EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 6/23/26
PIPELINE NEWS
Pipeline & Gas Journal: Public Citizen Seeks FERC Review of Constitution Pipeline Approval Process
Public Citizen: Federal Regulators Must Halt Review of Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline After President Trump’s Explicit Threats to Cancel More Offshore Wind Projects in Retaliation Against New York
Politico: Here’s how a small oil company became a weapon in Trump’s assault on California
WAVE: Shelby County residents concerned over proposed 42-inch natural gas pipeline
RTO Insider: New England Generators Skeptical About Pipeline Contracting
KEYT: Chevron Continues the Decommission of Oil Facilities in Carpinteria Including Pipeline Removal
Pipeline & Gas Journal: Great Basin Pipeline Expansion Wins BLM Approval in Nevada
Renewables Now: EWE, Gastransport receive greenlight for hydrogen pipeline project
WASHINGTON UPDATES
Bloomberg: Oil Companies to See Federal Drilling Bond Drop to $25,000 Under New Rule
Press release: Interior Advances Revisions to Oil and Gas Leasing and Waste Prevention Rules to Support American Energy Dominance
E&E News: Power companies are still planning for climate regulation. Sort of.
Bloomberg: Data Center Ballot Measure Efforts Point to Local Frustrations
E&E News: Lawmakers, companies tread carefully on data center energy bill
Yale School of the Environment: Most Americans Say Climate Change Is Raising Their Bills
Pro Publica: I Cold-Called President Trump. Here’s What He Told Me About an Oil Tycoon and Major Donor
STATE UPDATES
E&E News: California sues to keep Trump out of its tailpipes
Chicago Tribune: In Illinois, getting oil and gas operators to pay for abandoned wells can take decades
East Texas Banner: University of Texas Researcher Professors field Carbon Capture questions
PA Environment Digest: DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets June 23 To Hear Presentation On Carbon Capture
EXTRACTION
Guardian: Trapped by floods and fearing death in the heat: the Australians taking legal action over the climate crisis
E&E News: Australians ask UN to curb country’s coal exports
E&E News: UN chief urges AI industry to quit fossil fuels
New York Times: U.S. Oil Is Skipping the Chance to Grab Market Share From the Gulf
Reuters: Alberta in talks with Japan on boosting Canadian crude imports
Gasworld: Europe needs dozens more CO2 carriers and ports by 2050 to meet CCUS goals
Anadolu Agency: Strait of Hormuz tensions trigger suspected transboundary oil spill reaching Pakistan
OPINION
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Public interest must override corporation on Enbridge reroute
Alaska Beacon: Alaska’s gasline tax discount coupon needs an expiration date
Environmental Defence: Pathways CCS is a Costly Carbon Capture Con
Reuters: Exxon’s natural gas M&A push is pipe dream
PIPELINE NEWS
Pipeline & Gas Journal: Public Citizen Seeks FERC Review of Constitution Pipeline Approval Process
6/22/26
“Public Citizen is calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to investigate whether political considerations have influenced the federal review of the proposed Constitution Pipeline, citing recent statements by President Donald Trump linking pipeline approvals to offshore wind development in New York, according to a filing published by Public Citizen,” Pipeline & Gas Journal reports. “The advocacy group argues that comments made by Trump in June suggest an arrangement existed between the administration and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul involving support for natural gas pipeline projects and offshore wind development. Public Citizen contends those remarks raise questions about whether the Constitution Pipeline’s regulatory review is being conducted independently and in the public interest… “The group now says the president’s public remarks provide a stronger basis for regulators to examine whether political pressure has affected the pipeline approval process. As reported by Public Citizen, the organization is asking FERC to pause consideration of the Constitution Pipeline and open a formal investigation into the claims.”
Public Citizen: Federal Regulators Must Halt Review of Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline After President Trump’s Explicit Threats to Cancel More Offshore Wind Projects in Retaliation Against New York
6/22/26
“In a formal filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Public Citizen today demanded the agency halt its pending review of the Constitution Pipeline after President Donald Trump’s threat during the NBA finals, where he stated he will start blocking offshore wind projects in New York unless the Governor fast-tracks the Constitution Pipeline… “Three days after Williams petitioned FERC, on December 22, 2025, the Trump Administration ordered a stop to every single offshore wind project under construction (the Vineyard, Revolution, Coastal Virginia, Sunrise and Empire offshore wind projects), citing non-public national security concerns. This began Trump’s coercive efforts to force the New York Governor to support the gas pipeline… “During those remarks he confirmed a “deal” he had where the Governor of New York pledged to support two natural gas pipelines—including Constitution—in exchange for the President allowing offshore wind in New York had been broken by the Governor… “Public Citizen has documented three additional offshore wind leaseholders off New York—a $1.1 billion lease held by RWE for its Community Offshore Wind project off the coast of New York; EDF’s $780 million lease for its offshore New York Atlantic Shores project; and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ $285 million lease for its wind project offshore of New York—that are potential targets for the President’s retribution for Governor Hochul’s refusal to fast-track approval of the Constitution Pipeline. Public Citizen has demanded that FERC immediately halt its review of the Constitution Pipeline and hold an evidentiary hearing to investigate President Trump’s unlawful shakedown attempt to force New York to approve an unnecessary natural gas pipeline.”
Politico: Here’s how a small oil company became a weapon in Trump’s assault on California
Noah Baustin, 6/22/26
“...In swooping down to lob threats at Newsom, the cabinet officials were coming to the support of Sable, an oil operation that ran to the Trump administration for help in a fight with California to get its oil flowing through an infamous pipeline,” Politico reports. “The firm’s saga illustrates the power the president is willing to bring to bear on projects that align with two of his goals: increasing American oil production and bulldozing political rivals… “Despite the fact that a considerable amount of oil remained under the ocean floor, Exxon Mobil, which had operated the platforms for decades, failed to get the operation back up and running in the face of opposition from local officials and environmental groups… “First, the company asked federal regulators to take oversight of its pipeline from the state, which they agreed to do. To get around the state barriers that remained, Sable’s lawyers asked the Department of Energy to invoke its national defense powers to order a restart. With the help of an executive order from Trump, Wright did so in March. Sable promptly got its oil flowing and made its first sales by the end of that month.”
WAVE: Shelby County residents concerned over proposed 42-inch natural gas pipeline
Erica Rucker, 6/222/6
“A community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, at 6 p.m. at the Ruritan Club in Finchville as Shelby County residents push back against a proposed Texas Gas Pipeline project,” WAVE reports. “Neighbors say the 42-inch natural gas pipeline would cut through local farmland — including property reportedly tied to a Civil War massacre. The proposed project is also raising serious safety concerns given the area’s history of sinkholes… “Organizers told WAVE a “very important piece of information” affecting property owners will be revealed at the meeting… “For questions, contact ProtectShelbyCounty@gmail.com or join the Facebook group: Shelby County Landowners Opposed to Texas Gas Pipeline.”
RTO Insider: New England Generators Skeptical About Pipeline Contracting
Jon Lamson, 6/22/26
“Despite an apparent increase in support from the New England governors for new gas pipeline capacity into the region, power generators remain skeptical about the viability of entering long-term contracts to support the infrastructure,” RTO Insider reports.
KEYT: Chevron Continues the Decommission of Oil Facilities in Carpinteria Including Pipeline Removal
John Palminteri, 6/22/26
“The arrival of a specialized vessel incidates the next step in the three-year decommissioning and soil remediation project underway by Chevron in Carpinteria,” KEYT reports. “The goal is to remove the closed, and no longer useful, oil and gas processing facility and near shore pipelines around the Carpinteria Bluffs and waters… “The timeline for the pipeline removal and site clean-up is about three years, the project has been reviewed extensively including by local officials and the California Coastal Commission… “There will be close scrutiny of the work because the facility is adjacent to environmentally and culturally sensitive areas, such as the Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary and potential Chumash sites.”
Pipeline & Gas Journal: Great Basin Pipeline Expansion Wins BLM Approval in Nevada
6/18/26
“The Bureau of Land Management has approved a right-of-way for Great Basin Gas Transmission Company’s Carson Lateral expansion project, allowing the proposed natural gas pipeline expansion to move forward across federal lands in western Nevada,” Pipeline & Gas Journal reports. “...FERC issued an environmental assessment for the project in December 2025 and concluded that the expansion would not significantly affect the human environment… “The project includes construction of approximately 2.3 miles of new 20-inch-diameter pipeline looping alongside the existing Carson Lateral in Washoe County and replacement of approximately 2.4 miles of existing 10-inch-diameter pipeline with new 20-inch-diameter pipe in Lyon County.”
