EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 8/3/23
PIPELINE NEWS
South Dakota Public Broadcasting: Landowners get chance to testify against pipeline in front of PUC
KELO: PUC consultant: Navigator’s dispersion models adequate
South Dakota Searchlight: Contrasting safety views aired on sixth day of carbon pipeline permit hearing
KELO: PUC consultant disagrees on value of CO2 odorant
KELO: Landowners testify against Navigator CO2 project
South Dakota Searchlight: Landowners plead for their right to keep carbon pipeline off their land
South Dakota News Watch: Where carbon-capture pipelines stand in South Dakota
WLDS: McClure Pushing For CO2 Pipeline Moratorium Legislation
KCZE: Interveners Against Carbon Pipelines Hold Rally in Charles City
WMBD: Pekin residents not excited about proposed CO2 Pipeline
Daily Gate City: Pipeline public hearing Aug. 22
O’Brien County Bell Times Courier: Summit Pipeline Update to Supervisors
News Channel Nebraska: Summit pipeline sees little progress in Madison County
Norfolk Daily News: Pipeline company updates county commissioners on proposed CO2 project
WTVG: Environmental advocates looking to shut down Line 5 pipeline face recent wins and losses
Great Lakes Now: Science Says What? Lessons learned from a deliberate dilbit spill
Bend Source: FERC Off: Federal regulators delayed a decision on a pipeline expansion that bisects two planned communities in east Bend
Morningstar: As Trans Mountain Losses Build, Enbridge Emerges a Winner
World Pipelines: Cheniere Energy eyes new gas pipeline
Courthouse News Service: Judge blocks plan to build pipeline into Montana wilderness lake
Reuters: U.S. regulator grants $64.4 mln to improve pipeline safety
WASHINGTON UPDATES
The Hill: Key Republican casts doubt on bipartisan permitting deal over dispute with White House
E&E News: Climate law will boost CCS, but not hydrogen — report
E&E News: Industry Predicts Dire Consequences From Curbed Offshore Leasing
E&E News: U.S. and UAE oil producers strike carbon capture agreement
Utility Dive: Biden administration proposes 58 mpg fuel economy standard to help drive transition to EVs
E&E News: DOT should weigh climate in oil NEPA reviews, greens say
E&E News: Feds Take Flight To Boost Enforcement For Methane Leaks
STATE UPDATES
Colorado Public Radio: EPA rejects parts of Colorado’s air quality permit for Suncor Energy refinery
Associated Press: California voters may face dueling measures on 2024 ballot about oil wells near homes and schools
Bakersfield Californian: Newsom appoints director to monitor alleged price gouging by oil companies
Cleveland Scene: Polls: Ohioans Skeptical More Fracking Would Bring Benefits
EXTRACTION
Politico: Rishi Sunak’s home hit by Greenpeace in oil and gas protest
The Lens NOLA: LNG export terminals belching more pollution than estimated
Grist: ‘Death stars on sinking land’: How liquefied natural gas took over the Gulf Coast
Bloomberg: Harold Hamm Sees a Great Oil Fortune Still Untapped in USA Shale
CLIMATE FINANCE
CNBC: From Washington to Warsaw, a ‘greenlash’ is picking up steam despite extreme heat
Bloomberg: Corporate ESG Claims to Soon Face Audits to Address Greenwashing Fears
Bloomberg: GOP Effort to Curb ESG Fails to Yield Concrete Results So Far
OPINION
Washington Post: The dangerous fantasy that we can erase our carbon output
Guardian: Rishi Sunak came to Scotland offering more North Sea drilling and carbon capture. We reject both
PIPELINE NEWS
South Dakota Public Broadcasting: Landowners get chance to testify against pipeline in front of PUC
Evan Walton, 8/2/23
“Taking the stand for the first time, landowners voiced concerns for safety and a drop in property value in front of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission,” South Dakota Public Broadcasting reports. “...State Rep. Karla Lems was the first landowner to testify. The Canton Republican was the prime sponsor of multiple pipeline-related bills last legislative session. Lems’ bills were unsuccessful, but her push against pipelines continued into her testimony against Navigator’s pipeline. She said it is her duty to listen to the public. “When I go to public hearings, and commission meetings, and all of these kinds of things, like I said before. Nobody’s in an uproar about natural gas, or water, or electric, we all understand we need those things," Lems said. "This is a different cat, if you will, and one of the big factors with this specifically is safety." Navigator has been hesitant in producing pipeline safety information to the public. Rick Bonander is a landowner and testified to the public’s need for information. “Today, they just released their emergency response plan. Why can’t they release the plume studies? You know, if they got something to hide, they’ve got nothing to hide so tell us what it is. There’s anxiety here, we want to know what’s going on,” said Bonander. Landowners presented a unified front to the PUC commissioners.”
KELO: PUC consultant: Navigator’s dispersion models adequate
Bob Mercer, 8/3/23
“The modeling that Navigator used for estimating the area that could be affected by a rupture to its proposed carbon-dioxide pipeline was the industry standard, according to an outside consultant for the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission staff,” KELO reports. “The testimony by Matthew Frazell (FRUH-zel) on Wednesday contradicted statements made last week by a University of St. Thomas professor, John Abraham, who spoke on behalf of landowners opposed to the project. Navigator initially used PHAST and ALOHA modeling to estimate the distance and intensity of the CO2 plume that would happen if a leak or a break occurred in the line. Abraham said Navigator should have used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling instead. But Frazell disagreed on that point Wednesday. He told James Moore, the lead attorney representing Navigator, that he had “no concern” about the modeling that the company used and said the PHAST and ALOHA approaches were “industry best practices.” Brian Jorde, one of the attorneys representing the opposition landowners, tried to get Frazell to express a different conclusion. Frazell agreed that ALOHA has shortcomings such as not adjusting for terrain or complex meteorology… “Nelson asked Frazell whether any of the CO2 lines where he worked had leaks while he was there. Frazell said there were three minor “pinhole” leaks a millimeter or two big. “From afar you’ll see some fog,” he said, that would be hovering chest high. Inside 100 yards, he said, the ground would be frozen because water in the air had crystallized. The leaks, which often result from corrosion inside the pipe, are fixed by cutting out the piece of line and welding in a replacement, he said, and if a leak shows up in one stretch, it’s likely there could be another.”
