EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 2/28/24

PIPELINE NEWS

• VPM: Pipeline protests continue as project price tag ticks up

• Bloomberg: Trudeau’s Pipeline Project Increases Cost Estimate by $2.3 Billion

• Reuters: Trans Mountain pipeline sees second-quarter service date, higher cost

• Bismarck Tribune: Industrial Commission OKs carbon capture messaging funds; some legislators criticize program

• KMA: Page County board hears update on carbon pipeline

• Dickinson County News: County EMS studying up on pipeline safety as local zoning talks continue

• The Mercury: Chester County legislators react to fouling at Marsh Creek

• BNN: U.S. Department of Transportation Upholds New Pipeline Safety Standards Amid Industry Challenge

• Law360: No Merit To Gas Pipeline Safety Rules Fight, Feds Say

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• E&E News: Energy Industry Groups Petition DOE To Reverse LNG Freeze

• E&E News: Gas export pause could scramble Biden’s chances in Pennsylvania

• E&E News: Hydrogen hubs pan ‘overly restrictive’ Biden tax credit rules

STATE UPDATES

• Ohio Capital Journal: Two Out-Of-State Companies Picked To Lease Parts Of Ohio Public Land For Fracking 

• Gas Outlook: Louisiana LNG could be “nail in the coffin” for local fishermen

• Alaska Beacon: Alaska natural gas promoter floats new plan: Send North Slope gas to Southcentral first

• KPLC: House environmental committee hears from experts about carbon capture technology

• Capital and Main: After Pushback, California Delays Extension of Rewards for Oil and Gas Companies

• BNN: Pennsylvania Community Debates Pore Space Leasing, Carbon Capture’s Future

• Grist: California towns are banning new gas stations. Big Oil is paying attention.

• Water Front: Firm Planning Drilling Spree in Southern Tier Goes Silent as Lawmakers Seek to Ban Use of CO2 in Quest for Gas

• Press release: USGS, Colorado School of Mines establish joint industry program to explore potential of geologic hydrogen

EXTRACTION

• BBC: Oil spill spreads across Caribbean from Tobago to Bonaire

• Reuters: US takes lead as top supplier to Europe for crude, diesel and LNG

• Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers: CAPP forecasts capital investment for Canadian oil and natural gas sector to reach $40.6 billion in 2024

• CNBC: Big Oil’s favorite climate solution is ‘like trying to push water uphill,’ climate chief says

• Engineering News-Record: $12B Carbon Capture Project in Alberta Oil Sands Faces Key Risks

• E&E News: Why the oil industry may thrive without gasoline

• E&E News: Constitution Cleanup Took 335 Hours After Climate Protest 

TODAY IN GREENWASHING

• E&E News: Commission sparks ‘greenwashing’ fears in row over ‘100 percent recycled’ claims

• BNN: Canadian Youth Robotics Team to Shine at Global Challenge in Singapore, Fueled by Enbridge Support

OPINION

• Bismarck Tribune: Tribune editorial: CO2 capture lacks public support in ND

• The Iowa Standard: Who, what are Senators, Gov. Reynolds afraid of on protecting private property rights

• The Hill Times: Carbon capture and hydrogen: a Canadian power couple

• The Hill: Some Pa. Democrats are pushing back against eco-fundamentalism
  

PIPELINE NEWS

VPM: Pipeline protests continue as project price tag ticks up
Patrick Larsen, 2/27/24

“As construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline nears completion in parts of Virginia and West Virginia, local residents and activists opposed to the project have continued speaking out against it, as the pipeline’s developers have further pushed back the expected in-service date,” VPM reports. “A group of activists with Third Act Virginia were removed from Attorney General Jason Miyares’ office in Richmond last Wednesday after staging a brief sit-in – they delivered a petition, but were barred from meeting with Miyares or his staff members. Activists also attended a Friday meeting of the state Water Pollution Control Board in Richmond to call for a stop work order. The petition calls for the AG and state Department of Environmental Quality to enforce state environmental law and permits, and a 2019 consent decree signed by former Attorney General Mark Herring – that decree was in connection with hundreds of reported environmental violations by the developers, and lists specific monetary fines for a range of infractions. Deborah Kushner was one of the activists at Wednesday’s sit-in. She told VPM the damage done by pipeline work is evident. “Sediment is everywhere along the pipeline route, it’s in the roadways. It’s coursing down the rights of way. It’s in the streams and the rivers,” Kushner told VPM… “Last week, the Protect Our Water, Heritage Rights coalition reported a landslide on MVP right-of-way to the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration. “The area surrounding this hazard includes several occupied homes near Mountain Lake Road, the main thoroughfare from US Route 460 to Mountain Lake Lodge and the Appalachian Trail. Notably, one of the last remaining historic covered bridges in Virginia is directly adjacent to the pipeline trench,” wrote POWHR co-director Russell Chisholm.

Bloomberg: Trudeau’s Pipeline Project Increases Cost Estimate by $2.3 Billion
Robert Tuttle, 2/27/24

“The expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline will cost about C$3.1 billion ($2.3 billion) more than the Canadian government-owned company running the project projected in May, in another financial setback for a project beset by spiraling expenses and years of delays,” Bloomberg reports. “Costs for the expansion — which involves twinning a pipeline stretching from Edmonton to Vancouver — will be 10% more than the most recent estimate of C$30.9 billion, the company said in a filing with the Canada Energy Regulator on Monday. That brings the total cost to about C$34 billion, more than six times the original estimate of C$5.4 billion in 2013.”

