EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 6/18/26
(Note to readers: The next edition of “Extracted” will be published on Monday, June 22.)
PIPELINE NEWS
Pipeline Fighters Hub: Pipeline To Nowhere? Understanding the Impacts of Summit’s Pipeline Project [VIDEO]
Pipestone County Star: Commissioners express support for rerouting pipeline
Courthouse News Service: Appeals court upholds injunction against oil pipeline repairs — even though repairs are complete
Alaska Beacon: Gas pipeline deadlock continues in Alaska Senate as special session nears end
Alaska Beacon: For trans-Alaska gas pipeline operator, carbon dioxide may be a lucrative sideline
Durango Herald: Pipeline spill meeting exposes tensions among groups working on cleanup
Millard County Chronicle Progress: County OKs Joule gas pipeline agreement
Offshore Technology: Keyera takes full ownership of KAPS Pipeline in $860m deal
Gasworld: IEA cuts likely 2030 clean hydrogen project pipeline by 40%
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: EVs are winners in the Iran war. So is US oil.
E&E News: Trump DOJ wants to sideline citizens in pollution fights
E&E News: Energy and Commerce lawmakers to introduce data center bill
Heatmap: Trump Pays $765 Million to Kill 4 More Offshore Wind Leases
STATE UPDATES
Press release: Lawsuit Launched to Challenge Oil Highway That Threatens World-Renowned Nine Mile Canyon
Mlive.com: Feds back Michigan gas upgrades with $1.6B loan while clean energy funding languishes
Utility Dive: California gas generation down 60% from 2024 as solar, imports surge
KTOO: Crude oil surfaced at historic Treadwell Mine. The state plans to study it.
EXTRACTION
E&E News: Youth and enviros sue Canada over climate inaction
Reuters: Exxon Mobil signs deal to supply South Africa’s first planned LNG terminal
Upstream: EU set to miss 2030 CCS targets, says WoodMac
Reuters: Australia opens first carbon refinery, making new products from captured CO2
The Insider: “Shadow fleet” vessels found to have remote control and data deletion software, which creates risk of explosion and oil spills, WSJ reports
OPINION
Anchorage Daily News: Jobs will flow before natural gas does, so let’s get the pipeline started today
PIPELINE NEWS
Pipeline Fighters Hub: Pipeline To Nowhere? Understanding the Impacts of Summit’s Pipeline Project [VIDEO]
6/18/26
“Summit Carbon Solutions has once again adjusted the scope of its proposed multi-state carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline project,” the Pipeline Fighters Hub reports. “The company eliminated four ethanol plant partners, and approximately 200 miles of route within the state of Iowa — for the time being — but now says it plans to route its pipeline through Nebraska into Wyoming. Up to now, Summit had planned to route its risky CO2 pipeline from Iowa into South Dakota and North Dakota — but strong public opposition and landowner organizing in those states have made that route all but impossible. But, the fight is far from over. If one foot of Summit’s pipeline gets built in Iowa, it won’t stop there. Summit’s proposed changes show that they are desperately trying to make its failing plans work. While publicly stating the pipeline is now intended to route through Nebraska to Wyoming for both sequestration and use in enhanced oil recovery, behind the scenes, Summit is still pursuing efforts to cross South Dakota to an end point in North Dakota. It is more important than ever that we keep exposing Summit’s project for what it really is – a greedy scam. We hope we can continue to count on you to defend our land, our liberty, and our legacies. Join our virtual meeting on Wednesday, June 17 at 6:00 p.m. CT to understand what is really happening with the Summit project. We know it’s hard to follow every development, so this meeting will catch you up on everything that matters. Potentially impacted landowners in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota may also still join the Easement Team legal co-op in their state, to share costs of legal representation as we navigate through permit applications and appeals.”