South Dakota Searchlight: Contrasting safety views aired on sixth day of carbon pipeline permit hearing
JOSHUA HAIAR, 8/2/23
“Opposing sides debated the safety of the proposed Heartland Greenway pipeline Wednesday during the sixth day of a permit hearing at the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center in Fort Pierre,” South Dakota Searchlight reports. “Navigator CO2’s application to construct a pipeline carrying compressed carbon dioxide has some people worried about a leak. The project includes “a laundry list of techniques” to ensure safety, according to William Byrd, president of RCP Inc., a pipeline consulting firm with a focus on federal regulations… “Byrd said the state’s three elected public utilities commissioners, who will ultimately vote on the permit, are really deciding on whether or not they “trust the operator” and trust the federal regulations that are already in place. Brian Jorde, representing landowners along the proposed pipeline route, argued the answer to those questions is “no.” He said the company has never built a carbon pipeline, and federal regulators are currently reviewing their pipeline safety rules – a development that caused California to put a pause on the construction of carbon pipelines in that state… “Company spokespeople earlier testified that federal regulators are aware of the project and have not reached out with concerns… “The hearing is scheduled to continue through Saturday, and a decision by the Public Utilities Commission is due by Sept. 26.”
KELO: PUC consultant disagrees on value of CO2 odorant
Bob Mercer, 8/2/23
“An outside consultant said Wednesday he doesn’t recommend that Navigator look at placing an odorant in the carbon dioxide that would flow through the pipeline the company wants to build and run in South Dakota,” KELO reports. “...As part of reaching that decision, the commission’s staff contracted with William Byrd, a pipeline engineer from Houston, Texas, to review whether Navigator’s proposal follows federal pipeline regulations and whether it meets state requirements for transmission projects… “While Navigator hasn’t publicly disclosed what odorant is under consideration, Byrd said an odorant can be corrosive to the pipe. He said a major leak could be detected on a transmission line without odorant. Hanson, who said earlier in the week that his primary concern on the project is safety, suggested Wednesday that adding odorant was similar to putting chlorine in water as a disinfectant… “Brian Jorde, an Omaha lawyer representing landowners who oppose the project, said an odorant could become a regulation of the federal agency that oversees pipelines. Byrd acknowledged that was a possibility… “Jorde suggested that all pipelines would sound like an explosion during a rupture. Byrd said an oil pipeline wouldn’t, because there isn’t an explosion, but he agreed that a ruptured CO2 line and a ruptured natural-gas line could sound similar.”
KELO: Landowners testify against Navigator CO2 project
Bob Mercer, 8/1/23
“A state legislator was the first of more than a half-dozen landowners Tuesday who told the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission why they don’t want Navigator’s proposed carbon-dioxide line to be permitted anywhere in the state,” KELO reports. “Republican Rep. Karla Lems from rural Canton spent several hours on the witness stand. She was the prime sponsor of HB1133, which sought to ban carbon-dioxide from being defined as a common carrier under certain circumstances and, in turn, make a project no longer eligible to use eminent domain to force access through a property… “Lems’ testimony followed hours of explanation from a Navigator-affiliated official about safety steps that the company plans to take for the line. Lems said she hadn’t heard anything that reduced her concern. “It literally could wipe somebody out,” she said… “Said Lems, “I believe that if they (PUC) rule in favor of granting a permit for a project as a common carrier, it then allows that company to move forward and have a project.” Then the company can use eminent domain to force access through a property owner’s land, she said: “It’s a chain link.” “...She said there were no outcries against water or natural gas or electricity lines. “This is different. It is different because people don’t see it as a public use,” she said. She added, “You can clean up an oil spill. Yes, there are some dangers with natural gas, but not the possibility that you could see with a CO2 pipeline.” “...We can have the best safety mechanisms in place, and we can still have an accident,” Lems said. Nor does she want her family or neighbors or anyone who buys property from the family her property to face that threat… “Others who testified Tuesday against the project included Rick Bonander, R.J. Wright, Todd Dawley, Glenn Scott, Miles Lacey, Connie Beyer-LaLonde and Keith Myrlie. “If you allow this to go through the commission could change the lives of hundreds of rural families forever,” Myrlie said.
South Dakota Searchlight: Landowners plead for their right to keep carbon pipeline off their land
JOSHUA HAIAR, 8/1/23
“Landowners urged the state Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday to help them prevent a liquid carbon dioxide pipeline from crossing their land,” South Dakota Searchlight reports. “...One of the testifying landowners was state Rep. Karla Lems, R-Canton. She introduced an unsuccessful bill during last winter’s legislative session that would have barred carbon pipelines from using eminent domain… “Lems said she has invested “hundreds of hours” into learning about and fighting against the projects. She said carbon pipelines provide “private gain for a private company, not for public use.” “Basically, what it comes down to is risk versus reward,” Lems said. “The landowners have the risk, and the company has the reward.” Lems is particularly concerned about the potential impacts on the value of property her family intends to sell for development south of Sioux Falls, the state’s fastest-growing region. “It would prohibit us from building structures, those kinds of things that would be needed,” Lems said. “It will obviously, definitely affect the economic development.” “...Am I to infer there are things more important to you than dollars and cents?” Nelson asked. “It’s called freedom,” Lems replied. “We should be able to say we want to be part of a project or say ‘no thank you.’” Rick Bonander and other impacted landowners expressed similar concerns. Bonander lives near Valley Springs, 15 minutes from Sioux Falls. He asked the commission, “Who is going to want to live next to a CO2 pipeline?” “...Bonander talked about carbon dioxide’s uses in the livestock industry and said “it’s a very effective way of euthanizing animals,” but not something people want to live near. “I live in the United States of America and should be able to say no,” Bonander said. Miles Lacey is a farmer from Valley Springs with land that would be impacted by the pipeline. He testified that the proposed route is too close to his home and livestock operation for his comfort. “We could show up one morning and everything is dead,” Lacey said.
South Dakota News Watch: Where carbon-capture pipelines stand in South Dakota
Bart Pfankuch, 8/2/23
“For more than a year, a highly divisive debate has raged in South Dakota over two proposed carbon dioxide pipelines that would capture the toxic gas from ethanol plants and carry it to North Dakota and Illinois for disposal underground,” South Dakota News Watch reports. “...At the same time, the ongoing state-permitting process and possible legislative involvement hold the potential to forever alter landowner rights in the state and further codify the ability of corporations to implement eminent domain to use the land of property owners without their consent. And finally, hovering over the entire permitting process is the question of whether carbon-capture technology is a good investment of billions of federal dollars to reduce CO2 emissions… “A fundamental question among climate-change scientists is whether the practice of CCS is the best way forward to reduce carbon emissions. Also in play is whether spending billions on CCS is the best use of taxpayer money and industry investment in the effort to reach net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases and protect the planet from climate change… “Opponents say the billions would be better spent in reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and in protecting natural methods of CO2 reduction, such as expanding forests. The money could also be used to incentivize industries, including carmakers, to more rapidly advance the switch to electric vehicles. “You’re trying to take an environmentally destructive activity and rebrand it in a way that makes it appear benign,” said Basav Sen of the Institute for Policy Studies… “Dozens of South Dakota landowners, many of them East River farmers, have had their land targeted for use by the pipeline companies, and some fear that eminent domain may be used to dig through their land without consent.”
