EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 11/9/26

PIPELINE NEWS

• The Center Square: $1.6B South Mississippi gas pipeline gets greenlight

• Nashville Tennessean: Proposed 470-mile gas pipeline would affect 760 Tennessee landowners

• Inside Climate News: A US Senator’s Push to Fast-Track Pipelines Would Benefit His Former Company

• Guardian: US datacenter demand spurs increased fossil fuel pipeline projects as rules are discarded

• Canadian Press: Enbridge says it’s poised to capture oilsands growth opportunities

• Pipeline & Gas Journal: Enbridge expects Mainline to stay in apportionment, eyes FIDs on Flanagan South, Southern Access extension

• Canadian Press: “Tight timeline” to nail down trade-offs in Pathways deals, Cenovus executive says

• C-SPAN: Supreme Court Hears Property Rights Dispute Involving Pipeline Company

• Patch: Air, Water Being Monitored Closely After Montco Pipeline Spill: Latest Updates

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• Politico: Senate permitting squad unveils amendments to their bill

• Heatmap: The Last-Minute Changes to the Senate Permitting Deal, Explained

• 106 Strong Coalition: Permitting Bill Managers’ Amendment is “Lipstick on a Pig” – Public Still Excluded From Historic Preservation Review; Tribal Sovereignty Still Attacked

• Press release: Press Release: BAAJA Remains Fundamentally Flawed Despite Manager’s Amendment

• Press Release: Senate Permitting Bill Still Needs Improvements; Opposed as Written

• Press release: National Wildlife Federation Cannot Support Permitting Package in its Current Form

• Press release: Friends of the Earth Still Opposes Disastrous Senate Permitting Bill

• Bloomberg: Six States Ask US Senate for Permitting Bill Changes Before Vote

• Bloomberg: Trump Says He Backs Energy Permitting Bill on Eve of Senate Vote

• Politico: ‘Developer in chief’: White House throws weight behind permitting bill

• Reuters: US Congress gets first post-‘Blue Wave’ crack at data centers with permitting bill

• Politico: The five factors that will decide permitting reform’s fate

• Patagonia: Statement on Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act

• Press release: REI Co-op Statement on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act

• Bloomberg: Trump’s Push for Data Centers on Public Land Faces Top Senate Democrat’s Scrutiny

• Pro Publica: Trump Official Who Wants Data Centers on Public Lands Has Tens of Millions Invested in AI Industry

• Politico: CCS DREAMING

STATE UPDATES

• PennLive: A mountain of coal waste is burning. For this Pa. town, the scars run deeper

• NOLA.com: Louisiana is settling major lawsuits over coastal damage. But why are the details secret?

EXTRACTION

• Politico: New climate reality outruns the old COP agenda

• Bloomberg: Strathcona to Acquire Greenfire in Canadian Oil Sands Deal

• Insolvency Insider Canada: Sunshine Oilsands placed into receivership over mounting environmental liabilities

• DeSmog: How a French Oil Executive Is Working With the Trump Administration to ‘Kill’ Europe’s Methane Plan

TODAY IN GREENWASHING

• CTV: Enbridge donating $22,000 to River Lights Winter Festival’s opening night

OPINION

• Delta Optimist: Local meeting must be held to address pipeline concerns

• Washington Post: Jeffries flirts with derailing long-overdue permitting reform

PIPELINE NEWS

The Center Square: $1.6B South Mississippi gas pipeline gets greenlight
Alton Wallace, 11/6/26

“Energy Transfer announced Tuesday it will build a 215-mile pipeline crossing parts of eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi that will supply natural gas to electric utilities, liquefied natural gas export terminals and AI data center hubs, although a final route has not yet been determined,” The Center Square reports. “The $1.6 billion South Mississippi Pipeline would originate at the Perryville natural gas hub in Richland Parish, Louisiana, just miles from Meta’s $50 billion Hyperion AI data center now under construction in Rayville… “Energy Transfer launched a binding “open season” to secure firm commitments from companies wanting to move natural gas to south Mississippi or other parts of the southeastern United States… “A competing project, Kinder Morgan’s proposed $1.7 billion Mississippi Crossing pipeline, which spans 11 counties across the middle of the state, was challenged in federal court by the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Sierra Club. The pipeline’s opponents contend that federal regulators rubber-stamped “a reckless plan” to build an unnecessary project based on exaggerated forecasts of data center electricity needs.”

Nashville Tennessean: Proposed 470-mile gas pipeline would affect 760 Tennessee landowners
Andy Humbles, 11/9/26

“A proposed 470-mile natural gas pipeline would cross 10 Tennessee counties and affect hundreds of landowners as Kinder Morgan seeks to expand natural gas capacity in growing communities statewide,” the Nashville Tennessean reports. “The Southeast Connector Project would start in Sumner County and include Macon, Trousdale and Smith counties with a pathway that continues south into areas of Alabama and Georgia.”