Pipestone County Star: Commissioners express support for rerouting pipeline
Kyle Kuphal, 6/17/26
“The Pipestone County Commissioners, during their June 9 meeting, heard from representatives of ONEOK, Inc, which is the parent company of Magellan Pipeline Company, and expressed support for the company’s plans to reroute a pipeline that runs through the county,” the Pipestone County Star reports. “...In 2025 the PUC rescinded that permit and required Magellan to “select an appropriate consultant and complete, as practically as can be achieved with voluntary access to property along the routes, at a minimum Phase I of the full cultural, archaeological and historical resources inventories” for Route Alternative 1 and Route Alternative 3 in coordination with tribal nations and entities… “Sam Peyton, director of government communications with ONEOK, said the company submitted a compliance filing to the PUC on April 28 after getting feedback from landowners and private stakeholders about what was found during the surveys. According to a management summary of the inventory report from the archaeological survey, 40 previously unreported archaeological sites, including 16 artifact scatters and 24 isolated finds, were recorded along Route Alternative 1… “Three of the sites are recommended eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Avoidance of two of those sites was recommended and the pipeline alignment and workspace already avoids the third, according to the management summary.”
Courthouse News Service: Appeals court upholds injunction against oil pipeline repairs — even though repairs are complete
Hillel Aron, 6/17/26
“A California appeals court on Wednesday affirmed a trial court’s order granting a preliminary injunction against an oil drilling company that would, in theory, prevent the company from repairing its oil pipeline,” Courthouse News Service reports. “But the pipeline repairs have already been completed, and oil has been flowing for months, thanks to an intervention by the Trump administration. Nonetheless, Wednesday’s ruling does mean that Sable Offshore Corp. is still on the hook for civil penalties… “In 2015, the pipeline, then owned by Plains All American, ruptured, sending more than 100,000 gallons of crude into the Pacific Ocean, killing hundreds of birds and marine mammals blackening miles of coastline. Following a jury trial, Plains All American was convicted of one felony and eight misdemeanors, and was forced to pay a criminal fine of $3.3 million. The company also agreed to pay $230 million to settle a class action… “Sable had argued the Coastal Commission had no authority to halt the pipeline repairs, because Santa Barbara County had intervened. Two of the three appellate judges disagreed, finding the county hadn’t acted at all.”
Alaska Beacon: Gas pipeline deadlock continues in Alaska Senate as special session nears end
James Brooks, 6/17/26
“The 14 members of Alaska’s Senate coalition majority met behind closed doors twice on Wednesday to decide the fate of a multibillion-dollar tax break for the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline,” the Alaska Beacon reports. “The state House voted 34-5 on Friday to approve the break, which also has the approval of Gov. Mike Dunleavy and pipeline developer Glenfarne, but the tax break won’t become law unless it also has the approval of the Senate… “As of Wednesday afternoon, there were not 11 majority votes for the bill, which would replace a 2% property tax on the project with a tax on gas pumped through the line… “In a newsletter, Sen. Loki Tobin, D-Anchorage, became the latest lawmaker to voice opposition to the House’s version of the bill. “A 90% tax cut for Glenfarne raises concerns that our state and local governments may not have enough funds to support essential services such as sanitation, schools, and roads, which directly impact our communities and families,” she wrote in part, referring to the property tax cut. Glenfarne has said the bill is critical in order to obtain financing for the Alaska LNG project, which would build an 807-mile pipeline from the North Slope to Cook Inlet and major processing plants at either end of the line.”
Alaska Beacon: For trans-Alaska gas pipeline operator, carbon dioxide may be a lucrative sideline
James Brooks, 6/17/26
“Carbon dioxide, a byproduct of the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline project, could net the pipeline’s operators more than $285 million per year from the federal government, the Alaska Department of Revenue estimates in a forecast released this month,” the Alaska Beacon reports. “It’s a benefit to the project and to whatever investors there are in the project,” said Dan Stickel, chief economist for the Department of Revenue, on June 2… “Carbon dioxide in the gas to be liquefied can’t be tolerated, even down to a few parts per million, so one of the key prerequisites for the LNG is to remove the CO2,” Nick Fulford, a consultant hired by the Legislature to advise it on oil and gas issues, told the Beacon… “Those credits, known as 45Q for the relevant section of the federal tax code, can be used directly by the pipeline operator, or they can be sold to other companies. Fulford estimated they could be worth “80-90 cents on the dollar.” Altogether, the Department of Revenue estimates those tax credits will be worth a combined $7.4 billion… “Asked about the credits after a legislative hearing on Tuesday, Glenfarne Alaska President Adam Prestidge told the Beacon only that the credits are “significant” for the project’s financing. In addition to the federal tax incentive, the state of Alaska may earn money from carbon dioxide being injected underground… “Alaska LNG’s treatment plant “will remove the CO2, it will be then captured and then sequestered back into geologic reservoir for about to the tune of 7 million tons per year. This has always been the design concept, and with it, then there’s the opportunity to utilize what is known as 45Q tax credits. Now, that doesn’t mean this is truly a revenue-generating aspect of the project, but it reduces the overall cost,” he told the Beacon.”
