PIPELINE NEWS
Globe and Mail: New West Coast pipeline expected to be designated project of national interest by Thursday
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A $3B Georgia pipeline changed course — away from a utility leader’s property
Enbridge: Aspen Point Program: Now in-service
Press release: Trump’s Transportation Department Announces $128 Million Investment in Pipeline and Hazmat Safety Training & Emergency Response
Press release: Hydrogen pipeline construction begins: BMW Group to integrate Plant Leipzig into core hydrogen grid
WASHINGTON UPDATES
Politico: ‘Solved in concept’: Senate awaits permitting language
Politico: NOAA scales back Endangered Species Act protections
Bloomberg: Trump to Tout $54 Billion Korean LNG Plan in Battleground Alaska
Reuters: What is Alaska LNG and why does the project face doubts?
Reuters: Alternative capital powers America’s next wave of LNG and pipeline projects
Overdrive: Oct. 1 trucker’s strike: Is Trump already taking notice?
STATE UPDATES
Billings Gazette: Before ExxonMobil sued Montana Department of Transportation, the company sued 19 others
Reuters: BP proposes six-year labor contract at Whiting refinery
Shelby County Post: Annexation request for carbon capture storage project receives favorable recommendation from Plan Commission
Biofuelwatch: Research Exposes How California Plans to Expand Reliance on Speculative Climate Technologies
Inside Climate News: Study of Groundwater Near Fracking Sites Finds Low Radium Levels, but Raises Concerns About Increased Salinity
Connecticut Public Radio: Why were CT residents woken by jet engine-like sounds? Report shows equipment failures, large release of natural gas
EXTRACTION
Bloomberg: US Diesel Export Ban Would Impact Gasoline Cost, Total CEO Says
Oil & Gas Journal: S&P Global: Canadian oil sands output set for record 3.5 million b/d in 2026
CBC: After ‘doom and gloom’ decade, Fort McMurray readies for a boom
TODAY IN GREENWASHING
CK News Today: Indigenous fire departments benefit from Enbridge community safety programs
NWO News Watch: First Nations fire departments receive support from Enbridge Gas
OPINION
Times Citizen: Pipeline To Nowhere
Reporting from Alaska: Trump tries to boost Sullivan campaign with another bogus gas line claim
Colorado Newsline: Protecting our water means prioritizing local voices
The Hill: Data center developers should have known how much Americans love their land
PIPELINE NEWS
Globe and Mail: New West Coast pipeline expected to be designated project of national interest by Thursday
Emma Graney, Marieke Walsh, Jeffrey Jones, 9/30/26
“The federal government is poised to list the newly proposed West Coast oil pipeline as a project of national interest by Thursday, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said,” the Globe and Mail reports. “The pipeline is a key part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s suite of policy changes that aim to reset federal relations with Alberta and diversify Canadian exports away from the United States. The national interest designation is allowed through the Building Canada Act, passed by the Liberals as one of the Prime Minister’s first orders of business last year. It says that projects deemed to be in the national interest will “be advanced through an accelerated process that enhances regulatory certainty and investor confidence.” “...However, the three months between the July announcement of the proposed pipeline route and the Oct. 1 designation left little time to consult with the more than 100 Indigenous groups along the line’s potential right of way. One source with direct knowledge of the outreach from the MPO to some of the Indigenous groups told the Globe and Mail they believed Ottawa is getting ahead of itself if it plans to move ahead with the national interest designation on Thursday. They said such a timeline would mean full consultations are not yet complete, and they questioned whether the move would be consistent with the language in the Building Canada Act.”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A $3B Georgia pipeline changed course — away from a utility leader’s property
Kristi E. Swartz, 9/30/26
“Donnie Peek is used to living with a pipeline. One carrying propane already crossed his property in Fortson, a suburb of Columbus in western Georgia, when he bought the land in 1967,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. “...When Southern Natural Gas — a jointly owned venture of Kinder Morgan and energy giant Southern Co. — said in 2024 it planned to run part of a $3.5 billion gas pipeline along the same easements as the propane one, it made sense to Peek. After all, it would save a lot of time and money. But when SNG revealed the final route in the spring, Peek noticed the portion going through his neighborhood had changed significantly. The proposed line went from following the existing propane pipeline easements and cutting across the properties of four landowners to going only through his. That also means more of the pipeline would be on his property to make up for what is not crossing his neighbors’. One of the neighboring properties it now avoided was one owned by a 25-year Southern Co. employee: Chris Lane, a power plant manager for Plants Addison and Franklin, owned by another Southern subsidiary. Although officials from Kinder Morgan and Southern deny Lane received special treatment, that the pipeline’s route was changed to circumvent his property raises eyebrows. “That’s when I said, ‘Well, this thing smells,’” Peek told AJC.”