Inside Climate News: A US Senator’s Push to Fast-Track Pipelines Would Benefit His Former Company
Nicholas Kusnetz, Lauren Dalban, 11/6/26

“Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma entered the U.S. Senate to fill a vacancy in March with a clear priority: pass permitting reform that he argued was necessary based on his experience leading a major natural gas pipeline company. Now, as he prepares to leave office, that goal is within reach—with big potential benefits for the company and him personally,” Inside Climate News reports. “…But it also includes provisions Armstrong promoted that could push through a disputed pipeline that the Williams Companies, his former employer, has tried to build through New York for more than a decade. When state regulators denied a water quality permit for the Constitution pipeline in 2016, it was a rare rebuke for an industry unaccustomed to having government officials block its projects. Provisions in the new bill would limit New York’s authority to deny it again. Armstrong continued to hold at least tens of millions of dollars in Williams stock as of Oct. 22, according to his most recent financial disclosures. He also hired three former Williams colleagues to his staff, one of whom maintained his role as senior vice president and general counsel at the company while temporarily serving as Armstrong’s chief of staff in the Senate… “But, he added, Armstrong’s role raises particular issues because he was never elected, so voters didn’t have the chance to scrutinize his financial ties.”

Guardian: US datacenter demand spurs increased fossil fuel pipeline projects as rules are discarded
Tom Perkins, 11/8/26

“Datacenters are spurring a boom in fossil fuel pipeline projects at a time when the Trump administration is gutting rules that protect from disasters along the lines, a new review of federal records shows,” the Guardian reports. “The report, compiled by the Environmental Integrity Project, also found pipelines are being built to meet demand for natural gas exports fueled by wars in Ukraine and Iran. Federal records identified almost 200 pipeline projects that are proposed or in the works, and would collectively span 17,000 miles (27,000km). Not only has the Trump administration targeted laws that protect the environment and human health from pipelines’ risks, it has also pledged not to enforce regulations around them, the report adds… “The pipelines could help supply the at least 98 gas-fired power plants proposed to serve datacenters, and, if all the lines are completed, they would transport about 40% more natural gas daily than what the system carries today… “The report states that over 25% of the projects have requested an expedited environmental review, and the administration is largely using legally dubious mechanisms to push them through, like invoking the “energy emergency”… “These already cut through and harmed sensitive wetlands and fishing grounds, James Hiatt, executive director of For a Better Bayou, told the Guardian. “The people who live here carry the risks and bear the burden while the profits go elsewhere.”

Canadian Press: Enbridge says it’s poised to capture oilsands growth opportunities
11/6/26

“Enbridge is poised to jump on opportunities that may arise in northeastern Alberta with a potential resurgence in oilsands activity — not just crude pipelines, but diluent and perhaps carbon emissions, too, executives at the energy infrastructure giant said Friday,” the Canadian Press reports. “…The top five oilsands producers are the midst of talks with the federal and Alberta governments to nail down a firm agreement to move the Pathways carbon storage project forward while at the same time fostering the conditions for future oilsands growth. They had targeted a Nov. 15 date for a binding agreement to be completed, but oilsands CEOs have signalled they’re willing to take more time to get the right deal. “A number of the bigger customers are in the midst of a big negotiation. They are likely positioning some projects to grow their supply as well,” Gruending said. Pathways is a condition for a new crude export pipeline to southern British Columbia — in which Enbridge is not involved — being built, and vice versa… “Gruending said Enbridge would be interested in getting involved with building the carbon pipe “with the right risk package.” “…He said it seems like “everybody’s lined up well” to finalize a three-way agreement on Pathways and oilsands growth.”

Pipeline & Gas Journal: Enbridge expects Mainline to stay in apportionment, eyes FIDs on Flanagan South, Southern Access extension
11/6/26

“Enbridge expects its Mainline crude oil pipeline system to remain in apportionment for the foreseeable future, the company said Nov. 6 on its third-quarter earnings conference call,” Pipeline & Gas Journal reports. “Apportionment occurs when shippers’ requested volumes exceed available pipeline capacity. Enbridge expects to make final investment decisions on its Flanagan South and Southern Access extension projects by its next earnings date… “Enbridge also sees strong potential for commercialization of its Project Beacon natural gas pipeline expansion in New England by early next year.”