WLDS: McClure Pushing For CO2 Pipeline Moratorium Legislation
Benjamin Cox, 8/2/23
“54th District State Senator Steve McClure is pushing for legislation in the Illinois General Assembly to delay any construction permits for building carbon dioxide pipelines in the state for at least 2 years, or until the federal government revises safety standards for CO2 pipelines,” WLDS reports. “McClure told WLDS the legislation, which has largely been constituent driven, derives from a rupture of a CO2 pipeline in Satartia, Mississippi in February 2020 that made over 40 people sick... “He told WLDS he’s opposed to the pipeline: “I’ve been dealing with calls for months with people that are living along the pipeline’s proposed route, people that will live near the pipeline that are concerned about their safety and the safety of their families if a pipeline is installed and it ruptures just like it did in Mississippi. Because of those concerns, I had some constituents that were asking me to file legislation that would put a 2-year moratorium on any CO2 pipelines until we can be assured that the pipeline is going to be safe and not rupture. So, I thought that was a reasonable piece of legislation. I still have very big concerns about the pipeline. I’m against the pipeline itself, but I also had to put this bill out there because I know that no one may be able to stop the pipeline. And, if we can’t stop the pipeline, at least we can have more protections put in place.” McClure’s legislation has received bipartisan support from different parts of the state with Lincoln Republican Sally Turner and Joliet Democrat Rachel Ventura joining on as co-sponsors to the legislation… “McClure told WLDS he’s unsure if the bill will be called to the floor for a vote for the General Assembly’s upcoming Fall Veto Session this October.”
KCZE: Interveners Against Carbon Pipelines Hold Rally in Charles City
Mark Pitz, 8/2/23
“About 200 people attended a rally in Charles City Monday night to oppose the construction of underground carbon capture pipelines,” KCZE reports. “Floyd County is one of a handful of Iowa counties targeted for carbon pipelines by Navigator CO2 Ventures and Summit Carbon Solutions, who’s current proposed route would build across the south side of Charles City. State Representative Charley Thomson outlined the possible “human decline” zone of a worst-case scenario if a carbon pipeline ruptured just west of South Grand Avenue. Thomson’s group, Republican Legislator Interveners for Justice, organized the event at the Youth Enrichment Center on the Floyd County Fairgrounds, which featured Jared Bosley, who says he’s battled intimidation tactics by Summit to put a pipeline through his farmland in South Dakota. Bosley says he just wants to farm and give his kids a chance to follow in his footsteps if they so desire. Former U.S. Congressman Steve King was the headlining speaker and said stopping the carbon pipelines will not be easy. King cited a poll that up to 78% of Iowans are against the pipelines, but too many are scared to speak out. He encouraged those who are fighting back to keep it up.”
WMBD: Pekin residents not excited about proposed CO2 Pipeline
Breanna Rittman, 8/2/23
“Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance hosted another meeting to inform people about a proposed underground CO2 pipeline,” WMBD reports. “Wednesday’s meeting was held at the Pekin Public Library where residents were vocal about not wanting a pipeline in their area… “They also advised residents to not sign any voluntary easements… “Richard Huse is a South Pekin resident who received a letter from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) about the proposed pipeline. He said based on his understanding of the letter that if the developer does not get the number of easements they want they will seek to enforce eminent domain… “Seeing all the information that we had here tonight, I’m not really happy about it going to be this close,” said Huse. “There’s a lot of dangerous situations that could happen. It’s just not a good situation for any of the people of this area.” The Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance will speak at the Tazewell County Board meeting on August 30.”
Daily Gate City: Pipeline public hearing Aug. 22
8/3/23
“The Hancock County Board is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at approximately 7:30 p.m., following the Hancock County Board meeting, in the Hancock County Courtroom, third floor of the Hancock County Courthouse,” the Daily Gate City reports. “Residents are encouraged to voice their support or concerns with the CO2 pipeline and litigation process. Currently, Hancock County is in litigation to ensure the best possible outcome if the pipeline proceeds for the safety and concerns of the citizens and property owners of Hancock County. The board would like to hear from residents how the county should proceed with taxpayers’ funds. Hancock County has spent about $34,000 of the $40,000 appropriated for litigation.”
O’Brien County Bell Times Courier: Summit Pipeline Update to Supervisors
Mari Radtke, 8/2/23
“Kaley Langrell regularly updates the O’Brien County Supervisors on the progress of the carbon capture pipeline project,” the O’Brien County Bell Times Courier reports. “...This quarter’s “theme” was referred to as “common misconceptions.” She said these are misconceptions they’ve been hearing, some new, some have been part of the discussion throughout. The first misconception she addressed was regulation of pipelines. She identified the regulatory agencies at both federal and state level… “She said that a little over 27 miles have been acquired, but was not sure how that transferred into individual easements… “The Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are also involved. Langrell explained there would be a joint permit submitted with the Corps, DNR and Summit for this project… “The next misconception identified by Langrell is that Summit will not repair drain tile if they damage it… “Dennis Vanden Hull asked if a tile system were damaged would the entire system be replaced… “Concerns about liability insurance is a new misconception according to Langrell. She stated that a carbon pipeline on your property should not hinder a landowner from being able to secure liability insurance on their own property, saying, “…and as far as we know, it doesn’t.”
News Channel Nebraska: Summit pipeline sees little progress in Madison County
Ryan Pattee, 8/2/23
“While land acquisitions continue to be made in the state, nothing has changed in Madison County,” News Channel Nebraska reports. “Summit Carbon Solutions met with Madison County Commissioners Tuesday morning… “Latimer said progress had been made in Nebraska with 69% of land easements being acquired, a 13% increase from their last update. However, Madison County saw no new acquisitions and remained at 59%. “We haven’t really moved any higher up on that number,” Latimer said. “What maybe leads to that is landowners taking their time making decisions.” “...Summit also took the opportunity to address what they called “misconceptions” about the project. These misconceptions, according to Summit, included water usage, easements being sold, liability insurance, and more… “Summit said landowners don’t need to purchase liability insurance as all liability falls on Summit in relation to the pipeline. However, landowners can purchase liability insurance on the land, if they choose to do so.”
