Sources say that the White House is considering an executive order to speed up deep-sea mines.
Two sources who are directly involved in the White House's deliberations say that they are considering an executive order which would expedite permits for deep sea mining in international waters. This would allow mining companies to bypass a United Nations review process. The order, if signed, would be the latest effort by U.S. president Donald Trump to tap into international deposits of nickel and copper, and other essential minerals that are widely used across the economy, after recent efforts made in Greenland, and Ukraine. Trump also used emergency powers earlier this month to boost domestic mineral production.
Can Trump's drive for critical minerals pass the test of copper? Andy Home
The executive order issued by U.S. president Donald Trump on increasing domestic mineral production is designed to cut through the mine permit maze in the United States. According to S&P Global, it takes on average nearly 29 years to bring a new mine from discovery to production. This is the second longest lead time in the entire world, after Zambia. The U.S. Government is uniquely qualified to address the problem of granting permits on federal land. The Joe Biden administration had a difficult time reconciling its desire to produce more "green metals" for the energy shift with its environmental and socio-political credentials. Trump is not averse to such criticism.
Oil industry unlikely rush to Alaska despite Trump’s call for drilling
U.S. companies will not expand their development in Alaska or the Arctic after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that allows them to do so. Industry representatives and company officials said this, pointing out that a future president would be able to reverse Trump's decision. U.S. Oil Production is Already at Record Levels. This is largely due to the increased production of oil in more accessible areas such as Texas and New Mexico. Companies have also limited their spending on new projects, focusing on returning cash to investors. The executive order will reopen vast regions for drilling and mining and speed up permits for projects.
Can Trump reverse Biden's offshore oil drilling ban?
In an executive order issued on Monday, President Donald Trump revoked the ban placed by former Democratic president Joe Biden against new offshore oil-and-gas development along most of America's coasts. Trump will face legal challenges regarding his authority. What did BIDEN and Trump do? Biden used his authority, granted by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1970, to stop oil and gas drilling in federal waters along the East and Western coasts of the United States as well as the eastern Gulf of Mexico. He also halted the drilling of portions of the northern Bering sea of Alaska. Biden said that the move was in line with his efforts to fight climate change.
Biden team offers nuclear pathway to hydrogen tax credit
Biden's administration announced on Friday that portions of nuclear power plant will be eligible for tax credits in order to produce clean hydrogen, if these credits prevent the reactors from being retired. The new rules deal with one of the most controversial issues in the Inflation Reduction Act. This law, which is set to be implemented by 2022 and aims to combat climate change through subsidizing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, was enacted to help fight the effects of global warming. Some environmental groups claim…
Biden Administration offers nuclear industry a path to hydrogen tax credits
The Biden administration announced on Friday that nuclear power plants would be eligible for lucrative tax credits if they produce what it calls "clean hydrogen" and if these credits prevent the reactors from being retired. The new rules resolve one of the most controversial issues surrounding the Inflation Reduction Act. This law, which is set to be implemented in 2022 and is designed to combat climate change through subsidizing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some environmental groups claim that nuclear reactors, as clean energy sources, should not be eligible for the IRA’s clean hydrogen program.
Woodside's North West Shelf Project Extension approved by Western Australia
Woodside Energy, Australia's largest oil and gas producer in terms of market value, announced on Thursday that the state of Western Australia had granted Woodside Energy approval to extend the project life of its North West Shelf LNG (liquefied Natural Gas) until 2070. You can also find out more about the decision-making process by clicking here. Woodside announced Thursday that the approval marks the end to a six-year waiting period and restarts the federal approval process for environmental protection, which was halted because of pending appeals.
Grid operator PJM faces a new complaint regarding power supply
Consumer advocacy group filed a complaint with PJM Interconnection. They claim that the U.S.'s largest grid operator unfairly awards record-high payments to power plants, driving up electricity prices for households and businesses. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission received a complaint on Monday, the second in recent times regarding PJM Interconnection’s capacity market auction for 2025-2026. This auction set prices that were over 800% higher than those of the previous year. PJM leaders stated that the record-high prices were largely due to the soaring demand for power and the shrinking supply of fossil-fired generators as they retire.
California will vote on stricter regulations for low-carbon fuels policy
California regulators are voting on Friday whether to tighten up a policy that aims to boost low-carbon fuels in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the state's ambitious goals for climate change. California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which has been around since 2011, is being changed to require a greater reduction in carbon intensity in transportation fuels. This would be required by 2030 for fuel producers in order to receive the tradable credits of the program. Transport accounts for approximately 50% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the state.
Texas voters elect conservative Craddick as oil regulator
Texas reelected Christi Craddick, a conservative incumbent in her third term as the state's chief oil regulator. This is a victory for the industry which has seen its production increase during her tenure. According to the most recent government statistics, Texas, which is home to the Permian basin, is the United States' largest oil producer, producing around 5.8 million barrels of crude oil per day. The Texas Railroad Commission, which Craddick is set to chair for six more years, regulates this industry. It oversees everything from pipeline safety to well permitting. Craddick defeated Democrat Katherine Culbert and Green Party member Eddie Espinoza.