Enbridge: Aspen Point Program: Now in-service
9/29/26
“The Aspen Point Program is now complete and in service,” according to Enbridge. “After more than four years of planning, engagement, field work, regulatory review and construction, Enbridge’s $1.2 billion project in British Columbia can now deliver an additional 535 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. To celebrate this milestone, Enbridge hosted an event on September 29 at the project’s Compressor Station (CS) 1B Wǫchiigii, the first electric-powered compressor station on the Westcoast pipeline system. Indigenous, community and regional leaders joined project partners and employees to mark the occasion… “A plaque bearing the compressor station’s Danee-zaa name was also presented to Councillor Acko. Wǫchiigii, meaning Peace River, was selected by the Doig River First Nation and reflects the strong partnership built throughout the project… “The Aspen Point Program also included the installation of 18 kilometres of pipeline along the Westcoast pipeline system’s existing right-of-way, helping minimize additional environmental disturbance.”
Press release: Trump’s Transportation Department Announces $128 Million Investment in Pipeline and Hazmat Safety Training & Emergency Response
9/30/26
“The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today announced a $128.2 million investment to protect American communities by bolstering pipeline and hazmat transportation safety nationwide. In total, 164 grants will be funded to: Develop hazmat emergency response training programs and conduct exercises to prepare fire departments for rail derailments and industrial spills; Acquire tactical drone technology to conduct aerial hazard mapping and thermal imaging along major pipeline corridors; Conduct on-site inspections of hazardous materials shippers to intercept packaging violations prior to transit; Equip state inspectors with tools to perform safety inspections and enforcement across natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, as well as underground natural gas storage facilities. “The Trump Administration is delivering critical dollars to our safety partners who are keeping American communities safe,” said PHMSA Administrator Paul Roberti. “Equipping emergency crews with specialized training, leveraging advanced drone technology, and boosting pipeline oversight fortifies the safety of our energy supply chain.”
Press release: Hydrogen pipeline construction begins: BMW Group to integrate Plant Leipzig into core hydrogen grid
9/30/26
“Leipzig. BMW Group Plant Leipzig has today marked the official start of construction of a hydrogen pipeline that will connect the plant directly to the hydrogen grid. The roughly two-kilometre-long link is scheduled to be completed and commissioned in the first half of 2028, making Plant Leipzig the first vehicle plant worldwide with a direct connection to a hydrogen grid.”
WASHINGTON UPDATES
Politico: ‘Solved in concept’: Senate awaits permitting language
Nico Portuondo, Pavan Acharya, 9/30/26
“Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are already signaling wariness regarding a bipartisan permitting reform package, ahead of its highly anticipated unveiling,” Politico reports. “But senators are eager to see the exact legislative language, particularly on the contentious issues that could decide how many votes the package gets in a lame-duck vote. “All the issues are solved in concept,” Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) told Politico. “We have to produce legislative language.” “...The summary said the bill ‘contains language that creates greater certainty for projects permitted and financed across administrations by prohibiting any administration from delaying or blocking permitting of a class of energy projects — meaning no administration can block all solar, wind, or other class of energy project permits… “Republican priorities are also reflected in the summary, including a two-year deadline for environmental impact statement reviews and a one-year deadline for environmental assessments. The proposal would also impose a 150-day deadline for legal challenges under the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and other major environmental laws.”