Reuters: Trans Mountain pipeline sees second-quarter service date, higher cost
2/27/24

“Trans Mountain Corp (TMC.UL), the Canadian government-owned oil pipeline company, continues to target a second-quarter in-service date for its expansion and expects the project’s cost to rise 10%, according to a filing,” Reuters reports. “Trans Mountain said in the filing on Monday to the Canada Energy Regulator, however, that commencement for firm service contracts with shippers is May 1. That represents a one-month delay from its prior commencement date, RBC Capital Markets analysts said in a note… “Cost estimates are now 10% higher than the C$30.9-billion estimate that Trans Mountain provided in May, but the company will provide another update to factor in actual costs after it is mechanically complete, the company said.”

Bismarck Tribune: Industrial Commission OKs carbon capture messaging funds; some legislators criticize program
JOEY HARRIS, 2/27/24

“The North Dakota Industrial Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a $300,000 grant for a marketing and education program for carbon capture, over the objections of a group of 19 state legislators, and about a dozen citizens who attended the meeting,” the Bismarck Tribune reports. “The money will go to Bismarck-based communications firm AE2S to help the state develop materials for a strategic plan promoting carbon capture… “A small group headed by state Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, and State Rep. SuAnn Olson, R-Baldwin, sat in on the meeting, opposing the funding due to concerns messaging could interfere with cases before officials at the state Public Service Commission and state Supreme Court related to the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions multistate pipeline, whose application before the PSC has been in regulatory limbo for more than a year… “Burgum, Wrigley, Goehring and Industrial Commission Deputy Director Reice Haase went through about 20 minutes of discussion before the vote took place, highlighting the benefits they believe carbon capture will bring to North Dakota and emphasizing that the state has been seeking to build up the industry for more than a decade… “North Dakota would be leaving about 10 billion barrels of oil in the ground if the state cannot import about five to 10 times the amount of CO2 that it creates, according to Haase. “The big prize is using CO2 for enhanced oil recovery,” he said.

KMA: Page County board hears update on carbon pipeline
Ethan Hewett, 2/26/24

“It was Page County officials’ turn to hear renewed calls for implementing an ordinance regarding carbon dioxide pipelines,” KMA reports. “During its regular meeting Thursday, the Page County Board of Supervisors received an update on the situation with Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed Midwest Express pipeline from Montgomery County resident Jan Norris and Imogene landowner Marty Maher… “While the supervisors had initially paused the development of an ordinance due to an ongoing lawsuit in Shelby County, Maher urged the board to act ahead of the IUB’s ruling. “You can wait, as that’s obviously one option, but as they say, if the IUB comes out with its ruling and you don’t have anything in place, you won’t be able to put anything in place at that point,” said Maher. “You have to do something in advance of you’re going to do something for your county.” “…The idea that PHMSA regulates the siting of the pipeline is a farce–they do not regulate the siting and they said so in that document,” he said. “They said it’s up to the county and the state do that. So, you have the right and that is obviously what Shelby County is banking on in their lawsuit.” Additionally, Norris says some counties are beginning to incur bills from their respective inspection firm for the project, which are to be re-inbursed by Summit. She referred to one situation in Hancock County, which has accumulated nearly $15,000 in unpaid bills and urged the county to look into their respective landowner restoration inspector… “Following the presentation, the board took no formal action but said they would inquire further into the matter. Supervisors Chair Jacob Holmes added he would reach out to people in Shelby County.”

Dickinson County News: County EMS studying up on pipeline safety as local zoning talks continue
2/27/24

“Local landowners are continuing to keep an ear to the ground as county officials consider proposed zoning ordinances related to the construction of hazardous liquid pipelines. A number of rural residents have expressed safety concerns related to one such pipeline proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions,” the Dickinson County News reports.

The Mercury: Chester County legislators react to fouling at Marsh Creek
2/27/24

“Three local legislators responded to the release of apparent pipeline drilling clay at Marsh Creek,” The Mercury reports. “State Sen. Carolyn Comitta, state Sen. Katie Muth, and state Rep. Danielle Friel-Otten released the following statement in response to news that what appears to be bentonite clay related to the construction of the Mariner East Pipeline has resurfaced near a drilling site and contaminated the Marsh Creek Lake and its tributaries: “Nearly two years after Sunoco/Energy Transfer Partners completed drilling operations near Marsh Creek State Park, the aftermath of pipeline construction continues to impact our streams and waterways in Chester County. It’s unfortunately not surprising that drilling mud appears to be resurfacing and again contaminating the tributaries of Marsh Creek Lake… “Given that Sunoco/ETP had so many problems constructing its pipeline in this geologically complex and environmentally sensitive area, it was only a matter of time. Remember, this is the same place where we experienced sinkholes and spills during pipeline construction. It’s the same place where Sunoco/ETP allowed thousands of gallons of drilling fluid to spill into our wetlands and even more to be lost into the ground… “This is an important reminder that the environmental and health impacts of pipeline construction don’t end when a pipeline is done. Long after work crews pack up and leave, we must continue to monitor problematic sites for negative impacts related to construction and operation and hold operators accountable for the ongoing costs of remediation, mitigation, and restoration. “How many times will we be dealing with lingering impacts like these? How long has this been occurring? Again, there are more questions than answers.”

BNN: U.S. Department of Transportation Upholds New Pipeline Safety Standards Amid Industry Challenge
2/27/24

“On February 27, 2024, a significant development unfolded as the U.S. Department of Transportation staunchly defended its new safety standards for transmission pipelines against a legal challenge from a gas pipeline industry group,” BNN reports. “This legal confrontation took place in the D.C. Circuit, with the Department asserting that its policy decisions regarding pipeline safety should remain beyond the reach of judicial review, essentially framing the industry’s objections as a policy disagreement rather than a legal quandary… “Industry representatives, however, argue that these new regulations are excessively burdensome and could stifle innovation and economic growth within the sector. This clash represents a continuation of the ongoing dialogue between regulatory bodies and the industries they oversee, concerning the extent and specifics of safety measures. The Department’s firm stance in the D.C. Circuit underscores its commitment to prioritizing public safety over industry concerns, a position echoed by various environmental and public safety advocacy groups… “Should the Department of Transportation’s safety standards be upheld, it could set a precedent for the level of regulatory scrutiny and intervention in industry practices, potentially leading to more stringent safety and environmental protection measures across the board.”

Law360: No Merit To Gas Pipeline Safety Rules Fight, Feds Say
Keith Goldberg, 2/27/24

“The U.S. Department of Transportation on Monday urged the D.C. Circuit to reject a gas pipeline industry group’s challenge to a handful of new safety standards for transmission pipelines, saying it shouldn’t be legally second-guessed over what amounts to a policy disagreement at the margins,” Law360 reports. 

WASHINGTON UPDATES

E&E News: Energy Industry Groups Petition DOE To Reverse LNG Freeze
Carlos Anchondo, 2/27/24

“U.S. industry groups asked Monday for a rehearing of the Department of Energy’s move to pause new liquefied natural gas export approvals, signaling that a lawsuit may be ahead,” E&E News reports. “In a filing with DOE, the American Petroleum Institute, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America and five other trade groups said the department’s freeze was implemented illegally without advance notice and an opportunity for comment.”

E&E News: Gas export pause could scramble Biden’s chances in Pennsylvania
Josh Siegel, 2/27/24

“President Joe Biden’s decision to pause new exports of U.S. natural gas is rattling his allies in the essential swing state of Pennsylvania,” E&E News reports. “Democrats and labor unions in the state fear that the energy’s industry’s huge footprint there could make it a ripe target for GOP front-runner former President Donald Trump — even as environmentalists praised the move as a brave political action to protect the climate. Biden’s reelection this year may hinge on whether he can hold the heavily working-class state he narrowly carried in 2020, which is now the second biggest natural gas producer in the country behind Texas. And while his move to reassess the climate impacts of natural gas shipments may have helped shore up support from young environmental activists, others are questioning his strategy. Democratic Sens. Bob Casey, who is facing reelection this November, and John Fetterman, both argued the pause could hurt their state. “Sen. Casey and I are very pro-energy, pro-job, pro-union and pro-American security,” Fetterman told POLITICO. “We stand with the president, but on this issue we happen to disagree. I am very clear. Natural gas is necessary right now. It’s a critical part of our nation’s energy stack.”

E&E News: Hydrogen hubs pan ‘overly restrictive’ Biden tax credit rules
Christian Robles, 2/27/24

“All seven of the Department of Energy’s planned hydrogen hubs are calling on the Treasury Department to change its proposed rules for the clean hydrogen production tax credit,” E&E News reports. “In a joint letter, the leaders of the hubs argued that the Treasury guidance is “overly restrictive” and would prevent many of the hubs’ projects from being realized. DOE plans to fund the regional hubs — which are helmed by a mix of private sector groups and state governments — with $7 billion from the climate law. “Each of our hubs has a range of ambitious projects aimed at accelerating the clean hydrogen industry, fostering economic growth, creating good-paying American jobs, and advancing environmental justice,” the leaders wrote, later adding: “Unfortunately, these investments and jobs will not fully materialize unless Treasury’s guidance, in its current form, is significantly revised, as many of the projects generating these investments and supporting jobs will no longer be economically viable.”

STATE UPDATES

Ohio Capital Journal: Two Out-Of-State Companies Picked To Lease Parts Of Ohio Public Land For Fracking 
Megan Henry, 2/27/24

“The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission picked the ‘highest and best’ bidders to lease parts of a state park and two wildlife areas for fracking Monday,” the Ohio Capital Journal reports. “West Virginia-based Infinity Natural Resources had the winning bid to drill in Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County. Infinity Natural Resources — which has more than 120 wells in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia — leased two parcels at Salt Fork for $58.4 million. Texas-based company Encino Energy had the top bid for Valley Run Wildlife Area in Carroll County and Zepernick Wildlife Area in Columbiana County. Encino leased three different parcels at Valley Run Wildlife Area for $1.05 million and leased one parcel at Zepernick Wildlife Area for $231,692. According to their website, Encino Energy is the largest oil producer and second-largest producer of gas in Ohio. Fracking is the process of injecting liquid into the ground at a high pressure to extract oil or gas. It has been documented in over 30 states, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.” 

