Environment

Supreme Court Limits EPA’s Authority to Regulate Carbon Emissions

In a highly anticipated but not unexpected 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 30, 2022, that the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority under the Clean Air Act.

US Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Rose 6% in 2021

In 2021, U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 296 million metric tons (MMt), or 6%, compared with 2020 levels. This increase followed a rise in economic activity and energy consumption once the initial economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic began to subside.

Rethinking Practices Can Reduce Carbon Footprint for Pipeline Projects

The push to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is at the forefront as we continue to close in on our 2050 net-zero targets set by the Paris Agreement. Governmental agencies for countries pledged to the cause are clamping down on companies to aid them in their efforts.

Southwestern Energy, Uniper Ink Supply Agreement for Responsibly Sourced Gas

Gas producer Southwestern Energy Co. has signed a multiyear, certified Responsibly Sourced Gas sales agreement with Uniper, one of Germany’s largest publicly listed energy supply companies.

NWP 12 Up for Review Again

The Army Corps of Engineers is undertaking a review of Nationwide Permit 12 (NWP 12), which allows gas and oil pipelines to avoid a lengthy, expensive environmental review when building facilities near wetlands.

Hydrogen Blending Well into Climate Change Discussion

The venerable international energy conference, CERAWeek, returned as a live, week-long venue in Houston the second week of March, touting its usual lineup of speakers from around the globe and its topics from A to Z in the energy space.

Energy Transition Spells Opportunity for Midstream Sector

These are interesting times in midstream, and it’s going to take some collective courage, creativity and calculated investment to make sure “interesting” refers to opportunities seized rather than the ominous outcomes the old “may you live in interesting times” expression portends.

Denmark Resumes Construction of Norway-Poland Gas Link

Construction of the Danish part of Baltic Pipe, which will connect Poland to Norwegian gas fields, is resuming following a nine-month hiatus

TC Energy Offers 10% Stake in Coastal Gaslink Project to Indigenous Groups

TC Energy signed an option agreement to sell 10% stake in Coastal GasLink to Indigenous communities, in an attempt to give more authority to the groups who traditionally held the land for the pipeline project.

Thermal-Mass Measurement Principle and Metering Selection

The European Green Deal is the strategic plan to make the European Union carbon neutral by 2050. Decarbonizing the energy sector will be vital to achieving this goal, as this sector contributes significantly to Europe’s CO2 emissions.

Low-Carbon Hydrogen Pipeline Projects Could Reach 42 Million Tons Annual Capacity

A large proportion of hydrogen pipeline projects in the feasibility phase brings the global low-carbon hydrogen project capacity to 42 million tons per annum, GlobalData announced.

EIA Reports: North Dakota’s Producers Meet State’s Natural Gas Capture Target

In North Dakota, the rate of natural gas flaring declined to an average of 7.5% from January through September 2021.

Neptune Energy, EDF Complete First-of-Its-Kind Methane Study in UK

Neptune Energy completed a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Environmental Defense Fund to measure methane emissions on a working UK offshore platform using advanced drone technologies.

Peru Oil Spill Affected 40-Square-Mile Area, Repsol Says

An executive of Spain's Repsol said an oil spill offshore Peru's capital Lima affected an area of 40 square miles (106 square km).

SoCal Unveils Plan to Supply Los Angeles with Green Hydrogen

Southern California Gas, the largest U.S. natural gas utility, on Thursday unveiled a major proposal to deliver hydrogen produced by wind and solar energy to the Los Angeles area.

Why It’s Time to Invest in Natural Hazard Risk Management

Recent years have been scattered with natural hazard events that have destroyed property and infrastructure, devastated businesses and taken lives.

Carbon+Intel: Promises, Risks of Carbon Capture Investment

Without putting away massive amounts of carbon dioxide while awaiting renewable energy to mature commercially, there is no hope in stopping global temperature from rising beyond 1.5°C by the end of the century.

Venezuela Oil Spills Caused Grave Damage Over Two Years - Report

Constant oil spills in Venezuela between 2020 and 2021 have caused grave damage to the environment, the country's science academy said on Wednesday.

U.S. Senator Warren Urges SEC to Issue Delayed Climate Rule

Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday for delays to its landmark climate change risk disclosure rules and called for "quick action" on the issue.

Thailand Scrambles to Contain Second Oil Leak Off East Coast

Ships were deployed in Thailand on Thursday to contain a fresh oil spill off its eastern coast, authorities said, two weeks after an undersea pipeline leak in the same area damaged coastal communities and marine life.

EU Carbon Price Falls After Lawmaker Suggests Market Tweaks to Prevent Spikes

The Benchmark European carbon contract fell more than 5% on Wednesday afternoon after a key European lawmaker suggested changes could be made to the EU's carbon market to allow the European Commission to act swiftly if prices rose too quickly.

New York Pension Fund to Divest Half its Shale Companies

New York's state pension fund will sell $238 million worth of stock and debt it holds across 21 shale oil and gas companies including Chesapeake Energy Corp, Hess Corp and Pioneer Natural Resources, saying they have not shown they are ready to move to a low-emissions economy.

Oil Company Directors Decline to Testify in U.S. House Climate Panel

Board members of four major oil companies declined to appear at a U.S. House oversight panel hearing scheduled for Feb. 8 to answer questions about their companies' climate change plans, the committee said on Thursday.

Peru Facing Fuel Shortage after Suspending Repsol Operations

Peru is facing a fuel shortage after the government banned Repsol SA from unloading any new oil into a local refinery after a large oil spill last month, its new prime minister said Thursday.

EU Proposes Rules to Label Some Gas and Nuclear investments as Green

Investments in some gas and nuclear power plants would be labelled as sustainable under rules proposed by European Commission on Wednesday, a plan that has split countries and investors.

EU to Propose 'Green' Investment Label for Natural Gas, Nuclear Energy

The European Commission is set to propose rules on Wednesday to allow some gas and nuclear power plants to be labelled as green investments, with minor changes to a previous draft proposal.

US Unveils $1.15 Billion for Abandoned Oil and Gas Well Cleanup

The Biden administration said it would make $1.15 billion available to states to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells as part of a broad effort to reduce U.S. climate warming emissions.

Ecuador Oil Spill Affected Protected Area in Amazon, Government Says

A burst pipeline in Ecuador caused an oil spill within a protected area of the country's Amazon rainforest, the environment ministry said, adding that the pipeline operator will face legal consequences.

Pipe Burst Leads Ecuador Pipeline Operator to Suspend Pumping Crude

OCP Ecuador, the operator of Ecuador's privately held heavy crude pipeline, suspended pumping crude as a preventative measure after it ruptured in the Amazon.

Forced Electrification Could Cost Maryland Consumers $26,000+ per Household, CEA Report Finds

Removing natural gas service and usage could cost Baltimore households more than $26,000 each, a Consumer Energy Alliance analysis found.