Politico: NOAA scales back Endangered Species Act protections
Carlos Anchondo, 9/29/26
“In a memo nearly identical to a recent Fish and Wildlife Service directive, NOAA’s chief lawyer said the Endangered Species Act no longer bars the unintentional harm or killing of imperiled ocean-based wildlife, a significant pivot from longstanding protections for sensitive plants and animals,” Politico reports.”In a Sept. 14 internal memo, obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity through a public records request, NOAA General Counsel John Luce said a prohibited ‘take’ — or conduct such as harming or killing protected wildlife — requires an affirmative act that’s deliberately directed at a given animal… “Under the interpretation outlined in the NOAA and FWS memos, an action that unintentionally harms or kills an animal wouldn’t be considered illegal — no matter how serious the injury. Conservation groups have said the Trump administration’s interpretation significantly narrows the scope of the ESA, signed into law in 1973.”
Bloomberg: Trump to Tout $54 Billion Korean LNG Plan in Battleground Alaska
Jennifer A Dlouhy and Ruth Liao, 9/29/26
“President Donald Trump is set to unveil South Korea’s plan to invest some $200 billion in the US, including $54 billion for a long-stalled venture to export natural gas from Alaska that’s been championed by a Republican senator in a tight reelection contest,” Bloomberg reports. “...The announcement is expected to be made by Trump on Wednesday in the Oval Office, the people told Bloomberg. Korea’s backing is likely to be crucial to develop the project to transport natural gas across Alaska and enable most of it to be exported to Asian buyers… “Privately-held Glenfarne Group is developing the Alaska LNG project, which has so far signed preliminary agreements with LNG importers but has stopped short from making a final investment decision… “Senator Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican running against former Democratic Representative Mary Peltola, has long been a vocal supporter of Alaska LNG. Sullivan is set to be at the White House for Wednesday’s announcement, joining Alaska Republican Representative Nick Begich and Governor Mike Dunleavy, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.”
Reuters: What is Alaska LNG and why does the project face doubts?
Emily Chow and Emily Ou Yong, 9/30/26
“President Donald Trump could unveil plans as soon as Wednesday to tap South Korea’s pledged strategic investment package for about $54 billion to build a liquefied natural gas project in Alaska, as he rolls out a series of economic initiatives ahead of November’s midterm elections,” Reuters reports. “The Alaska LNG project involves constructing a pipeline stretching over 800 miles, or nearly 1,300 km, from the North Slope to an LNG liquefaction facility in Alaska’s southern port of Nikiski… “As a 20-million-ton-per-year greenfield project requiring a lengthy pipeline, Alaska LNG is seen as a high-risk development for its relatively inexperienced developer. Capital requirements are also substantial, with the pipeline alone estimated at between $13.2 billion and $16.9 billion, with cost overruns a significant risk… “While Canada’s LNG industry is relatively new, many buyers view it as an attractive alternative due to its political stability… “The supply agreements secured so far are mostly non-binding, leading some industry participants to suggest this may reflect support for the Trump administration’s efforts to advance Alaska LNG rather than firm commitments to purchase the project’s LNG.”
Reuters: Alternative capital powers America’s next wave of LNG and pipeline projects
Vallari Srivastava, Curtis Williams and David French, 9/29/26
“Alternative asset managers deploying cash from their insurance arms are reshaping how America’s energy infrastructure is financed, emerging as major backers of LNG export projects and the pipelines moving crude and natural gas around the country,” Reuters reports. “The influx of cash is dominated by a trio of the finance world’s biggest names: Apollo Global Management, Blackstone and KKR… “The addition of insurance cash to the funding mix has helped greenlight a raft of new US LNG export facilities that traditionally have to have financing in place before making final investment decisions… “Already in 2026, alternative investors have been involved in transactions worth $20.35 billion in the LNG and midstream sector, according to data provider Infralogic, more than double the value of deals struck in all of 2024… “Traditionally, project finance loans and equity have backed LNG export project development. But since 2025, nearly every major LNG project approved has seen some combination of infrastructure funds, sovereign wealth investors, private capital or other institutional partners alongside traditional lenders.”
Overdrive: Oct. 1 trucker’s strike: Is Trump already taking notice?
