EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 2/15/23
PIPELINE NEWS
Des Moines Register: Iowa would lose $10.3B a year in ethanol production without pipelines, report says
KMA: IRFA study touts carbon pipeline projects
Dyersville Commercial: Supervisors, pipeline opponents discuss options
S&P Global: Keystone pipeline 'limited' in delivering spot crude volumes, says TC
Vancouver Sun: TC Energy 'confident' it will complete $14.5-billion Coastal GasLink pipeline by year's end
Jefferson Public Radio: Rogue Valley residents call for more input on Northwest pipeline expansion
Food & Water Watch: Proposed FL Pipeline Expansion Requires Full Environmental Impact Study, Protest States
WASHINGTON UPDATES
Politico: What’s Next For GOP Energy Agenda
Washington Post: Treasury, Energy issue guidance on key tax credits
E&E News: Alaska Senators Want 28M Acres Open To Mining, Energy
STATE UPDATES
KOIN: Derailed train spills about 2,000 gallons of diesel near Yaquina River
The Hill: States with fracking disclosure rules have higher water quality: study
Bloomberg: Texas Probes Targa’s Failure to Swiftly Report Big Gas Release
Sky Hi News: Grand County Commissioners formally oppose Uinta Basin Railway unless conditions are met
EXTRACTION
DeSmog: Big Oil’s Been Secretly Validating Critics’ Concerns about Carbon Capture
PLOS Climate: Carbon Dioxide Removal – What’s Worth Doing?
The Narwhal: Are Canadian oilsands companies working to save the planet or save face?
Reuters: Oil and gas industry earned $4 trillion last year, says IEA chief
NASA: Why Methane Surged in 2020
CLIMATE FINANCE
Reuters: Barclays tightens lending for dirtiest fossil fuels
E&E News: EPA climate fund may not be a green bank after all
OPINION
MinnPost: We must look toward innovative solutions such as carbon capture to help us meet our emission goals
Forbes: Speedier Pipeline Approvals Needed For Oil And Gas Transportation
The UTC Echo: No TVA Pipeline: A Movement for Clean Energy
PIPELINE NEWS
Des Moines Register: Iowa would lose $10.3B a year in ethanol production without pipelines, report says
Donnelle Eller
“Iowa ethanol plants could close over the next decade without access to three proposed carbon-capture pipelines, a "catastrophic" hit that would ripple through the state economy, hitting farmers, livestock producers and rural residents, a new report funded by a renewable fuels group says,” the Des Moines Register reports. “Iowa's ethanol industry would lose three-fourths of its production, or about $10.3 billion annually, to neighboring states, according to a report from Decision Innovation Solutions, a Des Moines-area economic consultant. Lost ethanol production would cut 1 billion bushels of local demand annually for Iowa corn, used to make the biofuel, according to the report, funded by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. That would equal about 40% of last year’s corn harvest, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics… “The 60-page report, being released Tuesday, comes as Iowa lawmakers are considering bills that would place restrictions on the construction of three controversial pipelines… “A broad coalition of opponents say the pipelines are dangerous, would damage underground drainage systems critical to farming in Iowa, cut yields and trample on landowner rights. They’re pushing state legislators to limit the companies’ access to eminent domain which could force unwilling landowners to sell access to their property for the projects… “The report says ethanol plants that are unable to sequester carbon through pipelines will miss out on billions of dollars in new clean fuel tax credits, created through the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law last year.”
