EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 8/9/22
PIPELINE NEWS
Dow Jones Newswires: Canada and U.S. Making Progress on Enbridge Line 5 Pipeline, Canadian Ambassador Says
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Carbon pipeline company reveals first potential eminent domain requests
Winston-Salem Journal: Pipeline project cutting through Triad has new life, assuaging some, angering others
Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia official lobbied for gas project his agency will consider
Daily Local: Local lawmaker introduces bill to increase penalties of polluters
Pipeline Fighters Hub: CO2 Pipeline Safety: "The Gassing of Satartia, MS" & Aftermath (Aug. 9 Webinar)
Oil & Gas Journal: TC Energy, Mexico to build 1.3 bcfd Southeast Gateway pipeline
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: Climate bill backs oil leasing: How much of a CO2 problem?
STATE UPDATES
Bismarck Tribune: Salt cavern study exceeds original budget by millions, seeks additional funding
San Diego Union Tribune: Sempra boss says company is OK with San Diego City Council plan to eliminate natural gas
Albuquerque Journal: New Mexico oil group appeals ozone pollution rules
Reuters: Suncor's Colorado refinery operations back to normal after malfunction
Reuters: U.S. Coast Guard responds to oil spill in Terrebonne Bay, La.
EXTRACTION
Press release: Enbridge Is Working Together for Change
Press release: Cenovus Acquiring Outstanding 50% Interest in Toledo Refinery from bp, Will Assume Operatorship
OPINION
Muskoka Region: Enbridge argues to Muskoka residents that pipelines are critical to achieving net zero, reliably and affordably
Forbes: Could Carbon Markets Become Larger Than Oil And Gas?
Ted Glick: Victory in Senate a Turning Point? No, Not Yet!
National Review: Banning Exports of Crude Oil and Refined Products Would Increase Prices
PIPELINE NEWS
Dow Jones Newswires: Canada and U.S. Making Progress on Enbridge Line 5 Pipeline, Canadian Ambassador Says
8/8/22
“Canadian and U.S. officials met in late July for technical discussions about Enbridge Inc.'s Line 5 pipeline, said Canada's Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman,” according to Dow Jones Newswires. “Michigan is trying to shut down the pipeline, which is a major source of oil and petroleum products to Canada's Ontario and Quebec provinces. "It takes a while, it's complicated, there's different stakeholders, but I feel like we're working collaboratively there," Ms. Hillman told Dow Jones… “Michigan had sued Enbridge in court to revoke permitting that allowed the pipeline to snake along the bottom of the environmentally sensitive Straits of Mackinac.”
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Carbon pipeline company reveals first potential eminent domain requests
JARED STRONG, 8/8/22
“Summit Carbon Solutions on Monday submitted its first lists of properties for which it would seek eminent domain if landowners continue to oppose its pipeline plans, according to state regulatory filings,” the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports. “...The Summit project has the potential to traverse about a third of Iowa’s counties. On Monday, the company listed land parcels in four of them — Chickasaw, Greene, Plymouth and Pottawattamie — that might be subject to eminent domain… “Summit has inked about 1,200 voluntary easements in Iowa with about 700 landowners for permission to build its pipeline on their properties, the company said. That represents about 40% of the total route in the state, Courtney Ryan, a spokesperson for the company, told the Dispatch. On Monday, the company filed its first group of potential eminent domain requests and indicated it might not include all of the eventual requests for the listed counties… “The first group includes 42 land parcels possessed by 25 landowners or groups of landowners… “Summit’s allegations of only having 40% of the route it wants to build its experimental hazardous pipeline is a shockingly low number after the tens of millions of dollars it has spent and after the lobbying efforts and backroom deals compromising Iowa politicians,” Brian Jorde, a lawyer who represents landowners who oppose the Summit project, said last week in a press release. “Their announcement is underwhelming and shows where the vast majority of Iowans are on this taxpayer funded land grab — solidly opposed.”
