EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 3/14/25

PIPELINE NEWS

• The Hill: Trump to meet NY gov over pipeline, congestion prices

• E&E News: Trump blasts New York for holding up pipelines

• E&E News: Federal court asks if it should continue hearing Line 5 suit

• WBUP: Energy, policy organizations write letter urging expedited Line 5 project

• KTTV: Protests over California’s coastal oil pipeline [VIDEO]

• E&E News: EPA lifts ban on federal contracts for Dakota Access developer

• Bucks County Courier Times: PA attorney general investigates potential environmental crimes amid Sunoco pipeline leak

• Politico: Alaska Gov. Dunleavy: Japanese steel being considered for massive Alaska LNG project

• Western Standard: Enbridge boss says it’s harder to build Northern Gateway than the Meech Lake Accord

• Hart Energy: Bottlenecks Holding US Back from NatGas, LNG Dominance

• Cape Cod Times: Algonquin Gas pipelines to be moved for new Cape Cod Canal bridges

• Medicine Hat News: Line of trees being removed at Gas City Campground

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• Press release: Trump EPA Kicks Off Formal Reconsideration of Endangerment Finding with Agency Partners

• Utility Dive: EPA aims to roll back power sector regulations in broad deregulatory push

• Floodlight: Criminal targeting of environmental groups ‘scary,’ advocates say

• Common Dreams: Nearly 200 Groups Call on Democratic Leaders to Oppose Immunity for the Fossil Fuel Industry

• E&E News: Pentagon starts purging ‘climate change crap’

• Politico: Dems double down on LNG

• E&E News: GOP bill would overturn Biden land-use plans

• Politico: Oil executives supported Trump. Now he’s causing them heartburn

• Reuters: US oil executives to meet with Trump next week

• E&E News: Pro-fossil-fuel group signs up to lobby

• E&E News: Burgum says Interior employees working on permits will keep their jobs

• S&P Global: US energy dominance council to cut oil industry costs by finding redundancies: Burgum

• Renewable Energy World: US Interior Secretary suggests Biden stole trillions by halting offshore drilling without mentioning Trump’s offshore wind moratorium

• Land Line: Congress cannot review and repeal California vehicle emission rules, government watchdog says

• Power Engineering: Emergency powers to restart coal plants? It could be in the cards, Interior Secretary suggests

• Center for Biological Diversity: Legal Intervention Launched to Protect Dunes Sagebrush Lizard

• E&E News: Grijalva’s green legacy

• E&E News: New Natural Resources Democrat embraces confrontation

STATE UPDATES

• KPLC: Allen Police Jury asks for state to delay permits for carbon capture wells

• NM Political Report: House passes legislation that would allow NM to permit carbon sequestration wells

• Reuters: Texas LNG Targets Final Investment Decision by December

• Blue Bonnet News: Liberty County hears updates on Pineywoods CCS carbon capture project

• Bridge Michigan: Plans stall for $400M green hydrogen gigafactory in suburban Detroit

• Inside Climate News: Colorado Will Require Oil and Gas Companies to Increase Water Recycling for Fracking

• KUNC: Colorado leads on air quality rules for oil and gas. But those living near wells say it’s not enough

• Press release: Wildcat Midstream Begins Work To Expand Helper, Utah Terminal to Boost Export of The Region’s Unique Wax Crude Oil To U.S. Gulf Coast

• North Dakota Monitor: North Dakota revenue growth slowing amid drop in oil prices

• Louisiana Illuminator: Fueling Knowledge: LSU’s ties to oil and gas stretch back to the 1930s

EXTRACTION

• Press release: Team Canada in Houston Stands Up for Canadian Energy and Critical Minerals

• Energy Intelligence Group: US Refiners Downplay Impact of Canada Tariffs

• Reuters: Exxon to raise output to 5.4 mln boepd by 2030 from 4.3 mln, exec says

• Lakeland Today: Company wants to inject oil sands mine water into underground reservoir

• Canada’s National Observer: Alberta set to build world’s first full-sized zero carbon cement plant

• The Star: ‘We risk becoming carbon waste dump’

• The Chemical Engineer: North Sea oil spill may take two months to clear following ship collision – expert

• Waste Dive: GHGSat research shows landfills are undercounting methane emissions

CLIMATE FINANCE

• Bloomberg: California Pension Fund Labels Chevron and Saudi Aramco as Climate Investments

TODAY IN GREENWASHING

• KHOU: TC Energy Community Day offers free entry, discounts at RodeoHouston

OPINION

• Wall Street Journal: Lee Zeldin: EPA Ends the ‘Green New Deal’

• Globe and Mail: Under Trump, the U.S. scores own goal in carbon removal game

PIPELINE NEWS

The Hill: Trump to meet NY gov over pipeline, congestion prices
Julia Manchester, 3/13/25

“President Trump said he will meet with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) at the White House on Friday to discuss plans for an energy pipeline that would run through the Empire State,” The Hill reports. “…The president and the governor are expected to discuss his plans to approve the Constitution natural gas pipeline, which New York blocked in 2020 over related water permits. Trump also said the pipeline would save families $5,000 in energy costs in New York and New England. “I hope we don’t have to use the extraordinary power of the federal government to get it done, but if we have to, we will, but I don’t think we’ll have to,” Trump said. “I can tell you Connecticut wants and all of New England wants it. And who wouldn’t want it?”

E&E News: Trump blasts New York for holding up pipelines
Annie Snider, 3/14/25

“President Donald Trump on Thursday blasted New York for holding up New England pipelines and threatened to overrule the state’s permitting power,” E&E News reports. “The president did not say what pipeline he was referring to in his social media post, but has recently vowed to revive the Constitution Pipeline that was scuttled by former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo nearly a decade ago. Trump said New Englanders would save $2,300 a month in heating costs if they had their pipelines. “We only need the final approval from New York State, whose people all want it. Otherwise, we’ll have to use other authorities,” he wrote in a post on his site, Truth Social.”

E&E News: Federal court asks if it should continue hearing Line 5 suit
Niina H. Farah, 3/13/25

“A federal appeals court is asking if it should hold off on considering a dispute over the Line 5 oil pipeline while a similar challenge plays out in state court,” E&E News reports. “In a letter seeking additional briefing from the parties in the case, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asked whether the court’s abstention ’is appropriate.’ The 6th Circuit cited a 1971 Supreme Court case, Younger v. Harris, which held that a federal court should only intervene in proceedings already in state court when the defendant in the lawsuit will face irreparable harm. The letter, filed Monday, came a week before the 6th Circuit will hold a hearing on the dispute between Line 5 developer Enbridge and Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Enbridge sued Whitmer and then-Michigan Department of National Resources Director Dan Eichinger for a 2020 order revoking the easement for Line 5 to operate within the Straits of Mackinac, which run between the state’s upper and lower peninsulas.”

