EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 6/9/25

PIPELINE NEWS

• Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds 'really close' to decision on whether to sign pipeline, eminent domain bill

• Radio Iowa: GOP leader says state may be sued if Governor Reynolds signs pipeline bill

• The Cool Down: Federal appeals court faces backlash after siding with controversial pipeline project: 'Inconsistent with state law'

• KMTV: CO2 Pipelines: Federal appeals court ruling goes against Shelby County

• Radio Iowa: Federal appeals court rules against county pipeline ordinances

• KMA: Appeals court favors Summit in pipeline case ruling

• Bloomberg: Court Affirms Axing Iowa Pipeline Rules Hindering Carbon Project

• Pipeline Fighters Hub: CCS Action Network: Grassroots Briefing: What's Next for the Carbon Capture Fight [VIDEO]

• E&E News: DC Circuit upholds FERC decision on Mountain Valley expansion

• Press release: Mountain Valley Pipeline developer submits application for Southgate pipeline to NC DEQ

• Roanoke Times: Inspector for MVP claims he was fired for reporting safety concerns

• WXII: Guilford County Commissioners pass resolution on proposed pipeline extension

• Stamford Advocate: Only one last permit needed for Brookfield gas compressor expansion project to move forward

• WMUR: Stefany Shaheen 'open' to energy options including new natural gas pipeline in NH-01 [VIDEO]

• The Center Square: Louisiana utility regulators claim jurisdiction over oil transport pipelines

• Bloomberg: Ottawa’s New Approach Has Alberta Dreaming of Pipelines Again

• Canadian Press: Manitoba premier eyes northern development that could include a pipeline

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• E&E News: Senate enters pivotal week on reconciliation

• E&E News: How much power should one judge have? Supreme Court to decide.

• Power Engineering: DOE Scraps $3.7B in OCED Projects, Upending Carbon Capture Progress at Power Plants

• E&E News: EPA to weaken methane rule deadlines for oil and gas sites

• E&E News: Trump’s ethane restrictions threaten oil industry output

• Heatmap: New GOP Budget Bill Guts Decades-Old Fuel Economy Rules for Cars and Trucks

• New York Times: Coal and Gas Plants Were Closing. Then Trump Ordered Them to Keep Running.

• The Lever: War Is Peace, Gas Is Now “Clean Energy”

STATE UPDATES

• WAND: Plan heading to Pritzker's desk could provide compensation for land owners if carbon capture damages crops, property

• Farmer’s Exchange: Carbon Capture Project Faces Backlash

• NOLA.com: Chevron wants to store carbon dioxide beneath South Mississippi. Here's how it would work.

• Arkansas Business: Project Blue Aims to Launch Arkansas into Carbon Capture Era

• Houston Chronicle: In Texas oil country, Trump enthusiasm wanes as prices plunge

• WOSU: Ohio budget proposal links fracking royalties to state parks’ bottom lines

• E&E News: BLM names Alaska state director to focus on ‘resource potential’

EXTRACTION

• Canadian Press: Liberals table bill to speed up approvals for major ‘national interest’ projects

• National Post: Alberta and Ottawa tout a grand bargain on 'decarbonized' oil but some are skeptical

• Reuters: Canada’s new anti-greenwashing rules to empower climate lawsuits

• 247WallStreet: Even The Largest Oil And Gas Hubs Oppose Drilling In The Arctic

• Trend: IEA forecasts tenfold investment boost needed for carbon capture growth by 2030

• The Times: Is the UK finally ready for carbon capture and storage?

• Grimsby Telegraph: Humber skills leaders say carbon capture project decision is critical

• OilPrice.com: Sustainable Aviation Fuel Faces Uphill Battle To Become Mainstream

OPINION

• The Courier: Carbon capture pipeline vital for Iowa farmers

• Bloomberg: Canada Couldn't Build a Pipeline. The '51st State' Just Might.

• BIC Magazine: Louisiana’s carbon capture investments help drive America-first energy production

• Real Clear Energy: America Can Win the Hydrogen Race With Louisiana’s Help
  

PIPELINE NEWS

Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds 'really close' to decision on whether to sign pipeline, eminent domain bill
Stephen Gruber-Miller, 6/6/25

“Gov. Kim Reynolds says she's close to a decision on whether to sign or veto a bill curbing the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines and other infrastructure projects and will make her choice in the coming week,” the Des Moines Register reports. “Reynolds, a Republican, previously said she was meeting with supporters and opponents of the bill before reaching a decision. Speaking with reporters on Friday, June 6, in Des Moines, Reynolds said she has wrapped up those conversations and will decide whether to sign the bill by a June 14 deadline to take action. "I’m running out of time, so we have to make a decision next week. So we’re really close," she said. "But we spent a lot of time really reaching out and sitting down and listening, and it’s been really impactful and beneficial to take that time to do it." "I’m going to take the weekend," she said. "We’re still looking through a lot of stuff. So it’s a lot of information, and I want to feel good about the decision that I make." “...Supporters of the bill, including landowners who are unwilling to sign agreements with Summit, say a private company should not be granted eminent domain powers for a private project that does not serve a public use… "Just to be clear, the bill that was passed was not a property owners’ rights bill," Senate President Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, said June 5 on an episode of "Iowa Press" on Iowa PBS… "To say that I voted against property rights is just, it’s false," Sinclair said. "Because the bill that passed and went to the governor is not a property rights bill. It is just a power grab by environmentalists, and I will put my foot down in saying that." Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, one of the most prominent supporters of the bill in the Iowa House, shared a picture of a muppet on Facebook on June 6, writing, "Senator Sinclair suggests I am a puppet of environmentalists for supporting HF 639." "Darn it!" he wrote. "And all this time I thought I was standing up for individual rights, the party platform and the Constitution I took an oath to defend."

Radio Iowa: GOP leader says state may be sued if Governor Reynolds signs pipeline bill
Kay Henderson, 6/6/25

“Senate President Amy Sinclair says the state is likely to be sued if Governor Kim Reynolds approves a bill that would establish new state regulations for the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline,” Radio Iowa reports. “That’s a bill that’s just going to facilitate activists and there were so many problems with that and ultimately it will cost the state of Iowa money both in economic impact as well as potential lawsuits and I think we have to say those words out loud,” Sinclair said during taping of “Iowa Press” on Iowa PBS. “…That’s what’s going to get us into legal trouble for liability issues related to the U.S. Constitution and Article I Section 10 — the contracts clause. With what we did in the ultimate bill that passed, we are violating the U.S. Constitution and that causes me great concern.” “...I have not spoken to the governor at all,” Sinclair told PBS. “I believe in a separation of powers and a separation of duties and that is her job to determine whether or not that bill makes sense for Iowans.”

