EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 6/12/25
PIPELINE NEWS
Press release: Iowa Landowners Outraged at Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Veto of Property Rights Pipeline Bill
Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds vetoes bill that would have placed restrictions on eminent domain, pipelines
Associated Press: Iowa governor rejects GOP bill to increase regulations of Summit’s carbon dioxide pipeline
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Iowa governor vetoes bill restricting private pipelines’ use of eminent domain
KWQC: Gov. Reynolds vetoes eminent domain bill, says it goes too far
Radio Iowa: Governor Reynolds vetoes carbon pipeline bill, calls it ‘too broad’
Dakota Scout: Iowa veto a win for carbon pipeline, but Thune says federal override unlikely
Pipeline Safety Trust: What’s Next for CO2 Pipeline Safety?
Enbridge: Record volumes, incremental growth for Enbridge’s liquids ‘super system’
Natural Gas Intelligence: Southeast Gateway Pipeline, Power Plant Startups Signal More Natural Gas Demand at Agua Dulce
Canadian Press: Alberta premier says province is looking to entice private-sector pipeline builder
Bloomberg: Trans Mountain Eyes Pipeline Capacity Increase by Early 2027
The Deep Dive: Western Canada Oil Sands Output Outstrips Pipelines Again as 2027 Crunch Looms
Equal Times: Despite harsh repression, opposition to the EACOP pipeline in Uganda remains strong
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: EPA revoking Biden’s climate limits for power plants
Heatmap: The One Word Trump Is Using to Erase Greenhouse Gas Rules
E&E News: The legal pitfalls of Zeldin’s climate rule rollback
E&E News: Committee releases megabill text with land sales
Montana Free Press: Daines, Sheehy wrestle with reemergence of public land sale proposal in Trump’s bill
Idaho Capital Sun: More than 100 environmental groups sign letter opposing return of public lands sale
Associated Press: US Justice Department says Trump can cancel national monuments that protect landscapes
Bloomberg: Trump DOJ Outlines Legal Justification to Abolish Monuments
E&E News: Interior’s latest four-year strategic plan omits public land cuts
Reuters: US energy loan office should fund oil, gas, White House aide says
E&E News: Court ends case over Gulf of Mexico environmental analysis
Guardian: Major US climate website likely to be shut down after almost all staff fired
STATE UPDATES
Colorado Sun: Uinta Basin Railway backers want $2.4 billion in tax-exempt transportation bonds as construction costs soar
WMBF: Rep. Russell Fry pens letter to current administration to uphold offshore drilling ban of SC coast
Alexandria Town Talk: 'Need to know': Residents gather to learn more about Pineville carbon-capture project
Athens Independent: Carbon sequestration bills draw rebuke from activists, oil and gas producers
KUSA: Chevron announces root cause of Bishop Well incident
EXTRACTION
Reuters: US oil output to fall next year, EIA says
Bloomberg: US Sees Oil Output Falling in 2026 in Blow to Trump’s Agenda
Axios: Projected crude-oil dip undercuts "drill baby drill" symbolism
Reuters: US natgas output and demand to hit record highs in 2025, EIA says
Reuters: Data center demand to push US power use to record highs in 2025, ’26, EIA says
Reuters: US depends on Canadian oil, despite Trump’s comments, Cenovus CEO says
RBN Energy: Could U.S. Ethane Survive Without China?
Jacobin Magazine: The gas industry is redefining methane as “clean energy”
World Cement: CCS at a Turning Point, Says DNV
Carbon Herald: Stanford Study: Renewable Energy Beats Carbon Capture On Cost And Climate Impact
OPINION
The Iowa Standard: Sen. Alons: House File 639 – No on Eminent Domain for Private Gain – Yes on Safety
The Iowa Standard: Rep. Golding: A modern story of greed, selfishness happening in Iowa today
The Center Square: Will Louisiana lead or lose in the carbon capture race?
PIPELINE NEWS
Press release: Iowa Landowners Outraged at Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Veto of Property Rights Pipeline Bill
6/11/25
“Iowa landowners and advocates were outraged at Gov. Kim Reynolds’ decision on Wednesday to veto their hard-fought bill HF639 that sought to protect private property rights. Over the past four years, landowners have fought tirelessly to make their concerns heard, pushing hard for the Legislature to enact a ban on the use of eminent domain to seize property against landowners’ wishes for private projects like CO2 pipelines. Dozens of “Lobby Day” rallies have been held at the State Capitol from 2022-2025, along with countless events urging Gov. Reynolds to stand with landowners and protect property rights. The Governor’s decision to veto the bill is also a slap in the face to the 78% of Iowans who told the Des Moines Register in 2023 that they oppose the use of eminent domain to seize landowners’ property for CO2 pipelines… “Summit founder and CEO Bruce Rastetter has gifted Reynolds $175,000 in campaign donations and in-kind contributions since 2015. Reynolds has also used her authority to stack the deck in favor of Rastetter’s Summit pipeline at the Iowa Utilities Commission, the state agency imbued with the power to grant pipeline routing permits and eminent domain authority to private corporations. For his part, Rastetter has also donated to lawmakers in the Iowa Senate who have blocked legislation from coming to the floor for a vote in years past. These gifts include $5,000 to Mike Bousselot, who formerly worked for Summit Agriculture Group, which owns Summit Carbon Solutions. “Governor Reynold’s veto of HF 639 let Iowans know that to her the Iowa motto was just empty words. Governor Reynolds chose to support the billions of dollars in tax breaks for the millionaires and billionaires at the expense of Iowans and their property rights,” said Mary Powell, landowner in Shelby County and Iowa Easement Team member. “Big money, greed & self interest won the day. Who is the Governor listening to? It’s not 90% of the House, or the majority of the Senate who passed legislation, or 78% of Iowans polled. Our property rights are for sale to the highest bidder. People are sick of this type of politics: whether Republican, Democrat or Independent, WE MUST DO BETTER,” said Jan Norris, Montgomery County landowner and Iowa Easement Team member. “Today Governor Reynolds put private business interests above the rights of everyday Iowans. We deserve better. We deserve to have elected officials who practice what they preach and work for the people of Iowa. We will be back and the capitol in 2026 and we will take this issue to the voting booth, like South Dakota did,” said Jess Mazour, Conservation Coordinator, Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club. “It’s no surprise that Gov. Reynolds chose to stand with big monied interests instead of her constituents. Landowners have proven over the past four years that they don’t give up and Gov. Reynolds just ensured the fight to protect Iowans’ property rights will continue for the foreseeable future,” said Emma Schmit, Pipeline Fighters Director at Bold Alliance.
Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds vetoes bill that would have placed restrictions on eminent domain, pipelines
Stephen Gruber-Miller, 6/11/25
“Gov. Kim Reynolds has vetoed a bill aimed at curbing eminent domain use by carbon capture pipelines and other infrastructure projects, saying the legislation is written too broadly and could damage economic development in Iowa,” the Des Moines Register reports. “The veto, one of only a handful this year, deals a blow to the dozens of Republican lawmakers who supported the bill and to landowners who have shown up at the Iowa Capitol for years to call for greater restrictions on eminent domain. In a veto message included with her rejection of House File 639, Reynolds said, "I've consistently said that if eminent domain is used, it must be rare, fair and a last resort." "But HF 639 isn't just about eminent domain," she said. "It goes much further — and in doing so, sets a troubling precedent that threatens Iowa's energy reliability, economy and reputation as a place where businesses can invest with confidence." House Republican lawmakers have worked for years to pass legislation reining in eminent domain use, only to see their proposals fail to advance in the Senate… “Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, one of the bill's main supporters in the Iowa House, said in a Facebook post that Reynolds "has chosen to ignore landowners, the vast majority of the Legislature, the Republican Party Platform and the Iowa Constitution." "I am profoundly disappointed over the governor’s decision to veto HF 639," Holt wrote. "The Iowa Constitution is clear that the power of eminent domain can be used only for public use projects. The Republican Party of Iowa Platform strongly opposes eminent domain for economic development projects and the CO2 pipeline specifically."
