EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 3/17/25

PIPELINE NEWS

• Associated Press: Closing arguments set to begin in pipeline company’s lawsuit against Greenpeace

• North Dakota Monitor: Testimony wraps up in Greenpeace trial with jury expected to get case early next week

• S&P Global: No deal: Trump, Hochul to continue talks on Constitution pipeline, energy issues

• E&E News: Trump wants to revive long-abandoned Northeast pipeline

• Reuters: Williams says it welcomes Trump’s support for Constitution gas pipeline

• Guardian: Line 5, a Trump donor, is profiting off a pipeline deal threatening pollution

• Santa Barbara Independent: ‘I Can Smell a Rat’: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Blasts Texas Oil Company at Packed Town Hall in Santa Barbara

• Reuters: Alaska LNG project could start up as soon as 2030, state governor says

• Grand Forks Herald: Newly released investigation report sheds light on 2019 Keystone XL Pipeline spill in Walsh County

• The Reporter: Sunoco to stop attending public forums about Upper Makefield pipeline leak

• Transnational Institute: Hydrogen Pipeline Sparks Outrage

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• Associated Press: Trump environmental rollbacks would boost pollution and endanger lives, former EPA heads say

• The Hill: EPA to steer environmental enforcement officers away from energy companies

• Energynews: CO2 capture in the United States adjusts its strategy under the Trump administration

• Reuters: Natgas key to meeting rising US power demand, FERC chairman says

• Latitude Media: DOE will resume reimbursements for DEI activities

• E&E News: How an oil exec got picked to lead the DOE renewables office

STATE UPDATES

• Cleveland.com: Appeals court dismisses challenge to fracking leases under state lands

• Bakersfield.com: Fate of fracking in California now at issue after judge expands scope of court case

• Wisconsin Public Radio: EPA targets rules that could affect pollution from power plants, vehicles in Wisconsin

• Press release: Representatives Robb Blasdel, Peterson, Introduce Bill Establishing Regulatory Framework for Carbon Sequestration Projects

• American Press: Jeff Davis passes resolution on carbon capture authority

• KALB: Public hearing for ExxonMobil Carbon Capture project in Allen Parish

• E&E News: Carbon removal facility seeks to marry wind power, innovation

• Nikkei Asia: Thai miner Banpu’s pivot from coal takes it to Texas, EV batteries

• Gasworld: 8 Rivers progresses carbon capture project at Wyoming power plant

• North Dakota Monitor: North Dakota sees uptick in oil wells that qualify for tax exemption

• The Hill: Texans grapple with rising toxic pollution as oil, gas production booms

• Inside Climate News: An Oil Well Sinkhole Grows in the Permian Basin

• Alaska Beacon: Troubled and inactive oil company assessed $6.34 million fine for leaving Alaska wells unplugged

• KCBS: Oil spill under investigation at Carson refinery

• KTTV: Oil spotted in waters near Port of Long Beach

EXTRACTION

• Energy Connects: Bain & Company: energy leaders optimistic on scaling up AI and carbon capture

• Reuters: Chevron advances plans to develop US data centers with power generation

• Dredging Today: Singapore oil spill: Four crew members of Vox Maxima plead guilty

• Agence France-Presse: Oil spill in Ecuador river brings emergency declaration

OPINION

• Dakota Scout: South Dakota’s economic future hinges on pipeline construction

• CT Insider: Trump wants to bring big energy savings to Connecticut. Is it possible?

• Reuters: Energy executives bask in Trump sun but ignore cheap energy pitfall: Bousso

• Duluth News Tribune: Trump’s tariffs tango could be costly misstep for Midwest consumers
  

PIPELINE NEWS

Associated Press: Closing arguments set to begin in pipeline company’s lawsuit against Greenpeace
Jack Dura, 3/16/25

“Closing arguments are scheduled to begin on Monday in a pipeline company’s lawsuit against Greenpeace, a case the environmental advocacy group said could have consequences for free speech and protest rights and threaten the organization’s future,” the Associated Press reports. “The jury will deliberate after the closing arguments and jury instructions. Nine jurors and two alternates have heard the case… “Dallas-based Energy Transfer and its subsidiary Dakota Access alleged defamation, trespass, nuisance and other offenses by Netherlands-based Greenpeace International, its American branch Greenpeace USA, and funding arm Greenpeace Fund Inc. The pipeline company is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages… “Attorneys for the Greenpeace entities denied the allegations, saying there is no evidence, they had little or no involvement with the protests and the letter was signed by hundreds of organizations from dozens of countries, with no financial institution to testify the organization received, read or was influenced by the letter. Greenpeace representatives have said the lawsuit is an example of corporations abusing the legal system to go after critics and is a critical test of free speech and protest rights.”

North Dakota Monitor: Testimony wraps up in Greenpeace trial with jury expected to get case early next week
Mary Steurer, 3/14/25

“A jury of nine early next week will decide the $300 million case accusing Greenpeace of concocting a scheme to undermine the Dakota Access Pipeline,” the North Dakota Monitor reports. “…The environmental group wrapped up its testimony on Thursday in the trial that began Feb. 24. Closing arguments are expected to take place Monday. After that, the jury will have to weigh several claims. For one, jurors will decide if Greenpeace is liable for trespassing, nuisance and depriving Energy Transfer of its property. They’ll also have to make a decision as to whether the organization aided and abetted others to do the same… “Greenpeace has countered that Energy Transfer has presented no proof directly linking it to any illegal acts by demonstrators, and that its involvement in the protests was peripheral… “Current and former employees for Greenpeace who testified in the case maintained that the statements originated with Standing Rock leaders and people on the ground at the protests, and that they had no reason to doubt the claims at the time they wrote about them. Many said they still stand by the statements. Greenpeace has also argued that countless other organizations — including media outlets and other activist groups — circulated the claims well before the environmental group did… “Energy Transfer also says the on-the-ground damages it claims resulted from the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, as well as the alleged defamatory statements, hurt its business relationships.”

