EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 11/14/24

PIPELINE NEWS

• North Dakota Monitor: Summit carbon pipeline decision coming soon in North Dakota

• Capitol News Illinois: Plan to ban carbon injections near aquifers stalls in Senate

• WAND: Illinois Senate pauses work on bill protecting Mahomet Aquifer from carbon sequestration

• The Pantagraph: Bloomington joins municipalities calling for Mahomet Aquifer protections

• Public News Service: Eminent domain reform could follow ousted SD pipeline law

• Houston Chronicle: Construction is underway in Montgomery County on a 193-mile natural gas pipeline

• Cardinal News: Virginia levies another fine on Mountain Valley Pipeline

• Hart Energy: Analysts: NatGas Price Will Drive Next Appalachian Pipeline

• Press release: Rally Targets Offshore Drilling at Friday’s Coastal Commission Meeting in San Francisco

• RBN Energy: Shell Shuts Segment of Zydeco Pipeline After Crude Oil Release

• Daily News: East African Crude Oil Pipeline Construction Hits New Milestone

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• E&E News: Hickenlooper On Permitting Bill: ‘They’re Still Working’ 

• Reuters: US oil industry urges Trump to ditch Biden climate policies

• E&E News: API Urges Trump To Slash Regulations, Revamp Permitting 

• E&E News: Conservative Wish List To Trump: End Climate Action, Boost Coal 

• Upstream: Occidental foresees Donald Trump support of US direct air capture plans

• Law360: Split DC Circ. Says White House Can’t Issue NEPA Regs 

• InsideEPA: D.C. Circuit Finds CEQ Lacks Regulatory Power To Issue Binding NEPA Rules 

• Reuters: Biden officials ask EU to align methane rules with US to ease LNG flows, letter says

• New York Times: Nonprofits Vow a New Resistance. Will Donors Pay Up?

• E&E News: ‘Climate-Smart’ Farming Grants Face New Fate Under Trump 

STATE UPDATES

• Floodlight: A fossil fuel group is working with US tribes to boost LNG exports

• Biofuels News: New Minnesota SAF plant in the pipeline

• Canary Media: California’s new clean-fuel plan makes old problems worse

• Source NM: New Mexico considers ban on forever chemicals in oil and gas operations

• NM Political Report: Oil Conservation Commission Kicks Off Hearing On Use Of ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Fracking 

• WRAL: Gas plant sparks health fears near Roxboro elementary school

• Energy News Network: As Rhode Island considers future of gas, advocates call for ‘realism’ on cost, availability of RNG

• North Dakota Monitor: Gas flares contribute to 2 western North Dakota wildfires, reports say

• Wisconsin Examiner: Environmental group criticizes We Energies utility rate hikes

• The Almanac: Local officials have had to grapple with fracking since its arrival

• Alaska Public Media: Alaska-Owned Corporation Approves $750K For Legal Fights Over Ambler Road And ANWR 

• NM Political Report: NM receives $2.88 billion in revenue from federal mineral, energy leasing

• Biodiesel Magazine: Florida man pleads guilty to biofuel fraud conspiracy

EXTRACTION

• New York Times: ‘Fossil Fuels Are Still Winning’: Global Emissions Head for a Record

• DeSmog: Canada’s Fossil Fuel Export Emissions Set New Record in 2023

• Rigzone: European Commission, Partners Launch Methane Abatement Roadmap

• New York Times: Climate Summit, in Early Days, Is Already on a ‘Knife Edge’

• Canadian Press: Canada steadfast on climate plan despite Trump re-election: Guilbeault

• The Narwhal: Alberta placed fossil fuel insiders on board backing Danielle Smith’s renewables pause

• Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEFFA): Steel CCUS update: Carbon capture technology looks ever less convincing

• Reuters: Exxon to sell older Permian assets to Hilcorp in $1 billion deal, sources say

• Reuters: Coterra Energy to buy oil and gas assets for $3.95 billion

TODAY IN GREENWASHING

• DeSmog: ‘Give Trees a Hand’ — Ad Agencies Line Up to Sell Sketchy Climate Solutions 

• TC Energy: Native American Heritage Month: This is me, Dane

OPINION

• WyoFile: Wyoming public lands advocates should prepare for disaster

• New York Times: We Study Climate Change. We Can’t Explain What We’re Seeing.
  

PIPELINE NEWS

North Dakota Monitor: Summit carbon pipeline decision coming soon in North Dakota
Jeff Beach, 11/13/24

“The North Dakota Public Service Commission will meet Friday to vote on the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project that aims to permanently store carbon emissions underground west of Bismarck,” the North Dakota Monitor reports. “The commission will meet at 10 a.m. in the Pioneer Room on the ground floor in the Judicial Wing of the Capitol Building. The PSC denied Summit a permit in 2023, but the company made changes to its route in North Dakota and appealed the decision… “Opponents cite safety concerns, damage to farmland and property values and an infringement on property rights. Some landowners also have complained about Summit’s business practices. Iowa has granted Summit a permit, and the company says it plans to try again for a permit in South Dakota. Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission is expected to vote Dec. 12 on a 28-mile segment near the North Dakota state line. The project also includes Nebraska, which has no state agency in charge of issuing permits for CO2 pipelines.”

Capitol News Illinois: Plan to ban carbon injections near aquifers stalls in Senate
Ben Szalinski, 11/13/24

“An Illinois Senate committee hit pause on a bill to ban carbon sequestration injections near aquifers after more than an hour of debate Wednesday,” Capitol News Illinois reports. “Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, asked that the Senate Executive Committee to wait to act on Senate Bill 3968, which would have banned the practice, until lawmakers can learn more about the carbon injection process and its environmental risks. The bill was proposed after it was revealed that ADM, the Decatur-based agriculture giant, violated federal regulations when liquid carbon dioxide leaked into areas outside the scope of their permit… “The bill was proposed by two senators served by the aquifer, Sen. Paul Faraci, D-Champaign, with Republican Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, lending bipartisan support… “Harmon indicated that two-year ramp gives lawmakers time to further discuss potential protections for aquifers… “Faraci said he understands why Harmon wanted to slow down the process. “I think this is a complicated issue. There were discussions last May about this. I was not part of those discussions, I’m glad I am now part of those discussions, so I think this is not an overnight kind of fix and there are a lot of parties that are kind of concerned and interested in getting this done right,” Faraci told reporters… “Environmental advocates expressed frustration the sequestration law passed even after ADM’s well leaked in March and lawmakers were unaware of it. “They (ADM) knew about those leaks when folks were here talking about the bill in spring and they didn’t tell legislators about that, or anybody, that that had happened,” Andrew Rehn from the Prairie Rivers Network told CNI… “Carbon sequestration is a new concept for a lot of people. New processes can cause uneasiness, new processes can cause fear, and I believe that this bill is more a response to maybe some fear,” Donovan Griffith from the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association told CNI. It’s unclear when, or if, the bill will move forward, but Faraci told reporters he still hopes to move the bill forward quickly as the current General Assembly winds down business in early January.”

