EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 5/26/26
PIPELINE NEWS
Associated Press: A decade after Standing Rock protests, contentious segment of Dakota Access oil pipeline gets OK
North Dakota Monitor: Army Corps grants final approval for Dakota Access Pipeline, 9 years after oil began flowing
Press release: Armstrong statement on U.S. Army Corps releasing Record of Decision for Dakota Access Pipeline
E&E News: FERC proposes faster permitting for gas pipeline projects
WDIO: Enbridge, Sierra Club react to latest Line 5 reroute project ruling
Radio Iowa: Iowa Senate’s GOP leader plans to offer pipeline plan again in 2027
DTN Progressive Farmer: CO2 Pipeline Changes Spark Iowa Fight
KTIV: Iowa pipeline route overhauled, but landowners say eminent domain fight continues
WOI: Landowners push back against Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed pipeline, say legislators can do more [VIDEO]
Richmondside: Richmond is first California city to oppose a carbon dioxide waste pipeline
Georgia Public Broadcasting: ‘That land is always gonna be changed.’ Screven County farmers fear new gas pipeline’s impact
New Bedford Light: How to cut energy bills? Mass. Senate, House disagree
WCPO: ‘A nerve-wracking, scary experience’ | New natural gas pipeline planned in Northern Kentucky draws concern
WTMJ: Waldo Christmas tree farm fights back after pipeline company cuts down hundreds of trees, owner refuses NDA
Globe and Mail: For Ottawa and Alberta, the hardest part of agreeing on a pipeline plan is just beginning
Bloomberg: Canada Oil Firms Can Afford Carbon Capture, Energy Minister Says
Reuters: Canada’s investment climate for oil and gas improving, executives say
African Business: Nigeria and Morocco seek US funding for Atlantic Gas Pipeline
Los Angeles Times: Oil-covered birds rescued after pipeline rupture sends crude into L.A. River
KTLA: Health officials warn East L.A residents about odor after 2,400 gallons of oil spill
Capital and Main: The Slick70-Foot Wastewater Geyser Reflects New Mexico’s Latest Oilfield Challenge
WASHINGTON UPDATES
North Dakota Monitor: Burgum touts AI data centers, calls Iran war ‘gift to the world’ in speech to oil industry
Washington Post: Trump’s offshore oil drilling plan threatens military readiness, generals say
E&E News: Climate change alarms are flashing. Washington isn’t paying attention.
E&E News: Republicans propose emissions carve-out for small oil producers
STATE UPDATES
Carbon Herald: Louisiana Lawmakers Prevents Parishes From Banning Carbon Capture
North Dakota Monitor: Continental Resources to resume oil drilling in North Dakota this year
Source NM: Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape named one of country’s ‘most endangered’ historic places
Texas Tribune: In the Permian Basin, AI takes on big oil’s dirty water problem
Press release: BLM issues final analysis for proposed oil and gas management updates in central coast region
WWL: ‘Very tough to clean up’: Oil from LOOP spill remains along coastline, officials say
EXTRACTION
Financial Times: Can Exxon build the world’s biggest carbon capture business?
Stockholm Environmental Institute: Carbon capture is now delivering greener cement, but the biggest challenge remains scale
CBC: Alberta to hold consultation sessions this year on future plans for dealing with oilsands tailings ponds
New York Times: Exxon May Return to Venezuela, Ending a Long Fight With Its Leaders
Associated Press: Video shows oil spill in Iranian island after attack on a refinery last month
Baird Maritime: Oil spill reported following vessel collision in Nigeria’s Bonny Inner Anchorage
Reuters: Devon snaps up prime Delaware Basin acreage for $2.6 billion after Coterra merger
OilPrice.com: America’s Abandoned Oil Wells Could Power the Next Geothermal Boom
OPINION
Post and Courier: Protecting SC’s Lowcountry means protecting its forests
PIPELINE NEWS
Associated Press: A decade after Standing Rock protests, contentious segment of Dakota Access oil pipeline gets OK
Jack Dura, 5/21/26
“Federal officials on Thursday gave final approval for the Dakota Access oil pipeline to continue operating its contentious Missouri River crossing, an outcome that comes nearly a decade after boisterous protests against the project on the North Dakota prairie,” the Associated Press reports. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to grant the key easement means the pipeline will keep operating but with added conditions for detecting leaks and monitoring groundwater, among others. The announcement brings an end to a drawn-out legal and regulatory saga stemming from the protests in 2016 and 2017, though further litigation over the pipeline is likely… The Corps is “decisively putting years of delays to rest and moving out to safely execute this crossing beneath Lake Oahe,” Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle told AP… “The tribe told AP it will continue to fight in federal court to protect its water, sacred sites and homelands established in treaties with the federal government signed in 1851 and 1868. “The Tribe will evaluate all legal and political options to defend our Treaty rights, protect Mni Wiconi - Water of Life, and hold the Federal government and private corporations accountable to the highest standards of environmental stewardship and Tribal consultation,” Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s Chairman Steve Sitting Bear told AP. In December, the Corps released its final environmental impact statement nearly six years after a federal judge ordered a more rigorous review of the pipeline’s crossing. In that document, the Corps endorsed the option to grant the easement for the crossing and keep the pipeline operating with modifications… “Today’s decision merely restates past conclusions and represents a pattern of minimizing and rejecting Tribal expertise in sustaining our lands, resources, and cultural properties,” the Tribe told AP.”
North Dakota Monitor: Army Corps grants final approval for Dakota Access Pipeline, 9 years after oil began flowing
Mary Steurer, 5/21/26
“A federal agency officially granted the Dakota Access Pipeline a permit to cross under the Missouri River’s Lake Oahe reservoir, ending a six-year environmental review to determine whether the pipeline could continue operating,” the North Dakota Monitor reports. “The decision, issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday, authorizes the pipeline crossing with additional conditions the agency says will make the pipeline safer… “A federal judge in 2020 sided with the tribe and vacated the easement. The judge ordered the Army Corps to conduct the environmental review before it could decide whether it was appropriate to re-authorize the permit… “The requirements are meant to prevent an oil spill and minimize the impacts of a spill, such as implementing new leak detection technology, monitoring groundwater and testing surface water. It would also require Dakota Access to provide an alternate water supply and to develop a food distribution plan for communities that rely on Lake Oahe for food in the event of an oil spill… “Vicki Granado, vice president of corporate communications for Dakota Access Pipeline developer Energy Transfer, told the Monitor that the company is “pleased” with the Army Corps’ decision.”
