The Southwest Power Pool and the U.S. Department of Energy just received another warning shot across their bows. The first came this week from Gov. Kevin Stitt when he suggested “unplugging” from the SPP because of its regional electrical transmission lines proposed across the state. He vowed to fight any use of eminent domain to …
Category: EPA
Energy briefs
** ExxonMobil is preparing to join the power generation business, seeing an opportunity to support the electricity supply for energy-intensive data centers. The company on Dec. 11 said it is designing what was referred to as a “massive” natural gas-fired power plant that would be dedicated to producing power for data centers. ** ExxonMobil has announced …
Justices displayed possible support for oil railway fought by Colorado
With Justice Neil Gorsuch recused from hearing the case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in Colorado’s fight against a proposed 88-mile railway to move oil from Utah and into Colorado. Some observers say based on questions from the justices, they appeared to lean in favor of supporters of the Uinta Basin …
Energy briefs
** On Tuesday the U.S. House passed bipartisan ‘Good Samaritan’ abandoned mine cleanup legislation by voice vote. The bill passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in July, and President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law. ** Texas researchers investigate a spike in seismic activity in the Permian Basin and its connection to the injection of roughly 50 billion barrels …
Millions more from Biden administration for critical materials
From Texas to North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and seven other states, but not Oklahoma, they will receive another energy handout worth millions of dollars from the outgoing Biden administration. The Department of Energy announced announced an investment of $17 million across 14 projects that will accelerate critical materials innovation while promoting safe, sustainable, economic, …
Energy briefs
** Kentucky U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, a longtime defender of the state’s coal industry, is selected to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, beating out Ohio Rep. Bob Latta. ** The Biden administration schedules an oil and gas lease sale for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge offering 400,000 acres — the minimum allowed by a 2017 …
Supreme Court to hear arguments Tuesday in Utah oil railway project
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday morning on opposition to an 88-mile proposed railway to carry oil from Utah and across Colorado—oil that in some cases is intended for Oklahoma’s Cushing Hub. Analysts and some environmentalists wonder if the eventual decision will drastically change how projects are permitted nationwide. Ever since the …
Energy briefs
** The state of Oregon has advanced its sustainability efforts by approving the Sunstone Solar project, which will span about 10,000 acres in Morrow County. Set to be the largest of its kind in the U.S., the project will use nearly 4 million solar panels to generate 1,200 megawatts of power—enough to provide clean, emission-free electricity to …
Energy briefs
** The Biden administration has made a precedent-setting arrest related to anti-climate change activities this fiscal year, highlighted in a new report that shows a ramped-up enforcement effort against environmental offenses. The AIM Act led to the arrest of Michael Hart, of San Diego, in March on charges related to “smuggling potent greenhouse gases,” highlighted in …
New Mexico hits oil company with $48 million fine over environmental violations
New Mexico environmental regulators have hit Targa Northern Delaware LLC with a nearly $48 million fine and orders to do nearly $140 million in completion of projects and improvements to a processing plant. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) initiated an enforcement action against Targa Northern Delaware, LLC, a subsidiary of Houston, Texas-based natural gas …