The Cool Down: Federal appeals court faces backlash after siding with controversial pipeline project: 'Inconsistent with state law'
Daniel Gala, 6/8/25

“Prompting sharp criticism, a federal court of appeals has sided with a pipeline company over local officials and residents, striking down ordinances aimed at regulating pipelines within their communities, the Gazette reported,” according to The Cool Down. “...In response to Summit's plan, two Iowa counties, Shelby and Story, passed laws that put restrictions on pipeline construction within their borders, according to the appeals court decision. Summit Carbon Solutions then sued the two counties, arguing that both federal and state law preempted local governments' ability to regulate pipeline construction in their own backyards… “Unless the Iowa counties appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, their pipeline regulations will remain struck down. This case was significant because it tested the ability of local residents and their representatives in municipal government to challenge the presence of massive, dangerous pipelines passing through their communities… “And yet, as the appeals court decision showed, any effort by residents and municipal governments to use local law to regulate the presence of pipelines in their communities will likely be challenged and potentially struck down… “While the appellate ruling has frustrated local efforts to have a say in whether and how pipelines pass through their communities, the decision explicitly did not block every available avenue. "While we had hoped for a more decisive ruling affirming local control, the Court clearly acknowledged that counties can consider safety and implement zoning ordinances," said Emma Schmit, a member of Pipeline Fighters, a group opposed to the project, in a press release.”

KMTV: CO2 Pipelines: Federal appeals court ruling goes against Shelby County
Katrina Markel, 6/6/25

“On Thursday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled against Shelby County and in favor of Summit Carbon Solutions. The county board voted to regulate carbon capture pipelines, but Summit has argued that state and federal law takes precedence over county regulations,” KMTV reports. “Its not yet clear what the next steps will be for Shelby County and if it will pursue the case further… “The Shelby County Board of Supervisors said in a statement: "At this time, Shelby County is reviewing the ruling and considering its options." “...Montgomery County landowner Jan Norris is a carbon pipeline opponent. She told me it takes away the duty of a county board to protect its citizens. "Safety and economic development are intertwined. You can't have one without the other. And one of the dissenting judges made note of that," Norris told KMTV, "You can't grow and develop more things unless you know it's going to be safe to the public. So, how are we going to be safe now?"

Radio Iowa: Federal appeals court rules against county pipeline ordinances
Kay Henderson, 6/6/25

“A federal appeals court has ruled carbon pipeline restrictions in Shelby and Story Counties are preempted by federal regulations and state law,” Radio Iowa reports. “Shelby and Story County officials adopted ordinances to establish safety standards as well as prohibited zones around places like homes and schools where the pipeline would be barred. The federal appeals court ruled the ordinances would prohibit Summit Carbon Solutions from running its pipeline through areas where it has a state permit to build. A spokesperson for Summit told Radio Iowa the ruling “confirms federal regulation of pipeline safety and the Iowa Utilities Commission’s authority over route and permit decisions in Iowa.” A group that represents property owners opposed to the pipeline said the ruling “strips away common sense protections.” Shelby and Story County officials could appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Summit sued four other counties with similar ordinances and those were placed on hold as the company’s lawsuit against Shelby and Story Counties has moved through the courts.”

KMA: Appeals court favors Summit in pipeline case ruling
Mike Peterson, 6/6/25

“A federal appeals court hands Summit Carbon Solutions a victory in a case involving local safety standards on carbon pipeline projects,” KMA reports. “The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday upheld a lower court ruling barring counties from approving ordinances imposing regulations on carbon sequestration projects, such as Summit's proposed Midwest Express CO2 pipeline. Summit sued both Shelby and Story counties in 2022 for approving local regulations, arguing federal safety laws preempted county ordinances. A federal district court granted summary judgment to Summit in 2023, prohibiting the counties from enforcing the ordinances. Oral arguments were heard by the appeals court last November. Jason Craig is an attorney with Ahlers and Cooney, representing both counties. Craig claimed the district court erred in siding with Summit. "Local land use regulations--zoning regulations--are not preempted safety standards under the Pipeline Safety Act," said Craig, "and there's no reconcilable conflict between the county zoning ordinances and Iowa Code chapter 479.B." Representing Summit, Attorney Ryan Koopmans argued federal standards present an expressed preemption provision. "The law is clear that safety standards are left to the secretary of the Department of Transportation," said Koopmans. "In this case, the setback requirements and other provisions are clearly safety standards. They were based on safety, and they are objective, generally equitable standards." In issuing the appeals courts ruling, Circuit Judge Duane Benton wrote the Pipeline Safety Act expressly preempts state safety standards. Benton writes while the holding doesn't prohibit local governments from considering safety, nor prevent from enacting all zoning ordinances--as the counties suggest--he adds, quote, "this court emphasizes the distinction between safety standards--which the PSA preempts--and safety considerations--which the PSA does not preempt. Though concurring with the court's conclusions, Circuit Judge Jane Kelly disagreed that the PSA preempts setback and abandonment provisions in the counties' ordinances.”

Bloomberg: Court Affirms Axing Iowa Pipeline Rules Hindering Carbon Project
Shayna Greene, 6/5/25

“A carbon dioxide pipeline company won its bid on Thursday to invalidate two Iowa counties’ ordinances regulating pipelines after the Eighth Circuit affirmed the local rules were preempted by federal law,” Bloomberg reports. “The different elements of the ordinances deal with safety standards, which are already covered by the Pipeline Safety Act, the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit said. Summit Carbon Solutions LLC sought to build an interstate carbon dioxide pipeline that would go through Iowa, but two counties—Shelby and Story—adopted ordinances imposing emergency response plans and local permit requirements. The company argued these ordinances were preempted by the …”

Pipeline Fighters Hub: CCS Action Network: Grassroots Briefing: What's Next for the Carbon Capture Fight [VIDEO]
6/6/25

“The fight against carbon capture and dangerous pipeline projects is heating up! The House of Representatives passed a massive spending bill, negotiated largely behind closed doors, and packed with billions in taxpayer-funded giveaways to the carbon capture industry, threatening communities nationwide. With the Senate preparing to vote before the July 4th recess, we must act swiftly to make sure Senators know why CCS is so harmful to our communities. Our expert panel will unpack dangerous provisions in the House bill, including expanded corporate tax shelters and fast-tracked permitting schemes that limit public input and oversight, as well as outline next steps as the Senate moves swiftly toward passing this harmful legislation, and train you on powerful grassroots tactics, from letter writing and house parties to text banking and coordinated district actions. Cohosts: Better Path Coalition, Bold Alliance, CURE, Eco-Justice Collaborative, Food & Water Watch, Indigenous Environmental Network, No False Solutions PA, Three Waters Pipeline Resistance Team.”

E&E News: DC Circuit upholds FERC decision on Mountain Valley expansion
Carlos Anchondo, 6/6/25

“A federal appeals court Friday upheld a decision by federal regulators that granted developers more time to complete a natural gas pipeline expansion in Virginia and North Carolina,” E&E News reports. “The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission “reasonably found that [Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC] had satisfied the good cause standard in seeking an extension” for the MVP Southgate project, Senior Judge Harry Edwards wrote in an opinion for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Given that developers focused their “efforts on securing authorization” for the main, 303-mile Mountain Valley pipeline project, “MVP made a good faith effort to meet the original Southgate deadline,” said Edwards, a Carter appointee. The MVP Southgate project, approved by FERC in June 2020, was originally conceived as a 75-mile extension to the mainline Mountain Valley project. That main pipeline started operating last year and connects West Virginia with southern Virginia. MVP Southgate would continue on into North Carolina.”

