EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 12/29/25

(Note to readers: The next edition of “Extracted” will be published on Monday, Jan. 5.)

PIPELINE NEWS

• Bloomberg: Iowa Landowners Ask Court to Reconsider Carbon Pipeline Ruling

• E&E News: Iowa court directs state regulators to review CO2 pipeline

• Iowa Capital Dispatch: Judge pauses Summit opponents’ lawsuit while proposed permit changes proceed

• Press release: Landowners Petition Court to Reconsider Limited Remand of Summit Permit Approval Appeal Back to Iowa Utilities Commission

• KCLU: Environmental groups sue to block federal approval of Santa Barbara County oil pipeline restart

• WFAE: State regulators approve water, air permits for Transco natural gas pipeline in central NC

• Denver Post: Are Colorado’s new natural gas pipeline rules tough enough?

• The State: ‘That’s my peace and quiet.’ SC landowner protections pitted against pipeline needs

• The Center Square: $5.6B Texas-to-Arizona gas pipeline upsized to meet demand

• Energies Media: Dakota Access Pipeline operators move toward final decision to redirect crude flows by mid-2026

• Financial Post: ‘No one is going to build a pipeline without certainty,’ Keyera CEO says

• KTLA: Crews assess damage after Castaic gas pipeline rupture

• WDJT: ‘It was kind of scary’: TC Energy and local first responders contain gas leak overnight in Sheboygan County

• Interlochen Public Radio: More than 8 months since an oil spill in Pigeon River Country State Forest, crews are still cleaning it up

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• Politico: Senate Democrats cut off permitting talks after Trump’s newest ‘assault’ on wind

• Utility Dive: Senate Democrats end permitting reform talks over offshore wind freeze

• E&E News: Mike Lee goes after filibuster over permitting

• E&E News: It’s the gold standard of US climate research. Contrarians could write the next one.

• E&E News: Google hires firm to lobby on permitting

• E&E News: Data centers fight uphill battle on energy messaging

• Washington Post: The U.S. may have a secret weapon against rising electricity

STATE UPDATES

• E&E News: Court gives green light to Hawaii’s climate tax on cruise ships

• Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis at odds with Trump on key policies

• E&E News: Texas may allow frackers to discharge wastewater into rivers

EXTRACTION

• RBN Energy: Why the Return of the IEA’s Current Policies Scenario Matters

• Reuters: AI data centers are forcing obsolete ‘peaker’ power plants back into service

• Heatmap: After a Slow 2025, Where Does Carbon Removal Go From Here

OPINION

• Maritime Executive: Could Northeast States Trade Pipeline Access for Offshore Wind Permits?

• Guelph Today: Enbridge Gas responds to article

• Colorado Newsline: What are gas stove manufacturers trying to hide? Warning labels
  

PIPELINE NEWS

Bloomberg: Iowa Landowners Ask Court to Reconsider Carbon Pipeline Ruling
Allison Prang, 12/24/25

“Iowa landowners on Tuesday asked a state court to revisit a ruling allowing the state utilities commission to hear additional evidence related to a carbon dioxide pipeline company’s request to amend its permit application,” Bloomberg reports. “The landowners’ motion comes days after Judge Scott Beattie of the Fifth Judicial District of Iowa ruled Summit Carbon Solutions met multiple remand requirements under state law, which allows additional evidence to be presented in a case if “there were good reasons” for not raising it before and if it’s considered material.”

E&E News: Iowa court directs state regulators to review CO2 pipeline
Niina H. Farah, 12/24/25

“An Iowa judge has ordered state regulators to take another look at the permit requirements for an interstate carbon dioxide pipeline after a South Dakota law disrupted the developer’s plans,” E&E News reports. “…The project faced a new obstacle in March, when South Dakota enacted a law banning the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. That proved to be a problem under the permit conditions from the Iowa Utilities Commission, which required Summit to obtain all of its state permits in order to maintain authorization to build and operate the pipeline. The condition had originally been put in place by Iowa regulators amid concerns from critics that the company would build a “pipeline to nowhere.” “…Brian Jorde, an attorney representing landowners opposing the pipeline, told E&E the court’s decision wasn’t good or bad. But he said the court misconstrued the significance of the South Dakota law. The landowners had asked the court to reconsider its findings. “Either way, remand is very limited, and the evidentiary record cannot be reopened on any and every issue Summit wishes were different,” Jorde told E&E. “We have also asked the Court to direct the [Iowa Utilities Commission] on the few limited areas of review.” “Further, if the Court is not inclined to reconsider its decision, the logic used in the Remand Order requires portions of Summit’s permitted Iowa route be rescinded and Summit’s eminent domain rights relative to those miles also be rescinded,” Jorde told E&E.”

Iowa Capital Dispatch: Judge pauses Summit opponents’ lawsuit while proposed permit changes proceed
Cami Koons, 12/23/25

“The Iowa Utilities Commission will have to decide whether Summit Carbon Solutions can change the ending destination for its carbon sequestration pipeline before a case against the company’s permit can proceed, an Iowa court ruled,” the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports. “The Iowa District Court for Polk County ruled in favor of Summit’s motion to pause the case that landowners, counties and the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter filed in 2024. Opponents of the proposed carbon capture pipeline sued over the IUC decision to issue a conditional permit to Summit in June 2024… “Since the permit was issued, however, South Dakota enacted a law prohibiting the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines, which complicated Summit’s plans to transport the captured CO2 to an underground storage site in North Dakota… “In light of these developments along with ongoing legal battles in North Dakota, Summit filed for an amendment to its permit with the IUC in September 2025 to remove the requirement that the company receive approval from the Dakotas. Instead of specifying a state, Summit asked for the permit to prohibit construction until the company has “secured access to one or more sequestration sites and permits or agreements to allow it to reach such storage.” Summit also requested the court stop proceedings on the lawsuit pertaining to the original permit until the IUC rules on the newly filed amendment. Polk County District Court Judge Scott Beattie sided with the company and remanded the case back to the IUC… “Emma Schmit, an organizing director with the pipeline fighter group Bold Alliance, said in a statement the ruling did “not come as a surprise.” “After years of working to protect property rights from hazardous carbon pipelines, we know not every judge, regulator, or legislator will stand by us the first time around,” Schmit said in the statement. “But, we know the people of Iowa stand with us. So, we’ll continue to explore property rights protections through every possible avenue, including through the courts, the Iowa Utilities Commission, and the legislature.”

Press release: Landowners Petition Court to Reconsider Limited Remand of Summit Permit Approval Appeal Back to Iowa Utilities Commission
12/24/25

“Landowners in Iowa who face eminent domain seizure of their property for Summit Carbon’s proposed CO2 pipeline filed a motion for an Iowa court to reconsider its decision to remand elements of their challenge to the Iowa Utilities Commission’s approval of Summit Carbon’s CO2 pipeline permit back to the Commission for further review. “The result is not good or bad, but we believe the court misconstrued the significance of South Dakota’s landowner rights law protecting its citizens from eminent domain abuse and we have respectfully requested the court reconsider its findings as they were material to the decision to grant remand,” said Brian Jorde, attorney with Domina Law Group representing landowners with Bold’s Iowa Easement Team. “Either way, remand is very limited, and the evidentiary record cannot be reopened on any and every issue Summit wishes were different. We have also asked the Court to direct the IUC on the few limited areas of review. Further, if the Court is not inclined to reconsider its decision, the logic used in the Remand Order, in our view, requires portions of Summit’s permitted Iowa route be rescinded and Summit’s eminent domain rights relative to those miles also be rescinded. “The ruling doesn’t come as a surprise. After years of working to protect property rights from hazardous carbon pipelines, we know not every judge, regulator, or legislator will stand by us the first time around. But, we know the people of Iowa stand with us. So, we’ll continue to explore property rights protections through every possible avenue, including through the courts, the Iowa Utilities Commission, and the legislature,” said Emma Schmit, Bold Alliance’s Pipeline Fighters Director.

KCLU: Environmental groups sue to block federal approval of Santa Barbara County oil pipeline restart
Lance Orozco, 12/26/25

“A federal agency has given approval to controversial efforts to restart the Santa Barbara County oil pipeline which ruptured in 2015, causing a massive spill, but enviromental groups filed suit to try to block the effort,” KCLU reports. “The Federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration gave approval December 22 to Sable Offshore Corporation’s efforts to restart the pipeline. The resumption of the operation of the pipeline would allow Sable to restart production from three offshore oil platforms… “After word came that the pipeline restart had been granted, the Santa Barbara-based Environmental Defense Center and more than a half other groups filed suit against the U.S. Department of Transportation, PHMSA, and some key officials. The suit asserts the federal agency ignored federal laws requiring environmental review and public input before making a decision. On Friday afternoon, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said it would accept briefs related to the case. EDC officials say they expect a ruling Tuesday. The EDC officials said Sable, and the Trump Administration are rushing to get the pipeline operational before the end of the year. They contend it’s an effort to skirt a new law which takes effect January 1 which would force Sable to get a State Coastal Commission permit before it could restart the pipeline.”

WFAE: State regulators approve water, air permits for Transco natural gas pipeline in central NC
Zachary Turner, 12/23/25

“The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has approved water and air permits for new natural gas pipelines in central North Carolina,” WFAE reports. “The Transco Southeast Supply Enhancement would extend gas transmission lines in Rockingham, Guilford, Forsyth and Davidson counties. The route runs through the Jordan Lake and Randleman Lake watersheds, according to the Sierra Club. Chris Herndon, director of the Club’s North Carolina chapter, said in a written statement that the fight isn’t over. He said the nonprofit would continue pushing back against the pipeline, which he called “unnecessary” and “dangerous” to the environment… “Duke has secured the rights to 1,000,000 dekatherms per day from the Southeast Supply Enhancement — more than double its current supply.”

Denver Post: Are Colorado’s new natural gas pipeline rules tough enough?
Judith Kohler, 12/27/25

“A state audit in 2023 painted a grim picture of Colorado’s oversight of natural gas pipelines, but critics say despite the findings and legislation mandating improvements, new rules backed by regulators are inadequate,” the Denver Post reports. “The Colorado Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday supported most of the recommendations by an administrative law judge that will carry out a 2021 law to strengthen the regulation of the thousands of miles of gas pipelines running underground across the state… “The areas covered by the rules include requiring companies and utilities to use advanced technology to detect pipeline leaks, the levels of methane emissions that require action by operators and timelines for checking different types of pipelines. Local governments and environmental organizations advocating for stronger protections for public health and the environment voiced disappointment that the PUC didn’t go far enough. The commissioners are expected to issue a written decision soon. “We are concerned that the commission missed the mark,” Erin Murphy, an attorney with the Environmental Defense Fund, told the Post. “We’re concerned the commission’s order may not successfully prioritize environmental protection alongside public safety.” The Colorado law clearly required considering both public health and the environment for new rules on using advanced technology to better detect pipeline leaks, Murphy told the Post. Stressing that EDF wants to read the PUC’s written decision for the details, Murphy told the Post it appears the rules might not be strong enough in some cases, such as the frequency of required surveys of pipelines… “Murphy of EDF told the Post states can adopt rules that are more stringent than federal rules. Her agency advocates for Colorado to adopt vigorous gas pipeline rules. “We have a loss of leadership at the federal level, which means that the federal baseline rules right now are decades old, dating back to the ’70s,” Murphy told the Post. “Colorado has this directive from the legislature to adopt rules for advanced leak detection and repair. This is a great opportunity to really update these rules in a meaningful way.”