Press release: Armstrong statement on U.S. Army Corps releasing Record of Decision for Dakota Access Pipeline
5/21/26
“Gov. Kelly Armstrong issued the following statement today after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed the Record of Decision for the Dakota Access Pipeline Final Environmental Impact Statement. This approval reinstates the easement for the pipeline to cross beneath Lake Oahe and allows pipeline operations to continue. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced the Corps’ decision this morning at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in Bismarck. “It’s always fun to welcome Secretary Burgum back to North Dakota, and it’s even better when he brings good news like this,” Armstrong said. “The Dakota Access Pipeline has operated safely for nearly nine years, and today’s announcement lifts the cloud of uncertainty from over this essential piece of American infrastructure. The pipeline’s continued operation will help keep energy affordable and our nation secure while benefiting North Dakota’s economy, our citizens and our communities across the state.”
E&E News: FERC proposes faster permitting for gas pipeline projects
Carlos Anchondo, 5/22/26
“The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday proposed a revamp of a decades-old blanket certificate program for natural gas projects — framing it as beneficial for building more pipeline infrastructure amid rising energy demand,” E&E News reports. “FERC’s blanket certificate program — which provides a path for natural gas companies to carry out certain routine activities without the need to get a case-specific permit — was last majorly updated 20 years ago and includes cost limits that FERC leaders say haven’t kept up with the pace of inflation. “I’m very proud of the step that FERC took today on the gas pipeline blanket proceeding towards clearing the way to expansion that is critical to meeting our country’s explosive energy needs,” said Republican FERC Chair Laura Swett, speaking to reporters at FERC’s meeting. “Our proposal is grounded in thousands of hours of experience and thousands of cases and an eye to providing what we believe is a legally defensible approach in court grounded in the record while providing the industry the confidence it needs to invest in infrastructure,” she said.”
WDIO: Enbridge, Sierra Club react to latest Line 5 reroute project ruling
Sabrina Ullman, 5/22/26
“A judge in Iron County Circuit Court has issued a partial stay on Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute project after a packed public hearing in April,” WDIO reports. “WDIO spoke with Enbridge and the Sierra Club – Wisconsin Chapter about this latest decision. Sierra Club is one of the environmental groups opposing the project. Both Enbridge and the Sierra Club expressed satisfaction with the decision, which impacts only four waterbody crossings along the 41-mile route. “The judge said that he’s reviewing the case, so he hasn’t ruled on whether or not the construction should, or the pipeline should be allowed to move forward at all. He said, “While I review the case, I know for sure these four crossings, Enbridge does not have the permits or authority to construct there.” So for sure, right now, Enbridge cannot construct there, and then he’s reviewing the case to determine kind of a more permanent position on the full pipeline,” Sierra Club – Wisconsin Director Elizabeth Ward told WDIO… “The judge’s decision really was a very positive decision for us, and we’re really happy that the decision really allows construction to continue across a vast majority of the 41-mile project,” Enbridge Manager for Community Engagement Paul Meneghini told WDIO. “The work that was stayed was essentially at four relatively small rivers or creek water body crossings.” “...The Department of Natural Resources is expected to make its decision on the four permits in June.”
Radio Iowa: Iowa Senate’s GOP leader plans to offer pipeline plan again in 2027
O. Kay Henderson, 5/21/26
“Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh offered a pipeline-related plan in January that did not come up for a vote during this year’s legislative session. He plans to offer it again next year,” Radio Iowa reports. “...Klimesh told Radio Iowa he and the leader of those 12 Republicans had conversations throughout the 2026 session about coming up with some sort of compromise. “The primary ideological difference is Senator Alons still had no eminent domain for CO2 pipelines, which was dealing in absolutes,” Klimesh told Radio Iowa, “where my approach my was widen that corridor, give voluntary easements an opportunity to play out.” Klimesh told Radio Iowa he believes his approach would have gotten Summit to the point of having well over 90 percent of its route secured through voluntary agreements and Klimesh noted the House passed a bill three years ago that would have set 90 percent as the threshold Summit had to reach through voluntary easements.”
DTN Progressive Farmer: CO2 Pipeline Changes Spark Iowa Fight
Todd Neeley, 5/21/26
“Though Summit Carbon Solutions proposes to cut 400 landowners and 200 miles out of its proposed carbon dioxide pipeline route, Iowa landowners still affected by the project once construction begins told the Iowa Utilities Commission on Wednesday the company should have to apply for a new permit,” DTN Progressive Farmer reports. “The company announced on May 13, 2026, it was removing eight Iowa counties from the proposed route and building the project west through Nebraska and sequestering carbon in Wyoming. Iowa landowners commenting at a regular monthly meeting of the Iowa Utilities Commission, however, expressed concern that the Summit announcement left open future expansion possibilities beyond connecting to 27 Iowa ethanol plants. Mitchell County, Iowa, landowner Colleen Tucker told the commission the company’s newly announced plan was “welcome news” but she said hundreds more landowners remain in limbo. “The citizens of Iowa are asking you to uphold the U.S. and Iowa constitutions by denying a private company the extraordinary power of eminent domain for this project,” Tucker told the commission. “You have the authority to stop this and you should use that authority. When landowners are asked to make a permanent decision about their land, fairness demands that the project itself comes with permanent certainty as well.”
KTIV: Iowa pipeline route overhauled, but landowners say eminent domain fight continues
Isabella Warren, 5/21/26
“Summit Carbon Solutions has overhauled its Iowa pipeline route, but landowners say the fight over eminent domain is far from finished,” KTIV reports. “While the company says the revisions reduce impacts on landowners, some rural landowners say they will not be satisfied until they find a way to stop the project altogether. For five years, landowners have pushed lawmakers for a ban on the use of eminent domain by private companies for carbon capture pipelines. No legislation has made it into law. Pat Mackin and Lisa Ritzert live in Mitchell County and have been advocating to lawmakers for years… “I guess we could call it a little bit of a reprieve right now where the county has been canceled. The lateral has been canceled, but at any time, all that needs to be done is for an application to be resubmitted for any reason. So the fear is still there,” Ritzert told KTIV… “We are just not confident that the legislative willpower is there to address these concerns as we see them here,” Mackin told KTIV. Mackin told KTIV he hopes more landowners will see their advocacy and join.”