Associated Press: Iowa governor rejects GOP bill to increase regulations of Summit’s carbon dioxide pipeline
Hannah Fingerhut, 6/11/25
“Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday rejected a bill that could have introduced more complications for a massive carbon-capture pipeline project routed across several Midwestern states, issuing a rare veto in the Republican-controlled statehouse,” the Associated Press reports. “...But the bill provoked loud opposition from members of Iowa’s powerful ethanol industry, which argued the project is essential for Iowa’s agricultural dominance, for farmers and for construction jobs. And it exposed a rift within the party over how to protect property rights… “Despite her veto, Reynolds said she was “committed to working with the legislature to strengthen landowner protections, modernize permitting, and respect private property.” Iowa state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican who supported the bill in the House, told AP Wednesday that her commitment is too little, too late. “If she was willing to work with us on this, where in the world has she been the last three years?” Kaufmann told AP. “She is clearly not siding with the constitutional rights of landowners but rather she’s siding with special interests.” “...Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley said after Reynolds’ veto that he would pursue a special session to vote on an override, saying in a statement that the veto “is a major setback for Iowa.” “...We will not stop fighting and stand firm on our commitment until landowners’ in Iowa are protected against Eminent Domain for private gain,” Grassley said… “A group of landowners released a statement Wednesday calling the veto a slap in the face. “Big money, greed & self interest won the day,” said Jan Norris, a landowner in southwest Iowa whose neighbor is in the pipeline’s route. “Our property rights are for sale to the highest bidder.”
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Iowa governor vetoes bill restricting private pipelines’ use of eminent domain
Cami Koons, 6/11/25
“Gov. Kim Reynolds Wednesday vetoed a controversial bill pertaining to eminent domain and carbon sequestration pipelines in Iowa,” the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports. “House Republican leaders initiated an effort to reconvene the Legislature to override the veto, but Senate GOP leaders indicated that was unlikely… “Reynolds followed her critique of the bill by noting that Iowa could lose its “leadership position” as a top biofuel production state if legislation stopped the infrastructure necessary to enter ultra-low carbon markets… “Opponents to the pipeline project, who were supportive of HF 639, argue the pipeline would negatively impact their properties and health, and that sequestering CO2 does not constitute a “public use” deserving of eminent domain rights. Landowners opposed to the project lobbied state lawmakers for four years before a bill was debated, and ultimately passed, in the Senate and sent to the governor… “Mary Powell, a Shelby County landowner opposed to the pipeline, said the veto shows that the state motto of, “Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain” are “just empty words” to the governor. “Governor Reynolds chose to support the millionaires and billionaires at the expense of Iowans and their property rights,” Powell said in a statement. Another landowner, Don Johanssen from Cherokee County, said the governor’s decision was “beyond words,” especially as the bill would have given landowners “some liability coverage” from hazardous pipelines… “This is a sad day for Iowa that will be long remembered,” Johanssen said… “The American Petroleum Institute’s Midwest Regional Director Mike Karbo told the Dispatch the bill had “unprecedented and unfeasible requirements” that would have hindered future projects in the state.”
KWQC: Gov. Reynolds vetoes eminent domain bill, says it goes too far
Conner Hendricks, 6/11/25
“Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds vetoed a bill that would restrict the use of eminent domain for carbon-capture pipelines on Wednesday,” KWQC reports. “...She said this bill goes further than just eminent domain protections and threatens Iowa’s economy and energy reliability. A fight in the legislature may continue, as lawmakers could try and override her veto… “The veto is disappointing for Iowa Falls farmer Kathy Stockdale. It will go right through her property. There’ve been a lot of sleepless nights the past four years for Stockdale. “3:00 a.m. is a popular time that we all wake up and, I mean, you wake up in the middle of the night, and that’s what your mind goes to,” she told KWQC. “You try to change it, but it’s just not possible, it just comes.” Stockdale has been fighting at the statehouse weekly for the past four years, trying to get lawmakers to stop the pipeline. It’s cost her $10,000 in legal fees, and the situation has put a strain on her family. “It’s been costly, I mean, everything we’ve done has been at our own expense,” Stockdale told KWQC. “Lawyers, travel to the Capitol, meals, we brought treats for legislators.” :..Stockdale told KWQC Summit offered her around $300,000. But her land doesn’t have a price, something that she’s stressed to lawmakers in Des Moines again and again. “I think our battle isn’t just for us landowners who are going down there,” she told KWQC. “It’s for our towns and our communities also, because if we lose property rights, we are no longer America.”
Radio Iowa: Governor Reynolds vetoes carbon pipeline bill, calls it ‘too broad’
Kay Henderson, 6/11/25
“Governor Kim Reynolds has vetoed a bill that would have made it harder for Summit Carbon Solutions to seize land along the pipeline route from unwilling property owners,” Radio Iowa reports. “In a lengthy veto message, Reynolds said she “respects both sides in the debate” over the use of that eminent domain authority, but Reynolds said the bill is “too broad” and affects other types of energy infrastructure. The ethanol industry and the Iowa Corn Growers Association have been urging Reynolds to reject the legislation. “The governor did a really good job explaining there’s a lot of problems with this bill,” Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director Monte Shaw told Radio Iowa… “Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton who helped craft the bill, spoke with Radio Iowa moments after the veto was announced. “Kim Reynolds has failed the state of Iowa. Kim Reynolds has soiled her legacy,” Kaufmann told Radio Iowa, “and her legacy is now spitting in the face of landowners and being Bruce Rastetter’s errand girl.” “Clearly she has chosen special interests and Bruce Rastetter over private property rights,” Kaufmann told Radio Iowa. “I vow today to work against and kill every single bill she comes up with because I no longer trust her judgement.” “...We stand ready to work with people who want to improve the system, but not kill the carbon capture project,” Shaw told Radio Iowa, “and if people are wanting to do that, we stand ready.”
Dakota Scout: Iowa veto a win for carbon pipeline, but Thune says federal override unlikely
Joe Sneve, 6/11/25
“There’s good news and bad news for both sides of the ongoing battle over eminent domain and carbon sequestration pipelines,” the Dakota Scout reports. “Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’s veto of a bill aimed at blocking the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines is being celebrated as a win for Summit Carbon Solution, while the Iowa-based carbon pipeline company’s staunchest adversaries in South Dakota say they’re unfazed by the development. That's because, despite the decision by the Iowa governor on Wednesday being a blow to landowner rights advocates on both sides of the state line, leading voices in the anti-eminent domain movement here say they've been reassured by the country's most powerful federal lawmaker that Congress isn't likely to strip South Dakota of its authority over carbon pipelines.”
Pipeline Safety Trust: What’s Next for CO2 Pipeline Safety?