Gas Outlook: Louisiana LNG could be “nail in the coffin” for local fishermen
2/28/24

“Phillip Dyson has been a commercial fisherman in Cameron, Louisiana for 49 years… A few decades ago, Cameron was the largest producer of seafood in the entire country, hauling in hundreds of millions of pounds of fish, shrimp, and oysters each year. But those days are long gone,” Gas Outlook reports. “…Two decades ago, there were around 250 commercial fishing vessels in Cameron. “We’re down to about 16 now,” Dyson told GO. “The hurricanes hurt us. It wiped the place out. But we always come back and rebuild,” Dyson told GO. “But, as the ships are getting bigger, every year the [fish catch] is lower, lower, and lower.” By ships, Dyson is referring to the massive tankers carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG). In just a few short years, the U.S. has emerged as the largest exporter of LNG in the world. Many LNG terminals were built with the aim of shipping the tidal wave of cheap American shale gas overseas, a trend that was supercharged after Russia’s war in Ukraine, which sent global LNG prices skyrocketing… “Commercial fishermen in southwest Louisiana say that the growth of LNG is putting them out of business. They are particularly outraged at Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass LNG facility, which sits at the mouth of the Calcasieu River on the Gulf of Mexico. The facility has been flaring on and off for the better part of two years, hobbled by persistent equipment malfunctions. Noise and air pollution have made life difficult for nearby residents. “My wife has been sick for three months,” Dyson told GO. He too started having respiratory problems, and began using an inhaler. “I get up in the morning, I can’t breathe. Go to bed at night and I can’t breathe.” He doesn’t smoke or drink, and is convinced the pollution from the LNG plant is the cause of his family’s declining health.”

Alaska Beacon: Alaska natural gas promoter floats new plan: Send North Slope gas to Southcentral first
YERETH ROSEN, 2/26/24

“With a giant North Slope natural gas pipeline still unbuilt after decades of efforts, the state entity now promoting the project has a new plan intended to spur construction of the megaproject: a first phase that delivers natural gas to the isolated Southcentral Alaska market rather than the vast Asian market that is the ultimate target,” the Alaska Beacon reports. “The Alaska Gasoline Development Corp., the state government entity promoting the long-desired North Slope natural gas project, is characterizing the new plan as a way to address looming shortages of deliverable gas to the state’s most populous region. Frank Richards, president of the AGDC, told state lawmakers on Monday that starting the project with an in-state phase would ultimately lead to the long-term goal of selling liquefied natural gas internationally. “What I’m talking about here is a concept of working with the Alaska LNG project as currently envisioned but phasing it to be able to move forward with a pipeline first, to be able to utilize the North Slope gas resources through a pipeline to be able to deliver them to Southcentral Alaska to meet the needs that we hear about in Cook Inlet,” Richards said in a hearing of the House Finance Subcommittee on Commerce, Community and Economic Development, the first of two Monday hearings at which he was scheduled to explain the new idea… “It would be the first phase of the entire LNG project to be constructed to be able to meet Alaskans’ needs at the earliest possible date,” he said.

KPLC: House environmental committee hears from experts about carbon capture technology
Theresa Schmidt, 2/27/24

“Carbon capture is being heralded as one of the technologies needed to battle climate change. The Louisiana House’s Natural Resources and Environment Committee held a hearing today to learn more about the process,” KPLC reports. “Carbon capture projects have been proposed in Southwest Louisiana. Rep. Brett Geymann of Moss Bluff chairs the committee. “People around the state have concern, and some people are really excited about the job creation, so we have a mixed set of emotions, but really it was a lack of information, and what we wanted to do was get all the experts to come and educate the committee on the issues so that when we do see legislation moving forward, we would already be a little bit knowledgeable about what was going on,” Geymann said. Issues include property rights, protecting water resources and emergency preparedness. Geymann said there’s concern about eminent domain. “There are some people who are concerned that they will be forced to allow this to take place on property they own and so those questions came up and how they were being addressed,” he said. The committee heard from a fire chief in Warren County, Mississippi, where a carbon dioxide pipeline ruptured, causing a plume of CO2 to roll into a town of around 50 people. Chief Jerry Briggs said people were lying on the road next to their cars. “When I arrived at the checkpoint on the main highway, I did observe several people who had been brought in by other passersby. They were laying on their side vomiting and unresponsive,” Briggs said. “We found three unresponsive males in a car that were probably as close to death as you can get without being dead,” said Briggs. He said vehicles wouldn’t operate. “Our emergency vehicles wouldn’t run out there because there was a lack of oxygen,” he said. Geymann admitted it was a scary story, but he thinks our area is better prepared for emergencies.”

Capital and Main: After Pushback, California Delays Extension of Rewards for Oil and Gas Companies
Aaron Cantú, 2/26/24

“California directs billions of dollars to oil and gas companies that produce fuels made from “renewable” sources, such as vegetable oil and dairy cow manure,” Capital and Main reports. “…Now, with the market rules up for an extension, opponents are lobbying to change them… “The conflict highlights a major rift in climate policy: Whether fossil fuel companies, whose products have caused the climate crisis, should be eligible for publicly-sourced funds meant to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions… “A spokesperson for CARB told Capital and Main that its proposed rules would end California’s reliance on “combustion technology over the coming decades.” In an emailed notice sent to stakeholders, CARB said the delay would “enable additional discussion” about how much it should cap overall emissions from the transportation sector and “guardrails” on biofuels. Environmentalists have said the incentives, which they liken to subsidies, are a kind of life support for an industry that should go out of existence. Oil and gas companies produce biofuels through processes close to those for refining fossil fuels. With the incentives, the companies are able to do so profitably. Meanwhile, opponents say, the dairy farms and refineries used for biofuels continue to pollute the communities surrounding them.“

BNN: Pennsylvania Community Debates Pore Space Leasing, Carbon Capture’s Future
Mahnoor Jehangir, 2/27/24

“In Claysville, Pennsylvania, residents recently convened to discuss the implications of new longwall mining efforts and pore space leasing for carbon capture and storage (CCS), a critical component of the tri-state carbon capture and storage (CCS) hub planned by Tenaska,” BNN reports. “This initiative, part of a broader strategy to support the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), aims to reduce carbon emissions significantly while offering economic opportunities to landowners. However, concerns about regulation, safety, and the impact on landowners have surfaced, highlighting the need for more information and community involvement in the decision-making process… “The meeting in Claysville brought to light several concerns from the community, particularly regarding the lack of information and regulation surrounding pore space leasing and CCS. Residents expressed fears about the potential impact on their properties and sought assurances about safety measures and environmental protections. The Center for Coalfield Justice, advocating for informed and involved communities, emphasized the importance of transparency and community participation in the planning and implementation of such projects. They aim to ensure that landowners’ rights and environmental integrity are safeguarded.”

