EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 2/27/23
PIPELINE NEWS
Associated Press: Pipeline debate at center of California carbon capture plans
Bismarck Tribune: Bismarck-Burleigh health officer: 'No unacceptable risk' from CO2 pipelines
Appalachian Voices: As comment deadlines come to a close, more than 40,000 voice opposition to new Mountain Valley Pipeline federal permits
Washington News Service: Critics ask governors to speak out against northwest pipeline expansion
Red Lake Nation News: Rally for Water Protectors Charged for Line 3 Protests Held in Aitkin County
Castanet: Two of six jailed pipeline protesters already free on bail pending appeal
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: House Republicans accelerate march toward big energy package
The Hill: House Republicans launch probe of Buttigieg response to Ohio train derailment
Press release: Bennet, Heinrich, DeGette, Beyer Lead Letter To EPA Supporting Tougher Methane-Emissions Standards
The Hill: Kerry to serve in climate envoy role at least through COP28 summit in November
E&E News: Air Quality Worries Spur Push To Freeze N.M. Oil, Gas Permits
STATE UPDATES
Illinois Times: CWLP testing the latest carbon capture technology
EXTRACTION
New York Times: As Oil Companies Stay Lean, Workers Move to Renewable Energy
TODAY IN GREENWASHING
The Review: $5,000 from Enbridge for Champlain fire departments
OPINION
Spencer Daily Reporter: Don’t drink ethanol’s doomsday Kool-Aid
The Gazette: It’s property rights vs. ethanol in Iowa. Bet on King Corn
Ventura County Star: Guest column: Stop Board of Supervisors from adding more oil and gas wells
RBN Energy: Gotta Get Over - The Race To Debottleneck U.S. LNG Feedgas Routes
CalMatters: Newsom Faces Dem Rebellion Over Crackdown on Oil Company Profits
Earthworks: New Mexico’s new oil and gas regulations aren’t effective. Here’s why.
Globe and Mail: Companies need to stop greenwashing and get serious with net-zero pledges
PIPELINE NEWS
Associated Press: Pipeline debate at center of California carbon capture plans
MICHAEL PHILLIS and KATHLEEN RONAYNE, 2/25/23
“In its latest ambitious roadmap to tackle climate change, California relies on capturing carbon out of the air and storing it deep underground on a scale that’s not yet been seen in the United States,” the Associated Press reports. “The plan — advanced by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration — comes just as the Biden administration has boosted incentives for carbon capture projects in an effort to spur more development nationwide. Ratcheting up 20 years of climate efforts, Newsom last year signed a law requiring California to remove as much carbon from the air as it emits by 2045 — one of the world’s fastest timelines for achieving so-called carbon neutrality… “To achieve its climate goals, California must rapidly transform an economy that’s larger than most nations, but fierce opposition to carbon capture from environmental groups and concerns about how to safely transport the gas may delay progress — practical and political obstacles the Democratic-led Legislature must now navigate. Last year, the California state legislature passed a law that says no carbon dioxide may flow through new pipelines until the federal government finishes writing stronger safety regulations, a process that could take years. As a potential backup, the law directed the California Natural Resources Agency to write its own pipeline standards for lawmakers to consider, a report now more than three weeks overdue… “We do not expect to see (carbon capture and storage) happen at a large scale unless we are able to address that pipeline issue,” Rajinder Sahota, deputy executive officer for climate change and research at the air board, told AP… “Without clarity on the state’s pipeline plans, the state is putting itself at a “competitive disadvantage” when it comes to attracting projects, Sam Brown, a former attorney at the Environmental Protection Agency and partner at law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth, told AP… “There are currently no active carbon capture projects in California. To demonstrate the technology is viable and people can get permits for it, it’s essential to build the first projects, George Peridas, director of carbon management partnerships at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, told AP.”