The State: ‘That’s my peace and quiet.’ SC landowner protections pitted against pipeline needs
Lucy Valeski, 12/29/25

“…Across the swamp, Rhonda McAlhaney’s 90-year-old mother lives on three tracts of land that have been in the family for over 100 years, McAlhaney said,” The State reports. “Under no circumstances does McAlhaney want an underground pipeline built in her or her mother’s backyards. But plans for a pipeline to serve a natural gas plant in Colleton County runs right through the properties. “This is property that’s been handed down,” McAlhaney told the State. “It’s generational property. It means something to us. With plans to build a 71-mile natural gas pipeline in the Lowcountry underway, a debate about the rights of property owners in its path is growing in South Carolina. The $431 million pipeline, which will be built by Kinder Morgan, would serve a proposed 2,200 megawatt natural gas plant in Colleton County, which will be built and co-owned by utilities Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy. The pipeline will run underground through private properties in Hampton and Colleton counties. To build it on landowners’ properties, Kinder Morgan will either have to purchase the land with the owner’s consent or seize it through eminent domain, a policy that allows the government to take property when it benefits the public. State Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, wants to pull eminent domain privileges from private pipeline companies. If his prefiled bill passes as written, the legislation would not allow private pipeline companies to seize private property, which could become a barrier for finishing Kinder Morgan’s project if it meets resistance from landowners. “I think we ought to give more protection for private property ownership, such that a big utility or a pipeline company doesn’t hold the hammer of eminent domain over their head in order to essentially steal the property,” Massey, the Senate’s Majority Leader, told the State. He told the State the Canadys natural gas pipeline project prompted him to file legislation restricting eminent domain authority. Kinder Morgan declined to comment on Massey’s bill, but the company wants to reach mutual agreements with 100% of landowners instead of legally seizing the properties, Allen Fore, Kinder Morgan’s vice president of public affairs, told the State… “Jake Gohagan, a 34-year-old construction worker, told the State he wouldn’t let Kinder Morgan even survey his property in Hampton County. Since his great-grandfather quit farming, Gohagan told the State his family has restored native plants and conducted prescribed burns in the last 30 to 40 years on the property. “We’ve done extensive work to try to bring it back to its natural form, and now I’ve got a pipeline that’s on the horizon that’s basically saying you’re going to have to do this, whether you like it or not,” Gohagan told the State.”

The Center Square: $5.6B Texas-to-Arizona gas pipeline upsized to meet demand
Alton Wallace, 12/23/25

“A natural gas pipeline from Permian Basin in west Texas to the Phoenix, Arizona area will get a capacity boost 50% larger than originally planned to meet strong market demand, oil and gas transportation company Energy Transfer announced,” The Center Square reports. “A 48-inch diameter pipe will be used in the construction of the Transwestern Desert Southwest pipeline instead of the 42-inch pipe previously announced in August, Energy Transfer said in a statement. The change will expand the pipeline’s maximum capacity from 1.5 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to 2.3 billion cubic feet a day. The increase follows strong interest from Arizona utilities to secure additional long-term supplies of natural gas to power artificial intelligence data centers and advanced industrial operations, which prompted Energy Transfer to commit to an investment of $5.6 billion, up $300 million from the $5.3 billion announced in August. .. “Most of the additional gas supplies will go to the Phoenix area and central Arizona to power the fast-growing AI data center market and industrial users. Arizona is home to 164 data centers, ranking seventh among all states, according to the online tracking platform Data Center Map.”

Energies Media: Dakota Access Pipeline operators move toward final decision to redirect crude flows by mid-2026
12/25/25

“…While the North American gas and oil market has been revived thanks to a new directive issued by the current administration in the US, a new project may be on the cards that will boost the flow of natural gas in the Dakota Access Pipeline as the operators move one step closer to a final investment decision,” Energies Media reports. “…Enbridge, a Canadian energy company with vast assets in the North American market, and Energy Transfer, a major Texas-based energy utility, have outlined plans for a new project that will move vast amounts of Canadian crude through the Dakota Access Pipeline in the Bakken. According to insiders, the project may involve reversing the flow in the DAPL, which has become a major driver for growth in the market… “If the initiative is undertaken, it would add 250 Mb/d of capacity to the DAPL system. Energy Transfer holds a 38.2% interest in the DAPL, while Enbridge holds 27.6%. Notably, both companies said they would need to gauge the market to assess the viability of the project before even considering taking a final investment decision, which, according to market analysts, may be reached by mid-2026. Enbridge has the Bakken pipeline that is already operational, and according to experts, the most cost-effective plan would be to reverse the Enbridge Bakken Line flow to enable the Canadian crude to flow to the DAPL. The Enbridge line currently moves light-sweet Bakken volumes from Minot County in North Dakota, to Cromer in Manitoba, where it moves onwards to connects to the mainline. The concept is not a new one, as Enbridge has reversed the flow on the pipeline in the past. Although the DAPL and the Enbridge line do not connect, they are a mere 50 miles apart, meaning new infrastructure construction would be minimal to connect the two lines.”