S&P Global: No deal: Trump, Hochul to continue talks on Constitution pipeline, energy issues
Tom DiChristopher, 3/14/25

“President Donald Trump and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul kicked the can down the road on reaching a bargain over several energy policy topics, including advancing a scrapped Williams natural gas transmission project,” S&P Global reports. “A White House meeting on March 14 did not yield “formal agreements or decisions,” according to Hochul spokesman Jerrel Harvey… “Ahead of the meeting, Trump signaled that he would press Hochul to cooperate on advancing the Constitution Pipeline project. New York has historically opposed the project, which would deliver 650,000 Dt/d from Pennsylvania shale fields into the Northeast. Williams and its partners canceled the project in February 2020, even after a US appeals court ruling that set a supportive precedent for federal project approvals… “Despite those positive developments, years of opposition diminished the project’s return profile so much that Williams and its partners no longer supported the project, the company said at the time. However, Williams is now “absolutely in support of building Constitution Pipeline,” provided the project has “strong support” from regional governors, CEO Alan Armstrong said during a March 12 briefing at the CERAWeek by S&P Global energy conference in Houston… “The Constitution project would still face legal and regulatory hurdles. In November 2021, a US appeals court vacated FERC orders granting the project a Natural Gas Act certificate and a waiver of New York’s Clean Water Act permitting authority. New York used Section 401 authority under the Clean Water Act to delay and ultimately block the Constitution project.”

E&E News: Trump wants to revive long-abandoned Northeast pipeline
Carlos Anchondo, 3/17/25

“The Trump administration wants to resurrect a gas pipeline project in the northeast, years after its developer abandoned it,” E&E News reports. “The Constitution pipeline was canceled in February 2020. But in a Friday morning appearance with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said it’s “quite likely” the pipeline will be under construction before the end of 2025. “I think it’s highly likely that this pipeline — there’s a couple of them, actually — get done,” said Wright, without identifying the project by name. “It’s just such a win-win-win.” The 124-mile pipeline was designed to transport natural gas from the gas fields of Pennsylvania into New York. Its one-time developer, Williams Cos., nixed the project after a water permit denial in New York state in 2016.”

Reuters: Williams says it welcomes Trump’s support for Constitution gas pipeline
3/14/25

“Williams Cos said on Friday it appreciated U.S. President Donald Trump’s support for its cancelled Constitution natural gas pipeline project through New York, and that it was interested in dusting off the project under the right circumstances,” Reuters reports. “…Williams appreciates President Trump’s commitment to addressing the Northeast’s natural gas supply constraints, which have led to some of the highest consumer energy prices in the country and the continued use of excessive amounts of higher-emitting fuel oil,” Williams said in an email to Reuters. “We are interested in building the Constitution pipeline, provided there is sufficient customer demand and support from Northeast governors, including Governor Hochul, to mitigate the risk of costly permitting delays, court battles, and injunctions during construction.” Williams told Reuters it was also hopeful for permitting reform in Congress to make it easier to advance projects.”

Guardian: Line 5, a Trump donor, is profiting off a pipeline deal threatening pollution
Tom Perkins, 3/16/25

“Donald Trump’s administration is being accused by activists of a quid pro quo as it attempts to fast-track a controversial fossil fuel pipeline proposal in Michigan that would in part be built by a donor with deep financial ties to the president,” the Guardian reports. “While Canadian oil giant Enbridge owns the Line 5 oil and gas pipeline that it is attempting to replace in the Great Lakes region, the contractor is Tim Barnard, who, along with his wife, gave $1m to Trump’s campaign last year, Federal Election Commission records show. Barnard’s company, Barnard Construction, received more than $1bn to build parts of the border wall, and he is also a prolific Republican donor to state and national candidates and organizations… “They also questioned Barnard’s ability to complete the highly complex project, citing a lack of experience and a history of wage violations. “Such pay-to-play arrangements among the government and federal contractors are not unusual, but they are increasing in scope under a second Trump administration, and are highly unethical and corrupt the government contracting process,” Craig Holman, a Capitol Hill lobbyist with Public Citizen, a non-profit that advocates for transparency, told the Guardian… “Whitmer has not publicly said she opposes Line 5, to the frustration of those battling it, Sean McBrearty, a campaign coordinator with Oil and Water Don’t Mix, told the Guardian. “They have the power to throw some daylight on the project for the public and they’re not doing that,” McBrearty told the Guardian. “When it comes to this hare-brained scheme to build a tunnel through the most ecologically sensitive part of the Great Lakes, Whitmer is missing in action.”