Bismarck Tribune: Bismarck-Burleigh health officer: 'No unacceptable risk' from CO2 pipelines
BLAKE NICHOLSON, 2/23/23
“The risk to public safety from a carbon dioxide pipeline is no greater than that associated with other types of hazardous gases and pipelines, Burleigh County’s top health official has concluded amid debate over a planned CO2 project that would bisect the county,” according to the Bismarck Tribune. “Bismarck-Burleigh Health Officer Dr. David Pengilly told county commissioners on Thursday that his opinion is based on only a few weeks’ study and that it is not an endorsement of Summit Carbon Solutions’ planned Midwest Carbon Express pipeline. “We don’t like any toxic materials going through our county ... we’re not endorsing it,” he said. “We’re just saying it doesn’t appear to represent an unacceptable risk.” “...Commissioners are considering two ordinances linked to concerns expressed by some northern county residents about the Midwest Carbon Express pipeline, including worries about their safety… “The commission, convening as the County Board of Health on Feb. 6, considered a public health statement that “expresses concern for the risk of hazardous liquid gas exposure to humans, the environment and livestock.” It set the stage for a proposed ordinance that would require companies building hazardous liquid pipelines to submit emergency plans to local officials, to ensure publish health and safety… “Commissioner Brian Bitner during Thursday’s meeting asked Pengilly to elaborate on “What is an acceptable risk?” Pengilly responded that “I can’t quantitate ‘acceptable risk’ as far as injuries and deaths.” “...The commission later will also consider a separate proposed zoning ordinance pertaining to special use permits required for hazardous liquid pipelines. That ordinance is still being developed, according to Flanagan.”
Appalachian Voices: As comment deadlines come to a close, more than 40,000 voice opposition to new Mountain Valley Pipeline federal permits
2/24/23
“In response to the U.S. Forest Service’s intention to break 11 of its own rules for the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline, over 30,000 individuals and organizations submitted their opposition to the agency’s plan ahead of a February 21 deadline,” according to Appalachian Voices. “A comment period initiated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a new effort at a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit is expected to generate more than 10,000 comments from those opposed to the misguided project by the time it ends Saturday… “In their comments opposing the USFS permit, members of the public highlighted the Jefferson National Forest’s scenic beauty and its treasured public recreational resources. Technical submissions focused on the negative impacts to water resources, riparian buffers and habitat for rare animals and plants. Commenters overwhelmingly opposed amending 11 rules for one project, and noted the dangerous precedent it could set for allowing more unnecessary fossil fuel infrastructure on cherished public land. Appalachian Voices and 7 Directions of Service submitted a petition with 12,555 signatories in opposition to the suggested USFS changes. Additional organizational submissions were submitted by Food & Water Watch, Oil Change International, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Natural Resources Defense Council, 198 Methods, Climate Hawks, and the Virginia League of Conservation Voters… “Routed through traditional homelands of the Occaneechi, Monacan, Tutelo and Saponi Nations, the Mountain Valley Pipeline would bring disproportionate exposure to health hazards for the people and species along its path,” said Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck, co-founder of 7 Directions of Service. “We will stand to fight the major corporations that have proven they do not value people, animals, plants or the land.”
Washington News Service: Critics ask governors to speak out against northwest pipeline expansion
Eric Tegethoff, 2/27/23
“Environmental groups want West Coast governors to speak out against the expansion of a gas pipeline in the region,” Washington News Service reports. “The Canadian company TC Energy is proposing to increase capacity for its GTN XPress pipeline, which stretches more than 1,300 miles from Canada through Washington state, Oregon and California. Audrey Leonard, staff attorney for Columbia Riverkeeper, told WNS more than 50 organizations have sent a letter to the governors of those states. "Our states all have policies and laws in effect that are moving us away from reliance on fracked gas, and this project is totally opposite of that," Leonard told WSN. "Hearing from the governors on this is really important." “...Leonard countered the pipeline poses safety concerns, noting TC Energy is the company behind the Keystone Pipeline System, which recently leaked more than 600,000 gallons of oil in Kansas. She noted the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission never held a public hearing on the expansion project. In response, earlier this month, more than 150 opponents of the GTN XPress held a "people's hearing," which included testimony from Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. "It's exciting to see people mobilizing and speaking out, because the federal agency has really not done much to listen to those voices," Leonard told WNS. "And also the concerns of the tribes that have been raised formally, through the comment process."