KMA: IRFA study touts carbon pipeline projects
Mike Peterson, 2/14/23
“Curtailing carbon sequestration projects would have a catastrophic impact on Iowa ethanol producers, and the state's farmers and economy. That's the conclusion of a study commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association based on a scenario where the state's ethanol plants are precluded from using carbon capture sequestration or CCS technology via pipelines,” KMA reports. “...The company's study also claims that Iowa farmers would lose local markets for more than a million bushels of corn annually, depressing local corn prices, and that the state would realize an eventual decline in revenues from ethanol plants of more than $10 billion per year. The study also touts the availability of 45Z tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act--a production tax credit available to producers of clean fields based on carbon scores. IRFA’s Miller calls the 45Z credits "a game changer." "We built the industry on operating margins in the 20-to-30 cents a gallon range on gross operating margins," Miller told KMA. "Our estimate is with the 45Z tax credit, that gross operating margin basically doubles. It would be an incentive for existing plants that have signed up for being on pipelines for expanding capacity, which would have a one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half year payback." “...IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw says he realizes the pipeline issue, and concerns over the use eminent domain to secure land for such projects, is emotional. "There have been calls from the left and the right to ban these projects," Shaw told KMA. "There have been other calls to set up hurdles so high that I would call them a defacto ban. So, we felt it was important to have an informed discussion, and that people can make an informed decision."
Dyersville Commercial: Supervisors, pipeline opponents discuss options
Mike Putz, 2/15/23
“As the Delaware County Board of Supervisors weighs its options in regard to a proposed carbon-capture pipeline set to run through a significant portion of the area, the public is beginning to demand answers,” the Dyersville Commercial reports. “During a Feb. 10 work session, 18 landowners were in attendance, adamant that the supervisors do all they can to stop the pipeline project… “Supervisor Pete Buschmann said if Shelby County prevails in the lawsuit, other counties will have enough time to join in. “My understanding is that we have time — I think you will see a lot of (other counties joining) if they don’t lose that suit. If they lose the suit, then we are probably up the creek… “Hoffmann said while looking at letters sent to the Iowa Utilities Board website about the project, he found fabricated letters from county residents, including himself, supporting the project. “I called the Iowa Utilities Board, the consumer advocate office and the governor’s office trying to find out what’s going on,” Hoffmann said. “When I called the utilities board, they told me they were starting to get other calls about that. Supposedly this happened because Navigator was trying to simplify their tabulation — they are going to fix it.” A speaker told the supervisors they should take the risk and do whatever they can to fight the pipeline, even if they lose and it costs county taxpayers money… “Supervisor Shirley Helmrichs said after the meeting she still has safety concerns about the pipeline… “Hoffmann described the pipeline projects as money grabs. “This is a boondoggle — both Summit and Navigator have noted they wouldn’t be in this if not for the tax credits being offered, which is a pretty big statement.”
S&P Global: Keystone pipeline 'limited' in delivering spot crude volumes, says TC Energy
Ashok Dutta, 2/14/23
“The Keystone crude oil system is 'limited' in delivering spot volumes to its customers in the US Midwest and the Gulf Coast, as pressure restrictions still remain in place in the aftermath of the December pipeline leak, a senior TC Energy official said Feb. 14,” S&P Global reports. “The pipeline is operational at all delivery points. However, it is being run in line with the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's "corrective action order" and under some additional mitigating measures, which include a "de-pressured, de-rate" system as required by the regulator, President of Liquids Pipelines Richard Prior said on the company's earnings call… “Prior did not indicate a timeline on when Keystone would return to its 100% capacity, stating TC Energy's current focus is on remedial actions and safe operations of the pipeline system while simultaneously working with PHMSA and state-level agencies on determining the factors that led to the incident… "It will take some time for the root cause investigation to play out and for us to determine what caused the failure. It is at that time we will ask PHMSA's permission to return to baseline operations, and right now I don't have a timeframe at this point in time," Prior said… “With over 800 "people" still on the remedial job, TC Energy is targeting to complete the Port Neches Link for its Keystone system in Q1 2023, CEO Francois Poirier said on the same call.”