WOI: Landowners push back against Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed pipeline, say legislators can do more [VIDEO]
5/22/26
“The carbon pipeline still needs approval from the Iowa Utilities Commission before it can move forward,” WOI reports.
Richmondside: Richmond is first California city to oppose a carbon dioxide waste pipeline
Joel Umanzor, 5/21/26
“The city council has approved a resolution opposing a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline that would funnel the gas compound from Bay Area refineries, including Chevron’s in Richmond, and store it underground in Solano County,” Richmondside reports. “The resolution, symbolic in nature as no project has come before the city, passed Tuesday, with council members Jamelia Brown and Soheila Bana abstaining and the five others voting in favor. The vote makes Richmond the first city in the state to approve a resolution opposing a carbon dioxide waste pipeline, according to a group that’s fighting it… “Gov. Gavin Newsom last year lifted a state moratorium on carbon removal projects, and last week environmental justice and climate groups said they met with California’s Office of the State Fire Marshal’s (OSFM) Pipeline Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) to discuss proposed draft regulations on carbon dioxide pipelines and to call on regulators to include vital public safety measures in its regulations, according to a press release. The project, the Montezuma NorCal Carbon Sequestration Hub, by Emeryville-based Montezuma Carbon, plans to collect carbon dioxide from Bay Area refineries, hydrogen plants, and power plants and transport it via a 40-mile underwater pipeline to an injection site beneath the Montezuma Wetlands in Solano County, near Collinsville… “Claudia Jimenez told Richmondside she brought the resolution because a number of residents expressed concern over the proposal. It’s also opposed by 85 organizations, according to 350 Contra Costa Action, an anti fossil fuel nonprofit, which says it’s concerned that safety guardrails proposed during the Biden administration won’t be implemented under President Trump… “In a press release sent Wednesday, the nonprofit Food & Water Watch lauded the council’s vote, saying that leaks of similar pipelines have threatened communities. “Leaks can be disastrous. When compressed CO2 leaks, it can lead to asphyxiation, seizures, loss of consciousness, and potentially death,” the press release reads. “Further, transporting CO2 in pipelines and injecting it underground is dangerous. CO2 reacts with trace amounts of moisture to form an acid that can corrode pipelines and put nearby drinking water sources at serious risk.”
Georgia Public Broadcasting: ‘That land is always gonna be changed.’ Screven County farmers fear new gas pipeline’s impact
Jillian Magtoto, 5/21/26
“The United States is expanding the use of some fossil fuels to satisfy rapidly growing demand for electricity, much of that due to the spread of data centers. Now, a new gas pipeline may be planned to cross one county in South Georgia,” according to Georgia Public Broadcasting. “Three gas pipelines run below rows of cotton, peanuts and soy on William “Carl” Huggins’ family farm in Newington, Ga. Over time, he has seen how the pipeline construction has marred his ability to grow crops. “Production is down every year on that right-of-way,” Huggins told GPB. “It’s totally changed the way you farm that field.” Now, a fourth pipeline may be coming to his property. Along with over 30 other farmers in Screven County, Huggins received a request from gas pipeline company Kinder Morgan last September to survey his land. The company seeks to build the Bridge Project, an estimated $430 million, 30-inch diameter pipeline that could siphon gas from the Elba Express Pipeline, already running through Screven County, to a proposed Dominion Energy power plant in Colleton County, S.C., about 70 miles away… “But over the years, he saw how the land has responded for the worse… “The red means that the soil is heavily compacted, Huggins told GPB. Water moves less easily through the soil there. Fertility is reduced, and yield is about halved. In some areas, he’s just given up growing completely, as machines return to dig up the soil for the next pipeline… “Along the highway and at the front of their farm, Metts and Shepherd erected “Stop the Pipeline” signs, provided by environmental nonprofit Savannah Riverkeeper… “About half of the 33 landowners in Screven County have consented to surveys, Fore told GPB.”
New Bedford Light: How to cut energy bills? Mass. Senate, House disagree
Jamie Perkins, 5/19/26
“Reducing Massachusetts residents’ electric and gas bills has been a top priority on Beacon Hill this session. But as pressure mounts to lower energy costs, the House and Senate are eyeing different targets for cuts,” the New Bedford Light reports. “...To do this, Barrett proposes phasing out the Gas System Enhancement Plan, or GSEP. GSEP was created as part of the 2014 Gas Leaks Act. The program encourages utilities to replace leak-prone natural gas pipelines by allowing them to recover replacement costs more quickly. Gas customers pay for GSEP as part of their monthly bill… “According to Barrett, GSEP seemed justifiable in 2014 because gas leaks were upsetting residents. But now, he said, the program has gone too far… “At this point in the GSEP program, utilities are focusing on lower-priority pipeline projects, Barrett told the Light. Sunsetting GSEP would not mean that utility companies can’t complete these projects, but rather that they would do so under the state’s original cost-recovery scheme. The utilities would make less profit, but customers would save money.“
WCPO: ‘A nerve-wracking, scary experience’ | New natural gas pipeline planned in Northern Kentucky draws concern
Sean DeLancey, 5/25/26
“After WCPO covered a TC Energy natural gas pipeline project in Campbell County, Frances Sarver invited us to the Lewisburg Volunteer Fire Department in Mason County,” WCPO reports. “The invitation was to a meeting about a completely different TC Energy pipeline project planned around Maysville. At the May 18 meeting, Sarver shared a 99-slide presentation she had prepared to inform others about the proposal, share her concerns about the route the line may take and encourage property owners to share their thoughts with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during the open comment period… “I can’t speak for everyone, but the few people I talked to, it’s a nerve-wracking, scary experience because you don’t know where you’re going to end up,” she said. “You don’t know if you’re going to have rights at the end of the day. You don’t know how much, if any, compensation there will be.” Sarver said she’s not against the pipeline’s construction, but wants to ensure the lines don’t get close to any homes or structures. She told us she knows there are hundreds of miles of pipes spanning the country operating safely every day, but she doesn’t want to risk any of the Mason County community becoming the exception. “It’s low-risk in the sense of the frequency, but it’s high consequence when it does happen. It can completely demolish homes,” Sarver said.”