Red Lake Nation News: Rally for Water Protectors Charged for Line 3 Protests Held in Aitkin County
2/27/23
“Winona LaDuke, founder of Indigenous environmental group Honor the Earth, appeared in Aitkin County Court on Friday on charges related to protests of the Line 3 oil pipeline,” Red Lake Nation News reports. “LaDuke is currently facing seven misdemeanor charges, including trespassing, unlawful assembly, and public nuisance. All are in connection with demonstrations that occurred during the construction of Enbridge Energy's Line 3 pipeline two years ago. Despite the cold, dozens came to rally outside the courthouse in support of LaDuke… “Inside the courthouse, LaDuke took the stand, where she defended her right to be on public land, a topic that was discussed outside as well… “No verdict was made Friday on the charges against LaDuke. There are several other water protectors also charged with similar misdemeanors who are awaiting their hearing dates.”
Castanet: Two of six jailed pipeline protesters already free on bail pending appeal
Tim Petruk, 2/26/23
“Two of the six protesters jailed this week for their roles in demonstrations at Trans Mountain work sites in Kamloops are now free on bail pending appeal,” Castanet reports. “Henry Sauls and Miranda Dick have both been released on bail. A third jailed protester, Romilly Cavanaugh, has filed for a bail hearing, which could take place as early as Monday. Sauls and Cavanaugh were sentenced on Friday to jail terms of 28 and 32 days, respectively. Dick, Susan Bibbings and Laura Zadarozny were sentenced on Wednesday to 28 days in jail, while Heather Lamoureux received a 29-day sentence. Defence lawyer Ben Isitt, who represented each of the six protesters in court for their sentencing hearings, told Castanet Sauls was released on Friday from the cell block at the Kamloops Law Courts. Dick and Sauls are appealing their convictions and sentences, while Cavanaugh is appealing only her conviction. “All three of them are stating that the way the trial was conducted breached their right to a fair trial, and that amounts to a miscarriage of justice,” Isitt told Castanet.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: House Republicans accelerate march toward big energy package
Emma Dumain, 2/27/23
“House Republicans are taking action on numerous bills that will make for part of their sweeping energy and permitting reform package, which they hope to put on the floor for a vote by the end of March,” E&E News reports. “It will be the first legislative product of their new majority to come from multiple committees — in a policy arena they campaigned on in the 2022 midterms — that many GOP lawmakers hope could in some form become law… “While there are plenty of Democrats who have voiced support for legislation to speed up permitting for wind and solar energy projects, they have expressed skepticism with the Republicans’ proposals for how to get there. In the House Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday afternoon, for instance, Democrats are expected to recoil at a discussion draft of the “Building United States Infrastructure Through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act,” H.R. 2515… “It seeks to speed up environmental reviews that can currently delay permits for energy projects, including wind and solar, by requiring regulators to rely on existing “reliable” data rather than conduct lengthy new research; allowing project sponsors to assist in conducting environmental reviews; and limiting lawsuits that would slow down processes. It would accomplish these objectives by overhauling the National Environmental Policy Act, which many Democrats regard as a critical safeguard that should not be touched. “My hope is that our approach to permitting reform is appealing to Democrats,” a senior Republican aide told E&E News on condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy… “The aide told E&E there’s an appetite among GOP leadership to go to conference with the Senate, should the other chamber proceed with a permitting bill or energy package of its own, on a compromise product… “House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) recently met to discuss how to proceed on the debt limit later this year, but digressed into a conversation about their shared desire to collaborate on permitting legislation, the aide told E&E.”
