DeSmogBlog

JANUARY 8, 2024

Photos I shot last year in South Louisiana illustrate the Gulf Coast’s rapidly expanding fossil fuel industry, and the groundswell of frontline community members, environmental advocates, and activists fighting to stop it. Credit: Julie Dermansky. Flight provided by Southwings. If the U.S.

Fossil fuels 121

Fossil fuels Building Energy Monitoring Home Energy Monitoring Hydrogen 121

DeSmogBlog

AUGUST 29, 2022

The push to sell “blue hydrogen” as a clean energy fuel — which experts have called a misleading rebrand of fossil fuels — hit another setback this month. Climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 are bringing new economic headwinds to the gas-derived hydrogen fuel’s prospects.

Building Energy Monitoring 98

Building Energy Monitoring Hydrogen Energy Monitor Natural gas 98

DeSmogBlog

JUNE 29, 2022

Properly plugging and abandoning oil and gas wells is vital to protect the environment and stop methane leaks – but for decades, oil operators have often slipped away without paying to clean up, leaving millions of deteriorating abandoned wells across the U.S. Ranking Louisiana’s Orphan Wells. Credit: Julie Dermansky. Credit: Julie Dermansky.

Pollution 98

Pollution Building Energy Monitoring Methane Home Energy Monitoring 98

DeSmogBlog

FEBRUARY 17, 2023

Air Products, a global hydrogen manufacturing company, is proposing to build a $4.5 billion “Clean Energy Complex” to manufacture blue hydrogen and an accompanying carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) project, that would be operational by 2026. Credit: Julie Dermansky Spoonbill in a wildlife management area, next to Lake Maurepas.

Carbon 98

Carbon Building Energy Monitoring Fossil fuels Hydrogen 98

R-Squared Energy

MAY 5, 2024

Department of Energy has finalized a rule banning fossil fuels from new and renovated federal buildings. The law requires federal buildings and major renovations to phase out fossil fuel-generated energy consumption by 2030.

Building Energy Monitoring 60

Building Energy Monitoring Home Energy Monitoring Business Energy Monitoring Solar Energy Monitor 60

DeSmogBlog

AUGUST 13, 2021

However, while on the surface it may appear to be a positive shift towards lowering the greenhouse gas impact of their projects, the rhetoric about carbon-neutral LNG is mostly hollow, in another attempt to greenwash new fossil fuel projects into existence. Thames is a former executive at Cheniere Energy, a prominent U.S.

Carbon-neutral 98

Carbon-neutral Methane Building Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor 98

Latham's Clean Energy Law Report

MARCH 11, 2021

In December 2018, after having successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector by 53.3%, a majority of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) jurisdictions announced plans to design a program to address carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels. Background. Core Principles and Mechanism.

Transportation 52

Transportation Carbon Energy Monitor Building Energy Monitoring 52

DeSmogBlog

APRIL 15, 2021

When Laura Briggs and her husband finally found their dream home in West Texas, they knew they’d be sharing space with the oil industry. However, the family did see the wells leaking oil and gushing produced water — an industry byproduct that’s often imbued with hazardous chemicals. This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.

Methane 98

Methane Building Energy Monitoring Home Energy Monitoring Business Energy Monitoring 98

DeSmogBlog

APRIL 15, 2021

When Laura Briggs and her husband finally found their dream home in West Texas, they knew they’d be sharing space with the oil industry. However, the family did see the wells leaking oil and gushing produced water — an industry byproduct that’s often imbued with hazardous chemicals. This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.

Methane 89

Methane Building Energy Monitoring Home Energy Monitoring Business Energy Monitoring 89

DeSmogBlog

AUGUST 31, 2021

“This process adds to air pollution because it leads to flaring off excess toxic gases , together with natural gas and oxygen, to keep the chemicals from building up to dangerous pressures.”. Black carbon released by flares can be a powerful — if short-lived — greenhouse gas in its own right. Credit: Julie Dermansky. In 2018, the U.S.

Home Energy Monitoring 98

Home Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor Building Energy Monitoring Carbon-negative 98

DeSmogBlog

APRIL 29, 2021

In his spare time, David Levy, owner of Petrotechnologies, a company that makes specialty parts for the oil and gas industry, monitors the fossil fuel industry across southwest Louisiana from the sky. Canals cut by the oil and gas industry in the Atchafalaya Basin that are no longer used.

Methane 98

Methane Energy Monitor Building Energy Monitoring Fossil fuels 98

DeSmogBlog

FEBRUARY 23, 2022

After the Biden administration’s bipartisan infrastructure law was passed , the administration hailed the bill’s $4.7 billion package to cap orphaned oil and gas wells as a move to tackle “super-polluting methane emissions,” saying it will combat the climate crisis and create jobs. Who Writes the Bills That Become Law?

Methane 98

Methane Building Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor Law 98

DeSmogBlog

JULY 18, 2021

An organization run by former Obama-era Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, with the backing of the AFL-CIO, a federation of 56 labor unions, has created a policy “blueprint” to build a nationwide pipeline network capable of carrying a gigaton of captured carbon dioxide (CO2).