Nora Harren, 6/9/25
“In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, both government and private sector actors are increasingly looking towards carbon sequestration. This process requires transporting captured CO₂ from emission sources to storage sites, often through pipelines,” the Pipeline Safety Trust reports. “Pipeline companies are proposing a major buildout of CO₂ pipeline infrastructure, particularly in the Midwest and along the Gulf Coast. Currently, the U.S. has approximately 5,300 miles of CO₂ pipelines, but that number could grow to more than 50,000 miles by 2050, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (January 2025)... “ In 2020, a pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi, led to the hospitalization of 45 people, raising public concern about the risks associated with CO₂ pipelines… “Currently, only supercritical CO₂ pipelines are regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). States have primary siting jurisdiction for CO₂ pipelines, with minimal federal involvement. Some analysts express that the current siting structure for these pipelines will be “a significant problem if more interstate CO₂ pipelines are built.” On January 15, 2025, PHMSA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to expand safety regulations to cover all phases of CO₂ transport. However, this proposal was withdrawn earlier this year by executive order. Pipeline Safety Trust recommends the following federal actions to ensure public safety and environmental protection: PHMSA should update the definition of carbon dioxide in current regulation to include all phases; PHMSA needs to identify in regulations the potential impact areas for CO2 pipeline ruptures; PHMSA should identify how to incorporate fracture propagation protection on CO2 transmission pipelines; PHMSA should mandate.. “Some states are actively working to increase regulations and oversight of CO₂ pipelines. These efforts by states indicate growing recognition that public health and safety must be prioritized as carbon capture and storage projects scale up.”
Enbridge: Record volumes, incremental growth for Enbridge’s liquids ‘super system’
6/11/25
“Whether it’s through open seasons or open water, Enbridge is meeting sustained market demand with phased growth on our North American liquids pipeline network. “It was a strong start to the year” for Enbridge’s liquids super system, noted President and CEO Greg Ebel during our 2025 first-quarter financial earnings call on May 9. “Our Mainline delivered record first-quarter volumes of almost 3.2 million barrels per day,” he remarked, adding that the Enbridge Ingleside Energy Center (EIEC) export terminal near Corpus Christi, TX “recorded another quarterly volume record, benefiting from increased operational capacity.” Global oil demand and market fundamentals, for both Canadian heavy oil and Permian light oil, support Enbridge’s growth and expansion plans across our liquids network—which is the longest and most complex on the continent. “Simply put . . . there is no peak in oil demand on the horizon. The fact that oil demand keeps rising, hitting new records, year on year, is a clear example of what I’m saying,” Haitham Al Ghais, secretary general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), told an audience at the 2025 Global Energy Show on June 9 in Calgary. At Enbridge, we’re executing our growth and expansion plans through a series of incremental and quick-to-market initiatives: About 300,000 barrels per day of visible expansion capacity, in two phases, on our Mainline system, an approximately 3,125-mile (5,030-km) series of pipes that moves oil from Alberta to the U.S. Midwest and Eastern Canada. Ongoing expansion of our Permian system and our Ingleside export terminal, which includes the acquisition of two additional export docks… “We’re evaluating a 150,000-bpd expansion of our Regional Oil Sands network between 2026 and 2028.”
Natural Gas Intelligence: Southeast Gateway Pipeline, Power Plant Startups Signal More Natural Gas Demand at Agua Dulce
Christopher Lenton, 6/11/25
“Natural gas infrastructure is finally coming to the aid of Mexico’s energy-starved southeast – welcome news for the region that could also have pricing implications in South Texas,” Natural Gas Intelligence reports. “TC Energy Corp’s Southeast Gateway project in Mexico, a 444-mile (with 416 miles offshore), 36-inch diameter pipeline, should begin flowing gas imminently. It would have the capacity to transport 1.3 Bcf/d of U.S. natural gas to Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, and Dos Bocas, Tabasco. The project “completed its mechanical work earlier this year, and we are now in the final regulatory processes to conclude and close out the project,” TC Energía Corp. vice president Leonardo Robles, who oversees commercial and business development, said at a recent energy conference.”
Canadian Press: Alberta premier says province is looking to entice private-sector pipeline builder
Lauren Krugel, 6/11/25
“The Alberta government is working to entice a private-sector player to build a major crude oil pipeline to coastal waters, Premier Danielle Smith said Wednesday,” the Canadian Press reports. "We're talking to all of the pipeline proponents; anyone who has had success in building a pipeline in Canada and has an interest in perhaps coming together as a consortium. Or, if one emerges as being a principal proponent, then we'll be interested in talking to them, too," Smith told reporters following a speech to the Global Energy Show. "But we know that it's a chicken and egg problem, that no one's going to come forward with a project without some guarantee that it is going to be approved." Alberta could help the project along by committing barrels of physical bitumen received in lieu of cash royalties from oilsands producers, Smith said. She has been enthusiastic about reviving a plan to ship oilsands crude to the northern B.C. coast for export to Asia, and the end point she sees making the most sense is Prince Rupert, B.C… “Smith said no company will agree to build a pipeline to the northern B.C. coast as long as there is a tanker ban, and oilsands companies aren't going to expand their production as long as there's a federal emissions cap… “Smith is also keen on accessing global markets via the East Coast or a pipeline to the port of Churchill in northern Manitoba, which would give tanker access to Hudson Bay.”
Bloomberg: Trans Mountain Eyes Pipeline Capacity Increase by Early 2027
Robert Tuttle, 6/11/25
“The Trans Mountain pipeline could handle an additional 75,000 barrels of crude a day by a early 2027, the government-owned company’s top executive said, potentially helping Canadian oil producers expand shipments to non-US markets,” Bloomberg reports. “Chemicals that make crude flow more easily through the line could be used in less than two years as a first stage of the capacity increase, Trans Mountain CEO Mark Maki told reporters at a conference in Calgary. After that, increased pumping power could boost flows to about 1.14 million barrels a day, but that would require dredging the nearby waterway to allow tankers to carry more oil… “Pressure has been growing for Canada to find new export outlets for its oil since President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on the country earlier this year. Canada ships most of its oil to the US due to a lack of pipelines to domestic ports… “The Canadian government — which acquired Trans Mountain in 2018 when previous owner Kinder Morgan Inc. threatened to scrap the expansion amid opposition in BC — has pledged to sell the pipeline. Such a sale shouldn’t be done too quickly, Maki said. Trans Mountain’s value would increase once it’s optimized and final tolls have been set, he said. “If you sell it now, you won’t capture that,” he said. “If you sell it a few years from now, it’s there.”
The Deep Dive: Western Canada Oil Sands Output Outstrips Pipelines Again as 2027 Crunch Looms
ER Velasco, 6/11/25
“Western Canada’s crude output has more than doubled over the past decade—rising from roughly 2.5 MMb/d in 2015 to an estimated 4.6 MMb/d as of April 2025—driven predominantly by Alberta oil sands expansions,” The Deep Dive reports. “RBN Energy warns that “almost nothing is going to stop Western Canada’s crude oil production growth,” with annualized liquids volumes (crude plus diluent) expected to climb to 5.5 MMb/d in 2024 and 6.1 MMb/d by 2028. Analysts smoothing out seasonal swings project that takeaway demand will consistently breach existing capacity in the spring of 2027. Canada last faced a Mainline bottleneck in late 2023 and early 2024, when stacked pipeline capacities approached parity with delivered volumes, triggering steep “apportionment” discounts on Western Canadian Select. The May 2024 in-service date of the Trans Mountain Expansion—adding 590 Mb/d to the West Coast export slate—temporarily widened the gap to about 500 Mb/d, easing near-term pressures but doing little to alter the upward trajectory of production. Enbridge has unveiled $3.5 billion of capital expenditures through 2028 to shore up its Mainline and Express-Platte systems. Between 2025 and 2028, up to $2.0 billion will enhance Mainline efficiency and reliability—engineering upgrades, additional pump stations and drag-reducing agents—aiming for a 150 Mb/d boost by spring 2027 and scope for a further 150 Mb/d beyond that… “Even with the planned 180 Mb/d total from Express-Platte and Mainline expansions, RBN Energy’s outlook suggests those additions merely defer the crunch to late 2028, “buying another ~year” before the next capacity cliff.”