Norfolk Daily News: Pipeline company updates county commissioners on proposed CO2 project
JON HUMPHRIES, 8/2/23
“A representative from Summit Carbon Solutions (SCS) shared an update on the status of the anticipated carbon pipeline in Madison County,” the Norfolk Daily News reports. “In addressing the county commissioners, Robert Lattimer with SCS said plans for the nearly 25-mile stretch of pipeline through Madison County are moving ahead… “Among the first items Lattimer addressed were questions about SCS’s ownership. “The last time there were some questions from one of your constituents about the ownership of investors of some of Summit Carbon Solutions and I’ll just speak a little bit to some of that. Summit Carbon Solutions is an entity with headquarters in Ames, Iowa, with a variety of large, equity investors including companies like John Deere, Continental Resources ... Tiger Infrastructure Partners ... TPG Rise Climate. So, multi-billion dollars of assets that these equity firms bring to the table.” “...There’s a misconception out there that CO2 pipelines are not regulated. That is false. They are regulated by the Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration.” Other concerns addressed by Lattimer were repair of damages cased by pipeline construction, liability insurance for landowners and the company’s responsibility for problems that may arise during the project.”
WTVG: Environmental advocates looking to shut down Line 5 pipeline face recent wins and losses
8/2/23
“Environmental advocates say an oil pipeline that fuels our region’s economy poses a risk to the Great Lakes as they try to get it shut down. They’ve had some wins and losses this summer,” WTVG reports. “...The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed this summer to launch an environmental impact study, but it is limiting that to just the straits instead of the entire pipeline. Groups against line 5 weren’t happy with that news because they were pushing for a broader review of the impacts of the fossil fuels line five transports. “It is imperative that we transition to clean energy sources,” Christopher Clark, Supervising Senior Attorney with Earthjustice, told WTVG. “It is not the time for for us to be investing in massive fossil fuel infrastructure projects like this tunnel.” “...Groups looking to shut down line 5 did get a win on this front earlier this summer, when a federal court ordered Enbridge to shut down a portion of line 5 in Wisconsin, but it wasn’t for environmental reasons -- it was for trespassing on tribal land. The judge gave the company three years to shut down that portion, which leaves plenty of time to push back against the ruling… “Advocates say the president has the authority to freeze the pipeline. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer wants to see that happen, though it seems unlikely that President Biden would take action.”
Great Lakes Now: Science Says What? Lessons learned from a deliberate dilbit spill
Sharon Oosthoek, 7/31/23
“On July 26, 2010, people living along Talmadge Creek in Marshall, Michigan awoke to a sharp, sickening smell. Those who followed their noses to the creek witnessed an environmental horror,” Great Lakes Now reports. “Water flowed black and shiny, coating turtles and waterfowl with a smelly goo and transforming grasses and bushes along the banks from green to oily black. People’s eyes watered and throats burned as they breathed in fumes and some developed headaches and felt sick to their stomachs. As they were soon to discover, dilbit had been spilling from a rupture in a nearby oil pipeline since the night before. Great Lakes residents now know only too well what happened that night. Calgary-based Enbridge Inc., which owns the pipeline, hadn’t realized right away there was a problem. By the time engineers closed the pipeline valves, an estimated 3.2 million liters (843,000 gallons) had leaked into Talmadge Creek and from there into the nearby Kalamazoo River. While the oil didn’t make it as far as Lake Michigan, it did contaminate nearly 65 kilometers (40 miles) of waterways making it one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history… “For the next decade or so, how dilbit reacts in freshwater ecosystems seemed up for debate. Does it sink in both rivers and lakes? How long does it take to break down? And are these breakdown products more or less toxic than dilbit?... “In 2018, a group of scientists deliberately poured dilbit into a freshwater lake in the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) of northwestern Ontario and now their findings – which they hope will inform future clean up efforts – are starting to come out… “In a study published in June, Blais’s team showed it does in fact sink in freshwater lakes. The lowest dilbit treatment began to sink on day 12, whereas the highest sank on day 31. The greater the volume, it turns out, the longer it takes for volatile solvents to evaporate and the remaining oil to mix with water, making it denser. But all volumes of spilled dilbit eventually sank. This is important information because cleaning oil from sediments often means digging it up and removing it – a damaging and costly form of remediation.”
Bend Source: FERC Off: Federal regulators delayed a decision on a pipeline expansion that bisects two planned communities in east Bend
JACK HARVEL, 8/2/23
“The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission delayed a decision on TC Energy's Gas Transmission Northwest Xpress pipeline expansion after Oregon's two senators and 26 environmental organizations asked FERC to deny or delay its decision,” Bend Source reports. “The Canadian energy company asked FERC for permission to pump an additional 150 million cubic feet per day through the pipeline, which snakes across British Columbia, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California — including east of Bend, where it divides the Stevens Ranch and Stevens Road Tract planned communities… “The proposed expansion has been deliberated for over two years at FERC, receiving substantial political pushback. Last August the Attorneys General in Oregon, Washington and California requested a halt of the pipeline expansion, claiming its environmental impact statement fails to accurately characterize impacts to climate change, and therefore violates the National Environmental Policy Act… “FERC didn't say when the GTN Xpress would be back on the docket, and that it doesn't comment on internal reasoning for the delay. The environmental groups who oppose the expansion, however, are taking the news optimistically. "Oregon is already on a path to electrification. If this pipeline expansion went through, it would totally derail the Oregon Climate Plan goals. That's just disastrous, and has a cost of carbon that is $13 billion, and that's using TC energy's own figures. So those are costs that you and I and everyone else would bear, cost of extreme weather, costs to our health and costs from wildfires," Diane Hodiak, executive director of 350 Deschutes, a nonprofit that organizes against new fossil fuel projects, told the Source.”
Morningstar: As Trans Mountain Losses Build, Enbridge Emerges a Winner
Ruth Saldanha, 8/3/23
“The Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, a crown jewel for Canadian oil that offered key export channel for Canadian producers to reach Asian markets, is now riddled with problems,” Morningstar reports. “Morningstar equity analyst, Stephen Ellis, expects a loss of between $15 billion and $20 billion on the project, which is actually good news for Enbridge (ENB). A vicious cycle of higher costs and higher tariffs for the Trans Mountain expansion serves as further fuel for shippers to commit to Enbridge's Mainline… “With Trans Mountain's struggles, I think as you've noted with over-runs, it is definitely becoming much harder for Trans Mountain to be competitive with Mainline. So, for Enbridge, this is a real opportunity for them to capture barrels from Trans Mountain and certainly offer a more attractive option for shippers looking to move barrels down to the Gulf Coast for export.”