Durango Herald: Pipeline spill meeting exposes tensions among groups working on cleanup
Jessie Bowman Herald Staff Writer, 6/18/26
“Tensions among agencies involved in the cleanup of a massive gasoline pipeline spill on tribal lands south of Durango bubbled up Tuesday during a public forum,” the Durango Herald reports. “La Plata County hosted the forum – the first of its kind – in which representatives from Enterprise Products, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and a Colorado agency clashed over the estimated volume of the fuel leak and presented conflicting interpretations over whether ground contamination is on the move. The discussion also hinted at behind-the-scenes disagreements over monitoring strategies, including the adequacy of wells installed near the southern edge of the plume. In 2024, a rupture occurred in the 18.5-mile section of Houston-based Enterprise Products Mid-America Pipeline that runs across the SUIT reservation. It sent tens of thousands of gallons of fuel spilling into the environment and resulted in multiple families being displaced from their homes… “The forum on Tuesday marked the first time since the spill Enterprise made a public appearance to answer questions from the broader La Plata County population… “The tribe estimates the spill exceeded 200,000 gallons, while Enterprise stands by the estimated 97,000 gallons. The tribe commissioned its own analysis of the spill using consultants hired to independently evaluate the release and cleanup effort.”
Millard County Chronicle Progress: County OKs Joule gas pipeline agreement
Matt Ward, 6/17/26
“Millard County commissioners approved a legislative development agreement last week allowing for the installation of a 9-mile, 24-inch natural gas pipeline from Holden to McCornick to support the under-development Joule data center campus,” the Millard County Chronicle Progress reports.
Offshore Technology: Keyera takes full ownership of KAPS Pipeline in $860m deal
Shree Mishra, 6/18/26
“Keyera has acquired the remaining 50% non-operating interest in the KAPS Pipeline project in Canada from Stonepeak for C$1.21bn ($860m),” Offshore Technology reports. “...The 575km pipeline network moves natural gas liquids (NGL) and condensate from the Montney and Duvernay plays in north-west Alberta to Keyera’s Fort Saskatchewan processing and storage hub. According to Keyera, more than 120,000 barrels per day (bpd) of additional commitments have been secured across KAPS Zones 1–4 since 2025… “After the completion and ramp-up of Zone 4 through 2030, the pipeline will deliver notable free cash flow supported by contracted volume growth and low maintenance requirements, said the company.”
Gasworld: IEA cuts likely 2030 clean hydrogen project pipeline by 40%
Charlie Currie, 6/18/26
“The International Energy Agency (IEA) has cut the volume of clean hydrogen production it considers likely to be operating by 2030 by around 40%,” Gasworld reports. “Despite a 27 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) clean hydrogen project pipeline for 2030, the agency now sees just over 6 mtpa as having a strong chance of reaching operation by the end of the decade, down from 10 mtpa in its previous Global Hydrogen Review. It said a further 22 mtpa of projects eyeing end-of-decade start-up are at risk unless final investment decisions (FID) are taken within the next year. The warning comes as demand remains weak.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: EVs are winners in the Iran war. So is US oil.
