Community & Environment

Climate-Tech Firm Climeworks to Sell Carbon Credits to BCG

It is an important step toward building credibility for the nascent direct air capture (DAC) industry - which uses minerals and chemicals to suck carbon dioxide out of the air - as it ramps up commitments that will help it attract new funds for expansion.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Warns of 2-Year Delay Over Regulatory Setback

Canadian government-owned Trans Mountain Corp. asked the country's energy regulator on Thursday to reverse a decision rejecting proposed construction changes on its oil pipeline expansion, warning of a possibly "catastrophic" two-year delay and billions of dollars in losses.

Freeport LNG Settles with EPA Over Safety Failures Following June 2022 Texas Blast

Freeport LNG, which operates the second-largest U.S. liquefied natural gas export plant in Texas, agreed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to settle safety violations related to a June 2022 blast that caused some $275 million in damage to the facility.

U.S. Coast Guard Finds Sheen Near Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico

The U.S. Coast Guard said on Wednesday it found a light sheen west of an area in the Gulf of Mexico where it was leading the clean-up of a million-gallon (liters) oil spill for nearly three weeks but could not confirm if the sheen was from that spill.

Republican States Challenge EPA's Pipeline Veto Power Expansion in Federal Lawsuit

A group of 11 Republican-led states and energy industry groups have challenged a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule that bolsters state and tribal veto power over pipelines and other major infrastructure projects that might pollute rivers and streams.

Exxon Mobil CEO Rebuffs IEA Criticism of Carbon Capture Strategy

Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods on Saturday rejected the International Energy Agency's recent claim that using wide-scale carbon capture to fight climate change was an implausible "illusion", saying the same could be said about electric vehicles and solar energy.

CO2 Projects Look to Overcome Siting Opposition

(P&GJ) – In the last two years, while the Biden administration has been embracing direct-air capture (DAC) hubs, Houston-based Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oxy) and its one-time spinoff, California Resources Corp. (CRC), have been leading increased industry interest in the transportation and storage of carbon, in the transition to a zero-emissions energy world.

INGAA Publishes 2023 Climate Report

(P&GJ) — The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) has published its second Climate Report, highlighting member company progress in delivering reliable energy while reducing emissions.

Riposte Capital Pushes for Board Overhaul at Energy Producer SilverBow

One of SilverBow Resources Inc.'s largest investors is pushing the U.S. oil and gas producer to revamp its board to address governance concerns and boost its lagging performance, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters on Thursday.

Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of Lawsuit by Dakota Access Pipeline Protesters

A recent ruling by a three-judge panel from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the decision made by a federal judge in 2021 to dismiss a legal action brought forth by demonstrators opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Canada Initiates Financing for Carbon Capture Advancements

Canada will finance investment tax credits for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and for net-zero energy technologies, following through on previously announced subsidies meant to attract more green investment, its Fall Economic Statement (FES) said on Tuesday.

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Affects Seven Producers, Investigation Underway

U.S. officials said on Tuesday seven energy companies have been impacted by an oil discharge near Main Pass Oil Gathering Co.'s (MPOG) pipeline system in the Gulf of Mexico that is estimated to have released more than a million gallons of crude oil.

US Paves the Way for a New Era in Hydrogen: Federal Funding Boosts Clean Hydrogen Initiatives

The Biden administration strengthened its support for clean hydrogen back in October by funding a range of proposed development hubs spread across the United States.

EACOP Unveils 897-Mile Heated Oil Pipeline with Advanced Environmental Safety Technology

Due to pump its first crude oil in 2025, the EACOP integrates a sophisticated fiber-optic network for continuous online connectivity, ensuring real-time monitoring via satellite along its entire length.

ConocoPhillips' $8 Billion Willow Project Approvals Upheld by US Judge

A federal judge in Alaska upheld U.S. approvals for ConocoPhillips’ multibillion-dollar Willow oil and gas drilling project in the state’s Arctic on Nov. 9, rejecting environmental and indigenous groups' concerns that the project poses too large of a climate threat.