Vancouver Sun: TC Energy 'confident' it will complete $14.5-billion Coastal GasLink pipeline by year's end
Gordon Hoekstra, 2/14/23
“Despite construction challenges and ballooning costs on the Coastal GasLink pipeline that contributed to a $1.4 billion fourth-quarter loss reported Tuesday, TC Energy says it’s on track to complete construction this year on the project in northern B.C.,” the Vancouver Sun reports. “Costs have more than doubled on the 670-kilometre natural gas pipeline to $14.5 billion and could increase up to a further $1.2 billion if construction is not completed this year. The company says it will have a better idea by the summer whether it will need to push construction into 2024. While 84 per cent of construction is complete, there are some remaining challenging areas such as river crossings that can only be undertaken during the winter months, Bevin Wirzba, TC Energy’s executive vice-president of strategy and corporate development, said Tuesday… “After the company’s financial results were released Tuesday, some Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs said the massive cost overruns and ongoing delays to construction — while continuing to violate Wet’suwet’en rights and title — also raised new doubts over the commercial viability of the project. “The magnitude of how much the project went up in cost should tell the world how dangerous it is,” Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief Na’moks, also known as John Risdale, told the Sun. “TC Energy investors and those who support it should also know the economic risk that comes with it.”
Jefferson Public Radio: Rogue Valley residents call for more input on Northwest pipeline expansion
Jane Vaughan, 2/14/23
“Climate activists hosted a “People’s Hearing” in Phoenix, OR, on Monday night to record video testimony opposing a potential natural gas pipeline expansion in the Pacific Northwest,” Jefferson Public Radio reports. “The event was hosted by Southern Oregon advocacy nonprofit Rogue Climate and is one part of a plan to oppose the pipeline expansion that’s being considered by federal regulators… “The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accepted written comments on the project, but Maig Tinnin, Rogue Climate’s Rogue Valley coordinator, told JPR the regulator didn’t do any “meaningful outreach” about it. “There hasn’t been a process in the past where they’ve done hearings, and really that needs to change,” Tinnin told JPR. “We’re trying to kind of set a new precedent with FERC.” So activists plan to send Monday night’s recorded testimony to FERC to demonstrate their opposition to the project… “U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley also spoke against the expansion during Monday’s community hearing, saying, “The last thing we should do is continue building more fossil fuel infrastructure.” “...Merkley and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden have also written about their opposition, saying the expansion would “undermine efforts by Oregon to lead the fight against climate chaos.”
Food & Water Watch: Proposed FL Pipeline Expansion Requires Full Environmental Impact Study, Protest States
2/14/23
“Today, the national climate advocacy group Food & Water Watch filed a formal protest to a fracked gas pipeline expansion project in Tampa Bay, demanding a full environmental impact study for the project. The proposal by Tampa Electric and Texas-based Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) to expand a length of pipeline in St. Petersburg and double the flow of gas into Hillsborough County, is in direct opposition to local legislation to move off fossil fuels and has raised substantial public outcry. The proposal requires approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to move forward. Initial details on the project’s pollution impacts are inadequate and fail to evaluate downstream climate impacts, the protest states. Earlier this month, in response to demands from more than 100 Tampa Bay residents and Food & Water Watch, FERC requested additional information from the pipeline company regarding environmental justice and pollution impacts. FGT responded to those requests last week offering a limited scope of project impacts, but failed to disclose downstream greenhouse gas emissions and revealed that the gas will be used to increase electric energy production from fracked gas power plants in Hillsborough County. In the protest — filed today — Food & Water Watch called for a full environmental impact study of the project.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
Politico: What’s Next For GOP Energy Agenda
2/14/23
“House Republicans are planning for key committees to mark up the major pieces of their promised energy package in the next work period after their two-week recess with the aim of holding a floor vote in late March, a speedy timeline a senior GOP aide told Politico is ‘ambitious but doable,’” Politico reports. “The plan is designed to spur oil and gas production on federal lands and ease permitting rules through a broad revamp of the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. That’s not likely to get much traction with Senate Democrats, and neither are longtime pro-fossil fuel GOP priorities like lifting restrictions on natural gas exports and prohibiting a ban on fracking. But Republicans hope their permitting effort represents an aggressive starting point to negotiations with Senate Democrats… “Manchin and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) discussed their shared interest in pursuing permitting process changes during a Jan. 25 meeting focused on the debt ceiling, the aide told Politico.”