US Governors push back against PJM following record-high prices for power plants
Five governors urged PJM Interconnection on Tuesday to change its process for determining the price of power plants, after the auction that saw record prices. Prices in the most recent PJM auction were almost 10 times higher than last year. This was largely due to a shrinking supply of electricity and an increasing demand for electricity. Prices were set at levels that raised concern about the cost of electricity for homes and businesses on PJM territory. Environmental groups filed a complaint to PJM over its pricing process. In a letter sent to PJM…
PJM wants a delay in the auction of capacity after an environmentalist's complaint
PJM Interconnection will delay its next annual auction of capacity by six months, while the largest U.S. Grid Operator addresses a complaint made by environmental groups. The biggest U.S. Grid Operator said this in a letter sent on Thursday. PJM’s latest auction, which resulted to payments to power plants within its system that were 833% more than the previous years, raised concerns about a spike in power bills. The Sierra Club, Earthjustice, and other environmental groups filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last month, alleging that PJM increased capacity prices in part by excluding certain power stations without justification.
Germany builds LNG import terminals
Germany is expanding its natural gas import options as part of efforts to decarbonise and replace Russian supplies. Here are some details about terminals that will host floating storage regasification (FSRU) units to receive LNG. There are also plans for shore-based terminals, as well as facilities to produce and import ammonia and hydrogen. In German media, the state-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET), without specifying exact dates for commissioning, said that FSRUs will be operational at Stade as well as Wilhelmshaven 2 before winter.
Equinor, Aker BP, Vaar face rising project costs, Norway budget shows
The Norwegian government announced on Monday that Aker BP, Equinor and Vaar Energi had raised their estimates of costs for major oil and natural gas development projects in the Norwegian continental shelf. The government's fiscal budget documents revealed that the cost of Equinor Johan Castberg is expected to rise from 80.3 billion crowns, which was estimated a year ago. Aker BP’s Yggdrasil will likely cost 134.4 billion crowns compared to 120.2 billion crowns a year ago, and Vaar’s Balder Future is expected at 52.2 billion crowns compared to 44.5 billion crowns.
Brazil's mega dams were supposed to lead the way for a greener future. Climate change came next
The drought has exacerbated the problem of underperformance. When he first came to power in the early 2000s, Brazil's President Luiz inacio Lula da silva bet his green future on "run-of river" megadams - whose turbines move by natural river flow rather than cascading water from towering dams. Santo Antonio Jirau and Belo Monte have been built in the Amazonian rainforest despite the strong opposition of environmental groups. They are now among the five most powerful dams within the country. Belo Monte was built in 2016 and has the fourth largest capacity in the entire world. The megadams are operating well below their capacity due to the record drought in Amazon.
Germany builds LNG import terminals
Germany is expanding its natural gas import options as part of efforts to decarbonise and replace Russian supplies. Here are some details about terminals that will host floating storage regasification (FSRU) units to receive LNG. There are also plans for shore-based terminals, as well as facilities to produce and import ammonia and hydrogen. On Sept. 17, the private company Deutsche ReGas began reloading LNG from the LNG tanker Coral Energy using smaller tanks to deliver LNG in areas without pipeline access. The site was opened to regular operations on Sept. 2, with FSRUs Energos Power & Neptune.
Rural towns in New Mexico's arid region are looking to treated oil wastewater for a drought solution.
Stephen Aldridge, a pilot of a four-seater helicopter, could see a dozen lagoons filled with toxic waste glistening in the distance between drill rigs. The mayor of Jal, a tiny town nestled in the middle of U.S. Oil Country near the Texas border, saw the scene as a chance to find water for the state that is suffering from a worsening drought. Aldridge belongs to a growing number of New Mexico politicians that want to see the state develop regulations to allow the millions of gallons per day of produced water, which is spewed out along with the Permian Basin's abundant oil and gas, to be used instead of being thrown away.
California rooftop solar subsidy will cost $8.5 billion per year, according to a ratepayer's advocate
The California Residential Solar Subsidy will cost California ratepayers without rooftop panels $8.5 billion per year by the end this year. This will contribute to higher electricity prices for consumers. In 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission reformed its residential solar policy called net energy metering. This allowed customers who had rooftop panels to receive credit for any excess electricity generated by their systems at or close to retail electricity rates. The new policy reduced the rate. This made going solar less appealing and angered environmental groups. Also, the solar industry has reported that it lost over 17,000 jobs due to the change.
UK faces legal action for new North Sea oil and Gas Licences
A marine conservation group is challenging in court the decision of Britain to issue new oil and natural gas exploration licenses. The organization claims that ministers failed to take into account the impact of these licences on marine life. Oceana UK has filed a lawsuit against 31 licenses granted by the previous British government to the North Sea Transition Authority in May of this year, as part of its latest round for oil and gas licensing. A licence for exploration does not always lead to a producing field. However, environmental…
Philippines fishermen fear solar farm on lake could hurt their income
Alcones, a member of a group that opposes the government's plans to install solar panels on top of Laguna de Bay, the largest source of freshwater fish in the country, to meet the growing demand for electricity, is opposed to this plan. "Laguna Lake provides income and life to fishermen who have not finished school, like us. "It also provides many displaced workers with an alternative source of income by fishing," said Alcones a 55-year old father of two, who lives near Laguna Lake. The Philippines, an archipelago with more than 7,500 islands, is limited by its land resources. It aims to produce 50% of its electricity using renewable sources by the year 2040.