Santa Barbara Independent: ‘I Can Smell a Rat’: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Blasts Texas Oil Company at Packed Town Hall in Santa Barbara
Margaux Lovely, 3/14/25

“Santa Barbara resident Julia-Louis Dreyfus expressed her distrust in Sable Offshore’s plans to restart oil operations at Thursday’s town hall meeting with state legislators and regulators at La Cumbre Junior High and at a press conference outside the Environmental Defense Center’s headquarters,” the Santa Barbara Independent reports. “…Convened by State Senator Monique Limón and Assemblymember Gregg Hart, more than 500 people flooded into the La Cumbre Junior High auditorium in Santa Barbara at 4 p.m. sharp to hear more about the individual role of state agencies and legislators in regulating Sable Offshore’s plans to restart oil operations in the Santa Barbara Channel… “Along with the usual crowd of a few hundred environmental activists, marked by red T-shirts reading “Don’t Enable Sable,” more than 200 union-backed Sable employees also attended the event. When Senator Limón’s staff called to the stage the Environmental Defense Center’s chief counsel, Linda Krop — who hosted a star-studded press conference beforehand with state legislators, actors Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jane Fonda, and Ventura-based Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert, among others, outside the EDC’s headquarters — the town hall shifted gears from an info-session into a quasi-rally… “I can smell a rat,” Seinfeld and Veep star Louis-Dreyfus began. “And this project is a rat.” After laying out why she thinks Sable should not be trusted, Louis-Dreyfus pointed to the various notices of violation and cease-and-desist orders issued to the oil company and said, “This is not the behavior of a responsible operator!”

Reuters: Alaska LNG project could start up as soon as 2030, state governor says
Arathy Somasekhar, 3/14/25

“Exports of liquefied natural gas from Alaska could begin by 2030 or 2031, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said on Friday,” Reuters reports. “U.S. President Donald Trump talked up the proposed $44 billion Alaska LNG project in his address to Congress last week… “The project needs an 800-mile pipeline to bring gas from Alaska’s north to send it to customers in Asia and no final investment decisions have yet been made… “We’re looking at an expedited process to build a pipe,” he said, adding that he expects the pipeline to be built in about two-and-a-half years. “We have all the permits, feedback from all the court cases, we have the support of the president of the United States, we have Asian allies that need gas,” Dunleavy told Reuters when asked about his optimistic timeline… “U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said all options for supporting the project are on the table, including a potential loan guarantee from his department’s Loan Programs Office.”

Grand Forks Herald: Newly released investigation report sheds light on 2019 Keystone XL Pipeline spill in Walsh County
Hannah Shirley, 3/15/25

“A fatigue crack likely the result of a defective pipe was the cause of a major crude oil spill in Walsh County in 2019, according to an investigation report newly released by the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration,” the Grand Forks Herald reports. “Many details about the cause of the Oct. 29, 2019, Keystone XL Pipeline rupture remain unknown to the public, as the 183-page report is heavily redacted. TC Energy, the Canadian former operator of the pipeline, redacted the report to protect trade secrets and information that could reasonably endanger an individual, in accordance with federal open records law, according to PHSMA. However, the document concludes that part of the root issue could be “ineffective quality control” and inadequate inspections at the Berg Steel Mill in Panama City, Florida, where the damaged portion of pipeline was produced… “The spill released about 383,000 gallons of crude oil onto about 5 acres of wetlands outside Edinburg, North Dakota, and is among the largest crude oil spills in the state’s history… “The report found that the leak detection system, control room response and emergency response all adequately reacted to the release. It did note that there is opportunity for additional controller training. It also suggested pipeline operators should work with rural utility providers to improve reliability of services to pump stations.”

The Reporter: Sunoco to stop attending public forums about Upper Makefield pipeline leak
Greg Vellner, 3/17/25

“Sunoco plans to revert back to one-on-one discussions with Upper Makefield Township homeowners affected by the leak of jet fuel from an underground neighborhood pipeline, it was concluded following another taskforce meeting packed with angry residents and elected officials calling for a complete shutdown of the troubled channel,” according to The Reporter. “…A Sunoco company representative said that rather than answering questions in a public forum like at what was the fifth session between residents and representatives of Energy Transfer, the Sunoco-owned company that operates the troubled 100-mile-long pipeline, the state Environmental Protection Department (www.pa.gov/agencies), and the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (www.phmsa.dot.gov), one-on-one meetings would take place. Energy Transfer said it could not answer questions at a public meeting because some residents have hired an attorney to take legal action, and would instead meet individually with residents and provide updates at online sites… “And state Sen. Steve Santarsiero and state Rep. Perry Warren spoke out against the company’s decision to not respond to questions at the public meeting. “If they’re being asked factual questions, they can answer factually, and it should not put the company in any legal jeopardy whatsoever,” said Santarsiero. “But if they’re worried that actually sharing the facts publicly is a potential litigation risk or liability risk for them, well, then they should just come right out and say that, because I suspect that’s really what the situation is here.”

Transnational Institute: Hydrogen Pipeline Sparks Outrage
3/17/25

“A coalition of 87 civil society organizations and networks express their opposition to the South H2 Corridor in a joint statement released today,” the Transnational Institute reports. “The construction of the 3,300 km hydrogen pipeline from North Africa to Germany via Italy was endorsed by governments in joint declaration signed fifty days ago… “Backed by Snam, TAG, Gas Connect Austria, and BayerNet, the project was pushed through during the 2022 energy crisis under the guise of “energy security.” “…Yet as the statement warns, the corridor will serve corporate interests over local communities, locking in a costly export-driven energy model at the public’s expense. “We oppose green hydrogen production and infrastructure development because of its extreme inefficiency; high volumes of cheap electricity and water are required for its production,” says Siphesihle Mvundla, Climate and Energy Justice Campaigner from groundWork, Friends of the Earth South Africa… “The EU, European governments, and the oil & gas lobby promote green hydrogen as a sustainable, win-win solution for the EU and Africa. Yet, as the statement warns, there is no guarantee that the corridor will exclusively transport green hydrogen or that its production chain will be socially and environmentally responsible.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

Associated Press: Trump environmental rollbacks would boost pollution and endanger lives, former EPA heads say
Matthew Daly, 3/14/25

