US pressures EU to align LNG methane regulations
A letter obtained by showed that U.S. officials redoubled their efforts to convince EU counterparts that shipments of liquefied gas meeting current U.S. regulations on methane would automatically meet the new European standards for gas imports. On December 17, the administration of President Joe Biden sent a second email to Ditte J. Jorgensen (EU Director-General for Energy) to increase support for their case that US Environmental Protection Agency regulations should be considered "equivalents" to EU regulations whose reporting requirements for emissions begin in 2025.
Biden Administration releases LNG export study and urges caution on new permits
Tuesday, the administration of U.S. president Joe Biden released the long-awaited report on the economic impacts and environmental effects of exports of liquefied gas. The results highlighted the need to be cautious when issuing new permits. Biden had in January halted the Department of Energy’s approvals of U.S. exports of LNG to large consumers in Asia and Europe, so that his government could conduct the review. This triggered complaints from the oil industry. The study's findings were summarized by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in a letter to reporters.
Biden's DoE LNG Export Study Tepid on New Permits
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden released a long-awaited study on the economic and environmental impacts of liquefied natural gas exports on Tuesday, saying the results underscored the need for a cautious approach to new permits.Biden in January had paused the Department of Energy's approvals of U.S. LNG exports to big consumers in Asia and Europe so that his administration could conduct the review, triggering complaints from the oil and gas industry."The main takeaway is that a business-as-usual approach is neither sustainable nor advisable…
Canada Environment Minister warns oil companies against retaining emissions data
Canada's Environment Minister warned Wednesday that oil companies who withheld data on emissions would be violating federal law. This was after Alberta's Premier said the province had considered measures to stop a proposed cap. Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, said on Tuesday that her government will introduce a motion to the legislature to allow them to challenge Ottawa's proposed cap on oil and gas emissions. Alberta, Canada's largest oil and natural gas province, is also looking into other ways to undermine the cap should it become law.
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.
Who would be the best person to run Trump's energy policy?
Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, has pledged to overhaul U.S. Energy Policy. He aims to maximize oil and gas production in this country which is already at record levels by rolling back regulations and accelerating permits. Who will he select to lead the departments and agencies that are critical to completing this task? These are some names that have been considered. Two sources with knowledge of the matter say that Trump's second Energy secretary Dan Brouillette, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, are both candidates to lead the U.S. Department of Energy during the next administration.
Canada proposes a sharp reduction in emissions from the oil and gas industry by 2030
On Monday, the Canadian government released draft regulations which would cap greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and natural gas sector. Producers will be required to reduce emissions by 35% from 2019 levels and 2030. In a press release, the Environment Ministry said that the regulations would create a cap and trade system to reward companies with better performance. It will also provide an incentive for polluting firms to improve their production processes. Ottawa stated that oil and gas production would still grow by 16% in 2030-2032 compared to 2019 levels, but without a cap.
What are the differences between Trump and Harris' energy policies?
Both Donald Trump, a Republican, and Kamala Harrias are Democrats. They both want to increase production while keeping prices low for consumers. The main difference is that Harris wants to favor clean energy technologies that are crucial in fighting climate change. Trump, on the other hand, would roll back green regulations which hinder oil and coal drilling. Next Tuesday, voters in the United States will have to face the same contrast as they head to the polls to elect their next president. Scientists say that global climate efforts are failing to address the speed and magnitude of global warming.
UN says current climate pledges fall far short of Paris goals
The United Nations stated on Monday that national pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are still far below what is required to limit catastrophic global heating. In its annual report, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change said that the "nationally determined contribution" (NDC) already submitted to the U.N. by countries is enough to reduce global emissions by 2,6% between 2019 and 2030. This is up from 2% the previous year. It warned that these cuts are not enough to reach the…
Norway's wealth funds falls short of climate ambitions according to NGO
A non-governmental organization said that the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund has failed to meet its own climate goals by not voting in favor of shareholder resolutions this year during AGM season. The fund, which has a value of $1.8 trillion, pools revenues from the Nordic states' oil and gas production. It aims to have the 9,000 companies that it invests in reach zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 in accordance with the Paris Agreement. Norges Bank Investment Management, the fund management company…
US Supreme Court will not halt EPA power plant emission rule
The U.S. Supreme Court refused on Wednesday to suspend a new federal regulation targeting carbon pollution from coal and gas-fired plants, despite the requests of many states and industry groups. This is another major setback to President Joe Biden’s efforts to fight climate change. The Justices refused emergency requests from West Virginia, Indiana, and 25 other states, most of which are Republican-led, as well as by power companies and industry association to stop the Environmental Protection Agency regulation while litigation is ongoing in a lower-court.