WBUP: Energy, policy organizations write letter urging expedited Line 5 project
Alexandria Bournonville, 3/13/25

“Leadership from the Institute for Energy Research (IER) and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (MCPP) recently wrote a letter urging the completion of the pre-construction work Enbridge’s Line 5 project,” WBUP reports. “The letter was written by IER President Tom Pyle and the Mackinac Center’s Director of energy and environmental policy Jason Hayes and addressed to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Pyle and Hayes’ letter urges Hegseth to use his authority to expedite the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a step that has been taking longer than Enbridge expected. In a press release, Enbridge stated the EIS was originally meant to be done in 2023… “The completion of the Line 5 Tunnel will not only protect the Great Lakes but will also ensure the continued flow of essential energy resources to millions of people across the region. For years, politicians have blocked efforts to relocate the pipeline, even threatening to shut it down entirely, all while failing to propose viable alternatives for the people who rely on the resources transported by Line 5. These delays directly contradict their stated environmental goals, as the proposed tunnel would significantly mitigate the risks that have been asserted about the pipeline.”

KTTV: Protests over California’s coastal oil pipeline [VIDEO]
3/13/25

“Actress and activist Jane Fonda is accusing California Governor Gavin Newsom of not pushing back enough against the proposed oil pipeline,” KTTV reports.

E&E News: EPA lifts ban on federal contracts for Dakota Access developer
Mike Soraghan, 3/14/25

“EPA has ended its ban on federal contracts for the company that developed the Dakota Access oil pipeline, threatening a key legal attack used by opponents seeking to shut the line,” E&E News reports. “The case against Energy Transfer, the Dallas-based pipeline giant, had been pending for nearly 2 ½ years. EPA never made a formal decision to debar the company, but Energy Transfer and three of its subsidiaries were prohibited from getting federal contracts while the case was pending. That ended Monday when EPA officials terminated the case. In an unsigned statement to E&E on Thursday explaining why the case was dropped, EPA’s press office said the debarment hadn’t been expected to last more than three years. So even if the agency had ruled against the company, the debarment period was almost over.”

Bucks County Courier Times: PA attorney general investigates potential environmental crimes amid Sunoco pipeline leak
Jess Rohan, 3/14/25

“The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation into potential environmental crimes related to the Sunoco pipeline that leaked petroleum into household wells in Upper Makefield,” the Bucks County Courier Times reports. “Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Edward Louka made the announcement at a Tuesday meeting about the leak in Washington Crossing, where elected officials criticized representatives from Energy Transfer, the parent company of Sunoco, for declining to answer questions as the number of household wells testing positive for jet fuel-related contamination rises to 14. The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office had referred the pipeline leak to the state attorney general’s office, which is now in the early stages of its investigation, Louka told the Times. Pipeline company officials made brief statements at the beginning of the meeting, but declined to engage with residents’ questions. Joe McGinn, a vice president of public affairs and township commissioner in Delaware County, said that the company’s lawyers advised him not to answer questions because some residents had retained legal representation. Multiple elected officials — including state Sen. Steve Santarsiero, D-10, of Lower Makefield, who is also an environmental lawyer — questioned why potential litigation would prevent the pipeline company from making factual statements at the public meeting. McGinn also indicated that future public meetings would be held by telephone, where residents can call in to listen and ask questions. Some residents at the meeting criticized the move as insufficient… “At least 14 households have tested positive for petroleum-related contaminants, according to the latest figures provided by Sunoco, up from 11 private wells earlier this month. As they have at several prior meetings, residents stated that the company continues to either deny a water filtration system by the pipeline company, or decline to test their well from the top, where petroleum products tend to accumulate.”

Politico: Alaska Gov. Dunleavy: Japanese steel being considered for massive Alaska LNG project
Ben Lefebvre, 3/12/25

“Backers of a proposed Alaska natural gas export facility could consider buying some of the massive amounts of steel needed to build the project from Japanese companies, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) said Wednesday,” Politico reports.” Dunleavy, speaking to POLITICO at CERAWeek conference, said he had been meeting with government officials and industry executives ‘26-7’ on the sidelines of the conference to try to advance the long-stalled Alaska LNG project, which has been touted by Trump even as his new tariffs could raise its already formidable $44 billion price tag. Alaska has been seeking to attract investors and potential LNG buyers to the project for more than a decade, only to be foiled by the high cost of steel and labor in the state. The project calls for building a liquefaction plant on Alaska’s south coast and an 800-mile pipeline to tie it to the state’s gas fields to the north and could require an estimated 1.6 million tons of steel. The costs for that steel could soar if they are subject to new tariffs.”

Western Standard: Enbridge boss says it’s harder to build Northern Gateway than the Meech Lake Accord
Shaun Polczer, 3/13/25

“It’s harder to build a pipeline in Canada than it is to amend the constitution, says the chief executive of the company that proposed a cancelled pipeline to the west coast,” the Western Standard reports. “Speaking on the sidelines of the CERAWeek by S&P Global energy conference in Houston, Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel compared the task of planning and developing oil export lines to the ill-fated Meech Lake Accord to bring Quebec into the constitution. Calgary-based Enbridge was the backer of both the Northern Gateway pipeline to Kitimat. The $8 billion project was cancelled in 2016 by the Trudeau government which refused to lift the tanker ban on the West Coast. In an interview, Ebel told the Standard crossing provincial borders is often more difficult than crossing international ones, like the 49th parallel. “As I’ve often said, the East-West pipe is a bit like the Meech Lake Accord, and that’s hard to get everybody on the same page for the amount of time it actually takes to get regulatory and legislative approval.” Northern Gateway is one of two shelved projects advocates say could be revived to circumvent US president Donald Trump’s 10% tariffs on Canadian energy… “The other is the TC Energy Energy East, which consisted of converting an existing oil pipeline that’s already in the ground to oil and extending it from Montreal to the Maritimes. The $12 billion project would have shipped 1.1 million bpd for export to Europe and India. But that too was cancelled in October 2017 over vehement protests from Quebec over beluga whale habitat. Those objections continue to this day.”

Hart Energy: Bottlenecks Holding US Back from NatGas, LNG Dominance
Lisa El-Amin, 3/13/25

“As the world grapples with energy security and the transition to a more sustainable future, the natural gas industry in North America has emerged as a crucial player in the energy mix,” according to Hart Energy. “Despite the sentiment, trouble building infrastructure, securing new permits and geopolitical tensions persist.North America’s natural gas abundance positions the region to be a reliable power supplier. But regulatory factors are holding the industry back from fully tackling the global energy crisis, experts at CERAWeek told Hart.”