The Hill: House Republicans launch probe of Buttigieg response to Ohio train derailment
RACHEL FRAZIN, 2/24/23
“House Republicans are launching a probe of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s response to the derailment of a train carrying hazardous materials in East Palestine, Ohio, marking the latest spark to partisan tensions surrounding the incident,” The Hill reports. “In a new letter to Buttigieg on Friday, 21 Republicans on the House Oversight and Reform Committee said they were concerned about what they described as the Department of Transportation’s “slow pace in resolving this matter.” “...The lawmakers requested documentation of when Buttigieg learned about the derailment, as well as documents related to the National Transportation Safety Board’s progress on figuring out the cause of the incident, as well as the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s handling of hazardous materials spilled due to the incident. In response, Buttigieg noted in a tweet that the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident, is independent, not part of the Transportation Department. “I am alarmed to learn that the Chair of the House Oversight Committee thinks that the NTSB is part of our Department,” he wrote. “Still, of course, we will fully review this and respond appropriately,” he added.
Press release: Bennet, Heinrich, DeGette, Beyer Lead Letter To EPA Supporting Tougher Methane-Emissions Standards
2/23/23
“Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, alongside U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Don Beyer (D-Va.), lead a group of 76 members of Congress in support of stronger standards from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding methane emissions and pollution from oil and natural gas operations. The lawmakers, including Colorado U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse and Jason Crow, urged EPA to strengthen the agency’s supplemental proposal announced during President Biden’s address to the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties by encouraging the use of available data from innovative monitoring technologies like satellite imaging, and tightening restrictions on routine flaring by clarifying and defining when flaring can occur during emergencies and maintenance. “As we celebrate the significant strides the agency has made in the recent proposal, we also ask the EPA to adopt further improvements in its final rule. While the supplemental proposal takes some important steps to reduce pollution from routine flaring of gas at oil wells, stricter safeguards against this harmful practice are critical to reduce pollution and protect health,” wrote the lawmakers in the letter. “A number of studies have demonstrated that flaring of associated gas results in methane emissions that are five times higher than previously thought, largely due to flare malfunctions and inefficiencies.
The Hill: Kerry to serve in climate envoy role at least through COP28 summit in November
LAUREN SFORZA, 2/26/23
“John Kerry, the U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, said in a new interview with The Boston Globe that he told President Biden that he will serve in his role through at least the United Nations climate summit in November,” The Hill reports. ““There’s sufficient unfinished business that I felt it would be inappropriate to walk away from that at this point in time,” he told the newspaper. The climate summit, named COP28, will be held in Dubai later this year. Kerry, a former secretary of state and senator, said he hopes to promote new technologies and more funding to accelerate addressing climate change… “My main objective is to raise the ante at this COP, so we are coming out of there with a head of steam on emissions reduction and finance,” Kerry added. “There are things that are riper, more compelling, more obvious, more necessary, more urgent.”
E&E News: Air Quality Worries Spur Push To Freeze N.M. Oil, Gas Permits.
Sean Reilly, 2/23/23
“Western environmental group is seeking a freeze on new oil and gas production and processing permits in New Mexico after EPA recently objected to the use of one common feature in the state’s handling of emission limits,” E&E News reports. “Should state regulators grant the group’s request, it could at least temporarily chill booming energy development in the state, which ranks near the top nationally in both oil and gas production. Until the New Mexico Environment Department addresses the EPA objection, ‘we call on you to immediately pause the approval of permits for new and modified sources of air pollution for the oil and gas industry,’ a WildEarth Guardians representative wrote in a letter this week to James Kenney, the department’s secretary.”