World Pipelines: Cheniere Energy eyes new gas pipeline
Sara Simper, 8/2/23
“Cheniere Energy Inc, the largest US LNG exporter, says it may build a new pipeline to link its Louisiana expansion project to other pipelines in major shale-gas producing regions as it seeks to diversify its risk,” World Pipelines reports. “Cheniere's Sabine Pass facility has been expanding since its production began in 2016 but needs additional natural gas beyond current supplies to reach its planned ‘Stage 5’ capacity, top company officials said. "We will likely build a pipeline to where we can access other pipelines. That will get us Haynesville (shale gas), any additional Marcellus (gas) that will come down, mid-continent, Permian as well as Eagleford as it continues to be developed," Corey Grindal, Cheniere's Chief Operating Officer, told journalists recently. Cheniere previously retooled some of its pipeline infrastructure to send gas to its Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana, but those pipelines now shoulder additional demand and are unavailable, Grindal said. The exporter already spends US$800 million a year in pipeline transit fees to transport 7.5 billion ft3/d of natural gas from 26 different pipelines to its LNG plants in Texas and Louisiana, CEO Jack Fusco also said in the interview with reporters at an LNG conference in Vancouver. He gave no detail about the new pipeline's cost or size.”
Courthouse News Service: Judge blocks plan to build pipeline into Montana wilderness lake
LAURA LUNDQUIST, 8/2/23
“A federal judge on Wednesday stopped the installation of a mile-long oxygenated water pipeline into a Montana wilderness area, saying the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service didn’t prove it was necessary to protect a dwindling population of Arctic grayling, a freshwater fish in the salmon family,” Courthouse News Service reports. “U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy granted the permanent injunction against Fish and Wildlife's project to pipe oxygen-rich water into Upper Red Rock Lake, part of the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge on Montana’s southwestern border… “Mollloy's main finding in blocking the pipeline was a lack of proven necessity for the project. “Ultimately, in light of the Wilderness Act’s strict requirements, the mere possibility that the proposed action may aid in Arctic grayling conservation is not enough to create necessity,” Molloy wrote in the 36-page order. “That is especially so where the proposed action will have a negative impact on the area’s wilderness character and involve most of the activities prohibited by the act.”
Reuters: U.S. regulator grants $64.4 mln to improve pipeline safety
8/2/23
“The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Wednesday announced $64.4 million in funding to states to improve the safety of pipeline and underground natural gas (UNGS) operations,” Reuters reports. "These grants provide states with resources to inspect pipelines and UNGS facilities, ensuring they are complying with federal and state regulations," the PHMSA said in a release. The grant comes days after the PHMSA issued a corrective order to Canada's TC Energy directing it to operate its pipelines in parts of Virginia at reduced pressure following an incident that prompted its Columbia Gas Transmission line to declare a force majeure. The U.S. pipeline regulator had said that initial observations suggest the failure of the pipeline could have been caused by "environmental cracking."
WASHINGTON UPDATES
The Hill: Key Republican casts doubt on bipartisan permitting deal over dispute with White House
RACHEL FRAZIN, 8/3/23
“A dispute between Republicans and the White House over environmental policy could throw a wrench into ongoing talks about how to reform the nation’s infrastructure,” The Hill reports. “A key House Republican has indicated he may be willing to walk away from the permitting reform talks amid a disagreement over a rule that, in part, implements previous changes related to the issue that were passed under a deal to lift the debt limit. “There is no way Congress will give this Administration new laws to invent imaginary authorities if they continue to operate in bad faith in the implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act’s [National Environmental Policy Act] reforms,” said Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), who has been a key negotiator for House Republicans on the issue, in a written statement to The Hill… “Late last week, the White House proposed a rule that in part sought to implement the changes that were written into the law — including the timelines and page limits — and set up a process for broadening exclusions from environmental impact studies. The rule also contained additional provisions, including those that would get rid of Trump-era constraints on court challenges to energy and infrastructure projects and direct government agencies to consider climate change and pollution burdens on communities in their actions. Critics of the Biden rule tell The Hill provisions such as these, as well as additional requirements for exempting projects from environmental reviews, may detract from the goal of speeding up project approval… “A Senate Democratic aide also defended the Biden administration and criticized Graves’s suggestion that Congress may not move ahead with an additional permitting reform deal. “If House Republicans use this rule as an excuse to not come to the table on permitting, they should not accuse the Biden administration of acting in bad faith,” the aide told The Hill in an email, noting that the rule implements the changes Republicans pushed for.“
E&E News: Climate law will boost CCS, but not hydrogen — report
David Iaconangelo, 8/2/23
“The Inflation Reduction Act's clean energy incentives might speed up coal's exit from the grid and boost carbon capture projects, but the law won't come close to keeping the United States on track with Paris climate goals, according to a new report,” E&E News reports. “The analysis Wednesday from BloombergNEF models multiple scenarios on how the law could affect the country's transition to lower-carbon forms of energy. The models all found that the IRA alone won't suffice as climate policy — a conclusion shared by several other recent studies. BNEF analysts said the climate law, along with other U.S. current policies, would slash the energy sector's greenhouse gas emissions 55 percent by 2050, compared with 2021 levels. The IRA's subsidies alone would cut emissions by about 10 percent over that period, according to the analysis… "Sticks are needed to complement the IRA carrots," said BNEF’s analysts, calling for emissions reduction mandates. "Hard requirements and penalties for noncompliance" are needed to reach the Paris Agreement's targets, they added.”
E&E News: Industry Predicts Dire Consequences From Curbed Offshore Leasing
Heather Richards, 8/1/23
“More than a dozen fossil fuel groups urged President Joe Biden on Tuesday to swiftly release a delayed offshore oil plan or run the risk of harming U.S. energy security,” E&E News reports. “The Biden administration’s Interior Department allowed the previous five-year oil and gas program, a schedule of oil sales required by federal law, to end last year without a replacement. With the climate cost of the federal oil and gas program as a key consideration, the administration has said it expects to finalize a new program by December that could include up to 11 sales — or none at all. Panning the zero-sale scenario as ‘unworkable,’ the American Petroleum Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Ocean Industries Association joined 15 other organizations in a Tuesday letter warning the White House that a program without the full schedule of oil sales puts U.S. energy stability at risk. “Time is running out to avoid significant consequences that could result from a prolonged gap in federal offshore leasing and production in the years ahead” the letter states, citing a U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast that predicts oil could still serve 60 percent of the nation’s energy demand in 2050.”