Renewables Now: EWE, Gastransport receive greenlight for hydrogen pipeline project
Tanya Ivanova, 6/23/26
“EWE Netz GmbH, part of German energy supplier EWE AG, and its partner Gastransport Nord GmbH have received a planning approval for a hydrogen pipeline which will be connected to a planned 320-MW electrlyser in the city of Emden, Germany,” Renewables Now reports. “...The pipeline project, called H2Coastlink 1 HEL Hydrogen Transport Pipeline Emden–Leer, involves the construction and operation of a pipeline of about 23.5 km, connecting Emden with the city of Leer, LBEG said… “This will enable green hydrogen to be transported to key industrial centres in northern and western Germany, as well as to additional storage facilities, according to information published by the company.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
Bloomberg: Oil Companies to See Federal Drilling Bond Drop to $25,000 Under New Rule
David Wethe, 6/22/26
“The US Department of Interior is slashing the bonds oil and natural gas companies must provide when drilling on federal land by 95% in a move to encourage more energy exploration,” Bloomberg reports. “The bond required in onshore federal drilling leases will be cut to $25,000 from the $500,000 imposed during the Joe Biden administration, the department announced Monday. Such bonds ensure that the costs of capping and cleaning up any wells abandoned by drillers don’t fall to taxpayers. The change will be subject to a 60-day public comment period once it is published in the Federal Register.”
Press release: Interior Advances Revisions to Oil and Gas Leasing and Waste Prevention Rules to Support American Energy Dominance
6/22/26
“The Department of the Interior today announced two coordinated regulatory actions aimed at modernizing federal onshore oil and gas policy, eliminating unnecessary administrative barriers, and strengthening the nation’s long-term energy leadership. The proposals revise both the Bureau of Land Management’s oil and gas leasing rule and the waste prevention rule, reinforcing the Trump administration’s commitment to responsible development, lower energy costs for families, and the continued expansion of American Energy Dominance. These rules will advance two key changes for oil and gas development. First, the Department is ending the Biden-era state-wide bonding requirement that raised costs to $500,000 and replacing it with the previous $25,000 standard while gathering public input on a fair long-term approach. Making it so this rule is no longer being weaponized to penalize energy development. Second, updates to the waste prevention rule are expected to cut compliance costs by nearly $17 million annually, reduce red tape, and bring greater transparency for taxpayers. The proposed revisions to the oil and gas leasing rule streamline outdated procedures that have slowed development and deterred investment. They update processes in line with Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” and Secretary’s Order 3418, helping improve predictability for operators while maintaining responsible resource management. The rule would: Authorize noncompetitive leases after competitive auctions; Remove the expression of interest leasing preference review; Shorten public participation time frames from 90 days to 10 days; Seek input on current bond amounts; Modernize filing fees; Provide replacement lease sales when previous offerings are canceled or delayed; Limit lease suspension approvals to one year with improved timing requirements. The revisions to BLM’s waste prevention rule are designed to remove litigation risk, reduce operational uncertainty, and offer clear, objective standards. The proposed rule would: Eliminate requirements for waste minimization plans and self‑certification statements with applications for permit to drill; Replace subjective sundry-notice evaluations with defined royalty standards; Establish firm definitions for avoidable and unavoidable losses, authorized venting and flaring, emergencies, and measurement standards.”
E&E News: Power companies are still planning for climate regulation. Sort of.