STATE UPDATES
Illinois Times: CWLP testing the latest carbon capture technology
Don Howard, 2/23/23
“Construction crews have been working through winter weather on a new $67 million project on the site of the Dallman power generating station on the north end of Lake Springfield. City Water, Light and Power broke ground Dec. 8, 2022 on a carbon capture system funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the state of Illinois, and managed in collaboration with the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,” the Illinois Times reports. “ The project is a public-private partnership using technology developed by Linde Gas North America and BASF. The carbon capture technology is expected to remove about 95% of the carbon emissions currently produced by the coal-fired plant. It could also be applied to gas- and oil-powered plants. The pilot program is the last phase of testing before the technology is to be made generally available around the world… “Once the carbon is captured, the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center at the University of Illinois will partner with CWLP to find ways that the material extracted from flue gas can be reused or recycled. For instance, experiments are already planned for using the fly ash in the manufacture of plastics and using the carbon dioxide to feed algae while heat from the gases can be used to keep the algae ponds warm during Illinois winters. The construction phase of the project is expected to be complete sometime in 2024, then the testing of the carbon capture technology will last for two years, allowing it to come to market in 2026 at the earliest.”
EXTRACTION
New York Times: As Oil Companies Stay Lean, Workers Move to Renewable Energy
Clifford Krauss, 2/27/23
“Emma McConville was thrilled when she landed a job as a geologist at Exxon Mobil in 2017. She was assigned to work on one of the company’s most exciting and lucrative projects, a giant oil field off Guyana,” the New York Times reports. “But after oil prices collapsed during the pandemic, she was laid off on a video call at the end of 2020… “Her shock was short-lived. Just four months later, she landed a job with Fervo, a young Houston company that aims to tap geothermal energy under the Earth’s surface. Today she manages the design of two Fervo projects in Nevada and Utah, and earns more than she did at Exxon… ”Oil and gas companies laid off roughly 160,000 workers in 2020, and they maintained tight budgets and hired cautiously over the last two years. But many renewable businesses expanded rapidly after the early shock of the pandemic faded, snapping up geologists, engineers and other workers from the likes of Exxon and Chevron. Half of Fervo’s 38 employees come from fossil fuel companies, including BP, Hess and Chesapeake Energy. Executives and workers in energy hubs in Houston, Dallas and other places tell the Times steady streams of people are moving from fossil fuel to renewable energy jobs. It’s hard to track such movements in employment statistics, but the overall numbers suggest such career moves are becoming more common. Oil, gas and coal employment has not recovered to its prepandemic levels. But the number of jobs in renewable energy, including solar, wind, geothermal and battery businesses, is rising.”
TODAY IN GREENWASHING
The Review: $5,000 from Enbridge for Champlain fire departments
Louise Sproule, 2/26/23
“As part of its Safe Community Project Assist, Enbridge Gas Inc. (Enbridge Gas) is helping Champlain Fire & Emergency Services purchase firefighting training materials,” The Review reports. “The initiative is a program with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) that supplements existing training for Ontario volunteer and composite fire departments in the communities where Enbridge Gas operates. Rick Gazda, Operations Supervisor, Eastern Region, Enbridge Gas attended Champlain Township’s regular council meeting to present a $5,000 cheque to the municipality. This year’s $250,000 donation from Enbridge Gas will be shared by 50 Ontario fire departments, including the Champlain Fire & Emergency Services.”