WAND: Illinois Senate pauses work on bill protecting Mahomet Aquifer from carbon sequestration
Mike Miletich, 11/13/24

“Illinois senators have paused movement on a bill that could protect the Mahomet Aquifer from carbon capture and sequestration despite growing calls for action,” WAND reports. “Sen. Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) and multiple local lawmakers believe carbon capture can play a role in addressing climate change. Although, they stress that the state should not put clean water at risk… “Senate President Don Harmon told Faraci and members of the Senate Executive Committee that he thought more time was needed to talk with stakeholders on both sides of the issue. Yet, 860 people filed witness slips in favor of the proposal Wednesday. 113 people were opposed to the bill… “ The question is do you have to have a new piece of legislation to address something that doesn’t seem to be the case with the legislation that we already have on the books,” Gov. JB Pritzker told reporters. A coalition of community members, environmental groups, and advocacy organizations said protecting the Mahomet Aquifer is the right thing to do. “I’m not sure what there is left to ‘get right,'” Pam Richart, co-director of the Eco-Justice Collaborative, told WAND. “During the hearing, the risks to our drinking water were underplayed by industry and experts. What wasn’t discussed was the failures of ADM’s leaking project. At ADM, we experienced a design failure, a material failure, an operator failure and a moral failure. The projects already proposed, and there are more to come, would be 50 times the size of ADM’s existing project, which has already leaked twice.”

The Pantagraph: Bloomington joins municipalities calling for Mahomet Aquifer protections
Drew Zimmerman, 11/12/24

“The city of Bloomington joined a growing number of local governments standing in support of state actions to protect the Mahomet Aquifer from the potential threat of carbon sequestration projects,” The Pantagraph reports. “The Bloomington City Council approved on Monday a resolution supporting state-initiated protections for the aquifer, which provides drinking water to more than 500,000 residents across 16 Illinois counties… “Critics cite the possibility of carbon dioxide seeping into groundwater, changing its pH and causing potentially harmful elements to dissolve into the water. Bloomington has two wells that tap the Mahomet Aquifer to supplement the city’s water drawn from Lake Bloomington and Evergreen Lake, but the town of Normal sources all of its drinking water from the aquifer. In October, the McLean County Board passed a resolution supporting state legislation that would protect the aquifer. The Ford County Board also approved a resolution proposing a statewide legislative ban on carbon sequestration storage under aquifers that are sole sources of drinking water. A proposal from One Earth Sequestration LLC to establish a 7-mile carbon sequestration pipeline from One Earth Energy’s ethanol plant in Gibson City to storage wells in McLean County’s Anchor and Cheney’s Grove townships would have impacted both counties… “Alderman John Danenberger, who introduced the draft resolution, said scientific studies have shown carbon dioxide pumped underground will not stay in place and cannot be contained. By approving the resolution, the city will stand in solidarity not only with McLean County but DeWitt and Champaign counties as well, Danenberger said. “It also shows that we are dedicated to protecting our residents’ drinking water, protecting our residents’ property values and land rights and protecting their tax money from projects that will eventually harm them,” Danenberger said… “The Illinois Senate has seen the introduction of one bill, Senate Bill 3968, to prohibit carbon capture and sequestration activities over, under or through the Mahomet Aquifer. Currently, a two-year state moratorium is in effect blocking approval of new carbon dioxide pipelines statewide unless new safety rules are established by the state Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.”

Public News Service: Eminent domain reform could follow ousted SD pipeline law
Kathleen Shannon, 11/14/24

“In last week’s election, South Dakota voters defeated the carbon pipeline law by a wide margin, but pipeline companies could still gain ground in neighboring states,” Public News Service reports. “Nearly 60% of South Dakota voters said “no” to Referred Law 21, which would have imposed regulations to linear transmission facilities that favored industry over landowners… “Landowner advocate Ed Fischbach noted at a press event that the win was impressive considering that ethanol producers backed the law with nearly $3-million of campaign support. “I think we won 65 of the 66 counties. And even though we were outspent about 50-to-1, we’re very happy that we have prevailed on this. But we know the fight’s not over,” he said… “Summit has said it will reapply for a permit through the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission next week after being denied one last year. But Chase Jensen of Dakota Rural Action said on the press call that this is the eighth consecutive month Summit has said it will reapply. State Sen.-elect Joy Hohn, R-Hartford, who said she’s excited to work on “eminent domain reform” at the Statehouse, was also on the call. “We really have had a grassroots movement across South Dakota with a lot of new conservative legislators, and I am hopeful and think that we will bring forth a lot of good legislation that will protect our private property rights and keep our freedoms intact where they should be,” she explained.

Houston Chronicle: Construction is underway in Montgomery County on a 193-mile natural gas pipeline
Catherine Dominguez, 11/13/24

“Construction on the Montgomery County portion of a 193-mile intrastate natural gas pipeline has started and the project is expected to be completed by late next year,” the Houston Chronicle reports. “Blackfin Pipeline, built by Austin-based Whitewater Midstream, will transport up to 3.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily from Colorado County to Jasper County in East Texas. It will pass through Austin, Waller, Montgomery, Liberty, and Hardin counties and a small portion of far northwest Harris County. Cody McGregor, spokesperson for Blackfin Pipeline, told the Chronicle the project will not displace any homes or businesses and is vital for Texas… “While the pipeline hasn’t generated much controversy, the county and the Bayou Land Conservancy worked with Blackfin to protect the Lake Creek Preserve in Precinct 2.”

Cardinal News: Virginia levies another fine on Mountain Valley Pipeline
Matt Busse, 11/14/24

“State officials on Wednesday ordered the Mountain Valley Pipeline to pay $17,500 for violating environmental regulations over a three-month period, marking the fifth consecutive fine of its kind,” Cardinal News reports. “The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s latest quarterly review of the natural gas pipeline’s compliance with erosion and sediment control rules covers June 11 to Sept. 10… “Examples of violations include allowing sediment to enter streams and improperly installing erosion control matting. Individual fines range from $500 to $6,500, and most problems were corrected within a day, according to DEQ data. Mountain Valley Pipeline spokesperson Shawn Day told the News that the third quarter included extremely heavy rainfall and that “all of the noted items, most of which relate to issues with erosion control devices, have been resolved, and full payment will be made without dispute.” “…Before this latest penalty, the DEQ had fined Mountain Valley $98,500 via such quarterly reviews since the summer of 2023… “In late August, U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, wrote to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates the construction of interstate natural gas pipelines. He said that some of his constituents had raised concerns about erosion and the completion of restoration work along the pipeline right-of-way. On Oct. 30, FERC Chairman Willie Phillips replied, telling Griffith that MVP, DEQ and FERC were working on installing permanent erosion control measures on the constituents’ properties and that FERC would “continue to monitor this situation.”

Hart Energy: Analysts: NatGas Price Will Drive Next Appalachian Pipeline
Sandy Segrist, 11/13/24

“With the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) up and running, no company has proposed a new major greenfield egress project for Appalachia,” Hart Energy reports. “But more pipeline capacity in the region’s largest natural gas is needed, even if a new pipeline project would face hurdles from active environmental groups in the Northeast U.S. and often fierce local opposition. However, the driving force behind the next pipeline will be the same force behind the eventually successful fight to build the MVP—commercial viability… “A primary problem for the industry is a conflicted government that doesn’t give a clear picture of the legal terrain. Tom Sharp, director of permitting intelligence at Arbo, discussed how midstream companies can navigate the current environment… “Sharp said a key going forward would be the progress of permitting reform, a legislative project proposed by Manchin and Sen. John Barrasso (R-W.Y.)… “I actually think the bigger challenge to Appalachian pipeline development is commercial,” said Amber McCullagh, Rystad’s senior vice president for Onshore North America… “Depressed prices mean potential builders tend to hold on to their money and wait for a better forecast. “When you’re not confident that the commodity will be more than $3, even if your wealth at break-evens are sub-$2, it’s very hard to make that worth a 15-year commitment,” McCullagh said.”