Jean Chemnick, 6/23/26
“Power utilities are making future plans with an eye toward coming Trump administration climate rule rollback. Demand is surging, and decarbonization goals are no longer in the driver’s seat,” E&E News reports. “But an examination of power providers’ planning documents shows they aren’t ruling out the possibility of a future administration launching new climate change regulations. The Trump administration aims to prevent future presidents from using the Clean Air Act to curb greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. A final repeal of Biden-era power standards is now under White House review, and EPA is expected to soon transfer a supplemental proposal designed to make it impossible for a Democratic administration to use the landmark law to regulate power plant climate pollution. Formal filings by the companies that supply electrons to the nation’s power grid show the sector expects the Biden-era mandates for carbon capture and storage to go away. But in evidence is also a more complex consideration of whether some federal curbs on carbon might eventually join the policy landscape… “A cursory look at the number of new gas plants proposed in 2025 and 2026 indicates that utilities no longer expect the Biden rule’s more stringent long-term requirements to kick in — that is, that new units start capturing 90 percent of their carbon by 2032 or run below 40 percent capacity… “Sierra Club is devoting more resources to challenging integrated resource plans, staff attorney Isabella Ariza told E&E, because, once they’re approved, challenging the construction of new fossil fuels generation becomes more difficult.”
Bloomberg: Data Center Ballot Measure Efforts Point to Local Frustrations
Erin Schilling, 6/22/26
“Residents in several US cities are trying to use ballot initiatives to oppose data centers due to concerns about energy prices, air and water quality, and a lack of transparency in the development process,” Bloomberg reports. “Local communities are pushing back against new data centers, citing issues such as increasing electricity prices, water usage, and noise and air pollution, which is slowing the data center market and causing some developers to rethink their sites. The issue of data center development is becoming a flashpoint in the midterm elections, with some lawmakers proposing bills to regulate data centers and residents saying the issue will affect how they vote in November… “Community pushback is slowing the data center market and causing some developers to rethink their sites, John McWilliams, head of data center insights at Cushman & Wakefield, told Bloomberg… “The local pushback is giving congressional challengers an easy talking point to appeal to voters, Christopher Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, told Bloomberg. Lawmakers in Congress are proposing bills to regulate data centers, in part as a messaging tool to voters.”
E&E News: Lawmakers, companies tread carefully on data center energy bill
Nico Portuondo, 6/23/26
“Democrats and major tech companies are offering mixed reviews — or refraining from weighing in — on a bipartisan bill gaining momentum to shield utility customers from the energy costs associated with data centers,” E&E News reports. “House Energy and Commerce Republicans are pitching the “Ratepayer Protection Act” as a response to mounting public backlash over data center development while preserving the United States’ competitive edge in artificial intelligence. The legislation — which is scheduled for a subcommittee vote this week — has attracted rare bipartisan support, including from senior committee Democrat Kathy Castor of Florida, who is co-sponsoring the measure with Colorado Republican Gabe Evans. But despite an endorsement last week from Microsoft, the Data Center Coalition — a trade group that includes Microsoft as well as other tech majors like Google and Meta — was more cautious… “Some Democrats and environmental advocates seeking stricter oversight of data center development were more critical, potentially making it harder for the “Ratepayer Protection Act” — or something like it — to become law any time soon. “While the Ratepayer Protection Act is a step in the right direction, it doesn’t address many of our concerns and leaves significant gaps in ensuring American consumers aren’t ultimately left paying data center costs,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), told E&E. Van Hollen is pushing separate legislation, dubbed the “Power for the People Act,” that would establish more prescriptive federal requirements governing data center cost allocation. It would also address concerns about the environmental, land-use and noise impacts associated with some data center projects. The “Ratepayer Protection Act,” backed by Energy and Commerce Committee leaders, would effectively codify President Donald Trump’s ratepayer protection pledge with major technology companies.”
Yale School of the Environment: Most Americans Say Climate Change Is Raising Their Bills
Anthony Leiserowitz, 6/23/26
“A new survey from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication finds that two-thirds of registered voters think global warming is affecting the cost of living in the United States, a view shared across the political spectrum. Energy is the cost Americans feel most acutely: a quarter of voters point to energy costs as the expense most impacted by global warming, more than food, transportation, or insurance. Looking specifically at utilities, 66% of registered voters think global warming is causing their home utility bills to rise. The findings suggest energy affordability could be a unifying entry point for climate conversations, offering a way to discuss climate change that resonates regardless of political affiliation.”