Grist: California towns are banning new gas stations. Big Oil is paying attention.
Kate Yoder, 2/28/24

“When oil and gas companies attack a climate campaign, activists usually focus on the obvious negative: One of the world’s biggest industries, with its wealth of resources, is trying to quash their efforts to, for instance, ban natural gas in buildings. But in Northern California, where grassroots activists have succeeded in getting towns across Napa and Sonoma counties to prohibit new gas stations, some consider the emerging backlash a sign of validation,” Grist reports. “The news of Big Oil’s opposition came to Jim Wilson in late January. The longtime climate activist in Napa County found a flyer in his mailbox one day with a picture of a gas nozzle next to an empty wallet, along with the message “Banning gas stations = higher gas prices.” The mailer, sponsored by the Western States Petroleum Association, the West Coast’s oil industry trade group, warns that efforts to limit new gas stations could lead to less competition and increased costs for the drivers of gas-powered cars. “I believe that Napa County is the first in the U.S. to have all of the municipalities ban new gas stations,” Wilson told Grist. “And so maybe we’ve rocked the boat.” “…The bans aren’t really aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions — it’s unclear what kind of effect they have on the climate — but rather ending investments in fossil fuel infrastructure. “We’ve been told it’s a silly thing to do because, you know, it doesn’t matter, because people will just be able to fill up at the existing gas stations,” Hastings told Grist. But he says that residents aren’t clamoring for more gas stations, so local governments don’t need to spend staff time and resources approving and supporting what might soon turn into outdated infrastructure… “We’re paying attention across the state where these types of bans are being proposed,” Kevin Slagle, a spokesperson for the Western States Petroleum Association, told Grist… “Slagle said that restricting the supply of gas stations would lead to increased costs for consumers.”

Water Front: Firm Planning Drilling Spree in Southern Tier Goes Silent as Lawmakers Seek to Ban Use of CO2 in Quest for Gas
Peter Mantius, 2/26/24

“The scientists and activists that pushed New York State to ban high-volume hydrofracking are working overtime against a speculative plan to inject CO2 rather than water into Southern Tier shale formations to extract natural gas,” Water Front reports. “By backing new state legislation to extend the ban to include CO2, they hope to strangle the project in its cradle — if it isn’t already dead. The health status of the ambitious scheme is now in doubt because its creator, Southern Tier Solutions (STS), has gone silent in the face of mounting practical and technical obstacles. Last fall STS mailed packages to 6,500 landowners in Broome, Tioga and Chemung counties, inviting them to lease their properties for a nominal fee of $10 and the dangled hope of future income from gas extraction and CO2 storage. That extra money would begin to flow, STS promised, once it completed an estimated $15-billion plan to combine carbon sequestration with a massive new gas drilling spree. The company’s website said it envisioned a series of up to a dozen energy hubs in the three counties, each “supported by a 50,000-100,000 acre leasehold position.” Every hub would include a new gas-powered electric generating plant, a direct air capture facility (DAC), equipment to separate CO2 from methane and a network of new CO2 and methane pipelines linking it all… “Two weeks before that private update, horrified opponents of the STS project had mobilized to promote new state legislation to block it. They announced the bill at a Feb. 2 press conference in Albany featuring Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo, activist-scientist Sandra Steingraber and several environmental groups.

Press release: USGS, Colorado School of Mines establish joint industry program to explore potential of geologic hydrogen
2/26/24

“Colorado School of Mines (Mines) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have established a joint industry program supported by leading international companies in the energy industry to study the potential of a low-carbon alternative energy source: geologic hydrogen… “Geologic hydrogen is a naturally occurring gas with significant potential as an energy resource.  It is also a resource that could help reduce the climate impact of many industries that cannot easily be electrified – everything from heavy duty transport (air travel) to steel manufacturing to industrial heating. Most hydrogen today, however, is manufactured using natural gas, requiring large amounts of energy and releasing carbon dioxide that is often left unabated. Current methods for reducing the carbon footprint of producing hydrogen include capturing and storing the carbon dioxide produced, or by using renewable electricity to split water molecules – both more costly than traditional hydrogen manufacturing. As an alternative, scientists with Mines and the USGS have begun investigating the hydrogen gas that naturally exists beneath the surface of the Earth. Preliminary research suggests that vast quantities of hydrogen may exist in various rock formations, both in the United States and around the world. In the first industry-supported hydrogen exploration consortium in the world, researchers at Mines and the USGS will advance the understanding of geologic hydrogen systems, as well as develop surface- and subsurface exploration technologies to locate the clean-burning gas beneath the ground… “Funding for the research will come from a growing number of industry partners.  Eight member companies have already signed on, including major players in the mining and energy industries and geologic hydrogen start-ups: BP, Chevron, Eden Geopower, Petrobras, Fortescue, Koloma, Hydroma USA, and HyTerra.” 