Alex Lockie, 9/29/26
“With a trucker’s strike start date of October 1 fast approaching, more and more drivers have publicly committed to parking, and the White House may have already taken notice,” Overdrive reports. “The latest Energy Information Administration data puts the average gallon of U.S. diesel fuel at $6.38 as of September 28… “My opinion as a business owner, if a truck doesn’t make money, there’s no point in starting the engine and going out and not being with your family,” Dumitru Malai, an owner-operator out of Pennsylvania, told Overdrive… “They say they’re gonna strike on October 1, but for me it doesn’t have to be a certain date, I’m parked all this week.” “...Since the initial rumors circulated a couple weeks ago, President Donald Trump has reportedly been considering a ban on U.S. diesel exports to keep more fuel available domestically… “Big fleets, too, according to Malai, are slowly shutting down here and there… “So while truck drivers might lack the big organization or daring (given general illegality) to stage a coordinated “strike,” truck owners and drivers backing such an action are correct on the bigger point: The economy runs on diesel trucks, and if leaders in business and politics are smart, they’ll listen when truckers say it’s just no longer profitable to run the truck.”
STATE UPDATES
Billings Gazette: Before ExxonMobil sued Montana Department of Transportation, the company sued 19 others
Alex Mitchell, 9/28/26
“ExxonMobil’s legal challenge against the Montana Department of Transportation isn’t the company’s first lawsuit in trying to recover costs related to an ongoing petroleum cleanup in east Billings,” the Billings Gazette reports. “The oil company alleged earlier this month that the state agency had violated Montanans’ right to a clean and healthful environment. But before that, they’d had previously sought recovery of costs in the federal court from MDT, starting in December last year, which manufactured road materials in the area for decades… “But MDT isn’t the only entity that Exxon is trying to recover costs from for a cleanup that started in 2011 and that the multi-billion-dollar oil company has said has cost them about $10 million so far… “While MDT stood out as the only government entity sued, other defendants include practically anyone or any business that had property in the area at some point. That includes Phillips 66, BNSF, Par Montana, Montana Rail Link and several Billings residents and family trusts that owned land in the area at one point or another… “Connecting all of the defendants is the Montana Department of Environmental Quality identified them as potentially contributing to conditions at the ongoing petroleum state superfund site in 2011, Exxon said in its complaint… “Like the more recent lawsuit against MDT in Yellowstone County District Court, Exxon doesn’t believe it should be the only one paying for costs. The legal action against individuals, BNSF and other oil companies hopes to recover the costs of the cleanup for them.”
Reuters: BP proposes six-year labor contract at Whiting refinery
Vedika Thorat and Anjana Anil, 9/29/26
“BP said on Tuesday it is proposing a six-year labor contract for workers at its 440,000-barrel-per-day Whiting refinery in Indiana as negotiations with United Steelworkers (USW) Local 7-1 continue,” Reuters reports. “The company said the six-year term would provide stability for the refinery and employees… “BP is also proposing a longer notice period before the union can strike or the company can initiate a lockout… “BP locked out its workers at the Whiting refinery in March in a dispute with the union over its next contract.”
Shelby County Post: Annexation request for carbon capture storage project receives favorable recommendation from Plan Commission
Jeff Brown, 9/29/26
“The voluntary annexation request from Shakespeare Sequestration, LLC, for approximately 97 acres of land adjacent to POET Biorefining (photo) received a favorable recommendation Monday from the Shelbyville Plan Commission,” the Shelby County Post reports. “The land has been targeted for a carbon capture storage project expected to be operational in mid-2028… “Shakespeare Sequestration wants to drill a well 4,000 feet underground where it will store liquid carbon dioxide from POET for a minimum of 12 years. Shakespeare’s sequestration permit is currently being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. That process is expected to continue through the fall of 2027.”
Biofuelwatch: Research Exposes How California Plans to Expand Reliance on Speculative Climate Technologies
9/24/26
“In a briefing report ‘Distract, Delay, Deceive: Fossil Fuels, Big Tech, and California’s Emerging Carbon Removal Economy’ launched today, civil society groups are raising alarm bells on how California climate authorities are leaning hard into selling the illusion that climate pollution can be cleaned up after the fact while simultaneously deprioritizing pursuing emissions reductions at source. The report by the international organization Biofuelwatch closely examines the dynamics surrounding how the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the primary agency responsible for climate policy in the state, is pursuing current rule making for speculative carbon removal technologies on the heels of making dramatic changes to the state’s carbon market, opening the door to the state directly subsidizing a wide array of unproven carbon management technologies. The expansion of speculative carbon capture technologies as a central pillar to California’s approach to responding to climate change is accompanied by a litany of unresolved questions about real world climate benefits, long-term liability, financial assurances, monitoring, data access, and the consequences of accidents, environmental harms and corporate bankruptcy. “Our investigation shows that current activities at CARB are focused strongly on promoting the illusion that climate pollution can be effectively cleaned up after the fact, exposing communities and natural ecosystems across the state to unprecedented risk and dangers,” said Gary Hughes of Biofuelwatch.”