Washington Post: Treasury, Energy issue guidance on key tax credits
Maxine Joselow, 2/14/23
“The Treasury and Energy departments on Monday released guidance on key tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at bolstering projects in underserved communities and areas where coal mines or coal plants have been shuttered,” the Washington Post reports. “In a notice, Treasury said it was restarting the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit program, which will provide a tax credit of up to 30 percent for qualifying projects — including carbon capture, grid modernization and clean hydrogen projects — starting at the end of May. The climate law provided $10 billion for the program, which originated as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of the $10 billion, $4 billion must be reserved for projects in coal communities under provisions secured by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.).”
E&E News: Alaska Senators Want 28M Acres Open To Mining, Energy
Scott Streater, 2/13/23
“Alaska’s Republican senators are once again challenging the Biden administration’s 2021 decision to pause a series of Trump-era public land orders in the state that would open 28 million acres of federal lands to mining and energy development,” E&E News reports. “Sen. Lisa Murkowski recently introduced a bill, S. 175, that would codify into law the five public land orders signed in January 2021 by then-Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. The orders lifted land use protections for the 28 million acres overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. The bill is co-sponsored by fellow Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan. Murkowski’s bill would also essentially put the brakes on an ongoing BLM-led environmental impact statement (EIS), which began last year. BLM is evaluating what it has called legal deficiencies in the Bernhardt orders signed in the closing weeks of the Trump presidency. The Biden administration in April 2021 placed the orders on a two-year moratorium to give it time to evaluate them.”
STATE UPDATES
KOIN: Derailed train spills about 2,000 gallons of diesel near Yaquina River
Amanda Arden, 2/13/23
“A train derailment at the Georgia-Pacific Mill in Toledo, Ore. spilled about 2,000 gallons of diesel Friday and state officials said some of it entered a slough that feeds into the Yaquina River,” KOIN reports. “The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality responded to the emergency Friday. Officials told KOIN some of the spilled diesel may have entered a storm drain that flows into the nearby Depot Slough, which feeds into the Yaquina River… “This is a difficult number to calculate because there is no easy [way] to measure how much fuel is in soil or how much fuel was recovered from the stormwater system versus how much made it beyond the containment measures,” Oregon DEQ spokesperson Dylan Darling told KOIN. On Friday, crews placed a barrier in the slough to prevent the fuel from spreading. They also used an oil-absorbing boom and other absorbent materials within the barrier and around the spill site to prevent additional fuel from spreading. As of Monday, Darling told KOIN there was an oil sheen near the outfall in a slough that connects to the Yaquina River, but no diesel has been seen in the river yet… “So far, Oregon DEQ said there’s been no indication the spilled diesel has impacted wildlife at or near the spill site… “Investigators have not determined who is responsible for the diesel spill. Oregon DEQ told KOIN Georgia-Pacific is paying for the cleanup.”
The Hill: States with fracking disclosure rules have higher water quality: study
ZACK BUDRYK, 2/13/23
“Increasing transparency requirements around fracking activity and the specific fluids used in the process are associated with lower pollution levels from that activity, new research shows,” The Hill reports. “A recent study from the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute examined water quality in watersheds where fracking occurred. Specifically, researchers analyzed salt concentration, a common indicator for fracking impact due to its associated health and development hazards. They found consistent improvement on this benchmark in cases where the state imposed disclosure rules. In states with transparency rules, salt concentration fell by up to 17.8 percent. In contrast, their research found no comparable decline for pollutants not specifically associated with the fracking process. Meanwhile, researchers also found that in states with mandatory disclosure rules, fracking firms’ use of chloride-related chemicals declined, and about 5 percent fewer new wells were drilled. They further found that other mechanisms of public pressure were also associated with lower salt concentrations. For example, the greatest drop occurred in areas with more local newspapers and local environmental nongovernment organizations, as well as states with higher rates of Google searches for hydraulic fracturing. The research also indicated water quality is better in regions where more fracking wells are owned by publicly traded companies.”