Equal Times: Despite harsh repression, opposition to the EACOP pipeline in Uganda remains strong
Elodie Toto, 6/12/25
“We will keep protesting until our demands are met. This project isn’t sustainable. The world is moving towards renewable energy, and Uganda should follow suit,” says Ibrahim Mpiima, team leader of Justice Movement Uganda, a student-led protest group of around a hundred members opposing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP)—the world’s longest heated oil pipeline,” Equal Times reports. “We protest whenever we can. The only thing holding us back is money. But as soon as we raise enough, we make banners, buy disposable mobile phones, secure safe houses in case things go wrong—and then we go.” This local group is part of a broader movement, StopEACOP, a coalition of international NGOs that joined forces “for greater solidarity, visibility and funding,” explains the student from Kyambogo University in Kampala. Despite all the precautions taken by Ibrahim Mpiima and around 30 of his fellow students, he was arrested at the demonstration on 19 March. Taken by force with three other activists to the capital’s high-security prison, he was beaten and tortured before ultimately being released on 3 April. In a story published on social media, Mpiima also accuses security agents of raping him during his detention… “For Dickens Kamugisha, CEO of the non-profit AFIEGO (Africa Institute for Energy Governance), which has been tracking the EACOP case for years, this comes as no surprise. “Here, if you oppose what the government and the company (TotalEnergies, editor’s note) are doing, you become the enemy. And once you’re in their sights, you have to face the consequences.” “...Indeed, on 23 April, despite the ongoing repression, another demonstration was held in Kampala. Eleven activists were arrested. At the time of writing, they remain behind bars in Luzira high-security prison.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: EPA revoking Biden’s climate limits for power plants
Jean Chemnick, 6/11/25
“President Donald Trump’s administration is moving to wipe out federal limits on power plants’ climate pollution — attacking the Biden era’s most ambitious attempt to use regulations to lessen the nation’s output of heat-trapping gases,” E&E News reports. “EPA announced Wednesday that it would scrap the 2024 regulation that requires existing coal-burning power plants, and future plants burning natural gas, to begin capturing their carbon dioxide pollution in the 2030s. The Trump proposal would leave the nation’s second-largest source of climate pollution — the power sector — free of federal requirements to address global warming… “The United States is the world’s second-biggest climate polluter, lagging only behind China. But in its draft rule, EPA argues that the U.S. power sector’s pollution by itself doesn’t significantly contribute to global climate change, making it unnecessary to regulate it.”
Heatmap: The One Word Trump Is Using to Erase Greenhouse Gas Rules
Emily Pontecorvo, 6/11/25
“In federal policymaking, the weight of the law can rest on a single word. When it comes to reducing planet-warming emissions from the power sector, that word is “significantly,” Heatmap reports. “The Clean Air Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate any stationary source of emissions that “causes, or contributes significantly to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.” The EPA has considered power plants a significant source of dangerous greenhouse gases since 2015. But today, Trump’s EPA said, actually, never mind. A proposed rule published in the Federal Register on Wednesday argues that U.S. fossil fuel-fired power plants make up “a small and decreasing part of global emissions” and therefore are not significant, and do not require regulation under the law… “The argument that U.S. power plants make up a small sliver of global emissions and thus aren’t worth addressing is like having “a five-alarm fire that could be put out if you send out all the trucks, and you don’t send any of the trucks because no one truck could put the fire out by itself,” David Doniger, a senior attorney and strategist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, told Heatmap. “We just think that is a wacky reversal and a wacky interpretation of the Clean Air Act.” When you add up every plug, power button, and light switch across the country, electricity usage produces 25% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions each year. Over the past 30 years, American power plants have contributed about 5% of the total climate pollution spewed into the atmosphere worldwide. In the global context, that may sound small. But in a recent report titled “The Scale of Significance," New York University’s Institute for Policy Integrity estimated that if U.S. power plants were a country, it would be the sixth biggest emitter in the world, behind China, the European Union, India, Russia, and the remainder of U.S. emissions. The report also notes that U.S. actions on emissions make other countries more likely to follow, due to technological spillovers that reduce the cost of decarbonization globally… “The Trump administration is trying to say, don’t worry about the Clean Air Act. It will never apply, so you can go back to your old ways,” Doniger told Heatmap. But if the argument that power plant emissions are insignificant is a stretch, appraising greenhouse gas emissions as benign is inconceivable, he told Heatmap. “The endangerment finding was based, in 2009, on a Denali-sized mountain of evidence. Since then, it’s grown to Everest-size, so there’s no way that they would be able to put together a rational record saying the science is wrong.”
E&E News: The legal pitfalls of Zeldin’s climate rule rollback
Jean Chemnick, Niina H. Farah, Lesley Clark, 6/12/25
“EPA’s proposal to stop regulating power plant climate pollution is built around a bold claim that experts say could create legal stumbling blocks,” E&E News reports. “The U.S. power industry is the nation’s second-highest emitting sector. But in its draft rule repeal, EPA argues that the industry emits too little heat-trapping pollution to be worth regulating… “If EPA finalizes its power plant rule repeal in its current forms, experts warn it could face numerous challenges… “Jason Schwartz, legal director for the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University Law School, told E&E the statutory language was “pretty clear that you don’t need pollutant-specific findings.” Jeff Holmstead, who served as EPA air chief during the George W. Bush administration, disagreed. He told E&E the Trump EPA is right that the Clean Air Act requires it to make a separate finding of significant contribution before regulating a new pollutant from any given sector. “This issue, though, is separate from the question of whether CO2 emissions from U.S. power plants significantly contribute to climate change that harms public health or welfare,” he told E&E. “The courts could agree with EPA on this issue but still reject EPA’s position that power plants do not significantly contribute to climate change.” “...It would be difficult for EPA to argue that the U.S. power sector isn’t a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, Schwartz told E&E. In 2021, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in American Lung Association v. EPA that EPA was right to decide that power plants contribute significantly to climate change “because of their substantial contribution of greenhouse gases, under any reasonable threshold or definition.” The Supreme Court was asked to review that decision and declined.”
E&E News: Committee releases megabill text with land sales
Garrett Downs, Andres Picon, 6/11/25
“The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee released its portion of the Republicans’ megabill Wednesday, formally reinserting language on public land sales,” E&E News reports. “The text would require “the prudent sale” of certain Bureau of Land Management and forest lands, according to a summary. The land would be used for “housing, increased timber sales, geothermal leasing, and compensation of states and localities for the cost of wind and solar projects on federal land.” The House-passed version of the megabill didn’t include a Natural Resources Committee amendment on land sales after some Republicans — mainly Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) — balked at the prospect.”