E&E News: U.S. and UAE oil producers strike carbon capture agreement
CORBIN HIAR, SARA SCHONHARDT, 8/1/23
“The state-owned oil producer of the United Arab Emirates and a U.S. oil company on announced Tuesday that they are looking to develop projects that could suck carbon dioxide from the sky and smokestacks in both countries,” E&E News reports. “Houston-based Occidental Petroleum Corp. is already constructing Stratos, a direct air capture, or DAC, megaproject in West Texas that is designed to remove 500,000 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere annually. Under the terms of its undisclosed agreement with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., or ADNOC, the UAE driller could invest in that DAC facility or others that Occidental has underway in the U.S., the companies said. The oil companies are also looking to jointly develop in the UAE one or more carbon storage hubs and a DAC plant capable of removing up to 1 million tons per year, according to Occidental. Those potential projects could help cut emissions from carbon-intensive industrial facilities in the Persian Gulf state as well as its aviation and maritime operations.”
Utility Dive: Biden administration proposes 58 mpg fuel economy standard to help drive transition to EVs
Michael Brady, 8/1/23
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed new fuel economy standards on Friday that asks automakers to achieve a corporate average fuel economy of nearly 58 miles per gallon by 2032,” Utility Dive reports. “The agency recommended that fuel efficiency increase 2% annually for passenger cars and 4% for light-duty trucks starting in model year 2027. But it’s considering more aggressive targets. NHTSA also proposed a 10% annual fuel economy improvement for commercial vehicles from 8,500 to less than 14,001 pounds from model year 2030 through 2035. The proposal is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to lower climate pollution and encourage the transition to zero-emission vehicles, especially electric vehicles. NHTSA said the net benefits of the proposal exceed $18 billion. “CAFE standards have driven the auto industry to innovate in improving fuel economy in ways that benefit our nation and all Americans,” NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson said in a statement. “The new standards we’re proposing today would advance our energy security, reduce harmful emissions, and save families and business owners money at the pump.”
E&E News: DOT should weigh climate in oil NEPA reviews, greens say
Carlos Anchondo, 8/1/23
“The Department of Transportation should integrate climate guidance from the White House into evaluations of proposed deepwater oil and natural gas projects, according to a letter Monday from 130 environmental groups,” E&E News reports. “The groups — including Earthworks and the Center for Biological Diversity — raised concerns about the Maritime Administration’s approval of new offshore oil and gas export terminals and called on DOT to apply interim guidance issued by the White House Council on Environmental Quality in January as the department carries out environmental reviews of offshore export terminals. The groups cited deepwater proposals in the Gulf of Mexico. The CEQ guidance recommended that agencies quantify the projected emissions of a project for its “expected lifetime” and called for agencies to incorporate “environmental justice considerations” into analyses. On its website, DOT defines environmental justice as "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, ethnicity, income, national original, or educational level" as related to the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.”
E&E News: Feds Take Flight To Boost Enforcement For Methane Leaks
Jean Chemnick, 8/2/23
“The Biden administration is putting the heat on oil and gas producers responsible for methane emissions,” E&E News reports. “The Department of Justice is leading a new interagency working group to ‘integrate new datasets and the latest technologies into enforcement activities related to the venting, flaring, leaking, and catastrophic releases of methane,’ according to a White House fact sheet released ahead of a methane summit July 26. The group — which also includes EPA, the Interior Department, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and NASA — met for the first time two weeks ago and ‘will identify complementary methane management authorities, share information and training of inspectors, and seek to coordinate response to large emissions events,’ the fact sheet said. Attorney General Merrick Garland has said the effort involves U.S. attorneys’ offices that will share monitoring tools and funding from last year’s climate law to identify high-emissions events and exercise enforcement. “All of our work in the law enforcement field involves partnering with state and local law enforcement,” Garland told a Senate hearing. … EPA and the Bureau of Land Management are both writing new rules that could work with advanced monitoring to crack down on methane.”
STATE UPDATES
Colorado Public Radio: EPA rejects parts of Colorado’s air quality permit for Suncor Energy refinery
Sam Brasch, 8/1/23
“In a partial win for local environmental groups, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered state air quality regulators to revise an air quality permit for Suncor Energy’s refinery in Commerce City,” Colorado Public Radio reports. “The decision comes after the EPA approved a long-overdue permit renewal for one of the refinery’s plants last fall. Environmental groups submitted a pair of petitions in October 2022 objecting to the move, claiming state air regulators had failed to hold the Canadian oil and gas company accountable for repeated violations of the U.S. Clean Air Act. “Improving air quality for the underserved communities affected by harmful air emissions from the Suncor refinery is a shared priority for EPA and CDPHE,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “EPA will continue to work with Colorado to secure the refinery’s compliance with laws and regulations and protect the health of nearby residents.” The EPA’s decision requires state air regulators to revisit portions of the permit concerning dust and carbon monoxide releases. Suncor Energy had repeatedly violated federal standards concerning both pollutants, including a 2019 incident at one of its fluid catalytic crack units that covered the nearby community with a layer of yellow-white scum. The decision also directs state regulators to consider whether they should require further improvements to the system, which helps transform crude oil into gasoline and diesel… “The decision isn’t a complete victory for environmental groups. The EPA rejected one petition from 350 Colorado, which called for the federal agency to reject the permit outright and potentially order Suncor Energy to cease operations. Earthjustice, an environmental legal advocacy group, filed a second petition on behalf of neighborhood organizations, GreenLatinos, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club. It called for the EPA to deny the permit or require substantial changes. The EPA chose the second option.”
Associated Press: California voters may face dueling measures on 2024 ballot about oil wells near homes and schools
SOPHIE AUSTIN, 8/2/23
“California voters may be asked twice on the same November 2024 ballot whether to keep or to ditch a law mandating new oil wells be a certain distance away from homes, schools and parks,” the Associated Press reports. “Recently, state lawmakers have been debating whether to reform the referendum process that makes overturning a law possible, as it has been leveraged by powerful industries to invalidate laws that are unfavorable to them. Last year, lawmakers approved so-called buffer zones around oil wells, which dot communities around Los Angeles and the state’s Central Valley, as part of a package of bills aimed at tackling climate change and pollution. The oil industry quickly moved to undo the law by gaining a spot on the 2024 ballot. But on Wednesday environmental advocates put forward their own proposed ballot measure aimed at getting voters to require buffer zones… “The possibility of dueling ballot measures on new oil wells also showcases the growing political tension around California’s approach to dealing with climate change, with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration increasingly passing laws aimed at shrinking the oil and gas industry. Two measures on the same ballot could confuse voters, threatening both sides’ chances of success… “The oil industry’s tactics to collect the 623,000 signatures needed to get their favored measure on the ballot has come under fire. The California Secretary of State’s office said last year it was investigating complaints alleging signature gatherers were spreading misinformation about the measure.”