WTMJ: Waldo Christmas tree farm fights back after pipeline company cuts down hundreds of trees, owner refuses NDA
Ben Jordan, 5/22/26
“Jon Bigler has grown and sold Christmas trees on his farmland in Waldo for 30 years. A natural gas pipeline runs beneath the heart of his property, but Bigler says the trees he planted above it had never been a problem — until recently,” WTMJ reports. “ANR Pipeline Company, owned by TC Energy, had trees cleared within 25 feet on both sides of the of the pipeline a few months ago without Bigler’s approval. An aerial view of the property shows a long strip of cleared land where only stumps remain… “Bigler told WTMJ hundreds of trees that were ready for this year’s holiday season were among those removed… “TC Energy offered Bigler nearly $32,000 in damages — but the non-disclosure agreement that came with the offer included a significant condition. The agreement states: “The Owner agrees not to knowingly and intentionally re-cultivate, re-seed, etc. any crops, trees or vegetation... that is subject to the ANR pipeline... as part of a commercial business.” Bigler told WTMJ he rejected the offer. “No. No way in hell. No way,” Bigler told WTMJ. “I can’t plant trees here at all. I can’t have nothing here.” “...TC Energy spokesperson Suzanne Wilton agreed to an interview and told WTMJ safety drove the company’s decision… “I hope I can get my land back the way it was,” Bigler told WTMJ.”
Globe and Mail: For Ottawa and Alberta, the hardest part of agreeing on a pipeline plan is just beginning
Jeffrey Jones, Emma Graney, Marieke Walsh, 5/25/26
“Governments and oil sands producers are clashing on whether building a massive carbon-capture plant in Alberta is economically viable, setting up difficult talks that could make or break a landmark deal aimed at easing the way for a new oil export pipeline,” the Globe and Mail reports. “Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith trumpeted the completion of crucial terms of their memorandum of understanding last week, including a carbon-pricing deal and support for a million-barrel-a-day pipeline to the West Coast on the condition that the energy companies move forward with the multibillion-dollar Pathways carbon capture and storage, or CCS, project. That’s the sticking point. Energy producers collectively known as the Oil Sands Alliance have been planning Pathways for several years, but in a new era of energy-security fears and competition in world oil markets, they bristle at the notion of layering costs onto their production that other global suppliers do not have to bear. “If you can’t get the conditions for growth, then there’s no point in building a pipeline or doing Pathways,” Kendall Dilling, the alliance’s president, told the Globe and Mail… “Federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin’s office told The Globe this week that Ottawa is confident the deal with Alberta will give industry certainty and unlock the Pathways project… “Federal Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson told the Globe and Mail that, much like the West Coast oil pipeline, the government expects “significant Indigenous ownership” of the Pathways line that would carry captured carbon from the oil sands to Cold Lake, Alta., where it is set to be sequestered underground… “Dennis McConaghy, an author and former executive with TC Energy Corp., told the Globe and Mail he believes the governments are underestimating the operating costs for Pathways as well as the capital needed to expand oil sands production. So, without the oil sands companies’ support, the deal remains incomplete. Ottawa could be forced to lower its expectations for CCS even more than it already has to get them to back the deal, he told the Globe and Mail… “Despite differing on details now, the economic opportunity of such a huge increase in oil exports is so significant that any sticking points with Pathways can be negotiated, Adam Waterous, executive chair of Calgary-based oil producer Strathcona Resources Ltd., told the Globe and Mail.”
Bloomberg: Canada Oil Firms Can Afford Carbon Capture, Energy Minister Says
Brian Platt, 5/25/26
“Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said he’s “highly confident” that Alberta oil sands companies can absorb the cost of building carbon capture, despite their protests that Canada’s climate rules hurt their global competitiveness,” Bloomberg reports. “...The deal was a crucial step toward building the C$16.5 billion ($12 billion) Pathways carbon capture project for the oil sands, which Carney has said is a necessary condition for approving a new crude oil pipeline to Canada’s Pacific coast. As the negotiations unfolded in recent months, however, oil companies began publicly arguing that the carbon price imposes a cost on the Canadian industry that other major oil producers don’t bear… “The first phase, to be completed by 2035, would build enough carbon capture to remove 6 million metric tons annually. Hodgson told Bloomberg the hope is that technology will have substantially advanced by then, opening up more choices. “I think you’re going to see a bunch of new technologies that are going to get cheaper and cheaper and cheaper, and that’s going to create options for the Pathways folks,” Hodgson told Bloomberg… “Kendall Dilling, president of the Oil Sands Alliance, which represents the five companies behind the Pathways project, told Bloomberg the carbon price is still a “competitive disadvantage” for the Canadian oil sector — but added that a new oil pipeline for exporting to Asia does affect the calculus… “Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday that she expects an agreement can be reached over the summer on moving forward with Pathways.”
Reuters: Canada’s investment climate for oil and gas improving, executives say
Amanda Stephenson, 5/21/26
“Canada has become more attractive for oil and gas investment under Prime Minister Mark Carney although the cost of doing business remains a challenge that could limit long-term energy sector growth, industry executives said on Thursday,” Reuters reports. “Oil and gas companies, which have long complained that onerous federal regulations and environmental policies in Canada impede industry growth, offered measured praise for a recent energy deal between the federal government and the oil-producing province of Alberta… “ConocoPhillips Canada President Nick McKenna said the agreement significantly improves the risk profile of oil and gas investments in Canada. Speaking at an industry event in Calgary, he also cautioned that Canada is still competing for investment capital against other jurisdictions, particularly the U.S., where the Trump administration has been pushing hard to boost oil and gas output. “The cost to do business in a jurisdiction matters,” McKenna said. “It is a very, very competitive landscape.” “...But no private company has yet committed to build the pipeline. A spokeswoman for Enbridge, Canada’s largest pipeline operator, said in an email this week that the company would consider participating only when and if the conditions and policy framework were right.”