OPINION
Spencer Daily Reporter: Don’t drink ethanol’s doomsday Kool-Aid
Bonnie Ewoldt, Milford IA resident and Crawford County landowner, 2/26/23
“Things are not going as planned for three deep-pocketed investment companies seeking permits from the IUB. They expected to move into Iowa, throw billions of dollars around, scoop up the land they needed for hazardous liquid CO2 pipelines using eminent domain, and start laying thousands of miles of pipe later this year. Instead, projects like the Midwest Carbon Express are going off the rails,” Bonnie Ewoldt writes for the Spencer Daily Reporter. “Unexpected glitches delay construction. The IUB postponed Summit’s hearing until more of the 1500 remaining parcels are signed, but most unsigned landowners won’t return acquisition agents’ phone calls.. .”What is an enterprise to do after spending billions over the past two years, but the plan isn’t working? Obviously, there is only one thing to do – play the doomsday card with slick mailers, newspaper reports, and radio interviews. Ethanol plants across Iowa sent letters supporting Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) to their corn producers. Without CCS, they cautioned, the ethanol industry would face devastating financial losses and producers would need to pay shipping charges to sell elsewhere. Next, newspaper and radio reports warned that ethanol producers will lose billions and be unable to compete in the global market without CCS. Even more alarming was the finding that 75% of ethanol plants will leave Iowa without CCS and move to neighboring states that use CCS. The doomsday scenarios were based on a study commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Not surprisingly, ADM is a member of IRFA, and Summit, Navigator, and Wolf are associate members. The dubious findings are obviously questionable because of conflicts of interest. The study’s warnings sound dire, but they’re not credible. It’s highly unlikely any of our neighbors will pursue CCS without Iowa. The proposed pipeline routes crisscross five states in addition to Iowa: Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Iowa is the pass-through state leading to the sequestration sites in ND and IL. Without Iowa’s vast network of ethanol plants and huge percentage of captured CO2, the remaining states cannot create stand-alone projects. Furthermore, CCS is as unpopular with landowners in neighboring states as it is in Iowa, and the companies struggle to get landowner signatures in all of them. Handwringing about ethanol’s demise without CCS is nothing more than a scare tactic designed to paint unsigned landowners as guilty of hindering ethanol’s future and Iowa’s progress. It’s a disingenuous plan to sway legislators into voting down eminent domain reform and force landowners into signing easements. Just last month, ethanol plants boasted of record-breaking profits and predicted a bright future. How can an industry be booming one minute and struggling to stay afloat the next? Don’t drink ethanol’s doomsday Kool-Aid.”
The Gazette: It’s property rights vs. ethanol in Iowa. Bet on King Corn
Todd Dorman, 2/23/23
“Iowa is a state that can’t say no to the ethanol industry. And that leaves some Republican lawmakers in a terrible fix,” Todd Dorman writes for The Gazette. “That’s because many of their rural constituents are vehemently opposed to taking land through eminent domain for three carbon capture pipelines proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions, Navigator CO2 Ventures and Wolf Carbon Solutions… “On Tuesday, a House panel signed off on a bill, House File 368, which would require the companies obtain voluntary easements along 90 percent of a pipeline’s path before they could use eminent domain power to obtain the rest. The bill also would slap a moratorium on projects until the federal government completes a rewrite of safety rules that govern carbon pipelines… “The lead sponsor, Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, said he’s long supported ethanol. “But there are bigger principles here,” Holt said, namely property rights. Holt’s bill is entirely reasonable. It should be far more difficult to use what he called the “blunt force of government” to take land for a private project. And it’s irresponsible to shove these projects forward before safety rules have been finalized. Yep, totally reasonable. So it probably won’t pass. That’s because the ethanol industry has upped the ante. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association released a study it commissioned showing that, without the pipelines, Iowa would lose 75 percent of its ethanol industry and $10.3 billion in revenues annually. Corn prices would drop… “The skies would darken. The earth would quake. The Capitol’s Golden Dome would rust. OK, maybe not. So, basically, if lawmakers act to protect landowners, they’ll be ending ethanol as we know it. Instead, the industry wants the Legislature to let companies take land, grab billions of dollars in federal tax credits and make ethanol into a lower carbon fuel that can be marketed in a world seeking to restrict emissions to halt climate change. Ethanol is saved. Well, until the next time the industry needs to be propped up by government action. We’ve been doing this dance since the 1970s.”