“Three former Environmental Protection Agency leaders sounded an alarm Friday, saying rollbacks proposed by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin endanger the lives of millions of Americans and abandon the agency’s dual mission to protect the environment and human health,” the Associated Press reports. “…Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy called Zeldin’s announcement “the most disastrous day in EPA history.” The warning by McCarthy, who served under two Democratic administrations, was echoed by two former EPA heads who served under Republican presidents. Zeldin’s comprehensive plan to undo decades-old regulations was nothing short of a “catastrophe” and “represents the abandonment of a long history” of EPA actions to protect the environment, said William K. Reilly, who led the agency under President George H.W. Bush and played a key role in amending the Clean Air Act in 1990. “What this administration is doing is endangering all of our lives — ours, our children, our grandchildren,” added Christine Todd Whitman, who led EPA under President George W. Bush. “We all deserve to have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. If there’s an endangerment finding to be found anywhere, it should be found on this administration because what they’re doing is so contrary to what the Environmental Protection Agency is about.” “…McCarthy and the other two retired leaders emphasized that environmental protection and economic prosperity are not mutually exclusive, saying strong regulations have enabled both a cleaner environment and a growing economy since the agency’s founding 55 years ago.”

The Hill: EPA to steer environmental enforcement officers away from energy companies
Rachel Frazin, 3/13/25

“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated this week that it will steer its environmental enforcement officers away from energy companies,” The Hill reports. “The EPA can pursue civil or criminal cases against polluters… “In a press release on Wednesday, President Trump’s EPA said it will revise environmental law enforcement guidelines in a way that does not “shut down energy production.” The Trump administration also said it would reject a Biden-era focus on environmental justice — which seeks to prioritize communities with disproportionately high pollution levels and few resources, including communities of color. “The Biden-Harris Administration paired burdensome, legally questionable regulations with unpredictable but punitive enforcement aimed at shutting down American energy and manufacturing and promoting so-called ‘environmental justice,’” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement… “The EPA said in its press release that it would refocus efforts on “the most pressing health and safety issues.” It did not say what those were.”

Energynews: CO2 capture in the United States adjusts its strategy under the Trump administration
3/17/25

“Amid political uncertainty, CO2 capture players in the United States are shifting their messaging to safeguard the tax incentives crucial to their survival. The sector is now focusing on economic and strategic arguments to persuade the government,” Energynews reports. “…The flagship provision of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers a tax credit of up to $85 per tonne of captured CO2, a measure deemed essential by industry players. “Without these tax credits, virtually all ongoing projects would be doomed,” Jessie Stolark, director of the Carbon Capture Coalition, told Energynews… “At the CERAWeek conference in Houston, Vicki Hollub, CEO of Occidental Petroleum, underscored the value of CO2 in improving oil field productivity. According to her, this technology allows for the recovery of 75% of a field’s oil, compared to just 50% previously. Hollub is pushing for the continuation of tax incentives while also advocating for a policy adjustment: currently, CO2 reuse projects receive lower tax credits than storage initiatives… “Several environmental organisations, including Environmental Health Network and Bold Alliance, condemn the use of CO2 for oil recovery, arguing that it undermines CCUS’s effectiveness in reducing emissions. In a report published in August, these groups referred to CO2-based oil extraction as a “false promise,” questioning the true climate impact of carbon capture. This opposition could fuel debates over the Trump administration’s energy policy and the long-term economic viability of the sector.”

Reuters: Natgas key to meeting rising US power demand, FERC chairman says
3/13/25

“U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Mark Christie said on Thursday that natural gas-fired power will be crucial to meet rising U.S. electricity demand – a situation that requires a big increase in gas pipeline capacity, as well as new power plants,” Reuters reports. “We’re going to build combined-cycle gas to meet this load from data centers. We have to because there’s no other way to serve it,” he told the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, referring to a projected spike in power consumption from the technology industry. Christie said other options to meet rising U.S. power consumption included nuclear power and coal-fired power. But he said nuclear reactors take too long to build and that utilities are not interested in coal. “For whatever reason, we’re not building new coal plants,” he said.”

Latitude Media: DOE will resume reimbursements for DEI activities
Maeve Allsup, 3/13/25

“The Department of Energy will resume payments to its funding recipients for things like stakeholder engagement and workforce development in underserved communities, Latitude Media has learned. These are efforts the Trump administration has branded as “illegal DEI,” an acronym for diversity, equity, and inclusion. The agency issued “stop work” orders in late January, in an effort to implement directives laid out in a handful of executive orders President Trump signed on his first day in office. Those memos directed funding recipients to suspend any activities related to DEI programs, including community benefit plans and Justice40 requirements. But DOE is rescinding those orders “as soon as tomorrow” for several of the department’s offices, general counsel Chris Calamita told some agency employees earlier today; those include the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and the National Energy Technology Laboratory, which falls within the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. That means grant recipients whose contracts were signed before January 20 can now apply to be reimbursed for DEI-related activities outlined in the agreements they signed with the Biden administration.”

E&E News: How an oil exec got picked to lead the DOE renewables office
Brian Dabbs, 3/17/25

“President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the renewables office at the Department of Energy lacks experience with one core part of the job: clean energy,” E&E News reports. “Audrey Robertson, tapped by Trump in February, is a C-suite and board veteran at oil and gas firms in the western U.S. She helped found Denver-based Franklin Mountain Energy, a since-sold natural gas fracking firm in the Permian Basin with an open investigation at EPA over recent Clean Air Act violations. Robertson also sits on the board of Liberty Energy, the fracking services company led by Energy Secretary Chris Wright until his resignation in January. Earlier in her career, Robertson worked at Goldman Sachs and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, an investment firm focused on fossil fuels. Environmentalists told E&E it’s malpractice to put an oil and gas executive atop the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which for years has led research efforts on zero-emissions energy. “Like most of Trump’s nominations, putting Audrey Robertson in charge of the DOE renewable energy office is no different than putting an arsonist in charge of the fire department,” Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity, told E&E. “This is a government of the fossil fuel industry, by the fossil fuel industry and for the fossil fuel industry.”