Press release: Rally Targets Offshore Drilling at Friday’s Coastal Commission Meeting in San Francisco
11/13/24

“Environmentalists and Tribal community members will rally against offshore oil drilling on Friday before a California Coastal Commission meeting. Attendees will advocate against restarting a dangerous oil pipeline near Santa Barbara, in Chumash homelands, which would reactivate three drilling platforms off the California coast that have been shut down for nearly 10 years after causing one of the worst oil spills in California history in 2015. With the incoming Trump administration promising to “drill, drill, drill,” the rally will highlight the critical role of state agencies in protecting California’s coast, communities and climate… “The Refugio spill devastated 150 miles of the California coast, polluting thousands of acres of shoreline and subtidal habitat, killing hundreds of marine mammals and birds and shutting down fisheries. It cost hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up, restore and compensate for and resulted in a felony conviction for the pipeline’s former owner. The commission will soon decide what additional permit approvals and other oversight measures are necessary before the Santa Ynez Unit can restart.”

RBN Energy: Shell Shuts Segment of Zydeco Pipeline After Crude Oil Release
Sheela Tobben, 11/13/24

“Shell shut the 18-inch Houma-St. James, Louisiana portion of its Zydeco crude pipeline early Wednesday to investigate an area of concern at St. James, according to market sources,” RBN Energy reports. “In an email, Shell told RBN it is responding to a crude oil release near its St. James Junction facility in Louisiana and has isolated the inbound pipelines to the facility… “The released material is contained to the immediate area, and out of an abundance of caution, additional steps have been taken to prevent any further impact to the soil, nearby waterways and wildlife, Shell said. The incident remains active and under investigation as to ownership and cause.”

Daily News: East African Crude Oil Pipeline Construction Hits New Milestone
11/14/24

“The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project has made significant progress, reaching 47.1% completion, as announced by Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) Coordinator Asaidi Mrutu,” the Daily News reports. “…The EACOP, is joint venture between Tanzania, Uganda, TotalEnergies, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), is a strategic project aimed at capitalizing on Uganda’s substantial oil reserves, estimated at 6.5 billion barrels. Since its conception, the project has faced multiple regulatory and financing hurdles, which have delayed its implementation. Reports of environmental concerns and human rights violations further caused a backlash among the international community, with nearly all major financiers abandoning the project, prompting Uganda to reach out to China for the project’s funding.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

E&E News: Hickenlooper On Permitting Bill: ‘They’re Still Working’ 
Kelsey Brugger, 11/13/24

“A key Senate Democrat is holding out hope that Congress can push through a bipartisan permitting package by the end of the year, even after Republicans are on the brink of sweeping control of Washington and are already plotting their governing ‘trifecta’ next year,” E&E News reports. “Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), a proponent of permitting and grid legislation, acknowledged the fate of a compromise bill from Sens. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) was ‘unclear’ but suggested the effort isn’t dead. “I think there’s been so much work and so many compromises,” Hickenlooper, a Manchin ally who has been trying to sell the legislation for months, told E&E. “Permitting reform still needs 60 votes, so I think that’s still no different than it was. Either way, we need Republicans to agree to that, and they’re still working on compromises, even right now.” He declined to divulge details.”

Reuters: US oil industry urges Trump to ditch Biden climate policies
Nichola Groom, 11/12/24

“The U.S. oil and gas industry on Tuesday called on President-elect Donald Trump to scrap many of President Joe Biden’s policies aimed at fighting climate change, saying the measures threaten jobs, consumer choice and energy security,” Reuters reports. “The American Petroleum Institute (API), the nation’s top oil and gas trade group, urged Trump’s incoming administration to do away with vehicle emissions standards meant to move the auto industry to produce more electric vehicles, lift a pause on export permits for liquefied natural gas facilities and work with Congress to repeal a fee on methane emissions from drilling operations, among a range of other actions… “Looking at the results of last week’s election, it is clear that energy was on the ballot,” API CEO Mike Sommers said on a call with reporters. “Whether it was EV mandates in Michigan or fracking in Pennsylvania, voters across the country and on both sides of the aisle sent a clear message to policymakers that they want an all-of-the-above approach to energy, not government mandates and restrictions.” API sought to rescind California’s ability to enact state tailpipe emissions that are stricter than federal rules and to repeal U.S. Environmental Protection Agency clean vehicle rules. It also advocated supporting LNG exports, holding more auctions for oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and reversing rules that the group says limits oil and gas development on federal lands. It wants Trump to make it easier to obtain drilling permits via changes to the Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act, and implement tax incentives to infrastructure and overseas investment.”

E&E News: API Urges Trump To Slash Regulations, Revamp Permitting 
Carlos Anchondo, 11/13/24

“The country’s largest oil and gas trade group is calling on President-elect Donald Trump to take a machete to federal regulations it sees as burdensome and overhaul how energy projects are permitted,” E&E News reports. “In a policy blueprint released Tuesday, the American Petroleum Institute said the incoming Trump administration should work with Congress to rescind a fee on excess methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, repeal EPA tailpipe rules meant to encourage the use of electric vehicles, and grant approvals to send liquefied natural gas abroad. The road map was addressed to the incoming Trump administration and the next Congress. Last week’s election results show that voters “want an all-of-the-above approach to energy, not government mandates and restrictions,” Mike Sommers, API’s CEO, said during a Tuesday call with reporters, E&E reported.”

E&E News: Conservative Wish List To Trump: End Climate Action, Boost Coal 
Hannah Northey, 11/12/24

“Conservative groups that have long rejected the science underpinning climate action are lining up behind a policy wish list that calls on the incoming Trump team to ax climate agreements, make coal a ‘preferred means of electricity’ and immediately freeze spending tied to the 2022 climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act,” E&E News reports. “The multipronged strategy, which has been delivered to President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, is coming from groups that were elevated during Trump’s first term in office: the Heartland Institute, the Energy and Environment Legal Institute, the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, Truth in Energy and Climate, and the American Energy Institute. Steve Milloy, a lawyer who served on Trump’s EPA transition team in 2016 and now a senior policy fellow with the Energy and Environment Legal Institute, told E&E policies in the memo would combine boosting coal-fired generation and exports of natural gas with regulatory rollbacks, all of which he said will make the U.S. less susceptible to the whims of the global market. “The way to implement the MAGA [energy plan] is to burn coal for electricity and then export natural gas to Europe and Asia, where they pay six times more for it,” Milloy told E&E. “It would also make us less susceptible electricity-wise to the vagaries of the global markets.”

Upstream: Occidental foresees Donald Trump support of US direct air capture plans
Robert Stewart, 11/14/24

“Though some critics have voiced fears about US President-elect Donald Trump’s potential plans to walk back President Joe Biden’s climate agenda, the Republican’s win should be a boon for the US energy industry and carbon sequestration efforts, particularly direct air capture (DAC), Occidental chief executive Vicki Hollub said,” Upstream reports. “I think the election of Donald Trump to become our next president is going to be very positive for our industry, especially for our direct air capture,” Hollub told analysts on Occidental’s third quarter earnings call Wednesday. “He understands the industry… And he also understands the part that our direct air capture will play in helping with that energy independence and security.” Occidental is banking on Trump support for its ambitious DAC plans, which include its Stratos facility in Ector County, Texas and its South Texas DAC Hub on the King Ranch in Kleberg County, Texas. The South Texas project learned in September that it will receive up to $500 million in US Department of Energy (DoE) funding for development through Biden’s 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). That amount could increase by $150 million if Occidental helps develop a regional carbon sequestration network in the state. Hollub said Occidental should still receive the DoE money, even if Trump threatens to walk back Biden’s infrastructure packages. She also believes that generous carbon sequestration tax credits spurred by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will have bipartisan support because they will incentivise companies to decarbonise and potentially use additional carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery.”