EXTRACTION

BBC: Oil spill spreads across Caribbean from Tobago to Bonaire
Vanessa Buschschlüter, 2/27/24

“Oil leaking from a capsized barge off the coast of Tobago has spread hundreds of miles to reach the Caribbean island of Bonaire,” the BBC reports. “Officials on Bonaire, which is located 50 miles (80km) north of the Venezuelan coast, said the oil posed a “serious threat to both humans and nature”. The island is the latest to have been contaminated with oil from the barge which ran aground earlier this month. It is still unclear who owns the barge and what may have caused it to sink. The authorities on Bonaire, which is a special municipality of the Netherlands, said the island’s east coast, including Sorobon, Lac and Lagun, had been polluted. They also warned that the island’s mangrove, fish and coral ecosystems were at risk… “The prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago declared a national emergency on 11 February. The country’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management has been trying to contain the spillage but oil has been continuing to leak from the barge… “Officials on Bonaire are particularly concerned for the mangroves, which are among the best preserved in the Caribbean.”

Reuters: US takes lead as top supplier to Europe for crude, diesel and LNG
Deep Kaushik Vakil, 2/26/24

“The United States has taken the top spot as Europe’s supplier of crude oil, diesel, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in recent months, capitalising on reduced imports from east of Suez caused by shipping disruptions in the Red Sea,” Reuters reports… “The U.S. shipped 2.17 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to Europe so far this month, according to Kpler data. Exports of diesel stood at 207,000 bpd in the same period, outpacing Saudi imports of around 201,000 bpd… “This idea that the Atlantic basin increasingly starts to trade within itself…is very much represented by the fact that the U.S. has become the largest player in the European market,” Katona told Reuters.

Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers: CAPP forecasts capital investment for Canadian oil and natural gas sector to reach $40.6 billion in 2024
2/27/24

“The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) is forecasting capital expenditures for the upstream oil and natural gas sector will reach $40.6 billion in 2024, rising slightly from an estimated actual investment of $39 billion for 2023. “Upstream oil and natural gas producers are staying disciplined, with capital expenditures expected to remain stable in 2024,” says Lisa Baiton, CAPP President & CEO. “There is room for cautious optimism with current Canadian oil production at record levels in anticipation of the Trans Mountain expansion completion in the second quarter. We are also moving closer to seeing the completion of Canada’s first globally significant liquefied natural gas export facility in British Columbia, expected in 2025.” “Despite these positive trends, there remains a sense of caution largely due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding proposed emissions policy in Canada, which continues to be a significant factor in investment decisions,” added Baiton… “In addition, with anticipated co-funding from governments the country’s six largest oil sands companies expect to invest $24 billion in emissions reduction projects by 2030 and are targeting net zero emissions from operations by 2050… “Conventional oil and natural gas capital investment for 2024 is forecast at $27.3 billion, while oil sands investment is expected to reach $13.3 billion.”

CNBC: Big Oil’s favorite climate solution is ‘like trying to push water uphill,’ climate chief says
Sam Meredith, 2/28/24

“The head of the world’s climate science authority has compared the rollout of carbon capture and storage (CCS) to “trying to push water uphill,” questioning a technology that the oil and gas industry has long touted as integral to net-zero emission plans,” CNBC reports. “Jim Skea, the head of the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, warned on Tuesday that scaling up carbon capture still faces significant challenges… “One of the challenges is, if you take things like solar energy, it is modular and small scale, and you can roll it through the system more quickly. Once you get past the threshold, it happens by itself,” Skea said. “CCS is much more like trying to push water uphill to get it into technological systems, it is more challenging.” “…There is still some “engineering problem-solving” to be done, Skea said, underlining the point that carbon capture is likely to be just one part of decarbonization plans… “Some have expressed concern that the deal placed carbon capture alongside renewables as technologies that can deliver a shift away from fossil fuels. Asked by CNBC about the challenges facing carbon capture as a climate solution, Shell Chief Economist Mallika Ishwaran said Tuesday that now is the time to “reinvigorate” CCS investment… “Shell’s Ishwaran said carbon capture as a technology has no intrinsic value in energy systems, but its worth is derived from its ability to remove something harmful from the atmosphere. “I think this is the moment where you have to push on with all the technologies that are required to achieve net zero. And I would put CCS in that because there are going to be uses and cases where you need to have some amount of fossil fuels and you need to somehow find a way of abating those emissions,” she added.

Engineering News-Record: $12B Carbon Capture Project in Alberta Oil Sands Faces Key Risks
David Godkin, Debra K. Rubin, 2/27/24

“Uncertainty over expected economic returns and long-term availability of proposed government tax incentives could jeopardize a $12-billion plan by six big Alberta oil sands developers to build a carbon capture and storage facility they say would be the world’s largest, says a new report by energy sector research firm Wood Mackenzie,” according to Engineering News-Record. “…Members of project consortium Pathways Alliance “will be burdened with capital cost commitments” for a proposed, 400-km carbon pipeline, storage facilities and injection and monitoring wells, says the report. “Their own transport and storage tolls paid to Pathways will yield a return on this capital but is effectively robbing Peter to pay Paul; oil sands producers need to show a clear economic benefit beyond this” to approve the projects… “Peter Findlay, Wood Mackenzie director of CCUS economics, says the duration of the government incentives is a key issue. “The real challenge for Canadian CCUS is not insufficient incentives—they are some of the most attractive in the world—but the uncertainty of their existence throughout project life,” he says. “The value of most of these incentives could be changed by political whim at any point during the project life—even going to zero.” “…Proceeding with the project and long-term capital and operating investments involved depend on “having critical regulatory policies and substantial co-investment commitments from governments that will allow our industry to remain globally competitive while decarbonizing our production,” says Dilling… “Environmental Defence, an advocacy group opposed to carbon capture an storage, calls it “a dangerous distraction being promoted by the oil and gas industry to prolong business as usual,” and is concerned about the long-term cost of tax credits to taxpayers… “Wood MacKenzie also predicts that the global carbon capture and storage pipeline would grow, with 119 projects aiming for final investment decisions in 2024, mostly in Europe and North America, representing the largest number to date.”