STATE UPDATES

Cleveland.com: Appeals court dismisses challenge to fracking leases under state lands
Jake Zuckerman, 3/14/25

“An appeals court on Thursday rejected an effort brought by environmental organizers to block state leases granted to drillers seeking oil and gas underneath Ohio’s state parks and wildlife areas,” Cleveland.com reports. “In a unanimous ruling, Judge Laurel Beatty Blunt of the 10th District Court of Appeals in Franklin County found no legal errors in a lower court’s ruling dismissing the environmentalists’ lawsuit.”

Bakersfield.com: Fate of fracking in California now at issue after judge expands scope of court case
John Cox, 3/12/25

“The local oil industry scored a second consecutive legal victory Wednesday when a Kern County Superior Court judge expanded the scope of an upcoming civil trial to effectively decide the fate in California of hydraulic fracturing, the controversial technique better known as fracking,” Bakersfield.com reports. “Judge Bernard C. Barmann Jr. granted a motion by three industry plaintiffs whose combined lawsuits initially challenged only the Newsom administration’s de-facto ban on fracking but which now will also consider an administrative ban that has explicitly barred the practice since October.”

Wisconsin Public Radio: EPA targets rules that could affect pollution from power plants, vehicles in Wisconsin
Danielle Kaeding, 3/14/25

“The Trump administration announced more than two dozen rollbacks of environmental regulations Wednesday that may affect efforts to limit pollution in Wisconsin from fossil fuel plants, vehicles and neighboring states,” Wisconsin Public Radio reports. “…Among major changes planned, the EPA will revise carbon dioxide emission standards that would have required coal-fired plants and new natural gas plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent come 2039. The Trump EPA says that standard would cost $15 billion over the next 20 years — the Biden administration had projected the standard would prevent $270 billion in climate damages. The Trump administration is also looking to undo more restrictive standards for mercury and hazardous air toxins from power plants that aim to reduce pollution from those sources by roughly 70 percent. Amy Barrilleaux, spokesperson for Clean Wisconsin, told WPR the EPA’s mission is to protect public health and the environment, not reduce costs or unleash American energy. “This might save big industry and power companies a few bucks, but Wisconsinites will be the ones paying that bill,” she told WPR.”

Press release: Representatives Robb Blasdel, Peterson, Introduce Bill Establishing Regulatory Framework for Carbon Sequestration Projects
3/13/25

“State Representatives Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) recently introduced legislation which works to give Ohio regulatory framework and guardrails for carbon capture and sequestration at a state level. “Carbon capture storage technology is here,” said Representative Blasdel. “Businesses all over Ohio are looking to invest in this infrastructure, however, federal bureaucracy, and overly stringent regulations have stood in the way. By attaining regulatory primacy over this class of well, Ohio can establish itself as a leader in this space, ensuring Ohioans and their property rights are protected, while also realizing the benefit this technology and investment will bring.” “Establishing a clear regulatory framework for carbon sequestration projects in Ohio is a critical step toward balancing economic growth and environmental responsibility,” said Representative Peterson. “By taking this proactive approach, Ohio can lead the way in energy solutions, creating jobs, and reducing carbon emissions.” This legislation would grant the Division of Oil and Gas Management within the Department of Natural Resources the sole and exclusive authority to regulate carbon sequestration and the operation of storage facilities within Ohio.”

American Press: Jeff Davis passes resolution on carbon capture authority
Doris Maricle, 3/14/25

“The Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday supporting local governing bodies authority to make decisions regarding carbon capture and storage facilities within their jurisdictions,” the American Press reports. “Police Jury President Steve Eastman said the resolution will enable Rep. Troy Romero to present a bill in the upcoming state Legislature that would give Jeff Davis Parish local authority over carbon capture and storage facilities. The action aligns with similar bills pre-filed by Rep. Dewith Carrier and Rep. Charles “Chuck” Owen, which would grant final say to parish governing authorities, or a vote of the people, to decide whether or not to permit CO2 project projects within individual parishes… “Police Juror Bryon Buller said the measure would allow for a public vote if 15 percent of the people opposed a project. The local option measure arises from concerns regarding potential contamination risks and the perceived infringement upon private property rights associated with CO2 projects… “Carrier has also proposed a bill that would classify the continued injection of carbon dioxide into wells as a felony offense if a leak is detected.”

KALB: Public hearing for ExxonMobil Carbon Capture project in Allen Parish
Jonathan Kinder, 3/16/25

“KALB Investigates has learned of an upcoming public meeting in Allen Parish for a carbon capture sequestration project led by ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions. Posted to the Louisiana Department of Energy & Natural Resources (LDNR) website were two public notices for a meeting at the Allen Parish Civic Center. According to the notices, at 6 p.m. on April 30, those who attend can speak with LDNR about two draft permits for Class V wells, named Mockingbird IZM and Hummingbird IZM… “Class V wells do not inject carbon dioxide into the ground. Instead, they are a way to test the area to see if the surrounding geology is safe for carbon dioxide injection.”