Pro Publica: I Cold-Called President Trump. Here’s What He Told Me About an Oil Tycoon and Major Donor
Alex Cuadros, 6/23/26
“...By this point I had spent months reporting on Hildebrand, a little-known billionaire — and major Trump donor — who owns an empire of low-producing oil and gas wells across the country,” Pro Publica reports. “...With Hildebrand, I felt I had found a compelling character who is also the poster boy for a hugely consequential issue: Stripper wells collectively contribute just 6% of the nation’s oil and gas, but scientists have found they’re responsible for roughly half the sector’s methane pollution. That means they play an outsize role in climate change, which is amplifying heat waves, droughts and wildfires… “In the story we ultimately published, I took a deep dive into how Hildebrand made his fortune, racking up dozens of environmental violations across the country, and now stands to benefit from the rollback that his former lobbyist is carrying out.”
STATE UPDATES
E&E News: California sues to keep Trump out of its tailpipes
Alex Guillén, 6/22/26
“California on Monday launched a legal challenge over EPA’s recent move to tee up four of its Clean Air Act waivers for nullification,” E&E News reports. “The suit again heightens the already sky-high tension between the deep blue state and the Trump administration. “While President Trump may be content to pollute our air-threatened vulnerable communities and kick workers to the curb, California is not,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat. “We refuse to allow Trump and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to claw us back into the smog.” EPA earlier this month formally submitted four waivers issued as far back as the early Obama administration to Congress.”
Chicago Tribune: In Illinois, getting oil and gas operators to pay for abandoned wells can take decades
Adriana Pérez, 6/22/26
“By James Myers’ estimate, it’s been at least 10 years since the four oil wells on his farmland were abandoned. That’s 10 years of farming around idle pump jacks and tabulating acres damaged by fluid leaks. Ten years of finding dead animals — birds and, once, a deer — in the open concrete pit the company dug out near its oil storage tanks to hold the salt water it once extracted from below ground,” the Chicago Tribune reports. “Ten years of waiting for the company, or the state, to restore his land. “I’m still waiting,” the 87-year-old told the Tribune on a Thursday in May, sitting in his truck feet from those storage tanks — now rusted and tagged with graffiti — and that pit, filled with rainwater from a recent storm. “I’ll be dead before it ever happens.” “...All total, the state’s most recent list has nearly 3,900 abandoned or “orphan” wells, so-named because their owners are dead or unidentified, their companies bankrupted by a notoriously volatile global industry punctuated with booms or busts. The agency calculates the cost to plug them is around $155 million. An ongoing Tribune investigation has revealed that years of mismanaged fees and inadequate recordkeeping have hobbled the state’s efforts to reduce that number, while companies have been able to evade their legal obligations to plug nonproducing wells, exposing downstate communities to a host of contaminants, above and below ground.”
East Texas Banner: University of Texas Researcher Professors field Carbon Capture questions
Jay Sharp, 6/22/26
“Residents gathered Monday afternoon in Newton for a second public meeting focused on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), as the Gulf Coast CCS Alliance continued its community outreach effort to provide information and answer questions about the developing technology,” the East Texas Banner reports. “...Hovorka said she was initially skeptical of carbon sequestration but became more supportive after studying the regulatory framework and scientific data… “Romanak presented research examining approximately 800 wells, saying the studies found no evidence of carbon dioxide migrating into drinking water aquifers at those sites… “Residents from Newton County raised questions throughout the meeting, with many expressing concerns about groundwater protection, potential contamination and long-term monitoring of underground storage sites. While Hovorka could not give a 100% guarantee that CO2 could migrate into the water aquifers, she said, “I’m not worried about that for you all.” “...According to their website, The Gulf Coast CCS Alliance is a coordinated effort among some of the world’s most innovative energy, petrochemical, and power generation companies to advance the development of carbon capture and storage from the greater Houston industrial area and along the Gulf Coast. Noted companies on the website include Calpine, Chevron and ExxonMobil.”
PA Environment Digest: DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets June 23 To Hear Presentation On Carbon Capture
6/21/26
“The DEP Citizens Advisory Council meets June 23 to hear a presentation on carbon capture by the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, discuss comments on DEP’s Act 54 report on damage caused by underground coal mining and several air quality regulations,” PA Environment Digest reports. “...Dr. Hélène Pilorgé, Clean Energy Conversions Laboratory, Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania, will give the presentation on carbon capture, utilization and sequestration… “Individuals interested in providing public comment during the meeting must sign up 24-hours in advance of the meeting by contacting Ian Irvin, CAC Executive Director, by email to: iirvin@pa.gov.”
EXTRACTION
Guardian: Trapped by floods and fearing death in the heat: the Australians taking legal action over the climate crisis
Adam Morton, 6/22/26
“...Four years on, Donohue has joined a unique legal complaint, along with nine other Australians. Each has a specific story, but they say they see a through-line – that they have each been hurt by the climate crisis in a way that can be directly linked to the Australian government’s continuing support for fossil fuel developments for export,” the Guardian reports. “...Donohue, Egan, Fisher and Francis and six others have told their stories as part of a complaint against the Australian government with the UN human rights committee. They are backed and organised by the Human Rights Law Centre, Environmental Justice Australia and the US-based Earthjustice. They say what they call the “hard truths case” is the first legal claim in an international court or body against a state for climate harm since the International Court of Justice released an advisory opinion that found states had a legal obligation to take measures to prevent it. Australia was one of 140 countries to pass a UN resolution backing the legal ruling last month… “Harj Narulla, a London-based barrister with Doughty Street Chambers and Oxford University who specialises in climate litigation and is not party to the complaint, told the Guardian Australia has a “huge amount of liability and exposure” given the scale of its fossil fuel exports. “I think Australia has a very, very challenging case to answer,” he told the Guardian. “It’s the first complaint of its kind we’ve seen against Australia, but I don’t think it will be the last.”
E&E News: Australians ask UN to curb country’s coal exports
Lesley Clark, 6/23/26
“A group of Australians lodged a case Monday with a United Nations panel that accuses the country’s government of violating their human rights by failing to limit coal and gas exports,” E&E News reports. “The case before the U.N. Human Rights Committee is the first complaint to be filed after of its kind. It comes after the U.N.’s judicial arm, the International Court of Justice, ruled last July that countries have a legal duty to tackle climate change. “All governments have a legal duty to act on the climate crisis,” Ramin Pejan, deputy managing attorney of the international program at Earthjustice, told E&E. The nonprofit is representing the 10 Australians, along with the Human Rights Law Centre and Environmental Justice Australia. The Australian government, Pejan added, “is failing that responsibility by allowing unchecked exports of coal and gas. This case sends a clear message: governments must act to reduce climate pollution from coal and gas and protect their people from harm.”
E&E News: UN chief urges AI industry to quit fossil fuels
Sara Schonhardt, 6/23/26
“U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called on companies that are developing artificial intelligence to disclose their environmental impacts and to use renewable energy for all data centers by 2030,” E&E News reports. “If AI is to help build a better future, it must be honest about what it costs us now,” Guterres said Tuesday at a Bloomberg Philanthropies event during London Climate Action Week. He also urged governments to take stronger regulatory action to curb methane, a potent climate pollutant; tax windfall oil and gas profits; and invest in grid expansion and regulatory reform. It was one of Guterres’ last major climate addresses before his term expires at the end of this year. The voluntary AI initiative seeks transparency from companies about the amount of land, water and energy they use in their operations and to ensure that the AI boom doesn’t undermine the clean energy transition. It was announced without asking the industry for input, one U.N. official told E&E.”
New York Times: U.S. Oil Is Skipping the Chance to Grab Market Share From the Gulf
Rebecca F. Elliott, 6/22/26
“The war with Iran has pulled the American oil industry out of a slump, raising corporate profits and spurring some companies to drill more wells,” the New York Times reports. “...But the war, paused for now by a preliminary deal, is unlikely to provide enough of a lift for the United States to take significant business from Persian Gulf countries that have been hobbled by the conflict, oil executives and investors told the Times. There are many reasons for that. The U.S. oil industry, the world’s largest, is dominated by giant companies whose shareholders want steady profits, not the boom-to-bust cycles the business has long been known for. Many executives are also worried about running out of places to drill new wells profitably. And last year’s very low oil prices led companies to shed employees and equipment, making it harder for them to quickly ramp up now. “I am skeptical that the U.S. really has the means or the wherewithal to actually gain share,” J. David Anderson, a Barclays analyst, told the Times. “It’s a combination of: Can they grow? Do investors want them to grow?”
