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Brendan Gibbons
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December 7, 2023
Biden Administration proposes to allow disposal of carbon waste beneath national forests
The Biden Administration’s U.S. Forest Service recently proposed a regulatory change related to carbon capture and sequestration, a technology meant to remove or keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Critics of the proposal say that the Forest Service would be granting fossil fuel and carbon disposal companies access to public property for decades, possibly forever, in support of a technology that has not been proven on a large scale and which some call a false solution.
Brendan Gibbons
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December 1, 2023
Houston smog worst in 12 years, hitting Latino, Black and lower-income neighborhoods hardest
Air monitoring data show that Houston’s air quality violated health-based standards on 55 days in 2023, more than any other year since 2011. Scorching temperatures combined with emissions, in part from vehicles, oil refineries, chemical plants, and other sources, triggered a rise in ozone across the region. Although smoggy air affects almost everyone, Houston air monitoring data show that Latino and Black neighborhoods and low-income communities were hit the hardest.
Brendan Gibbons
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November 21, 2023
Report calls chemical recycling a ‘dangerous deception’ meant to shield the plastics industry
A new report by the environmental group Beyond Plastics takes aim at chemical plastics recycling. It's a rapidly-spreading industry with 11 facilities operating across the U.S. that turn plastic waste into fuel or raw ingredients for new plastics. At least 31 more of these facilities are now planned. Chemical recycling leads to energy waste and toxic air and water pollution, often in minority neighborhoods and low-income areas already struggling with a heavy industrial presence, the report states.
Ari Phillips
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November 14, 2023
Biologist encounters oil-spewing pipe while researching biodiversity in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s not an isolated incident.
A group of researchers was on a boat returning from a biodiversity monitoring outing in the Mississippi Delta’s Barataria Bay just south of New Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 21, when they noticed a unplugged well spewing oil into the bay. They reported the spill. Unfortunately, unplugged or abandoned wells like this are common in the Gulf of Mexico, where the number of abandoned or broken wells exceeds 14,000.
Brendan Gibbons
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November 1, 2023
Texas voters to decide whether to funnel $10 billion in taxpayer money to natural gas power plants
Next week, Texas voters will decide whether to amend the state’s constitution to provide $10 billion in taxpayer money to build more natural gas-fired power plants – a new subsidy for fossil fuels in a state that already gets most of its electricity from natural gas. The measure on the ballot on Tuesday, known as Proposition 7, would create a “Texas energy fund” that would be used to provide grants and low-interest loans to companies building natural gas plants. Critics say the program would create a never-ending flow of taxpayer money to the natural gas industry.
Ari Phillips
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October 25, 2023
Major carbon pipeline is cancelled as opposition grows and regulations remain elusive
Carbon dioxide accumulation is a big problem in the atmosphere. But increasingly, pipelines carrying CO2 underground are also raising objections, including from state governments, creating a roadblock to a major Biden Administration climate strategy. South Dakota and North Dakota recently denied permits for carbon pipelines, triggering the cancellation last week of a 1,300-mile carbon pipeline across five Midwestern states. Meanwhile, a dozen Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to President Biden demanding a moratorium on all new carbon pipelines until federal safety regulations are updated.
Alexandra Shaykevich
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October 18, 2023
World’s largest fertilizer factory plans major expansion, despite record of pollution and chemical accidents
The Donaldsonville Nitrogen Complex in southeastern Louisiana is the largest fertilizer plant in the world. It is also the state’s largest source of greenhouse gases and toxic air and water pollution. The plant is responsible for 185 accidental releases of chemicals since 2006 into a neighborhood that is three quarters Black or Latino. Despite the harm to the local community, CF Industries is planning a major expansion.
Brendan Gibbons
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October 12, 2023
Oil & gas companies and investors placing big bets on federally-subsidized carbon capture projects
The world’s largest energy financiers – including oil and gas majors like ExxonMobil and Chevron – are investing billions of dollars in technology intended to capture carbon dioxide. Many supporters of carbon capture and storage see the technology as a path to lessen the climate impact of major industries and to offset the carbon dioxide emissions from major companies whose shareholders are pushing them towards carbon neutrality. But it remains unclear how many of these projects will become a reality or work.
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Project Updates
Updates for the week of Dec. 4, 2023
Environmental assessment issued for gas pipeline expansion in Alabama and Georgia
FERC conducting scoping on proposed East Texas pipeline capacity expansion
Liquified natural gas storage site proposed in southern Virginia
Application submitted to increase plastic resin production near Houston
Enbridge announces plans to expand capacity along major Texas crude pipeline
Reports
North Carolina county commissioners vote to approve Dominion natural gas facility despite community's protest
December 5, 2023
Hydrogen industry raises alarm over leaked U.S. tax credit rules
December 4, 2023
Louisiana carbon capture project on Lake Maurepas draws increasing opposition
December 3, 2023
Carbon capture and storage in Texas
October 25, 2023
The Fertilizer Boom: America's Rapidly Growing Nitrogen and Fertilizer Industry and its Impact on the Environment and Public Safety
April 17, 2023
The Polluter's Playbook: How Loopholes and Lax Enforcement Harm Air Quality in Texas
March 23, 2023
Oil's Unchecked Outfalls
January 27, 2023
Playing with Fire: The Climate Impact of the Rapid Growth of LNG
June 9, 2022
Benzene Pollution at Oil Refinery Fencelines
May 12, 2022
The Advocate’s Guide to Effective Participation in Environmental Permit Proceedings
April 22, 2022
Recent Media
North Carolina county commissioners vote to approve Dominion natural gas facility despite community's protest
December 5, 2023
Hydrogen industry raises alarm over leaked U.S. tax credit rules
December 4, 2023
Louisiana carbon capture project on Lake Maurepas draws increasing opposition
December 3, 2023
Carbon capture and storage in Texas
October 25, 2023
The Fertilizer Boom: America's Rapidly Growing Nitrogen and Fertilizer Industry and its Impact on the Environment and Public Safety
April 17, 2023
The Polluter's Playbook: How Loopholes and Lax Enforcement Harm Air Quality in Texas
March 23, 2023
Oil's Unchecked Outfalls
January 27, 2023
Playing with Fire: The Climate Impact of the Rapid Growth of LNG
June 9, 2022
Benzene Pollution at Oil Refinery Fencelines
May 12, 2022
The Advocate’s Guide to Effective Participation in Environmental Permit Proceedings
April 22, 2022
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Brendan Gibbons
Oil & Gas Watch Reporter
Ari Phillips
Senior Writer and Editor
Tom Pelton
Director of Communications
Alexandra Shaykevich
Oil & Gas Research Manager
Lottie Mitchell
Research Analyst
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