Winston-Salem Journal: Pipeline project cutting through Triad has new life, assuaging some, angering others
JOHN DEEM, 8/8/22
“Democratic congressional leaders’ apparent pledge to push for completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline gives new life to a proposed 75-mile extension that would move 375 million cubic feet of natural gas through the Triad daily,” the Winston-Salem Journal reports. “That’s enough to serve more than 2.2 million average U.S. homes for a day — and to fan smoldering opposition from environmental organizations. The proposed $500 million MVP Southgate extension would pick up where the Mountain Valley Pipeline stops in southern Virginia, run through the heart of Rockingham County and end in Alamance County. But that can only happen if work resumes on the main 303-mile MVP Pipeline project, which paused this past winter when courts nullified a handful of environmental permits… “In essence, it would be a pipeline from nowhere to nowhere incapable of carrying any natural gas, and certainly not able to fulfill its basic project purpose, while having no practical alternative,” state officials said in explaining its permit denial. “Prior to incurring any impacts to North Carolina natural resources ... a level of certainty regarding the completion of the MVP Mainline pipeline is required.” “...Manchin’s demands for supporting the package include streamlining and speeding regulatory reviews of energy-related projects, and limiting courts’ ability to block permits. Those proposed changes, aimed at removing hurdles for projects like the Mountain Valley Pipeline pipelines, have angered environmental advocates who otherwise praise the climate items laid out in the agreement. “If even half of the measures outlined in Manchin’s proposal are passed, it would constitute a major overhaul of fossil fuel infrastructure permitting,” Ridge Graham of the environmental group Appalachian Voices, told the Journal. “By itself, any legislation that requires the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline is unacceptable. When combined with multiple, sweeping changes that fast-track any number of unnecessary projects, gut critical environmental protections and hamstring the authority of multiple federal agencies, such a permitting reform bill would be a disaster for clean air, clean water and frontline communities.” “...Both projects also have divided political leaders largely along party lines, with Republicans overwhelmingly in support of the pipelines and Democrats, including Gov. Roy Cooper, generally opposed.”
Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia official lobbied for gas project his agency will consider
Patrick Wilson, 8/5/22
“As one of eight gubernatorial appointees on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, James Minor gets a vote on an anticipated permit request for a natural gas pipeline expansion south of Petersburg,” the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. “Public records show that he’s been lobbying elected officials to support the project; he and the company that wants to build it won’t say if he was paid for the work. The commission regulates fishing and marine resources in Virginia. Public records show Minor emailed and called elected officials in Petersburg between February and May on behalf of a pipeline expansion project from TC Energy and its subsidiary, Columbia Gas Transmission. Minor’s work included sending draft support letters for Petersburg City Council members to sign and send to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is now considering whether TC Energy’s ”Virginia Reliability Project” is necessary… “Minor also sent the Petersburg mayor a draft op-ed and asked him to put his name on it, and emailed some City Council members with TC Energy talking points in support of the project. The Energy and Policy Institute, a utility watchdog that advocates for renewable energy, discovered Minor’s work for the company in records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request to officials in Petersburg… “Minor, who is a city of Richmond employee and the Richmond branch NAACP president, declined to say how he came to promote a fossil fuel project that’s headed to him for consideration as a Virginia Marine Resources Commission board member. He told the Dispatch he didn’t work for the company but wouldn’t say if he was paid by the company or a subsidiary, or say if someone approached him to do the work. “When it comes to the VMRC, then I’m going to have to recuse myself from it. That’s all,” he told the Dispatch… “Minor did vote in favor of a separate TC Energy permit request before the commission on June 28. TC Energy officials did not respond to a voicemail and two emails with specific questions… “Documents filed by TC Energy at FERC show a significant minority population near the compressor stations and along the pipeline route. The Virginia State Conference NAACP sent a letter to federal regulators asking for a thorough assessment of the project’s impacts on the environment and air quality. In addition to its federal review, TC Energy said in filings that it expects to apply for various state permits, including from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The company said it expects to request a river and stream crossing permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission in October.”
Daily Local: Local lawmaker introduces bill to increase penalties of polluters
8/9/22
“State Rep. Kristine Howard, D-Chester, said Monday she was pleased to see Sunoco Pipeline LP, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer, convicted of criminal charges related to its conduct during the construction of the Mariner East 2 Pipeline, which crosses through Chester and Delaware counties,” Daily Local reports. “According to the Office of Attorney General, as part of a plea agreement, Energy Transfer will pay for independent evaluations of potential water quality impact for homeowners near the Mariner East 2 Pipeline; offer approved mechanisms for restoring or replacing the impacted private water supplies; have an independent, professional geologist review water testing and advise on water quality; and pay $10 million toward projects to improve the health and safety of the water sources… “In response to these violations, Howard said she believes stronger punishments are needed to prevent this from happening again. She has introduced the following bills to increase penalties on polluters and given the attorney general power to prosecute: House Bill 2323: Would double the maximum fines for both general and willful violations and prohibit the DEP from waiving fines issued against oil and gas companies… “I look forward to working with our General Assembly to move this legislation forward and hold responsible parties accountable for their actions, especially when it endangers the health and safety of Pennsylvanians.”