Bloomberg: Texas Probes Targa’s Failure to Swiftly Report Big Gas Release
David Wethe, Zachary Mider and Aaron Clark, 2/14/23
“Texas is investigating why pipeline operator Targa Resources Corp. failed to report an unexpected release of tons of natural gas within 24 hours, as required by state regulations,” Bloomberg reports. “Targa disclosed the incident two weeks after it happened and within eight hours after Bloomberg emailed the Houston-based company a satellite image that appears to show a significant cloud of methane near one of its compressor stations in Midland County, Texas. The Jan. 20 incident in the heart of the Permian Basin, the world’s largest shale oilfield, wasn’t reported to state regulators until 4:42 p.m. local time on Feb. 3… “Targa said in a statement to Bloomberg that it released 10 tons of methane during repairs. That’s equal to the short-term climate impact of the annual emissions of more than 150 US cars. Targa didn’t answer additional questions, including why it failed to initially report the event to regulators. Owners and operators of regulated entities in Texas must submit initial notifications to the state regulator within 24 hours of discovery if an emissions event exceeds reportable quantities. Final reports must be submitted within two weeks. The investigation of the Targa incident is ongoing, the Texas regulator told Bloomberg. “Based on the results of an investigation of a reportable incident the TCEQ may pursue enforcement actions when appropriate against regulated entities which may include the assessment of a penalty.’’
Sky Hi News: Grand County Commissioners formally oppose Uinta Basin Railway unless conditions are met
Meg Soyars, 2/10/23
“A controversial project to increase waxy crude oil production in Utah and transport it via railroad is on its way to becoming a reality,” Sky Hi News reports. “...But some groups believe it has hazardous implications for the environment, including in Grand County. “Picture 10 2-mile long trains with heated railcars filled with this waxy crude which hardens to the consistency of candle wax when exposed to air, traveling along two of the most threatened rivers in the country, the Colorado and the Fraser,” said board member Mark Eddy of the Colorado River Headwaters chapter of Trout Unlimited. “Picture what those canyons and rivers would look like if even one of the tanker cars split open and spilled its contents into Byers Canyon right down the road there. The devastation to the river ecosystem would be catastrophic.” Eddy was speaking to Grand County commissioners during their Jan. 17 meeting. He has encouraged the board to join the local chapter of Trout Unlimited in the fight against the new rail project in order to protect Grand’s ecosystem… “More than 70 counties, municipalities and sanitations districts, as well as dozens of environmental groups, have expressed concerns. The project has faced lawsuits, including one from Eagle County in Colorado, for not adequately addressing environmental risks from derailments and spills in forests and rivers, as well as damage to air quality from increased oil production.”
EXTRACTION
DeSmog: Big Oil’s Been Secretly Validating Critics’ Concerns about Carbon Capture
Dana Drugmand, 2/13/23
“Last February, ExxonMobil announced it would further expand its only active carbon capture and storage (CCS) operation in the United States, located at a gas processing facility in LaBarge, Wyoming,” DeSmog reports. “...Although the oil giant publicly touts carbon capture as a “proven” climate solution, its own early foray reveals just how flimsy of a fix the technology really is — and how expensive, both for taxpayers and the climate… “While Exxon has already spent millions on this project — and plans to invest up to $400 million more to expand it — Shute Creek has consistently fallen short of its carbon capture goals. Still, the company plans to double-down on CCS, making the underperforming technology an essential part of its billion-dollar blue hydrogen plans, which rely on fossil gas… “The internal documents obtained by the House Committee suggest that Big Oil views carbon capture technologies as a way to continue producing oil and gas for decades to come, well into an increasingly climate-constrained future… “A DeSmog analysis of the documents released by the Committee has found that internal communications from BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, and the American Petroleum Institute include statements that CCS enables or prolongs the use of fossil fuels in the energy transition, acknowledgements of the challenges or limitations of CCS, and references to the need for federal funding or policy support for CCS and the industry’s role in securing that assistance… “In internal documents, BP, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute all identified carbon capture as a way to extend society’s use of fossil fuels… “Carolyn Raffensperger, executive director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, said the considerable public funding flowing into CCS is especially egregious. “Carbon capture and storage is the latest grift of the fossil fuel industry. Not only will it perpetuate the fossil fuel industry long past its expiration date and delay real climate solutions, the public gets to pay for it. This means we, the public, pay the polluter rather than the polluter paying for its own messes,” she told DeSmog. “They are trashing the planet at our expense. They knew it was a grift and now we do too.”