E&E News: Carbon removal facility seeks to marry wind power, innovation
Corbin Hiar, 3/17/25

“How can projects that scrub carbon dioxide from the atmosphere reduce their sky-high costs? For a planned development in Texas, one answer is to draw power directly from a wind farm,” E&E News reports. “The innovative project, announced Monday by three European companies, could be the world’s first direct air capture development to rely primarily on so-called behind the meter electricity. That means the DAC facility would run mainly with low-cost clean power that’s generated on site, not metered out from the grid. The facility is slated to come online in 2028 and is intended to eventually remove up to 500,000 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere per year — more than the average annual emissions of a natural gas plant, according to EPA data. The planned facility is larger than any other direct air capture plant currently in operation, although several DAC projects under development are similarly sized.”

Nikkei Asia: Thai miner Banpu’s pivot from coal takes it to Texas, EV batteries
Kosuke Inoie, 3/15/25

“Thai mining company Banpu is accelerating efforts to curb its dependence on coal, investing $3 billion over six years in fields including carbon capture and electric vehicles to tap the global push toward decarbonization,” Nikkei Asia reports. “…Banpu does not expect coal demand to grow significantly in the future as renewable energy takes hold… “The company is instead shifting focus to renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, and other fields tied to decarbonization. The majority of the $3 billion investment will go into these areas. Banpu said in February that it would start operating a carbon capture and storage facility in the U.S. state of Texas by the first quarter of 2026. Although research in the field is advancing, there are still few cases of fully operational CCS plants. Banpu is looking to turn carbon credits from the project into a source of revenue.”

Gasworld: 8 Rivers progresses carbon capture project at Wyoming power plant
Molly Burgess, 3/17/25

“Decarbonisation technology firm 8 Rivers Capital, with an HQ in North Carolina, has awarded global engineering company Wood a preliminary front-end engineering and design (pre-FEED) contract for its Wyoming carbon capture project,” Gasworld reports. “The project, which is a collaboration between 8 Rivers and Oregon-headquartered utility PacifiCorp, is located at Rocky Mountain Power’s established power plant to cut emissions. The companies hope the pre-FEED will be completed in Q3 2025.”

North Dakota Monitor: North Dakota sees uptick in oil wells that qualify for tax exemption
Amy Dalrymple, 3/13/25

“Nearly half of North Dakota oil wells now qualify for a tax exemption as low-producing wells, contributing to a reduction in tax revenue projections for the upcoming budget cycle,” the North Dakota Monitor reports. “But even if technology advancements lead to higher oil production, those wells would continue to qualify for the tax exemption under current state policy. Lawmakers on Thursday discussed the state revenue forecast, which is largely driven by oil tax revenue… “The tax department has seen a significant increase in the number of wells qualifying for that tax exemption, Joe Morrissette, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told a joint session of the House and Senate appropriations committees. An estimated 48% of wells are no longer required to pay the 5% oil extraction tax, Morrissette said.”

The Hill: Texans grapple with rising toxic pollution as oil, gas production booms
Saul Elbein, 3/17/25

“For retired pastor Columbus Cooper, life can be divided into two periods: the time when he could still drink water out of his tap, and the time after,” The Hill reports. “When Cooper and his wife bought their home in West Odessa in the heart of the Permian Basin, the U.S.’s most productive oil field, they knew they were surrounded by tank batteries holding spent fuel or fracking fluid and injection wells injecting that waste fluid back into the earth. But as lifelong Odessans, they weren’t worried — until their water started tasting funny and the stench crept in. Until, six years ago, two people died in a pumphouse down the street. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) later confirmed what many already suspected: The very infrastructure that had fueled the region’s economic boom was exposing the people who lived there to dangerous toxins. Without access to city water, West Odessa residents — like rural Texans across oil country — largely depend on water from wells drilled into the aquifer below. Frequently those wells are as little as a few hundred yards from oil and gas wells or other infrastructure linked with toxic pollution — which are just one explosion or spill away from ruining them… “But for many Texans on the doorstep of the state’s staggering fossil fuel expansion of the past decade, the boom has come at a cost. Millions of Texans now live within striking distance of oil infrastructure — exposed to airborne chemicals, groundwater contamination and, in extreme cases, sudden, violent failures of aging wells, all of which creates public concern. “You don’t want to live close to any of this development — particularly if you’re surrounded by wells,” Gunnar Schade, a Texas A&M atmospheric chemist, told The Hill.”

Inside Climate News: An Oil Well Sinkhole Grows in the Permian Basin
Martha Pskowski, 3/14/25

“A sinkhole around an old oil well is growing at an alarming rate on the Kelton Ranch in West Texas,” Inside Climate News reports. “Radford Grocery #17 was originally drilled as an oil well in the 1950s and later converted to a saltwater disposal well, according to state records. The well was plugged in 1977. The Kelton family, which owns the ranch, became alarmed recently as a sinkhole around the well rapidly grew. Water pooled in the bottom of the sinkhole. Then crude oil began migrating up from underground and formed a dark layer over the water. By mid-March, the sinkhole was roughly 200 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep, big enough to fit a four-story building. The smell of crude permeated the air. The family has stopped using a water well they fear could be contaminated. At some point the Radford Grocery well’s plug failed, creating a connection between the water table and the oil reservoir underground. Because the well was previously plugged and has no active operator, there’s no clear company the Keltons can turn to for help. The Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas drilling and plugging in Texas, has sent personnel to the site. But so far the Kelton family says there is no plan of action from the state agency… “The sinkhole is the latest in a string of catastrophic incidents with old oil wells in the Permian Basin of West Texas, some plugged and others not. From sinkholes to blowouts to persistent leaks, more than a century of oil drilling in the region has left a daunting array of environmental hazards. These emergencies are in addition to a long backlog of wells to plug around the state. Acknowledging the growing challenge, the Railroad Commission requested an additional $100 million from the Legislature late last year.”