African Business: Nigeria and Morocco seek US funding for Atlantic Gas Pipeline
Ben Payton, 5/22/26
“Officials from the Moroccan National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) visited Washington DC in early May in an effort to secure financing for one of the most ambitious energy infrastructure projects ever attempted in Africa,” African Business reports. “The Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, to be spearheaded by ONHYM along with Nigeria’s NNPC, would span 13 countries along the coast of West Africa… “The price tag is conservatively estimated at $25bn, while the timeline for completing all stages of construction would extend over more than 20 years… “Although some European officials have expressed interest in the project, neither the European Commission nor any national governments in Europe have made firm commitments… “Meanwhile, the ONHYM is stepping up efforts to court US institutions, including the US Development Finance Corporation. Under the second Trump administration, the US has taken a proactive role in helping to finance oil and gas developments in Africa. For example, the US Export-Import Bank approved a $4.7bn loan for TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG project last. Yet it is less clear whether the US is serious about helping to finance a project that would directly compete with American gas in serving the European market.”
Los Angeles Times: Oil-covered birds rescued after pipeline rupture sends crude into L.A. River
Hailey Branson-Potts, 5/24/26
“A ruptured crude oil pipeline in East Los Angeles sent an estimated 2,400 gallons into storm drains and the L.A. River after a telecommunications crew accidentally struck the underground line,” the Los Angeles Times reports. “Wildlife responders rescued multiple oil-covered birds from the river and transported them to a San Pedro care center as officials raced to contain slicks with booms and skimming operations. The birds were removed from the river and taken to the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center in San Pedro to be treated and cleaned, according to a statement Saturday from the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, a collective of wildlife emergency response organizations and universities.”
KTLA: Health officials warn East L.A residents about odor after 2,400 gallons of oil spill
Jocelyn Fiset, 5/22/26
“Los Angeles County Public Health officials gave new guidance to residents after a ruptured pipeline released approximately 2,400 gallons of crude oil along a major East Los Angeles street and into nearby storm drains on Friday morning, prompting a major cleanup operation,” KTLA reports. “...Health officials are warning the public that if they smell odors outdoors, close windows and doors, turn off HVAC systems and air conditioners that pull in outside air, and stay indoors until the odor has passed. After the odor is gone, officials say to open windows and doors to air out homes and turn on fans or HVAC systems to ventilate the indoor air. Residents may experience the following symptoms due to odors: Headaches, Nausea, Eye, nose, or throat irritation, Dizziness, or Breathing problems, such as asthma symptoms… “If symptoms are severe or do not go away, residents are urged to contact their medical provider.”
Capital and Main: The Slick70-Foot Wastewater Geyser Reflects New Mexico’s Latest Oilfield Challenge
Jerry Redfern, 5/20/26
“...As he pulled closer, he saw that the 70-foot plume was actually a roaring geyser of toxic oilfield wastewater, commonly called produced water, spewing from a pipe at a site operated by NGL Energy Partners,” Capital and Main reports. “Onsurez, who until recently was running for the state’s lieutenant governor position, told Capital and Main he called NGL, 911, the New Mexico Environment Department and others. He was at the site for a few minutes when an oilfield roughneck arrived in a pickup truck and tried to stop the spraying water but couldn’t. He told Capital and Main the man then “started to haul ass out of there. He said, ‘Get out of here. There’s gas coming out. I don’t know what’s there. Get out, get out!’” Onsurez didn’t leave, though. He is an engineer and serves on the New Mexico State Emergency Response Commission — the day before, he had attended a commission meeting on hazardous materials spills. The serendipity wasn’t lost on him. “I was able to observe firsthand the equipment and the training and everything else that’s needed for here [in the oilfield],” he told Capital and Main. “The only people that had protective gear was the fire department when they arrived.” “...The contaminated water flowed across the road and ran into a nearby drainage ditch. Onsurez had also called Alisa Ogden, a farmer and rancher and member of the Carlsbad Soil and Water Conservation District, to let the group know of the spill… “Gratefully, Jackie let us know immediately when he saw it and we got right on it and were able to keep the produced water … from flowing down towards the Pecos River,” she told Capital and Main.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
North Dakota Monitor: Burgum touts AI data centers, calls Iran war ‘gift to the world’ in speech to oil industry
Jacob Orledge, 5/21/26
“Interior Secretary Doug Burgum praised artificial intelligence, energy dominance and oil industry innovation in a winding speech to the oil and gas industry in Bismarck on Thursday,” the North Dakota Monitor reports. “While Burgum’s speech focused on domestic energy production, he also defended the Trump administration’s war in Iran and the “detour” it has taken… “It’s a gift to the world,” Burgum said. Domestically, the former governor of North Dakota doubled down on artificial intelligence and data centers as both a driver of energy demand for the oil industry and a tool for the public… “Concerns about water are real, concerns about power needs are real, and who’s going to pay for it,” said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association. “We’re getting some real kickback right now. The business community really needs to step up and be a part of that conversation.” Burgum, who prefers to refer to data centers as “manufacturing intelligence,” dismissed many of those concerns. He said water use is a “red herring,” that data centers will lower the cost of electricity for consumers and that the facilities could be the “greatest thing” for the coal and natural gas industries in the state.”
Washington Post: Trump’s offshore oil drilling plan threatens military readiness, generals say
Jake Spring, 5/22/26
“If the United States went to war in the South China Sea, there would be no better place to simulate it than America’s southeastern coast,” the Washington Post reports. “...But that critical training ground could soon be at risk. Military leaders and bipartisan lawmakers told the Post a Trump administration plan to allow oil platforms in an empty expanse of the Gulf of Mexico and off of Southern California would obstruct some of the largest military operations areas in the country. Now this group — which includes Florida’s entire 30-member congressional delegation — is scrambling to overhaul the administration’s five-year leasing plan before it’s finalized in October. “It’s almost strategically backwards,” Rick Miller, a retired Navy captain and vice chair of the Florida Defense Alliance, a state advisory body, told the Post. “For a modest potential increase in oil production capacity, we’d be giving up a tremendous amount of national defense capability.” Last year, the Interior Department issued its draft plan for when and where it would auction offshore oil and gas leases, proposing to expand drilling into a part of the Gulf nearer to Florida in 2029 as well as the entire California coast in 2027, where no new drilling has taken place in more than 50 years. The plan drew immediate backlash from politicians in California and Florida who feared oil spills that would affect communities reliant on tourism and fishing, while the oil industry has defended the plan. But retired military leaders and armed forces advocacy groups say an overlooked concern is the overlap between areas of drilling expansion and military test and training zones off the coast of both states — something that concerns both Republicans and Democrats.
E&E News: Climate change alarms are flashing. Washington isn’t paying attention.