Canadian Press: “Tight timeline” to nail down trade-offs in Pathways deals, Cenovus executive says
11/9/26

“An executive at Cenovus Energy Inc. says top oilsands producers, Ottawa and the Alberta government face a time squeeze to finalize agreements on moving the Pathways carbon storage project forward by their mid-month target,” the Canadian Press reports. “We have some incredibly nuanced, bespoke agreements to hammer out, and they’re tough because they’re new. No one’s drafted them before,” Jeff Lawson, corporate development and chief sustainability officer, told a conference call with analysts… “Lawson listed off several positive developments for the sector in recent months: a major expansion in investment tax perks; reforms to simplify regulatory reviews; the national-interest designation for a new West Coast pipeline and expected royalty incentives from the Alberta government… “Nov. 15 is a pretty tight timeline to get all this stuff done, but we’re working towards that. And I guess we’ll play it week by week if we actually hit that timeline… “Pathways involves a pipeline network that would carry carbon dioxide captured from various oilsands sites in northern Alberta to an underground storage hub near Cold Lake, Alta.”

C-SPAN: Supreme Court Hears Property Rights Dispute Involving Pipeline Company
11/9/26

“The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Hoffmann v. WBI Energy Transmission, Inc., a case about whether state law or the Fifth Amendment determines compensation owed to landowners when a private pipeline company takes their property,” C-SPAN reports. “Watch LIVE at 8:00 AM PST November 9, 2026 on C-SPAN.org.”

Patch: Air, Water Being Monitored Closely After Montco Pipeline Spill: Latest Updates
Justin Heinze, 11/8/26

“Air and water are being closely monitored in Upper Merion Township as the cleanup continues days after tens of thousands of gallons of jet fuel spilled from an Energy Transfer pipeline last Friday afternoon,” Patch reports. “Residents have reported noxious smells in the area… “The spill occurred when the underground pipeline, Energy Transfer’s 14 inch Twin Oaks-Newark pipeline, was struck by a utility work crew on East 4th Street (River Road) and Coates Street… “Cleanup crews continue to remove jet fuel from the Energy Transfer pipeline, the same pipeline that leaked in Bucks County in 2025.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

Politico: Senate permitting squad unveils amendments to their bill
Ian M. Stevenson, Andres Picon, Kelsey Tamborrino, 11/7/26

“Senate champions of a bill to spur new energy projects by reforming permitting rules released a key amendment package Saturday,” Politico reporrts. “The manager’s amendment to the bipartisan permitting bill, getting its first vote in the Senate Monday, makes “clarifying, conforming, and technical edits to reflect feedback” given to the four Senate negotiators of the bill, according to a release from the group… “Native tribe representatives and some Democrats criticized the bill’s changes to the National Historic Preservation Act, saying it would block tribal consultations on projects proposed in their communities… “The amendment would remove a definition of what types of properties are of cultural importance to tribal groups under the National Historic Preservation Act. The effort to define those properties had angered tribal groups, who seek to make those determinations themselves. In sections of the bill that would award developers expenses if an agency interfered with a project or targeted particular industries, the bill’s sponsors added ways the government could counter those claims. That includes a requirement that the government would have to be found to have acted in “bad faith.”

Heatmap: The Last-Minute Changes to the Senate Permitting Deal, Explained
Robinson Meyer, Jael Holzman, 11/7/26

“…This version, known as a “manager’s amendment” under parliamentary procedure, aims to address many of the concerns and criticisms raised about the bill and will become the official legislative text that ultimately gets a vote in the Senate. There’s something in these changes for everyone – environmentalists, tribes, utilities – but it remains to be seen if they put the bill into a Goldilocks zone,” Heatmap reports. “…The amendment preserves — and even strengthens — many of the bill’s most important (and praised) transmission provisions, while addressing and easing some of the loudest Republican criticisms of the bill… “The new text also cuts out or modifies reforms to the National Historic Preservation Act geared towards addressing complaints from Native American tribes… “These changes were insufficient to thaw the bloc of tribes opposed to the bill. The 106 Coalition, a group of tribal organizations including the National College of American Indians, sent a statement to media saying they’ll still oppose the bill and want the entire section of NHPA changes removed… “Meanwhile, House Natural Resources Jared Huffman provided comments to Punchbowl News reacting to the text that said some of the changes to the permit certainty provision represented an “improvement” but “we could improve it further in this and other areas with a hearing and a more open negotiation process with more Democrats in the room.”

