EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 3/7/25

PIPELINE NEWS

• Associated Press: New South Dakota law threatens massive carbon dioxide pipeline proposed for Midwest

• South Dakota Searchlight: South Dakota governor signs eminent domain ban on carbon pipelines

• Mitchell Republic: South Dakota governor signs bill prohibiting the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines

• Pipeline Fighters Hub: South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden Signs Landmark Bill Restricting Eminent Domain for CO2 Pipelines

• Radio Iowa: South Dakota’s block on eminent domain could stop carbon pipeline in Iowa

• Madison Daily Leader: Eminent domain ban creates uncertainty for pipeline project

• Iowa Capital Dispatch: Iowa House advances bill to block CO2 pipelines from eminent domain rights

• Reuters: Canada should diversify oil export markets, country’s top oil producer says

• Daily Kos: Santa Barbara Residents Rally to Stop Restart of Refugio Beach Oil Spill Pipeline

• Press release: South Bow Reports Fourth-quarter and Year-end 2024 Results, Provides 2025 Outlook, and Declares Dividend

• Oil & Gas Journal: South Bow finalizing Blackrod Connection project, warns of tariff headwinds

• Canadian Press: Motion by Nova Scotia premier to condemn anti-pipeline politicians in Canada fails

• KMID: Pipeline explosion in Reeves County sparks massive fire; casualties unknown

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• Reuters: US board reinstates thousands of USDA employees fired by Trump administration

• Backpacker: Sierra Club Sues to Reinstate Fired National Park Service, Forest Service Workers

• New York Times: Trump Whipsaws on Tariffs, Giving Mexico and Canada Reprieve

• CNN: Tariffs on cars from Mexico and Canada delayed by one month

• E&E News: Trump oil tariffs threaten vulnerable Republicans

• Reuters: After Trump’s tariffs, Mexico seeks Asian and European crude oil buyers

• New York Times: Warren Buffett Rebukes Trump’s Tariffs Plan in CBS Interview: ‘Act of War’

• E&E News: Congress overturns Biden rule on offshore drilling

• Bloomberg: GOP Repeal of Biden’s Methane Fee Complicated by Climate Law

• Bloomberg: Major Biden Air Rules on Chopping Block as Cases Grind to a Halt

• Press release: Miller, Colleagues Reintroduce Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act

• Associated Press: Trump’s interior and energy secretaries cheer on natural gas export industry in Gulf Coast

• WGME: Sen. King blasts mass firings of federal employees

• Los Angeles Times: Interior Secretary Burgum eyes national monuments for energy resources

• Reuters: US energy chief to seek $20 billion to refill oil reserve, Bloomberg reports

STATE UPDATES

• Minnesota Pubic Radio: State officials forecast higher energy prices because of Trump tariffs

• Utility Dive: DOE approves LNG export permit extension for Golden Pass

• E&E News: Republicans gird for clash over California EPA waiver

• WPLN: A fossil fuel may be rebranded ‘renewable energy’ under proposed Tennessee law

• Press release: 150 Businesses, Groups Urge N.C. Governor to Rein in Fossil Fuel-Friendly Duke Energy

• Transport Topics: Iowa Shutters Biodiesel Output on Federal Policy Uncertainty

• Cowboy State Daily: Cheyenne Lawyer, Rancher Karen Budd-Falen Accepts Top Interior Department Post

• Crested Butte News: Protestors gather at Black Canyon to protect public land

• KATV: Reduced hours at Hot Springs National Park spark tourism concerns for city’s economy

• KTLA: Thousands of California national forest campsites may close this summer amid federal budget freeze, report says

EXTRACTION

• Press release: US LNG Capacity Additions Would Significantly Lower GHG Emissions Compared to Alternatives, New S&P Global Study Finds

• Houston Chronicle: Shell reportedly considering sale of Deer Park Facility, site of environmental violations

OPINION

• Wisconsin Examiner: Wisconsin’s energy future: A smarter, more affordable path forward

• Florida Phoenix: Mr. Musk, please stop trying to kill Florida’s national parks and refuges

• National Review: Share, Baby, Share: How a Permanent Oil and Gas Fund Dividend Could Empower New Mexicans
  

PIPELINE NEWS

Associated Press: New South Dakota law threatens massive carbon dioxide pipeline proposed for Midwest
Jack Dura, 3/6/25

“South Dakota’s governor signed a bill into law Thursday that bans the taking of private property for building carbon dioxide pipelines, a blow to a sprawling Midwest pipeline network that ethanol producers see as key for their future,” the Associated Press reports. “…Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden said the measure restricting eminent domain “does not kill” Summit’s project, and he encouraged the company to view the law as “an opportunity to reset.” “…The project has drawn intense opposition from landowners who fear a taking of their land for the pipeline and the dangers of a potential pipeline leak.. “It isn’t clear how Summit would move forward with its project if it could not build in South Dakota… “Opponents question carbon capture’s effectiveness at large scale and say it allows the fossil fuels industry to continue unchanged… “Bill sponsor Republican Rep. Karla Lems, a Summit opponent, welcomed the signing and criticized Summit’s “heavy hand” toward landowners. She said its project is all about tax credits… “Some opponents argue the amount of greenhouse gases sequestered through the process would make little difference and could lead farmers to grow more corn despite environmental concerns about the crop.”

South Dakota Searchlight: South Dakota governor signs eminent domain ban on carbon pipelines
Joshua Haiar, 3/6/25

“South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden announced Thursday that he signed a bill banning the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines, delivering a victory to property-rights activists who spent several years advocating for the bill,” the South Dakota Searchlight reports. “…In a letter explaining his decision, Rhoden, a western South Dakota rancher and former legislator, emphasized his longstanding commitment to property rights and framed the bill as a way to restore trust between landowners and developers. “I am no stranger to discussions about eminent domain and property rights,” Rhoden wrote. “l’ve fought for private property rights in this Capitol for over 20 years. When I was a legislator, I was the prime sponsor of legislation that reformed eminent domain to protect property rights. I don’t just care about landowners — I am a landowner.” Supporters of the bill have argued that private companies like Summit should not be able to access land against the will of its owners… “Rhoden said voluntary land-access agreements known as easements should be the path forward. He said his signature of the bill “does not kill the proposed project.” “…Summit, in a statement, told Searchlight the ban “changed the rules in the middle of the game.” “This kind of regulatory uncertainty creates real challenges — not just for our project, but for the ethanol plants in South Dakota that now face a competitive disadvantage compared to their counterparts in neighboring states,” Summit told SAearchlight. “While this presents obstacles, our project moves forward in states that support investment and innovation, and we will have more news on that soon.”