Law360: Split DC Circ. Says White House Can’t Issue NEPA Regs 
Madeline Lyskawa, 11/12/24

“A divided D.C. Circuit determined Tuesday that the White House Council on Environmental Quality lacks the authority to issue legally binding regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, finding there is no statutory language showing Congress empowered it to do so,” Law360 reports. “While the environmental groups behind the appeal had argued that the Federal Aviation Administration and National Park Service failed to comply with the CEQ’s NEPA-implementing regulations when they authorized more than 2,500 tour flights over California’s Bay Area Parks, the majority did not address those arguments in its opinion. Instead, U.S. Circuit Judges A. Raymond Randolph and Karen L. Henderson chose to answer whether the CEQ had the authority to issue such binding regulations in the first place.”

InsideEPA: D.C. Circuit Finds CEQ Lacks Regulatory Power To Issue Binding NEPA Rules 
11/12/24

“A split appellate panel has held that the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has no statutory authority to craft rules implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), upending decades of policy and opening the door for the incoming administration and a likely GOP Congress to overhaul the law if they so choose,” InsideEPA reports. “…No statutory language states or suggests that Congress empowered CEQ to issue rules binding on other agencies — that is, to act as a regulatory agency rather than as an advisory agency,” the majority opinion adds. “NEPA contains nothing close to the sort of clear language Congress typically uses to confer rulemaking authority,” Randolph continues. Thus, “No statute confers rulemaking authority on CEQ,” rendering its rules unlawful and unenforceable, he concludes.”

Reuters: Biden officials ask EU to align methane rules with US to ease LNG flows, letter says
Valerie Volcovici, 11/13/24

“President Joe Biden’s administration has asked the European Union to ensure liquefied natural gas shipments that meet U.S. methane regulations automatically comply with Europe’s standards for imports, according to a letter seen by Reuters. Linking U.S. and EU methane standards would safeguard United States’ growing LNG trade with Europe while also cementing Biden’s methane rules, even if they are eventually repealed by President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration. “We understand that this process will take time. However, we would like to begin discussions as soon as possible, to ensure the continued reliable and stable supply of natural gas from the United States to Europe,” the U.S. officials wrote in an Oct. 28 letter, just days before Trump’s decisive win in the Nov. 5 election. The letter was signed by Brad Crabtree, head of the Department of Energy’s fossil energy office, and Joe Goffman, head of the Environmental Protection Agency’s air office, and addressed to the European Commission’s top energy official Ditte Juul Jørgensen… “Trump has said he plans to reverse or revoke dozens of Biden administration regulations to ease burdens and costs for the US energy industry, with methane rules among the first likely targets.” 

New York Times: Nonprofits Vow a New Resistance. Will Donors Pay Up?
David A. Fahrenthold and Kenneth P. Vogel, 11/13/24

“In Donald J. Trump’s first term as president, some of his toughest opponents were not elected Democrats but left-leaning nonprofit groups. They bogged down his immigration and environmental policies with lawsuits and protests and were rewarded with a huge “Trump bump” in donations,” the New York Times reports. “Now, some of those groups are promising to do it all over again… “Trump’s bigotry, misogyny, anti-climate and anti-wildlife zealotry — all will be defeated,” Kieran Suckling, the executive director of an environmental nonprofit called the Center for Biological Diversity, wrote in an email to potential donors… “Another problem: Nonprofits are finding that some supporters are not energized by another round of “resistance.” Instead they have been left exhausted, wondering whether their donations made any difference. Some are afraid that they could be targeted for retaliation by Mr. Trump and his allies for donating to groups that oppose his administration… “Some nonprofits told the Times they need cash to combat Mr. Trump’s agenda even before he is sworn in. “I would guess that the first lawsuit is going to drop on the 21st” of January, Mr. Trump’s first full day in office, Mr. Suckling, of the Center for Biological Diversity, told the Times. During Mr. Trump’s first term, Mr. Suckling’s group filed 266 lawsuits challenging the administration’s environmental policies, seeking to block offshore drilling and to expand protections for species from grizzly bears to bumblebees. He told the Times nine out of 10 cases had produced wins, though some came after Mr. Biden took office and reversed Mr. Trump’s decisions.”

E&E News: ‘Climate-Smart’ Farming Grants Face New Fate Under Trump 
Marc Heller, 11/12/24

“President-elect Donald Trump’s next Agriculture secretary will inherit a $3.1 billion grant program to use farming to fight climate change — and with it a struggle to align the effort with the incoming president’s resistance to climate science,” E&E News reports. “Farm policy groups, lobbyists and grant recipients told E&E they’re not sure what to expect from the Agriculture Department’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities when Trump takes office, except that it’s likely to face scrutiny by an administration that takes a dim view to the science and politics of climate change. Some of the nation’s biggest agribusinesses are participating in the grant program, as are universities and dozens of small farmer groups.”

STATE UPDATES

Floodlight: A fossil fuel group is working with US tribes to boost LNG exports
Hilary Beaumont, 11/13/24

“In the Navajo Nation, and for many tribes, sage is a sacred plant burned in ceremonies to promote healing, spiritual protection and connection to the land. But Meredith Benally, who is Diné and the co-director of the environmental group C 4 Ever Green, has noticed the plant is becoming scarce due to climate change, pollution and other stressors,” Floodlight reports. “For more than 60 years, the tribe has hosted oil and gas fields that have contaminated the surrounding land, water and air in the Four Corners region of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. Residents believe the oil and gas wells are contributing to health issues like asthma, and leaks of hydrogen sulfide gas have caused vomiting in children… “Benally believes fossil fuels harm their culture. “It not just affects us physically and spiritually, but it also affects us mentally, because we have such a strong relationship with the land.” “…At a time when the United States must move away from fossil fuels to save the planet, three western tribes, three states — New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — and the Mexican state of Baja California, have signed agreements with an industry group promoting long-term contracts to export gas to Asian markets. The effort could bring revenue to tribes but also exacerbate climate change, which is having devastating impacts on communities in the West. The group, Western States and Tribal Nations Natural Gas Initiative (WSTN), describes itself as a unique collaboration between tribes and state governments. Its goal of increasing drilling of natural gas in the West for export to Asia is endorsed by the Biden Administration led by Rahm Emanuel, a former top aide to President Barack Obama and now ambassador to Japan. It will likely be supported by incoming President Donald Trump’s administration… “The group claims that it is reducing global emissions by helping countries to replace coal with methane. But new peer-reviewed research found that greenhouse gas emissions from American LNG exports can be 33% worse than coal… “Historical factors have pushed tribal governments to partner with the fossil fuel industry, says Brenna Two Bears, lead coordinator for the Keep It In the Ground campaign, part of the Indigenous Environmental Network… “Tribal governments signing agreements does not equate to community support, Two Bears told Floodlight.”