Japan's Okinawa Electric Plans to Trial Using Hydrogen at Gas-Fired Power Plant

Japan's Okinawa Electric Power plans to start co-firing hydrogen on a trial basis at a commercial gas-fired power plant from March in a bid to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, its president said on Friday.

Environmental Groups Call for Funding Halt to TotalEnergies' Mozambique LNG Project

Banks and other financiers should withdraw their support of TotalEnergies' $20 billion LNG terminal in Mozambique, environmental lobby groups urged in a letter sent to more than two dozen project funders on Friday.

Biden Wants to Count Emissions Downstream of Pipeline Projects

(P&GJ) — The Biden administration announced its latest effort to throw a wrench in pipeline construction. The Biden Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) wants to roll back Trump administration pro-pipeline changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

U.S. Court Invalidates Sempra's Port Arthur LNG Permit Over Emission Limits

A U.S. court has removed an emissions permit for Sempra's Port Arthur LNG export terminal in Texas, potentially halting construction of the facility.

Pipeline Operator Enbridge to Invest in EDF Renewables' Ohio Solar Facility

Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge said on Wednesday it had entered a joint venture with EDF Renewables to participate in the construction and operation of the Fox Squirrel solar project in Ohio.

Analysis: Challenges to CO2 Pipelines Pose Threat to U.S. Ethanol's Role in Green Jet Fuel Development

The U.S. drive to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using ethanol could be slowed because of growing opposition to proposed pipelines that would curb greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol plants by capturing carbon dioxide and carrying it away to other states for storage.

INGAA Responds to Winter Storm Elliott Report, Emphasizes Need for Enhanced Infrastructure

(P&GJ) — The recently released Winter Storm Elliott Report sheds light on the proactive measures taken by members of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) to uphold system integrity during the severe weather event.

Clearwater Paper Suspends Idaho Operations Due to Regional Natural Gas Pipeline Incident

(P&GJ) — Clearwater Paper Corp. temporarily halted some operations at its Lewiston, Idaho, facility on Nov. 9 due to an incident affecting the regional natural gas system, causing disruptions to gas deliveries in the mill and surrounding areas.

Mountain Valley Pipeline Sues Protesters Hindering $7.2 Billion Construction Project

The developer of the Mountain Valley Pipeline has sued two protesters it says blocked construction on the $7.2 billion natural gas project, seeking compensation and orders barring them from interfering in the future.

Environmental Group Urges FERC Not to Extend License for Tellurian LNG Plant

The Sierra Club environmental group on Wednesday urged the U.S. energy regulator to reject a request by liquefied natural gas developer Tellurian Inc. for a three-year extension to complete construction of its $25 billion LNG export facility.

New Pipeline Meeting Format Implemented by Army Corps in Response to Criticism

(P&GJ) — Responding to concerns raised by the public, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has modified the manner in which oral comments are accepted for the draft environmental review of the contentious Dakota Access oil pipeline, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Trans Mountain Ordered to Stop Pipeline Work Over Environmental Non-Compliance

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) on Thursday ordered the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project to stop work in a wetland area near Abbotsford, British Columbia, after inspectors found several environmental and safety-related non-compliances.

Untangling Environmental Rules Can Lead to Permitting Success

(P&GJ) — Oil and gas pipelines are considered critical infrastructure, and the process of routing, permitting, designing and building them often elicits significant public pushback associated with perceived environmental concerns.

Santos to Fight Lawsuit by Indigenous Group to Halt Barossa Pipeline Work

Australia's Santos said on Tuesday it would defend against the legal proceedings brought by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) to halt the commencement of pipeline work at its Barossa gas project off northern Australia.

Clean Energy, TotalEnergies First Renewable Natural Gas Facility Begins to Sell Environmental Credits

(P&GJ) — Clean Energy Fuels Corp. and TotalEnergies SE have announced that renewable natural gas (RNG) from Del Rio Dairy in Friona, TX, began flowing in June to the transportation market and recently began generating D3 renewable identification numbers credits under the U.S. EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard.