Latest news with #naturalgas
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Louisiana bill would redefine gas as ‘green' amid Trump energy push
A Louisiana bill passed by the state legislature would allow natural gas to be redefined as 'green energy' and instruct utility companies to use energy produced using hydrocarbons, the main component of fossil fuels. Known as HB692, the bill says that the criteria for what is deemed 'green energy' would include energy generated by nuclear reactors, natural gas, and by biomass and renewable energy or hydrocarbons 'when combusted for the purpose of electricity generation meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the authority of the Clean Air Act.' 'Green energy as defined in this Subsection shall be applicable to all state programs that fund 'green energy' or 'clean energy' initiatives,' it said. Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to sign it into law later this month. It was sponsored by Rep. Jacob Landry, a fellow Republican. But, critics of the plan say that there's nothing green about fossil fuel production. 'There's nothing clean or green about continued extraction of carbon from underground, whatever the flavor is,' James Hiatt, a former oil and gas worker from Calcasieu Parish and founder of For a Better Bayou, told The Lens. 'For them to categorize [hydrocarbons] as green is just a blatant lie by lobbyists for the oil and gas industry.' The governor asserted in an executive order last year that natural gas in Louisiana is 'affordable, clean, and reliable.' On Wednesday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright – and former Liberty Energy CEO – said Louisiana would "become a larger exporter of liquefied natural gas than any nation on Earth,' according to Notably, a $28 million liquified natural gas export project broke ground in the Bayou State earlier this month, according to Offshore Energy. Natural gas is a fossil fuel energy source that is largely made up of methane, in addition to carbon dioxide and water vapor. Methane is a hydrocarbon and one of the worst greenhouse gases. It is second only to carbon dioxide in its contribution to climate change, and scientists say methane emissions have been rising faster than ever. Greenhouse gases trapped in Earth's atmosphere are responsible for rising global temperatures, and last year was the warmest on record. But, climate change has been a threat that the Trump administration has largely denied in the name of 'American energy dominance.' In a statement, Administrator Lee Zeldin – who had said climate change was a real and urgent issue, following the LA wildfires - has slammed it as 'narrow-minded climate change zealotry.' Landry, like the president, has previously called climate change a 'hoax.' The Environmental Protection Agency acted to roll back regulations for power plants, proposing to repeal all greenhouse gas emissions standards for the power sector under the Clean Air Act and the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that directly result in coal-fired power plants having to shut down. That's a move environmental advocates have excoriated. 'The Trump EPA's proposed repeal of these life-saving clean air protections is dangerous to the health, safety and well-being of all Americans,' Vickie Patton, the general counsel of the Environmental Defense Fund, said in a statement shared with The Independent. '...Power plants are already among the largest sources of mercury, toxic and climate-destabilizing pollution in the nation, and these proposals would allow them to pour more of that pollution into our air. These pollutants are associated with deaths, serious illnesses and hospitalizations, and increased medical costs.' 'The key rationale Zeldin is using to justify the dismantling of our nation's protections from power plant pollution is absolutely illogical and indefensible. It's a purely political play that goes against decades of science and policy review, former EPA administrator Gina McCarthy said. '...By giving a green light to more pollution, his legacy will forever be someone who does the bidding of the fossil fuel industry at the expense of our health.' Recently, Zeldin has also claimed that ramping up domestic energy production would be better for the environment. But, Louisianans near fossil fuel and petrochemical operations have felt the negative health consequences of exposure to power and chemical plant pollution. Many live in an area that has come to be known as 'cancer alley.' These harms are disproportionately borne by the area's Black residents, according to a report from the international non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch. 'We're dying from inhaling the industries' pollution,' Sharon Lavigne, a 71-year-old Saint James Parish resident, told the group in 2023. 'I feel like it's a death sentence. Like we are getting cremated, but not getting burnt.'
Forbes
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Forbes
After 54 Years, Fires In The ‘Gates To Hell' May Finally Burn Out
The burning gas crater in Turkmenistan dubbed "Gateway to Hell.' During an international conference on hydrocarbon resources in Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat earlier this month, Irina Luryeva, head of the scientific research institute in the state-owned energy company Turkmengaz, announced that the fires feed by natural methane seepage in the 'Gateway to Hell' are slowly burning out. "Whereas before a huge glow from the blaze was visible from several kilometers away, hence the name 'Gateway to Hell', today only a faint source of combustion remains," says Luryeva in a quote published by In January 2022, former president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow appeared on state television announcing plans to 'close' the "Gates of Hell," a giant natural gas crater in the middle of the Karakum Desert, about 260 kilometers (160 miles) north of Ashgabat, citing pollution, health concerns and a loss of 'valuable natural resources.' The crater was (supposedly, as there are no official documents available) created in 1971 during a Soviet drilling accident that hit a gas cavern, causing the rig to fall in and the ground to collapse around it. The Soviets decided to burn off the gas by setting it on fire to prevent the dangerous fumes from spreading. Unfortunately, tapping into a vast natural reservoir of flammable methane gas, the pit has been burning since then, even growing in size over time. The now 70 meters (229 feet) wide and 20 meters (65 feet) deep crater was a popular tourist attraction, especially at night time. Officially named the "Shining of Karakum," the crater is also known as the Darvaza Crater, after the nearby village of Darvaza, and online as the 'