Energy Exchange

Four things fleet leaders should know about America’s grid and zero-emission trucks

By Jason Mathers and Pamela MacDougall / Published: November 8, 2023

Photo courtesy of North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency‘s proposed Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards are poised to add yet another spark to the medium- and heavy-duty truck industry’s acceleration toward low- and zero-emission trucks.

Whereas many of the incentives included in the Inflation Reduction Act are intended to spark demand for zero-emission trucks, EPA’s proposed truck rule, when finalized, could help to ensure there will be a robust supply of low- and zero-emission solutions for fleets. In EPA’s proposal for these technology-neutral performance standards, the agency projects manufacturers could meet the standards through increasing market shares for zero-emission trucks. For example, in 2030, this could help ensure that 27% of medium-duty vocational trucks – like parcel delivery step vans, and 20% of tractor-trailer day cabs will be ZEVs.

Posted in General / Authors: jasonmathers, pmacdougall / Comments are closed

A tale of two resolutions: Exxon vs. Coterra, what investors got wrong

By Dominic Watson and Andrew Howell / Published: November 3, 2023

This summer, many of the world’s largest asset managers publicly disclosed their voting records from this spring on climate shareholder resolutions, and the results indicate a worrisome trend. Many failed to support ambitious climate proposals — and some stumbled even on the simple ones, like calling for better methane emission data. Read More »

Posted in General / Authors: dwatson, ahowell / Comments are closed

New study shows need for accurate methane measurement at orphan oil wells and throughout industry

By Adam Peltz / Published: October 31, 2023

New research from Colorado State University reveals significant quantities of methane leaking from the state’s orphaned oil and gas wells — an urgent problem for the state to address as the number of abandoned oil and gas wells have surged in recent months. This study underlines the importance of both the state’s efforts to plug and remediate orphan wells as well as the efforts underway at the state Air Pollution Control Division to better understand and quantify methane emissions from oil and gas wells in the production sector.

Posted in Methane regulatons / Authors: apeltz / Comments are closed

Helping new hydrogen hubs sidestep risks, deliver on climate promise

By Morgan Rote / Published: October 30, 2023

The Department of Energy has announced the list of selectees under its $7 billion Hydrogen Hubs program. If they successfully conclude final negotiations with DOE, projects will receive funding to create close-proximity networks of hydrogen producers, consumers, and connective infrastructure as part of the Biden administration’s ambitious climate and clean energy effort.

Posted in General / Authors: mrote / Comments are closed

How the Inflation Reduction Act will help drive major methane emissions reductions

By Edwin LaMair and Sophie Osborn / Published: October 25, 2023

A pumpjack (oil derrick) and oil refinery in Seminole, West Texas.

Coming off yet another summer of record-breaking heat, it’s clear that climate action can’t wait. The world is hunting for solutions that can deliver on speed and scale, so there is more and more international attention on reducing oil and gas methane emissions as a crucial part of our climate approach.

The International Energy Agency just released a new report confirming that in order to prevent the worst impacts of climate change we must rapidly cut oil and gas methane emissions alongside reducing demand. Oil and gas methane is set to be a hot issue at COP 28, and the Environmental Protection Agency will soon finalize new regulations for reducing industry emissions.

Posted in General / Authors: elamair, sosborn / Comments are closed

New Louisiana rule will plug old oil wells, create jobs, safeguard environment

By Adam Peltz / Published: October 20, 2023

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources has finalized new rules to help improve management of 17,000 non-productive oil and gas wells by encouraging their proper closure —an action that will create jobs, raise property values across the state and facilitate new clean energy projects.

Louisiana has a long history of oil and gas development, with 50,000 wells distributed across the state and along the coast. The state has a responsibility to ensure none of these wells become an environmental or economic liability.

A long-abandoned oil well sits off Louisiana’s coast

About a third of these wells are non-producing but registered as having future utility, meaning the operator claims that they could be economically productive in the future. As a result, the operator isn’t required to plug the well. However, once wells are idled for more than three years, just one in five ever return to service. Often they will only see a tiny fraction of their former production levels.

Unplugged wells cause a host of economic, environmental and even public health and safety problems. They can leak methane and toxic air pollution, contaminate water, reduce property values and prevent other economic uses of the land.

Posted in Methane, Methane regulatons / Comments are closed