Pipeline Fighters Hub: CO2 Pipeline Safety: "The Gassing of Satartia, MS" & Aftermath (Aug. 9 Webinar)
8/9/22
“Register to join the webinar with a focus on the critical safety concerns with carbon pipelines, and what can happen in the worst case scenario of a CO2 pipeline rupture -- like what happened in Satartia, Mississippi in 2020. Tuesday, Aug. 9, 5:30 p.m. (Central Time). The panel includes Dan Zegart -- the journalist who covered the shocking details of the Satartia pipeline rupture that sent at least 45 people to the hospital, and months later continued to cause health issues for the victims, in his story "The Gassing of Satartia." Also joining the panel will be two local Mississippi first responders who were there that day and who went out to help the victims who placed those harrowing 911 calls that Dan's reporting uncovered.”
Oil & Gas Journal: TC Energy, Mexico to build 1.3 bcfd Southeast Gateway pipeline
8/8/22
“TC Energy Corp. and Mexico’s state-owned Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) have agreed to a strategic alliance centered on accelerating development of natural gas infrastructure in central and southeast Mexico, including construction of the 1.3 bcfd Southeast Gateway pipeline,” OIl & Gas Journal reports. “...TC Energy and CFE in conjunction with the alliance also took final investment decision (FID) on the 715-km Southeast Gateway… “The project is expected to be in-service by mid-2025 at an estimated cost of $4.5 billion. TC Energy and the CFE also agreed to mutually terminate presently suspended international arbitration (OGJ Online, Nov. 8, 2021) between the two related to the 886-MMcfd Tula-Villa de Reyes and Tuxpan-Tula (TXTL) pipelines, with TC Energy earning a return on and of all previous capital invested. TC Energy and CFE have also agreed to work together to complete TXTL’s central segment, subject to fourth-quarter 2022 FID.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
E&E News: Climate bill backs oil leasing: How much of a CO2 problem?
Heather Richards, 8/9/22
“The Democrats’ massive climate deal is catching heat from environmental activists for guaranteeing years of oil and gas leasing on federal lands and off the nation’s coast,” E&E News reports. “But is the oil trade-off such a bad compromise in the larger fight to reduce emissions and slow climate change? While the “Inflation Reduction Act” brokered by pro-oil Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate majority leader from New York, would entrench oil’s footprint on public lands and waters for years, some climate experts say the benefits of the $369 billion commitment to expand clean energy and electric vehicles, the emergent hydrogen space, and nuclear energy far outweigh the downside of more fossil fuel leasing. That’s partly because leasing on federal lands is a preliminary step that doesn’t guarantee companies will drill for oil and gas, or that those hydrocarbons will be burned up in cars, planes and power plants contributing to global warming. “We find that the oil and gas leasing provisions have a negligible impact on emissions and are far outweighed by the emissions reductions in clean energy, clean vehicle, and energy efficiency deployment,” Ben King, Rhodium Group’s associate director, told E&E… “This bill should not be considered a climate victory,” Jim Walsh, policy director for Food & Water Watch, told E&E. Erich Pica, president of Friends of the Earth, praised the renewable aspects of the bill but also said in a statement that “communities and the climate continue to be sacrificed to Sen. Manchin’s fossil fuel demands.” “...Many climate experts have supported the bill and pushed back on the green opposition. They reason that the giveaways to oil and gas aren’t as significant as the climate benefits.”