PLOS Climate: Carbon Dioxide Removal – What’s Worth Doing?
June Sekera, Dominique Cagalanan, Amy Swan, Richard Birdsey, Neva Goodwin, Andreas Lichtenberger, 2/14/23
“Reducing the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere – through “carbon capture” and “carbon dioxide removal” (CDR) -- has become a focal point for legislators and policymakers concerned with climate change. Federal funding for industrial-mechanical carbon capture projects has skyrocketed despite controversy in policy circles and on the ground,” according to PLOS Climate. “The controversy is most acute in communities and regions awakening to blueprints for thousands of miles of new CO2 pipelines that would transport captured, pressurized carbon dioxide to sites where CO2 would be injected and buried underground. Not only do carbon capture corporations plan to build such systems across six Midwestern states, they are demanding the right to take land by eminent domain where farmers and other landowners do not voluntarily agree to pipeline easements. “We’re building a taxpayer-financed sewer system for the fossil fuel industry” says Kert Davies, Director of the Climate Investigations Center, noting that the oil and gas industry behind carbon capture and pipeline efforts has successfully lobbied for the billions of dollars in federal funding that have been appropriated… “The researchers found that biological methods are more effective at carbon removal and more resource efficient than mechanical methods for achieving a climate-relevant scale of CO2 removal. The co-impacts of biological methods are largely positive, while those of mechanical methods are negative. Biological methods are also far less expensive. Despite this, and despite a failed track record, mechanical carbon capture continues to receive large federal subsidies… “Accordingly, the paper recommends that governments devote substantial funding to biological sequestration.”
The Narwhal: Are Canadian oilsands companies working to save the planet or save face?
Carl Meyer, 2/14/23
“...So, just what are the Pathways companies doing? The alliance has pledged to achieve “net-zero emissions from oilsands operations by 2050.” Achieving that goal would be a tremendous feat, roughly equivalent to cutting all the yearly emissions of the province of Quebec,” The Narwhal reports. “But critics say the pledge is just another greenwashing tactic designed to extend the life of fossil fuels… “The U.S. House of Representatives’ central investigative committee found that oil companies publicly touted carbon capture technology as key to climate mitigation, but internally viewed the technology as a means to secure a “social license” to continue producing fossil fuels for decades… “The Pathways plan relies heavily on carbon capture technology… “The Pathways plan, as they’ve put it, is to “become the global supplier of choice for responsibly produced oil”—– a bid to use “next generation” technology to help slash operational emissions while they continue producing and selling petroleum products… “You need to show a pathway for your investments from dirty to clean. They aren’t doing that,” Catherine McKenna, the former Canadian minister of environment and climate change, told the Narwhal… “Pathways president Kendall Dilling, who was an executive at Cenovus before being appointed president of the alliance in 2022, has acknowledged emissions from the consumption of oil products are “part of what we have to get to, as well.” “...But until then, Pathways is focusing on pollution from its activities, not its products, Dilling explained, because “we wanted to really start with our own business first, and take care of our own backyard.” In the meantime, the oilsands companies are talking about going in the other direction: ramping up their production of fossil fuels… “Net-zero pledges that don’t measure up are an example of the “new form of climate denial.” “It’s actually saying you’re doing something, and doing the opposite — which in a way is worse, because it creates the impression that we’re actually making progress on climate change, that folks are showing climate leadership,” McKenna told the Narwhal.”