106 Strong Coalition: Permitting Bill Managers’ Amendment is “Lipstick on a Pig” – Public Still Excluded From Historic Preservation Review; Tribal Sovereignty Still Attacked
11/7/26

“The 106 Strong coalition of 1,200 organizations, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO), and the Association on American Indian Affairs (the Association) say the newly released managers’ amendment to the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) leaves the central defects of its historic preservation provisions fully intact. The substitute would still gut the ability of Tribal Nations and the American public to identify and protect historic and cultural places threatened by federally connected projects—including data centers, strip mines, and other major developments. The managers’ amendment withdraws a few patently unconstitutional provisions, like allowing federal agencies to commandeer State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices if they weren’t following orders. But the revised text fundamentally undermines Tribal Nations’ ability to protect their history and culture… “Five fatal flaws remain, which necessitate full removal of Title III-Historic Preservation: 1. Tribal consultation is made meaningless. Whereas the current law requires government-to-government consultation, nothing in this bill or amendment maintains that requirement: it does not require federal officials to sit down with Tribal leaders to seek to resolve harms to their historic, cultural, or sacred sites. 2. The public is fully shut out. Incredibly, the bill still eliminates public participation… 3. The bill still cuts out any consideration of many projects and harms… 4. Agencies can completely ignore the harms they admit will occur… 5. Effective court remedies are still eliminated. The substitute retains restrictions on judicial relief for historic preservation violations. “This is lipstick on a pig,” the organizations said in a prepared joint statement. “The sponsors spent 13 months drafting this legislation behind closed doors, without meaningful consultation with Tribal Nations, preservation experts, or the American public. Of course they are not going to fix the terrible flaws in a few days. The irony is unmistakable: a bill written without meaningful consultation now seeks to strip meaningful consultation from federal law. The process that produced this legislation is itself one of the strongest arguments against it.” “…They emphasize that tweaking a few blatantly unconstitutional provisions is not the same as preserving the protections Americans have relied on for 60 years.”

Press release: Press Release: BAAJA Remains Fundamentally Flawed Despite Manager’s Amendment
11/8/26

“… ‘The Sierra Club appreciates the improvements made by the manager’s amendment, but the draft legislation remains deeply flawed. The Senate must allow an open amendment process for additional changes to be made. ‘Updating and expediting transmission and clean energy permitting is essential to delivering lower costs, reduced air, water, and climate pollution, protecting communities, and expanding the grid for the American people. But rushing legislation that erodes Tribal sovereignty and people’s right to have a say in what is built in their communities, abandons clean water safeguards, and wildlife protections, while further enabling a rogue president that is waging a war on clean energy and our public lands is not an acceptable outcome.”

Press Release: Senate Permitting Bill Still Needs Improvements; Opposed as Written
11/8/26

“NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) released a comprehensive memo last month detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the bill and the specific areas the organization would be watching closely for improvements. The amended version of the bill released yesterday includes valuable updates but does not adequately address the five core areas NRDC had identified, nor does it address the Administration’s war on clean energy. NRDC opposes the bill as currently written, but remains committed to working constructively with Congress and other stakeholders on improvements to bring about much needed reforms… “While these are meaningful and worthwhile reforms, the bill does not address many of our most significant concerns. The project certainty changes do not address key concerns about preventing unlawful permits from being rescinded—a key issue given the Trump Administration’s actions. And the bill still narrows environmental review across the board and removes meaningful judicial remedies under NEPA and NHPA making it impossible for a court to stop construction of a project under either statute before it damages communities or the environment. The amended version of the bill does not avert BAJAA’s lasting damage to clean water, wildlife, and treasured places or to sections that further erode important parts of the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act. The price of permitting reform cannot be shutting the public off from meaningful opportunities to participate in the decisions that shape their communities.”

Press release: National Wildlife Federation Cannot Support Permitting Package in its Current Form
11/7/26

“The National Wildlife Federation issued the following statement on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act and the substitute amendment proposed by the bill’s sponsors… “After closely evaluating the full bill and the newly released substitute amendment alongside our state and territorial affiliates, Tribal partners, environmental justice partners, hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation partners, water coalition partners, and other conservation partners, we have concluded we cannot support the legislation in its current form. “We believe that the significance of the proposed revisions to our nation’s bedrock environmental laws and the numerous concerns raised about impacts on natural resources and communities warrant more deliberation than is possible during a truncated lame-duck session. It would be prudent for the incoming Congress to work collaboratively with states, Tribes, and the administration to deliver durable reforms that accelerate responsible energy development and reduce pollution, while conserving our waters, lands, and wildlife, upholding Tribal sovereignty and Treaty Rights, and ensuring meaningful community engagement.”

Press release: Friends of the Earth Still Opposes Disastrous Senate Permitting Bill
11/7/26

“Today, Senators Capito, Lee, Whitehouse, and Heinrich released the substitute amendment to the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA). The amendment fails to address the most egregious aspects of the bill, including the evisceration of the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth U.S., issued the following statement today: “This isn’t a permitting compromise, it’s a sellout. Americans have made it clear they want their elected leaders to prioritize people’s health and wallets over corporate profits. Even amended, BAAJA is filled with industry giveaways that throw communities and our environment under the fossil fuel and data center bus. There is no reason why we should pass such a heinous bill in Lame Duck when we will soon be ushering in a new Congress in January. The last thing we should be doing before the holiday season is gifting Trump another way to destroy this country.”