STATE UPDATES
Bismarck Tribune: Salt cavern study exceeds original budget by millions, seeks additional funding
JACKIE JAHFETSON, 8/5/22
“An energy study to determine whether salt caverns could be used in North Dakota to store gas and liquids is running millions of dollars over budget,” the Bismarck Tribune reports. “The three-member North Dakota Industrial Commission on Thursday voted to reallocate $2.5 million from another study project to complete a core analysis that's integral to the salt cavern study. The other study, which deals with underground gas storage, requires only another $500,000 to complete. The commission on the recommendation of Deputy Executive Director Reice Haase also reallocated $500,000 that had been intended to acquire land for drilling a test well… “The $500,000 will be used to help pay for the services of an industry board that is advising the University of North Dakota's Energy and Environmental Research Center, which is conducting the study. The purpose is to determine the feasibility of constructing underground salt caverns in western North Dakota for energy resource storage, including natural gas, hydrogen and hydrocarbons. The rise in the original $9.5 million budget -- which the Industrial Commission approved in May -- is due to challenges faced while drilling, Haase told the Tribune.
San Diego Union Tribune: Sempra boss says company is OK with San Diego City Council plan to eliminate natural gas
ROB NIKOLEWSKI, 8/4/22
“Natural gas is a cornerstone of Sempra, the Fortune 500 giant that is the parent company of San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company,” the San Diego Union Tribune reports. “But on Thursday, Sempra’s top executive said he has no beef with a unanimous vote by the San Diego City Council to eliminate natural gas in new construction and electrify nearly all existing buildings in the city by 2035. “We’re supportive of where the city wants to go,” Sempra CEO Jeff Martin said when asked about the council’s resolution during the company’s second quarter earnings call with financial analysts. “And I think one thing that’s unique about our business, whether we’re in Louisiana or Mexico or California, we’re strongly aligned with supporting policymakers and making sure we’re advancing services for consumers.” The council’s vote earlier this week is part of a sweeping update to San Diego’s Climate Action Plan, passed in 2015, to slash greenhouse gas emissions throughout the city. While many other cities in California, including Encinitas, have passed resolutions to ban natural gas in new construction, San Diego’s call to retrofit existing structures goes significantly further. According to a PowerPoint presentation of the city’s update to the Climate Action Plan, 90 percent of natural gas usage in existing buildings will be phased out in the next 12 years… “An analysis from the Building Electrification Institute and research firm Inclusive Economics looked at the jobs impact of the city’s new stance and said “policies to decarbonize all existing buildings and achieve local and regional climate goals would create thousands of jobs across San Diego County.” SDG&E has supplied natural gas to its customers for more than 100 years and SoCalGas is the nation’s single largest natural gas distributor. Parent company Sempra has established itself as one of the top players in the worldwide liquefied natural gas, or LNG, market.”
Albuquerque Journal: New Mexico oil group appeals ozone pollution rules
THERESA DAVIS, 8/5/22
“The Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico filed a legal appeal Friday challenging new state regulations aimed at reducing ozone pollution in the oil and gas industry,” the Albuquerque Journal reports. “New Mexico’s Environmental Improvement Board adopted the new rules in April and they went into effect officially on Friday. Oil and gas operators in high-ozone counties must now have emissions data certified by an engineer. IPANM executive director Jim Winchester said the rule contains provisions that will force companies to plug productive wells and “inflict economic hardship” on residents… “Under the new rule, companies must quickly find and fix leaks, and retrofit control devices… “When the EIB adopted the rules earlier this year, state Environment Secretary James Kenney said the agency would begin “robust and innovative” monitoring to ensure oil and gas companies are following the regulations… “The notice of appeal, filed Friday in state appeals court, will likely be followed by technical arguments submitted to the court within the month. IPANM, which represents about 350 members, is not citing specific objections to the rule at this point.”
Reuters: Suncor's Colorado refinery operations back to normal after malfunction
8/8/22
“Suncor Energy Inc on Monday said that operations at its 98,000 barrel-per-day Commerce City, Colorado, refinery have returned to normal following an earlier equipment malfunction,” Reuters reports. “"Earlier this morning, an equipment malfunction caused the safety system within one of the units at the Commerce City Refinery to activate," a company spokesperson told Reuters. "The system worked as designed, shutting down the equipment to prevent any further disruption." Suncor reported a similar incident on March 22 at the refinery, which was restarted in early April after completion of maintenance work. Suncor also reported a fire in its gasoline-making unit in early May… “There was also no impact to the community following the incident.”
Reuters: U.S. Coast Guard responds to oil spill in Terrebonne Bay, La.
8/9/22
“The U.S. Coast Guard said on Monday it was responding to an oil spill at the Hilcorp Caillou Island facility in Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana,” Reuters reports. “A structural failure caused an oil tank platform to collapse into the water and spill oil, the Coast Guard said, citing a notification from the National Response Center. Hilcorp estimates that less than 14,000 gallons of crude oil entered the water, the Coast Guard said, adding that there was no reported impact to wildlife and the exact cause of the incident was under investigation.”
EXTRACTION
Press release: Enbridge Is Working Together for Change
8/8/22
“Enbridge and the First Nation Capital Investment Partnership (FNCIP) reached an agreement in February 2022 to advance the proposed Open Access Wabamun Carbon Hub (the Hub) west of Edmonton, Alberta. The Hub is being developed as an innovative combination of carbon transportation and storage solutions to support recently announced carbon capture projects in the region. Four Treaty 6 Nations—Alexander First Nation, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Enoch Cree Nation and Paul First Nation—formed the FNCIP to pursue ownership in major infrastructure projects with commercial partners who share Indigenous values. The Hub is the FNCIP’s first partnership. The Lac Ste. Anne Metis Community will also have an opportunity to pursue ownership in future carbon transportation and storage projects associated with the Hub. Once built, it has the potential to sequester nearly 4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. “This path creates an opportunity to generate wealth, but more importantly it allows sustainable economic sovereignty for our communities. We are creating a healthy future for the next seven generations to thrive. We’re looking forward to working with industry leaders who share our values of environmental stewardship and to collaborate with Enbridge on worldscale carbon transportation and storage infrastructure investments,” said Chief George Arcand Jr., Alexander First Nation.
Press release: Cenovus Acquiring Outstanding 50% Interest in Toledo Refinery from bp, Will Assume Operatorship
8/8/22
“Cenovus Energy Inc., through its U.S. operating business, has reached an agreement to purchase bp’s 50% interest in the bp-Husky Toledo Refinery in Ohio. Cenovus has owned the other 50% of the refinery since its combination with Husky Energy in 2021. Cenovus’s U.S. operating business will assume operatorship from bp upon closing of the transaction, which is expected before the end of 2022, dependent on the satisfaction of closing conditions. Total consideration includes US$300 million in cash, subject to customary closing adjustments, plus the value of inventory. In addition, the parties have signed a multi-year product supply agreement. “Fully owning the Toledo Refinery provides a unique opportunity to further integrate our heavy oil production and refining capabilities,” said Alex Pourbaix, Cenovus President & Chief Executive Officer… “The transaction will give Cenovus an additional 80,000 barrels per day (bbls/d) of downstream throughput capacity, including 45,000 bbls/d of heavy oil refining capacity. It will also provide the company with opportunities to further optimize its heavy oil value chain through integration with its upstream assets. Cenovus expects to realize synergies over the next few years as a result of the transaction, primarily related to the optimization of feedstock and refined product sales, and the longer-term potential to connect the Toledo Refinery with Cenovus’s U.S. refining network.”
OPINION
Muskoka Region: Enbridge argues to Muskoka residents that pipelines are critical to achieving net zero, reliably and affordably
Malini Giridhar, Vice President, Business & Regulatory, Enbridge Gas Inc., 8/8/22
“Transitioning to a net-zero emissions future in Ontario by 2050 is achievable. Reaching this goal at the lowest cost to energy consumers while keeping the lights on is the challenge, and a “wires and pipes” solution is the winning combination, Malini Giridhar writes for the Muskoka Region. “...In addition, putting all our eggs in one energy basket means our energy system will be less resilient to extreme weather events, such as we experienced recently in Ottawa. Furthermore, energy production from wind and solar requires energy storage and backup generation capabilities to maintain reliability, and heavy industrial processes and heavy long-haul transportation can’t be practically electrified. Pipes are a practical partner in a net-zero future, providing reliability, resilience and lower cost Leveraging the existing gas system to deliver increasing levels of green fuel content including renewable natural gas and hydrogen, and advancing carbon capture and storage for heavy industry are also key parts of the solution, which will: Lower the cost of achieving net zero for consumers by reducing the amount of additional electricity transmission required to meet peak demand and the need to replace home heating systems… “A diversified energy pathway that leverages and repurposes our current pipeline infrastructure is the most cost-effective and resilient way to achieve this in Ontario.”