Bakersfield Californian: Newsom appoints director to monitor alleged price gouging by oil companies
8/1/23
“Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday the appointment of a new director within the California Energy Commission tasked with monitoring the oil industry to "identify irregular or illegal behavior" and refer any potential law violations to the state attorney general for prosecution,” the Bakersfield Californian reports. “Tai Milder, from Oakland, is the first director of the division of petroleum market oversight. The new office aims to investigate price gouging by oil companies, according to Newsom. Milder served in the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division and prosecuted companies and individuals who engaged in price-fixing, bid-rigging and bribery, according to a news release. He also worked in California' DOJ to enforce antitrust laws against oil and gas companies… “The creation of the new office comes under a law Newsom signed this year that aims to keep track of oil companies' profits when gas prices soar.”
Cleveland Scene: Polls: Ohioans Skeptical More Fracking Would Bring Benefits
Nadia Ramlagan, 8/1/23
“At a time when Ohio state lawmakers are pushing to expand fracking on public lands, polling in recent years finds most residents are either strongly opposed, somewhat opposed, or unsure about fracking as a means of natural gas production. House Bill 507 was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine this year and requires the state to approve permits for oil and gas leasing on state-owned land. Ben Hunkler, communications manager for the Ohio River Valley Institute, said Ohioans are skeptical of potential economic benefits of the fracking boom, noting many communities have not seen the kinds of jobs or prosperity often touted by proponents of natural gas development. ‘Ohio has one of the lowest severance tax rates in the nation,’ Hunkler pointed out. ‘Meaning that the revenue that it derives from oil and gas extraction relative to other states is really low.’”
EXTRACTION
Politico: Rishi Sunak’s home hit by Greenpeace in oil and gas protest
ANDREW MCDONALD, 8/3/23
“Greenpeace climate activists scaled Rishi Sunak's family home and draped it in black fabric — as part of a protest against plans to issue new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea,” Politico reports. "Climbers are on the roof of Rishi Sunak’s mansion draping it in 200 metres of oily-black fabric to drive home the dangerous consequences of a new drilling frenzy," Greenpeace U.K. tweeted Thursday, as they shared a picture of the stunt. No. 10 Downing Street confirmed to the PA news agency that U.K. police "are in attendance" at Sunak's home, in Kirby Sigston, Yorkshire. A No.10 spokesperson said: "We make no apology for taking the right approach to ensure our energy security, using the resources we have here at home so we are never reliant on aggressors like [Vladimir] Putin for our energy." “...Two other activists unfurled a banner stating "Rishi Sunak — Oil Profits or Our Future?" in front of Sunak's home.”
The Lens NOLA: LNG export terminals belching more pollution than estimated
SARA SNEATH, 7/31/23
“Air-monitoring consultant James Doty can see pollution that’s invisible to the naked eye. The lens of his optical gas-imaging camera shows pollution in a rainbow of colors that reveal temperature differences,” The Lens NOLA reports. “...All of the liquified natural gas export terminals in Texas and Louisiana that he’s looked at through this instrument had one thing in common: “huge emissions,” Doty, who was hired by Earthworks to look at Louisiana pollution after managing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s mobile air-monitoring program for 17 years, told The Lens… “All five of the active LNG export terminals in the Gulf South have leaked pollutants. People who live near the export terminals say the facilities are belching higher levels of toxic and climate-warming pollution into the air than originally estimated – which threatens the air quality of communities already burdened by pollution. For example, Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass export facility, in south Louisiana, exceeded hourly emissions limits of its air permits more than 100 times in 2022, according to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, which sent the company a consolidated compliance order in June, warning that fines were possible. Industry marketing campaigns tout natural gas as a “cleaner” alternative, because burning it produces about half as much carbon dioxide as coal, to generate the same amount of energy. But leaks and emissions can erase those benefits, because natural gas is primarily composed of methane, the potent greenhouse gas. “Any perception that LNG facilities are clean and don’t have big emissions is absolutely false,” Doty told The Lens, describing what he saw over the course of two days last summer, as he pointed his camera at three LNG facilities in Cameron Parish.”
Grist: ‘Death stars on sinking land’: How liquefied natural gas took over the Gulf Coast
Mia Torres, Lylla Younes & Jake Bittle, 8/2/23
“To visit the country’s newest hub for exporting liquefied gas to Europe, follow the Mississippi River southeast from New Orleans, past the recently shuttered Phillips 66 refinery in Alliance and deeper into Plaquemines Parish, a ribbon of land that flanks the lower Mississippi River before dropping off into the Gulf of Mexico,” Grist reports. “...Towering over this patchwork of lowland and swamp is a massive liquefied natural gas export terminal owned by the Virginia-based Venture Global LNG, one of three in Louisiana… “The opening will represent a triumph for gas drillers that have sought to sell more of their product abroad and for President Joe Biden, who has championed American gas exports to ensure “the reliable supply of global energy” as Europe weans itself off gas imported from Russia following that country’s invasion of Ukraine… “Emboldened by a surge in global demand for natural gas, a small group of companies rushed to build an industry along the Gulf Coast, from the southern tip of Texas to southeastern Louisiana, carving up thousands of acres of vulnerable shoreline to clear the way for massive plants and send American fossil fuels overseas… “Building them often requires dredging through shorelines and wetlands to build loading docks and lay hundreds of miles of pipelines. Seven of these facilities have started up in the continental United States in as many years, and at least two dozen more are in various stages of planning and construction along the Gulf Coast. A decade ago, the United States had never exported LNG, but earlier this year it became the world’s top exporter of the fuel, surpassing the gas-rich nation of Qatar… “But it’s on the Gulf Coast, and in particular on the rural fringes of the Louisiana coast, that the consequences of the boom have been most visible. Grist reviewed dozens of state and federal records and found that in their haste to greenlight new terminals, regulators are exposing residents of coastal parishes to new and dangerous sources of air pollution from flares and leaks… “It’s not just that each of these facilities is like a giant death star on sinking land, it’s that there’s so many of them,” Elizabeth Calderon, a senior attorney at the environmental nonprofit Earthjustice who has worked on cases challenging LNG terminals in south Louisiana, told Grist. “This is how sacrifice zones are created.”
