Energy Exchange

MethaneSAT brings key tool to oil & gas operators, gives stakeholders unprecedented transparency

By Andrew Baxter

Methane is now a central part of the oil & gas industry’s climate challenge. New regulations in the U.S and Europe, growing concern in Asia and mounting interest from investors and global gas markets mean increasing pressure to improve emissions performance. It was also a focal point in the COP28 climate talks, where 52 producers representing more than a third of global production joined the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter, pledging to reduce emissions to near zero and to eliminate routine flaring by 2030.

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Why Texas’ attempt to delay commonsense methane protections will only shoot itself – and the US oil and gas industry – in the foot.

By Elizabeth Lieberknecht

Texas’ primary oil and gas regulator, the Texas Railroad Commission, took the unfortunate — though not surprising — step last month of requesting legal action against EPA’s recently finalized commonsense methane rules. This is unfortunate because, once implemented, these rules will protect public health, limit climate change and energy waste. It is not surprising because the RRC (Texas’ oddly named oil and gas regulatory agency) has shown little interest in trying to rein in Texas’ massive problem with oil and gas methane pollution. Texas emits more oil and gas methane pollution than any other state. Despite repeated calls for more oversight from the state agency, the RRC continues to regularly approve permits to flare natural gas, a leading cause of methane pollution.  

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EDF’s new report looks at Non-Pipeline Alternatives to meet energy needs

 

By Magdalen Sullivan, Co-Authored by Erin Murphy 

Many states are adopting declining emission limits as a way to address the severe and growing dangers of the climate crisis, and that means state utility regulators are grappling with how to decarbonize energy systems, manage costs and meet demand.

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Why a strong ‘3 pillar’ framework makes sense for pivotal hydrogen tax credit

Hydrogen tank, solar panel and windmills on blue sky background. Sustainable and ecological energy concept. 3d illustration.

What does it mean for hydrogen to be clean? And will the emerging hydrogen economy be able to deliver the meaningful climate benefits it promises? The U.S Treasury is about to make a series of decisions that will determine the answer to these questions for the U.S region, and potentially others around the world who choose to follow by example.  

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Keep clean hydrogen clean

Hydrogen tank, solar panel and windmills on blue sky background. Sustainable and ecological energy concept. 3d illustration.

By Fred Krupp, Manish Bapna and Armond Cohen

Originally published in themessenger.com, December 2023 (no longer in circulation). 

It’s a make-or-break moment for hydrogen’s role in our clean energy future. Hailed for its potential to flexibly deliver energy without polluting the climate, hydrogen could be a valuable climate solution if we get it right. That’s why the Biden administration is deploying vast new incentives to jumpstart a new clean hydrogen economy. But hydrogen isn’t without risk, which is why the details of these programs matter.

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Flexible interconnection can optimize the grid and speed deployment of charging infrastructure

Electric truck with charging station

By Casey Horan

As the first blog in this series details, shorter interconnection timelines can be key to accelerating electric vehicle deployments and achieving decarbonization goals.  Luckily, there are currently available policy and technical solutions states can use to achieve timely interconnection, including: (1) hybrid interconnection; (2) flexible interconnection; and (3) ramped connection.  

The process of upgrading the grid can be lengthy, expensive and complex. For utilities, flexible interconnection can help bring down costs by optimizing existing grid infrastructure and deferring costly grid upgrades. Closing the gap between what the grid can accommodate and the scale of the energy resources that can be connected will benefit both utilities and customers. Here, we explore ways states can use flexible interconnection agreements to deploy EV chargers more quickly without putting excess stress on the grid.  

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