Climate Change

Potentially clearing the way for stricter regulations for oil and natural gas operations, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution to undo the Trump administration’s rollback of methane emissions standards. By a 52-42 roll call vote divided largely along party lines, passage of Senate Joint Resolution 14 signaled disapproval under the Congressional Review Act,…

NextEra Energy Inc. is diving into the renewable natural gas (RNG) game with plans to develop a landfill gas capture facility with fuels distributor Opal Fuels LLC. The utility, the self-described world’s largest producer of wind and solar energy, plans to work with Opal to replace an existing power generation facility with a new RNG…

Oil and natural gas industry leaders and politicians railed against President Biden’s decision to freeze oil and gas lease sales on federal lands and waters through at least June during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Tuesday. Government officials, meanwhile, defended the pause as a necessary step as they review the program…

Energy stakeholders endorsed President Biden’s strengthening of U.S. climate change commitments on Thursday, but they also stressed the importance of natural gas in achieving deep decarbonization of the economy. Biden said Thursday the United States will target a 50-52% reduction in economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by 2030 versus 2005 levels. The announcement, made during…

Valero Energy Corp., whose renewable fuels arm is expanding, signaled Thursday that the most efficient way to reduce U.S. emissions could be via a carbon tax. The San Antonio-based global refining giant’s management team shared a microphone to discuss first quarter performance and the outlook for the year. Valero has plenty of skin in the…

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set a carbon emissions reduction target of 40-45% by 2030 for Canada, matching the goal declared Thursday by President Biden at the virtual global climate change summit. “Canada understands that if you don’t have a plan to tackle climate change, then you don’t have a plan to create jobs and economic…

EQT Corp., the nation’s largest natural gas producer, is pushing to ensure most of its Appalachian Basin supply is responsibly sourced and marketed as the globe transitions from fossil fuels. The pilot program, set to be launched this month, is designed to certify around 4 Bcf/d gross from 200-plus well pads in Pennsylvania’s Greene and…

Natural gas futures advanced for a fourth consecutive session on Monday as a bout of chilly spring weather was forecast to sweep across large swaths of the Lower 48, likely providing a boost for demand and cash prices. The May Nymex contract settled at $2.561/MMBtu, up 3.5 cents day/day. June climbed 3.8 cents to $2.643.…

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday signed into law climate change legislation to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. “Climate change is an urgent challenge that requires action, and this legislation will reduce emissions in Massachusetts for decades to come while also ensuring the commonwealth remains economically competitive,” Baker said. The new law, which passed…