Biofuels News: New Minnesota SAF plant in the pipeline
11/14/24

“DG Fuels has selected a site for a $5 billion (€4.7 million) manufacturing facility and hundreds of good jobs in Moorhead, Minnesota, that will produce 193 million gallons per year of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using agricultural and wood waste as feedstock,” Biofuels News reports. “…The 193 million gallons projected by DG Fuels would represent nearly half of the fuel used at the MSP International Airport… “The hub is actively pursuing opportunities to bring to Minnesota producers of all sizes, using multiple technology pathways and feedstocks, and with production starts prior to 2030, to be part of this growing SAF industry, as the current demand for SAF at MSP Airport outstrips supply.”

Canary Media: California’s new clean-fuel plan makes old problems worse
Jeff St. John, 11/13/24

“For years, environmental groups and climate and energy experts have complained that California’s landmark clean-fuels program, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, misdirects billions of dollars per year to subsidize unsustainable crop-based and cow-manure-derived biofuels,” Canary Media reports. “Instead of addressing those longtime concerns, on Friday the California Air Resources Board approved highly controversial amendments to the decade-and-a-half-old program that critics say could cause the price of gasoline and diesel fuel to spike across the state. That’s because the amendments fail to address the program’s biggest flaw, according to these groups, which is that it allows biofuels with dubious or even harmful climate impacts to flood the market, depressing prices for LCFS credits that are also vital for expanding electric-vehicle charging in California. About 80 percent of LCFS funding over the program’s history — roughly $22.1 billion — has gone to combustion biofuels rather than electric vehicles. CARB’s new amendments seek to reverse falling LCFS credit prices over the past few years by ratcheting up the mechanism that forces fossil-fuel producers to increase their purchases of credits from low-carbon producers certified by the program. LCFS collects between $2 billion and $4 billion per year through this market mechanism, with most of the costs that fuel producers incur being passed on to Californians buying gasoline and diesel fuel. But if LCFS credit prices rise too quickly, it could cause prices at the pump to surge, energy experts contend. That could spark a public backlash to the LCFS program as a whole — even as biofuel and biogas producers, many of them majority owned by oil and gas companies, reap the benefits… “Some of those operations include refineries that produce renewable diesel made from crops like soybeans and oil palm. Critics say this drives up prices for people who rely on those crops for food and encourages deforestation as more of those crops are planted across the world. Recent research indicates that these impacts outweigh any environmental benefits of switching from fossil fuels to renewable diesel… “Privileging biofuels over electricity also provides fossil-fuel companies a pathway to have their cake and eat it too, so to speak. Fossil-fuel companies happen to be some of the biggest investors in renewable diesel refining and in dairy gas projects eligible for LCFS credits in California and across the country.”

Source NM: New Mexico considers ban on forever chemicals in oil and gas operations
Austin Fisher, 11/11/24

“New Mexico environmental regulators will consider new rules this week that would require companies to disclose what chemicals they use in oil and gas operations, and prohibit them from using so-called “forever chemicals” that can harm human health,” Source NM reports. “The state Oil Conservation Commission will hold a four-day hearing that runs from Tuesday through Friday to consider establishing new rules banning PFAS in oil and gas operations, and mandating full disclosure of the chemicals companies use. The commission will be accepting public comments on the proposed rules… “In anticipation of the hearing, climate activist groups on Oct. 21 delivered more than 4,700 public comments which urged Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to build on her efforts to address PFAS contamination by supporting the proposed rule. PFAS can be harmful in many ways, Dr. Robert Bernstein, a medical doctor and president of the New Mexico chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, told Source. They can raise cholesterol, disrupt thyroid function, cause liver and kidney problems, reduce the body’s ability to fight infections by interfering with the immune system, increase risk of birth defects, and cause cancer, he told Source.”

NM Political Report: Oil Conservation Commission Kicks Off Hearing On Use Of ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Fracking 
Hannah Grover, 11/12/24

“The Oil Conservation Commission kicked off its week-long hearing on a petition to ban the use of PFAS chemicals in oil and gas extraction,” according to NM Political Report. “While there is no concrete evidence that PFAS chemicals are currently being used in oil and gas extraction in New Mexico, activists told the Report that it has been used in the state in the past and that companies may be hiding behind rules allowing them to keep some of the formulas as trade secrets. The commission meeting started with several hours of public comments urging the body to ban the use of PFAS in oil and gas extraction. Many of the public commenters said that the oil and gas industry should not be allowed to keep chemical formulations secret if they are injecting them underground with the potential that those chemicals could impact aquifers. PFAS chemicals have gained increasing attention in recent years as more people learn about the dangers of these prevalent substances. WildEarth Guardians filed the petition with the Oil Conservation Commission last year to ban the use of PFAS chemicals in oil and gas extraction. The proposed ban would follow in the footsteps of Colorado and California. Colorado’s law requires chemical disclosure of anything used underground in oil and gas extraction.” 

WRAL: Gas plant sparks health fears near Roxboro elementary school
Liz McLaughlin, 11/12/24

“North Carolina residents have the opportunity to share feedback on the draft air quality permit for Duke Energy’s proposed transition from coal to natural gas at its Roxboro facility, part of Duke’s broader Carbon Plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions and phase out coal by 2050,” WRAL reports. “The plan involves replacing the existing coal-fired units with hydrogen-capable natural gas turbines, which Duke says will reduce emissions and meet the state’s rising energy demands. But some environmental advocates and community members are raising red flags about the health, climate, and cost implications of the project… “However, environmental groups argue that natural gas still poses significant health risks and may not align with North Carolina’s climate goals. A primary concern is that the new gas units would emit higher levels of certain pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide, which Duke’s own analysis indicates could elevate cancer risks in nearby communities. Woodland Elementary School, located less than a mile from the proposed site, serves more than 200 children who could face health risks from the plant’s emissions, according to advocates. “We’re talking about a facility that, even with modern technology, could still affect public health,” Munashe Magarira, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, told WRAL… “Sue Sturgis, research and communications manager for the Energy and Policy Institute, told WRAL replacing coal with natural gas still poses health and climate risks. Sturgis points out that natural gas plants emit pollutants like carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can negatively affect nearby communities, including Woodland Elementary School, located less than a mile from the proposed site.

Energy News Network: As Rhode Island considers future of gas, advocates call for ‘realism’ on cost, availability of RNG
Lisa Prevost, 11/13/24

“As a state committee studies ways to wean Rhode Island off of natural gas, several of its members want the group’s final report to dismiss one potential pathway as wholly unrealistic,” Energy News Network reports. “Switching to renewable natural gas or other alternative fuels appears to be neither a feasible nor a financially viable solution at this time, say multiple stakeholders who have commented on a draft outline of a report a consulting group prepared for Rhode Island regulators. RNG is derived from biomass or other renewable resources. It is a biogas, captured from the decomposition of organic matter, such as animal manure or food waste. Many gas utilities around the country are pushing for RNG as part of the solution to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. But Michael Walsh, a partner at Groundwork Data, a clean energy consultancy that worked with the Conservation Law Foundation and the Sierra Club in the committee process, told the Energy News Network that “we don’t see a lot of viability with the RNG pathway,” both because of limited availability and because it is much more expensive then fossil fuel gas to produce. While RNG is interchangeable with conventional natural gas, “realism about the availability and cost of alternative fuels for the gas system is necessary” for the planning process, wrote Nicholas Vaz, Rhode Island special assistant attorney general, in his comments on the draft… “The neighboring state of Massachusetts is a little farther along in that process; its state Department of Public Utilities issued an order last December outlining a strategy for getting the state off natural gas. While utilities there initially pushed for a plan that was heavily reliant on RNG, regulators ultimately rejected that approach, citing concerns about availability, cost and whether such alternative fuels will actually lead to a reduction in emissions.”