Reuters: Oil and gas industry earned $4 trillion last year, says IEA chief
Valerie Volovici, 2/13/23
“The global oil and gas industry’s profits in 2022 jumped to some $4 trillion from an average of $1.5 trillion in recent years, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, said on Tuesday,” Reuters reports. “Despite those profits, countries depending on oil and gas revenue should prepare to reduce their reliance on petroleum as demand is going to fall in the longer term, Birol told a conference in Oslo while speaking via video link. “Especially the countries in the Middle East have to diversify the their economies…You cannot anymore run a country whose economy is 90% reliant on oil and gas revenues because oil demand will go down.”
NASA: Why Methane Surged in 2020
2/13/23
“When NOAA released its 2020 numbers for atmospheric methane, many scientists were surprised,” according to NASA. “Though economic data showed that COVID-19-related lockdowns had led to improvements in air quality and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, atmospheric methane still soared—above 1900 parts per billion and nearly triple pre-industrial levels. The annual growth rate for 2020 was the highest scientists had recorded since systematic annual methane measurements began in 1983—an increase of 15 parts per billion, which was exceeded again in 2021… “The increase in the growth rate in 2020 was large, unexpected, and alarming,” said Ben Poulter, an earth scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Methane concentrations had plateaued between 2000 and 2006, but as they began to rise between 2007 and 2019, the annual growth rate hovered around 9 parts per billion per year… “We don’t have all the data and monitoring capabilities that we need to get a completely definitive answer for why concentrations of methane are rising so quickly,” said Poulter. “But with the information we do have, we’re seeing strong evidence that the increase in 2020 was driven by sharp increases in emissions from wetlands as well as, paradoxically, decreases in emissions of nitrous oxide (NOx) pollution due to COVID-19 lockdowns that indirectly slowed the removal of methane from the atmosphere.”
CLIMATE FINANCE
Reuters: Barclays tightens lending for dirtiest fossil fuels
Tommy Wilkes, 2/15/23
“Barclays on Wednesday said it was tightening lending criteria for coal power and would stop financing oil sands exploration and production, but did not announce new restrictions on oil and gas lending as some rivals have,” Reuters reports. “...Banks globally have been detailing their plans to cut emissions and keep a lid on the rise in global temperatures, but environmental campaigners accuse them of moving too slowly and have called on them to stop financing new oil and gas drilling. Announcing results for 2022, Barclays said it will stop financing all oil tar sands companies, as well as new oil sands pipelines, whereas previously it had said it would work with those firms undertaking efforts to reduce their emissions. However, some environmental activists had hoped the bank would announce a new policy on financing for oil and gas, after HSBC said in December it would stop direct funding new oil and gas fields.”
E&E News: EPA climate fund may not be a green bank after all
Avery Ellfeldt, Jean Chemnick, 2/15/23
“Last year’s climate spending law doesn’t require EPA to pump $20 billion into a national green bank. But the agency could still create something along those lines,” E&E News reports. “That’s the upshot of an EPA announcement Tuesday that provided details about the agency’s plans for a massive environmental justice grant program created by the Inflation Reduction Act. The so-called Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund was born out of a decade-plus push by Democrats and outside groups to create a single national green bank that would funnel dollars into local organizations capable of financing clean energy projects. But EPA’s announcement yesterday clarified the agency’s position that the legislation does not require it to move in that direction — and instead allows it to entrust two or more outside entities with disbursing the funds. For that reason, the agency said it plans to issue at least two — and as many as 15 — direct grants to outside organizations… “While longtime proponents have maintained that a national green bank would be the best way to leverage public dollars to raise private capital, climate advocates, community development groups and some Democratic lawmakers have acknowledged that relying on a wider set of financial intermediaries may better serve some of the fund’s goals — especially the goal of quickly reaching underserved communities. “Using multiple lenders is a smart approach to ensure the funds reach communities that need this money the most, rural, and urban,” Sarah Dougherty, the director of the Green Finance Center with the Natural Resources Defense Council, told E&E.
