum: Things are looking bright for carbon capture under the Trump administration
Rob Port, 1/18/25

“...Here in North Dakota, opposition to carbon capture has manifested itself in attempts to scuttle the Summit Carbon Pipeline, and that opposition has its roots in both left- and right-wing politics,” Rob Port writes for Inforum. “In the ranks of that opposition are some of the Trumpiest Republicans our state has to offer, who have formed an aberrant association with the sort of left-wing activists who would like to see the oil, gas and coal industries go out of business… “There is no clear-cut partisan or ideological position on carbon capture, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it can make it difficult to read the political tea leaves around the issue… “Consider this exchange between Wright and Sen. John Hoeven, who has been a staunch advocate for carbon capture projects… “Will you work with us to address the carbon capture, CO2 capture, not only to address CO2 concerns but also to use it as a resource for additional oil recovery? Will you come with me to the University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Commission there and see what we’re doing and work with us on things like Project Tundra to do this?” Wright’s response? “My answer is a resounding yes.” That’s a big deal for carbon capture proponents. Consider Wright is on board. Former Gov. Doug Burgum, who will almost certainly be confirmed as Trump’s secretary of the Interior and will serve as the chair of a Trump-created energy council, is as enthusiastic about carbon capture as Hoeven is… “Unless Trump does an about-face on the issue — the man is inconstant in everything from politics to marriage — the road ahead looks bright for carbon capture.”

Wall Street Journal: Biden Issues Flurry of Executive Orders in Final Days. Trump Might Roll Them Back
Scott Patterson, Amrith Ramkumar, and Dustin Volz, 1/17/25

“In his final days in office, President Biden issued a flurry of orders to rein in offshore drilling for fossil fuels, accelerate the build-out of data centers for artificial intelligence and promote cybersecurity against hackers… “Some are sure to face challenges in the first days of the Trump administration as the new president seeks to roll back regulations he has said stifle economic growth,” Scott Patterson, Amrith Ramkumar, and Dustin Volz write for the Wall Street Journal. “One of President-elect Donald Trump’s most likely targets is Biden’s executive order that would ban new oil and gas drilling across more than 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters. It couldn’t be determined whether Trump would be able to reverse the order, though he has vowed to do so. The decree invoked a 1953 law that gives the president latitude to withdraw from consideration currently unleased lands in federal offshore waters. The law doesn’t include a procedure for a new president to undo actions by a predecessor… “The party notched a climate victory with the August 2022 passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which directed billions of dollars to clean-energy technologies. Trump and Republican lawmakers have pledged to repeal a number of the tax incentives in the bill, including rebates for electric vehicles, though the law is unlikely to be revoked entirely.”

Fraser Institute: Our energy policies have made us more vulnerable to Trump’s tariffs
Elmira Aliakbari and Jason Clemens, 1/18/25

“As Donald Trump, who will be sworn in as president on Monday, threatens to impose tariffs on Canadian exports including oil and natural gas, the calls from some Canadian politicians and analysts for greater energy trade diversification grow louder. However, these calls highlight a hard truth—Canada has repeatedly foregone opportunities to reduce our dependence on the United States by cancelling already approved pipelines and failing to approve new pipeline and LNG projects that could have increased our access to global markets,” Elmira Aliakbari and Jason Clemens write for the Fraser Institute. “The U.S. is not just Canada’s largest energy customer—it’s nearly our only customer. In 2023, 97 per cent of crude oil exports and virtually all natural gas exports were sent south of the border. This dependence on the U.S. for exports leaves Canadian producers and the Canadian economy exposed to policy shifts in Washington and even state capitals. Consider Energy East, a pipeline proposed by TransCanada (now TC Energy) to transport oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries and export terminals in Atlantic Canada… “However, in 2017 the Trudeau government introduced new criteria for evaluating and approving major pipeline projects, and for the first time assessments included not only the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from constructing the pipeline but also emissions from producing and using the oil it would transport… “A year earlier in 2016, the Trudeau government cancelled the already-approved Northern Gateway pipeline, which would have connected Alberta oil production with the west coast and created significant export opportunities to Asian markets. Canada is even more dependent on the U.S. for natural gas exports than oil exports. In 2023, Canada exported approximately 84 billion cubic metres of natural gas—all to the U.S.—via 39 pipelines, again leaving producers in Canada vulnerable to U.S. policy changes… “Years of inaction and regulatory roadblocks have left Canadian energy producers overly dependent on a single trading partner and vulnerable to shifting U.S. policies. The looming threat of tariffs should be a wake-up call. To secure its energy future, Canada must address the regulatory barriers that have long hindered progress and prioritize the development of infrastructure to connect our energy resources to global markets.”

Center for American Progress: The Biden Administration Took Record-Breaking Conservation Action
Sam Zeno, Jenny Rowland-Shea, 1/17/25

“Even as President Joe Biden’s approval ratings hovered below 40 percent this past year, support for his conservation agenda—protections of public lands and waters, including Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative—has consistently had an approval rating above 75 percent. National monuments and wildlife refuges (85 percent); ramped-up public lands protections (74 percent); and recovery of endangered wildlife (86 percent) saw remarkably high support. Despite the administration’s low approval ratings, it’s clear that the president has created an important and popular legacy in the protection of nature. President Biden took bold action on something important to the American people,” Sam Zeno and write for the Center for American Progress. “In fact, in just one term, President Biden broke conservation records. Over four years, the Biden administration protected more lands and waters—674 million acres—than any other president in history. A new Center for American Progress analysis finds that during his presidency, Biden’s Department of the Interior channeled more than $35 billion toward conservation action across the country. As the U.S. sees a major transition in presidential and Congressional power, any effort to reverse these actions would be straying far from the will of the electorate… “Overall, the Biden administration has conserved 674 million acres of U.S. lands and waters… “The administration also protected important ecological and subsistence lands across 28 million acres in Alaska from the reach of oil, gas, and other extractive industries… “A new Center for American Progress analysis finds that Biden’s Department of the Interior has channeled more than $35 billion toward conservation over the course of their term… “The Biden administration’s term has been marked by remarkable protections for lands and waters and funding for federal, state, and local programs that have actualized long-sought-after conservation proposals. Working in collaboration with and seeking guidance from communities, Tribes, and local officials have been a defining facet of this administration. This community-led conservation action has been exceedingly popular among voters and is indeed one of the most notable pieces of President Biden’s legacy. It deserves to stay that way.”