Cape Cod Times: Algonquin Gas pipelines to be moved for new Cape Cod Canal bridges
Susan Vaughn, 3/14/25

“The pending replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges will require existing gas pipelines and other utilities that serve all of Cape Cod to be relocated and rebuilt under the Cape Cod Canal,” the Cape Cod Times reports. “…Algonquin Gas Transmission has proposed relocating and rebuilding its mainland Sagamore and Bourne natural gas meter and regulating stations and complete a mid-canal crossing using a horizontal directional drilling method. The Algonquin pipeline is a 1,100- mile-long pipeline system that delivers natural gas to New England and many other states. It is owned by Enbridge Inc… “The response from the open house was positive,” Enbridge spokesperson Melissa Sherburne told the Times. “We have continued to communicate with our neighbors and other stakeholders throughout the proposed project to address any questions that arise.”

Medicine Hat News: Line of trees being removed at Gas City Campground
3/14/25

“A long line of cottonwoods on the east side of the Gas City Campground will be cut down next week to keep their roots from encroaching on a natural gas pipeline nearby, the city announced on Thursday,” Medicine Hat News reports. “But, the pipeline owner, TC Energy, will pay to replace the trees three to one with saplings in another area… “TC Energy is concerned that over time roots could reach the line and damage the pipe, according to the city release. As well, the tree cover makes aerial surveillance of the line more difficult. The city’s public tree protection bylaw requires that any resident requesting a tree on public property be removed covers the cost of planting three more in alternate locations. Since 28 trees will be removed, TC will cover the cost of 84 new trees, with some allotted to the campground.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

Press release: Trump EPA Kicks Off Formal Reconsideration of Endangerment Finding with Agency Partners
3/12/25

“U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will be kicking off a formal reconsideration of the 2009 Endangerment Finding in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other relevant agencies. EPA also intends to reconsider all of its prior regulations and actions that rely on the Endangerment Finding. “After 16 years, EPA will formally reconsider the Endangerment Finding,” said Administrator Zeldin. “The Trump Administration will not sacrifice national prosperity, energy security, and the freedom of our people for an agenda that throttles our industries, our mobility, and our consumer choice while benefiting adversaries overseas.” “…The 2009 Endangerment finding has had an enormously negative impact on the lives of the American people,” said Energy Secretary Chris Wright… “Since 2009, I’ve consistently argued that the endangerment finding required a consideration of downstream costs imposed on both mobile sources like cars and stationary sources like factories,” said Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Administrator Jeff Clark… “It is in the best interest of the American people for EPA to ensure that any finding and regulations are based on the strongest scientific and legal foundation.”

Utility Dive: EPA aims to roll back power sector regulations in broad deregulatory push
Ethan Howland, 3/13/25

“The Environmental Protect Agency on Wednesday said it would begin a sweeping rollback of environmental regulations, including air, water and waste rules that affect the power sector,” Utility Dive reports. “…Industry observers expected the EPA under the Trump administration would seek to revise regulations affecting the power sector, especially rules that have contributed to making it uneconomic to keep coal-fired power plants operating. Revising or eliminating the rules will require rulemaking processes that can take several years to complete, Capstone said in a client note Wednesday. “With EPA also making significant cuts to its staff, the agency faces serious logistical challenges to releasing final rules that do not run afoul of the [Administrative Procedure Act] in any of these areas,” the research firm said. Litigation would add at least a year to the process of revising the regulations, so some of the planned deregulatory actions would likely not be finished before the next presidential administration begins, Capstone analysts said. Also, many of the power sector-related regulations that could be revised are being litigated in court, extending the timeline for any new regulation to take effect, the analysts noted. However, the EPA said it aims to take interim measures that would reduce regulatory burdens from some of its rules. For example, the agency said it is considering granting a two-year exemption to power plants affected by its mercury and air toxics standards rule while the agency conducts a rulemaking process to revise the regulation.”

Floodlight: Criminal targeting of environmental groups ‘scary,’ advocates say
Terry L. Jones, 3/13/25

“Some grassroots environmental organizations have regained access to the millions of dollars they were promised through the Inflation Reduction Act. But now some see an even more menacing threat: prosecution,” Floodlight reports. “The unease has grown as President Donald Trump’s attacks on them and their mission to help disadvantaged communities and curb climate change continues to escalate. Leaders of these groups told Floodlight they expect federal agents to start breathing down their necks any day now as Trump seeks to shred the climate initiatives of his predecessor, Joe Biden. “It’s not a matter of if you will be audited, it’s a matter of when,” Ashley Shelton, executive director of the Louisiana-based nonprofit The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, told Floodlight. The first signs of that happened earlier this month when media reports surfaced that the Trump administration had ordered certain nonprofits receiving funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to hand over all their correspondence with EPA staff. According to Politico, they were also ordered to turn over to the FBI documents including transactions related to their programs and their organizations’ articles of incorporation and policies. On March 11, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced he had cancelled the program. The groups are suing to regain access to the $20 billion in greenhouse gas reduction funding. The federal government alleges the recipients defrauded the government… “With that funding now available again, Cynthia Robertson told Floodlight there’s still no word on whether a more than $100,000 grant she secured through the Department of Energy to help draft a community benefits plan for their service area will still come through. Some of the requirements for community benefit plans are to advance “diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility,” according to a fact sheet from the DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.”

Common Dreams: Nearly 200 Groups Call on Democratic Leaders to Oppose Immunity for the Fossil Fuel Industry
3/13/25

“Amid a growing number of legal and legislative efforts to hold Big Oil companies accountable for their role in the climate crisis, a coalition of nonprofit groups are calling on Congressional Democrats to “proactively and affirmatively reject” potential efforts aimed at shielding the fossil fuel industry from legal liability,” Common Dreams reports. “In a letter to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, 195 groups including Earthjustice, Sunrise Movement, and the American Association of Justice, pointed to past efforts from the fossil fuel industry to secure a liability waiver from Congress, as well as statements from President Trump, as reason to anticipate a new push to immunize polluters. “We have reason to believe that the fossil fuel industry and its allies will use the chaos and overreach of the new Trump administration to attempt yet again to pass some form of liability waiver and shield themselves from facing consequences for their decades of pollution and deception,” the groups wrote. “That effort — no matter what form it takes — must not be allowed to succeed.” “…The groups’ letter asks Schumer and Jeffries “to draw a line in the sand now — before fossil fuel industry allies divulge their specific plans — and unite your caucuses in firm opposition to any Congressional efforts to bail out climate polluters from facing legal and legislative consequences for their central role in the climate crisis.”