Mitchell Republic: South Dakota governor signs bill prohibiting the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines
Ariana Schumacher, 3/6/25

“Gov. Larry Rhoden on March 6, 2025, signed a bill into law that prohibits carbon pipelines from using eminent domain,” the Mitchell Republic reports. “House Bill 1052 will stop Summit Carbon Solutions from using eminent domain for its Midwest Carbon Express Pipeline, a five-state, $8 billion project that would capture carbon dioxide emissions from 57 ethanol plants and pipe them to west-central North Dakota for permanent storage underground… “Rhoden said the ethanol industry will remain an important part of South Dakota’s economy and a key asset as we implement an “all-of-the above energy approach to restore American energy dominance.” He wants to keep South Dakota open for opportunity, for every family, business own and farmer or rancher. “But those dreams should not be pursued at the expense of others. Freedom ends when it infringes on the freedom of another,” he wrote. “And when those situations arise, ‘governments are instituted among men’ to protect the rights of the people.” “…While this presents obstacles, our project moves forward in states that support investment and innovation, and we will have more news on that soon,” Summit said in a statement… “This ill-advised legislation comes at a time when South Dakota farmers and ethanol producers desperately need new markets to restore profitability,” said Tom Buis, CEO of the American Carbon Alliance, in a statement. “Instead of supporting economic growth, this decision creates unnecessary roadblocks and sends the wrong message to agriculture and rural communities.”

Pipeline Fighters Hub: South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden Signs Landmark Bill Restricting Eminent Domain for CO2 Pipelines
3/6/25

“In a historic victory for landowners and citizen advocacy, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed HB 1052 into law, banning the use of eminent domain for private CO2 pipeline projects. This landmark legislation marks a major win for property rights and rural communities, ensuring that corporations can no longer use government-backed land seizures for private gain. Dakota Rural Action (DRA) and its members have been on the front lines of this fight since the very beginning… “With the signing of HB 1052, South Dakotans have once again shown that when we stand together, we can protect our land, our rights, and our way of life,” said Ed Fischbach, a DRA Board Member and longtime advocate. “This is a victory for every farmer, rancher, and South Dakotan who refused to back down against corporate overreach.” The bill was championed in the legislature by Senator Mark Lapka and Representative Karla Lems, who were both among the citizens impacted by CO2 pipelines in recent years. “With the signing of HB 1052, we see that “Under God the People Rule” is a good and fitting motto for the state of South Dakota”, said Representative Lems. “Sometimes the system works, but the key factor was the people getting involved in their government. I feel so privileged to have been a part of this great effort and am thankful to all who played a part.” For landowners like DRA member Betty Strom, this legislation is deeply personal. “For three years, my neighbors and I have fought to protect our land and livelihoods, but I was one of the hundreds of South Dakotans that Summit sued in 2023,” she said. “HB 1052 means we no longer have to live with the fear and stress of losing our property to private greed.” “…Governor Rhoden has solidified his place in South Dakota history as a true defender of property rights,” said DRA Senior Organizer Chase Jensen. “He has stood with the people when it mattered most.” “…The amount of legal and legislative dominos that fell in the exact order and the exact time they needed to over the last four years is beyond explanation. We united, strategized, remained disciplined, and grew our coalition and executed our plans in a way few believed was possible. Landowners can now say “no thank you” without repercussions. Incredible victory,” said attorney Brian Jorde of Domina Law Group, who has represented South Dakota landowners with the South Dakota Easement Team at state-based regulatory agency proceedings, as well as against eminent domain threats from pipeline companies. Emma Schmit, Bold Alliance’s Pipeline Fighters Director, stated, “South Dakota has sent a clear message — our rights are more important than conveniencing pipeline companies. Surrounding states should take note. It’s time to end the blatant abuse of eminent domain for private gain.”

Radio Iowa: South Dakota’s block on eminent domain could stop carbon pipeline in Iowa
Darwin Danielson, 3/6/25

“South Dakota’s governor signed a bill banning the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines today. Sierra Club of Iowa Attorney Wally Taylor says that should stop Summit Carbon from building its carbon pipeline in Iowa,” Radio Iowa reports. “I think as a practical matter, it does. I mean legally, summit could still get a permit in South Dakota, and if they did, that would allow them to go ahead and construct in Iowa,” Taylor told Radio Iowa… “Taylor told Radio Iowq eminent domain is needed to build in South Dakota. ”Because, as I understand it, they have a lot of people there who have not assigned easements, and they would have to get eminent domain, and now they can’t do that. So I think, as a practical matter, it may very well stop the project,” he told Radio Iowa. Taylor told Radio Iowa their focus continues to be on getting Iowa lawmakers to block the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines here… “Taylor can’t say how likely it is Iowa lawmakers will pass such a bill. “It’s hard to know, but it certainly looks like we’ve got a better shot this year,” Taylor told Radio Iowa.”

Madison Daily Leader: Eminent domain ban creates uncertainty for pipeline project
Wren Murphy, 3/6/25

“The future of a carbon dioxide pipeline project in the state might be up in the air after Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a bill banning eminent domain for the project on March 6,” the Madison Daily Leader reports. “The bill was signed the same day as the company held an open house at the Madison Community Center. The open house was planned before the bill was signed… “Dakota Rural Action, an activist group that opposes the pipeline, praised the bill’s passage in a statement, with remarks from Lake County landowner Betty Strom. “For three years, my neighbors and I have fought to protect our land and livelihoods, but I was one of the hundreds of South Dakotans that Summit sued in 2023,” she said. “HB 1052 means we no longer have to live with the fear and stress of losing our property to private greed.” “…Summit Carbon Solutions held a public meeting, focusing on safety, for Lake, Miner and McCook Counties at the Madison Community Center on March 6… “In the first hour, attendees included Lake County Commissioner Deb Reinicke and Miner County Commissioners Joe Bechen and Tim Neises as well as local anti-pipeline activists, among many others… “Questions ranged from how the company would address pipeline leaks to the process of easement negotiations and eminent domain to the use of water in the pipeline… “Water usage would be restricted to cooling down equipment that is used to compress carbon dioxide.”