Financial Post: ‘No one is going to build a pipeline without certainty,’ Keyera CEO says
Meghan Potkins, 12/29/25

“The head of one of Canada’s largest midstream oil and gas operators says attracting private capital for another pipeline will require permitting reform and clearer assurances from Ottawa,” the Financial Post reports. “Pipeline operator Keyera Corp. is set to become a national-scale natural gas liquids (NGL) company when its $5.15-billion acquisition of Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline LP’s Canadian NGL business closes early next year… “Dean Setoguchi… “For us to attract more investment in Canada, we have to really reform our policies and our regulations. Investors see it as risky if they don’t have clarity on where carbon taxes are going: clean electricity regulations, emissions caps, tanker bans and things like that. There has to be 100 per cent clarity on what those policies are. No one is going to build a pipeline without that certainty. It’s just not going to happen. Part of that is regulatory and permitting reform, too. We always think it’s a lot of money to build a pipeline like Trans Mountain or Coastal GasLink. Those pipelines would cost a lot less if we had the right regulatory and permitting processes. Trans Mountain should cost less than half of what it cost. But we have too many headwinds that we create for ourselves in Canada. If we can get that policy reform, it would lower the hurdle rates for someone to make an investment to build another pipe. FP: How important is clarity around carbon pricing in that equation? DS: There has to be clarity around the carbon tax rate. Our industry wants to be responsible. I’m very proud to say that in 2020, we set a target to reduce our carbon intensity by 25 per cent by 2025, and we actually achieved it a year early in 2024. But you have to remember that there’s no other major producing country that has a carbon tax like ours. While a carbon tax is good, if it’s too high, it’s going to make us uncompetitive. We can only withstand so many headwinds before it affects competitiveness.”

KTLA: Crews assess damage after Castaic gas pipeline rupture
Marc Sternfield, 12/28/25

“SoCalGas crews on Sunday were assessing the damage caused by a natural gas pipeline that ruptured in Castaic, California, spewing gas into the air, closing the 5 Freeway and forcing residents to shelter in place,” KTLA reports. “The rupture occurred around 4:20 p.m. Saturday near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place, adjacent to the freeway, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It involved a 34-inch pipeline under 600 pounds per square inch of pressure. The break caused part of a hillside to collapse, aerial footage showed. Residents reported hearing what sounded like an explosion. Soon after, the smell of sulfur –added to otherwise odorless gas – filled the air. Officials advised residents to close doors and windows and turn off heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.”

WDJT: ‘It was kind of scary’: TC Energy and local first responders contain gas leak overnight in Sheboygan County
Mia Bearden, 12/26/25

“In a media release, TC Energy stated that a gas leak that occurred at their Kewaskum Compressor Station in Sheboygan County last night has been contained,” WDJT reports. “The energy company states that they were “notified at approximately 10:20 p.m. and immediately activated emergency response procedures.” Neighbors described the situation as loud and unexpected. Nearby resident Jeanne Bonlender told WDJT when she stepped outside to walk her dog, the noise caught her off guard… “I thought it was like a sewer smell. It was just terrible,” Bonlender told WDJT. “I thought it was sewage at first; I never thought it was natural gas.” “…An evacuation of the residents living in a one-mile radius of the leak was done, however this evacuation has since been lifted. The evacuation was said to be out of an abundance of caution by local officials… “The Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office says residents were out of their homes for about one to two hours while the company and first responders ensured the residences and environment were safe.”

Interlochen Public Radio: More than 8 months since an oil spill in Pigeon River Country State Forest, crews are still cleaning it up
Ellie Katz, 12/25/25

“In April 2025, workers with Lambda Energy Resources doing routine maintenance on a pipeline in Pigeon River Country State Forest discovered a leak,” Interlochen Public Radio reports. “The line was immediately shut down, but by that point, more than 4,600 gallons of material spilled into a densely forested wetland in Cheboygan County: at least 50 barrels of crude oil, 60 barrels of brine, a saltwater byproduct, and 100 gallons of condensate, or natural gas liquids. At the time, regulators hoped clean up wouldn’t exceed more than a few months. It’s now been more than eight months, and a fully remediated site does not appear to be possible in the near future. “The inaccessibility is what makes the Pigeon [River Country] so beautiful, and it’s also become a barrier in remediation,” Josef Greenberg, a spokeperson with Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, which is overseeing the clean up, told IPR. Crews had to construct roads into the area, and clean up was further complicated by damage from the spring ice storm in the region… “It could take years, according Michel Boufadel, an engineering professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology who specializes in oil spills and water technology. “Wetlands are considered the most vulnerable to an oil spill,” Boufadel told IPR… “According to a document from the U.S. Department of Transportation, a federal representative inspected Lambda Energy’s control room in Kalkaska in the summer of 2024. In a warning letter to Lambda from October 2025, the federal government wrote that “Lambda could not demonstrate it had an effective system for detecting leaks” during its inspection. The company was given a warning to better comply with federal pipeline safety regulations or risk hefty federal fines.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