The new Climate Plan of Greece sets higher renewable energy targets
A revised energy and climate policy presented on Friday sets more ambitious goals for the expansion of solar and wind power in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Athens will target an 82% share for renewables in the electricity generation in 2030, compared to a 66% goal in its previous plan for 2019. The plan is to be submitted for approval to the European Commission. The national energy and climate plans of EU member states detail their contribution towards the EU's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% or more by 2030. They also provide a roadmap for energy industry investments.
Hindustan Zinc's chairman says the company aims to switch over to renewable energy within five to seven years.
Priya Agarwal, chairperson of Hindustan Zinc, said on Tuesday that the miner plans to switch to renewable energy in five to seven years to power its operations. "We have plenty of thermal power (captive). The plant won't shut down tomorrow. It will take some time but we are committed to ensuring that the transition is successful over time," Agarwal stated at the FT Energy Transition Summit India, held in New Delhi. Agarwal stated that more than 90% of the emissions from the company are generated by thermal energy. Hindustan Zinc's thermal power capacity is 514 megawatts.
IRENA report: Record growth in renewables fuels cost-competitiveness
A report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency on Tuesday showed that solar, wind, and other renewable sources were cheaper than fossil fuels. This shows the competitiveness of these sources. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to meet climate change goals, countries are trying to reduce their reliance on fossil energy sources such as coal and natural gas. The U.N. Climate Meeting last year set the goal to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030. The goal would be to increase installed renewable energy capacities to at least 11,090 gigawatts by the end this decade.
Norway's Equinor cancels plans to export Blue Hydrogen to Germany
A spokesperson for Equinor, the Norwegian energy company, said that it had scrapped plans to ship so-called "blue hydrogen" to Germany due to its high cost and insufficient demand. In January 2022, Equinor signed an agreement with Germany's RWE to create a hydrogen supply network for German power plants in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Plans include producing blue hydrogen (hydrogen from natural gas combined with carbon capture and storing) in Norway, and exporting it via the first offshore hydrogen pipeline to gas-powered power plants in Germany that are ready for hydrogen.
Chevron CEO criticizes Biden's natural-gas policies and says fuel is essential for AI
Michael Wirth, CEO of Chevron, criticized U.S. president Joe Biden on Tuesday for "attacks" on the natural-gas industry. He also emphasized the critical role that Permian gas plays in accelerating the growth of artificial intelligence. The CEO's comments followed new plans by the government to ensure that power-hungry AI centers do not undermine U.S. Climate Goals. The White House created a taskforce on AI Datacenter Infrastructure last week to coordinate policies that align with government economic and environmental goals.
Developments in Clean Hydrogen Production
The recent release of proposed regulations to the Clean Hydrogen Production Credit by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS has stirred significant interest in the energy sector. These changes mark a pivotal moment in advancing towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy economy. Ongoing review and analysis will be crucial as stakeholders adapt to these regulations, reflecting the evolving landscape of clean hydrogen production and its role in achieving sustainability goals.What is hydrogen and why is it important?Hydrogen has been touted as the fuel of the future for years.
Poland's 2030 climate plan includes 56% renewable energy
The climate minister announced on Thursday that Poland aims to have 56% of its electricity come from renewable sources by 2030. She was presenting the draft national energy and climate plans, which Warsaw must submit to the European Commission. The target is lower than the pre-election promise of the largest party in government, that Poland would have upto 70% of green energy in the mix by 2030 but higher than the 50% Poland declared back in February. Paulina Hennig Kloska said at a press conference that "we are no longer fighting in government over the basic parameters of this plan.
Germany's automotive industry demands stricter climate targets from fuel suppliers
The VDA, the German auto association, said that Germany must go beyond EU fuel guidelines if it is to reach its goal of a climate-neutral transport by 2045. VDA stated in a press release that the EU's Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III), which was adopted late last season, isn't ambitious enough. Hildegard Müller, VDA president, said that politicians should create incentives to encourage the use of renewable energies and to ensure and promote investment. The German automotive industry wants to make sure that CO2-neutral fuels…
Exxon Secures Lead in top US Oilfield with $60B Buy of Shale Rival Pioneer
Exxon Mobil agreed to buy U.S. rival Pioneer Natural Resources in an all-stock deal valued at $59.5 billion that would make it the biggest producer in the largest U.S. oilfield and secure a decade of low-cost production.The deal, valued at $253 a share, combines the largest U.S. oil company with one of the most successful names to emerge from the shale revolution that turned the U.S. into the world's largest oil producer in little more than a decade.Exxon Chief Executive Darren Woods said in a media…