Ventura County Star: Guest column: Stop Board of Supervisors from adding more oil and gas wells
Haley Ehlers is the Director of Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG) and Merrill Berge is the Board Chair, 2/26/23
“It is a beautiful Saturday morning in the Oxnard neighborhood of Lemonwood. Large crowds of families are watching their kids play soccer on the Lemonwood School fields,” Haley Ehlers and Merrill Berge write for the Ventura County Star. “...What the parents and young athletes don't realize is that these playgrounds are adjacent to a large-scale oil drilling project that will soon put their health and safety in danger. Soon these young athletes will be breathing toxic oil and gas pollution emissions and contaminates known to increase the risks of asthma and respiratory diseases. They will be exposed to known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, like benzene and formaldehyde, fine and ultra-fine particulate matter, and hydrogen sulfide. Soon this neighborhood scene will turn into one mirrored across the state: Californians living on the frontlines of toxic oil operations breathing fossil fuel pollution in their neighborhoods day in and day out, susceptible to the irreparable long-term impacts on their physical and mental health. Ventura County recently approved drilling for over 21 oil and gas wells in the agricultural fields less than one mile away from Lemonwood Elementary School… “On Tuesday, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors will vote on two more oil and gas wells, in addition to the 21 oil wells already approved for this site… “Tuesday’s public hearing is the only possibility for the community to weigh in on this major oil drilling project. Everyone in our county who is concerned about the health and safety of residents near oil and gas wells need to voice their concerns and tell our elected leaders that they have a duty to protect our health, our air, and our water supply.”
RBN Energy: Gotta Get Over - The Race To Debottleneck U.S. LNG Feedgas Routes
Sheetal Nasta, 2/26/23
“LNG exports will be the biggest driver of demand growth for the Lower 48 natural gas market over the next five years,” Sheetal Nasta writes for RBN Energy. “After a year of oversupply in 2023, export capacity additions will help to balance the market and support gas prices in 2024 as the glut spills over into next year. Beyond 2024, higher export volumes will lead to tighter balances and price spikes. As supply struggles to keep up with new export capacity, the timing of pipeline expansions will be critical for balancing the market. The bulk of new LNG export projects are sited along a small stretch of the Texas-Louisiana coastline and more pipeline capacity will be needed to move incremental feedgas into this area and across the “last mile” to the facilities. In today’s RBN blog, we begin a series delving into the planned pipeline expansions lining up to serve LNG demand along the Gulf Coast… “Of course, an export project is nothing without the upstream supply and transportation capacity to feed the liquefaction plants. To that end, there are a slew of pipeline projects in the works to supply feedgas to these multibillion-dollar facilities, which adds yet another layer of complexity and market risk. If the liquefaction trains are completed before incremental production and pipeline capacity become available, it would create a gas shortage along the Gulf Coast or delay exports. On the other hand, if production and pipeline flows ramp up before the terminal is online, it would create a supply glut along the Gulf Coast… “In addition to these, there are more than a dozen pipeline projects, including greenfield and brownfield expansions, in various stages of development that are vying to serve burgeoning LNG demand in Louisiana.”
CalMatters: Newsom Faces Dem Rebellion Over Crackdown on Oil Company Profits
Dan Walters, 2/27/23
“Members of a state Senate committee spent more than four hours last week delving into the complexities of the supply chain that pumps more than 13 billion gallons of gasoline into Californians’ cars each year,” Dan Walters writes for CalMatters. “Immediately after the “informational hearing” ended, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared that it made the case for the tax-like “penalties” he wants to impose on refiners for exceeding still-to-be-determined profit margins, once again accusing them of price gouging… “Newsom’s statement bore little resemblance to what actually transpired during the hearing. Experts, including the state’s foremost authority on energy pricing, told legislators that the sharp, albeit temporary, spike in pump prices last year had little to do with refinery actions, but rather inexplicable hikes by retailers. And even Democratic legislators were openly skeptical of Newsom’s claims. “There is clearly a belief out there among many people that oil companies were profiting off the backs of Californians,” said Sen. Dave Min, an Irvine Democrat who will seek a congressional seat next year. “At the same time, we don’t really have a smoking gun as far as I can see, that shows intentional collusion.” The Senate energy committee’s chairman, Steve Bradford, was equally unconvinced. Bradford, a San Pedro Democrat, asked, “What are we trying to solve for?…We have passed legislation here in California that has encouraged leaving oil in the ground…Have we created a scenario that has helped create this problem?” And so it went. Democrats and Republicans alike, while expressing sympathy for motorists who saw transportation expenses jump sharply, offered almost no support, even conceptually, for imposing penalties that the petroleum industry says would merely increase prices even more… “Newsom obviously doesn’t want to wait for a more measured approach. He’s invested a lot of political capital into his anti-oil industry crusade and wants some action to trumpet. But last week’s hearing indicated that getting something “hairy and audacious,” to use one of Newsom’s favorite phrases, will be tough slogging.”