Zack Colman, 5/26/26
“The climate system’s warning signs are blaring, but hardly anyone in Washington has noticed,” E&E News reports. “In recent months, scientists have revealed new ways climate change is affecting the planet: Higher temperatures threaten to worsen damage from a potentially historic El Niño; a record warm winter in the U.S. West pushed river levels near catastrophic levels; new data shows the planet heating up more quickly, shrinking Arctic ice cover to record lows; a critical ocean current that regulates weather is closer to collapse than previously thought. Those developments come as the Trump administration has shredded regulations to corral planet-heating gases, hamstrung climate science agencies and dismantled research institutions. Democrats, meanwhile, have shifted their messaging to energy affordability ahead of the midterm elections, and the environmental movement has gone to ground. Climate experts warn, though, that as the effects of climate change grow more dire, the costs of delaying action are rising. “You have to remember that these consequences, a lot of them are irreversible, effectively — certainly in a human lifetime — and you’re piling up debt,” Michael Oppenheimer, a Princeton University geosciences professor and contributing author to the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, told E&E. “You’re laying down debt that the system is going to come back and demand payment for. And we’re not going to be able to afford it later.” The shift in Washington has been driven by President Donald Trump, who has for years dismissed climate change as a hoax, and even sought as recently as last weekend to discredit the IPCC as “WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!” in a social media post.”
E&E News: Republicans propose emissions carve-out for small oil producers
Amelia Davidson, 5/22/26
“Congressional Republicans introduced legislation in both chambers Thursday that would exempt small oil and natural gas producers from emissions tracking requirements,” E&E News reports. “The “Protect Domestic Oil and Gas Small Business Act” is the latest in a flurry of Republican bills seeking changes to the Clean Air Act. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) are sponsoring the proposal. The bill would create a Clean Air Act carve-out for “marginal wells” — low-producing onshore oil and gas wells — so they would not need to comply with federal reporting requirements for emissions such as methane. It is intended to give operators “the long-term certainty that EPA rulemaking alone simply cannot guarantee,” according to Lummis’ office.”
STATE UPDATES
Carbon Herald: Louisiana Lawmakers Prevents Parishes From Banning Carbon Capture
Violet George, 5/21/26
“Louisiana lawmakers have blocked a series of bills that would have allowed several parishes to prohibit carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects within their jurisdictions,” the Carbon Herald reports. “The measures, which were rejected by the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee, would have granted local control over CCS development in Allen, Beauregard, Rapides, St. Helena and Vernon parishes… “However, industry representatives warned that allowing individual parishes to ban CCS projects could create regulatory uncertainty and discourage investment. As reported by The Center Square, David Cresson, president of the Louisiana Chemical Association, told lawmakers that a fragmented regulatory system could weaken Louisiana’s competitiveness in attracting energy and industrial projects. “If Louisiana creates a system where projects can be approved in one parish, prohibited in another and potentially reversed through shifting local politics, companies will view that as instability,” Cresson said. “And when that happens, capital moves elsewhere.”
North Dakota Monitor: Continental Resources to resume oil drilling in North Dakota this year
Amy Dalrymple and Jacob Orledge, 5/21/26
“A leading North Dakota oil producer plans to resume drilling in the state after taking a pause from adding new wells because of low oil prices,” the North Dakota Monitor reports. “Continental Resources founder Harold Hamm announced Thursday at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in Bismarck the company’s plans to put drilling crews back to work in North Dakota. In January, the company announced a temporary pause in new drilling, marking the first time in 30 years that Continental Resources didn’t have a rig operating in the state. Since then, “a great deal has changed,” Hamm said, referring to higher oil prices amid the war with Iran. “We’ll be back to work,” Hamm told attendees. “But we’re not giving it away now.” Hamm told the Monitor the company didn’t yet have a firm number of rigs planned for the state, but said it would be “meaningful.” The company plans to resume drilling before the end of the year… “The breakeven price for oil companies operating in North Dakota ranges from $50 per barrel to $65 per barrel in West Texas Intermediate prices, depending on the geographic location, Department of Mineral Resources Director Nathan Anderson has said. The WTI price was around $60 around the time the company announced its pause. On Thursday, it was around $100 per barrel. Hamm told the Monitor that a minimum oil price in the high $70s or low $80s is a “healthy range” for the industry.”
Source NM: Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape named one of country’s ‘most endangered’ historic places
Danielle Prokop, 5/20/26
“The National Trust for Historic Preservation on Wednesday included the Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape in its 2026 list of the top 11 most endangered historic places. The designation — the area’s second since 2011 — came as leaders from all of New Mexico’s 20 Pueblos urged the public to continue applying pressure to prevent the reversal of a ban on new oil and gas leasing around Chaco Culture National Historical Park,” Source NM reports. “The Trump administration, for the last year, has floated a proposal to reverse a Biden-era order that issued a 20-year ban on oil and gas development on federal lands within 10 miles of the site, which holds paramount spiritual and cultural significance for numerous tribes and pueblos. The federal government also proposed merely shrinking the protected area. Tribal leaders said they expect a decision in June and have criticized the process for failing to recognize Pueblo sovereignty. “The decision would not be made by people who hold a thousand years of cultural responsibility for that land, it would be imposed on us,” Pueblo of Acoma Gov. Charles Riley, told Source NM. All Pueblo Council of Governors Chair Gov. Joey Sanchez (Santa Ana) urged both public pushback to the reversal of the drilling ban and support for federal legislation creating permanent protections recently introduced by New Mexico’s congressional delegation.”
Texas Tribune: In the Permian Basin, AI takes on big oil’s dirty water problem
Carlos Nogueras Ramos, 5/21/26
“Underneath the Permian Basin, the state’s largest oil field, lies an ocean of toxic, unusable wastewater that bursts out of rock formations when oil companies extract fossil fuels from the ground. For years, companies have struggled with how to dispose of it,” the Texas Tribune reports. “Now, many are turning to an ubiquitous, albeit controversial, technology to solve the problem — artificial intelligence. In the race to keep up with skyrocketing demand for crude, oil and gas companies are increasingly turning to AI to gain an edge over their competition. AI, experts and analysts told the Tribune, is reshaping how oil companies handle the saltwater slush, also known as produced water, by giving operators more information about the region’s geography. It’s also providing access to data more quickly and allowing operators to file permits faster. Despite its growing use in the industry, few details are available to the public — or to the industry’s regulatory agency. “It’s a competitive advantage,” Ramanan Krishnamoorti, professor of petroleum engineering at the University of Houston, told the Tribune. “That’s the reason why nobody’s really talking about it.” The Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the state’s oil and gas, said in a statement that it is not aware of any use of AI by oil and gas companies.”