Bloomberg: Harold Hamm Sees a Great Oil Fortune Still Untapped in USA Shale
David Wethe, 7/31/23
“The first thing that greets visitors entering the headquarters of billionaire Harold Hamm’s Continental Resources Inc. is a 9-foot-long statue of a snarling bull named Boe. Boe — short for barrels of oil equivalent — is an apt symbol for a veteran wildcatter who’s still betting big on more crude production in the US,” Bloomberg reports. “Hamm is a shale pioneer, the first to figure out how to drill miles-long wells sideways to unleash oil from North Dakota’s Bakken shale region. At the time, it was the biggest US oil find since Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay in 1968. Today, Continental, which he and his family control, is the biggest oil producer in North Dakota and Oklahoma. Continental is also drilling wells in Wyoming and in the prolific Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico. “The future is bright,” Hamm, 77, said during an interview with Bloomberg News this month in his Oklahoma City office. “I look at it as an industry that is exciting, a lot of adventure, has a lot of potential for making great wealth.” His optimism belies forecasts for the US shale sector, which is showing signs of reaching middle age. Experts predict output will peak by the end of this decade. The Bakken has already lost its luster, with output trailing pre-Covid levels. Even in the Permian, the world’s busiest shale basin, production is expected to max out by 2030 and gradually trail off from there… “Hamm quibbles with the estimates, saying the Permian may not reach its high-water mark until 2035 and will see another 25% pop in production first. “We’ve certainly seen some great days in shale,” he said. “But have we got a long way to go? Yeah.” He spoke before the release of his new book, “Game Changer,” which goes on sale Tuesday. In it, Hamm pushes for a change in energy policy in Washington that would help boost oil and gas production. Hamm, the youngest of 13 children born to Oklahoma sharecroppers, also hopes the book will rally enthusiasm for the industry that made him wealthy. He’s the world’s 77th richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. “Part of the purpose of this book is to encourage the next barefooted country boy to imagine that he could do something equally as good,” he said.
CLIMATE FINANCE
CNBC: From Washington to Warsaw, a ‘greenlash’ is picking up steam despite extreme heat
Sam Meredith, 8/1/23
“State laws restricting the use of environmental, social and governance factors have swept across the U.S. in recent months,” CNBC reports. “In Europe, too, signs of a green political backlash have started surfacing as businesses and citizens feel the costs of the energy transition. “This is really a story of the last couple of years, but I think it is really picking up steam now,” Nathalie Tocci, director of Istituto Affari Internazionali, told CNBC… “Analysts expect the outcome of next year’s U.S. presidential election to determine whether the political backlash against ESG will have a deep and lasting effect. A pushback against climate policies is not just a U.S. issue. In Europe, indications of a green backlash — or “greenlash” — have started surfacing as businesses and citizens feel the costs of the energy transition.”
Bloomberg: Corporate ESG Claims to Soon Face Audits to Address Greenwashing Fears
Greg Ritchie, 8/2/23
“The disclosures that companies make about their green credentials will be evaluated by new global audit standards that are expected to be finalized by the end of next year,” Bloomberg reports. “The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) set out its sustainability assurance proposals on Wednesday, with a consultation closing Dec. 1. The move reflects investor and stakeholder concern that corporate disclosures about sustainability aren’t always reliable.”
Bloomberg: GOP Effort to Curb ESG Fails to Yield Concrete Results So Far
Tim Quinson, 8/2/23
“For all of the Republican Party’s furious opposition to ESG, its efforts to accomplish something on the legislative front have fallen short,” Bloomberg reports. “At least that’s the view of Cowen Inc. analyst John Miller, who closely tracks regulatory affairs for the firm’s Washington Research Group. House Republicans held a series of hearings last month, which Miller monitored. At the meetings, the lawmakers called for squashing the Securities and Exchange Commission’s efforts to enforce more transparent corporate disclosure requirements for environmental, social and governance factors. In addition to taking on the SEC, GOP lawmakers are pushing for stricter oversight of proxy advisory firms and also favor limiting—or even excluding—ESG-focused investments from Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) funds. “However, the reality is if you’re expecting any meaningful legislation to emerge from all the Republicans’ talking points, think again,” Miller told Bloomberg… “Indeed, Miller told Bloomberg the Republican initiative to protect industries responsible for churning out fossil fuels will have little, if any, overall impact on investors. Money flows to clean energy and clean transportation companies will go on unaffected and most money managers will continue to invest anyway that they want, he told Bloomberg. “While Democrats are increasingly concerned that anti-ESG efforts will slow capital flows, we don’t think so because no matter what happens in the Republican-controlled House, there’s little chance the Democrat-controlled Senate will take up the issue,” Miller told Bloomberg.”
OPINION
Washington Post: The dangerous fantasy that we can erase our carbon output
Wenonah Hauter is executive director of Food & Water Watch, 8/2/23
“It is a painful irony that extreme heat waves are driving us to burn more fossil fuels to cool our homes, as reported in the July 29 front-page article “ ‘Vicious cycle’: Heat waves ramp up burning of fossil fuels,” Wenonah Hauter writes for the Washington Post. “This is a testament to the failure of political leaders and utility giants to move away from dirty energy sources; the massive build-out of gas-fired power plants brought on by the fracking boom has only brought us closer to climate crisis. This sorry of state of affairs is unfortunately leading some — including the Biden administration — to put faith in the tech fix known as carbon capture. Despite years of research and billions of dollars in public and private funding, not a single gas-fired power plant in the United States is equipped with carbon-capture technology — and none are on the horizon. The notion that we can continue to burn fossil fuels and simply erase the climate pollution created by gas-fired power plants is a dangerous fantasy — one that keeps polluting energy sources in place.”
Guardian: Rishi Sunak came to Scotland offering more North Sea drilling and carbon capture. We reject both
Mary Church is head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, 8/2/23
“Rishi Sunak revealed little in the way of new policy on energy, economy, or heaven forbid, climate on his visit to Scotland. Indeed, he mostly doubled down on climate denial by regurgitating plans to hand out hundreds of new oil and gas licences in the coming years,” March Church writes for the Guardian. “...The only real development allied to his visit here was the promise of a share of £20bn public funding and somewhat opaque “track 2” status for the Acorn carbon capture project near Peterhead in Aberdeenshire – something the Tories and SNP have long played politics with. Carbon capture has been hovering in the background for many years but only started to come to the fore as we reach the limits of what tinkering around the edges of business-as-usual can do to bring emissions down. Carbon capture is the preferred climate solution of the fossil fuel industry and its cheerleaders; those who stand to lose from the transformative changes needed to meaningfully tackle the crisis. But carbon capture has a long history of over-promising and under-delivering – longer, in fact, than the time we have to bring down emissions if we want to secure a livable planet… “What’s not widely understood, however, and what the prime minister did not elaborate on, is that the projected volumes of carbon to be stored in exhausted North Sea wells go far beyond what the UK could feasibly require. The idea, backed by both the UK and Scottish governments despite the history of industry failure, is to turn the North Sea into Europe’s dumping ground for carbon. That’s hardly a vote-winner in either parliament. Let’s be clear: this is a plan that serves, and indeed subsidises, only the interests of fossil fuel industry bosses and does nothing to secure our energy future or jobs in the region.”