Inside Climate News: Study of Groundwater Near Fracking Sites Finds Low Radium Levels, but Raises Concerns About Increased Salinity
Jon Hurdle, 9/30/26
“Testing in a limited number of shallow aquifers near fracking sites in southwestern Pennsylvania found low levels of radium overall, but there aren’t yet enough samples to draw firm conclusions about the region as a whole, according to a new report from researchers at Penn State University,” Inside Climate News reports. “Researchers were looking for evidence that fracking has or has not increased concentrations of radium in drinking water. Oil and gas wastewater can be toxic and radioactive. It is also generally extremely salty… “Radium concentrations were higher within three kilometers of oil and gas impoundments and spills, and there was a “weak correlation” between radium activities and the density of oil and gas wells at that distance, the study found. Nathaniel Warner, one of nine researchers who co-authored the paper, told ICN it was difficult to reach conclusions about contamination closer to oil and gas sites because of a lack of samples available within 1 kilometer… “Critics of fracking have long accused the natural gas industry of causing water contamination near drilling sites. Wastewater associated with drilling may be contaminated with manmade chemicals, or with naturally occurring substances, some of them radioactive, that are brought to the surface when drill bores probe a mile or more underground… “Even though the study suggests fracking may not be responsible for elevated radium levels around some drilling sites, there is not yet enough evidence to clearly answer the question, Warner told ICN.”
Connecticut Public Radio: Why were CT residents woken by jet engine-like sounds? Report shows equipment failures, large release of natural gas
Áine Pennello, 9/29/26
“The noise was so loud, ShawnaLee Kwashnak thought a jet engine had landed in her driveway,” Connecticut Public Radio reports. “...The sound started after midnight on July 12. It woke up residents in Oxford, Middlebury and Naugatuck and lasted for approximately 45 minutes… “Kwashnak lives in Middlebury, about two miles away from a compressor station in Oxford. The facility increases the pressure of natural gas, helping it move long distances along the Algonquin Gas Transmission pipeline – a 1,131-mile system that transports natural gas through New England, New York and New Jersey. On the night of July 12, the Oxford compressor station had two equipment failures, according to incident data collected by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The data shows malfunctions caused the release of more than 35 million cubic feet of natural gas in less than an hour. That’s roughly the same amount of natural gas used by 450 Connecticut homes in an entire year, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “That’s a huge amount of a gas that we ought not to be breathing in,” Kirsten Ek, a hospitalist physician with Connecticut Health Professionals for Climate Action, told CPR. The incident is the largest release of natural gas in Connecticut reported to the federal government in the last 10 years and in the top 10 percent of all nationwide releases reported since 2010. Residents near the Oxford plant are raising concerns about a lack of communication after the incident.”
EXTRACTION
Bloomberg: US Diesel Export Ban Would Impact Gasoline Cost, Total CEO Says
Francois de Beaupuy, 9/28/26
“A US ban on diesel exports that’s under consideration by President Donald Trump to combat high prices would probably backfire by impacting gasoline prices, the boss of French oil major TotalEnergies SE said,” Bloomberg reports. “It’s a bad idea,” Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanné said during a meeting with investors in New York on Monday. It could “oblige US refineries to lower their throughput, and then it might impact the gasoline price in the US.” “...Such a ban would also affect Europe, which has been importing more US diesel in recent months, and force governments to tap into their strategic reserves to curb prices, Pouyanné said. While European refiners including Total might benefit from higher diesel margins, the CEO said it would boost demand destruction and heighten consumer backlash against oil companies, according to Bloomberg.”