Press release: BLM issues final analysis for proposed oil and gas management updates in central coast region
5/21/26
“The Bureau of Land Management issued the final supplemental environmental impact statement analyzing updated and new information for oil and gas leasing and development on public lands in Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties, and portions of Fresno, Merced, and San Joaquin counties. The effort aligns with Secretary’s Order 3418, which supports President Trump’s call for “Unleashing American Energy,” aimed at increasing energy exploration and production on federal lands in an affordable and reliable manner. The order emphasizes development of oil, gas, coal, strategic minerals, and alternative energy sources on public lands.”
WWL: ‘Very tough to clean up’: Oil from LOOP spill remains along coastline, officials say
Rachel Handley, 5/20/26
“At a meeting on Wednesday, local seafood industry leaders heard a detailed update on the cleanup of a February oil spill off the coast of Terrebonne Parish,” WWL reports. “They’re admitting that it’s very tough to clean up, and they’re out there still cleaning,” said Mitch Jurisich, head of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Oyster Task Force, “this event’s not over.” “...Here we see 21% of marsh shoreline is still not cleaned up, still ongoing,” said Balkum on Wednesday. He added that the percentage represents about 54 miles of shoreline. The update was consistent with reports from fishermen and local officials. They have said, repeatedly, that oil is still appearing along the shoreline nearly three months after the spill. An oyster supplier who spoke during the meeting showed WWL Louisiana pictures of oysters harvested at the end of April that had been sent back by a customer… “Jurisich shared photos taken on May 12, showing tar balls collected along the shore. In the photos, the tar balls are placed next to a human hand and a ruler for scale. One appears to be more than a foot long.,.. “Now, shrimpers and crabbers told WWL they’re finding oil in some of their catches. There is also concern as to how the spill could impact oyster harvesting in the future.”
EXTRACTION
Financial Times: Can Exxon build the world’s biggest carbon capture business?
Jamie Smyth, 5/25/26
“ExxonMobil, long regarded by critics as the western oil major most resistant to climate action, is betting billions that carbon capture and storage will become a major new industry as companies come under pressure to curb emissions,” the Financial Times reports. “The US group is building the world’s largest CCS business on the US Gulf Coast as it seeks to connect industrial customers to a 900-mile network of pipelines that can transport carbon dioxide into porous rock formations deep underground. Dominic Genetti, senior vice-president for CCS, told FT Exxon was spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year drilling wells and connecting customers to its $5bn-plus network of pipelines across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi — and was also looking to expand the business overseas. “All the ingredients stack up in the US and quite specifically in the US Gulf Coast, but we’re looking at opportunities in Alberta, Canada, in Taiwan, Singapore . . . all over the world,” he told FT. Exxon’s wager reflects a broader bet across the energy industry that companies historically associated with fossil fuels can also profit from decarbonisation. But its ambition is colliding with mounting public and political opposition to CCS in Louisiana, the leading US hub for the technology. “We don’t want to become a toxic dump site for the rest of the nation,” said John Fleming, state treasurer and a Republican candidate for a Senate seat in the November midterm elections. He added that sequestering CO₂ underground was an “experimental technology” that relied on taxpayer subsidies and allowed private companies to trample on Louisiana residents’ property rights. The backlash against CCS threatens more than $75bn of proposed capital spending by industrial companies that plan to take advantage of the technology in Louisiana, according to the state’s economic development agency.”
Stockholm Environmental Institute: Carbon capture is now delivering greener cement, but the biggest challenge remains scale
Jane Birch, 5/25/26
“Carbon capture is a critical pathway for cement decarbonization, with the world’s first commercial-scale facility now operational in Norway, and more reportedly on the way,” according to the Stockholm Environmental Institute. “...The world’s first commercial project is an important breakthrough, but scaling the impact of this technology could be limited without significant support and infrastructure. When the projects currently planned become operational, the total volume of captured emissions would represent less than 2% of the sector’s overall footprint by 2035, highlighting a critical gap between ambition and impact. Policy and infrastructure are decisive success factors. The LeadIT analysis finds that government support is a decisive feature of early full-scale carbon capture projects in the cement sector. The Brevik facility in Norway, for example, benefited from a funding model covering more than 80% of capital costs. Conversely, projects in Sweden and California have been delayed, paused or cancelled after failing to secure, or losing government finance. This suggests that public finance and risk-sharing are currently vital in bringing full-scale cement CCS projects to completion. Access to CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure is another critical enabling factor. Every project currently advancing relies on shared networks such as those in the North Sea or the Adriatic Sea. Without these systems, projects cannot move forward regardless of technological readiness.”
CBC: Alberta to hold consultation sessions this year on future plans for dealing with oilsands tailings ponds
Vincent McDermott, 5/21/26
“The Alberta government has announced it will be launching engagement sessions this year as it develops a long-term plan to manage tailings ponds and mine wastewater from the oilsands,” the CBC reports. “The government says its plan will be based on recommendations developed for the province last year. In a news release issued Tuesday, the government said the engagement process will include Indigenous communities in Alberta, local municipalities, environmental groups, the technology sector and federal agencies. Tailings are the waste left over from the mining process that separates oil from sand and clay. What remains is a sludge of water, sand, clay and residual amounts of bitumen. The province says there are more than 1.5 trillion litres of fluid tailings and 380 billion litres of mine water in the oilsands region… “Some First Nations and Métis leaders have raised concerns about the idea of releasing treated tailings into the Athabasca River downstream from the oilsands. They argue the risks to human health and the environment are too great. “Treat and release is a no-go for Mikisew Cree First Nation,” Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro said in an interview with CBC News in October.”