Bloomberg: Six States Ask US Senate for Permitting Bill Changes Before Vote
Allison Prang, 11/6/26

“Attorneys general from six states sent a letter to top US Senate leaders asking that they not advance the permitting overhaul bill without significantly amending it,” Bloomberg reports. “The 16-page letter, signed by the attorneys general from New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nevada, and Oregon and dated Nov. 6, says the legislation ‘makes permitting decisions too susceptible to industry capture without’ needed safeguards. The group raised concerns with the bill’s proposed changes to the National Historic Preservation Act and allege the legislation “sharply reduces environmental protection” and “limits judicial review.”

Bloomberg: Trump Says He Backs Energy Permitting Bill on Eve of Senate Vote
Ari Natter, 11/8/26

“…This Landmark Permitting Reform Legislation will codify our America First Energy Agenda, and ensure that we can build Pipelines, Mines, and Power Plants faster than ever before, lowering Energy Costs for American Families, and creating High Paying American Jobs,’ Trump said in a social media post Sunday that urged senators to vote in favor of the bill,” Bloomberg reports. “…House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is opposing the bill in its current form, arguing it hasn’t received enough input from House Democrats. Other progressive Democrats say they should use their newfound control of Congress next year to negotiate for a better deal. Democratic Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, as well as Republican Senators Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Mike Lee of Utah, unveiled a new version of the bill Saturday, but several environmental groups said they still opposed it.”

Politico: ‘Developer in chief’: White House throws weight behind permitting bill
Ben Lefebvre, Megan Messerly, Scott Waldman and James Bikales, 11/6/26

“The White House is throwing its weight behind passing a permitting reform bill with Democrats this year, two people briefed on its agenda said, viewing the legislation as a legacy win for President Donald Trump as the “developer in chief,” Politico reports. “That support from the White House could be pivotal in the uphill battle to get the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act passed during the lame-duck session of Congress, especially as calls grow from House Democrats to modify the bill or ditch it entirely… “Two people briefed on the White House’s legislative agenda, granted anonymity to discuss private conversations, told Politico that permitting is a top priority for the lame duck. “We’ve been told by the administration … they view this as kind of the capstone of what they plan to do legislatively,” one of those people, an oil industry official involved with the discussions, told Politico. “They really view this as a legacy win at this point.” The bill, if signed into law, “allows a lot of the projects and the infrastructure that a developer in chief really wants to get done during his presidency,” the person added. Though Trump has not publicly weighed in on the deal, a White House official said Friday it has his full support. “The president has signed off on the bipartisan deal that was agreed to and will be voted on on Monday,” the official told Politico. “This is a chance for the Democrats to put up or shut up. This is their moment to do what they said they were going to do, and we have held up our end of the deal.” “…Another person familiar with conversations between the White House and the Hill framed the permitting battle as a bellwether for the relationship between Trump and Congress moving forward.”

Reuters: US Congress gets first post-‘Blue Wave’ crack at data centers with permitting bill
Valerie Volcovici and Nichola Groom, 11/9/26

“…Supporters say the bill may be Congress’ best near-term opportunity to address the costs of the AI infrastructure build-out. But some Democrats, who campaigned on promises to rein in data centers and whose party will control both houses of Congress next year, are skeptical of provisions they say could encourage even more construction,” Reuters reports. “The chances of passage for the bill, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, have fallen to 25% versus 40% before the election, according to investment firm TD Cowen… “Democrats ran and won on affordability and data center accountability, and BAAJA will allow us to start delivering immediately on both of those election promises,” US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate’s environment committee and one of the bill’s authors, told Reuters. “We’d be silly not to take this win.” “…BAAJA’s passage, however, is far from assured. It faces opposition from environmental and tribal groups who say the legislation weakens environmental reviews and undermines tribal sovereignty. “It would be highly ironic if the first action Congress took after an election largely defined by opposition to data centers would be to make it easier to build them,” author and environmentalist Bill McKibben told Reuters. The bill’s authors unveiled a package of amendments on Saturday that they intend to introduce to address some of those concerns, but several environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, said the changes would not resolve their objections… “TD Cowen said Democrats’ resounding election victory “likely emboldens voices arguing the bill gives ⁠too many concessions to (oil and gas).”