Benjamin Storrow, 6/18/26
“...But history suggests that America and China could both emerge from the conflict in stronger positions — with more oil flowing from U.S. wells and new shiploads of Chinese EVs transiting the seas,” E&E News reports. “...Whether countries embrace fossil fuels or clean energy after the current conflict will likely have little to do with considerations about climate change, an issue that has animated global energy politics for more than a decade. Instead, analysts told E&E countries could prioritize stable energy supplies, much as they did in the 1970s. “I think this hammers home to everyone — consumers, producers, industrialized states, emerging markets — that the key consideration, the key concern, is not necessarily what energy you’re consuming, but where you’re getting it from and whether that source is secure,” Brew told *&E… “In Europe, politicians and business executives point to the war’s repercussions as evidence that their strategy to boost renewables and EVs is working, by limiting the continent’s exposure to spiking fossil fuel prices… “But many will also look to find new sources of oil and gas that are free of geopolitical entanglements in the Middle East. That is a boon for the U.S… “The future of global natural gas consumption, which was growing before the conflict thanks to new American export terminals, suddenly looks cloudy. The world’s largest LNG facility, in Qatar, was damaged during the fighting, and Asian countries have responded by burning more coal — and planning for more renewables.”
E&E News: Trump DOJ wants to sideline citizens in pollution fights
Ariel Wittenberg, 6/17/26
“The Trump administration is making the case that the federal government can quash citizen Clean Air Act lawsuits against polluters, a move environmental lawyers warn would rewrite decades of enforcement law,” E&E News reports. “If successful, the argument, made by the Department of Justice in a court filing supporting Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, would dramatically undermine the power of U.S. residents to fight pollution at tens of thousands of industrial sites across the country… “But now, DOJ says it can intervene if it does not want to prosecute a case and prevent citizens from taking actions themselves. The department says the Clean Air Act gives the government a ‘right of dismissal’ that ‘entitles the United States to dismiss the entire action’ and that preventing the government from dismissing citizen suits would violate the Constitution.”
E&E News: Energy and Commerce lawmakers to introduce data center bill
Nico Portuondo, Josh Siegel, 6/18/26
“House Energy and Commerce lawmakers from both parties will introduce legislation Thursday to make sure ratepayers don’t foot the bill for data center expansion,” E&E News reports. “Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) is pitching the ‘Ratepayer Protection Act’ as the panel’s answer to growing political and regulatory concerns about the electricity and infrastructure demands of the artificial intelligence boom… “It would amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require large electricity users — such as data centers — to bear a greater share of the costs of infrastructure built to serve them… “Specifically, the bill would establish a federal standard requiring those large power customers to cover 100 percent of the costs of new power generation and transmission upgrades, with payments or financial assurances provided upfront.”
Heatmap: Trump Pays $765 Million to Kill 4 More Offshore Wind Leases
Emily Pontecorvo, 6/17/26
“In the third deal of its kind, Trump’s Interior Department has agreed to pay the energy developer Invenergy $765 million to cancel its four offshore wind leases, an amount equal to what Invenergy originally paid the federal government for them,” Heatmap reports. “Like the preceding deals, the administration structured the refund as a legal settlement with Invenergy. That means the government will pay the company out of the Judgment Fund, a reserve of taxpayer dollars overseen by the Department of Justice and the Treasury Department that’s set aside to settle litigation that’s either ongoing or imminent… “The key difference in the Invenergy agreement is the quid pro quo. The other settlements specified that the companies would only be eligible for payment after investing an equal amount into U.S. oil and gas projects. In exchange for walking away from its offshore wind leases, Invenergy promised not only to develop natural gas-fired power plants, but also geothermal power generation projects — which are emissions-free… “Legal experts I’ve spoken with are skeptical that any of these settlement agreements comply with federal law.”
STATE UPDATES
Press release: Lawsuit Launched to Challenge Oil Highway That Threatens World-Renowned Nine Mile Canyon
6/15/26
“The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of intent to sue the Trump administration’s Bureau of Land Management for quietly approving a hydrocarbon highway through Utah’s scenic, culturally and historically significant Gate Canyon in the West Tavaputs Plateau region of eastern Utah… “Both notices say the BLM and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act by not considering the project’s threats to Mexican spotted owls, despite the fact that the BLM identified the cliffs near the proposed blasting areas as potential owl habitat. “The BLM knew that prior versions of this same proposal were extremely controversial and faced fierce public headwinds,” said Landon Newell, Staff Attorney with SUWA. “This time around, instead of facing the public, they hid their decision from scrutiny, rushing their analysis and approval, all under the guise of Trump’s “Energy Dominance” agenda.” “...The project is intended to provide an alternative route for transporting oil out of the Uinta Basin. The road would accommodate 70-foot oil tanker trucks traveling between the oil fields and transloading facilities in Carbon County, Utah. It is estimated that once the destruction of Gate Canyon is complete as many as 1,000 vehicles could pass through each day — the equivalent of “[a] tanker truck every 7 minutes,” according to news reports.”
