Energy Transition

Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) revealed $100 million in funding for its Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program, a move applauded by the American Petroleum Institute (API).  The DOE’s newest program is to focus on research and development of new technologies needed to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and effectively combat climate change. …

Two Democratic state senators in California on Wednesday introduced legislation to ban various well stimulation technologies, including hydraulic fracturing (fracking), along with establishing a 2,500-foot setback for wells from the population. Its authors — state Sens. Scott Wiener (San Francisco) and Monique Limon (Santa Barbara) — characterize Senate Bill (SB) 467 as being a boost…

In a move likely to have implications for natural gas infrastructure projects moving forward, FERC is creating a senior position focused on environmental justice and equity issues. Chairman Richard Glick, a Democrat who was handed the gavel by the Biden administration last month, announced the new agency role late last week. While promising more details…

Major U.S. pipeline operator Energy Transfer LP said Wednesday it would pay $2.6 billion in an all-stock deal to acquire Enable Midstream Partners LP. Including debt, the transaction is valued at $7.2 billion. Energy Transfer, whose plan to expand the controversial Dakota Access crude oil pipeline has been met with repeated court challenges and setbacks,…

The Low-Carbon Resources Initiative (LCRI), a collaborative project from the Electric Power Research Institute Inc. (EPRI) and Gas Technology Institute (GTI), added its 33rd sponsor, achieving and exceeding its $100 million effort to develop alternatives to natural gas.  Utility holding company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and newest member, Xcel Energy joined the efforts of the…

Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp. is undeterred by increased pressure from climate change advocates to phase out fossil fuel use, CEO Linn Evans said Wednesday. During a conference call to discuss fourth quarter results, Evans discussed the impact by opponents to fossil fuels and whether that could impact the natural gas utilities. He said…

Energy Transfer LP said it formed a new business to develop alternative energy products as part of an ongoing effort to reduce its environmental footprint. The new operation, called the Alternative Energy Group, will focus on renewable energy projects such as solar and wind farms, either as a power purchaser or in partnership with third-party…

In a move likely to have implications for natural gas infrastructure projects moving forward, FERC is creating a senior position focused on environmental justice and equity issues. Chairman Richard Glick, a Democrat who was handed the gavel by the Biden administration last month, announced the new agency role on Thursday. While promising more details on…

In the most ambitious makeover in its century-old history, Royal Dutch Shell plc is throttling back oil production as it inches toward a low-carbon future, but for natural gas, global opportunities abound. During wide-ranging presentations on Thursday for the energy major’s Strategy Day, the executive team etched out a roadmap to retool, designed to reach…