Montana Free Press: Daines, Sheehy wrestle with reemergence of public land sale proposal in Trump’s bill
Amanda Eggert, 6/10/25
“A proposal to sell 500,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management holdings in Nevada and Utah that’s generated political conversation and consternation in recent months reemerged last week,” the Montana Free Press reports. “The proposal was amended into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by the House Natural Resources Committee in early May, then stripped out by the House Budget Committee hours before the full chamber passed the package by a razor-thin margin. After that vote, public lands advocates thanked Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke for his leadership on the issue — he’d told Republican colleagues he wouldn’t vote for the 1,000-plus-page bill with the public land sale in it — and breathed a cautious sigh of relief… “On June 4, Montana Free Press emailed Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy to request interviews to learn whether Daines, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Sheehy, the freshman Republican who won Democrat Jon Tester’s seat in November, would vote for the bill if the federal land sale is amended back in… “Sen. Daines opposes public land sales,” spokesperson Matt Lloyd wrote, noting Daines’ June 4 appearance on Fox News… “In the statement provided by his office, Sheehy described public lands access as a bipartisan issue. “There’s no question that public lands belong in public hands. That’s not just a slogan, it’s a way of life and one thing most Montanans agree on regardless of party,” Sheehy told Montana Free Press. “I will always fight to protect our right to hunt, fish, and recreate on our public lands.”
Idaho Capital Sun: More than 100 environmental groups sign letter opposing return of public lands sale
Kyle Dunphey, 6/10/25
“Organizations from around the country signed a letter on Monday urging U.S. senators not to include a controversial proposal to sell thousands of acres of federal land in Congress’ budget bill,” the Idaho Capital Sun reports. “The letter, signed by 113 groups including the Idaho Conservation League, comes in the wake of reports that U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is considering reviving an amendment to the bill originally proposed by U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, that would dispose of nearly 11,500 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in southwestern Utah and about 450,000 acres in Nevada. Lee, when asked by a Politico reporter last week if he intended to reintroduce the disposal, responded, “I gotta go vote, but yes.” “...Decisions about the future of public lands should remain in public hands,” the letter states. “Leaders in the House and Senate, extractive industry, and private developers are using the reconciliation process to sell off federal lands to pay for billionaire tax cuts. But such moves are deeply unpopular. Polling has repeatedly shown that the public — especially Westerners — strongly believes in keeping public lands in public hands and, across partisan lines, rejects any efforts that would lead to the sale of these shared and cherished lands.”
Associated Press: US Justice Department says Trump can cancel national monuments that protect landscapes
Matthew Brown, 6/10/25
“Lawyers for President Donald Trump’s administration say he has the authority to abolish national monuments meant to protect historical and archaeological sites across broad landscapes, including two in California created by his predecessor at the request of Native American tribes, the Associated Press reports. “A Justice Department legal opinion released Tuesday disavowed a 1938 determination that monuments created by previous presidents under the Antiquities Act can’t be revoked. The department said presidents can cancel monument designations if protections aren’t warranted. The finding comes as the Interior Department under Trump weighs changes to monuments across the nation as part of the administration’s push to expand U.S. energy production. Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Natural Resources Committee, told AP that at Trump’s order, “his Justice Department is attempting to clear a path to erase national monuments.” Trump in his first term reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments in Utah, calling them a “massive land grab.”
Bloomberg: Trump DOJ Outlines Legal Justification to Abolish Monuments
Bobby Magill, 6/10/25
“A US president’s power to create and undo national monuments under the 1906 Antiquities Act is among the White House’s “most sweeping unilateral powers,” the Justice Department said in a slip opinion,” Bloomberg reports. “The opinion forms the Justice Department’s rationale for abolishing national monuments, many of which have been declared by presidents to protect large swaths of public land from development… “The opinion that was made public Tuesday reverses and disavows a 1938 Justice Department opinion, which the federal government has relied upon to determine that monument designations are irrevocable… “The opinion cites US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in his 2021 response to a denial of certiorari in Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association v. Raimondo that he’d be interested in hearing a challenge to the Antiquities Act. Roberts wrote that the act’s use has been “transformed into a power without any discernible limit to set aside vast and amorphous expanses of terrain,” and the court may have an opportunity to consider the issue in the future… “With the opinion, the Trump administration is saying it has the power to abolish or shrink national monuments that have not yet been ratified by Congress, John Leshy, a University of California College of the Law professor who served as Interior’s solicitor general in the Clinton administration, told Bloomberg… “The opinion could “put members of Congress who have national monuments in their districts (including especially Republican members) in a somewhat uncomfortable position of taking a position on whether they think Trump should abolish any of those national monuments,” he told Bloomberg.”
E&E News: Interior’s latest four-year strategic plan omits public land cuts
Scott Streater, Heather Richards, 6/10/25
“The Interior Department is circulating a streamlined version of its draft strategic plan for the next four years, leaving out some of the more contentious proposals that were included in an earlier draft reviewed by E&E News. Interior is asking for input from Native American and Alaska Native tribal leaders on the latest draft strategic plan. The proposal still promotes Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s vision for increasing oil and gas production on public lands, and “streamlining and cutting regulations’ that hamper advancing what’s listed as the agency’s No. 1 goal to ‘Restore American Prosperity.” The plan, set to be formally released in October, also continues to characterize public lands and the mineral resources contained within them as ‘assets’ that need to be exploited for economic gain. “The Department of the Interior is the U.S. balance sheet, and natural resources are the country’s assets,” it says. “These lands — rich in energy, minerals, biodiversity, and recreational value — are worth trillions of dollars to current and future generations.”
Reuters: US energy loan office should fund oil, gas, White House aide says
Valerie Volcovici and Timothy Gardner, 6/10/25
“The U.S. Energy Department’s loan office should fund oil and gas infrastructure, a White House aide said on Tuesday, as President Donald Trump’s administration moves away from supporting projects designed to curb climate change,” Reuters reports. “One of the big problems is, in the past the… Loan Program Office has been used for a lot of these renewable projects,” Jarrod Agen, a deputy assistant to the president and executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council, said at a Politico conference on energy. The administration is changing the priority of the LPO, meant to help finance emerging energy projects that show promise but face difficulties getting bank loans. “So, yes, we want to invest more and prioritize projects that are oil and gas-related, nuclear-related,” Agen said… “U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said LPO financing is one option on the table to support Alaska LNG, a long-shot, expensive project to ship liquefied natural gas from the north of the state to consumers in Asia… “Wright told a hearing in the House of Representatives he wants to offer LPO financing for nuclear projects, critical minerals and “potentially even geothermal.”
E&E News: Court ends case over Gulf of Mexico environmental analysis
Niina H. Farah, 6/11/25
“An appeals court has closed the book on a case involving NOAA Fisheries’ analysis of the environmental risks of offshore oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico,” E&E News reports. “On Monday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an appeal brought by the fossil fuel industry was moot now that NOAA Fisheries has released a new review of how offshore drilling in the region could harm species like the endangered Rice’s whale. The court noted in its brief order that none of the parties in the case had objected to dismissing the appeal. The American Petroleum Institute, EnerGeo Alliance and the National Ocean Industries Association had sought to overturn a lower bench ruling that tossed out a 2020 analysis — known as a biological opinion — for the Gulf, which President Donald Trump renamed the Gulf of America earlier this year.”
Guardian: Major US climate website likely to be shut down after almost all staff fired
Eric Holthaus, 6/11/25
“A major US government website supporting public education on climate science looks likely to be shuttered after almost all of its staff were fired, the Guardian has learned. Climate.gov, the gateway website for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa)’s Climate Program Office, will imminently no longer publish new content, according to multiple former staff responsible for the site’s content whose contracts were recently terminated. “The entire content production staff at climate.gov (including me) were let go from our government contract on 31 May,” a former government contractor who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation told the Guardian. “We were told that our positions within the contract were being eliminated.” Rebecca Lindsey, the website’s former program manager, who was fired in February as part of the government’s purge of probationary employees, described a months-long situation within Noaa where political appointees and career staff argued over the fate of the website.”