Mlive.com: Feds back Michigan gas upgrades with $1.6B loan while clean energy funding languishes
Lucas Smolcic Larson, 6/15/26
“Trump administration officials have closed a $1.6 billion loan promising big savings for DTE Energy natural gas customers in Michigan, while billions more in prospective Biden-era commitments supporting clean energy have stalled,” Mlive.com reports. “The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday it finalized a loan for DTE helping upgrade hundreds of miles of gas mains and service lines at reduced rates, saving $700 million for Michigan customers over time, according to federal officials. “This loan to DTE Gas will lower energy costs, create jobs and increase grid reliability for the people of Michigan,” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement… “Now, it appears only those aligning with Trump priorities will advance. Earlier this year, officials with the Office of Energy Dominance Financing — a rebrand of what was previously called the Loan Programs Office — boasted of “restructuring, revising, or eliminating” 80% of the Biden-era loan portfolio… “After a careful review of the portfolio, any project that is moving forward supports “baseload generation, lowers energy prices and helps win the race for AI,” Office of Energy Dominance Financing Director Greg Beard in a statement told Mlive.”
Utility Dive: California gas generation down 60% from 2024 as solar, imports surge
Diana DiGangi, 6/17/25
“Utility-scale solar generation overtook natural gas generation in the California Independent System Operator’s footprint over the first five months of 2026, according to a Tuesday report from the Energy Information Administration,” Utility Dive reports. “From January through May, solar generation in CAISO increased 21% compared with the same period in 2024, while natural gas generation decreased 60%, EIA found. “In CAISO, utility-scale solar generated more electricity than natural gas on a daily basis on 82% of days in the first five months of 2026, up from 21% in 2024 and 2025,” the agency said. EIA found that between April 2024 and April 2026, utility-scale solar generating capacity grew 19%, to 25 GW, and battery storage capacity grew 79%, to 16 GW. At the same time, natural gas capacity remained “nearly unchanged” at 29 GW, EIA said. “Total net capacity increased by 14% (11 GW) over this period.”
KTOO: Crude oil surfaced at historic Treadwell Mine. The state plans to study it.
Alix Soliman, 6/16/26
“A short walk down the trail from the end of St. Anns Avenue on Douglas Island, a bright orange plastic fence circles the site of an old oil tank in the Treadwell Mine complex,” KTOO reports. “Juneau’s historic Treadwell Gold Mine is a beloved city park with trails and a nine-hole frisbee golf course weaving through the ruins. Hole two was placed between the graffiti-covered concrete remains of the Central Power Plant and the ragged metal rim of an old oil tank where crude oil burbled up. This summer, the state plans to investigate how far the pollution has spread so it can get cleaned up. Marc Wheeler, the director of parks and recreation for the City and Borough of Juneau, told KTOO a resident first reported an oil sheen at the site in August 2025… “After the initial assessment, Ballard told KTOO DEC will decide whether to apply for more federal funds to clean it up. Ballard told KTOO she doesn’t know how long it will take to clean up the pollution since DEC hasn’t yet studied how far it’s extended.”
EXTRACTION
E&E News: Youth and enviros sue Canada over climate inaction
Lesley Clark, 6/17/26
“Three young Canadians are suing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration, arguing the federal government no longer has a credible plan to meet Canada’s 2030 climate target,” E&E News reports. “The federal complaint charges that the government has “eliminated, weakened and/or significantly altered” efforts to reduce emissions, even as Canadians are already feeling the effects of climate change. The lawsuit was filed by the three youth, along with Environmental Defence Canada and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. “Prime Minister Carney has offered hope to many Europeans as a champion of a democratic global order capable of tackling the 21st century’s challenges. Yet it is impossible to lead solutions to these profound challenges on the global stage when gutting progress on the climate crisis at home,” Charlie Hatt, climate director at Ecojustice, which is representing the youth, told E&E.”