Press release: Mountain Valley Pipeline developer submits application for Southgate pipeline to NC DEQ
6/6/25

“Yesterday, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality posted Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC’s Clean Water Act Section 401 application for its proposed methane gas pipeline “Southgate.” The developers recently altered their plans for Southgate, changing the route and increasing the capacity and pipe diameter. Southgate would extend the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline, and has faced significant opposition since the original project was first proposed in 2018. During its original permit review in 2020, DEQ determined MVP Southgate was an unneeded risk, and denied the developer’s application for a Clean Water Act permit. The Southgate pipeline would extend from Pittsylvania County, Virginia, into Rockingham County, North Carolina. It is currently subject to an amendment review process by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the recently requested changes to the project. The FERC recently opened a “Notice of Scoping,” soliciting new feedback from the public on the pipeline’s impacts. Especially concerning for North Carolina communities is Southgate’s project route, which is very similar to the proposed Southeast Supply Enhancement Project from Williams Companies’ expansion of their network of Transco pipelines. The co-location of two additional high-pressure, large diameter pipelines, next to already aging pipes, adds to safety risks for both proposed pipelines. The application process for Southgate from DEQ will include a public comment period and closes on July 5, 2025. “MVP Southgate is and has been a bad idea. Residents have stood united in opposition to Southgate, fighting against its potential damage to our environment, our health and our communities,” said Caroline Hansley, Campaign Organizing Strategist at Sierra Club. “We cannot sacrifice our neighbors for the sake of lining the pockets of corporate executives.” “For years MVP Southgate — a proposed extension of MVP mainline—has never moved forward and has been denied multiple permits,” said Dr. Crystal Cavalier Keck, Co-Founder and CEO at 7 Directions of Service. “Community members along the MVP mainline route repeatedly tell us how their lives, their land and their waterways continue to suffer as a result of these pipeline developers, their violations and the lack of accountability. Our regulators must do everything in their power to protect North Carolinians from a similar fate.”

Roanoke Times: Inspector for MVP claims he was fired for reporting safety concerns
Laurence Hammack, 6/4/25

“A welding inspector for the Mountain Valley Pipeline says he was fired for reporting corrosion of the metal pipe as it was being installed in 2023, about the time a federal safety agency voiced concerns about what it called “a pipeline integrity risk,” the Roanoke Times reports. “...The lawsuit claims that in November 2023, Michael Barnhill spotted three sections of the pipe in West Virginia that were corroded to the point of violating construction standards and federal regulations. Although Barnhill’s supervisor agreed that the pipe joints were deficient, the lawsuit quotes a higher Mountain Valley official as saying: “If you want to keep your job, just install [the joints].” Barnhill refused to create false inspection reports approving the corroded joints, the lawsuit claims, and as a result was transferred to a different section of the natural gas pipeline and later fired… “News of the lawsuit “underscores the concerns raised by community members along the pipeline route that there was no safe way to construct the ruinous Mountain Valley Pipeline,” Jessica Sims, Virginia field coordinator for Appalachian Voices, one of the groups that waged legal fights against the project, told the Times… “In a report filed this week with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the lead agency that oversaw construction of the pipeline, Monroe County resident Maury Johnson included an article from the Charleston Gazette-Mail about the lawsuit. “I watched very closely as MVP rushed to put this pipe in the ground on my property and across nearby properties,” Johnson wrote in asking FERC or PHMSA to shut the operation down until it can be deemed safe. “My life and the life of my family, friends and neighbors are at stake,” he wrote.

WXII: Guilford County Commissioners pass resolution on proposed pipeline extension
Rebecca Smith, 6/8/25

“Guilford County commissioners have passed a resolution urging thorough attention to public safety regarding a proposed natural gas pipeline project,” WXII reports. “Commissioners said they do not have jurisdiction to stop federal approval of the Transco Williams pipeline extension. However, they are asking for a more thorough analysis of the proposal.”

Stamford Advocate: Only one last permit needed for Brookfield gas compressor expansion project to move forward
Sandra Diamond Fox, 6/8/25

“For Iroquois Gas Transmission System to move forward with a large project, it needs just one last permit — for the proposed expansion of a natural gas compressor station located just 1,900 feet from Whisonier Middle School in Brookfield,” the Stamford Advocate reports. “An air permit for the Brookfield expansion, still under review by Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection … is now the final permit remaining before construction can begin in both New York and Connecticut," said Bianca Sanchez, associate press secretary for the Sierra Club, a nonprofit organization that opposes the project for environmental reasons. “The future of the project relies on approved permits in both states,” Sanchez said… “Residents, conservationists and some town and state officials have worked for years to stop the expansion of Brookfield’s compressor station at 78 Meadow Lane. Several residents spoke out against the plan at the June 2 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, where all three members agreed to continue fighting. Brookfield First Selectman Steve Dunn said he hasn't received responses to calls he made to Gov. Ned Lamont and state Environmental Protection and Energy Commissioner Katie Dykes' office with his concerns about the project. Dunn said he's drafting a letter to U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes and U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy for help in keeping the project from moving forward. A study prepared for the Sierra Club, said the expansion would result in increased emissions of and exposure of residents to toxins, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.”

WMUR: Stefany Shaheen 'open' to energy options including new natural gas pipeline in NH-01 [VIDEO]
6/8/25

“Stefany Shaheen sits down with CloseUp to speak more about her campaign, TSA, and high energy costs across the state,” WMUR reports.

The Center Square: Louisiana utility regulators claim jurisdiction over oil transport pipelines
Nolan McKendry, 6/6/25

“The Louisiana Public Service Commission has affirmed a ruling that designates Rosefield Fourchon Operating LLC as a common carrier pipeline, siding with energy company Cantium LLC in a regulatory dispute over crude oil terminal fees,” The Center Square reports. “...At the heart of the dispute was whether Rosefield's operations at Port Fourchon — including a steel pipeline that moves crude oil owned by third parties into the BOA pipeline — fall under state regulatory authority. The commission ruled that it did… “The oil and gas industry is warning of broad consequences if the commission affirms the ALJ's finding. In letters to the commission, the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association and the International Liquid Terminals Association argued the decision could impose new regulatory burdens on terminal operators, including mandatory registration, commission approval of terminal fees, and additional supervision fees paid to the Louisiana Department of Revenue.”

Bloomberg: Ottawa’s New Approach Has Alberta Dreaming of Pipelines Again
Christine Dobby, 6/6/25

“Prime Minister Mark Carney asked provincial and territorial leaders to offer suggestions for big “nation-building” projects they’d like to see approved, with the goal of boosting the economy to offset the drag of Washington’s trade war,” Bloomberg reports. “...Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, the federation’s chief provocateur, emerged describing the outlines of a possible “grand bargain” — a new oil pipeline, alongside large investments by Canadian energy companies into technology to reduce carbon emissions… “Premier Smith has said the country’s national unity will be at stake if there isn’t progress on building new pipelines. Her preference is to go west, with a pipeline to northwestern BC. But Carney (read: Mr. Claus) didn’t come out of the first ministers’ meeting with a firm list of projects to endorse for rapid federal approval. So for all of the soundbites from Saskatoon, what are we actually talking about? If the task is to get more oil to markets other than the US, there are two types of projects: large ones, and extremely large ones. A pipeline that transports Alberta’s oil to Ontario, Quebec or even further east is one of the biggest. It would be hugely expensive, Kent Fellows, assistant professor of economics at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, told Bloomberg — the kind of project that would demand significant or total government backing as a national-security endeavor, in his view… “But at the moment, Fellows told Bloomberg, “there is no pipeline to approve, because no one’s proposed one.” “It’s an open question whether the private sector would come forward,” he told Bloomberg. “If we fix the regulatory process, they might. It’s just no one’s talking about it right now.” Multiple factors complicate the business case for Smith’s preferred option, a new crude pipeline to the BC coast, Fellows told Bloomberg. Global oil supply appears ample, long-term demand is far from certain and the price for Canadian crude is due for some volatility. BC Premier David Eby, who wasn’t in Saskatoon, has raised objections to the idea. So, too, might Indigenous people who have constitutional rights on these matters… “Conversations about fast-tracking approvals are encouraging, but if we get this wrong and they fast-track approvals by trying to take shortcuts like we have in the past, we’re going to end up back where we started.”