E&E News: Pentagon starts purging ‘climate change crap’
Scott Waldman, 3/14/25

“The Defense Department has a new search-and-destroy mission. It’s on the hunt for climate-related programs and studies,” E&E News reports. “Last week, the Pentagon announced it had canceled multiple studies related to climate — including several that sought to determine whether a hotter planet could lead to more instability in Africa. In addition, the Defense Department has spent the last few weeks combing outside contracts for the term “climate” with the intent to zero out all related work, according to two former Pentagon officials… “The @DeptofDefense does not do climate change crap,” Hegseth wrote on X on Sunday. “We do training and warfighting.” “…Climate zealotry and other woke chimeras of the Left are not part of that core mission,” Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot told E&E. But defense experts warn the rush to cancel these programs could backfire on the Pentagon. Studying and preparing for global warming isn’t a liberal luxury, they told E&E — it’s essential to better understand how climate change could influence both global politics and battlefield conditions… “One defense expert warned the effort to eliminate climate programs and studies could create a future blind spot for the Pentagon. It could leave the military unprepared for the role of climate change as a threat multiplier, where more extreme storms, heat conditions and regional conflicts could hamper and harm U.S. troops and their warfighting abilities, Sherri Goodman, deputy undersecretary of Defense for environmental security in the Clinton administration, told E&E.”

Politico: Dems double down on LNG
3/13/25

“Forty-five Democrats urged the Energy Department in a letter this morning to deny new applications to export liquefied natural gas, citing the Biden administration’s study last year on the economic and environmental impacts of exporting the fuel,” Politico reports. “We don’t need to further expand exports to fuel the economies of our adversaries while harming consumers in the U.S.,” wrote the lawmakers, led by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).”

E&E News: GOP bill would overturn Biden land-use plans
Scott Streater, 3/12/25

“A bill sponsored by Colorado Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd seeks to undo numerous Bureau of Land Management resource plans that Republican critics say restrict multiple uses on large swaths of bureau rangelands,” E&E News reports. “Hurd’s H.R. 1997, introduced Monday, has sparked pushback from conservation groups that counter the legislation is part of an ongoing Trump administration effort to undo policies implemented by former President Joe Biden that they say helped balance mining, oil and gas development, and other uses of public lands with conservation and restoration. The bill targets nine finalized resource management plans approved for covering millions of acres of BLM rangelands in Colorado, Montana, Oregon and Wyoming… “In each case, the new alternative lifts restrictions on mining, oil and gas activities that are part of the finalized plans.”

Politico: Oil executives supported Trump. Now he’s causing them heartburn
Ben Lefebvre, 3/12/25

“The economic turbulence from President Donald Trump’s whipsawing trade wars is starting to test the patience of the oil and gas sector — and threatening to undermine the explosive energy growth he promised during his campaign,” Politico reports. “Oil and gas executives poured tens of millions into Trump’s campaign coffers to help him enact the ‘energy dominance’ policies he promised would drive down costs for American consumers and spur rapid increases in the United States’ already record-high fuel production. But the trade fights Trump has triggered, including tariffs on steel, aluminum and crude imports, are set to drive up costs for oil and gas companies long before they feel any benefits of his ‘drill, baby, drill’ push. That sentiment filtered through attendees at CERAWeek, one of the world’s most prestigious energy conferences — particularly among companies seeking to boost their shipments of U.S. liquefied natural gas, or LNG.”

Reuters: US oil executives to meet with Trump next week
Jarrett Renshaw and Ron Bousso, 3/12/25

“U.S. oil producers will meet with President Donald Trump next week, leading industry group the American Petroleum Institute said on Wednesday,” Reuters reports. “Among the topics for discussion are tariffs, trade and exports of liquefied natural gas, an industry source told Reuters. The API, which counts oil majors ExxonMobil and Chevron as members, helped put together the meeting. “We appreciate the opportunity to discuss how American oil and natural gas is driving economic growth, strengthening our national security and supporting consumers with the President and his team,” API spokesperson, Bethany Williams, told Reuters when asked about the meeting… “Oil and gas interests donated some $75 million to Trump’s presidential campaign, the Republican National Committee and allied groups, according to data compiled by the OpenSecrets organization.”

E&E News: Pro-fossil-fuel group signs up to lobby
Timothy Cama, 3/14/25

“A newly formed pro-fossil-fuel advocacy group has registered to lobbying federal officials,” E&E News reports. “The Energy Freedom Fund is led by Alex Epstein, who’s most known for his think tank, the Center for Industrial Progress, which advocates for fossil fuels as a uniquely beneficial force for humanity and seeks to downplay climate change concerns. Energy Freedom Fund has the same philosophies but is focused on advocacy within Congress and the executive branch, Epstein told E&E. “I was noticing that I was getting a lot of interest from politicians and staffers and other people in the resources that we were creating,” Epstein told E&E, referring to his writings on the platform Substack advocating for pro-fossil-fuel policies and against subsidies or other help for renewable energy.”

E&E News: Burgum says Interior employees working on permits will keep their jobs
Ben Lefebvre, 3/12/25

“Interior Department staff involved in permitting will “continue to have their jobs,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Wednesday,” E&E News reports. “Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cut an undisclosed number of workers inside the department, though employees inside the agency said last month that the total could have reached 2,300 people. But oil industry executives have expressed concerns that the cuts, which targeted probationary staff who had only one or two years experience with the agency, could ultimately lead to slower permit approvals for the very oil and gas-producing projects President Donald Trump has promoted. “I’m not concerned at all,” Burgum told E&E on the sidelines at the CERAWeek energy conference where he has been meeting with energy executives. “Because in Interior, anyone who is involved with permitting, we’re going to make sure they will continue to have their jobs, and we’ll give them tools to go faster.”

S&P Global: US energy dominance council to cut oil industry costs by finding redundancies: Burgum
Jeff Mower, 3/12/25

“The US National Energy Dominance Council will be able to reduce oil industry costs by first prioritizing major energy projects and then weeding out regulatory redundancies and overreach, US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said March 12,” S&P Global reports. “Burgum, who is chairing the council, said the process could reduce costs by 10%. “I think there you can easily get rid of 20 or 30% of the regulation and just get back to the organizations and figure out who’s the one person that says yes or no, right, as opposed to 13 [people],” Burgum said at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston. At current oil prices, “I think there’s easily 10%” in savings,’ he said. “Let’s call it $6 to $8 per barrel.”

