The Biden administration is preparing for new oil and gas drilling, and the G7 has also sent a message in favor of natural gas.
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Interior set up to make the first oil lease sale under Biden
The Biden administration plans to sell leases for new oil and gas drilling on public land this week and will implement new regulations for producers.
- Important reason: The oil auction will be effectively the first of the government, as it was the only other lease sale thrown in court for environmental reasons.
- Where it’s happening: The government is expected to auction a plot of federal-owned land for excavation in seven western states: Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado. increase.
When announcing the sale in April, the Home Office said it had reduced the total amount of land available by 80% compared to the total amount of land it was initially considering selling.
The ministry also announced that it would raise the government’s fees for oil extracted by oil companies and raise royalties from the 12.5 percent previously charged on sales to 18.75 percent on new sales.
In a statement at the time, the ministry said the change would help “address flaws” in the program.
Not expected to affect oil supply: Lease sales are not expected to have an immediate impact on a country’s oil supply, as it takes an average of four years or more after a company acquires a lease to start producing oil.
- But when many Americans are suffering from soaring gasoline prices, sales optics can be important.
No one is too happy: Neither the industry nor the Green Group are particularly pleased with the sale, as many climate hawks did not want to sell on lease at all, while the industry wanted more land and less regulation.
Frank McKearola, senior vice president of policy, economic and regulatory issues at the American Petroleum Institute, said he was pleased with the government’s continued sales, but did not like its small size and other provisions. rice field.
“We are concerned that the number of parcels available will decrease, loyalty rates will increase, the government’s approach will be … limited when really bold things are needed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government’s decision to sell on lease has frustrated left-wing environmentalists who point out that increasing oil and gas drilling will exacerbate climate change.
“Why are they selling these leases given the climate impacts that the Biden administration itself is aware of?” Asked Michael Freeman, senior lawyer for Earthjustice.
Click here for details on future sales
G-7 approves investment in natural gas
The Group of Seven (G-7) supports investment in natural gas as many are trying to reduce their dependence on Russia’s fuels.
- In the communiqué published on Tuesday, a group of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States also helped increase fuel delivery.
- “In this context, and with the aim of accelerating the phasing out of Russia’s dependence on energy, we [liquified natural gas] We can acknowledge and play that we need to invest in this sector to respond to the current crisis, “their statement said.
The G7 countries elaborated that, in some cases, government investment in the gas sector could be “appropriate as a temporary response.”
Support for fossil fuels came as Russia moved to cut off gas supplies to some countries when it refused to pay in the Russian ruble.
Some repulsion: The Proponents of climate change argue that countries should move more to energy sources that do not contribute to global warming.
- Friends of the Earth A statement by Kate De Angelis, Director of International Financial Programs in the United States, said:
- “G7 countries have failed as true climate leaders by abandoning Glasgow’s commitment and maintaining LNG as an energy response,” said De Angelis.
So what else was there? The G7 memo said the group could do so by banning services that help Russian oil move over the sea unless Russian oil is bought below a certain price. It also included the idea of setting the aforementioned price cap on oil.
“For oil, we are considering a variety of approaches, including the option to comprehensively ban all services, allowing Russian maritime crude oil and petroleum products to be shipped globally unless purchased below the agreed price. We will consult with our international partners. “
He added that countries hope to establish an international “climate club” by the end of this year.
Read more about notes here
What’s in the gas in your home?
New research shows that natural gas used to power household stoves, kamado, and water may contain levels of cancer-related compounds that are toxic to residents when leaked. I already know.
- Published in Environmental Science & Technology on Tuesday, the study examined the composition of Boston’s “unburned” household gas, the gas that comes out of the kitchen stove when the appliance is turned on.
- The authors detected various concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while sampling natural gas supplies in more than 200 homes. Not only is it carcinogenic, it is also known to produce particulate matter and secondary air pollutants such as ozone.