Canadian Press: Manitoba premier eyes northern development that could include a pipeline
Steve Lambert, 6/6/25

“Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew promoted his province Friday as the route for a future trade corridor, which could include a pipeline, in order to get goods from Western Canada to overseas markets,” the Canadian Press reports. “The politics are (that) something needs to get built in Western Canada. I think everybody understands that," Kinew told a breakfast meeting of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. "And if you've been following the news, B. C.? Ontario? Maybe. We'll see. But Manitoba's open for business, and I think in time Manitoba will show itself as a path to getting natural resources to tidewater across Canada." The Alberta government has been pushing for a pipeline across northern British Columbia, but the idea is not supported by the B.C. government. Kinew said Manitoba is looking at boosting shipments through Hudson Bay, currently served by the Port of Churchill, which is ice-free for only a brief period every year. There have been calls for a second port on the bay, further south at Port Nelson, combined with more rail service and a pipeline, in order to boost exports to Europe and other destinations. Kinew said he's open to different options, but the private sector has to put forward ideas. A trade corridor could ship Manitoba's low-carbon hydroelectricity westward to the other Prairie provinces, he said. And a pipeline heading the other direction is a possibility. "What is the product that makes sense? Are we going to be looking at liquefaction and then maybe it's a (liquefied natural gas) thing?" Kinew told reporters after his speech. "Are we looking at oil and gas projects? Are we looking at something novel like green hydrogen or maybe a potash slurry? These are the things that we can signal to the private sector we're open to having a discussion about." Pipeline development in the north could face opposition from environmentalists and others. Much of the area near the coast of Hudson Bay is protected, including Wapusk National Park.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

E&E News: Senate enters pivotal week on reconciliation
Kelsey Brugger, 6/9/25

“The fight over hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy tax credits has intensified in recent days as Republicans stare down a self-imposed July 4 deadline for approving their party-line budget reconciliation package,” E&E News reports. “The Senate is looking to finish reworking the House-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” by the end of this week, though discussion on tax measures could go into next week. The fate of language on public land sales, regulations and electric vehicle fees is also in play… “The Environment and Public Works Committee was one of the first Senate panels to release reworked text last week. Its bill includes cuts to climate spending and proposals to accelerate permitting reviews… “Senators are also eyeing rulings from the parliamentarian on a host of permitting policies, which would ease approvals for companies that pay certain fees. Democrats have them “pay to play” provisions. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah), who has been working on securing permitting and drilling mandates, is also working with the parliamentarian to secure the fate of rule-busting legislation. It would give Congress a say over certain rules… “Lee is similarly set on including some language to ease the sale of public lands. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) told E&E last week he’s working with Lee to keep the sales out or to a minimum.”

E&E News: How much power should one judge have? Supreme Court to decide.
Niina H. Farah, Lesley Clark, 6/9/25

“Nationwide injunctions have stymied President Donald Trump’s efforts to freeze spending on climate initiatives and lay off workers in energy and environmental agencies. But soon the fate of the sweeping judicial decrees issued by circuit courts could be shaped by the Supreme Court, which, at the behest of the White House, is considering ways it could revamp judges’ ability to issue orders that take effect across the country,” E&E News reports. “The Trump administration and its allies charge that leftist activists are teaming up with like-minded judges to throw hurdles at the administration as it attempts to shake up the system. Democrats say the flurry of court orders are a result of a turbocharged administration that is violating the rules… “A decision in the case, Trump v. CASA Inc., could come as soon as this month… “However, some legal experts were skeptical the Trump administration’s favored approach would work in practice. “There are lots of obstacles that can be put in the way of getting a case approved by a court as a class action. And the solicitor general, when pressed, was very much aware of those [obstacles],” Suzette Malveaux, a law professor at Washington and Lee University, who wrote a “friend of the court” brief in defense of universal injunctions, told E&E… “Still, Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) each have bills that would narrow injunctions so that they apply only to parties in the cases… “If the Supreme Court finds that universal injunctions exceed the power of the federal courts, that means the court can no longer issue those types of orders — even if Congress authorizes it, Clopton, of Northwestern University, told E&E.”

Power Engineering: DOE Scraps $3.7B in OCED Projects, Upending Carbon Capture Progress at Power Plants
Sonal Patel, 6/4/25

“The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) abrupt termination of 24 previously awarded projects—including four prominent power-related carbon capture projects— will rescind $3.7 billion in financial assistance from its Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED),” Power Engineering reports. “...The DOE shared the names of the projects with POWER on June 3, but it did not provide project-specific justifications or documentation supporting its economic viability claims… “POWER has reached out to Calpine to clarify how the award termination may affect its flagship carbon capture initiatives and will update this article with any responses received… “The DOE has not released project-specific evaluations, nor has it said whether canceled projects will be reconsidered under revised rules… “For now, the future of 45Q is now also uncertain. In March 2025, a bipartisan House bill—the 45Q Repeal Act, introduced by Representatives Scott Perry (R-PA) and Ro Khanna (D-CA)—proposed eliminating the credit entirely, citing $30 billion in projected savings… “Meanwhile, the May 22 House-passed budget reconciliation bill preserves 45Q but phases out credit transferability, a move industry groups warn could stall financing and jeopardize the economics of dozens of carbon capture projects already in development… “For now, developers, utilities, and their partners are being forced to reassess… “The broader carbon management community is also sounding the alarm. Jessie Stolark, executive director of the Carbon Capture Coalition, a nonpartisan alliance of more than 100 companies, labor unions, and environmental groups, called the termination of 24 DOE-funded projects “a major step backward in the nationwide deployment of carbon management technologies.” “...Meanwhile, more than 70% of employees at DOE’s OCED have reportedly opted to leave under a voluntary resignation program, raising further questions about the future of the office created in December 2021 to leverage IIJA funding… “The DOE noted it has requested additional information from 179 recipients—representing more than $15 billion in assistance—and is prioritizing reviews of large-scale commercial awards. Under the policy, failure to respond adequately to DOE’s requests may result in project modification, defunding, or outright termination.”