Iowa Capital Dispatch: Iowa House advances bill to block CO2 pipelines from eminent domain rights
Cami Koons, 3/6/25

“The Iowa House Judiciary Committee advanced bills Thursday to block hazardous liquid pipelines carrying carbon dioxide from the use of eminent domain,” the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports. “Two bills also advanced granting rights to intervene in Iowa Utilities Commission proceedings, which GOP lawmakers have done against the case of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project. House Study Bill 287 specifies that the “construction of hazardous liquid pipelines for the transportation or transmission of liquefied carbon dioxide” does not constitute a public use for the purpose of condemning agricultural land… “South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a similar bill into law Thursday morning, that effectively bans the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines… “House File 491 would also restrict hazardous liquid pipelines from the right of eminent domain, by adjusting the definition of a common carrier… “House File 610 would allow members of the General Assembly, county and city elected officials and Iowans with “minimally plausible interest” to intervene in an Iowa Utilities Commission proceeding. House File 237 would prohibit the IUC from “threatening or imposing sanctions” on an intervenor unless they were intentionally dishonest or violated a criminal statute that caused injury to the commission in excess of $500.”

Reuters: Canada should diversify oil export markets, country’s top oil producer says
Amanda Stephenson and Vallari Srivastava, 3/6/25

“Canada must look at ways to diversify its oil export markets, both in the short term as well as by exploring a long-term solution like a new east-west pipeline, the president of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. said on Thursday,” Reuters reports. “Scott Stauth said Canadian Natural, Canada’s largest oil and gas producer, supports plans made public recently by pipeline companies Enbridge Inc. and Trans Mountain Corp. to improve oil transport capabilities through optimizing and de-bottlenecking existing lines. “We think those discussions are very prudent,” Stauth said in an interview following a conference call in which Canadian Natural discussed its fourth-quarter financial results. “I also think as Canadians we should be looking at even larger and more long-term project opportunities to create broader markets for our oil, even outside of North America.” “…In the wake of the tariffs threat, Trans Mountain Corp has said it is looking at expansion projects that could add between 200,000 and 300,000 barrels per day of capacity to the company’s system. But competitor Enbridge has said the tariffs would need to be in place for years before significantly altering U.S. demand for Canadian crude… “South Bow is in talks with its customers to assess the commercial appetite for new projects aimed at enhancing export access, said CEO Bevin Wirzba on a conference call. He emphasized any new project would provide modest capacity enhancements, leveraging existing South Bow infrastructure without exposing South Bow to high levels of risk.”

Daily Kos: Santa Barbara Residents Rally to Stop Restart of Refugio Beach Oil Spill Pipeline
Dan Bacher, 3/5/25

“…Sable Offshore Corporation is working to restart the pipeline that caused the spill — and last week 100 Santa Barbara residents and advocates rallied and testified to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors against a permit transfer from ExxonMobil to Sable Offshore Corp. to prevent the restart,” Daily Kos reprots. “The pipeline opponents displayed an array of signs featuring the slogans “Don’t Enable Sable,” “No Offshore Oil,” “Drilling Is Killing,” and “Stop Sable.” They also held placards displaying the devastation caused to the coast by the pipeline rupture… “Environmental groups and community members gathered in Santa Barbara to send a clear message to Governor Gavin Newson and Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot: “Don’t Enable Sable!” “…Restarting these decades-old defective pipelines is a recipe for disaster,” Julie Teel Simmonds, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, told Daily Kos. “Shame on California’s fire marshal for waiving important federal safety rules and doing it all behind closed doors without any environmental review. There are tremendous environmental and safety risks to restarting these zombie pipelines and people have a right to be informed about every single step of this process.”

Press release: South Bow Reports Fourth-quarter and Year-end 2024 Results, Provides 2025 Outlook, and Declares Dividend
3/5/25

“South Bow Corp. reports its fourth-quarter and year-end 2024 financial and operational results and provides its 2025 outlook… “Launched as an independent company on Oct. 1, 2024, completing the planned separation (the Spinoff) from TC Energy Corp. (TC Energy). Completed an initial notes offering on Aug. 28, 2024, raising approximately $5.8 billion, in aggregate, of U.S. and Canadian dollar-denominated senior unsecured notes and U.S. dollar-denominated junior subordinated notes… “Delivered record system availability in 2024, with an annual System Operating Factor (SOF) of 95% for the Keystone Pipeline due to continued improvements in system reliability. Recorded annual average throughput on the Keystone Pipeline of approximately 626,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2024, an increase of 5% relative to 2023. Throughput on the U.S. Gulf Coast segment of the Keystone Pipeline System averaged approximately 795,000 bbl/d, increasing by 15% relative to 2023. Fourth-quarter 2024 throughput on the Keystone Pipeline and the U.S. Gulf Coast segment of the Keystone Pipeline System averaged approximately 621,000 bbl/d and approximately 784,000 bbl/d, respectively.”

Oil & Gas Journal: South Bow finalizing Blackrod Connection project, warns of tariff headwinds
Mikaila Adams, 3/6/25

“South Bow Corp., Calgary, provided updates on pipeline projects and noted uncertainties surrounding tariffs and counter-tariffs between the US and Canada could create headwinds for the company’s marketing segment,” Oil & Gas Journal reports. ”South Bow said the Blackrod Connection project remains on track for an early 2026 in-service date, with cash flows increasing through 2026 and into 2027… “Along with project updates, the company said its marketing segment, providing customers with a variety of crude oil marketing services, including transportation, storage, and logistics, could face pressure as the back-and-forth tariff actions between the US and Canada continue. “The potential for, and continuation of, tariffs on energy imposed by the US government and counter-tariffs imposed by the Canadian government have created economic and geopolitical uncertainty, resulting in volatility in pricing differentials,” the company said in its results Mar. 5. “Persistence of this uncertainty may create additional headwinds for uncommitted capacity on South Bow’s pipeline systems and impact South Bow’s Marketing segment results,” the company continued… “The company also provided an update on the Keystone pipeline, where in December 2022, the then TC Energy-owned pipeline released oil into a creek in Washington County, KS (the Milepost 14 incident) (OGJ Online, Dec. 8, 2022)… “In January 2025, Silver Bow received PHMSA approval of the remedial work plan. The approval culminates the completion of 2,145 miles of inline inspections across the Keystone Pipeline System and 68 investigative excavations over the past 2 years. In March 2025, South Bow received approval from PHMSA to lift the pressure restriction on the affected segment to 72% of the specified minimum yield strength of the pipeline.”