Earthworks: New Mexico’s new oil and gas regulations aren’t effective. Here’s why.
Charlie Barrett, 2/23/23
“Last year, New Mexico legislators passed much-needed rules and regulations for oil and gas operators to try to mitigate and/or end some sources of pollution. As a result, routine venting and flaring – which are no longer permitted in New Mexico, continue to be a problem,” Charlie Barrett writes for Earthworks. “This was a great victory. However, venting and flaring events are still frequently observed in recent field investigations. In adopting the rules, New Mexico acknowledged the harm and need to end, in most cases, these practices. The state continues to issue permits for new facilities despite a lack of resources to inspect existing ones… “NMED is Understaffed & Underfunded… “Operators Can Avoid Paying To Clean Up Their Mess… “The Industry Self-Polices Itself… “Considering this, the state should immediately halt the permitting of new oil and gas facilities until appropriate funding, staff and resources can be allotted to enforce rules and regulations, inspect facilities in a timely manner, and respond to environmental complaints. New Mexico has an obligation to protect their residents and vital natural resources from the environmental harms associated with oil and gas. So far, they can’t and these rules have no teeth. The legislature needs to act to reign in the oil and gas industry’s pollution. While SB-418, the New Mexico Oil and Gas Justice and Reform Act won’t fix the problem with flaring, it is a much-needed fix that will update and modernize our Oil and Gas Act with common sense reforms.”
Globe and Mail: Companies need to stop greenwashing and get serious with net-zero pledges
Catherine McKenna is Canada’s former minister of environment and climate change, as well as minister of infrastructure and communities. Ms. McKenna is principal of climate and nature solutions and chair of the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities, 2/27/23
“The trillion-dollar transition to a net-zero future is the largest economic and jobs opportunity in our lifetime,” Catherine McKenna writes for the Globe and Mail. “...At their worst, the pledges create a false impression that lead investors and consumers to believe that a company is doing more to protect the environment than it is. Here in Canada, oil and gas companies, the single largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions, need to step up and take meaningful climate action now. But instead, we have the Pathways Alliance – which represents major oil sands companies – taking out full-page newspaper advertisements claiming they are on their way to net-zero despite all evidence to the contrary… “We cannot allow companies to claim they are on the path to net zero if they are investing in new fossil-fuel infrastructure, if their absolute emissions are not decreasing, if they are only reporting on part of their emissions or if they are lobbying to undermine climate policy. And because voluntary pledges often lack accountability, our report calls on governments to develop regulation and standards for corporate net-zero pledges. This issue is particularly relevant to Canada where, unlike most other heavy industry sectors such as steel and cement, oil and gas company emissions are still rising – a trend that we can no longer afford if we want to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. This sector will make or break Canada’s climate commitments. But instead of oil and gas companies using their massive profits to invest at scale in clean energy, they are returning their profits to shareholders while lobbying for more taxpayer subsidies – at the same time as regular Canadians are feeling the squeeze from high fuel prices… “This is the real opportunity in front of Canadians: not feel-good ads and more greenwashing, but climate action that creates good jobs and lasting prosperity by doing the right thing – with integrity – and that protects the planet for all.”