News Clips 6/23/23

Weekly News Clips

Week of 6.19 – 6.23.23

National/International:

U.S. Pipeline Giant: Energy Transition Will Need More Natural Gas Infrastructure

• U.S. natural gas infrastructure will have to expand so that gas can serve as a backup power generation fuel amid soaring wind and solar capacity in the energy transition, says the chief executive of the pipeline giant handling one-third of U.S. gas deliveries.

European gas prices are soaring again. Full tanks should avert a new energy crisis

• Europe’s natural gas prices have shot up by more than half so far in June following months of declines, in a troubling reminder of last year’s energy crisis.

Republicans want to cut rural energy program they once loved

• Republicans cut $500 million from the program to express disapproval over last year’s Inflation Reduction Act — and at one point considered doubling the reduction. Advocates were caught off guard.

House spending bill targets climate, gas stove rules

• House Republicans are using their Financial Services-General Government spending bill to attack a Biden administration rule for publicly traded companies to disclose climate change-related risks and greenhouse gas emissions.

A majority of Americans are against banning gas stoves

• A majority of 69% of Americans are against a ban on gas stoves, a poll conducted by the Harvard Center for American Political Studies and Harris.

State/Regional:

A Pa. community wins a reprieve on toxic fracking wastewater

• Update on Grant Township – Pa General Energy plugging well; charter lawsuit Pa Supreme Court; and what this means for the state.

Secretive state climate talks stir discontent with Pennsylvania governor

• Three weeks after he was elected governor of Pennsylvania last fall, Josh Shapiro held a press conference at the county courthouse in Montrose, Pa., to announce what he called a “historic” settlement with the oil and gas company Coterra Energy. Coterra would pay $16.29 million to build a public water line in Dimock, a small town where Coterra’s fracking operations were blamed for contaminating the water, and would plead no contest to a misdemeanor charge under the Clean Streams Law.

PUC Vice Chairman: During Winter Storm Elliot We Learned Natural Gas Can Be An Intermittent Generator Of Electricity Just Like Renewables

• Public Utility Commission Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille told the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee Winter Storm Elliot has again demonstrated extreme weather can have a significant impact on electric grid operations in terms of reliability and resilience. Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware) noted the PUC’s testimony said natural gas provides 53% of elected generation in Pennsylvania in 2021, nuclear power 33%, coal just 12% and renewables and other sources the remainder.

Bill To Decrease Natural Gas Use Stalls

• Legislation to hasten New York’s transition away from natural gas isn’t likely to become law this year — but that doesn’t mean the proposal won’t be back in 2024.

CNX to sell $125M in assets

• Natural gas producer CNX Resources Corp. will sell about $125 million in oil and gas assets to an unspecified third party, the Canonsburg-based company disclosed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

PUC Details $279 Million Distribution of Gas Drilling Impact Fees

• The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today posted detailed information about this year’s distribution of impact fees on natural gas producers – totaling $278,881,450 – on the PUC’s Act 13 website.

Ohio's largest oil producer partners with Muskingum Watershed to boost community and environment

• The largest oil producer in Ohio has ignited a partnership in Harrison County that will support the community and environment. Encino Energy and the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy Foundation will work on local legacy projects in the area.

Ohio natural gas and oil will continue to be needed for modern life: Rob Brundrett

Opinion Article