Canadian Press: Motion by Nova Scotia premier to condemn anti-pipeline politicians in Canada fails
3/6/25

“Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has failed to get unanimous consent in the legislature to a resolution calling on the federal government to condemn any national political leader who opposes energy infrastructure projects amid the trade war with the United States,” the Canadian Press reports. “Houston singled out Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, who last month said he was “fiercely opposed” to potential energy pipelines through Quebec. Houston’s resolution says Blanchet’s position undermines “both national unity and Canada’s economic resilience” while cutting Nova Scotia off from accessing energy from the rest of the country. It also called on Ottawa to prioritize and streamline approvals for oil and natural gas infrastructure projects in order to “bolster our domestic and export capabilities.” “…The premier’s motion was opposed by the Opposition New Democrats, forcing it to be tabled unless he brings it back for debate in the legislature.”

KMID: Pipeline explosion in Reeves County sparks massive fire; casualties unknown
Gabriella Meza, 3/6/25

“A massive pipeline explosion and tank battery fire rocked a site near Highway 285 and County Road 436 in Reeves County late Wednesday night, prompting an urgent response from emergency crews,” KMID reports. “…Authorities told KMID the pipeline has been shut off, but approximately 2.5 miles of pipeline still need to burn off. Due to the severity of the fire, it remains unclear whether there are any casualties. The site foreman confirmed that all his employees were accounted for and stated that no one else should have been on-site at the time of the explosion… “Authorities are also warning oilfield traffic to avoid the area until further notice. Deputies remain on-site as the fire continues to burn, and officials are working to determine the cause of the explosion.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

Reuters: US board reinstates thousands of USDA employees fired by Trump administration
Daniel Wiessner and Nate Raymond, 3/5/25

“A U.S. board that reviews the firings of federal employees on Wednesday ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to temporarily reinstate thousands of workers who lost their jobs as part of President Donald Trump’s layoffs of the federal workforce,” Reuters reports. “Cathy Harris, a member of the Merit System Protection Board, ordered the USDA to reinstate fired probationary employees for 45 days while a challenge to the terminations plays out. The decision was issued a day after a federal judge blocked Trump from firing Harris, a Democrat, and from removing her from her position with the board without cause before her term expires in three years. The administration is appealing that decision. “This is great news and needs to be done with all impacted agencies with similarly situated employees as fast as possible,” J. Ward Morrow, assistant general counsel at the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents some of the reinstated workers, told Reuters.”

Backpacker: Sierra Club Sues to Reinstate Fired National Park Service, Forest Service Workers
Mary Beth “Mouse” Skylis, 3/6/25

“The Sierra Club on Wednesday asked a federal court to reverse the firing of thousands of National Park Service and Forest Service workers, arguing in a suit it filed alongside a trio of other nonprofits that the government violated the Constitution when it dismissed them and other probationary federal employees last month,” Backpacker reports. “Besides the Sierra Club, the other organizations behind the suit are the Union of Concerned Scientists, Organization of Chinese Americans, and Japanese American Citizens League; the suit names as defendants Elon Musk, his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), its administrator Amy Gleason, and the heads or acting heads of 16 different government agencies including the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Interior Department. The complaint runs to more than 100 pages. Among other claims, it says that Musk violated the law by directing agencies to make cuts because he is not an elected or confirmed federal official, and that the group’s actions violated the separation of powers clause because only Congress has the authority to change or cancel federal appropriations.”

New York Times: Trump Whipsaws on Tariffs, Giving Mexico and Canada Reprieve
Ana Swanson and Alan Rappeport, 3/6/25

“Two days after imposing sweeping tariffs on Canada and Mexico, President Trump on Thursday abruptly suspended many of those levies, sowing confusion with investors and businesses that depend on trade with the countries,” the New York Times reports. “The president said he would allow products that are traded under the rules of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade pact he signed in his first term, to avoid the stiff 25 percent tariffs he imposed just days ago on two of America’s largest trading partners. The suspension effectively abandons many of the tariffs that Mr. Trump had placed on Canadian and Mexican products — levies he said were necessary to stem the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. His decision came a day after he said he would grant a 30-day reprieve to automakers, who had complained to the president that the levies would cause severe damage to U.S. carmakers. Mr. Trump implied that any relief would be short-lived, saying that other tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products are coming in April… “A White House official who briefed reporters but was not authorized to speak publicly told the Times that 38 percent of imports from Canada used U.S.M.C.A. preferences last year, as did about half of Mexican imports. The official told the Times that oil imported from Canada typically did not, and so would face a 10 percent tariff.

CNN: Tariffs on cars from Mexico and Canada delayed by one month
Elisabeth Buchwald, 3/5/25

“President Donald Trump has granted an exemption on auto tariffs on Mexico and Canada for one month, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Wednesday, issuing a major, albeit temporary, concession on a key part of his administration’s economic plan,” CNN reports. “After speaking with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, Trump said he agreed to a reprieve to ensure America’s Big Three automakers aren’t harmed financially. But the tariffs are not off – not yet, anyway. “At the request of the companies associated with USMCA, the president is giving them an exemption for one month so they’re not at an economic disadvantage,” Leavitt said at the daily press briefing. (USMCA refers to the free-trade agreement that was signed during the first Trump administration among the US, Mexico and Canada.) All the other across-the-board 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada remain in effect. But Leavitt also said Trump would remain open to other tariff exemptions, days after saying there would be none… “But Canada is not cheering the one-month auto tariff reprieve, even though US Commerce Department data shows cars are Canada’s second-biggest export to the US. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are unwilling to accept any tariffs on their country’s goods. “We’re on the same page, zero tariffs and we are not going to budge,” he told reporters in a briefing Wednesday.”

E&E News: Trump oil tariffs threaten vulnerable Republicans
Garrett Downs, 3/7/25

“President Donald Trump and Republicans promised to cut gas prices in half on the campaign trail. Now, Trump’s tariffs on Canadian energy threaten to balloon energy costs where Republicans are vulnerable in the 2026 midterms,” E&E News reports. “The Midwest and New England are deeply dependent on Canadian oil and gas to fuel cars, trucks and homes — making them susceptible to inflation caused by Trump’s 10 percent duty on Canadian energy. Both regions also have critical tossup congressional races next year that will determine the balance of power for the second half of Trump’s term. “I think you’re gonna hear a whole lot about prices across the board in 2026,” Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, told E&E. “That is going to be the conversation in 2026. And it’s going to extend to the energy market, not just gas. But also, I guarantee you we have all the makings of people’s electric rates going up fairly substantially between now and that election.” “…Notably, energy accounts for a large share of the roughly 62 percent of goods imported from Canada that is not exempted by USMCA, so it could still face the 10 percent tariff, a White House official granted anonymity to brief reporters on the changes told E&E… “The Midwest and New England hold some of the keys to Democrats retaking congressional majorities… “Some senators who are up for reelection in 2026 have already begun blaming Trump and the GOP for expected increases to energy costs… “New England is likely to see the first cost hikes from the tariffs because it relies heavily on oil and gas exports from an Irving refinery in New Brunswick. The region is also reliant on home heating oil from Canada, an anomaly in the U.S. that could push inflation even higher there… “The Midwest imports more crude oil from Canada than any other region in the United States — so much that its refineries were purpose-built to process heavier Canadian oil and can’t function without it… “The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will be home to some of the fiercest congressional battles next year.”