Oil & Gas Journal: S&P Global: Canadian oil sands output set for record 3.5 million b/d in 2026
9/29/26
“The outlook for Canadian oil sands includes steady growth driven by existing infrastructure, policy support, and potential new projects, though challenges like capital intensity and long-lead times for new projects remain major hurdles, S&P Global said,” according to Oil & Gas Journal. “Canadian oil sands production is expected to rise for a 25th consecutive year in 2026, reaching a record 3.5 million b/d as operators continue to optimize existing installations, according to S&P Global Energy. The forecast represents an increase of about 100,000 b/d, or 3%, from 2025. S&P Global expects production to reach about 3.9 million b/d by the early 2030s before broadly plateauing under its current outlook… “Most of the anticipated 2026 growth is set to come from optimization of existing operations rather than major new projects… “S&P Global said, however, that the potential for renewed interest in capacity additions through new construction is creating additional upside to the longer-term outlook… “S&P Global estimates that previously proposed projects that did not advance could provide nearly 500,000 b/d of incremental production capacity beyond what is included in its current outlook.”
CBC: After ‘doom and gloom’ decade, Fort McMurray readies for a boom
Kyle Bakx, 9/30/26
“The Alberta community synonymous with meteoric oil booms and crippling busts is now staring down another potential wave of economic fortune,” the CBC reports. “Already signs are pointing to a boost in growth in Fort McMurray with rising home prices, increased investment in the oilpatch, widespread hiring and longer lines at the Tim Hortons drive-thru. Much of the growth is in anticipation of a new oil pipeline to the West Coast, as proposed by the Alberta government. On Thursday, the federal government is expected to declare the project is in the national interest… “A series of federal and provincial announcements aimed at growing oil production over the last 12 months are fuelling the sense of optimism, including a new West Coast oil pipeline being developed by Alberta and Ottawa. In addition, the federal government has wiped away certain environmental policies such as the oilpatch emissions cap, while speeding up the regulatory process to approve major projects and introducing new financial incentives for investors. The Alberta government aims to double oilsands production to eight million barrels per day by 2035.”
TODAY IN GREENWASHING
CK News Today: Indigenous fire departments benefit from Enbridge community safety programs
Tamara Thornton, 9/30/26
“Enbridge Gas is supporting 13 Indigenous fire departments across Ontario,” according to CK News Today. “Through Safe Community Project Zero and Safe Community Project Assist, Indigenous fire departments are receiving valuable resources that will strengthen local fire safety efforts and help protect families for years to come,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg. Walpole Island First Nation, Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, and Saugeen First Nation are all benefiting from Project Assist. The program provides grants to fire departments to purchase training materials and public education resources. This year, the grants are worth $5,000… “Jennifer Burnham, President of Enbridge Gas Ontario, said the company is proud to support Indigenous fire departments.”
NWO News Watch: First Nations fire departments receive support from Enbridge Gas
9/29/26
“More than a dozen Indigenous fire services across Ontario will benefit from Enbridge Gas-led initiatives that enhance community safety,” according to NWO News Watch. “Under the company’s Safe Community Project Zero and Safe Community Project Assist programs, 13 First Nations fire departments are receiving combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms, or grants to acquire training materials and public education resources supporting fire prevention efforts… “Jeremy Parkin, president of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, chief of Rama Fire Rescue, and member of the Office of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire safety council, said smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are among the most effective tools for protecting lives, and firefighter training and public education are essential components of community safety. “We are proud to partner with Enbridge Gas Ontario to deliver programs that make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve,” he said… “Including the First Nations recipients, across the province this year 15,000 alarms worth $480,000 will be distributed to 76 fire departments, while 24 fire services will receive grants totalling $120,000.”
OPINION
Times Citizen: Pipeline To Nowhere
Kathy Stockdale, Iowa Falls, 9/30/26
“On Oct. 10, 2026, the lawsuit against the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) for granting Summit Carbon Solutions a permit and the use of eminent domain was scheduled to take place in District Court,” Kathy Stockdale writes for the Times Citizen. “...On June 30, 2026, the IUC removed the requirements for North and South Dakota, but ruled Summit most show proof to the IUC that they have agency-level approvals for sequestration sites and secured pipeline routes to them. What they failed to do was to give Summit a time frame to meet these approvals. We are all awaiting the District Court decision on a new hearing date. It is believed that Summit is now pursuing a line through Nebraska up to Wyoming and may be used for sequestration and fracking for oil… “These landowners had no say in allowing a C02 pipeline on their property. This is one of the main reasons Nebraska did not need to use eminent domain for their pipeline. One last note, the IUC has begun scheduling hearings on two of the 14 Phase 2 Dockets. We are fighting to say these should not be held since we still don’t have a court decision on Phase 1 and Summit has a PIPELINE TO NOWHERE.”