E&E News: Why the oil industry may thrive without gasoline
Shelby Webb, 2/28/24

“The oil industry is increasingly turning to a widespread product to help keep crude in the market amid pressure to address climate change: petrochemicals,” E&E News reports. “Petrochemicals are oil-derived compounds used in everything from plastics to medical equipment. And demand for them is expected to skyrocket, with help from renewables and low-carbon energy. The International Energy Agency forecasts that petrochemicals are set to account for more than a third of growth in oil demand through 2030 and more than half starting in 2050 — ahead of diesel fuel for trucks and aviation and shipping fuel. They could consume an additional 56 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually by 2030 — an amount equivalent to about half of Canada’s total gas consumption today, according to the agency. “I would say that really if we look globally, petrochemicals are becoming the largest driver of global oil demand,” Kate Hardin, executive director of Deloitte’s Research Center for Energy and Industrials, told E&E. The projected growth not only could affect emissions, but could offer the oil industry a lifeline at a time when climate policies, a shift to electric vehicles, investor pressure and declining refinery capacity are expected to increasingly strain the sector. The current push for clean energy is helping petrochemical growth by relying on plastics and polymers used in technology such as wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicle parts… “Environmental groups and those who live near petrochemical plants say that trading gasoline for petrochemicals will do little to help the environment… “Patrick Grenter, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign, told E&E oil companies are looking to petrochemicals to keep demand for oil and gas alive, even as appetite for fossil fuels wanes because of climate concerns. “As we’re seeing as that market share erodes, fossil fuel executives are doing all they can to maintain the status quo. They basically have had a free pass to pollute for decades, and they want to hold on to that as much as they can to protect their profits,” he told E&E.

E&E News: Constitution Cleanup Took 335 Hours After Climate Protest 
Robin Bravender, 2/26/24

“Cleaning up after a climate protest in the National Archives earlier this month took about 30 people and an estimated 335 combined hours of work, officials announced Monday,” E&E News reports. “The National Archives released details of a ‘painstaking cleanup’ after climate activists staged a Valentine’s Day protest, where the protesters dumped red powder on themselves and on the case covering the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution itself was ‘not at risk for damage by this incident,’ Stephanie Hornbeck, national preservation program officer, said in a statement. But damage could have been done to the marble floor and the exhibit case. The two protesters — both of whom were arrested that day — were supporters of the climate activism campaign Declare Emergency, Tim Martin, a spokesperson for the campaign who was not a participant in the Feb. 14 event, told E&E News. The Declare Emergency campaign, according to its website, uses ‘nonviolent civil resistance techniques to disrupt the status quo and demand that our government take meaningful action to address the climate emergency.’”

TODAY IN GREENWASHING

E&E News: Commission sparks ‘greenwashing’ fears in row over ‘100 percent recycled’ claims
Leonie Cater, 2/28/24

“Should a plastic bottle with a “100 percent recycled plastic” label be made up entirely of recycled plastic? According to the European Commission, the answer is: no, not necessarily,” E&E News reports. “As part of its push to tackle the bloc’s growing mountains of waste, the EU has agreed to new rules on recycled content in single-use plastic beverage bottles. The question is how to calculate that recycled content. According to a document obtained by POLITICO dated Feb. 13, the EU executive is backing a laxer approach championed by the plastic and chemicals industries.”

BNN: Canadian Youth Robotics Team to Shine at Global Challenge in Singapore, Fueled by Enbridge Support
2/27/24

“In an inspiring showcase of innovation and dedication, a youth robotics team from the Telus World of Science-Edmonton (TWOSE) is set to represent Canada at the anticipated FIRST Global Robotics Challenge in Singapore come October 2024,” according to BNN. “…Enbridge’s substantial support for the team underscores its commitment to nurturing the next wave of STEM talent.”

OPINION

Bismarck Tribune: Tribune editorial: CO2 capture lacks public support in ND
2/28/24