Politico: Senate Democrats cut off permitting talks after Trump’s newest ‘assault’ on wind
Josh Siegel and Kelsey Tamborrino, 12/22/25

“Top Senate Democrats said Monday that they were freezing negotiations over legislation to overhaul permitting rules with Republicans after the Trump administration halted five offshore wind power farms that were already under construction,” Politico reports. “…There was a deal to be had that would have taken politics out of permitting, made the process faster and more efficient, and streamlined grid infrastructure improvements nationwide,” Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said in a joint statement… “The Trump administration on Monday halted leases for all five large-scale offshore wind projects currently under construction in the United States, citing national security concerns. “The illegal attacks on fully permitted renewable energy projects must be reversed if there is to be any chance that permitting talks resume,” the top Democrats added. “There is no path to permitting reform if this administration refuses to follow the law.” “…Whitehouse and Heinrich thanked EPW Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and ENR Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) for “their good-faith efforts to negotiate a permitting reform bill that would have lowered electricity prices for all Americans.” “…But any deal would have to be administered by the Trump Administration. By sabotaging U.S. energy innovation and killing American jobs, the Trump Administration has made clear that it is not interested in permitting reform,” Whitehouse and Heinrich said.

Utility Dive: Senate Democrats end permitting reform talks over offshore wind freeze
Ethan Howland, 12/23/25

“Senate Democrats ended permitting reform discussions after the Trump administration on Monday ordered work to halt on all offshore wind farms under construction, which total 7 GW,” Utility Dive reports. “The illegal attacks on fully permitted renewable energy projects must be reversed if there is to be any chance that permitting talks resume,” Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement. “There is no path to permitting reform if this administration refuses to follow the law.” The Trump administration “will own the higher electricity prices, increasingly decrepit infrastructure, and loss of competitiveness that result from its reckless policies,” the senators said… “Even before the statement from Whitehouse and Heinrich, the outlook for permitting reform was dim, in part because of the upcoming midterm elections as well as anger over the Trump administration’s efforts to stifle renewable energy. Whitehouse and Heinrich said Congress could have reached a deal that would make the permitting process faster and more efficient. “But any deal would have to be administered by the Trump administration,” the senators said. “Its reckless and vindictive assault on wind energy doesn’t just undermine one of our cheapest, cleanest power sources, it wrecks the trust needed with the executive branch for bipartisan permitting reform.”

E&E News: Mike Lee goes after filibuster over permitting
Andres Picon, 12/23/25

“A key player in Congress’ permitting reform negotiations is calling for the Senate to eliminate the filibuster in order to pass a deal after Senate Democrats signaled Monday that they are stepping back from the discussions,” E&E News reports. “Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee suggested on social media Monday evening that Republicans ought to break with Senate precedent and pursue a more partisan strategy for advancing permitting legislation… “If Senate Democrats cut off permitting-reform talks, this will make ending the zombie filibuster of immediate, paramount importance,” Lee posted on X from his personal account. He then responded to the Democrats’ decision to back out of the talks for now from his official Senate account, posting a GIF that features the statement, “It’s a bold strategy. … Let’s see if it pays off for ‘em.” Lee’s statements come after the permitting talks hit a new low Monday in the wake of the Trump administration’s decision to immediately and indefinitely pause five offshore wind projects along the East Coast in order to conduct additional reviews… “On Tuesday, Whitehouse called the pause a “gimmick” and “yet another direct money payoff to [President Donald] Trump’s fossil fuel donors.” Lee’s gambit is unlikely to gain much traction; scrapping the filibuster is largely unpopular among Republicans and Democrats, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has rejected the idea, even after Trump called for it.”

E&E News: It’s the gold standard of US climate research. Contrarians could write the next one.
Scott Waldman, 12/22/25

“The Trump administration has invited a small group of climate contrarians to help write the next installment of the National Climate Assessment, the nation’s preeminent report on global warming, says one of the researchers involved,” E&E News reports. “…And it would almost certainly provoke a response from the hundreds of mainstream climate scientists who have worked for years on the National Climate Assessment. Judith Curry, a former climatologist at the Georgia Institute of Technology, is one of the climate contrarians in line for the new assignment. Earlier this year, Curry joined with four like-minded researchers to produce a separate report for Energy Secretary Chris Wright that downplayed the threat of global warming and called into question the basic tenets of climate science. Now Curry told E&E that same team — known as the Climate Working Group — has been asked to write the next installment of the National Climate Assessment, or NCA, a congressionally mandated report that comes out every few years and outlines the many ways that global warming is expected to impact the United States and its people. “The Climate Working Group has been contacted about the NCA,” Curry, who added that she was open to the idea, told E&E. “Personally, I would work with whoever’s in charge to get a reasonable outline and get reasonable authors.” “…One climate scientist told E&E the size of that group was indicative of how far the team members’ views fall outside the scientific consensus. “Serious experts agree and action (on climate change) is needed as soon as possible,” Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University who has served as a lead author on multiple versions of the National Climate Assessment, told E&E. If the Trump administration wants “people who are not going to tell them those truths,” she added, “those are the only people they have.”

E&E News: Google hires firm to lobby on permitting
Timothy Cama, 12/23/25

“Technology giant Google has hired a lobbying firm to push its interests as Congress takes on overhauling the federal permitting process,” E&E News reports. “Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid disclosed Friday that it had signed Google, a unit of Alphabet, to lobby on “issues related to permitting reform.” The lobbyists working on Google’s behalf include David Peluso, the former chief of staff to then-Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the onetime chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.Google, along with other major tech companies, has been engaged with lawmakers on permitting this year, and it supported the “Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act,” H.R. 4776, which passed the House this month with mainly Republican support. The technology giant is one of the largest operators of data centers and buys significant amounts of electricity to run them amid the artificial intelligence boom. House passage of the “SPEED Act,” which would limit National Environmental Policy Act reviews, was meant to be just one step in talks toward a broader deal on permitting and bolstering the grid.”