North Dakota Monitor: Gas flares contribute to 2 western North Dakota wildfires, reports say
Amy Dalrymple, 11/13/24

“Heat from natural gas flares combined with high winds and dry vegetation caused two of the October wildfires in western North Dakota, according to the state fire marshal,” the North Dakota Monitor reports. “Investigations into an Oct. 5 fire near Keene and a fire the same day near New Town found that both originated with flares at oil and gas wells next to agricultural land with stubble or dry grass, according to investigative reports. The McKenzie County fires occurred in the hours before state regulators asked operators to voluntarily shut down oil and gas wells in areas with high fire danger, according to the investigative reports and an interview with Department of Mineral Resources Director Nathan Anderson… “A total of 190 fires occurred in North Dakota in October, burning 126,273 acres, according to the state Department of Emergency Services. Damage estimates are still being compiled, but so far rural electric cooperatives report an estimated $7.7 million in damages, Department of Emergency Services spokeswoman Alison Vetter told the Monitor.” 

Wisconsin Examiner: Environmental group criticizes We Energies utility rate hikes
Isiah Holmes, 11/13/24

“The Sierra Club released a statement Friday criticizing recent residential rate increases for We Energies approved by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC),” the Wisconsin Examiner reports. “Increases of 13-14% were approved by the commission on Nov. 7, after We Energies proposed a 19% increase. The Sierra Club claims in a press release that the rate increase rewards the utility provider for “bad decisions, such as past investments in fossil fuels.” The environmental advocacy organization is calling on the PSC to scrutinize We Energies’ plans for a $2 million methane gas plant, which the Sierra Club fears will raise the costs even more. “We are disappointed in this decision, but we’re not going to stop fighting to put people first. We appreciate the Commission scrutinizing We Energies’ claims about the needs for this increase. We Energies’ poor investment in fossil fuels have put us in this place. Going forward, we hope to see the Commission continue to investigate We Energies’ claims about the needs of its customers. This will be more critical than ever as the Commission rules on decisions about new gas facilities that could result in stranded assets, hurting our communities even more,” said Cassie Steiner, Senior Campaign Coordinator of Sierra Club – Wisconsin. “For so many people, higher utility bills mean greater financial strain for everyday needs– from affording rent or their mortgage, to being able to put food on the table for their family. People shouldn’t have to choose between affording groceries and keeping the lights on.”

The Almanac: Local officials have had to grapple with fracking since its arrival
Brad Hundt, 11/12/24

“…Since April, though, when supervisors have been discussing making changes to the township’s oil and gas ordinance, residents have been crowding in and even filling seats in the lobby outside the meeting room’s glass doors,” The Almanac reports. “…The fervor surrounding the proposed changes to the ordinance, which has been in effect since 2011, reflects how natural gas drilling in the region still generates strong feelings. The overwhelming majority of those attending the hearings have been arguing that the board should keep surface operations by gas drillers at a minimum of 2,500 feet from homes and even farther from schools and hospitals. To be sure, though, they have been countered by attorneys and representatives of oil and gas companies who say that an ordinance that would keep drilling almost a half-mile from any dwelling would unduly throttle the industry and limit the rights of property owners to profit from their land. Tom Casciola, a longtime supervisor in Cecil and the current chairman of its board, told the Almanac at one meeting that dealing with natural gas drilling has been “a divisive and contentious issue” and “the most important issue this township has ever faced.” When the first Washington County well was drilled in October 2004 at the farm owned by the Renz family in Mount Pleasant Township, elected officials who were used to dealing with a predictable menu of responsibilities and issues were suddenly faced with questions on how to handle zoning for an activity that was providing an infusion of revenue to landowners and communities but was also battering roads and disturbing some residents with its noise, its odor and potential health impacts. And zoning is the primary tool local officials have to control natural gas drilling.”

Alaska Public Media: Alaska-Owned Corporation Approves $750K For Legal Fights Over Ambler Road And ANWR 
James Brooks, 11/11/24

“Alaska’s state-owned development corporation is advancing plans to explore for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and to build a 300-mile road to a mining district in Northwest Alaska,” Alaska Public Media reports. “The board of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority voted unanimously Thursday to spend up to $750,000 on outside legal help related to both projects. The Biden administration rejected the proposed Ambler Road earlier this year, a decision that AIDEA is challenging in court. AIDEA is also challenging the administration’s decision to cancel the results of a 2020 oil lease sale in ANWR and is preparing for a new sale to be held later this year. AIDEA Executive Director Randy Ruaro told APM that the results of the November election, sending former President Donald Trump back to the White House, may change the federal government’s policies on both projects, but until that change occurs, the corporation needs to prepare.” 

NM Political Report: NM receives $2.88 billion in revenue from federal mineral, energy leasing
Hannah Grover, 11/9/24

“New Mexico received $2.88 billion this year in revenue from federal mineral and energy leases,” according to NM Political Report. “The U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue announced on Friday that it has distributed $16.45 billion in revenue generated from energy production on federal and tribal lands and offshore areas in fiscal year 2024. According to the Department of the Interior, this year’s disbursement is the fourth largest since 1982 and three of the four highest years have occurred during President Joe Biden’s presidency… “During former President Donald Trump’s administration, the revenue from the leases peaked at $11.69 billion in fiscal year 2019.”

Biodiesel Magazine: Florida man pleads guilty to biofuel fraud conspiracy
11/12/24

“A Florida man pleaded guilty on Nov. 7 for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel,” Biodiesel Magazine reports. “According to court documents, Royce Gillham was the general manager of a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Florida, that produced and sold renewable fuel and fuel credits and claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. When reporting the number of gallons produced to the IRS and EPA, Gillham and his employer vastly overstated their production volume in an effort to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Gillham and his co-conspirators provided false information about their fuel production and customers… “He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count.”

EXTRACTION

New York Times: ‘Fossil Fuels Are Still Winning’: Global Emissions Head for a Record
Brad Plumer, 11/12/24

“One year after world leaders made a splashy promise to shift away from fossil fuels, countries are burning more oil, natural gas and coal than ever before, researchers said this week,” the New York Times reports. “Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are on track to reach a record 37.4 billion metric tons in 2024, a 0.8 percent increase over 2023 levels, according to new data from the Global Carbon Project. It’s a trend that puts countries farther from their goal of stopping global warming… “Some experts had previously suggested that global emissions could peak sometime this decade because of the rapid spread of solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles. But so far, those technologies have only partly satisfied the world’s steadily growing demand for energy. That means countries have kept burning more oil, coal and gas to fill the gap. “Solar and wind is displacing fossil fuels in some countries, but then you have other countries where the economies are growing too strongly for renewables to keep up,” Glen Peters, a senior researcher at the CICERO Center for International Climate Research in Oslo and one of the authors of the report, told the Times. “When you put the whole global sum together, fossil fuels are still winning,” Dr. Peters told the Times. “An emissions peak could be around the corner, but we haven’t seen it yet.” “…To bring global warming to a halt, nations would need to stop adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere altogether.”