Alaska Beacon: Troubled and inactive oil company assessed $6.34 million fine for leaving Alaska wells unplugged
Yereth Rosen, 3/12/25

“Alaska regulators have ordered an inactive oil company to pay more than $6 million in fines for failing to properly close and plug North Slope oil wells that it left as long ago as 2007,” the Alaska Beacon reports. “The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission assessed the fine in an order issued on Friday against Brooks Range Petroleum, an independent company that produced oil on the North Slope only briefly. Despite being notified in December that the commission had proposed the fine, Brooks Range “failed to respond or otherwise contest the Notice,” the AOGCC said in its March 7 order. The fine thus goes into effect by default, the commission’s order said. Three wells in the now-dissolved Beechey Point Unit are the subject of the enforcement action. The total fine of $6.34 million assessed by the AOGCC is based on years of daily violations of state regulations concerning proper well abandonment. It is the largest fine ever assessed by the commission, a spokesperson told the Beacon. The oldest of the three unplugged wells, the North Shore 1 well, was drilled in 2007 and completed and shut down the following year. It should have been properly plugged by May 7, 2009, and has been in violation since then, according to the AOGCC.”

KCBS: Oil spill under investigation at Carson refinery
Dean Fioresi, 3/15/25

“An oil spill is under investigation at an oil refinery in Carson,” KCBS reports. “…There’s no information on how the spill came to be, but with SkyCal overhead a large amount of oil could be seen in the road outside of the refinery, appearing to run dozens of yards along northbound lanes. Some large valves and pipes were also spotted just near the puddle of oil… “Despite initial reporting that the spill occurred at a Marathon Petroleum Corporation refinery, officials told KCBS that they do not have any active pipelines at the location. They told KCBS that they shut down any lines and performed visual inspections out of an abundance of caution, but that they found no indication of a leak.”

KTTV: Oil spotted in waters near Port of Long Beach
3/13/25

“Crews quickly contained an oil spill that was spotted in the water at the Port of Long Beach,” KTTV reports. “According to California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Spill Prevention & Response team, oil reached Port Channel 3 through storm drains. They believe the oil originated from an underground pipeline in the area of Pico Blvd. and Pier D and C streets… “The amount of oil in the water has not yet been determined.”

EXTRACTION

Energy Connects: Bain & Company: energy leaders optimistic on scaling up AI and carbon capture
3/17/25

“Global energy leaders feel increasingly enthusiastic about AI and digital tools and executives feel increasingly positive about the business cases for emerging technologies, energy storage as well as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, according to Bain & Company’s 2025 Energy & Natural Resources Executive Survey,” Energy Connects reports. “The survey found that optimism around AI and digital tools is surging, with 72% of executives saying they feel positively about the 5-to-10-year business case for these technologies. Executives are also more sanguine about the business cases for energy storage (47% feel positively about this business case), renewables (45%), and circularity (39%), as well as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (43%), the survey found… “Despite record-breaking global investments in clean energy last year, the leaders of the companies tasked with delivering on the transition have become less optimistic about when the world will achieve net-zero carbon emissions, the survey found.Nearly half (44%) of energy and natural resources (ENR) executives now expect the world to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 or later, a steep jump from the 31% that felt this way in 2024. Similarly, only 32% expect it by 2050 – a reversal from previous surveys, when around 40% to 50% foresaw net zero by 2050… “The era of enthusiasm for environmental, social, and corporate governance–driven investment is giving way to a harder-nosed focus on ROI.”

Reuters: Chevron advances plans to develop US data centers with power generation
Laila Kearney, 3/14/25

“Chevron is advancing plans to tap into data center power demand, with the oil major recently entering the permitting and engineering phases for multiple U.S. sites to develop the centers and the electricity to supply them, a company executive told Reuters this week. Energy use for U.S. data centers, which are essentially giant server warehouses, is expected to triple in the next three years as the race to expand artificial intelligence intensifies… “The customer interest is high,” Daniel Droog, vice president of power solutions at Chevron, told Reuters… “Chevron is targeting the development of data center sites and power plants that are around 1 GW in capacity and targeted to come online in 2027 or 2028, Droog told Reuters… “He did not disclose Chevron’s customers or where exactly it was in development on data centers, but told Reuters the company is targeting regions for data centers that include the south, western interior and the Midwest. Chevron’s data centers are not expected to be connected to the grid and would be primarily powered by natural gas. Some sites are being looked at for carbon capture additions and others may include buildout of renewable power.”

Dredging Today: Singapore oil spill: Four crew members of Vox Maxima plead guilty
Eldin Ganic, 3/14/25

“Four Dutch crew members of the Van Oord’s dredger Vox Maxima that hit a bunker vessel in June 2024 and caused an oil spill pleaded guilty earlier this week to failing to discharge their duties properly,” Dredging Today reports. “…The court documents said that the Vox Maxima lost steering control before its allision with Marine Honour – referring to when a moving vessel hits a stationary object. This caused about 400 tons of oil from the bunker vessel to spill into the sea, with parts of the spillage landing along Singapore’s southern shorelines including on beaches at Labrador Nature Reserve, Sentosa and East Coast Park. Deputy Public Prosecutor, Regina Lim, informed the court that the clean-up operations took over two months, and the full extent of the oil spill’s impact on the coastal and marine environment is still being evaluated.”