STATE UPDATES
Colorado Sun: Uinta Basin Railway backers want $2.4 billion in tax-exempt transportation bonds as construction costs soar
Jason Blevins, 6/11/25
“The coalition of rural Utah counties pushing the development of an 88-mile railroad connecting the Uinta Basin oilfields with the national rail network is rekindling a paused effort to finance the railroad,” the Colorado Sun reports. “Following last month’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned a federal appeals court’s rejection of the Surface Transportation Board’s 2021 approval of the railroad, the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition last week approved a plan to seek $2.4 billion in private activity bonds from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund the railroad’s construction. That’s $500 million more in bond financing than the coalition sought in 2023… “The bonds are only expected to cover 70% of the cost of the project, so the bonding request pins total construction around $3.4 billion, or around $3.8 million for every mile of track. When the Surface Transportation Board first studied the project in 2020, the projected cost of the Uinta Basin Railway was $1.4 billion… “Environmental groups fear that the increased cost of construction will drive more drilling, more oil tankers rolling on tracks across the country and more refining of Uinta Basin crude. That leads to elevated risks of spills from derailments and air pollution around refineries on the Gulf Coast… “We certainly don’t think it’s a good use of taxpayer money to hand over billions of dollars in tax subsidies for an oil industry project,” Ted Zukoski, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity group that is leading the environmental fight to block the proposed railway, told the Sun.
WMBF: Rep. Russell Fry pens letter to current administration to uphold offshore drilling ban of SC coast
6/10/25
“More lawmakers are coming forward to oppose a proposal that would allow offshore drilling on the South Carolina coastline,” WMBF reports. “Congressman Russell Fry penned a letter to the Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, urging the department to maintain the moratorium on offshore oil and gas leasing currently in place for the Grand Strand. “I write to respectfully urge that the existing moratorium on offshore oil and gas leasing off South Carolina’s coast remain in place,” his letter read… “The city of Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce has already spoken out about the proposal and has asked residents to do the same. In his letter, Fry said he supports American energy dominance and President Trump’s energy agenda but expresses that the South Carolina coastline is a vital part of the state’s economy, especially in Horry and Georgetown counties.”
Alexandria Town Talk: 'Need to know': Residents gather to learn more about Pineville carbon-capture project
Melissa Gregory, 6/11/25
“Several hundred people attended a Monday night community meeting at Philadelphia Baptist Church to hear speakers talk about a proposed carbon capture project at the former International Paper mill site, including the threat of eminent domain,” Alexandria Town Talk reports. “In July 2023, SunGas Renewables Inc. announced its subsidiary, Beaver Lake Renewable Energy LLC, a "new green methanol production facility" at the former IP site. A news release said the almost $2 billion facility would generate about 400,000 metric tons of green methanol for marine fuel annually… “But many at the meeting weren't happy with the lack of information since then on the project, judging by the crowd's applause when it was mentioned. People also have been concerned about the possibility their land could be taken through eminent domain for the project. The event was organized by Melody Slocum, who told TT it was held because people had questions and could not get answers… “She told TT public officials and SunGas have had two years to hold a community meeting, but that hasn't materialized… “Slocum told TT accounts from people within Louisiana and in other states where similar projects have been started tell of companies coming in like a freight train "and they just roll right over them." “...Allen Parish Police Juror Rollin Hollis expressed his concern about water quality now that businesses like carbon capture projects and data centers are expanding into Louisiana… “He became alarmed about the threat of eminent domain, he said, and decided to run for office again. "I knew immediately it's not minimal risk. It's real risk," Hollis said… "We come together because I knew one thing," he said. "If we are going to try to derail this train that's already in our parish at 100 miles per hour, the only way we can do it is two ways — God and people. Grassroots."
Athens Independent: Carbon sequestration bills draw rebuke from activists, oil and gas producers
Dani Kington, 6/5/25
“On May 19, a combination of environmental activists, oil and gas producers, township trustees, water association employees and a state representative crowded into the same room at the Warren Water and Sewer Association in Marietta,” the Athens Independent reports. “The group came together over shared concerns with twin bills moving through the Ohio statehouse, Senate Bill 136 and House Bill 170. Both sponsored by Republicans, the bills would pave the way for Ohio to fast track the development of underground carbon sequestration technology… “At a webinar about carbon capture and sequestration hosted by the Buckeye Environmental Network on April 29, retired environmental scientist Randi Pokladnik, who holds a doctorate in environmental studies, spoke about concerns over the technology in light of the advancing Ohio bills. “Carbon is already captured and stored underground in fossil fuels,” Pokladnik said during the webinar. “We should be leaving it there, instead of spending billions of dollars trying to invent technology to solve the problem that’s our own creation.” If passed into law, the bills would help transition regulatory authority over carbon injection wells, known as Class VI wells, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources… “At the Buckeye Environmental Network webinar and at the May 19 Marietta meeting, Pokladnik voiced concerns about the safety of transporting and storing carbon underground, the high energy and water input required for the process, unknowns regarding long-term efficacy of carbon sequestration, and high cost of the process that Pokladnik said would likely be passed along to taxpayers.”
KUSA: Chevron announces root cause of Bishop Well incident
Zvi Gutierrez, 6/10/25
“Chevron has completed and released a root cause analysis into the Bishop Well incident that happened near Galeton in April,” KUSA reports. “The uncontrolled release lasted five days before it was contained on April 10. As the blowout unfolded, about a dozen families in the area were evacuated. Some residents have yet to return to their homes. Condensate and crude oil spewed onto surrounding properties, and cleanup efforts have involved environmental testing and remediation. Cleanup efforts are expected to last until 2030. According to Chevron, on April 6, a wellhead technician contractor was in the process of installing a production tree on a well at the Bishop Well pad when a loss of containment occurred. The incident resulted in the release of fluids, which were made up of gas, crude oil and mostly water, according to the report. The technician was struck by the production tree as it fell to the ground, which resulted in a leg fracture, the report says… “We have also been diligently working to get residents back in their homes. Thankfully, almost all of those families are back in their homes. We continue to actively work with the remaining homeowners on next steps,” Kim McHugh, vice president of the Chevron Rockies Business Unit, told KUSA. “In addition, we are working with land and agricultural property owners within a half mile to a mile and a half to conduct agriculture assessments.”
EXTRACTION
Reuters: US oil output to fall next year, EIA says
Shariq Khan and Scott DiSavino, 6/10/25
“U.S. crude oil production will fall next year as lower commodity prices have forced drillers to drop rigs faster than expected, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Tuesday in its monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook report,” Reuters reports. “Crude output in the world’s largest oil-producing nation will drop to about 13.37 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2026, from around 13.42 million barrels per day this year, the EIA said. It previously expected U.S. output to grow to 13.49 million bpd next year. The forecast marks the first time that the U.S. Department of Energy’s statistical arm has predicted a decline in U.S. oil output next year, countering President Donald Trump’s vow to unleash more domestic energy production. It comes amid mounting concerns that the around two-decade- old U.S. shale revolution has peaked, especially as oil prices have slumped to multi-year lows in recent months due to the OPEC+ group’s easing of its supply curbs and concerns about the global economy arising from Trump’s erratic trade policies… “Brent crude oil prices are expected to average $65.97 a barrel this year in the spot market, and $59.24 a barrel next year, the EIA said. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil will average $62.33 a barrel this year and $55.58 next year, it said.”