Renewable Energy World: US Interior Secretary suggests Biden stole trillions by halting offshore drilling without mentioning Trump’s offshore wind moratorium
Paul Gerke, 3/12/25

“United States Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum carried a tone of gratitude throughout the majority of his lunchtime remarks at CERAWeek by S&P Global Wednesday, calling companies developing projects on federal lands ‘customers’ and making it clear the Trump administration would bend over backwards to support oil and gas development,” Renewable Energy World reports. “He also accused former President Joe Biden of stealing trillions of dollars ‘with the stroke of a pen’ by halting offshore drilling without acknowledging the hypocrisy of President Trump doing something very similar recently with his offshore wind policy.”

Land Line: Congress cannot review and repeal California vehicle emission rules, government watchdog says
Tyson Fisher, 3/12/25

“A congressional watchdog agency told Congress that it cannot review and undo federal waivers granted to California for its stricter vehicle emission rules, potentially slamming shut one passageway for ending Advanced Clean Trucks,” Land Line reports. “The Government Accountability Office has found that Environmental Protection Agency waivers greenlighting California’s Advanced Clean Trucks, Advanced Clean Cars II and Heavy-Duty Omnibus regulation are not subject to the Congressional Review Act. GAO’s decision puts a roadblock in the Trump administration’s plans to terminate the Golden State’s vehicle emission rules.”

Power Engineering: Emergency powers to restart coal plants? It could be in the cards, Interior Secretary suggests
Sean Wolfe, Kevin Clark, 3/12/25

“The U.S. could deploy emergency powers to restart closed coal plants and prevent more from closing, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Bloomberg Television this week,” according to Power Engineering. “Burgum argued that Biden Administration policies were hampering the grid, and emergency action was needed. “Under the national energy emergency, which President Trump has declared, we’ve got to keep every coal plant open,” Burgum said in an interview with Bloomberg Television at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston. “And if there had been units at a coal plant that have been shut down, we need to bring those back.”

Center for Biological Diversity: Legal Intervention Launched to Protect Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
3/13/25

“The Center for Biological Diversity filed a request in federal court Tuesday to defend long-overdue Endangered Species Act protections for the dunes sagebrush lizard. In May 2024 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered after four decades of delay. The Center is seeking to intervene in a lawsuit filed by Texas in September to remove protections for the lizards. “We’ve been fighting for decades to get these little lizards protected and we’re not going to stop now,” said Jason Rylander, legal director of the Center’s Climate Law Institute. “The federal government finally did right by declaring that these rare lizards are being driven to extinction by the oil and gas industry. We won’t let Texas and the Trump administration take back a hard-fought victory for this lizard’s survival.” The lizards live in a very small area of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico that includes part of the Permian Basin, which over the last decade has been one of world’s fastest-growing oil and gas fields… “More than 95% of the original shinnery oak dunes ecosystem has been destroyed by oil and gas extraction and other development, as well as herbicide spraying to support livestock grazing.”

E&E News: Grijalva’s green legacy
3/13/25

“The death of Raúl Grijalva, who served as chair or ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee since 2015 before stepping down ahead of the start of this Congress, leaves a major void in the climate and environmental justice movements,” E&E News reports. “Grijalva’s allies in the environmental community were quick to praise his work championing progressive causes, including protecting public lands from drilling while expanding renewable energy production, overseeing passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, and supporting tribes and communities of color exposed to higher levels of pollution from industrial activity. His fellow committee members lauded his ’immeasurable’ contributions.”

E&E News: New Natural Resources Democrat embraces confrontation
Andres Picon, 3/13/25

“House Democrats’ new leader on a Natural Resources subcommittee is vowing to use her perch to fact-check Republican messaging on fossil fuels and renewable energy,” E&E News reports. “Dismayed by the Trump administration’s recent moves to hamper wind and solar projects despite preaching an ’all-of-the-above’ energy philosophy, Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari told E&E she sees her new ranking member position on the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources as an opportunity to “really call out the hypocrisy of the Republicans.” The 32-year-old Phoenix native, new to Congress this year, told E&E that she wants to “demonstrate to the American people that the influence of Big Oil is hurting them, hurting all of us.”

STATE UPDATES

KPLC: Allen Police Jury asks for state to delay permits for carbon capture wells
Theresa Schmidt, 3/13/25

“The Allen Parish Police Jury is asking the state to delay approval of carbon capture well permits or projects, until the legislative session is over,” KPLC reports. “The idea is so no companies can avoid compliance with new laws by getting grandfathered in. Meanwhile, opposition to CO2 pipelines and projects seems to be growing. Pipelines carrying hazardous substances are not new to Louisiana. But concerns about transporting carbon dioxide and storing it underground are raising red flags for residents and landowners. Charles Kingrey and John Cannon of Allen Parish have been researching CO2 plans in their area and beyond. Kingrey believes storing carbon dioxide in areas with abandoned wells and dry holes is concerning. “When they pump it in the ground, there’s a chance that it’s going to go twenty miles one way, thirty miles another way east and west, north and south. And it will go up to the salt water zone. And right above the salt water zone is our aquifers, our fresh water zone,” he told KPLC… “Kingrey and Cannon agree with the police jury to ask that no permits should be issued until after the legislative session… “We’re dealing with a very dangerous product here. If there’s a major leak in the area similar to what happened in Satartia Mississippi, this could be a disaster for our community,” Cannon told KPLC.”

NM Political Report: House passes legislation that would allow NM to permit carbon sequestration wells
Hannah Grover, 3/12/25

“As New Mexico works to reach its emission reduction goals in an attempt to address climate change, carbon capture proponents say it is important for the state to have the authority to permit wells intended for the underground sequestration of carbon dioxide, also known as Class VI injection wells,” according to NM Political Report. “The state House of Representatives on Tuesday approved House Bill 457 on a 48-15 vote. This legislation, if it becomes law, would pave the way for New Mexico to gain the authority to permit Class VI wells. HB 457 now heads to the Senate… “Bill sponsor Rep. Meredith Dixon, D-Albuquerque, told the Report four states have primacy — the ability to permit Class VI wells — and nine have submitted applications to get the ability to permit those wells. She told the Report 23 states, as well as the Navajo Nation, have stated their intent to pursue primacy… “However, some lawmakers, including Rep. Miguel Garcia, D-Albuquerque, expressed concerns that carbon capture and sequestration is a false solution in the effort to address climate change and may actually lead to more emissions. Garcia told the Report he is concerned about HB 457 and alleged several projects in the United States have proven that carbon capture is not a viable solution for dealing with climate change… “What do these case studies tell us? They tell us that carbon capture cannot be the centerpiece of any serious climate plan,” he told the Report. “And how carbon capture handouts do nothing to quell greenhouse gases, but actually enhance their extraction.”

Reuters: Texas LNG Targets Final Investment Decision by December
3/13/25

“Glenfarne Energy Transition expects to make a final investment decision on its Texas LNG project by December, CEO Brendan Duval said on Wednesday,” Reuters reports. “Glenfarne Energy is developing the 4 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Brownsville, South Texas. “We should be able to get to FID in December once we get the final irreversible approval to build the plant by November,” Duval said at an energy conference in Houston. The company has already signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Kiewit to build the plant, he said. It has signed enough long term customers to move forward with constructing the plant once it has all the legal approvals, he added… “The regulator has asked them for additional information to measure the impact of the plants. Duval said he expected that process to conclude by November.”

Blue Bonnet News: Liberty County hears updates on Pineywoods CCS carbon capture project
3/13/25

“The Pineywoods Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) project was a key topic of discussion at the Liberty County Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday, March 11,” Blue Bonnet News reports. “Jesse Fruman, project manager for the Pineywoods CCS hub for Tenaska, provided updates on the project’s progress, economic impact, and what the community can expect moving forward… “The Pineywoods CCS project is designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industrial facilities—such as chemical plants, natural gas plants, manufacturing sites, and paper mills—and permanently store them underground…. “We’ve done a lot of leasing for the project,” he said. “We have buy-in from about 50 to 60 families, with just a few more to go.” Additionally, permit applications have been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Texas Railroad Commission, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)… “The earliest visible work in the community would begin in mid-to-late 2026, provided the necessary permits are obtained by the end of this year… “Meyers’ concerns centered on the possible environmental and infrastructure impacts of the rumored plant, including emissions, drainage, traffic, and a possible rail spur.”

Bridge Michigan: Plans stall for $400M green hydrogen gigafactory in suburban Detroit
Paula Gardner, 3/12/25

“A Norwegian energy company is hitting pause on plans to build and operate a $400 million gigafactory in metro Detroit that the state hoped would result in more than 500 new jobs,” Bridge Michigan reports. “Nel Hydrogen US accepted Michigan economic development subsidies totaling over $16 million for the new Plymouth Township factory in September 2023. Federal awards, including $29 million in tax credits announced in January, brought the US subsidy total to $200 million. However, the company disclosed Feb. 26 in its 2024 annual report that construction had not yet started — and Nel had made no decision on when it may do so… “Nel Hydrogen’s media contact in Oslo, Norway, told Bridge that the company sees “enormous potential” for hydrogen development in the US… “However, he confirmed, the nation’s changes to the Inflation Reduction Act are stalling investment decisions, including by Nel’s clients. “Once the incentives are fully clarified and market demand solidifies, companies like Nel can advance with meaningful infrastructure commitments,” Flinder told Bridge.”

Inside Climate News: Colorado Will Require Oil and Gas Companies to Increase Water Recycling for Fracking
Jake Bolster, Martha Pskowski, 3/13/25

“Freshwater use in oil and gas drilling has come under scrutiny in Colorado as the state faces a historic drought. On Wednesday, March 12, state regulators announced new rules that will require drillers to use more recycled water in their operations and, hopefully, relieve pressure on scarce freshwater resources,” Inside Climate News reports. “…The oil and gas industry, whose activity in Colorado accounts for almost 4 percent of U.S. total crude oil output, uses about 11 billion gallons of fresh water annually in Colorado, according to data collected by the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC)… “In 2023, the Colorado state legislature passed HB23-1242, which required the ECMC to adopt rules “requiring a statewide reduction in usage of fresh water and a corresponding increase in usage of recycled or reused water in oil and gas operations.” The bill also created Colorado’s Produced Water Consortium, a body of 31 people including regulators, industry representatives, environmentalists and scientists. The group is studying how produced water that comes to the surface during drilling can be reused in other oil and gas operations to reduce freshwater consumption, and its reports served as the basis for its recommendations to the ECMC… “Under Colorado’s new regulations, by the beginning of 2026, oil companies must use at least 4 percent recycled produced water across their operations in the state. In 2030, that requirement increases to a minimum of 10 percent.”

KUNC: Colorado leads on air quality rules for oil and gas. But those living near wells say it’s not enough
Rae Solomon, 3/12/25

“…But as the retired English professor ventured beyond her own little yard, she was startled to see new oil and gas wells springing up all over the countryside. Some less than a mile from her home and even closer to other residential neighborhoods,” KUNC reports. “…Carol Hawkins told KUNC it felt like an assault… “The physical symptoms started during a period of heavy drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the area that started in 2018. She started having bloody noses, intense migraines and high blood pressure. The next year, an MRI revealed she had developed lung nodules. It’s impossible to definitively pinpoint the health impacts of oil and gas activity on any individual’s health outcomes. But thousands of peer-reviewed studies link proximity to fracking operations with a host of medical problems, including several that Hawkins began experiencing after moving to Ault. And she draws a direct line from the fracking wells popping up nearby to the medical issues popping up in her body. Short of moving, which she says she cannot afford to do, she feels powerless. “I mean, if it’s being caused by the air I breathe, what am I supposed to do?”

Press release: Wildcat Midstream Begins Work To Expand Helper, Utah Terminal to Boost Export of The Region’s Unique Wax Crude Oil To U.S. Gulf Coast
3/12/25

“Wildcat Midstream has begun work on expanding its Helper, Utah, terminal to increase the export capacity of Uinta Basin’s unique yellow and black wax crude oil to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The Helper terminal can currently load 42,000 barrels per day. The first phase of the expansion, set to be operational by July 2025, will increase the loading capacity to 66,000 barrels per day. The second phase, expected to be completed by late spring 2026, will further expand capacity to approximately 140,000 barrels per day. As part of this expansion, Wildcat has acquired 422 acres of land to the north of its existing facility in Helper… “Wildcat is the only turnkey terminal operator in the Uinta Basin, providing producers with a comprehensive range of logistical services from wellhead to railhead, including trucking, railcar loading, railcar leasing, offloading, and ultimate market sales… “These agreements include a Class 1 rail carrier, the largest rail offloading terminal in Louisiana, and wax sales commitments with a world class refiner in the Gulf Coast, supported by partnerships with key producers in the Uinta Basin.”

North Dakota Monitor: North Dakota revenue growth slowing amid drop in oil prices
Michael Achterling, 3/13/25

“North Dakota lawmakers building the state budget will work with a more conservative revenue forecast, driven by a projected drop in oil prices and uncertainty about tariffs,” the North Dakota Monitor reports. “A revised forecast presented Thursday projects general fund revenues of about $5.07 billion for 2025-27, a drop of $105.2 million from a January forecast. But even with slower growth that’s predicted, North Dakota is still expected to see revenues about 1.4% higher than the current budget cycle. Economic consultants who presented to the Senate and House appropriations committees also cautioned about uncertainty with President Donald Trump’s tariffs… “The forecast also projects a slight decline in oil production, from about 1.2 million barrels per day down to 1.1 million barrels per day in part due to workforce issues and pricing concerns, Morrissette said. The March forecast also reflects lower oil tax revenue because of a greater number of wells that now qualify for a tax exemption due to low production, Morrissette said.”