E&E News: EPA to weaken methane rule deadlines for oil and gas sites
Jean Chemnick, 6/5/25

“EPA is preparing to let oil and gas operations miss compliance deadlines under a Biden-era methane rule as the agency weighs whether to overhaul or repeal the regulation,” E&E News reports. “The agency sent a proposal to the White House on Wednesday that would offer an ‘extension of deadlines’ for oil and gas producers and processors under the 2023 methane requirements. EPA offered no specifics on the proposal. “EPA looks forward to issuing the proposal after interagency review concludes,” the agency said in an email to E&E… “The draft sent to the White House on Wednesday does not appear to be a broad revision of the rule, but a move to buy the agency time to draft one. Industry groups, some of which have sought significant changes to the standards, told E&E they didn’t know which deadlines would be impacted.”

E&E News: Trump’s ethane restrictions threaten oil industry output
Mike Soraghan, 6/6/25

“President Donald Trump’s latest salvo in his trade war with China is a direct hit on a portion of the oil and gas industry that could more broadly damage his plans to boost U.S. fossil fuels,” E&E News reports. “The Commerce Department is restricting exports of ethane to China, telling companies that their cargoes pose an unacceptable risk of being diverted to a “military end use.” The department has already denied permission to export three shipments, which totaled 2.2 million barrels of the gas. That could throw sand into the gears of the entire oil and gas production stream. Ethane and other natural gas liquids — or NGLs — come up with the crude oil and natural gas most people associate with pump jacks. That means Trump’s export controls could clog up flows all the way back to U.S. oil fields. “Those NGLS need a home,” George Fatula, a partner in the Washington office of the Bracewell law firm who focuses on energy matters, told E&E. “It has to go somewhere, and this is making it more difficult and complicated to find that somewhere.”

Heatmap: New GOP Budget Bill Guts Decades-Old Fuel Economy Rules for Cars and Trucks
Robinson Meyer, 6/6/25

“A new provision in the Senate reconciliation bill would neuter the country’s fuel efficiency standards for automakers, gutting one of the federal government’s longest-running programs to manage gasoline prices and air pollution,” Heatmap reports. “The new provision — which was released on Thursday by the Senate Commerce Committee — would essentially strip the government of its ability to enforce the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, or CAFE standards. The CAFE rules are the government’s main program to improve the fuel economy of new cars and light-duty trucks sold in the United States. Over the past 20 years, the rules have helped push the fuel efficiency of new vehicles to record highs even as consumers have adopted crossovers and SUVs en masse. But the Republican reconciliation bill would essentially end the program as a practical concern for automakers. It would set all fines issued under the program to zero, stripping the government of its ability to punish automakers that sell too many polluting vehicles. “It would essentially eviscerate the standard without actually doing so directly,” Ann Carlson, a UCLA law professor who led the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2022 to 2023, told Heatmap. “It says that, ‘We have standards here, but we don’t care if you comply or not. If you don’t comply, we’re not going to hold you responsible,’” she told Heatmap.”

New York Times: Coal and Gas Plants Were Closing. Then Trump Ordered Them to Keep Running.
Claire Brown and Harry Stevens, 6/6/25

“A 63-year-old coal-fired power plant was scheduled to permanently close its doors in Michigan on June 1. So was an oil- and gas-powered plant that was built in the 1960s in Pennsylvania. But at the last minute, the Trump administration ordered both to stay open,” the New York Times reports. “The orders came as it pursues a far-reaching plan to boost fossil fuels, including coal, by declaring a national “energy emergency.” The grid operators in Michigan and Pennsylvania told the Times they hadn’t asked for the orders and hadn’t planned on using the plants this summer. The costs to keep the plants open, which could total tens of millions of dollars, are expected to fall on consumers. Experts have said there’s little evidence of a national energy emergency, and 15 states have sued to challenge President Trump’s declaration, which was issued the day he took office. The emergency orders, which came last month, surprised the companies that operate the plants, and they are now scrambling to delay some workers’ retirements and reverse nearly complete plans to shutter their facilities. In Michigan, the plant operator raced to buy enough coal to power operations… “Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission, told the Times he estimated that the 90-day order to keep the coal plant open would cost ratepayers tens of millions of dollars… “Dana Nessel, Michigan’s attorney general, a Democrat, told the Times she was “certainly considering” challenging the order affecting the coal plant in her state. “We think this is par for the course with the Trump administration,” Ms. Nessel told the Times. “They’re abusing emergency authorities and really manufacturing an emergency that doesn’t exist, in a way that’s really unprecedented.” Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization, also plans to challenge the orders, Tyson Slocum, the group’s energy program director, told the Times.”

The Lever: War Is Peace, Gas Is Now “Clean Energy”
Emily Sanders, 6/9/25

“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,” The Lever 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… “A version of the methane gas rebranding bill first passed in Ohio in 2023 after it was floated by The Empowerment Alliance, a dark money gas advocacy group helmed by Trump megadonor and former gas industry executive couple Tom Rastin and Karen Buchwald Wright. According to documents obtained by the watchdog Energy and Policy Institute and first reported by the Washington Post, The Empowerment Alliance worked with Ohio state legislators on the idea, while ALEC provided a model bill and talking points for officials… “Since that model bill was published, a new swath of states — including Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana — have introduced similar legislation declaring gas a “clean” or “green” source of energy.”

STATE UPDATES

WAND: Plan heading to Pritzker's desk could provide compensation for land owners if carbon capture damages crops, property
Mike Miletich, 6/5/25

“A bill heading to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk could require the state to pay land owners if their property is disturbed by carbon capture construction,” WAND reports. “This is one of two bills passed this spring to quell concerns of farmers and Republican lawmakers. Lawmakers approved a bill to provide compensation if crops, trees, fences, shrubs, livestock or other objects are damaged during carbon capture construction… “Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) told WAND Illinois needs to be able to step in and stop projects if carbon capture is destroying water and soil. "While we support the idea of an improved property rights on the surface and subsurface, I think the bill still has some issues constitutionally with the subsurface rights," Halbrook told WAND. "And I urge a no vote." “...Many local lawmakers hope Pritzker will sign the bipartisan plan to ban carbon sequestration near the Mahomet aquifer as well.”

Farmer’s Exchange: Carbon Capture Project Faces Backlash
Jerry Goshert, 6/6/25

“A proposed carbon capture and storage project near North Manchester is drawing opposition from neighboring landowners who are concerned about the project's environmental and health risks.” Farmer’s Exchange reports. “The bioenergy company Poet wants to capture the carbon dioxide (CO) from its ethanol production process and permanently store it deep underground. The company says seismic tests confirm that the geology surrounding the Poet facility is "well-suited" for this project, even in the unlikely event that an earthquake were to occur… “Still, one of Poet's neighbors, Josh Leffel, told FE the company isn't being forthcoming with details about the project. Also, he told FE he found out about the seismic tests as they were happening last year… “Back in March, Leffel and dozens of others attended a public hearing about the carbon capture project. Leffel told FE most of the people who spoke were against the company's plans… “On Monday, the county commissioners voted to impose a moratorium on such projects until the county can write new rules governing them… “Leffel told FE Vault 44.01 is a 4-year-old company and has never overseen a carbon capture project on this scale. He feels like Poet and Vault 44.01 are conducting a science experiment and the neighbors are guinea pigs. He started a YouTube channel to express his outrage. He is not alone in his opposition to the project. Yard signs declaring "No Carbon Capture" are clearly visible on S.R. 13, C.R. 900 and other areas south of the city. Leffel added that most of the local farmers quietly oppose the project. "However, they are also scared to death that Poet won't buy their corn if they fight too hard openly," he told FE. "So, they feed me this information because they (Poet) can't take anything from me. I'm not a farmer."