Reuters: After Trump’s tariffs, Mexico seeks Asian and European crude oil buyers
Adriana Barrera and Stefanie Eschenbacher, 3/6/25

“Mexican state company Pemex is in talks with potential buyers in Asia, including China, and Europe, as it seeks alternative markets for its crude after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on imports, a senior Mexican government official said,” Reuters reports. “…While Canadian crude won an exception of a 10% levy, Mexican crude is to be taxed at 25%. Last year, Pemex exported 806,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude, of which 57% went to the United States… “The government official told Reuters Pemex had been talking to potential new buyers in non-U.S. markets, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the talks are commercially sensitive. “The good thing is that there’s appetite for Mexican crude in Europe, in India, in Asia,” they told Reuters. “There’s demand for heavy crude and Pemex crude.”

New York Times: Warren Buffett Rebukes Trump’s Tariffs Plan in CBS Interview: ‘Act of War’
Eli Tan, 3/3/25

“Warren Buffett, the famed investor who runs the sprawling conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, described tariffs as “an act of war” in an interview with CBS that aired on Sunday,” the New York Times reports. “Over time they’re a tax on goods,” Mr. Buffett said, responding to a question about their inflationary impact, suggesting that consumers will face higher prices as a result. “I mean, the tooth fairy doesn’t pay them,” he said. The rebuke of President Trump’s tariff plans, a core part of his new administration’s economic policy, came just days before sweeping tariffs on Canada and Mexico were expected to go into effect… “Berkshire Hathaway has recently built up a large investment in Treasury bills, government debt that’s a less risky alternative to corporate bonds and stocks. “You always have to ask that question in economics: And then what?” Mr. Buffett said in the interview. “Prices will be higher 10 years from now, 20 years from now, 30 years from now.”

E&E News: Congress overturns Biden rule on offshore drilling
Garrett Downs, 3/6/25

“The House on Thursday voted to overturn another rule released during the tail end of the Biden administration, sending the resolution to President Donald Trump for a signature,” E&E News reports. “Congress utilized the Congressional Review Act to undo the regulation, which relates to offshore drilling… “The House passed S.J. Res. 11 by a vote of 221-202, with a number of Democrats joining Republicans. The measure, offered by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), passed the Senate last week 54-44 with some Democratic votes. The Biden-era rule requires oil companies to complete an archaeological assessment before drilling to protect historical resources like shipwrecks from damage.”

Bloomberg: GOP Repeal of Biden’s Methane Fee Complicated by Climate Law
Jennifer Hijazi, Kellie Lunney, 3/7/25

“The Republican crusade against a fee that would impose penalties on oil and gas companies for planet-warming emission leaks faces a glaring snag in the Inflation Reduction Act’s methane provisions, which lawmakers are working to address with their budget plans,” Bloomberg reports. “The Waste Emissions Charge, finalized by former President Joe Biden, was repealed in February by a Congressional Review Act measure and is awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature, but the Democrats’ 2022 climate law will stand in the way of outright elimination of the fee. Resolutions passed under the Congressional Review Act prevent federal agencies from trying to circumvent Congress by putting in place a ‘substantially similar’ rule. That’s at odds with the reality that a methane fee regulation is required under law by the IRA. “We’ve never tested the words ‘substantially similar’ in litigation or in application,” Harvard Law School’s Carrie Jenks told Bloomberg, so the path forward for the statutory requirement remains unclear.”

Bloomberg: Major Biden Air Rules on Chopping Block as Cases Grind to a Halt
Jennifer Hijazi, 3/6/25

“Most lawsuits over former President Joe Biden’s biggest air emissions regulations are now frozen as the new EPA administration weighs rollbacks as part of its deregulatory effort,” Bloomberg reports. “Courts placed multiple cases against the Environmental Protection Agency over mercury, carbon, and other emission rules on hold at the behest of the agency and some industry and state plaintiffs. The abeyance trend marks the beginning of President Donald Trump’s promised agenda to deregulate and bolster the fossil fuel industry. So far, litigation over coal ash, mercury, methane, power plant, and particulate matter emissions have been paused pending agency review, citing new agency leadership’s need for “sufficient time to familiarize themselves with these issues and determine how they wish to proceed.” “…Hotly contested rules that govern greenhouse gas emissions from power plants are once again in legal abeyance as the Trump administration takes another swing at setting industry-friendly standards after courts scrapped the Affordable Clean Energy rule from his first administration.”

Press release: Miller, Colleagues Reintroduce Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act
3/5/25

“Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and her colleagues Representatives Terri Sewell (D-AL), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), and Chris Deluzio (D-PA) introduced the Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act. This bipartisan bill focuses on capturing and repurposing mine methane emissions from active and abandoned mines to be used as an energy source across the United States. “Coal has powered the United States for generations, and I’m making sure it continues to fuel our homes, businesses, and economy,” said Congresswoman Miller. “Expanding the Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage tax credit is an important first step to secure our economic and energy success. If we can take mine methane emissions and turn them into an energy source, the United States will remain dominant on the global stage. The Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act is a win for energy security, clean air, and the American economy.” “…Our tax code currently incentivizes the capture of carbon oxide emissions – but not mine methane, which accounts for a tenth of all U.S. methane emissions,” said Congressman Reschenthaler. “This omission should be added to boost America’s energy security and spur new economic production in southwestern Pennsylvania. I thank Representatives Miller and Sewell for their leadership in spearheading the commonsense Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act that supports the proper capture and utilization of mine methane.” “…Capturing and utilizing mine methane—a largely untapped domestic energy resource—will help us to truly unleash America’s energy dominance,” said Mike Moore, executive director of the Waste Gas Capture Initiative (WGCI)… “This bill will amend section 45Q of the Internal Revenue Code to qualify methane, which otherwise would’ve been released as a greenhouse gas emission, to be acquitted equivalent to the capture of CO2.”