Forbes: Could Carbon Markets Become Larger Than Oil And Gas?
Pawan Mehra, 8/9/22
“Carbon markets today are estimated to be worth over $100 billion and are expected to grow in the coming years. This potential spike in value could lead to a great opportunity for both the environment and investors. Has a new gold rush started? Let’s take a closer look,” Pawan Mehra writes for Forbes. “...However, this is where several countries have set goals that aim for steep emission reductions by the mid-century. The policies aim to stretch this “carbon budget” and hence carbon prices become important. A carbon market comes into existence when a policy gets enacted to regulate carbon emissions through a market mechanism… “Oil and gas markets generate value by releasing energy (and carbon), whereas carbon markets generate value by capturing carbon… “Carbon markets form a basis to move toward energy independence and many (future) green jobs can be enabled through them… “Just as there is an industry that thrives today to take carbon out of the ground, there could be another industry thriving that may be putting carbon under the ground. Around these may be many secondary industries around financing, solutions, research and the like.”
Ted Glick: Victory in Senate a Turning Point? No, Not Yet!
Ted Glick is an organizer with Beyond Extreme Energy, President of 350NJ-Rockland and author of the recently published books, Burglar for Peace and 21st Century Revolution, 8/8/22
“Ten days ago, when the Manchin/Schumer deal was made public, I had major concerns. It requires leases to be sold by the feds to oil/gas companies for drilling on public lands and waters in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska before wind or solar can be built on public lands. It supports carbon capture and sequestration and new nuclear power plants. The specific environmental justice aspects are limited, not enough,” Ted Glick writes. “Perhaps most significant, passage of the Inflation Reduction Act was paired with future passage of a separate piece of legislation that would specifically attempt to ensure that the destructive and unneeded Mountain Valley Pipeline is completed and put into operation, while making it easier for new gas/oil pipeline and export projects to get their permits and be built. The fact that this second piece of legislation, Manchin’s evil monstrosity, has not been officially introduced yet and that the IRA was passed prior to that happening is a good thing. It could mean that, if all of those progressives and liberals who supported the IRA join with the environmental justice and other climate activists who were either skeptical of or opposed to it, we could defeat Manchin’s monstrosity, which will need 60 votes in the Senate to pass. The “no” votes of a lot of Senate Democrats could sink it even if there are a lot of Republican votes in favor, which is likely… “But if Manchin’s monstrosity if passed, the positives are much less, especially on climate. Let’s use what remains of the month of August to get it together on a national campaign to defeat the MVP and fast-tracking of fossil fuel infrastructure, to defeat Manchin and the Republicans, to make the months of August and September, 2022, truly a turning point period for the planet, its people and all its life forms.”
National Review: Banning Exports of Crude Oil and Refined Products Would Increase Prices
BENJAMIN ZYCHER, 8/9/22
“A number of perverse Beltway ideas never seem to die despite their underlying fallacies. The latest such nostrum is the argument that a renewed ban on the export of crude oil and refined products would reduce domestic fossil-energy prices, as asserted in a recent letter to President Biden from four U.S. senators urging Biden to “preserve petroleum supplies for the U.S. and our allies,” Benjamin Zycher writes for the National Review. “Just such an export ban on crude oil was implemented by the U.S. beginning in 1975… “The export ban was ended by legislation in 2015, after the technological revolution in fracking and horizontal drilling yielded a sharp increase in U.S. output… “But the ban had the effect of reducing domestic production of crude oil by shrinking the market for American petroleum. According to an October 2020 Government Accountability Office report, the repeal of the export ban increased the incentive for domestic crude production, adding to market incentives that yielded the production boom that began with the fracking revolution… “Moreover, an artificial reduction in energy exports would have the effect of weakening the dollar, other factors held constant. That would increase international oil prices (denominated in dollars) even more, as well as the prices of almost all goods and services traded in international markets… “Proposals to ban the export of crude oil are a blatant attempt to divert attention from the Biden administration’s energy policies as the central causes of the increase in international crude-oil prices by about 75 percent since January 2021. A partial list of those policies: The various political and regulatory decisions to constrain or disallow investments in pipelines and other such energy infrastructure. The efforts to reduce the fossil industry’s access to capital… “A ban on oil exports would be yet another perverse policy added to those already hurting American producers and consumers.”