DeSmog: Canada’s Fossil Fuel Export Emissions Set New Record in 2023
Taylor Noakes, 11/12/24

“Greenhouse gas emissions from Canadian fossil fuel exports ballooned to record levels in 2023, according to data uncovered by Ecojustice and Environmental Defence,” DeSmog reports. “Exported emissions are created when the fossil fuels that Canada produces and exports are burned in other countries. Between 2012 and 2023, export emissions increased by 58 percent, and have now exceeded 1,000 megatons per year… “In 2018, Canada’s per capita exported greenhouse gas emissions were eight times higher than that of the United States, at about 25 tonnes per Canadian, compared with just 3 tonnes per American… “Canada’s emissions are not confined within our borders, nor are their impacts,” Ecojustice staff lawyer Reid Gomme told DeSmog. “The rise in exported emissions diminishes Canada’s credibility as a climate leader and ignores our responsibility to align our actions with a climate-safe future.” Ecojustice and Environmental Defence petitioned Environment and Climate Change Canada to release the data on downstream emissions, which was not previously available. The new findings come on the heels of the Trudeau government’s proposed emissions cap regulations, which proposes that Canada’s energy industry reduce emissions by 35 percent below 2019 levels, by 2030. That proposal earned a sharp rebuke from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who floated a potential legal or constitutional challenge… “Because it isn’t a production cap, Canada could meet its own emissions cap goals while continuing to export fossil fuels that further exacerbate the global emissions problem.

Rigzone: European Commission, Partners Launch Methane Abatement Roadmap
Jov Onsat, 11/13/24

“The European Commission launched Tuesday at COP29 a roadmap for the globe to achieve at least a 30 percent reduction in human-caused methane emissions by 2030, with support from development banks, non-governmental organizations and major economies,” Rigzone reports. “At COP26 in 2021, the European Union and the United States launched the Global Methane Pledge, which set the 30 percent reduction figure across all sectors, relative to 2020 levels. That is well below the 75 percent reduction by 2030 that the International Energy Agency (IEA) says needs to be achieved by the fossil fuel industry to help limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Yet, the IEA found that the level of methane emissions over the last five years have remained largely unchanged. The IEA’s “2024 Global Methane Tracker” estimates that 120 million tons of methane emissions in 2023 came from fossil fuel production and consumption… “Toward the reduction goal, the roadmap unveiled in Baku aims to form cooperation frameworks between fossil fuel exporting and importing countries to cut emissions across the supply chain… “Besides the Commission, the roadmap alliance includes Canada, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The banking and organizational partners are Carbon Limits, Clean Air Taskforce, Environmental Action Germany, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Environmental Investigation Agency, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Global Methane Hub, ICA Finance, the International Energy Agency, the Methane Matters Coalition and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.”

New York Times: Climate Summit, in Early Days, Is Already on a ‘Knife Edge’
David Gelles and Brad Plumer, 11/13/24

“The language of world leaders speaking on Tuesday at the United Nations climate summit was diplomatic, but the underlying message was clear: There’s friction over the big issue at the conference,” the New York Times reports. “The negotiations are focused on delivering a new plan to provide developing countries with funds to adapt to a warming world. Ali Mohamed, Kenya’s climate envoy, told the Times there was widespread agreement that cutting emissions and making countries more resilient to storms, floods and heat would require “trillions” of dollars. But just days into the talks, there were pointed comments from the leaders and squabbling in the negotiating rooms about the details, including exactly how much money should be raised, who should pay, where it should come from and how it should be spent. “How? Where? By whom?” Mr. Mohamed, the lead negotiator for the African group of countries, told the TImes. “That’s the discussion that’s currently underway.” The financing goal is meant to replace an annual target of $100 billion that was set in 2009 and finally met two years late, in 2022. “For decades, wealthy nations pledged $100 billion annually to support vulnerable countries,” said Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda. “Yet these promises have largely gone unfulfilled.” Developing countries, including Pakistan, several African nations and a group of small island states, are calling for big countries to raise that commitment to trillions per year… “But the United States and the European Union have indicated they want countries like Saudi Arabia and China, which is now the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, to provide a growing share of funds… “Another source of contention was how much of the money should come from governments, largely in the form of foreign aid, and how much should come from private sector institutions like banks and other companies… “But a growing chorus of world leaders called for a new series of global taxes on fossil fuels and other polluting industries.”

Canadian Press: Canada steadfast on climate plan despite Trump re-election: Guilbeault
11/12/24

“Donald Trump’s re-election in the United States will not impact Canada’s commitment to fighting climate change, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said Tuesday,” the Canadian Press reports. “…In a phone call with reporters from Baku, Guilbeault said a Trump administration is familiar territory for the Liberal government. “It’s not the first U.S. administration where we have different points of view on the issue of climate change,” Guilbeault said. “That didn’t stop us in the past from starting to implement our ambitious climate plan.” “…Last week, the federal government released draft regulations on the emissions cap plan, with Guilbeault stressing such a move wouldn’t result in cutting production. The industry largely rebuffed that notion, saying that emissions caps would deter investment in Canada’s oil and gas sector, leading to job cuts… “The time to fight climate change is now. It’s not tomorrow, it’s not the day after tomorrow. Climate impacts won’t wait,” Guilbeault said.

The Narwhal: Alberta placed fossil fuel insiders on board backing Danielle Smith’s renewables pause
Mike De Souza, 11/14/24

“Three out of seven members of a provincial board that backed Premier Danielle Smith’s 2023 decision to pause approvals of renewable energy projects were previously executives at fossil fuel giant, TC Energy,” The Narwhal reports. “It’s a coincidence that prompts some experts to question whether the provincial government stacked the board with oil and gas industry insiders to support its agenda — and whether ties to the oilpatch are preventing board members from acting independently… “While one of the seven board members was appointed by the NDP government of former premier Rachel Notley, the other six were appointed by the United Conservative Party governments of Premier Danielle Smith and her predecessor, Jason Kenney. Those six appointments include three who were previously vice-presidents at TC Energy. “When a government uses its power of appointment to stack the ostensibly impartial members of a regulatory board in one particular direction then the public will inevitably draw the conclusion that the board’s independence is a sham,” Arthur Schafer, a philosophy professor who founded the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba, told The Narwhal in an email.

Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEFFA): Steel CCUS update: Carbon capture technology looks ever less convincing
Simon Nicholas and Soroush Basirat, 11/14/24

“Six commercial-scale carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects for iron and steelmaking are in the development pipeline, up from three in 2023. However, the lack of available detail casts doubts over their development status and timelines,” the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEFFA) reports. “The Al Reyadah project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is still the world’s only operational commercial-scale CCUS project for steelmaking. It captured only 26.6% of the gas-based steel plant’s emissions in 2023. There are still no commercial-scale CCUS plants for blast furnace-based steelmaking in operation anywhere in the world. Since IEEFA’s April 2024 report on steel CCUS, carbon capture projects have continued to fail and underperform in other sectors… “Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, major steelmakers and miners such as Nippon Steel, ArcelorMittal and BHP continue to insist to their investors that CCUS will play an important role in meeting their decarbonisation targets. Hailed as the solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from steelmaking, the prospects for carbon capture and storage (CCUS) in the steel industry look increasingly bleak… “A major obstacle is that coal-burning blast furnace steel plants require multiple points of carbon capture to allow production of low-carbon steel, increasing the costs significantly. There are still no commercial-scale CCUS plants for blast furnace-based steelmaking in operation anywhere in the world. The cost involved means capturing sufficient carbon at coal-based steelmaking sites will likely never be financially viable.”