OPINION
MinnPost: We must look toward innovative solutions such as carbon capture to help us meet our emission goals
Joe Radinovich is a former DFL State Representative (2013-2015), 2/13/23
“Our nation’s industries were given a challenge from policymakers across the political aisle including the Biden administration, to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 50%-52% by 2030 and reach net zero carbon emissions by no later than 2050. These goals, under current industry operations, are frankly out of reach,” Joe Radinovich writes for MinnPost. “...In Minnesota, we are seeing the agricultural industry, specifically the ethanol industry, embrace carbon capturing as its contribution to lowering its carbon footprint. Currently, there are two carbon capture projects proposed in Minnesota that would capture and permanently store carbon emissions from ethanol plants and other industrial partners. These projects not only help our climate, but they also support the economies of rural Minnesota by keeping the ethanol industry competitive… “Not only has carbon capture been proven through decades of practice, but it has also received bi-partisan support, particularly from Democrats at multiple levels of government… “In Minnesota, both Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar have lent their support for carbon capture… “The proposed carbon capture projects provide Minnesota the opportunity to become a nationwide leader in tackling climate change. While carbon capture may not be the only method used to curtail carbon emissions, we should look favorably upon it as a safe and necessary practice.”
Forbes: Speedier Pipeline Approvals Needed For Oil And Gas Transportation
Diana Furchtgott-Roth is Director of Energy, Climate, and Environment at the Heritage Foundation, 2/14/23
“Fifty Northern Southern Railroad train cars derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, ten of them carrying toxic chemicals. With smoke billowing, residents on both sides of the Ohio-Pennsylvania border were ordered to evacuate,” Diana Furchtgott-Roth writes for Forbes. “This frightening incident should lead us to reexamine our pipeline priorities. Although the chemicals on the train could not move by pipeline, pipelines are used for natural gas and petroleum—and we need more of them.Pipelines are the safest way to transport oil and natural gas because the pipeline stays still and the gas moves, away from people, with little risk of accident… “This means that more, rather than fewer, pipelines should be approved. But in New York, the Constitution Pipeline, the Northern Access pipeline, and the Northeast Supply Enhancement pipelines have been delayed due to protests by those who profess concern for the environment. About 15 natural gas transmission pipelines are pending review at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. FERC is now for the first time including potential greenhouse gases and effects on “environmental justice communities” in its pipeline approval process… “America needs better pipelines to get natural gas from where it is produced to where it is used and exported. America’s ability to export gas will help our allies. Pipelines are safe, and safety matters.”
The UTC Echo: No TVA Pipeline: A Movement for Clean Energy
Zoe Morton, 2/14/23
In April of 2021, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced they are planning to retire the last two coal plants in Tennessee by 2035. While this news was initially a huge success for environmental activists, the TVA later annouced it plans to replace the two coal plants with a 157 miles of gas pipelines in East and Middle Tennessee,” Zoe Morton writes for The UTC Echo. “ Natural gas is a risky source of energy, an unrenewable source that’s expensive and risky for nearby communities and wildlife. Gas pipelines can impact habitats and wildlife due to increased greenhouse gas emissions, habitat distruction, stream pollution, and introduce invasive species to an ecosystem… “While the TVA completed an environmental impact report, they failed to acknowledge that their proposed pipeline would cause a harmful impact on hundred of acres of bat habitat… “Despite these concerning facts, the CEO of the TVA, Jeff Lyash, still intends to move forward with the natural gas plant. Lyash, a man with long ties to the fossil fuel industry, has an annual salary of 9.8 million dollars a year. Before working for the TVA, Lyash served as the executive vice president of energy supply for Duke Energy. During his tenure at the company, Duke Energy leaked toxic chemicals into the groundwater which supplied the sole source of water for nearly one million residents in North Carolina… “While the TVA claims that their team is committed to improving the quality of life for the ten million people they serve, Lyash has failed to do so in his past and is continuing to do so now with the proposed TVA pipeline.”