Reporting from Alaska: Trump tries to boost Sullivan campaign with another bogus gas line claim
Dermot Cole, 9/29/26
“Just in time to help the reelection campaign of Sen. Dan Sullivan, Donald Trump plans to announce again that Korea has agreed to put up tens of billions to build the gas pipeline,” Dermot Cole writes for Reporting from Alaska. “This is nothing but a campaign stunt aimed at duping the voters in Alaska. It’s the latest version of “Mexico will pay for the wall.” It is also a prelude of what to expect during Trump’s visit to campaign for Sullivan. Nothing will come of this announcement, but the election will be a distant memory before that becomes clear. Alaska news organizations should not repeat the mistakes they have made before in treating what Trump claims about the gas pipeline as trustworthy. Nothing he has said about it since the start of his second term has turned out to be true. The announcement Wednesday will be no more credible than all the declarations Trump has made since the start of 2025 saying the Japanese and Koreans had agreed to build and pay for the pipeline. But rest assured that Sullivan and Rep. Nick Begich the Third, who are both facing serious challengers in November, will hype the Trump claim as real, claiming their share of the credit for getting the gas pipeline going… “There are no binding financial commitments. All we have are promises from Trump, which no one can take to the bank. Let the public see exactly what South Korea has agreed to in writing. Show us the money… “The South Koreans are not stupid and they don’t want to risk offending the tariff king, but they are not signing up to build the pipeline.”
Colorado Newsline: Protecting our water means prioritizing local voices
Randy Willard is president of Save The Aurora Reservoir (STAR), 9/29/26
“...When we formed Save The Aurora Reservoir in 2022 to push back against a sprawling oil and gas proposal near our homes, we were fighting for our own backyard. But we were also fighting for all Coloradans to have a voice whenever oil and gas announces their plans, plans that will have an effect on our air, water and soil,” Randy Willard writes for Colorado Newsline. “We have proven that community power is real. By mobilizing hundreds of residents and generating nearly a thousand public comments, we successfully forced a stay in 2025 on a plan to drill 32 wells near the reservoir. We proved that when a community unites, we can hold operators accountable — if the government listens. But the battle is shifting terrain. While STAR formed to give locals a voice in state-level oil and gas permitting, we now face the additional challenge of federal lease sales on public lands surrounding our community. Recent federal oil and gas parcels on our public lands around Aurora Reservoir have attracted high-dollar interest from oil and gas corporations, despite the fact that our community of 80,000 southeast Aurora residents, including 2,800 people directly affiliated with STAR, will be negatively affected by development of these federal leases… “The Local Input Act doesn’t ban oil and gas development; it restores balance. It would return to the Bureau of Land Management the clear authority to listen to communities and defer leasing parcels when legitimate, documented concerns — like water security, public health or ozone pollution — are raised.”
The Hill: Data center developers should have known how much Americans love their land
Gregory J. Wallance is a writer and former federal prosecutor in the Carter and Reagan administrations,9/28/26
“The data center backlash is intensifying. In fact, more Americans now oppose data centers than fear AI,” Gregory J. Wallace writes for The Hill. “This is true even though tech companies have plausible defenses to much of the backlash. Data centers, for example, use far less water than the nation’s golf courses. There is little evidence so far that they significantly raise energy rates. Data centers can generate huge tax revenues that help finance police and school budgets. Also, do you really want China to lead the race for a technology that will revolutionize just about everything, including armed conflict? What the tech companies cannot defend is the scale of these monstrosities and their location in places near where people live… “The tech companies’ siting decisions may serve their operational convenience, but they threaten the bond between Americans and their land and homes… “To many, losing a view to a data center is akin to having their land taken away… “Unless tech companies change where they build these data centers and their scale, sad laments like that are not going away — and neither is the backlash.”