• Energy

US Exported Natural Gas Could Worsen Climate Change

• FERC
• flaring
• fracking
• LNG
• LNG exports
• methane
• natural gas
• PCB

While natural gas has been touted as a solution to the world’s fossil fuel problem, new analysis by NRDC shows that the U.S’ exporting of liquified natural gas (LNG) will only worsen global warming. When looking at the full life cycle emissions of different energy sources, U.S. LNG led to higher emissions than regional sources of LNG, pipeline gas, solar or wind power, and led only to slightly lower emissions than the use of coal. 

Why this Matters:  It seems increasingly clear that new natural gas infrastructure is controversial. Cities are taking action to ban natural gas from new buildings, and chefs are advertising the utility of electric stoves, but more must be done.

• Energy

Trump Administration Approves Four New LNG Terminals for South Texas

• endangered species
• Environmental Justice
• fossil fuels
• LNG

Moving full speed ahead on new fossil fuel infrastructure, the Trump Administration’s federal regulators approved permits for three new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals in the Rio Grande Valley and the expansion of another in Corpus Christi, according to the Houston Chronicle.  They do not have financing and final approvals yet, and a coalition of environmentalists, Native Americans, shrimpers, fishers, and communities working under the banner Save RGV From LNG are fighting the  Brownsville projects due to safety and environmental concerns.

Why This Matters:  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with President Trump’s appointees at the helm have sped through 11 LNG projects in the last 9 months alone.

• Energy

Secretary Perry and Rudy Giuliani Entangled In Ukraine Gas Company Scheme

• LNG
• oil and gas
• Ukraine

The Associated Press reported yesterday that Rudy Guiliani was pushing on behalf of clients to get a friendlier management team of U.S. businessmen installed at the top of the ‘”massive” Ukrainian state-owned gas company, Naftogaz.  Coincidentally, Energy Secretary Rick Perry was also lobbying the company to change its top management, which is why he asked President Trump to make the infamous call with President Zelensky.

Why This Matters:  The Trump administration’s corrupt relationship with the oil and gas industry is laid bare by this scandal — it explains why it has been so hard to take meaningful steps to move away from fossil fuels and address the climate crisis. 

• Energy

Climate Week Aside, Huge Deal to Export LNG to India Moving Ahead

• Climate Action Week
• LNG
• renewable energy
• Texas

Even while the world is trying to wean itself off fossil fuels and the major Democratic candidates promised to end fracking on federal land and to put a price on carbon, the Houston Business Journal reported that Houston-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Tellurian Inc. is entering into a multibillion-dollar deal to with an Indian […]

• Energy

FERC Reaches “Compromise” and Approves New LNG Export Terminal

• CO2
• FERC
• fracking
• GHGs
• LNG
• methane
• storms

For the first time in two years, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission late last week approved a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export project — the Calcasieu Pass in Cameron Parish, Louisiana — after the Commission’s two Republican commissioners and one of the two Democratic commissioners agreed to use a new approach for consideration of direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from LNG facilities. 

• Politics

Pipeline and LNG Terminal Project Puts Oregon Governor On the Spot

• climate change
• Colorado
• FERC
• fracking
• Governor Kate Brown
• LNG
• Oregon
• pipeline
• President Trump
• wetlands

In Oregon, there is a fossil fuel infrastructure project undergoing permitting and approval that is stirring up controversy, putting the newly re-elected Governor of the state, Kate Brown, on the spot over her campaign promise to tackle the issue of climate change.  The Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal and its Pacific Connector Gas pipeline would transport fracked natural gas from Colorado all the way to Oregon’s coast, where it would be super-cooled into liquid form and loaded on ships in the terminal bound for international markets.  A huge crowd of protesters attended a state hearing on the project expressed grave concerns about the large quantities of soil that would need to be displaced in order to install the proposed three-foot wide pipeline, spanning 229 miles, 78 wetlands, and 485 waterways across the state through four Oregon Counties.