Associated Press: Trump’s interior and energy secretaries cheer on natural gas export industry in Gulf Coast
Jack Brook, 3/6/25

“The planned expansion of a massive liquified natural gas facility in southeast Louisiana is a beacon for a U.S. energy policy that doubles down on oil and gas exports under President Donald Trump, two members of his Cabinet told a crowd of cheering workers Thursday,” the Associated Press reports. “The prior administration had a full-on attack against U.S. energy,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told workers at petrochemical firm Venture Global’s liquified natural gas facility in Port Sulphur. Venture Global plans an $18 billion expansion in the area for exporting LNG to Europe and Asia. “President Trump is fighting for you every day and he’s fighting because he believes that we have U.S. energy dominance.” “…The pair pooh-poohed former Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s warning that “unfettered exports” of liquified natural gas could drive up domestic wholesale prices and increase planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions — a statement reflecting the findings of a Department of Energy report released in December. Granholm served under Biden. “We can absolutely do both — we can sell energy to our friends and allies, we can lower the cost at home,” Burgum told reporters… “Venture Global, which went public in January, saw its stock price tank by more than a third on Thursday after disclosing falling revenue due to a decline in LNG exports. CEO Michael Sabel said he was confident the company would rebound as it attempts to rapidly expand.”

WGME: Sen. King blasts mass firings of federal employees
3/6/25

“Maine Senator Angus King isn’t holding back about his feelings about the mass firings of federal employees,” WGME reports. “King hosted a virtual roundtable Wednesday night to hear from federal workers recently fired from their positions. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service employees and more talked about their sudden, and potentially illegal, dismissal via email, and the important projects they say they had to abandon. “What is going on here is a sham,” King said. “It’s a performance that is intended to lead people to believe that something is really happening with the budget and the deficit, when in reality it’s just cutting government services.”

Los Angeles Times: Interior Secretary Burgum eyes national monuments for energy resources
Lila Seidman, 3/7/25

“Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has directed his staff to review and possibly alter national monuments as part of a push to expand U.S. energy production, a move that could further shake up public lands amid mass firings of national park and forest employees,” the Los Angeles Times reports. “Conservationists fear that cherished landscapes — including two newly minted California monuments — will be stripped of protections for significant cultural and ecological resources. But conservatives have argued that public lands should remain open to oil drilling and coal mining, among other uses. In a Feb. 3 order, Burgum directed his assistant secretaries to ‘review and, as appropriate, revise all withdrawn public lands,’ citing a federal statute corresponding to the 1906 law that allows presidents to create national monuments. “

Reuters: US energy chief to seek $20 billion to refill oil reserve, Bloomberg reports
3/7/25

“U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright plans to seek up to $20 billion to accomplish President Donald Trump’s goal of refilling the nation’s depleted oil reserve to its maximum capacity, Bloomberg News reported on Friday,” according to Reuters. “Wright told Bloomberg News in an interview that the initiative would restore holdings “just close to the top” to maintain efficient operating status.”

STATE UPDATES

Minnesota Pubic Radio: State officials forecast higher energy prices because of Trump tariffs
Dan Kraker, 3/5/25

“State economic officials are predicting higher prices in Minnesota because of a 10 percent tariff imposed on Canadian energy imports this week by the Trump administration,” Minnesota Pubic Radio reports. “Minnesota, along with several other northern states, is heavily reliant on Canada to meet its energy needs. “Minnesota is kind of disproportionately impacted here, and so while we have long term plans to make us less vulnerable to this, right now we’re really going to see some strain on pocketbooks,” Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold told MPR. Five of the six pipelines that carry natural gas to Minnesota come from Canada, Arnold told MPR… “Several pipelines also carry Canadian crude oil to two refineries in the Twin Cities region, along with a third refinery in Superior, Wis., that convert that oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products used by Minnesota consumers. Those refineries are specifically configured to process the heavier crude from Canada’s oil sands region in Alberta and therefore couldn’t pivot quickly to take lighter oil from elsewhere. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for the website GasBuddy, predicts that gas prices in Minnesota and elsewhere in the Midwest will rise by 5 to 20 cents per gallon, but not immediately.”

Utility Dive: DOE approves LNG export permit extension for Golden Pass
Robert Walton, 3/6/25

“Golden Pass is expected to begin exporting LNG by the end of this year, making it the ninth large-scale export terminal operating in the United States, DOE said,” according to Utility Dive. “Exporting natural gas “supports American jobs, bolsters our national security and strengthens America’s position as a world energy leader,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a statement. DOE’s decision follows two February actions: the agency approved an export approval for Commonwealth LNG, and issued an order on rehearing that removed barriers for the use of LNG as “bunkering” fuel used by the ships transporting it… “Trump is “ignoring the stark reality of what it means to ship America’s energy overseas,” Sierra Club Director of the Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign Cathy Collentine said in January. “Domestic energy prices will go up, the local fishing industry along the Gulf Coast will be decimated, our air and water will be polluted and our health threatened,” Collentine told Utilty Dive. “Trump is making no effort to hide the fact that he cares more about making gas CEOs bigger profits than he does about the wellbeing of everyday Americans.”

E&E News: Republicans gird for clash over California EPA waiver
Timothy Cama, Kelsey Brugger, 3/7/25

“Republicans aren’t letting a new legal opinion from Congress’ watchdog agency get in the way of their drive to roll back California’s strict vehicle emissions standards,” E&E News reports. “The Government Accountability Office said Thursday that lawmakers can’t use the Congressional Review Act to revisit the Biden administration’s waiver for California rules — that can be followed by other states — to encourage the use of electric and other low-emission vehicles. But Republicans in both the House and Senate told E&E they will try anyway… “It’s not over,” Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) told E&E following GAO’s opinion.”

WPLN: A fossil fuel may be rebranded ‘renewable energy’ under proposed Tennessee law
Caroline Eggers, 3/7/25

“Tennessee may become the first state to legally define gas as “renewable energy,” WPLN reports. “ State law currently defines natural gas, a fossil fuel composed mostly of methane, as “clean energy.” But a proposed state bill would expand the definition. Gas is neither clean or renewable — by any standard definition… “The Tennessee Valley Authority, the utility that provides nearly all electricity in Tennessee, has been undergoing one of the largest gas expansions of any utility in the nation. Since 2020, TVA has proposed nine gas plants, equivalent to a 60% increase in its gas capacity, and three new pipelines. The buildout has been widely criticized for its cost, pollution and associated “lack of transparency.” Tennessee passed a law to define gas as “clean energy” in 2023, shortly after Ohio passed a law to define the fossil fuel as “green energy.” Two dark money groups with ties to the gas industry, including the American Legislative Exchange Council, helped craft that legislation, according to documents obtained by the Energy and Policy Institute. Indiana and Mississippi have introduced similar bills this year. Tennessee’s new bill would cover all the bases, defining gas as “clean,” “green” and “renewable.” The expanded definition will also include the following energy sources: nuclear, hydrogen fuel, fuel cells, waste-to-energy facilities, crops grown for energy production, industrial byproduct technologies, waste heat, compressed air energy storage, biomass and renewable natural gas.”