NOLA.com: Chevron wants to store carbon dioxide beneath South Mississippi. Here's how it would work.
Mary Perez, 6/9/25

“Chevron says it’s starting to build a system that will collect carbon dioxide at its Pascagoula refinery, send it through a pipeline to a spot north of Vancleave, and store it deep underground forever,” NOLA.com reports. “...It doesn’t answer people’s questions about how the carbon dioxide will get from Pascagoula to Vancleave, where the storage injection site will be, and if the process will affect drinking water sources in Jackson County. The project is something residents of the northern parts of Jackson County talk about when they meet around town and comment on in private groups on Facebook. They’ve met with Chevron representatives individually and in groups. They don’t want their names on the record as being for or against the project — and those who signed an agreement with Chevron are prohibited from disclosing the terms… “Chevron is meeting with landowners to secure rights for the underground storage far beneath their property and any surface use that is required… “Property owners who sign the agreement could receive a one-time payment of a negotiated amount per acre and a monthly fee based on how much carbon dioxide is injected… “Residents on private Facebook sites said they are most concerned with whether the water aquifers they use for their well water will be contaminated by the gas and if there will be enough safety features in place to protect their families. Chevron says it is safely operating Gorgon, one of the world’s largest carbon capture and storage projects. The sequestration site in South Mississippi would be 1,000 feet deeper than the underground sources of drinking water, Chevron said, and a cap will keep the carbon dioxide from escaping to the surface. The site also will be in an area with low risk of earthquakes, Chevron said… “Chevron is working through all the requirements, including those that protect public health and underground sources of drinking water.”

Arkansas Business: Project Blue Aims to Launch Arkansas into Carbon Capture Era
Caitlan Butler, 6/9/25

“Lapis Carbon Solutions is hoping to do something no one else has in Arkansas, co-founder and CEO Reg Manhas says. The company has partnered with LSB Industries, a national ammonia product manufacturer, to develop Arkansas’ first carbon capture and sequestration initiative at LSB’s plant in El Dorado,” Arkansas Business reports. “...Dubbed Project Blue and first announced in 2023, Manhas estimates the team will begin injecting captured carbon by the end of 2026 or early 2027… “The CO2 will be stored beneath the LSB plant and above the Smackover Formation. Manhas said the stored CO2 will be injected approximately 6,000 feet underground into porous, briny rock formations… “LSB will have the added benefit of being able to produce “blue ammonia,” an industry-recognized term for decarbonized ammonia.”

Houston Chronicle: In Texas oil country, Trump enthusiasm wanes as prices plunge
James Osborne, 6/6/25

“Last month, Kirk Edwards travelled from West Texas to the Mar-a-Lago Club in South Florida to celebrate with other donors to President Donald Trump. Edwards, the owner of an oil company in Odessa, had given $25,000 to Trump's inaugural committee, but he wasn't all that happy with his investment,” the Houston Chronicle reports. “Not only had the president begun enacting tariffs on steel and other materials used in oil drilling, but he was calling for $50 a barrel oil, below what U.S. companies say they need to turn a profit. "I'm a huge supporter of Trump," Edwards told the Chronicle. "But I don’t quite understand where we're headed on energy policy. Anybody that drills an oil well in the United States right now is incredibly worried about this." “...Yet six months into his presidency, a growing cavalry of oil executives and investors are raising the alarm around Trump's trade policies and unconventional foreign policy moves they say could tank the industry. Oil is trading around $64 a barrel, an 18% decline since Trump took office in January, and future forecasts look increasingly grim. Economists warn Trump's tariffs could drive a global recession lowering oil demand, at the same time the oil cartel OPEC+ is raising production — something Trump has repeatedly called on them to do… “On Wednesday, Wil VanLoh, founder of Houston-based Quantum Capitol, which provides financing to oil and gas projects, lamented the level of "chaos" Trump had created in the oil sector. "I am very concerned that there's not really a plan. So I think the next year or two years will be very choppy. I really do," he said at an event hosted by research firm Hart Energy.”

WOSU: Ohio budget proposal links fracking royalties to state parks’ bottom lines
Sarah Donaldson, 6/5/25

“The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) was poised to benefit from more than $30 million in bonus royalty payments from drilling under state parks, but the latest version of House Bill 96 ties that money to the agency’s already-existing budget instead,” WOSU reports. “The Senate on Tuesday released language that would cut ODNR’s parks and recreation budget—financed by tax revenue in the General Revenue Fund—by 50% in fiscal year 2026 and 13% in fiscal year 2027, according to Legislative Service Commission documents. Then, it would redirect the royalties to fill those holes… “It’s moving the royalties generated from fracking on public lands, which are, by the way, public lands,” Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) told WOSU. “They don’t belong to ODNR. They belong to the people of the state of Ohio.” In early 2023, Gov. Mike DeWine signed a law clearing hurdles for drilling companies to obtain leases to extract resources from public lands and parks, although drilling under them has been legal since 2011.”

E&E News: BLM names Alaska state director to focus on ‘resource potential’
Scott Streater, 6/5/25

“The Bureau of Land Management has named a longtime career official currently overseeing mining and oil and gas leasing in Alaska to serve as that state’s new director,” E&E News reports. “Kevin Pendergast, a certified engineer and geologist who has served as BLM’s Alaska deputy state director for resources since 2019, has been named the permanent director for the state that oversees 220 million acres of subsurface mineral estate that’s expected to play a central role in President Donald Trump’s energy agenda. Pendergast, who will start as BLM Alaska director on June 29, has more than a decade of experience working at various positions within the Interior Department, including a three-month stint in 2016 as acting deputy superintendent at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, according to his LinkedIn page.”

EXTRACTION

Canadian Press: Liberals table bill to speed up approvals for major ‘national interest’ projects
Kyle Duggan, 6/6/25

“Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government introduced legislation Friday that would grant it new powers to quickly push forward major projects the federal cabinet deems to be in the national interest,” the Canadian Press reports. “Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc tabled a bill in the House of Commons that would give Ottawa the authority to draw up a list of large projects it wants to prioritize and to expedite their federal approval. Carney said it has become too hard to build new projects in Canada and vowed that this legislation will change that. “We’re in an economic crisis,” Carney told a news conference on Parliament Hill on Friday. “We’re still facing intensifying, unjustified tariffs from our largest trading partner and the best way to respond to that is to respond at home, build strength at home.” “...Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers CEO Lisa Baiton told CP she is “encouraged by the federal government’s flexibility and efforts to work with the provinces to accelerate the approval process for major projects.” Keith Stewart of Greenpeace Canada, meanwhile, called the legislation a “slap in the face to not just the next generation, but every Canadian struggling right now to deal with climate change-fuelled wildfires.” “We should be fast-tracking climate solutions, not fossil fuels,” he told CP. The legislation would create a new federal office to take the lead on streamlining approvals for major projects and task the intergovernmental affairs minister with overseeing the final permitting decision.”

