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.
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.
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.
Hirono thermal power plant in Hirono, Fukushima, Japan
By Sofia Esquivel-Elizondo and Ilissa Ocko
Companies are announcing plans to use ammonia to decarbonize the power sector, because they view it as a carbon-free fuel that does not emit carbon dioxide and other carbon-based air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, when combusted.
But there are serious issues with this strategy, primarily because it doesn’t take ammonia production — which often requires fossil fuels — into account. Depending on how it is made, using ammonia for power generation can increase greenhouse gas emissions and be incompatible with temperature targets. And, even when production is clean, co-firing ammonia can be expensive, dangerous and worsen air quality.
As hundreds of fleet professionals from across the U.S. gather in Austin, TX this week for the American Trucking Association’s annual Management Conference and Exhibition, some may be arriving with a feeling of uncertainty about the pace of transition to zero-emission trucks.
While fleet managers have more tools at their disposal than ever before, the ambition of their efforts has grown significantly, too. Thus, it can feel as challenging as ever to make progress on reducing pollution from trucks at a pace that meets the urgent health and climate imperative we all face.
Fleets know they need to drive toward a zero-emission future. Yet, there is no one-size-fits-all pace, and there are as many paths as there are fleets. But long-term, performance-based medium and heavy-duty emission standards can help.
A paradox has become evident through many of my recent discussions and projects with fleets: while fleet managers have more tools at their disposal than ever before, the ambition of their efforts has grown significantly, too. Thus, it can feel as challenging as ever to make progress on reducing pollution from trucks at a pace that meets the urgent health and climate imperative we all face.
Fleets know they need to drive toward a zero-emission future. Yet, there is no one-size-fits-all pace, and there are as many paths as there are fleets. But long-term, performance-based medium and heavy-duty emission standards can help.