New York Times: Exxon May Return to Venezuela, Ending a Long Fight With Its Leaders
Anatoly Kurmanaev, 5/21/26
“The largest U.S. energy company, Exxon Mobil, is in talks to acquire rights to produce oil in Venezuela nearly two decades after it was effectively expelled from the country, according to several people familiar with the matter,” the New York Times reports. “The deal would be a major victory for President Trump, who has declared the country’s vast natural wealth open to American businesses. If finalized, the deal would mark Exxon’s return to a country with one of the world’s largest oil reserves after years of legal battles that had turned the oil giant into a nemesis of Venezuela’s ruling Socialist Party. As recently as January, Exxon had called Venezuela “uninvestable.” After deposing the nation’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, Mr. Trump installed Mr. Maduro’s vice president to manage Venezuela’s economic opening to the United States. The deal, which could be finalized and announced as soon as this month, would involve Exxon signing contracts to produce oil in up to six fields in several regions in Venezuela, people familiar with the matter told the Times… “Venezuela has on two occasions in past decades nationalized foreign oil ventures, including Exxon’s assets… “Breaking with most of its peers, Exxon refused to negotiate, left the country, and began a protracted legal battle in international courts. Venezuela’s government still owes Exxon roughly $1 billion in damages awarded in those cases.”
Associated Press: Video shows oil spill in Iranian island after attack on a refinery last month
5/20/26
“Mobile phone footage shot April 9 by an Iranian named Ehsan Jalali shows thick black smoke rising after the strike on an oil refinery on Lavan, an island just off mainland Iran near Shidvar,” the Associated Press reports.
Baird Maritime: Oil spill reported following vessel collision in Nigeria’s Bonny Inner Anchorage
Jens Karsten, 5/21/26
“Authorities in Nigeria have responded to an oil spill that occurred following a collision between two commercial vessels in Bonny Inner Anchorage in Rivers State earlier this week,” Baird Maritime reports. “The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said the incident occurred at around 11:30 local time on Wednesday, May 20, when the locally-registered oil products tanker Lady Martina and the Singaporean-flagged Maersk Valparaiso collided with each other… “Five crewmembers on board Lady Martina sustained varying degrees of injury as a result of the collision… “Mr Mobereola also directed the agency’s Marine Environment Management Department to immediately commence an environmental impact assessment of the affected area while taking the necessary steps to mitigate the impact of the oil sheen and protect the surrounding marine environment.”
Reuters: Devon snaps up prime Delaware Basin acreage for $2.6 billion after Coterra merger
Pranav Mathur, 5/21/26
“Shale producer Devon Energy on Thursday said it has acquired 16,300 net undeveloped acres in the core of the Delaware Basin in New Mexico for about $2.6 billion through a federal lease, strengthening its position in the top U.S. shale basin,” Reuters reports. “The deal comes weeks after Devon closed its $58 billion merger with Coterra Energy, as producers consolidate to cut costs and boost scale. The Delaware Basin, part of the broader Permian Basin spanning West Texas and New Mexico, remains the most prolific U.S. oilfield and has attracted intense competition among shale producers seeking low-cost, high-return acreage. The transaction, valued at $161,500 per net acre, adds about 400 net drilling locations normalized to two-mile laterals.”
OilPrice.com: America’s Abandoned Oil Wells Could Power the Next Geothermal Boom
Felicity Bradstock, 5/21/26
“As the United States continues to explore its vast geothermal potential, researchers are exploring the possibility of using abandoned oil wells to produce clean energy. A growing body of literature is emerging on the topic, with many hopeful scientists worldwide promoting the potential for well conversion for geothermal energy production,” OilPrice.com reports. “...To produce geothermal energy, operators normally drill reservoirs just a few miles underground to access thermal energy in the rocks, as well as warm water deposits, using the heat to power turbines for carbon-free electricity production. Enhanced geothermal drilling has been made possible thanks to the adoption of fracking techniques used in oil operations, which have been popular for crude extraction in the United States, which is well-suited to fracking. Following over a century of oil production, there are now hundreds of thousands of abandoned wells across the United States, which are no longer suitable for oil production. Policymakers across several states are now exploring the possibility of converting the disused wells into new wells that are suitable for geothermal energy production. The holes have already been drilled, making for easier access. However, researchers are still uncertain whether these wells are suitable for geothermal energy production. Several states have already eased regulatory hurdles and are conducting in-depth studies to determine whether new geothermal operations could go ahead using these wells… “The U.S. government is now spending millions on gradually plugging these “orphan wells”, which is detracting resources from other potential energy projects. Therefore, selling these wells to companies to be repurposed could help to fix the problem as well as bring in a new form of revenue… “However, significantly more research and development is required to make the conversion of oil and gas wells into geothermal energy-producing wells a reality. Emily Pope, the geologist author of a recent study on next-generation geothermal power, explained, “Oil and gas well conversion presents an enormous opportunity, … but it’s pretty far away technologically from being a reality.” Pope told OilPrice, “There are some hurdles that are still pretty immense… [but] it is worth doing some R&D to try and grow.”
OPINION
Post and Courier: Protecting SC’s Lowcountry means protecting its forests
H. Stro Morrison III is a registered forester in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia and runs the Morrison Forestry & Real Estate Co. in Estill, 5/21/26
“South Carolina’s Lowcountry forests don’t just grow timber. They clean our water, prevent erosion, sustain wildlife and support an industry that ranks first in statewide employment. Now, a proposed natural gas pipeline threatens to cut through the heart of it all,” H. Stro Morrison III writes for the Post and Courier. “I do not say that lightly. My company, Morrison Forestry, is a third-generation forest management company, and for almost five decades I have managed tens of thousands of acres across the Lowcountry and served for 19 years as a commissioner on the S.C. Forestry Commission. These lands are not just part of our economy. They are part of who we are. That is why I oppose the proposed Elba Bridge natural gas pipeline on its current path. The pipeline would supply a fossil fuel power plant intended mostly to support large-scale data centers in the region… “Projects of this scale, in areas like these, carry real risks to water quality and environmental stability, risks that cannot simply be dismissed… “Forestry is one of South Carolina’s economic backbones, and the Lowcountry, where this pipeline would be built, is the state’s most productive forestry region… “If managing these forests becomes unprofitable, we risk losing them forever. Our forests are irreplaceable, not just to our economy but to our way of life. Lowcountry residents deserve a say in what happens to the land that sustains them. This pipeline, on this path, is not progress. It is a trade we should not be willing to make. For all of these reasons, I ask my fellow community members to contact their elected officials and urge them to stand with the people who call this place home, and I ask those officials to listen and reconsider this project.”