National Post: Alberta and Ottawa tout a grand bargain on 'decarbonized' oil but some are skeptical
Rahim Mohamed, 6/3/25

“...Alberta Premier Danielle Smith left Monday’s first ministers’ meeting with a new deal exchanging oil sands access to coastal waters for massive investments in decarbonization technologies, but experts warn this could be a costly pipe dream,” the National Post reports. “I’m worried we’re seeing (the first ministers) fall into a trap of wanting to have their cake and eat it too,” Tim McMillan, a partner at Garrison Strategy and the former head of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, told the Post… “Carney said Monday that he’d consider fast-tracking a new oil pipeline to the West Coast if it shipped “decarbonized barrels” to new markets… “I don’t know exactly what they’re talking about with decarbonization, but… it may be linked to carbon capture, which does not increase our exports (or) investability…If (carbon capture) becomes a long-term requirement for new projects, it will likely have a negative effect on future investments in Canada’s upstream oil and gas sector,” McMillan told the Post” The Calgary-based Pathways Alliance, a group of six major oil sands producers, has put forward a $16.5-billion decarbonization network that would reroute carbon emissions from nearly two dozen facilities to an underground hub near Cold Lake, Alta. The big-ticket project has been at a standstill for years over government funding. Smith said Monday that the financial windfall of a new West Coast bitumen pipeline serving markets in Asia could help make the economics of the Pathways project work… “Even under optimal conditions, the Pathways project may struggle to break even, and real-world operations are rarely optimal,” read the study, prepared by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. “The Canadian federal government and the province of Alberta may be pressured to make up the likely shortfall,” it continued. “An unprofitable carbon capture project will struggle to bring lasting positive economic benefits to host communities and become dependent on external financial subsidies to maintain operations.” McMillan also noted that Canada’s two biggest competitors in the heavy oil industry, Mexico and Venezuela, are unlikely to follow suit with large-scale carbon capture projects of their own, giving each an edge over Canada on a per-barrel basis.”

Reuters: Canada’s new anti-greenwashing rules to empower climate lawsuits
Amanda Stephenson, 6/6/25

“Canada’s newly finalized anti-greenwashing rules will make it easier for climate advocacy groups to bring lawsuits against oil and gas companies, an industry group and an activist organization said,” Reuters reports. “The new guidelines released Thursday by Canada’s Competition Bureau lay out the approach the independent law enforcement agency will take with respect to deceptive environmental claims by businesses. The Competition Bureau developed the guidelines after the Canadian government passed legislation last year aimed at cracking down on corporate greenwashing, a term used to describe the marketing of products and practices as more environmentally sustainable than they really are… “Greenpeace Canada told Reuters it intends to make use of the new private right of action, particularly against Canadian oil and gas companies if it can determine they have made misleading environmental statements. “We will be following oil and gas companies’ public pronouncements very carefully, with an eye to using the new tools in this legislation,” Greenpeace Canada spokesman Keith Stewart told Reuters.”

247WallStreet: Even The Largest Oil And Gas Hubs Oppose Drilling In The Arctic
Evan Comen, 6/5/25

“One of the last untouched ecosystems in the United States, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge spans over 19 million acres in northeastern Alaska, and is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including polar bears, caribou, arctic foxes, and migratory birds,” 247WallStreet reports. “It is also believed to hold substantial oil and gas reserves, and has been at the center of a decades-long debate between conservation and energy development. Just 33% of Americans support expanding drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. While support nears 50% in some counties, even the largest oil-producing parts of the country are largely in opposition. Big Oil’s opposition to Arctic drilling was evident in both 2021 and 2025, when the first and second Trump administrations held oil and gas lease sales for the ANWR and were met with limited interest. A closer look at the data reveals how the largest oil producers in the United States feel about drilling in the Arctic and expanding offshore drilling. To determine how the largest oil producers in the United States feel about drilling in the Arctic and expanding offshore drilling, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on GDP accounts from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and climate opinion data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.”

Trend: IEA forecasts tenfold investment boost needed for carbon capture growth by 2030
6/8/25

“Global carbon capture and storage (CCS) capacity is growing, with just over 50 million tons (Mt) of CO2 capture currently operational worldwide, according to the latest outlook by the International Energy Agency (IEA),” Trend reports.

The Times: Is the UK finally ready for carbon capture and storage?
Jim Armitage, 6/7/25

“...Between them, Immingham power station — owned by VPI, a group backed by oil trading giant Vitol — and the Phillips 66 refinery produces more than 3.3 million tonnes a year of CO₂, making them among Britain’s biggest single carbon emitters,” The Times reports. “But the area is also blessed with being little more than 80 miles away from the old and empty Viking oil and gas fields 9,000ft under the North Sea. Plans are afoot to capture all that CO₂, compress it and pump it into those empty undersea caverns… “Carbon capture’s critics argue that the technology has been tried and failed before, and that we should be focusing our energies and efforts on wind and solar power instead. But its supporters say the technology has massively improved in recent years, and is increasingly being used around the world. No projects are as ambitious as here in Britain, though, where the government is preparing to invest billions of pounds to support the implementation of the tech at a group of industrial hubs such as Immingham. After many false starts, could now finally be the time that this much-lauded technology becomes reality?... “Much will depend on whether the projects can be recompensed by taxpayers for the billions of pounds of private sector money that will be needed to get the technology started. The industrialists have high hopes that this week’s spending review will include, at best, promises of hard cash — and at worst, a pledge that the state will invest in the futures of the projects… “For critics of carbon capture and storage, such as think tank the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, the technology is simply not fit for purpose. The IEEFA has argued: “Not one single [carbon capture and storage] project has ever reached its target CO₂ capture rate … Projects from Algeria to Texas demonstrate the technology’s troubled history of cost overruns and delays.” While the industry claims the carbon capture tech can capture 95 per cent of the CO₂ emitted, IEEFA analysis of 16 projects found that “no existing project has consistently captured more than 80 per cent of carbon”.

Grimsby Telegraph: Humber skills leaders say carbon capture project decision is critical
Mark Page, 6/9/25

“A carbon capture project aiming to future-proof heavy industry in the Humber region is the right call to make right now, local skills leaders have said,” the Grimsby Telegraph reports. “Plans are currently at a critical stage for Viking CCS, a carbon capture and storage proposal that would extract emissions from the UK's most carbon-intensive cluster before they reach the atmosphere. The gases would be transported via new and repurposed pipelines to be permanently stored under the North Sea… “If fully supported by Westminster, it could trigger a significant regional economic boost… “The wider scheme build-out is expected to create a total of 20,000 jobs, with many hundreds of high-value careers also being created to operate and maintain new facilities, while ensuring existing power stations, chemical plants and refineries thrive for decades to come… "We need 20,000 new engineering / construction trades people to build the infrastructure to get us there. If we don't build that workforce now, we can have the best projects in the world, but we won't be able to build them, and that's what we're here to support,” David Talbot, chief executive of CATCH – the leading training facility spearheading expansion plans to serve industry from the heart of the cluster, told the Telegraph.” He acknowledged the necessity for plans to receive approval and final investment decisions to be made, and expressed his support for the recent demand for clarity from Viking CCS member, power provider VPI, which seeks to become an anchor emitter.”