“A recent North Dakota poll shows state voters split over the seriousness of climate change, and the majority skeptical of the effectiveness of carbon capture. This should serve as a warning to state officials who have been promoting carbon capture,” the Bismarck Tribune Editorial Board writes. On Tuesday, the Industrial Commission voted unanimously to award $300,000 to a firm to help promote the capture, storage and use of carbon dioxide in the state… “A group of 17 legislators and one former legislator asked the commission not to award the money. Some members of the group voted for HB 1014 and now say they regret the vote. They argue the state shouldn’t be funding a public relations campaign for private ventures… “Much of the debate over carbon capture has been fueled by the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline which would carry carbon dioxide from ethanol plants in five states to be stored in North Dakota… “Opponents are worried about pipeline safety, liability concerns of the pipeline crossing agricultural land, and the company’s potential use of eminent domain to gain use of private land… “The poll shows public sentiment leaning against carbon capture. The poll found 16% of eligible voters in the state believe carbon capture will reduce the impacts of climate change while 40% are unsure and 27% believe it won’t work. The poll was conducted by WPA Intelligence in Washington, D.C., for the North Dakota News Cooperative. The poll also found only 8% of Republicans, 16% of independents and 36% of Democrats believe capturing and storing carbon dioxide underground will reduce the impact of climate change… “Burgum can’t consider carbon capture as popular among North Dakota residents. Hiring a public relations firm to sell the concept to North Dakotans could backfire. Opponents of the Summit pipeline see the PR effort as more of an attempt to promote the pipeline than to inform the public about carbon capture. North Dakota has invested a lot of money into carbon capture and sequestration technology. At the same time it has failed to get its message across to the public. The Tribune Editorial Board has consistently argued that Summit needs to listen to the public’s concerns. If necessary, reroute the pipeline and address safety and liability concerns. It should not use eminent domain. State officials also should heed the public’s concerns. Public hearings eventually appear like shams when public concerns go unaddressed.”

The Iowa Standard: Who, what are Senators, Gov. Reynolds afraid of on protecting private property rights
Kathy Stockdale, 2/26/24

“As a Summit Exhibit H landowners we have heard over and over again from Summit, Senate Leadership and Governor Reynolds that: “It isn’t fair to change the rules in the middle of the game.” I wish this applied to us as landowners who have had our lives in turmoil since we heard we were to be affected by a Hazardous C02 pipeline,” Kathy Stockdale writes for The Iowa Standard. “We had not planned on having to defend our farms from a Privately owned company with foreign investors.  We had not planned on spending countless hours talking to and writing letters to Legislators, only to have it fall on deaf ears. We had not planned on having to pay lawyer fees to help us protect our property rights. We had not counted on all of the sleepless nights and stress. We had not expected all of the harassing phone calls from land agents trying to bully us into signing an easement. We had not expected Security guards coming with survey crews, who carried no form of identification with them, even after telling Summit they could not survey until  they brought an injunction We did not plan on Summit threatening to sue our counties, if they tried to write ordinances to protect the landowners in their counties… “WE DID NOT EXPECT THAT OUR SENATE LEADERSHIP AND  OUR GOVERNOR WOULD NOT DEFEND US AS LANDOWNERS AND OUR PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS WHEN IT IS IN OUR REPUBLICAN PLATFORM AND WHAT YOU HAVE DEFENDED IN THE PAST. We do not understand how a political donor and his private company can hold so much power over our Governor and our Senate leadership. This reminds me of the bully on a playground. Or much like David and Goliath in the Bible.  It is time to take a stand against the bully and stand up for landowners and private property rights. What and who are you afraid of?”

The Hill Times: Carbon capture and hydrogen: a Canadian power couple
Jacob Irving is president and CEO of the Energy Council of Canada, 2/28/24

“When Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, visited Canada last year, he was asked, “If Canada could only focus on one thing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, what should it be?” His immediate answer was, “carbon capture use and storage” (CCUS),” Jacob Irving writes for The Hill Times. “…Given resistance and skepticism toward CCUS from some quarters, why would Birol recommend it for Canada? Perhaps because we are already a leader in the technology… “As a mature petroleum-producing nation, Canada has a thorough understanding of its subsurface geology and its considerable storage potential, which is necessary for CCUS. We also have sophisticated subsurface rights management regimes and regulatory frameworks. The possibility for Canada’s oil production to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 is next to impossible without CCUS. But it’s not just about oil. The technology will support the use of natural gas resources to create zero-emitting hydrogen… “Canada has vast quantities of natural gas, both developed and undeveloped. If large-scale CCUS infrastructure were in place, it could conceivably support the production of large quantities of low-emission hydrogen from that source. That in turn could open an entirely new, climate-friendly energy stream… “So, when Birol suggests that Canada focus on CCUS, he is not only talking about removing and storing carbon. He is also talking about building a new, cutting-edge energy system to benefit Canada and the world.”

The Hill: Some Pa. Democrats are pushing back against eco-fundamentalism
Victoria Coates is vice president for foreign policy and national defense at The Heritage Foundation. Jennifer Stefano is executive vice president of the Commonwealth Foundation, 2/28/24

“In a sign of how far left the Democratic Party has veered, once-avowed progressives are now hesitant to embrace eco-fundamentalism — the dogmatic ideology that vilifies affordable energy, oversells “green” initiatives and advances ruinous policies,” Victoria Coates and  Jennifer Stefano write for The Hill. “Consider Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.). They’re both loyal, party-line Pennsylvania Democrats. But they’re also politicians who know which way the wind is blowing with the American people. So they broke ranks with President Biden on his liquid natural gas (LNG) export ban. “If this decision puts Pennsylvania energy jobs at risk, we will push the Biden Administration to reverse this decision,” they said. Fetterman and Casey were joined by fellow Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) in opposing the ban, but not all liberals are on board. Their party-mates in Washington, D.C. would be wise to follow their example and moderate on energy policy, or they will soon discover that as Pennsylvania goes, so goes the nation… “Biden and Shapiro are singing from the same eco-fundamentalist hymnal. Their siren song would cripple American energy production and independence… “From RGGI to LNG bans, destructive “green” initiatives — and their quixotic quest for carbon neutrality — undermine our national momentum toward energy independence. Instead of one-size-fits-all carbon-reduction plans, state legislatures should embrace and strengthen our country’s position as an international leader in energy production.”