Reuters: Exxon Mobil signs deal to supply South Africa’s first planned LNG terminal
Wendell Roelf and Sheila Dang, 6/17/26
“Exxon Mobil has signed a preliminary deal to supply liquefied natural gas to South Africa’s Zululand Energy Terminal, which will be the country’s first LNG import facility once built, the companies said on Wednesday,” Reuters reports. “...Exxon Mobil has identified South Africa as a priority market and wants to grow its LNG supply to more than 40 million metric tons per annum by 2030.”
Upstream: EU set to miss 2030 CCS targets, says WoodMac
Davide Ghilotti, 6/17/26
“The European Union’s 2030 targets for carbon capture and storage are unlikely to be achieved as the CCS sector remains dogged by fragmentation, uncertain economics and project delays,” Upstream reports.
Reuters: Australia opens first carbon refinery, making new products from captured CO2
Cordelia Hsu and Helen Clark, 6/17/26
“Australia’s first carbon refinery opened in New South Wales, capturing carbon dioxide from explosives giant Orica’s ammonia-making operations on Kooragang Island and turning it into products such as concrete, paper and glass,” Reuters reports. “MCI Carbon has been developing the Myrtle Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage technology for 15 years and the demonstration plant can potentially capture 2,500 metric tons of CO2 a year… “Unlike carbon capture and storage technology, which moves CO2 into underground caverns, CCUS produces a ‘carbon-embodied’ “This will help (emitters) decarbonise, while also making a profit,” Bowen told Reuters. MCI is also working on plans for a factory-scale carbon refinery in Austria to capture up to 50,000 tons of CO2 a year.”
The Insider: “Shadow fleet” vessels found to have remote control and data deletion software, which creates risk of explosion and oil spills, WSJ reports
6/16/26
“The owners of the various “shadow fleet” tankers that transport Russian and Iranian oil in violation of sanctions use a set of digital tools to control crews and cover their tracks, The Wall Street Journal reports. U.S. Coast Guard cybersecurity specialists identified the use of information systems that are vulnerable to hacking, a discovery that was made by examining equipment on vessels seized by U.S. forces,” according to The Insider. “According to the experts’ report, malicious actors could exploit the unreliability of these systems in order to cause explosions or oil spills, making shadow fleet tankers even more dangerous to sailors and the environment than was previously understood… “It was found that the vessels are often equipped with communication systems providing constant internet connectivity, allowing tanker owners and operators to remotely interfere with shipboard systems using remote desktop applications such as AnyDesk and TeamViewer. At least one case was identified in which digital data was deleted remotely after U.S. personnel boarded the vessel. Some tankers were also discovered to be operating pirated software infected with malware. Moreover, the infected computers are connected to the vessels’ critical operational and navigational systems.”
OPINION
Anchorage Daily News: Jobs will flow before natural gas does, so let’s get the pipeline started today
Doug Tansy is the business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547; he also serves on the board of directors of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., 6/17/26
“I was a kid in the 1970s when the trans-Alaska oil pipeline was built, Doug Tansy writes for the Anchorage Daily News. “...As construction proceeded, a story began to unfold in Alaska that by now is legendary. People flocked here for jobs. Businesses sprang up. A service industry was born. Oil taxes helped fund schools, roads, social services and new luxuries like a performing arts center… “That is why I believe the Alaska LNG project matters right now, before the first royalty payment is made and before the first tax dollar is counted. The construction itself will be transformational. Building a pipeline across this state and building the plant in Nikiski means work today… “Alaska LNG is about what happens when gas finally flows, but it is also about what happens when we decide to build something big again… “The full Alaska LNG project is expected to require thousands of workers, with public estimates pointing to roughly 12,000 construction jobs tied to the overall project and more than 5,000 direct construction jobs for the pipeline phase alone over the next five years… “I fully expect this project to change Alaska for the good, the way major projects have changed Alaska before.”