OilPrice.com: Sustainable Aviation Fuel Faces Uphill Battle To Become Mainstream
Tsvetana Paraskova, 6/5/25

“Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the most promising lever known today to accelerate progress toward a net zero future, says Delta Air Lines,” OilPrice.com reports. “...However, SAF faces many challenges on the runway to take off. Scale and cost are the two biggest and interconnected challenges for the industry to begin replacing petroleum-based kerosene. “Unfortunately, there isn’t enough SAF today to fuel the world’s commercial airlines for even a single day and it is currently 2 to 4 times more expensive than conventional jet fuel,” Delta says. In 2023, Willie Walsh, Director General at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said that the airline industry would be ready to embrace the fact that SAF would always be more expensive than oil-based jet fuel. IATA said at the end of 2024 that growth in SAF volumes is “disappointingly slow.” “...This year, SAF production is set to double again to reach 2 million tons, but this would still be just 0.7% of airlines’ total fuel consumption in 2025, IATA said this weekend… “Instead of promoting the use of SAF, Europe’s SAF mandates have made SAF five times more costly than conventional jet fuel,” the association said, warning that this could put SAF production at risk… “To reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, IATA analysis shows that between 3,000 and more than 6,500 new renewable fuel plants – also producing renewable diesel and other biofuels – will be needed. The annual average capex needed to build the new facilities over the 30-year period is about $128 billion per year, in a best-case scenario, according to IATA… “Low voluntary demand and limited willingness-to-pay weaken the business case for SAF, which slows investment in supply and delays the learning curve needed to drive costs down.”

OPINION

The Courier: Carbon capture pipeline vital for Iowa farmers
Victor Miller, Oelwein, 6/7/25

“Iowa’s corn farmers have long been leaders in adopting new technology, enabling us to continually grow more with less, but we need increased market access. Our state has an opportunity to capitalize on new ethanol markets by implementing carbon capture and sequestration technology (CCS), but if HF 639 is signed into law, that opportunity will be lost,” Victor Miller writes for The Courier. “...If passed, House File 639 will hamper CCS projects within Iowa, blocking the state’s access to participate in new markets like sustainable aviation fuel that would open new doors for increased jobs, economic development and Iowa’s ability to capitalize on climate-smart practices. We will lose market share to states like Nebraska and North Dakota, which are already implementing CCS technology… “Losing access to these markets will not only hurt Iowa farm families, but all Iowans. Iowa needs the ability to implement CCS projects to stay competitive. Without it, we will risk falling behind, hindering our ability to reach our full potential.”

Bloomberg: Canada Couldn't Build a Pipeline. The '51st State' Just Might.
Liam Denning, 6/9/25

“President Donald Trump is gung ho about building new pipelines — but not in Canada, surely? Yet his other passion, that of menacing America’s closest ally, is doing more for the cause of pipelines north of the border than any politician in Ottawa could,” Liam Denning writes for Bloomberg. “Up to now, anyway. Having leveraged Trump’s hostility to win a seemingly unwinnable election, Canada’s newly installed Prime Minister Mark Carney is also using it to unpick the Gordian knot of his country’s pipeline politics. He hosted provincial leaders last week to build support for new infrastructure projects of “national significance” as well as announcing legislation to fast-track those that enhance economic independence. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, whose province dominates Canadian oil production and has little love for Carney’s Liberals, later spoke of a potential “grand bargain” with Ottawa. That Smith framed internal discussions like a summit of sovereign powers speaks to Canada’s divisions… “The fact that only one such in-country pipeline, the westward Trans Mountain system, exists and that a recent expansion of that was only completed after much delay and under the aegis of a Crown Corporation demonstrates how difficult this is. It is also why the vast majority of Alberta’s oil flows south through pipelines to the Midwest — leaving it highly exposed to Trump’s trade war… “Yet such arguments haven’t been able to overcome internal opposition. Which is why Trump’s intervention, adding a security dimension, may be critical… “Beyond that, Carney would need to somehow persuade the political establishment in BC to drop its renewed opposition to a new pipeline and secure enough support from First Nations tribes there… “Carney’s linkage of any new pipeline to the mooted Pathways carbon capture project is a vital step. Without that, it is hard to see how, given his party’s politics and his own career battling climate change, he could even raise the topic of a new pipeline or easing emissions caps… “Any new pipeline out of Alberta would require a heavy lift from Canada’s politicians and taxpayers, as with other strategically and economically important but controversial energy infrastructure projects, such as the Trans Mountain Expansion itself and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. In other words, it represents the sort of moonshot that likely would not have been contemplated without all that bluster from the White House about a 51st state.”

BIC Magazine: Louisiana’s carbon capture investments help drive America-first energy production
Tommy Faucheux, President, Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, 6/6/25

“...Fueled by investments in innovative technologies like CCS, economic growth and pro-energy leadership, Louisiana is poised to enter a new era of America-first energy production,” Tommy Faucheux writes for BIC Magazine. “...CCS is complementary to O&G, not its competitor, and a crucial technology that Louisiana has been developing since the early 1990s. Louisiana’s ideal geology and infrastructure make it a favorable location for CO2 injection and storage… “Major industry leaders are heavily invested in CCS projects, with Louisiana attracting over $20 billion in private investments. These investments not only help reduce emissions but also support the local economy, creating thousands of jobs and generating millions in revenue for the state… “Despite strong industry support for this essential technology, CCS projects in Louisiana continue to face challenges, mainly from a public misperception about safety and environmental impact. These challenges could prevent good CCS jobs and billions of investment dollars from staying in Louisiana. We have to do a better job of listening to concerns, providing answers and sharing the facts about CCS… “With continued investments in CCS, along with economic growth and pro-energy policies, Louisiana is well positioned to lead in this golden age of America-first energy production. As we work to maintain and secure our domestic energy independence, Louisiana can pave the way for a more sustainable future of American energy prosperity.”

Real Clear Energy: America Can Win the Hydrogen Race With Louisiana’s Help
David Cresson is President & CEO of the Louisiana Chemical Association, 6/8/25

“The global race to dominate the clean hydrogen economy is well underway, and the U.S. is at risk of losing it,” David Cresson writes for Real Clear Energy. “From Europe to Asia, countries are investing heavily in hydrogen infrastructure to secure their energy future. The U.S., and Louisiana, have the resources, technology, and workforce to lead – but only if we fully leverage the tools at our disposal, including natural gas and carbon capture. Right now, federal policy is at a crossroads. Two tax credits are on the line: section 45Q, which supports carbon capture and storage (CCS), and section 45V, which incentivizes clean hydrogen production. These provisions weren’t created in silos but rather designed to provide practical options for industry to grow. 45Q has supported Enhanced Oil Recovery since 2008, first introduced by the Bush administration, and has had bipartisan support at the federal level ever since. These credits can boost private-sector investment, support American manufacturing, and maintain U.S. competitiveness on the global stage… “Supporting these projects isn’t just good energy policy – it’s sound economic strategy. Carbon capture and storage projects across 33 industrial and power facilities in Louisiana could generate up to 2,500 annual operation jobs, as well as more than 4,000 annual jobs associated with capital investment in these projects over the next 15 years… “The hydrogen economy is coming. Whether it’s built in America, by American workers, and using American energy depends on the choices we make today. Projects like ACE and CF Industries in Louisiana show what’s possible. Let’s preserve 45V and 45Q, and make sure we lead this race – not watch it from the sidelines.”