Politico: The five factors that will decide permitting reform’s fate
Nico Portuondo, 11/9/26

“…Supporters say the lame-duck session represents the last, best opportunity to pass legislation to speed up approvals for energy projects. They have little expectation that the next Congress, led by Democrats, will be able to reach an agreement with the Trump administration,” Politico reports. “…Here are the issues that could determine where lawmakers ultimately land on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act: Tribal sovereignty: The biggest obstacle for undecided Democrats has been fierce opposition from tribal nations to the bill’s provisions affecting the National Historic Preservation Act… “It remains unclear whether the changes to the transmission title in the manager’s amendment will be enough to win over Guthrie and other committee Republicans, who have consistently argued that states, not the federal government, should have more control over where transmission lines are built. And it’s not just Republicans whose positions remain unclear. Energy and Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) has not commented on the package. He has been a staunch proponent of data center regulation, calling for a federal moratorium on the projects until Congress develops legislation to regulate them… “I cannot support a bill that relies on a handshake promise from the same administration that’s spent the last two years waging a war on new clean energy projects to hold up its end of the bargain, and continues to do so even after negotiating the reform proposal,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) told Politico… “One major concern among supporters is whether House Republicans who lost their seats in the election will show up to vote.”

Patagonia: Statement on Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act
11/6/26

“Patagonia was recently and incorrectly listed among supporters of the Senate’s bipartisan permitting package known as the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA), a bill that weakens bedrock environmental laws and makes it harder for Tribal Nations and the public to challenge harmful extractive projects. The bill includes permitting provisions that could expand drilling, mining, logging and data-center development on public lands, even when these projects threaten wildlife, clean water and communities. Patagonia supports permitting reform that helps build renewable energy faster. But not at the expense of public lands, Tribal sovereignty or community protections. The Senate votes to advance the bill Monday, Nov. 9. We urge anyone who values public lands and wishes to protect Tribal sovereignty to contact their senator and tell them to vote “No” on the BAAJA.”

Press release: REI Co-op Statement on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act
11/7/26

“REI Co-op was incorrectly listed as a supporter of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act; we have not endorsed this bill. We support responsible permitting reform that advances clean energy and infrastructure development, but believe it must also respect Tribal sovereignty, protect public lands and consider the communities most affected. We urge Congress to address these concerns and work directly with Tribal Nations and other stakeholders to find a durable path forward.”

Bloomberg: Trump’s Push for Data Centers on Public Land Faces Top Senate Democrat’s Scrutiny
Ari Natter, 11/6/26

“A top Senate Democrat is putting the Trump administration’s moves to build data centers on public land in the crosshairs, foreshadowing a brewing fight when his party takes control of Congress next year,” Bloomberg reports. “In a letter to the Bureau of Land Management, Senator Martin Heinrich said the agency is considering at least 15 proposals to build data centers on related infrastructure on public land covering more than 17,000 acres stretching across six Western states. That comes after the administration approved an 88-acre data center site in Boulder City, Nevada this past June, according to Heinrich, who is poised to become chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee next year. “I am extremely concerned with the Trump administration’s actions to develop data centers on public lands,”Heinrich wrote in the letter to Steve Pearce, the director of the Bureau of Land Management, which has jurisdiction over hundreds of millions of acres of public lands.”

Pro Publica: Trump Official Who Wants Data Centers on Public Lands Has Tens of Millions Invested in AI Industry
Mark Olalde, 11/6/26

“…But advancing the administration’s AI objectives also could benefit Burgum’s own finances,” Pro Publica reports. “Much of his wealth is held in Arthur Ventures, an investment firm he co-founded, according to his 2026 financial disclosure form, which has not been previously reported. Between $18.1 million and $64.4 million of those investments are in AI companies, according to an analysis of the companies’ marketing materials shared with ProPublica by public lands advocacy group Save Our Parks… “In the year before joining the administration, when he was North Dakota’s governor, he made between $2.1 million and $11 million in capital gains from AI-related investments, Save Our Parks’ analysis showed. In 2025, he sold millions of dollars of stocks and equity in AI companies, bringing in capital gains worth between $2.5 million and $15.1 million… “Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota and President George W. Bush’s chief ethics lawyer, agreed that Burgum should avoid making decisions benefiting an industry in which he is heavily invested. “I, as the ethics lawyer, would insist he stay away from it,” Painter told Pro Publica. “In the Bush administration, the answer would’ve been ‘he has to recuse,’ I can guarantee you that.” “…Meanwhile, it remains unclear how much the public will benefit from data centers on BLM land. The foundational federal land management law was passed in 1976, so it does not envision data centers. Even so, the department said it is relying on this statute to permit data centers.”