Agence France-Presse: Oil spill in Ecuador river brings emergency declaration
3/15/25

“An oil spill in northwestern Ecuador has turned a river black, prompting authorities to declare an environmental emergency and order residents to ration drinking water,” Agence France-Presse reports. “The spill, believed to have been caused when a landslide ruptured a major oil pipeline, has contaminated a section of the Esmeraldas River in the province of the same name. Residents in the town of Cube, where the water had changed color, were trying to stop the flow by building dikes, an AFP journalist saw. “The mud formed by the oil has penetrated all the hillsides,” farmer Fernando Gandara told AFP. The Emergency Operations Committee in the provincial capital, also called Esmeraldas, declared an environmental emergency over concerns about water quality… “On Friday, state-owned Petroecuador told AFP it was working to address the emergency at the pipeline, part of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) which transports crude oil from the Amazon.”

OPINION

Dakota Scout: South Dakota’s economic future hinges on pipeline construction
Mike Karbo, Midwest Region Director for the American Petroleum Institute, 3/15/25

“Infrastructure is the backbone of commerce, and commerce is necessary for prosperity. Highways, railways and power lines weren’t universally popular when they were first built, but today, no one seriously argues that we should dismantle them. Carbon pipelines are no different. They are an essential piece of our state’s future infrastructure, and fighting against them is as shortsighted as opposing roads or electricity,” Mike Karbo writes for the Dakota Scout. “Carbon pipeline opponents depict them as unsafe and unnecessary. None of those claims hold up. The reality is simple: these pipelines will create jobs, generate tax revenue and ensure that South Dakota maintains its place at the forefront of American energy for years to come. If we reject this investment, the business will go elsewhere, and South Dakota will be left behind.”

CT Insider: Trump wants to bring big energy savings to Connecticut. Is it possible?
Dan Haar, 3/15/25

“President Donald Trump has turned his attention to a natural gas pipeline for Connecticut, New York and the rest of New England with a promise of thousands of dollars in savings for typical families,” Dan Haar writes for CT Insider. “…Trump posted this comment on his social media site late Thursday: “If New York, Connecticut and New England had their Pipelines, savings from Heating alone would go down $2,300 per family – when you add Air Conditioning, and other things, you would have a $5,000 savings per family. All we need is a simple approval from New York. Every other state in New England, plus Connecticut, wants this, in order to help the Environment and save BIG money.” How true is all that? Can we actually save significant money in Connecticut if New York allows a pipeline?… “ I spoke with a few folks in the industry Friday and the best anyone could say is, we would save money… “Let’s hope Hochul and the rest of the governors can cut a deal with the White House. We’re good for more pipeline capacity, pipe, baby, pipe – but you need to exclude Canadian energy – gasoline, natural gas and hydro power — from those idiotic tariffs… “Trump is going to push for producers to drill, baby, drill, and to add pipelines to move all that energy around. We might have no choice but to accept lower prices and more environmental degradation. We won’t save anything close to the money Trump made up in his imagination, but the hope is we won’t see the global dystopia that Earth stewards are warning us about. I fear they are more correct than Trump.”

Reuters: Energy executives bask in Trump sun but ignore cheap energy pitfall: Bousso
Ron Bousso, 3/13/25

“Donald Trump’s return to the White House caused “animal spirits” to soar in the oil and gas sector, and these vibes were palpable in the halls of the sector’s annual conference in Houston this week,” Ron Bousso writes for Reuters. “But the industry appears to be ignoring a central Trump objective: cheap energy… “The upbeat mood music at the conference was set from the start by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright who vowed to bring back common sense by prioritising cheap energy – shorthand for fossil fuels – over supposedly inflationary climate-driven policies, dismissing the need to limit greenhouse gas emissions… “But there is an obvious problem here. Trump wants increased production because he wants lower energy prices – and that stands in direct opposition to expanding investments in oil and gas. The CEO of U.S. producer OXY Energy Services warned that oil prices below $60 a barrel would likely force small drillers to reduce activity… “Benchmark U.S. oil prices are currently around $68 a barrel… “New technological advances, including the emergence of artificial intelligence, might open new horizons for U.S. oil and gas production, but that would require energy prices to be high enough to entice investment. So the energy industry may have basked in Trump’s sun over the past week, but executives should grow increasingly concerned about the contradictions in many of the administration’s key policies.”

Duluth News Tribune: Trump’s tariffs tango could be costly misstep for Midwest consumers
Jeffrey Kupfer was acting deputy secretary of energy in President George W. Bush’s administration and is an adjunct professor of policy at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College in Pittsburgh, 3/16/25

“The first week of March, President Donald Trump implemented previously announced double-digit tariffs on certain products imported from Canada and Mexico. As consumers rushed to stock up on avocados and tomatoes, a less visible and yet significant consequence loomed: the impact tariffs could have on already surging energy costs,” Jeffrey Kupfer writes for the Duluth News Tribune. “But even with that record production, the U.S. still imports significant amounts of foreign crude, much of it from Canada and Mexico… “One of the main reasons for that level of North American imports is the structure of our vast refinery system. U.S. refineries have long been calibrated to handle “heavier” products like those produced in Canada’s oil sands, especially given Canada’s status as one of our longest and largest trade partners. Asking these refineries to change and process “lighter” U.S. crude oil could cost billions. And there is little incentive to make such an expensive overhaul for trade policies that could prove to be temporary. Instead, some major refiners have indicated that tariffs would cause them to reduce output. Either way, consumers are harmed — by less availability of gasoline and other products or by paying for upgrades to the refining system. The situation is likely to be even worse for the Midwest and New England, which both rely heavily on Canadian energy imports… “President Trump clearly believes tariffs are an important tool for a variety of policy objectives. But as he deploys them, he should recognize the detrimental impacts they can have… “Since taking office, their administration has taken numerous actions to unleash American energy and lower costs for all Americans. Imposing tariffs on our neighbors may very well lead to the opposite result, however.”