E&E News: Data centers fight uphill battle on energy messaging
Timothy Cama, 12/24/25

“Data centers are facing a significant backlash from the public and some policymakers over their energy usage, but the companies backing the projects may not be doing enough to push back,” E&E News reports. “Technology giants fueling the data center boom like Google, Meta and Amazon have been active in state utility regulatory proceedings and local government fights where they want to build facilities. They’ve also bolstered their Washington lobbying on the issue. The companies argue projects are paying their fair share for electricity and any burdens they bring to the electric grid, and can even reduce prices for other customers. But as the industry increasingly faces charges that data centers are harmful to the electric grid, are the main cause of skyrocketing electricity bills and use polluting energy sources, the companies’ rebuttals don’t seem to be getting through. “Whatever they’re doing right now is clearly not working from a communications and lobbying perspective,” Nate Mason, a former energy analyst at the State Department who has studied the effects of data centers on the electric grid and argued that they can bring numerous benefits, told E&E.”

Washington Post: The U.S. may have a secret weapon against rising electricity prices
Shannon Osaka, 12/252/5

“…That’s the reality of the U.S. electricity grid. It is built to handle “peak demand” — moments of high electricity usage that often happen in the height of summer or in the frigid cold of winter. Power outages can be life-threatening, so utilities have to make sure that, at all costs, the power stays on. That means that most of the time, the electricity grid — like the restaurant — is only running at about half of its overall capacity,” the Washington Post reports. “It translates into higher rates for everyone, as most of the cost of electricity comes from building the grid in the first place. But some researchers say that it also presents an opportunity. In just the next five years, peak electricity demand is expected to grow by almost 24 percent, a dramatic shift after decades of stability. Prices in many areas are rising as utilities work to update ancient infrastructure and meet demand from AI data centers. That excess power, researchers say, could be tapped and sent to other customers. Including, in some cases, to data centers. “Many hours of the day or times of the year, you have a lot of spare capacity on the grid,” Ryan Hledik, a principal for the consultancy Brattle Group, told the Post. “If you can get new customers or new electricity consumption added to the grid when and where there is that spare capacity — you could spread the cost of the grid across more customers and bring rates down.” “…When utilities build more infrastructure — more poles, more wires, more power plants — they also get to profit from those investments. They can’t make a profit from their operating expenses, the cost to keep the existing system running… “According to some experts, that leads to an overbuilding of the electricity grid — raising prices even more for customers. Researchers and some companies told the Post that there is a possible solution: Add new customers to the grid, but not during periods of peak demand. That means a data center, for example, that could be disconnected from the grid during the hottest five days of the year — thus soaking up excess capacity during lulls in demand without needing to build new power plants or lines.”

STATE UPDATES

E&E News: Court gives green light to Hawaii’s climate tax on cruise ships
Lesley Clark, 12/24/25

“Hawaii can begin charging cruise line passengers a tax to offset the costs of climate change, a federal judge has ruled,” E&E News reports. “The decision Tuesday by Judge Jill Otake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii came as the cruise industry — and the Trump administration — sought a preliminary injunction to prevent the first-in-the-nation fee from taking effect Jan. 1. Otake, a Trump nominee, told E&E the case raises “multiple (and sometimes competing) federalism concerns.” But she added, given the “vital importance” of taxes to the states, she “declines at this stage to halt the implementation of the transient accommodation tax on cruise ships in Hawaii.” The Cruise Lines International Association filed suit against Hawaii in August, seeking to block the state’s move to place an 11 percent surcharge on the gross fare paid by a cruise ship’s passengers, prorated by the portion of its voyage spent docked in Hawaiian ports. The law also authorizes Hawaii’s counties to collect an additional 3 percent surcharge.”

Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis at odds with Trump on key policies
Gray Rohrer, 12/23/25

“Since losing to him in the 2024 GOP primary, Gov. Ron DeSantis has mostly aligned with President Donald Trump’s agenda, backing him on key fronts and getting federal help on major projects in Florida,” the Tallahassee Democrat reports. “But in recent weeks DeSantis has taken positions at odds with Trump on major issues, such as artificial intelligence, oil drilling off Florida’s coast and, at least rhetorically, on the H1B visa immigration program… “The Trump administration released a plan in November to allow oil drilling off the Gulf Coast of Florida, along with other states, starting in 2029. DeSantis, through a spokeswoman, has said he opposes the move and noted Trump signed a previous order putting a moratorium on drilling off of Florida until 2032. The plan from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management would allow drilling up to 100 miles off of the coast. That prospect is likely to upset the tourism industry Florida still heavily relies upon, as well as residents in the Panhandle coastal regions who recall the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion that led to the oil spill that sent tar balls along Gulf beaches. DeSantis isn’t alone in his opposition to the plan. Florida’s entire Congressional delegation, including U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, also have pledged to stop the push to drill off the state’s coast.”

E&E News: Texas may allow frackers to discharge wastewater into rivers
Shelby Webb, 12/24/25

“The name of this city in far West Texas, surrounded by scrub desert and pump jacks, may seem like a misnomer. But nearly 100 years ago, when settlers came to the area, the roar of the Pecos River could be heard from the tiny town a few miles away,” E&E News reports. “Since then, the river has turned into a whisper of its former self, in some places forming only puddles. That could soon change. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is considering whether to grant permits that would allow three companies to discharge recycled fracking wastewater into the Pecos River, sparking concerns from environmental groups. The projects, if approved, would include the first of what could be many plants that treat fracked water in the United States’ largest oil-producing region.”

EXTRACTION

RBN Energy: Why the Return of the IEA’s Current Policies Scenario Matters
Faisal Faeq, 12/28/25

“The International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2025 (WEO 2025) represents a big shift in how the agency is framing the future of global energy. After several editions that leaned hard into an accelerated energy transition, the IEA has brought back its Current Policies Scenario (CPS), a baseline view built solely on policies that are on the books today — not those announced, proposed or aspirational,” RBN Energy reports. “For folks watching global crude markets, especially in the U.S. oil and gas patch, that is a lot more than just a structural tweak to the outlook. It’s a clear signal that the IEA sees a growing disconnect between its earlier assumptions and how energy demand is really playing out. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll dig into what’s changed and why it matters. As shown in Figure 1 below, the IEA’s outlook has, in recent years, anchored its long-term oil demand projections around two main scenarios: Net Zero Emissions (NZE; green line) and Stated Policies (aka STEPS; orange line). The NZE envisions an aggressive energy transition pathway, with global oil demand falling steeply to around 25 MMb/d by 2050. STEPS assumes partial implementation of announced government policies, with demand peaking near 100 MMb/d in the early 2030s before gradually declining. These two scenarios, with their widening divergence, have framed much of the global energy transition debate but have increasingly failed to reflect actual consumption trends. The reintroduction of the Current Policies Scenario (CPS; blue line) in WEO 2025 directly addresses that gap. CPS provides a more grounded baseline by including only those energy and climate policies that are fully enacted and backed by concrete legislation or regulation. It does not incorporate aspirational goals or future policy pledges. Under this scenario, oil demand continues to rise steadily through mid-century, reaching about 113 MMb/d by 2050. This is more than a structural adjustment — it marks a significant recalibration of the IEA’s modeling and serves as a clear reminder that, for now at least, hydrocarbons remain deeply embedded in global energy systems and economic growth. In the absence of sweeping new policy interventions, the CPS — and STEPS, to a lesser extent — expect that oil will continue to play a critical role in sustaining global mobility, industrialization and economic resilience, anchoring energy security in both developed and emerging markets.”

Reuters: AI data centers are forcing obsolete ‘peaker’ power plants back into service
Laila Kearney, 12/23/25

“…The rarely-used eight-unit Fisk power plant owned by Houston-based NRG Energy was scheduled to retire next year. But then came from artificial intelligence,” Reuters reports. “Prices shot up in the country’s biggest power market – PJM Interconnection – as electricity requests from data centers exceeded existing supplies, sounding the alarm over power shortfalls, and making Fisk and other plants like it suddenly profitable. “We believe there’s an economic case to keep them around, so we withdrew the retirement notice,” Matt Pistner, senior vice president of generation at NRG, of Fisk’s eight power-generating units, told Reuters. The Fisk power plant is among a growing number of so-called “peaker” electric generating units being pressed into duty across the U.S. as the nation’s electrical with growing demand from data centers powering Big Tech’s investments in artificial intelligence. Peakers, which are meant to run only in short bursts during periods of spiking electricity demand, help stave off blackouts by supplying power on a moment’s notice. But there’s a trade-off: these often decades-old, fossil-fueled facilities emit more pollution when they are running and cost more to produce electricity than continuous power plants. A Reuters analysis of filings with the country’s biggest power grid shows that about 60% of oil, gas and coal power plants slated for retirement in PJM postponed or cancelled those plans this year. Most of the plants averting shutdowns are peaker units… “When we found out that the coal plant was closing but there was still going to be power produced at the site, it was very disappointing,” Jerry Mead-Lucero, a longtime advocate for the closure of the Fisk coal station who spent most of his adult life in Pilsen, told Reuters.”

Heatmap: After a Slow 2025, Where Does Carbon Removal Go From Here?
Emily Pontecorvo, 12/26/25

“It’s been a quiet year for carbon dioxide removal, the nascent industry trying to lower the concentration of carbon already trapped in the atmosphere. After a stretch as the hottest thing in climate tech, the CDR hype cycle has died down. 2025 saw fewer investments and fewer big projects or new companies announced.” Heatmap reports. “This story isn’t immediately apparent if you look at the sales data for carbon removal credits, which paints 2025 as a year of breakout growth. CDR companies sold nearly 30 million tons of carbon removal, according to the leading industry database, CDR.fyi — more than three times the amount sold in 2024. But that topline number hides a more troubling reality — about 90% of those credits were bought by a single company: Microsoft. If you exclude Microsoft, the total volume of carbon removal purchased this year actually declined by about 100,000 tons… “(At the time of publication, the two direct air capture projects that Biden’s Department of Energy selected to receive up to $1.2 billion have not yet had their contracts officially terminated, despite both showing up on a leaked list of DOE grant cancellations in October.) Trump’s overall posture on climate change reduced pressure on companies to act, which probably contributed to there being fewer new buyers entering the carbon removal market, Robert Hoglund, a carbon removal advisor who co-founded CDR.fyi, told Heatmap… “A stronger signal, though, could eventually come from places with mandatory emissions cap and trade policies, such as California, Japan, China, the European Union, or the United Kingdom. California already allows companies to use carbon removal credits for compliance with its cap and invest program. The U.K. plans to begin integrating CDR into its scheme in 2029, and the EU and Japan are considering when and how to do the same.”

OPINION

Maritime Executive: Could Northeast States Trade Pipeline Access for Offshore Wind Permits?
William P. Doyle is CEO of the Dredging Contractors of America, 12/28/25

“In mid-December 2025, the Trump Administration halted offshore wind projects from New England to Virginia, placing development on an indefinite pause. Just weeks earlier, I spoke at a conference in New England and had numerous side conversations with officials and stakeholders from across New England and New York about the outlook for maritime and energy policy,” William P. Doyle writes for Maritime Executive. “The timing was telling. The Northeast is arguably the center of the universe for offshore wind, and the perspectives expressed in those discussions ran the full spectrum from thoughtful and informed to, frankly, detached from reality… “I am not suggesting that the Trump Administration will or will not make a deal on offshore wind, but it is worth examining what is actually on the table… “Over the past decade, New York and multiple New England states took deliberate actions that halted or cancelled major natural gas pipeline projects… “Massachusetts policy opposition significantly affected regional pipeline proposals intended to alleviate winter gas shortages. The Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline was a major interstate proposal to deliver Marcellus gas into Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The Access Northeast Project was a regional expansion involving Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Massachusetts opposition to proposed cost-recovery mechanisms and pipeline financing effectively halted the project in 2017. In New Hampshire, both the Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline and the Granite Bridge Pipeline were ultimately cancelled following state-level opposition. Rhode Island similarly opposed the regional Access Northeast expansion, eliminating a potential source of additional gas supply… “Is there a deal that could be made between the states and the Trump Administration with respect to offshore wind and natural gas? Possibly. But deals require both sides giving a little to get a little. It also requires honesty about costs, infrastructure realities, domestic energy availability, and past policy decisions. If there has ever been a moment to have that conversation seriously, with domestic energy production, maritime policy, and grid reliability aligned, 2026 is as good a time as any.”

Guelph Today: Enbridge Gas responds to article
Chloe Mills, Supervisor, external communications and media relations, Enbridge Gas, 12/23/25

“We noticed Guelph Today’s recent piece, originally published by The Narwhal. We appreciate the opportunity to provide clarity on several points that are critical for your readers to understand,” Chloe Mills writes for Guelph Today. “…First, the claim that Enbridge Gas operates its infrastructure in municipal rights-of-way without providing any compensation is incorrect. As Mayor Guthrie knows, Enbridge Gas pays significant property taxes to municipalities for our infrastructure located in road allowances. In 2023 alone, we paid $124 million in property taxes across Ontario, including $1,038,573 to the City of Guelph… “The article suggests that cities like Guelph and Waterloo should start charging Enbridge Gas new fees for using public roads to run pipelines. But under Ontario law, these roads are managed for the benefit of everyone, not as a way for cities to make extra money. If new fees were added, it would show up on the gas bills of families and businesses across the province, acting like a hidden tax and making energy less affordable for everyone. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has put rules in place to keep things fair and predictable, and if a city wants to change those rules, it must prove there’s a reason that serves the public good – not just a way to raise more money at the expense of customers.”

Colorado Newsline: What are gas stove manufacturers trying to hide? Warning labels
Alan K. Chen is the Thompson G. Marsh Law Alumni Professor at the University of Denver, 12/22/25

“Colorado passed first-in-the-nation legislation requiring warning labels on gas stoves in June 2025. These warnings are similar to what is required by cigarette labeling laws,” Alan K. Chen writes for Colorado Newsline. “The required labels urge consumers to educate themselves about the air quality implications of indoor gas stoves and direct consumers to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for information on the health impacts. This could have a substantial impact, as government agencies estimate that about one-third of Colorado’s households use gas as their primary cooking source… “In my opinion, in opposing warning labels, the gas industry and its trade association are weaponizing the First Amendment to undermine a commonsense regulation that aims to keep residents safe and informed. Walk down an aisle in any toy store and you’ll see tags alerting parents to the risk of choking. Flip over your prescription medication and you can read its side effects and interactions with other drugs. In the grocery store, food products have labels bearing information about calorie and sugar content to help consumers make healthier decisions. Often taken for granted, these warning labels provide critical information to protect Americans’ health and safety. Perhaps the most recognizable warning labels can be found on cigarette packages, required in the U.S. since 1965, to inform customers about the health harms of smoking. Despite the fact that warning labels on cigarettes have saved millions of lives, the tobacco industry fought tooth and nail against them to keep consumers in the dark. Since that time, federal, state and local laws requiring businesses to make truthful factual disclosures about their products have become commonplace. In its lawsuit, the gas industry invokes the First Amendment’s compelled speech doctrine. This doctrine prohibits the government from forcing people to make ideological statements they don’t actually believe, such as reciting the Pledge of Allegiance… “Interest groups representing the tobacco industry, the gas industry and others have seized on this opportunity to dismantle what most people understand to be routine labeling requirements… “Everyday people would bear the brunt of harm from the invalidation of warning label laws. These people currently have the right to know critical health and safety information before buying any product. If we let corporate interests undermine regulations such as warning labels, I believe we will no longer be able to inform the public about commonsense steps they can take to protect their health.”