Building Energy Monitoring 98

Building Energy Monitoring Carbon Energy Monitor Business Energy Monitoring 98

DeSmogBlog

AUGUST 23, 2022

The newly enacted Inflation Reduction Act contains the world’s first-ever fee on methane, a powerful greenhouse gas believed to be responsible for roughly 30 percent of global temperature rise since the Industrial Revolution. billion in financial incentives to clean up their methane.”

Methane 78

Methane Building Energy Monitoring Home Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor 78

DeSmogBlog

JULY 14, 2022

The complex contains a circuit board of pipes and steel tanks that cough out steam, flames and toxic substances as it creates the building blocks for plastic from natural gas liquids. The plant is the first joint venture in the Americas between Saudi Basic Industries Corp., Remnants can be found in the tissues of humans.

Plastics 98

Plastics Energy Monitor Building Energy Monitoring Home Energy Monitoring 98

DeSmogBlog

APRIL 22, 2021

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for toxic Superfund sites and uranium mills, where fuel for nuclear bombs was once assembled. The oil and gas industry produces an extraordinary amount of waste. Adjacent is the Prospero 2 project, whose power has been purchased by a medical services company. Credit: Justin Hamel ©2021.

Waste 98

Waste Waste Building Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor 98

DeSmogBlog

DECEMBER 10, 2021

Despite countless investigations , lawsuits , social shaming , and regulations dating back decades, the oil and gas industry remains formidable. It taught the industry how to sell a dangerous and unnecessary product as if it were something useful and even fun. After all, it has made consuming its products seem like a human necessity.

Building Energy Monitoring 95

Building Energy Monitoring Fossil fuels Energy Monitor Solar Energy Monitor 95

EDF + Business

AUGUST 1, 2023

Private-sector investment in clean energy is soaring , driven by the Inflation Reduction Act. Read on for opportunities to celebrate and defend the IRA, support the EPA’s power plant rule, and advance market-based climate policy in New York State, and for more good news at the end. Happy Anniversary, Inflation Reduction Act!

Business Energy Monitoring 40

Business Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor Building Energy Monitoring Policy 40

DeSmogBlog

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) was high on the agenda at New York Climate Week last week, where critics of the technology raised concerns it would be used to extend the life of the fossil fuel industry. The data showed us that their carbon capture plans are not working at scale.” What actually happened: It worked.

Fossil fuels 145

Fossil fuels Carbon Building Energy Monitoring Business Energy Monitoring 145

DeSmogBlog

JUNE 15, 2023

Though the storm didn’t devastate the city, 11 of the deaths attributed to Ida were residents who remained in the city and had no way out after power failed. Many were without power for over a week. Venture Global stated via email that it plans to raise the ramp if need be and that it has a separate power source for it.

Building Energy Monitoring 97

Building Energy Monitoring Home Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor Fossil fuels 97

DeSmogBlog

OCTOBER 14, 2021

This week, environmental advocates addressed intensifying fossil fuel pollution, climate injustices, and the Biden administration’s failure to take the lead on climate change solutions during the People vs. Fossil Fuels protests in Washington, D.C. Law enforcement arrested 55 Indigenous leaders.

Fossil fuels 98

Fossil fuels Building Energy Monitoring Pollution Home Energy Monitoring 98

Climate Tech VC

MARCH 11, 2024

Consider this an important first, a base to build further disclosure mandates off of, and a harbinger of the increasing politicization of investing and climate.  In deals there’s $283m for electrolyzers across two deals, $16m for energy efficient processors, and $11m for DAC.    Thanks for reading!

Business Energy Monitoring 61

Business Energy Monitoring Building Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor Solar Energy Monitor 61

DeSmogBlog

JULY 1, 2021

In June, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) narrowly approved the construction of a new 42” diameter gas pipeline that will connect shale wells in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Ohio to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the Gulf Coast, carrying over a billion cubic feet of fracked gas to be transported overseas every day.

Construction 98

Construction Building Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor Home Energy Monitoring 98

R-Squared Energy

AUGUST 18, 2022

Last week Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Let’s discuss the energy provisions in the bill. Before reading through the bill, I like to get a feel for the kinds of energy programs it addresses. “Biofuel” appears 11 times.

Building Energy Monitoring 60

Building Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor Home Energy Monitoring Business Energy Monitoring 60

DeSmogBlog

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

Only 3 percent of the Wyoming project’s CO2 has been geologically stored in the same formation from which the original gas was extracted, according to estimates from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). During a landmark congressional hearing in October 2021, Democratic Rep. Credit: SaskPower , CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Carbon 98

Carbon Fossil fuels Building Energy Monitoring Business Energy Monitoring 98

Business Green

AUGUST 14, 2020

The Trump administration stepped up its pre-election effort to roll back environmental regulations this week, confirming plans to axe methane emissions standards for the oil and gas industry and signalling further such moves are on the cards ahead of polling day in November. You want to wash your hands, the water doesn't come out.

Methane 63

Methane Business Energy Monitoring Building Energy Monitoring Energy Monitor 63