Press release: 150 Businesses, Groups Urge N.C. Governor to Rein in Fossil Fuel-Friendly Duke Energy
3/6/25

“More than 150 environmental, social justice, faith and youth organizations and businesses from across the country called on North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein to confront Duke Energy Corp.’s expansion of planet-warming fossil fuels and obstruction of renewable energy solutions. The letter comes months after the town of Carrboro sued Duke Energy — the third-largest corporate polluter in the country — in the first-ever lawsuit against an electric utility for harms caused by the company’s decades-long climate deception campaign. The town’s lawsuit says Duke Energy’s actions have worsened the climate crisis and cost the town millions of dollars. According to the complaint, Duke Energy executives have known for more than 50 years about the dangers of fossil fuels but have facilitated a nationwide campaign to mislead the public about its climate harms and increased reliance on coal and gas for electricity. Now communities across the state are being harmed as fossil fuels drive up utility bills and pollution and worsen the climate crisis. “The nation and the world desperately need bold leaders to step up as climate champions,” said Jim Warren, executive director of NC WARN. “Gov. Stein must break through the continuing Duke Energy deception and help the public understand that North Carolina cannot allow the continued expansion of fracked gas and the suppression of cheaper, faster, fairer solar power at the local level.”

Transport Topics: Iowa Shutters Biodiesel Output on Federal Policy Uncertainty
Noël Fletcher, 3/5/25

“Iowa biodiesel plants are operating at minimum or completely stopping production amid uncertainty over the future of renewable fuel and tax credit policies,” Transport Topics reports. “These are tough times for Iowa’s biodiesel producers, and it’s frustrating to watch plants sit idle when we know how much they contribute to our economy and energy security,” Grant Kimberley, Iowa Biodiesel Board executive director, told Transport Topics. “The people behind these facilities — our neighbors, friends and community members — are feeling the strain. We need federal policies that support biodiesel production, not leave producers in limbo.” “…Biofuel groups were unsuccessful under the Biden administration in gaining timely tax guidance on the new 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit from the Internal Revenue Service following the Dec. 31 expiration of the Biodiesel Tax incentive 40A, he added… “Recently the Clean Fuels Alliance numbered among nearly a dozen national biofuel stakeholders that asked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to set Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and later to bolster U.S. biofuel availability… “Kimberley told TT the Treasury Department should detail how the tax incentive works in a final rule. Also problematic is that the tax credit’s carbon intensity scoring system favors imported used cooking oil and animal fats over U.S. soybean oil, and doesn’t factor in climate-smart agriculture.”

Cowboy State Daily: Cheyenne Lawyer, Rancher Karen Budd-Falen Accepts Top Interior Department Post
Sean Barry, 3/3/25

“Karen Budd-Falen, a Cheyenne lawyer and rancher, is headed back to the nation’s capital, taking a high-level Interior Department job in President Donald Trump’s administration, she told Cowboy State Daily in a phone interview Monday. The Interior Department has not announced the appointment, and a media representative toldCSD the department had no comment. Budd-Falen, a lawyer and rancher, worked in Trump’s first administration as deputy solicitor for wildlife and parks at Interior.”

Crested Butte News: Protestors gather at Black Canyon to protect public land
Chad Reich, 3/5/25

“Approximately 60 protestors gathered at the entrance to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park on Highway 50 near Montrose on Saturday, March 1,” Crested Butte News reports. “They were demonstrating against recent firings by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who trimmed 3,400 jobs from the US Forest Service (USFS), 1,000 from the National Park Service (NPS), and 800 from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Among the protestors was Western Colorado University graduate student Jessika McFarland, who studies extreme wildfires in the Environment and Sustainability program… “Making sure that our public lands are protected and resilient requires a lot of hands on deck that this administration is slowly but surely removing from the table,” McFarland told the News.”

KATV: Reduced hours at Hot Springs National Park spark tourism concerns for city’s economy
3/5/25

“Some businesses in Hot Springs are speaking out, concerned about the Hot Springs National Park Visitors Center cutting back its hours,” KATV reports. “The move comes as the Trump administration made steep cuts last week to staff at national parks cross the country. Residents also protested along the Spa City’s main tourism area about these recent changes impacting their city over the weekend. The Hot Springs National Park Visitors Center, a place that fuels tourism, the foundation of the city’s economy, announced that it will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday every week until further notice.”

KTLA: Thousands of California national forest campsites may close this summer amid federal budget freeze, report says
Iman Palm, 3/5/25

“Nearly 4,000 campsites across California’s 18 national forests could close for part or all of the summer season as the U.S. Forest Service struggles with budget constraints following President Donald Trump’s federal spending freeze, according to a report by The New York Times,” KTLA reports. “The potential closures could impact visitor centers and backcountry trails at popular outdoor destinations such as Desolation Wilderness in Lake Tahoe and the Mount Whitney area. An internal agency memo cited by the Times indicated that financial limitations may render some sites ‘unsafe’ due to the inability to maintain them. Forest Service employees who spoke with the publication noted that the funding freeze could significantly impact essential services, including human waste removal, trail maintenance, and search-and-rescue operations.”

EXTRACTION

Press release: US LNG Capacity Additions Would Significantly Lower GHG Emissions Compared to Alternatives, New S&P Global Study Finds
3/6/25

“The continued development of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity would result in significantly lower global greenhouse gas emissions compared to the alternative energy sources that would be required to meet demand in their place, a new comprehensive study by S&P Global finds. The study examined LNG projects that are currently on hold or in pre-Final Investment Decision stage that would represent a combined 40 million ton per annum (Mtpa) of capacity additions from 2028 to 2040. This expansion of U.S. LNG exports results in global GHG emissions being 324 / 780 M tCO2e (GWP100 / GWP20) lower over the 2028-2040 period—or 65 million tons per year—than they would be if demand were met by the likely alternative sources, the study finds. The net reduction in emissions is due to the lower GHG intensity of U.S. LNG compared to the average intensity of the combined energy sources that would replace it in global markets—85% of which would be made up by fossil fuels from non-U.S. sources, the study says. “The continued expansion of U.S. LNG capacity enhances global energy security while avoiding higher global greenhouse gas emissions,” said Eric Eyberg, Vice President, Gas and Power Consulting, S&P Global. “Forgoing this critical source of supply would see it replaced by sources that have a greater combined GHG intensity while also negating substantial economic and geopolitical benefits.” “…The new study also examines the potential impacts of removing bottlenecks in infrastructure across the U.S. Northeast region where—despite the existence of the Marcellus and Utica formations that have sufficient proved reserves to meet all U.S. demand for 17 years—pipeline constraints have resulted in gas prices in New York and Boston that are 15–40% higher than the national annual average, and 145% and 160% higher in the key winter heating month of January. The study finds that expanding Northeast exit capacity by 6 billion cubic feet per day would generate substantial price impacts at the regional and national level driving consumer savings far exceeding the estimated $14 billion in capital costs necessary for the pipeline expansions, the study notes.”

