** The US Energy Information Administration released preliminary estimates for January 2020 showing U.S. natural gas production totaled 3.0 quadrillion Btu which represented 36% of total U.S. energy production and natural gas accounted for 16% of country’s primary energy imports. ** EPA Administrator Michael Regan is appearing in both chambers this week, first before Senate EPW on Wednesday, then House …
Category: EPA
Supreme Court hears biofuels mandate involving Oklahoma refinery
The case is HollyFrontier Cheyenne Refining, LLC v. Renewable Fuels Association, 20-472. It’s an important one for CVR Energy, operator of the Wynnewood Refinery in Southern Oklahoma because it is part of the case being heard this week by U.S. Supreme Court justices. As OK Energy Today has reported previously, Wynnewood Refinery and HollyFrontier …
Energy news in brief
** American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers said Thursday the API supports the goals of the Paris Agreement to reduce global emissions and alleviate poverty. He said it also supports the Biden administration’s announcement for a new U.S. National Determined Contribution for the agreement. ** NextEra Energy Inc. wants to buy more power lines …
Groups petition EPA to end methane emissions exemptions
The Environmental Protection Agency was petitioned this week by hundreds of environmental groups to end ethane and methane emissions responsible for smog. The groups also want an end to exemptions for the emissions. A review of the hundreds of groups showed none apparently to be from Oklahoma. Some were from New Mexico. (click here …
Oil state senators urge EPA to waive RFS blending requirements
Oklahoma’s Republican U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe and James Lankford were among 13 republican oil state senators who urged EPA Administrator Michael Regan to use his general waiver authority to reduce Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements. The requirements are part of the U.S. Supreme Court challenge made by CVR Energy, operator of the Wynnewood refinery. …
Energy news in brief
** South Korea’s SK Innovation Co Ltd said on Tuesday it is considering all options including pulling its battery business out of the United States if President Joe Biden does not overturn a trade panel’s decision against it by April 11. ** Twenty-six people were arrested last week at a Line 3 pipeline protest in Minnesota, including some …
OK Sen. Inhofe opposed two more of Biden’s environmental nominees
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe was among the nine Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee who voted Wednesday against two more of President Biden’s environmental nominations. Inhofe voted against the nomination of Brenda Mallory to be chair of the Council on Environmental Quality and Janet McCabe to be the deputy administrator …
Energy news in brief
** Detroit-based Hercules Electric Vehicles is opening a $20 million Series A investment round to support product development, add employees, and scout for locations for facilities to produce components such as solid-state batteries. It is developing an electric sport pickup truck expected to be available late next year. ** Construction is expected to begin soon on a $5 million soybean …
Chesapeake Energy faces $1.9 million environmental fine in Pennsylvania
Oklahoma-based Chesapeake Energy is facing a nearly $2 million fine in Pennsylvania by federal and state regulators who claim the firm damaged dozens of wetlands and streams at its gas drilling sites in the state. State Impact Pennsylvania reported a federal complaint filed in Williamsport alleged that Chesapeake caused the environmental damage at 76 …
Will Regan’s EPA be a repeat of Obama policies?
Michael Regan might have won the praise of environmentalists for his work against the oil and gas industry in North Carolina where he headed that state’s environmental department, but he didn’t get the support of Oklahoma U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe and James Lankford when he was confirmed as head of the Environmental Protection Agency …