Politico: CCS DREAMING
Corbin Hiar, 11/6/26

“Google is trying to address its soaring emissions from data centers by betting on a climate technology that has never been used commercially,” Politico reports. “The tech giant announced Thursday that it would use natural gas fuel cells fitted with carbon capture and storage to generate roughly 700 megawatts of power at its planned data center in Wyoming… “There are currently no commercial gas power plants with CCS in operation, and Google is alone among hyperscalers in pursuing the expensive and unproven technology…. “We expect the cost of CCS to come down over time as the technology matures and more projects come online,” Google spokesperson Trystine Payfer told Politico.”

STATE UPDATES

PennLive: A mountain of coal waste is burning. For this Pa. town, the scars run deeper
John Luciew, 11/7/26

“The majestic fall scene belies the 1,000-degree-plus coal refuse fire burning just a mile away. A little more than a week ago, fog and smoke blotted out visibility to near zero. Roads closed, and a state of emergency was declared,” PennLive reports. “…It’s one of the first days in more than a week that 70-year-old Sandy Beaver-Krebs has emerged from her home to sit on the porch and take a breath of fresh air… “It’s a night-and-day difference from the sulfurous smoke that burned her eyes and made her already impaired breathing worse… “This is why 8,000-gallon water tankers rumble past Beaver-Krebs’ house by the dozens each day. They turn off Marshall Street and head toward a coal refuse fire that crews have been battling for months. The fire is trapped beneath a mountain-sized pile of coal waste on Reading Anthracite Company property. To battle it, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has allocated $17.5 million in federal abandoned-mine reclamation funding to pay a contractor to “excavate and extinguish” the fire… “Enormous amounts of water are needed to quench it. The source of all that water to douse the fire around the clock is old, flooded mine tunnels about five miles away. The parade of tanker trucks makes trip after trip.”

NOLA.com: Louisiana is settling major lawsuits over coastal damage. But why are the details secret?
Alex Lubben, Mike Smith, 11/9/26

“Gov. Jeff Landry’s push to settle dozens of lawsuits seeking to hold the oil and gas industry financially responsible for damage to Louisiana’s coast has gained momentum — but the results so far are impossible to judge,” NOLA.com reports. “The settlements with major oil companies including Shell, Exxon and BP are being kept secret even though they potentially involve hundreds of millions of dollars or more in public assets, leaving it unclear how much they are worth and to what degree they will benefit coastal restoration. In refusing to release details, state officials have pointed to court orders sealing the settlements from public view until all the cases are completed, and noted that some of the litigation remains ongoing… “John Carmouche, the lawyer who has spearheaded the lawsuits on behalf of the state and coastal parishes, argues the details must remain secret until all cases are final to allow Louisiana to maintain leverage in negotiations. He says he expects the total amount to top $7 billion… “But there are no guarantees for how long that may take or, if the court orders persist or are extended, to what degree the public will ever know the full details… “The public has an interest in knowing how the public business is being conducted. And we’re talking about major money here,” Keith Hall, a professor of energy law at LSU who has previously represented oil and gas companies, told NOLA.com… “The Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition of conservation groups, a prominent voice on coastal restoration, said the issue was too important to keep the public in the dark. “These revenues should be transparent and publicly disclosed so Louisianans can understand the resources available to invest in our coast’s future,” the coalition told NOLA.com.”

EXTRACTION

Politico: New climate reality outruns the old COP agenda
Zia Weise and Sara Schonhardt, 11/9/26

“The world is meeting for a course correction on global warming. The world’s energy demand has other plans,” Politico reports. “…The U.N. said last month that the world’s best hope now is to prevent temperatures from soaring past 1.8 degrees — with the remote possibility of invoking unprecedented political action and massive amounts of carbon removal technologies to bring them back to 1.5C. Yet even this new scenario is rapidly slipping out of reach — despite a global upswing in clean energy. Efforts to tackle fast-acting pollutants such as methane are hitting roadblocks. And the sudden emergence of a trillion-dollar data center economy combined with soaring cooling needs worldwide are boosting fossil fuel use, three years after countries agreed to start ridding themselves of oil, gas and coal… “Nearly 20 House Democrats and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse are planning to attend the talks. U.S. allies are skeptical. The election might mean there are “a few more happy NGO faces at COP, but that’s it,” one European climate negotiator who was granted anonymity as his government does not authorize him to speak to the press told Politico… “Taken together, countries’ climate plans are now set to deliver only half the emissions reductions that were anticipated a year ago, thanks largely to the United States.”