Reuters: Alberta in talks with Japan on boosting Canadian crude imports
Amanda Stephenson, 6/22/26
“The government of Alberta, Canada’s main oil-producing province, is in talks to export more crude oil to Japan and reduce that country’s reliance on the Middle East, the province’s Energy Minister Brian Jean said in an interview on Monday,” Reuters reports. “Alberta has offered to help fund the construction of a coker unit that would enable one or more Japanese companies to process heavy crude produced in Alberta’s oil sands, Jean told Reuters. The province also is exploring whether Alberta heavy crude could be combined with a lighter, synthetic oil to make a blend more suitable for Japanese refiners, Jean added… “While Japan has bought cargoes of Trans Mountain crude on rare occasions, its existing refinery facilities generally are not compatible with the heavy, high-sulfur oil produced in the Canadian oil sands… “Alberta’s proposal could help to make the case for a new, 1 million bpd oil export pipeline to the west coast, a project for which the province has been lobbying.”
Gasworld: Europe needs dozens more CO2 carriers and ports by 2050 to meet CCUS goals
Anthony Wright, 6/22/26
“Europe will need 65 more carbon dioxide (CO2) carriers and 33 new ports by 2050 to meet carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) goals, according to a new report from energy consultancy Xodus Group,” Gasworld reports. “The report predicts that the overall European captured CO2 transport market will evolve from 2030 to 2050 as a hybrid system between a range of onshore and offshore transport methods… “Even if announced projects proceed as planned, global carbon capture capacity is expected to remain well below levels required under net-zero pathways by 2030. And new CCS project announcements in Europe have fallen sharply in the last three years, according to research from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis… “The modelling suggests that, despite the market share for shipping decreasing over time from 48% to 24%, the estimated volume of CO2 transported by ship will increase over time, with up to 79 million tonnes per annum predicted by 2050. Pipelines are expected to dominate high-volume, heavily industrialised corridors.”
Anadolu Agency: Strait of Hormuz tensions trigger suspected transboundary oil spill reaching Pakistan
Aamir Latif, 6/22/26
“What began as a distant war between the US and Iran in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz is now visibly reaching South Asia, spilling onto Pakistan’s doorstep,” Anadolu Agency reports. “In the southwestern city of Gwadar, a thick layer of crude oil -- likely spilled from tankers hit by the US and Iranian strikes in and around the Strait of Hormuz -- has covered a vast stretch of the coast, posing a serious threat to marine life and the local fishing communities… “According to Abdul Rahim, a marine scientist associated with the Gwadar Development Authority, the spilled oil may have reached Gwadar’s coast via a key Arabian Sea shipping route about 200 nautical miles off Pakistan’s shoreline, which is linked to the Strait of Hormuz. The second possibility, he told Anadolu, could be the leakage from oil tankers, which tried to cross the Strait of Hormuz and were targeted by the US or Iranian forces. The third origin, he told Anadolu, could be Kharg Island - Iran’s primary oil export hub - which was bombed by the US and Israel… “Rahim told Anadolu a cleanup operation is underway to clear the shoreline, but warned that the oil accumulation could leave long-term impacts on marine life. “In fact the impact is already there,” he told Anadolu, adding that authorities have so far found at least four dead green sea turtles, an endangered species.”
OPINION
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Public interest must override corporation on Enbridge reroute
Julie Gutmanis, Oregon, 6/23/26
“In six years following the legal battles over the Line 5 reroute, I’ve observed that the current systems of regulation and departmental checks seem to serve only as a series of hurdles for Enbridge to eventually clear,” Julie Gutmanis writes for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “During these same years, I’ve also seen massive public opposition to the project for its threat to tribal sovereignty, clean water and the climate and heard Bad River Band leaders explain that their land and its manoomin (wild rice) is inseparable from who they are and so must be protected. But these big-picture views have not yet found a place in the world of permits and injunctions… “My hope is that their words do not remain abstract slogans but are put into practice through concrete and specific policy changes.”