Bloomberg: US Sees Oil Output Falling in 2026 in Blow to Trump’s Agenda
Mia Gindis and David Wethe, 6/10/25
“The US sees domestic crude production declining next year for the first time since 2021 in a blow to US President Donald Trump’s push for American energy dominance,” Bloomberg reports. “...Trump has said American oil producers would “drill, baby, drill” and declared an energy emergency early in his second term in a bid to boost production. But several shale companies have warned that weak oil prices would take a toll on output, with drillers including Diamondback Energy Inc. saying production has already peaked. With fewer active drilling rigs, US operators will drill and complete fewer wells through 2026, the EIA estimated. Already, the number of rigs drilling for crude in the US plummeted to the lowest in about four years as shale explorers brace for weakening global oil demand… “Meanwhile, offshore output is set to grow to 1.85 million barrels per day in 2026, up roughly 40,000 barrels from last month’s forecast, mitigating the impact of reduced activity in other crude-producing regions. Global oil demand for this year is expected to grow more slowly, the agency said. Consumption will increase by 800,000 barrels a day to 103.5 million barrels a day, versus a previous forecast for demand to grow 1 million barrels a day, the EIA said.”
Axios: Projected crude-oil dip undercuts "drill baby drill" symbolism
Ben Geman, 6/11/25
“Fresh projections add weight to a problem for President Trump's "drill baby drill" push — many companies won't follow along in this price and tariff landscape,” Axios reports. “The big picture: A revised outlook from DOE's independent stats arm shows U.S. crude output sliding in the second half of 2025, and a small year-over-year drop in 2026. It would be the first annual decline since COVID battered demand in 2020-2021. Why it matters: Yes, the revisions are small and yes, the U.S. remains by far the world's top producer. But the symbolism is big as the White House promotes its "energy dominance" agenda… “It's the latest in several downward revisions this year, but the first that sees a decline — last month's version still estimated a very small rise over 2025… “What they're saying: "It's peak shale at this price," oil analyst Rory Johnston, founder of Commodity Context, tells Axios… “The current prices and cost structure, especially with tariffs pushing costs up, "is not conducive to profitability for these firms, so they're going to start pulling back."
Reuters: US natgas output and demand to hit record highs in 2025, EIA says
Scott DiSavino, 6/10/25
“U.S. natural gas output and demand will both rise to record highs in 2025, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) on Tuesday,” Reuters reports. “EIA projected dry gas production will rise from 103.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2024 to 105.9 bcfd in 2025 and 106.4 bcfd in 2026. That compares with a record 103.6 bcfd in 2023. The agency also projected domestic gas consumption would rise from a record 90.5 bcfd in 2024 to 91.3 bcfd in 2025 before easing back to 91.1 bcfd in 2026… “The agency forecast average U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports would reach 14.6 bcfd in 2025 and 16.0 bcfd in 2026, up from a record 11.9 bcfd in 2024… “EIA projected carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels would rise from a four-year low of 4.777 billion metric tons in 2024 to 4.832 billion metric tons in 2025 as oil, coal and gas use increases, before easing to 4.769 billion metric tons in 2026 as oil, coal and gas use declines.”
Reuters: Data center demand to push US power use to record highs in 2025, ’26, EIA says
Scott Disavino, 6/10/25
“Power-hungry data centers that provide computing power for artificial intelligence and crypto currency will push U.S. electricity consumption to record highs in 2025 and 2026, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) on Tuesday,” Reuters reports. “The EIA projected power demand will rise to 4,193 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in 2025 and 4,283 billion kWh in 2026 from a record 4,097 billion kWh in 2024. In addition to data centers, American homes and businesses are expected to use more electricity for heat and transportation… “The EIA said natural gas’ share of power generation would slide from 42% in 2024 to 40% in 2025 and 2026. Coal’s share will hold at 16% in 2025, the same as 2024, before easing to 15% in 2026, as renewable output rises. The percentage of renewable generation will rise from 23% in 2024 to 25% in 2025 and 27% in 2026, while nuclear power’s share will hold at 19% in 2025, the same as 2024, before easing to 18% in 2026, according to the outlook.”
Reuters: US depends on Canadian oil, despite Trump’s comments, Cenovus CEO says
Amanda Stephenson, 6/10/25
“The U.S. relies on Canadian oil imports, despite comments to the contrary by U.S. President Donald Trump, Cenovus Energy CEO said on Tuesday,” Reuters reports “Trump has threatened on-again, off-again tariffs on Canada’s oil, of which nearly 4 million barrels per day are exported to the United States. Canada is the world’s fourth-largest oil producer, and fifth-largest natural gas producer. Trump has previously said the U.S. does not need to import goods, including oil and gas, from Canada… “Jon McKenzie, who heads oil sands company Cenovus and chairs the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers industry group, said trade tensions between the two nations have highlighted the need for Canada to diversify its exports. But he said that need does not take away from the fact the two countries’ energy systems are inextricably linked. “What hasn’t changed is energy economics and energy physics. The reality is we are hardwired into the U.S. system,” McKenzie said at an energy conference in Calgary, Alberta. Canada depends on U.S. refiners to buy the vast majority of its exported oil, while landlocked U.S. refineries in the Midwest are configured to process the grade of crude that Canada produces… “He said the industry instead wants to see broad regulatory reform that will remove barriers to investing in oil and gas projects.”
RBN Energy: Could U.S. Ethane Survive Without China?
Housley Carr, 6/11/25
“It looks like the U.S. ethane market may have just dodged a bullet,” RBN Energy reports. “Since late May, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security effectively banned ethane exports to China, the destination for two-thirds of the ethane sent out of Gulf Coast docks — about 225 Mb/d in 2024. Ethane has become a bargaining chip in U.S.-China negotiations over rare earths and tariffs, in part because China has no alternative source of waterborne ethane feedstock for its petchems. But playing the ethane card presented a potential problem for the U.S. too. While China isn’t the only export market for U.S. ethane, there are very limited other destinations for the volumes they typically take… “But a couple of weeks ago a big wrench was dropped into that carefully balanced, finely tuned machine. The wrench came in the form of notices to Enterprise and Energy Transfer that exports of ethane to China out of their Texas terminals are a security risk — more specifically, that they pose an “unacceptable risk of use in or diversion to a military end use” and thus require special licenses for future exports… “Enterprise also said three of its ethane cargoes destined for China, totaling 2.2 MMbbl, were denied licenses by the BIS — a sign that things were getting serious fast… “Reports over the past 24 hours indicate that the tentative agreement between the U.S. and China looks likely to lead to a trade settlement that will take the ban on U.S. ethane exports to China off the table. Assuming that happens, the bullet that would have sent the ethane market into a downward spiral will have been dodged… “But reports indicate the deal is still not finalized. Fingers-crossed that it will be, because if it’s not the ethane market would be getting a whole lot more interesting – and challenging.”
Jacobin Magazine: The gas industry is redefining methane as “clean energy”
Emily Sanders, 6/10/25
“A wave of bills in state legislatures across the country aim to classify climate-heating methane gas as a source of ‘green’ or ‘clean’ energy to prevent communities from transitioning away from fossil fuels — and secretive dark money groups connected to the gas industry are behind the effort,” Jacobin Magazine reports. “The legislation could threaten the enforcement of climate policies across the country, allowing gas to stand in for clean energy in states’ renewable energy portfolios or otherwise thwarting local efforts to phase out reliance on fossil fuels. As methane emissions increasingly drive climate change, the bills would disguise the devastating environmental impacts of the powerful greenhouse gas — while the Trump administration caters to fossil fuel-backed donors on federal gas policy… “But the legislators didn’t come up with the idea on their own: the rebrand originated from model legislation introduced by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a conservative lobbying network funded by large corporations. And in at least one case, the effort is being pushed by the gas industry itself to further entrench states’ dependence on gas. ALEC has a reputation for providing pro-corporate model legislation to legislators, including many bills designed to obstruct climate action. In recent years, the group has drafted bills to blacklist companies that boycott the fossil fuel industry and criminalize protests of fossil fuel infrastructure. While the group’s donors have largely been hidden from the public, its second-largest known donor is fossil fuel mogul Charles Koch, an investigation by the Center for Media and Democracy found.”