Reuters: Exxon to sell older Permian assets to Hilcorp in $1 billion deal, sources say
Shariq Khan and David French, 11/12/23

“Top U.S. oil producer Exxon Mobil Corp has agreed to sell conventional oil drilling assets in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico to privately-owned Hilcorp Energy for around $1 billion, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The deal follows a trend of U.S. oil and gas companies culling older properties following a record-breaking wave of acquisitions. Private operators like Hilcorp have been among the most active buyers of such assets. Exxon confirmed the sale of the assets but declined to name the buyer or valuation, using terms that signify the properties were conventional vertical wells, not the horizontal wells used to pump shale… “Hilcorp, founded by billionaire Jeffery Hildebrand, has been among the most active buyers of assets being divested by public rivals. The company this month finalized a $1 billion takeover of Italian group Eni’s offshore Alaska assets. It was also the undisclosed buyer in APA Corp’s $950 million sale of conventional Permian properties agreed in September, sources told Reuters.”

Reuters: Coterra Energy to buy oil and gas assets for $3.95 billion
11/13/24

“U.S. oil and gas producer Coterra Energy said on Wednesday it would acquire certain assets of Avant Natural Resources and its affiliates and Franklin Mountain Energy in New Mexico for an aggregate consideration of $3.95 billion in cash and stock deals,” Reuters reports. “…The company said the deals would add total equivalent production of 60,000 to 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to Coterra’s output.” 

TODAY IN GREENWASHING

DeSmog: ‘Give Trees a Hand’ — Ad Agencies Line Up to Sell Sketchy Climate Solutions 
Ellen Ormesher, 11/13/24

“The video opens on an anonymous industrial site, where a woman stands under a clear blue sky. She’s wearing a white hard hat and a grey utility shirt with the name “Regina” stitched above the breast pocket. Smiling into the camera, she tells viewers that “the world needs ways to reduce carbon emissions,” DeSmog reports. “Speakers from diverse backgrounds then reassure viewers that, luckily, they’re working on solutions to that very problem, “like carbon capture, and clean energy from hydrogen.” If it weren’t for the logos appearing on their uniforms, it would be easy to miss that these characters are representatives of one of the world’s biggest oil companies — until Regina reappears to say, “Believe it or not we’re ExxonMobil.” This ad, created by New York-based agency BBDO, barely mentions fossil fuels, even though it was paid for by one of the world’s biggest oil and gas companies. These kinds of ad campaigns are popping up all over. Even as the ad and PR industry comes under growing scrutiny for its role in polishing up the reputation of the fossil fuel industry — agencies are seeking new ways to give their oil and gas clients a climate-friendly sheen. From claims that carbon capture can “give trees a hand”, to an apparent TikTok influencer touting the technology on behalf of Chevron, firms are deploying their creative talents to sell the perception that the industry is the gatekeeper to climate solutions. Yet both fossil fuel companies and their advertising agencies know that carbon capture and storage (CCS) — a 50-year-old technology used to trap carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from smokestacks, then bury the planet-heating gas underground — may never make a meaningful contribution to the climate fight… “Sean Buchan, a lead researcher at the Climate Action Against Disinformation research and advocacy group, told DeSmog that these types of ads represent attempts by fossil fuel companies to distance themselves from their past climate denial… “Melissa Aronczyk, a professor of media studies in the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University, told DeSmog the promotion of unproven technologies is designed to give oil and gas companies a seat at the climate policy table… “In 2023, McCann, a New York-based ad agency owned by Interpublic Group, launched a series of video ads for the U.S. petroleum company Valero, according to an archived page from an employee’s website. In a spot titled “Trees,” a voiceover described how Valero would transport its emissions via a controversial new carbon capture pipeline across the Midwest. This project would “give trees a hand” in trapping emissions, according to the ad.

TC Energy: Native American Heritage Month: This is me, Dane
11/13/24

“Every November, the U.S. observes Native American Heritage Month to recognize and honour the achievements, cultures, traditions and history of Native Americans. Dane Keplin, an operations manager for USGO and a member of the Debwewin Employee Inclusion Network, shares his experience growing up on the reservation and the traditional customs he holds near to his heart in his personal and professional life,” according to TC Energy. “I am the operations manager for USGO, I’ve been with TC for over seven years and I am a proud member of the Chippewa, Cree and Métis tribes. I am an avid hunter, a father of three and carry my Native culture close to my heart… “This pride I have extends beyond the tribe and to TC Energy. The company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion resonates deeply with me…  ”I see TC moving in a positive direction forward.”

OPINION

WyoFile: Wyoming public lands advocates should prepare for disaster
Kerry Drake, 11/13/24

“Hackneyed phrases that were part of the public lexicon in the West for years, like the so-called “war on coal” and promise to “drill, baby, drill!” are back with a vengeance. So are federal land swaps, gutting environmental regulations, and other proposals that will make Wyoming officials and the minerals industry salivate, and conservationists cringe,” Kerry Drake writes for WyoFile. “No, we’re not trapped in a time warp. It’s just preparation for Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the 2.0 version that wants to strip all of President Joe Biden’s federal public lands protections to spur huge corporate profits at the expense of public access. It’s a trade-off many Wyoming politicians are willing to make to keep mineral tax revenues flowing to state government, while communities hope to preserve jobs and improve the local economy. I understand the motivation to protect what’s “ours,” but federal lands belong to all Americans, and aren’t meant to only benefit the states where they are located… “After Trump’s victory, advisers like recently released felon Steve Bannon bragged that Project 2025 is precisely what his old boss has in store for the nation. It spells out a forthcoming disaster for our public lands, giving extractive industries nearly unfettered access to them while gutting the Department of the Interior and severely restricting the power of the Endangered Species Act. Republicans have long sought to turn ownership of federal lands over to the states, under the specious claim state governments have more expertise to manage them. In reality, states like Wyoming have nowhere near the financial resources to take on such responsibility and would sell the lands to private developers as fast as they could.”

New York Times: We Study Climate Change. We Can’t Explain What We’re Seeing.
Dr. Gavin Schmidt is a climate scientist in New York City. Dr. Zeke Hausfather is the climate research lead at Stripe and a research scientist at Berkeley Earth, 11/13/24

“…We know human activities are largely responsible for the long-term temperature increases, as well as sea level rise, increases in extreme rainfall and other consequences of a rapidly changing climate. Yet the unusual jump in global temperatures starting in mid-2023 appears to be higher than our models predicted (even as they generally remain within the expected range),” Gavin Schmidt and Zeke Hausfather write for the New York Times. “While there have been many partial hypotheses — new low-sulfur fuel standards for marine shipping, a volcanic eruption in 2022, lower Chinese aerosol emissions and El Niño perhaps behaving differently than in the recent past — we remain far from a consensus explanation even more than a year after we first noticed the anomalies. And that makes us uneasy. Why is it taking so long for climate scientists to grapple with these questions? It turns out that we do not have systems in place to explore the significance of shorter-term phenomena in the climate in anything approaching real time. But we need them badly. It’s now time for government science agencies to provide more timely updates in response to the rapid changes in the climate… “To fix this, we need to create a better way for climate models to reflect new observations. That means more comprehensive and faster data gathering from satellites, in situ measurements and economic statistics, converted by analysts for the climate and weather models. This needs to be matched by a commitment by the roughly 30 labs around the world that maintain the models of the earth’s climate system to update their simulations each year to reflect the latest data… “Some of the information that goes into climate models currently take years to produce… “Scientists should be able to provide “good enough” estimates of these inputs faster using reasonable assumptions… “We think that a goal of analyzing data in under six months is achievable if the data-gathering and climate-modeling labs prioritize it.”