Alaska Beacon: Alaska’s gasline tax discount coupon needs an expiration date
Larry Persily, 6/22/26
“Businesses routinely offer discounts and coupons as enticements to get people to spend money, or to buy something they wouldn’t normally purchase if they had to pay full price. It’s the same for the proposed Alaska North Slope natural gas pipeline project,” Larry Persily writes for the Alaska Beacon. “The dream has been around for almost 60 years, but no one has been willing to pay full price. So now, the Legislature and the governor are welded together in a political debate over just how much of a discount coupon the state should offer to get the project built. The governor and the developer, a private company named Glenfarne, want a massive discount on property taxes. Without the tax relief, they say, the project will never get built and the state treasury and the public will be the losers. The political fight isn’t so much whether tax relief is a valid incentive for the state to offer, but how much of a discount the state should offer and when it should expire… “But no business issues coupons without an expiration date… “The state needs to think the same as a supermarket and put an expiration date on its tax coupon so that lawmakers can change the terms up or down if the discount does not result in a sale… “If the company does not commit to build and put the line into operation by the just-right deadline in the Senate version, the state should have the right to cancel the coupon and reconsider how much of a discount is in Alaska’s best interests.”
Environmental Defence: Pathways CCS is a Costly Carbon Capture Con
Aly Hyder Ali, Program Manager, Oil and Gas, 6/22/26
“The Pathways carbon capture project is being sold by the federal government as a climate solution. In reality, it is an expensive, risky and deeply flawed plan to keep the oil sands producing for decades to come while asking Canadians to foot the bill,” Aly Hyder Ali writes for Environmental Defence. “There are no two ways about it: Pathways CCS is BS (Bunk Science). The Pathways project was already a bad deal when it was estimated to cost $16.5 billion. The latest estimates now suggest that it will cost at least $20 billion, without considering the day-to-day operating costs. At the same time, the promised emissions reductions from this project have been quietly shrinking – from an original target of 10-12 MT by 2030 to now a measly 6 MT by 2035. By contrast, emissions from the oil sands were 91 MT in 2024. This is not a climate plan. This is yet another permission slip for the oil and gas industry to pollute, signed off by Prime Minister Carney. The Pathways CCS project is the Prime Minister’s thinly veiled attempt at greenwashing a new million barrel a day bitumen pipeline that is unequivocally a carbon bomb… “Even if – and that is a big IF since many carbon capture projects fail to achieve their targets – the Pathways CCS project works exactly as promised, it would only capture a small portion of emissions from the oil production process. It will do absolutely nothing for the vast majority of emissions that are released when the oil is exported and used. This is the core purpose of carbon capture and storage for oil companies: it allows the industry to claim they are enacting climate action when in reality all they are doing is expanding production and driving the climate crisis. Pathways CCS also presents very real risks for nearby communities. This project would require a massive CO2 pipeline and underground storage network through rural Alberta. Landowners, Indigenous communities and local residents have raised serious concerns about environmental safety, water and land rights… “There is no such thing as “decarbonized oil” – after all, you can’t decarbonize hydrocarbons. The Oil Sands Alliance doesn’t need public dollars as they are set to make nearly $100 billion in profits this year. Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to stand up for Canadians rather than prioritizing the continued profits of the oil industry. CCS is BS (Bunk Science) and Canadians should not have to pay for this risky and ineffective technology.”
Reuters: Exxon’s natural gas M&A push is pipe dream
Antony Currie, 6/22/26
“War is hell, but for some it can smell of opportunity. Take Exxon Mobil. The U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran has prompted the $574 billion oil major run by Darren Woods to step up internal discussions about buying an Asia Pacific-based liquefied natural gas producer, including Australia’s $38 billion Woodside Energy, Bloomberg reported, opens new tab, citing sources. But any deal is likely to prove disappointing,” Antony Currie writes for Reuters. “That’s because growth requires the region to buy into the conceit that the industry has been peddling for years that natural gas is an essential transition fuel in the fight against climate change. The basic premise is that wind and solar farms will surely take decades to deploy at sufficient scale. So the next-best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would be to replace coal-fired power stations with ones that provide electricity by burning the methane-heavy substance, which over time belches half as much carbon into the atmosphere… “The biggest is the miscalculation about the surge in renewables… “Sure, fossil fuels won’t disappear any time soon, which could give an Exxon foray into Asia some short-term gains. But solar, wind and batteries have dealt the LNG industry’s energy transition pitch a death blow.”