Bloomberg: Strathcona to Acquire Greenfire in Canadian Oil Sands Deal
Robert Tuttle, 11/8/26

“Alberta oil sands producer Strathcona Resources Ltd. has agreed to buy Greenfire Resources Ltd. in a cash and stock deal, the companies said on Sunday,” Bloomberg reports. “The deal values Greenfire at between C$2.7 billion ($1.9 billion) to C$2.9 billion, including debt, the companies said in a statement… “The deal is the latest example of a of a larger oil sands producer buying a smaller rival amid consolidation in Canada’s primary crude oil producing region ahead of an anticipated energy investment supercycle. Prime Minister Mark Carney has moved to encourage production growth, backed building a major pipeline to serve Asian markets and rolled back some federal environmental policies… “The combined Strathcona and Greenfire business will be the fourth-largest oil sands well sites operator in Canada and have more than 3 million barrels of proven and probably oil reserves, according to a statement.”

Insolvency Insider Canada: Sunshine Oilsands placed into receivership over mounting environmental liabilities
Dina Kovacevic, 11/8/26

“Sunshine Oilsands Ltd., a Hong Kong-listed Alberta oil producer, was placed into receivership on October 23, 2026, on application by the Orphan Well Association (OWA), following years of regulatory non-compliance, mounting environmental liabilities and unsuccessful efforts to secure financing,” Insolvency Insider Canada reports. “Sunshine, which holds licences for 284 wells, 13 pipelines and five facilities, including its West Ells oil sands project, has been shut in since February 2025, when the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) transferred responsibility for its licensed sites to the OWA… “Further inspections identified improperly winterized pipelines, leaking tanks, more than 4,000 cubic metres of stored fluid and other environmental concerns.“

DeSmog: How a French Oil Executive Is Working With the Trump Administration to ‘Kill’ Europe’s Methane Plan
TJ Jordan and Cécile Marchand, 11/8/26

“A TotalEnergies executive is working with U.S. officials to delay the implementation of new European Union methane rules, raising questions over the company’s pledges to tackle leaks of the potent greenhouse gas,” DeSmog reports. “…Mouton, who serves as IOGP’s Europe managing director, met with U.S. federal officials on at least three occasions to discuss the European Union Methane Regulation (EUMR) in the past 14 months, according to social media posts. The new framework would force oil and gas importers to meet certain standards for methane leaks in their supply chains or face big fines… “Mouton assumed this role despite his employer TotalEnergies and its CEO Patrick Pouyanné spending the past decade painting the company as a leader on methane action and publicly backing the EU Methane Regulation. Pouyanné is one of three top oil industry figures championing the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, a voluntary initiative to curb greenhouse gas emissions from across the sector, which is due to launch a status update at the UN climate conference COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, which opens today… “The Council will now have to negotiate the final decision with the 720-seat European Parliament, which has voted for a three-year delay amid the fossil fuel industry lobbying.”

TODAY IN GREENWASHING

CTV: Enbridge donating $22,000 to River Lights Winter Festival’s opening night
Kate Otterbein, 11/8/26

“Enbridge has donated $20,000 to Amherstburg’s River Lights Winter Festival’s 20th anniversary opening night. Enbridge will present a cheque on Monday,” CTV reports. “…As we celebrate 20 years of this festival, we’re grateful to Enbridge for its generous contribution for opening night. This support will help make the anniversary celebration memorable for residents and visitors alike,” outgoing Mayor Michael Prue told CTV.”

OPINION

Delta Optimist: Local meeting must be held to address pipeline concerns
Diane Ockerman, 11/8/26

“I am chairperson of Seniors for Climate (SFC) Delta…Needless to say, we in Delta take protection of the environment very seriously, and as our federal representative, we expect the same from our MP Jill McKnight,” Diane Ockerman writes for the Delta Optimist. “We asked her to hold a community engagement session so we can ask the many questions we have regarding the combined impacts of the Pacific Link Pipeline & Storage facility and the RBT2 port expansion, both now considered Projects in the National Interest (PONI). This request has been rejected, and instead, we have been told to wait for “consultations & dialogue in the community, with the Canada Energy Regulator (CER).” The CER does not represent Delta, and they are not making the final decision… “We are asking Ms. McKnight for one session to answer questions that her community has; we are ground zero for both projects and deserve this consideration.”

Washington Post: Jeffries flirts with derailing long-overdue permitting reform
Editorial, 11/6/26

“…Unfortunately, Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York), the presumptive next House speaker, wants to reopen negotiations,” the Washington Post Editorial Board writes. “His spokesperson said on Thursday that the deal “falls short in several areas.” Without expressing opposition, Jeffries’s office said: “We must once again support the clean energy economy and combat the climate crisis with the fierce urgency of now.” Except the deal on the table is great for the environment. Democratic negotiators in the Senate consulted closely with their House counterparts. The agreement would make it much easier to build clean energy projects and the transmission lines needed to connect them to the grid. While some environmental groups criticize the compromise for reducing regulatory barriers to construct fossil fuel infrastructure, a recent analysis by the independent Rhodium Group concluded that the legislation would probably cut carbon emissions overall.”