World Cement: CCS at a Turning Point, Says DNV
Alfie Lloyd-Perks, 6/12/25 Editorial Assistant
“DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, forecasts that capture and storage capacity is expected to quadruple by 2030,” World Cement reports. “Up to now, growth has been limited and largely associated with pilot projects but a sharp increase in capacity in the project pipeline indicates that CCS is at a turning point. The immediate rise in capacity is being driven by short-term scale up in North America and Europe, with natural gas processing still the main application for the technology. In the longer term, CCS is crucial for addressing sectors that are challenging to decarbonise, such as steel and cement production… “As the technologies mature and scale, the average costs will drop by an average of 40% by 2050. Ditlev Engel, CEO, Energy Systems at DNV told WC “Carbon capture and storage technologies are a necessity for ensuring that CO2 emitted by fossil-fuel combustion is stopped from reaching the atmosphere and for keeping the goals of the Paris Agreement alive. DNV’s first Energy Transition Outlook: CCS to 2050 report clearly shows that we are at a turning point in the development of this crucial technology. “But for all this advancement, the trajectory of CCS deployment remains a long way off where it must be to deliver net zero by 2050. Economic headwinds in recent years have put pressure on this capital-intensive technology and corrective action will need to be taken by government and industry if we are to close the gap between ambition and reality.” CCS will grow from 41 MtCO2/yr captured and stored today to 1300 MtCO2/yr in 2050, which will be 6% of global emissions. However, CCS will need to scale to six times this level to reach the amount outlined in DNV’s Pathway to Net Zero Emissions.”
Carbon Herald: Stanford Study: Renewable Energy Beats Carbon Capture On Cost And Climate Impact
Violet George, 6/11/25
“A new Stanford University study finds that replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy is significantly more effective — and far less expensive — than relying on carbon capture technologies,” the Carbon Herald reports. “Published in Environmental Science & Technology, the research shows that a full transition to wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower by 2050 could cut global energy use by over half, lower energy costs by nearly 60%, and prevent millions of deaths from air pollution. In contrast, the study argues that large-scale carbon capture — whether from smokestacks or the air — adds costs, increases energy demand, and delivers fewer environmental benefits. Lead author Mark Jacobson explains that even if powered by renewables, carbon capture diverts clean energy away from displacing fossil fuels, making it an inefficient strategy. “It’s always better to replace the source of emissions than to clean up after them,” he said.
OPINION
The Iowa Standard: Sen. Alons: House File 639 – No on Eminent Domain for Private Gain – Yes on Safety
Kevin Alons, 6/11/25
“Those of us fighting for eminent domain reform have focused on the clear violations of the U.S. and state Constitutions by the Iowa Utilities Commission on behalf of Summit Carbon Solutions. Unless checked by Governor Reynolds’ signature on HF 639, the government will force this private, for-profit project across the land of non-consenting landowners,” Kevin Alons writes for The Iowa Standard. “We have zeroed in on the unconstitutional demands Summit is making on people – with the blessing of the Iowa Utilities Commission. But just this past week, a federal court put the issue of safety front and center. Carbon dioxide pipelines inherently bring very large risks by transporting a cryogenic gas in a supercritical state. We don’t have to imagine “what if” a pipeline ruptures – because we know. People in Mississippi nearly died from two leaks of a smaller pipeline than what is proposed in Iowa. These leaks hospitalized almost fifty people; they were sick before they even knew what hit them… “It is a miracle no one died. Some county supervisors in Iowa took notice of these dangers and the future negative economic impact preparing for such a disaster would entail. These county leaders passed simple safeguards under the “local control” granted specifically to county leadership – things like setbacks and limitations on carbon dioxide routes to avoid towns, homes, schools, and farms. True to form, Summit sued Shelby and Story Counties… “The Constitution is clear, and I am passionately committed to defending it and our people. Governor Reynolds should take this opportunity to protect the safety of our citizens, the financial future of our landowners, and the physical well-being of every Iowan and sign HF 639 into law.”
The Iowa Standard: Rep. Golding: A modern story of greed, selfishness happening in Iowa today
Cindy Golding, 6/11/25
“This is a modern story of greed and selfishness happening right here in Iowa today. Just as I finished reading Senator Sinclair’s misleading comments about the property rights bill (HF639) my phone rang. This was a robocall from an organization funded by a mega-corporation urging me to ask our governor to veto HF639,” Cindy Golding writes for The Iowa Standard. “I’ve received several mailings from well-funded lobbying groups using fear tactics, essentially saying “all industry will suffer, ethanol production will cease, etc.” if HF639 becomes law. Those who stand to make billions of dollars in one of the craziest tax-funded boondoggles ever are now spending millions of dollars with their “fear” campaign. I’m sure most people reading this have seen the mailers or heard the ads saying basically “the sky will fall if HF639 becomes law.” “...They are people like you who are trying to live their lives, run their businesses, farm their land and raise their families. One day, about five years ago, they received letters demanding that they sell part of their property or have it seized by eminent domain. They attended meetings, studied the proposals, learned of the “kill zones,” and discovered that the entire scheme was simply to line the pockets of the investors with your tax dollars. To set the record straight – HF639 simply puts “guardrails” around the process of eminent domain, the legal means to take your property for a public project. Eminent domain is used for roads, utilities, schools, and other projects that have a clear public use… “If the IUC ruling stands, and HF639 fails, any property is in danger of taking by eminent domain – simply to enhance a company’s bottom line… “Now the final decision comes down to Governor Reynolds either signing or vetoing the bill (HF639). She is getting enormous pressure from wealthy interest groups and corporations who will reap billions of taxpayer money if she vetoes it. Governor Reynolds has the opportunity to leave a legacy of being a fearless leader who put Iowans first, or she can be remembered as the governor who succumbed to mega-corporate pressure and “sold out” to corporate greed. Please join me in asking her to sign HF639.”
The Center Square: Will Louisiana lead or lose in the carbon capture race?
Meghan Thacker is a Senior Advisor for the Consumer Energy Alliance, 6/11/25
“In the race to build a more competitive energy economy, carbon capture and storage is no longer a theory — it’s a race. And in that race, Texas is gaining fast on Louisiana,” Meghan Thacker writes for The Center Square. “CCS is vital to the future of heavy industry — cement, steel, refining, and chemical production — sectors that form the economic backbone of Louisiana. But without consistent support, streamlined permitting, and a clear path to project development, the state risks watching opportunity drift across the Sabine River into Texas… “With Oxy receiving a Class VI well permit from the EPA in the Lone Star State and more than 60 additional Class VI well applications pending, Texas is positioning itself to leap ahead in CCS deployment… “While the Legislature still has some work to do,Texas isn’t just preparing for the future — it’s actively building it. State lawmakers passed bipartisan legislation empowering the Railroad Commission to regulate Class VI wells and mandating a primacy application. If Louisiana hesitates while Texas advances, we won’t just lose projects — we’ll lose the engineers, pipefitters, and geologists that make those projects possible… “If Louisiana wants to maintain its leadership in American energy, we need to match that level of urgency.”