Louisiana Illuminator: Fueling Knowledge: LSU’s ties to oil and gas stretch back to the 1930s
Piper Hutchinson, 3/12/25

“To LSU administrators 55 years ago, the front yard of fraternity houses seemed like the “least objectionable” location on campus to drill seven oil wells,” the Louisiana Illuminator reports. “That’s according to the Oct. 2, 1970, minutes of the LSU Board of Supervisors’ Oil and Gas Committee, which is now defunct. Seven months later, The Advocate reported a “wildcat well” was drilled at the junction of Dalrymple and West Lakeshore drives. For decades stretching back to at least the 1930s, the committee’s task was to decide where on university-owned land drilling would be done, what companies would get the leases and how to use the money the drilling brought to the university. The Illuminator has reviewed hundreds of pages of historical documents and interviewed historians and geographers to examine LSU’s relationship with the fossil fuel industry. What started as a simple business transaction in the early 20th century — money for the mineral rights to university land — has grown over nearly a century into a full blown-partnership, with leading oil and gas companies donating tens of millions of dollars for research and other university priorities in the 21st century and getting influence over that research in return.”

EXTRACTION

Press release: Team Canada in Houston Stands Up for Canadian Energy and Critical Minerals
3/12/25

“…This week, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, attended CERAWeek 2025 to advocate for Canadian energy interests, including an end to unjustified tariffs and tariff threats from the U.S. Tariffs make life more expensive for people on both sides of the border by driving up the cost of electricity, gasoline, home construction, fertilizer — and therefore food — as well as harming manufacturing industries. In a series of events and discussions with industry leaders, government officials and key international partners, the Minister emphasized Canada’s role as a trusted and reliable energy supplier. He noted that Canada is advancing major projects, such as LNG Canada; numerous critical minerals projects; the reliability of interprovincial power grids; and supporting the expansion of renewable energy production… “While in Houston, Minister Wilkinson met with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. They spoke about and recognized the importance and interconnectedness of the Canada-U.S. energy relationship. Minister Wilkinson emphasized the detrimental impacts tariffs and tariff threats are having on people and the economic interests on both sides of the border. These trade actions are jeopardizing a long-standing relationship that has fostered shared prosperity for generations, while also undermining North American security and stability.”

Energy Intelligence Group: US Refiners Downplay Impact of Canada Tariffs
Frans Koster, 3/13/25

“Refiners in the US are upbeat about their ability to deal with the impacts of President Donald Trump’s proposed 10% tariffs on Canadian crude oil,” Energy Intelligence Group reports. “Canada exports around 4 million barrels per day south of the border, much of it heavy, sour crude that many refineries in the Midcontinent region and elsewhere are specifically designed to process. But while the tariff impacts might not be as severe as initially feared, the 10% levies on roughly one-quarter of US refinery throughputs — if they happen at all — still figure to be disruptive, particularly for product yields. The tariffs on Canadian crude, nominally due to take effect in early April, already would be lower than the full 25% Trump had first threatened. But Trump has hardly been consistent on when or even if the tariffs will be implemented.”

Reuters: Exxon to raise output to 5.4 mln boepd by 2030 from 4.3 mln, exec says
3/12/25

“Exxon Mobil expects to raise output to 5.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2030, up from 4.3 million boepd now, the company’s president of upstream said on Wednesday,” Reuters reports. “The production areas that the company is focused on for growth are Guyana, top U.S. oilfield the Permian, and the liquefied natural gas business, Exxon’s Dan Ammann said at an energy conference in Houston. Exxon aims to double its LNG business in coming years, he said.”

Lakeland Today: Company wants to inject oil sands mine water into underground reservoir
Brett McKay, 3/13/25

“An oilfield infrastructure company wants to use deep-well injection to sequester billions of barrels of oil sands mine water in underground reservoirs,” Lakeland Today reports. “The project could dramatically reduce the volume of fluid tailings being managed in surface ponds, but some worry it would create its own environmental hazards and make it easier for the oil sands industry to get out of cleaning up its waste. As of 2023, bitumen extraction and processing has produced more than 1.4 trillion litres of tailings, and millions of litres of effluent are added to tailings ponds in northern Alberta each year. While researchers search for effective ways to reclaim oil sands tailings, the estimated 300 square kilometres of man-made lakes now storing the toxic mining by-product present massive environmental and health liabilities and have proven difficult for companies to manage. Aqua Solutions Inc. (ASI), an Alberta-based corporation, is proposing the contaminated fluid not being reclaimed instead be removed from the landscape entirely by injecting it in wells deep underground… “Phillip Meintzer, a conservation specialist with Alberta Wilderness Association, told LT oil sands companies are supposed to have an obligation to clean up their waste products, and the deep well disposal would only move the problem “out of sight and out of mind.” “Injecting tailings effluent underground is not actually a cleanup solution. It just moves the problem elsewhere,” Meintzer told LT.”

Canada’s National Observer: Alberta set to build world’s first full-sized zero carbon cement plant
Darius Snieckus, 3/14/25

“The world’s first full-scale carbon-neutral cement plant could be operating in Canada within three years, following the signing of a key $275 million deal between the federal government and international materials supplier Heidelberg,” Canada’s National Observer reports. “Under the agreement, Heidelberg’s cement manufacturing facility in Edmonton, Alta. is to be fitted with a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) system that would absorb one million tonnes of CO2 a year — equal to taking over 300,000 cars off the road — and inject it into a saline aquifer several kilometres underground. Some 95 per cent of produced greenhouse gas emissions will be captured using the ammonia-based carbon scrubbing technology being installed at the plant. The facility will feature a combined-heat-and-power plant powering the cement manufacturing and the CCUS system, with surplus electricity fed onto the provincial grid… “Critics point to the technology having underperformed capture volume expectations and cost projections.”