Houston Chronicle: Shell reportedly considering sale of Deer Park Facility, site of environmental violations
Tanya Babbar, 3/5/25

“Shell’s Deer Park Facility, the subject of a state lawsuit and federal investigations for environmental harm caused by petrochemical fires at their plant, might be up for sale according to a report,” the Houston Chronicle reports. “Shell is considering selling several chemical assets in the U.S and Europe, but the only asset named was the Deer Park Facility, Wall Street Journal reported this week… “The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sued Shell for up to $1 million in Aug. 2023 over their handling of a 70-hour fire, reporting that Shell unlawfully discharged “mass quantities of air contaminants” and nearly 70 million gallons of wastewater into the Houston Ship Channel. Several workers also sued Shell for injuries suffered during the fire, which Shell said occurred during routine maintenance… “Months before the PEMEX gas leak, Deer Park officials complained to the company about a lack of transparency and prompt notification about previous chemical leaks, according to records obtained by the Houston Chronicle.”

OPINION

Wisconsin Examiner: Wisconsin’s energy future: A smarter, more affordable path forward
John Imes is Co-founder and Director of the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative (WEI) since 1998, 3/6/25

“Wisconsin stands at a critical energy crossroads. We Energies’ plan to build massive new methane gas plants is a costly misstep that threatens to lock in high energy costs, undermine clean energy goals, and leave ratepayers footing the bill for outdated infrastructure,” John Imes writes for the Wisconsin Examiner: . “At a time when clean energy and storage solutions are proving to be more reliable and cost-effective, doubling down on fossil fuel dependency is a financial and environmental mistake Wisconsin simply can’t afford. We Energies has publicly committed to reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Yet, its proposed gas plants move in the opposite direction — locking in long-term fossil fuel reliance when cleaner, cheaper alternatives are available. One of the key justifications for these plants is the anticipated electricity demand from data centers. However, rapid advancements in AI-driven efficiency — such as DeepSeek — could dramatically cut data center energy consumption. If We Energies locks in billions for gas plants just as these efficiency gains accelerate, Wisconsin ratepayers could be left footing the bill for infrastructure that is no longer needed. Instead of overbuilding based on outdated projections, Wisconsin should prioritize flexible, adaptive energy solutions that can evolve with technology… “The choice is clear: Do we cling to outdated, expensive fossil fuel infrastructure, or do we embrace a smarter, more resilient clean energy future? The answer should be obvious—for our economy, our environment and the future of Wisconsin.”

Florida Phoenix: Mr. Musk, please stop trying to kill Florida’s national parks and refuges
Craig Pittman, 3/6/25

“Dear Elon Musk… “Thousands of federal employees have been fired ( albeit illegally). Entire agencies shuttered. The millions of poor people they serve abruptly kicked to the curb at the behest of the world’s wealthiest man,” Craig Pittman writes for the Florida Phoenix. “…Persnickety reporters have pointed out that the math on this massive purge doesn’t work. And, of course, there have been gobs of angry protesters at Tesla dealerships… “However, I want to warn you about one big mistake you’re making. You have GOT to stop firing park rangers. Your dodgy DOGE has been laying off rangers and scientists left and right. This must stop before you do irreparable damage to the people’s property… “I am not saying you should stop just because I like our national parks. I’m saying you need to stop because we really depend on them in Florida for a big chunk of our tourism trade. If your cuts trash our national parks, you’ll crash our economy… “In 2023, more than 13 million people visited them, creating an economic boon of $1.4 billion to the economy, according to the Palm Beach Post… “So, Mr. Musk, by jeopardizing Everglades restoration, you’re also jeopardizing the South Florida fresh water supply that makes the faucets and sprinklers at Mar-a-Lago work. I don’t think your boss is going to like that. Here’s my suggestion. You should announce that your dumb DOGE made a mistake and America’s park rangers and other seashore and refuge employees will all be reinstated with full pay.”

National Review: Share, Baby, Share: How a Permanent Oil and Gas Fund Dividend Could Empower New Mexicans
Patrick M. Brenner is the founder and president of the Southwest Public Policy Institute, a nonprofit research institute in the American Southwest dedicated to promoting better living through better policy, 3/5/25

“In his recent visit to the Land of Enchantment, Energy Secretary Chris Wright underscored New Mexico’s national significance in energy production, highlighting its vital role in meeting growing U.S. energy demands through oil, solar, and emerging nuclear and geothermal industries. Simultaneously, the state is enjoying more than $800 million in new tax revenue from oil and natural gas extracted from the Permian Basin in the southeast corner of the state. The oil and gas tax revenue has grown over 50 percent in the last year, is worth $2.1 billion, and represents over 20 percent of the state’s annual budget,” Patrick M. Brenner writes for the National Review. “This government-controlled wealth has prompted an urgent and consequential question: How do we transform today’s abundance into lasting prosperity? The Southwest Public Policy Institute believes the answer lies in empowering New Mexicans directly by establishing a permanent fund dividend (NMPFD). Modeled after Alaska’s successful program, this proposal offers a path toward economic freedom, poverty alleviation, and long-term stability. In 2025, the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (supplemented by a one-time bonus) provided residents with $1,702 per person. The Alaska program annually distributes a share of the state’s oil and gas revenues to eligible residents, ensuring they directly benefit from Alaska’s resource wealth… “A similar approach in New Mexico could provide families with financial relief and economic empowerment. Not only that, but it would also give New Mexicans a greater sense of ownership of the hydrocarbon wealth. Of course, given how much oil and gas revenues contribute to the state’s budget, its residents already benefit from this, but a new dividend program would convert an abstract line item on the state budget into something very tangible: a literal check… “A permanent fund dividend isn’t just good policy — it’s the right thing to do for the people of our state and could become a model for the country.”