Studies show that most related studies focus on methane, the main component of natural gas, and its impact on global warming, but what other air pollutants are in natural gas in the “end-of-life” of the home? Little research has been done on whether it exists to some extent.
From December 2019 to May 2021, researchers collected 234 unburned natural gas samples from 69 kitchen stoves and building pipelines throughout the Boston region, according to the study.
In these samples, 296 unique compounds were detected. Twenty-one of them have been designated by the federal government as dangerous air pollutants.
Read more from Hill’s Sharon Udasin
White House refuses to use federal land for abortion
White House spokesman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday that the Supreme Court’s decision to withdraw the Roe v. Wade case could have dangerous implications for providing abortion services on federal lands. I warned.
- Play status: The Biden administration is under pressure from progressives to take stricter actions in response to the overthrow of the Roe v. Wade case, including considering the use of federal land in states that oppose abortion.
- but: Jean-Pierre said doing so could expose the people who serve and receive it to legal and physical risks.
“I understand that this proposal is intended, but there is a problem here. It can actually endanger women and healthcare providers. And, importantly, abortion now. In states where is illegal, looking at federal lands could lead to women and health care providers who are not federal employees, “Jean Pierre told Air Force One reporters.
“Because they understand why they propose this proposal, doing this actually has dangerous implications,” she added.
Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts) and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (New York), can use federal land to the Biden administration for abortion in restricted states. I am asking you to make.
Read more here from Hill’s Alex Gun Guitarno
The signs of flint did not follow proper procedures, the court says
The Michigan Supreme Court said Tuesday that the grand jury consisted of a single judge, making it inappropriate to prosecute former Governor Rick Snyder and several other officials for water pollution in Flint. I ruled that there was.
The High Court unanimously overturned charges against eight others, including Snyder and former health director Nick Lion. The court stated that the Genesee County grand jury exceeded its legal authority by issuing an indictment.
State law “allows one grand jury to issue investigations, summons witnesses, and arrest warrants, but these laws allow that one grand jury to issue indictments to initiate criminal charges. I haven’t, “the court wrote. 6-0 decision.
- This decision remands the proceedings against the nine officials to the Genecy Circuit Court.
- Snyder will testify separately in a lawsuit against the two companies that advised the city during the water crisis. The former governor is expected to exercise his fifth amendment against self-incrimination.
“Flint citizens should know that these cases are not over. The opposite public commentary is presumptive and reckless. In our view, the court’s opinion is that of a grand jury. He interprets one person’s process and demands that he be prosecuted in the district court and include a preliminary hearing. ”
So what’s next for the prosecution? “Our team is ready to move the process forward. We have settled laws and used them for decades to prosecute nine defendants in the Flint water crisis. It relied on one grand jury’s established prosecution tool that has been. We still believe that these charges could and will be proved in court. ”
Learn more about development
Note quote
An area of disagreement between the White House and its external environmental justice advisers was government support for carbon recovery and nuclear projects.
Peggy shepherdCo-Chair of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Board, told Hill about his profile that these types of projects “should not be supported by the government.” She added that the administration’s support for them “makes us doubt their understanding of the problem.”
Read more about Shepherd’s activities and work with the Biden administration.
On tap tomorrow
House Expenditure Committee Marks Up Budget Legislation by Home Office and Environmental Protection Agency
What we are reading
- Oil producers usually turn on faucets to keep prices soaring. Here’s why it doesn’t work this time (CNN)
- A drought in California means less water is going around. Who wins the pursuit of water and who loses? (San Francisco Chronicle)
- A private investor betting on clean energy despite the market being sold out (Wall Street Journal)
- Pa. Waited for more than two years to test the well after finding nearby contaminants. Now this neighborhood is looking for an answer. (Spotlight PA)
- The city rejected a $ 500 million asphalt bid because of pollution concerns (Chicago Sun-Times)
💦 one more: John Oliver talks about western water
That’s it for today. Thank you for reading. For the latest news and coverage, visit Hill’s Energy and Environment page. See you tomorrow.
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