The Star: ‘We risk becoming carbon waste dump’
Junaid Ibrahim, 3/14/25

“Malaysia’s proposed new law on carbon capture and storage has got environmentalists worked up, with several of them cautioning that the legislation could backfire,” The Star reports. “They pointed out that the country could end up becoming a “dumping ground” for carbon waste, adding to its struggles in managing e-waste and plastic waste from other countries. The Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) Bill passed by the Dewan Rakyat recently is intended to combat climate change and help achieve Malaysia’s carbon net-zero target in 2050. However, the proposed law will also pave the way for other countries to store their carbon waste in Malaysia. Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman expressed concern that without proper management, Malaysia could indeed turn into a dumping ground for foreign carbon waste. “The CCUS Bill is meant to regulate the sector, but once the country opens up to carbon storage, we risk becoming a dumping ground if abuses occur,” she told the Star. Citing the challenges of ensuring environmental integrity and safety due to the long-term nature of carbon dioxide (CO2) waste, Meenakshi felt Malaysia lacked capabilities for robust assessments, standards and enforcement. “Relying on the industry to determine prudent practices offers little assurance that regulations will be strictly followed,” she pointed out, adding that corporations might cut corners to maximise profit. “Managing e-waste is already a nightmare. Dealing with CO2, which is invisible and stored underwater or underground, presents even greater challenges.”

The Chemical Engineer: North Sea oil spill may take two months to clear following ship collision – expert
Sam Baker, 3/12/25

“Jet fuel that spilled into the North Sea following Monday’s collision between a tanker and a cargo ship off the coast of Hull, UK could take “up to two months” to clear, an expert has told The Chemical Engineer. Jonathan Paul, a senior lecturer in the Department of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London told TCE: “Swift action is needed to mop it up before it enters into the ecosystem and bioaccumulates up the food chain. “I expect it might take up to two months to clear up the spill fully.” Paul added that damage caused to the marine ecosystem as a result of the jet fuel pollution “starts immediately”. Jet fuel is a persistent oil, meaning that it neither disperses throughout the water column nor dissolves in water. Paul told TCE that the “spread of the oil will only increase over time, potentially covering progressively greater areas of UK coastline”. The threat from jet fuel is mostly associated with the toxicity of additives such as de-icing agents, which would cause “significant harm if ingested”.

Waste Dive: GHGSat research shows landfills are undercounting methane emissions
Jacob Wallace, 3/12/25

“Methane gas is leaking from landfills at higher rates and more consistently than other major emitting sectors, a new report from satellite monitoring company GHGSat found,” Waste Dive reports. “In an analysis of 13 U.S. landfills, the firm found nine landfills were underreporting their methane emissions. GHGSat performs multiple flyovers of dozens of sites around the world with its fleet of methane-detecting satellites. While the company began its work monitoring wells for the oil and gas sector, it’s placed an increasing focus on waste, where emissions are often less sporadic but more difficult to address. The company plans to add four new satellites to its orbiting fleet of 12 this year and launch another five next year. GHGSat also plans to continue its research into emissions trends in the waste space.”

CLIMATE FINANCE

Bloomberg: California Pension Fund Labels Chevron and Saudi Aramco as Climate Investments
Eliyahu Kamisher, 3/11/25

“The US’s largest pension fund has classified more than $3 billion of holdings in oil drillers, coal miners, and other major greenhouse gas producers as climate-friendly investments, according to a new analysis of public records,” Bloomberg reports. “Stakes in Saudi Aramco, Chevron Corp. and Chinese coal company Inner Mongolia Dian Tou Energy are among the holdings that California Public Employees’ Retirement System labeled as “climate solutions.” The findings are part of a report from California Common Good, a coalition of environmental advocates and public sector unions. The group, which has called for Calpers to divest from major oil and gas companies, is staging protests Tuesday at Chevron’s San Francisco Bay Area refinery and in the burn zone of the Eaton fire near Los Angeles. Calpers has set ambitious targets to be a leader in green investments, with a goal of doubling its climate-related holdings to $100 billion by the end of the decade. Yet its climate portfolio now includes 52 of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters, the report shows. The companies are part of the pension’s $26.1 billion tally of stocks that it considers “climate solutions” as part of its broader $214 billion in equity holdings. “This is not in the spirit of what was intended,” Patrick McVeigh, a climate-focused investor who manages over $4 billion at Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, told Bloomberg. “It was meant to invest in companies leading the transition to a low-carbon economy. Clearly, fossil fuel companies are not.”

TODAY IN GREENWASHING

KHOU: TC Energy Community Day offers free entry, discounts at RodeoHouston
3/13/25

“Wednesday was TC Energy Community Day at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo!,” KHOU reports.

OPINION

Wall Street Journal: Lee Zeldin: EPA Ends the ‘Green New Deal’
Lee Zeldin is administrator of the EPA, 3/12/25

“Today is the most consequential day of deregulation in American history,” Lee Zeldin writes for the Wall Street Journal. “Alongside President Trump, we announced that the Environmental Protection Agency will take 31 actions to advance the president’s day-one executive orders and power the Great American Comeback. By overhauling massive rules on the endangerment finding, the social cost of carbon and similar issues, we are driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion and ushering in America’s Golden Age. These actions will roll back trillions of dollars in regulatory costs and hidden taxes. As a result, the cost of living for American families will decrease, and essentials such as buying a car, heating your home and operating a business will become more affordable. Our actions will also reignite American manufacturing, spreading economic benefits to communities.”

Globe and Mail: Under Trump, the U.S. scores own goal in carbon removal game
Jorden Dye is the director of the Pembina Institute’s CDR Centre. The CDR Centre provides information and support to businesses to pursue carbon dioxide removal, 3/13/25

“In the competition to develop a carbon dioxide removal industry, the United States seemingly dominated the puck from the opening faceoff while Canada was still lacing up its skates. But rather abruptly, the situation has changed,” Jordan Dye writes for the Globe and Mail. “The U.S. had a substantial lead in developing this new sector based on cutting-edge technology, one many experts firmly believe will be a keystone of the future economy. Now, there’s a new head coach in town, and he appears to have benched all his players… “And the U.S. seemed to have the edge with significant funding for CDR in the Inflation Reduction Act. It pledged US$3.5-billion to build four direct air capture hubs, a technology that uses giant fans to pull in air before selectively absorbing the carbon dioxide. They also offered generous production tax credits to spur the work. But under the chaotic decisions being made by the Trump administration, funding for these projects is frozen and uncertain. This is a chance for Canada to generate some offence and take the lead. And luckily, there are signs of real momentum. Within the past three months, three provinces – Ontario, B.C. and Alberta – and the federal government have launched consultations to integrate CDR within their carbon compliance systems and establish regulations for carbon storage… “It would help if the provinces co-ordinated their efforts on this, so developers don’t have to learn a new set of rules every time they set up in another jurisdiction. And if they want to give developers the confidence they need to invest and grow their businesses in Canada, provincial and federal governments should set an example by buying carbon removal credits to provide an initial boost in demand.”