Morgan Evans

Southern Company’s Nicor Gas has gained approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to move forward with a pilot project to test delivering renewable natural gas (RNG) through its distribution system.  Through the Renewable Gas Interconnection (RGI) Pilot, RNG producers within Nicor’s service area may use the service agreement to supply gas through the utility’s…

Last week, Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) went airborne to survey methane emissions at major oil and gas sites in the Denver-Julesburg Basin.  This was the first of many flights scheduled for 2021, according to CDPHE. Aerial monitoring will continue over Boulder, Weld and Larimer counties, with more concentrated aerial surveys in…

In a move to lower its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Michigan public utility Consumers Energy announced it would purchase four natural gas-fired power plants as it aims to transition away from coal by 2025.  Pending state and federal regulatory approvals, Consumers Energy has proposed purchasing the 1,176 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle Covert Generating Station…

Seneca Resources Co. LLC and NexTier Oilfield Solutions Inc. have begun a comparative carbon emissions assessment for various natural gas- and diesel-fired hydraulic fracturing (frack) equipment.  Houston-based Seneca, the exploration and production (E&P) arm of National Fuel Gas Co., produces natural gas and oil in California, the Marcellus and Utica shales.  The E&P would lead…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) may consider a grid system that sources locally produced energy for regions, otherwise known as energysheds, as indicated by its latest request for information (RFI).  Unlike an energyshed, the current energy transmission system can carry voltage produced at a power plant to its final destination over about 300 miles.…

Chevron Corp., Royal Dutch Shell plc, and TotalEnergies SE are taking to the skies with Canada’s GHGSat as part of a year-long research project to detect offshore methane (CH4) leaks by satellite. The three supermajors are supporting the project by allowing six of their offshore facilities to be observed, including ones in the North Sea…

The United States saw the largest recorded annual decrease in overall energy consumption last year, falling from 100 quadrillion (quad) Btu in 2019 to 93 quad in 2020, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). However, renewable energy demand grew. The Covid-19 pandemic and other economic factors played a significant role in reducing energy consumption,…

Xcel Energy Inc. and NRG Energy Inc. recently reported carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions of more than 50% from baseline levels and unveiled new goals centered on electric vehicles as the utilities continue to search for ways to lower their emissions footprints. In its 16th annual sustainability report, Xcel reported a 51% CO2 reduction from electricity…

Delta Biofuels Inc. expects to begin groundwork later this year on a $70 million renewable fuel plant that would utilize excess sugarcane pulp, or bagasse, as feedstock. In December, the subsidiary of Tasso Renewable Energy began working with the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) to acquire a pellet plant in Jeanerette, aka Sugar City. According to…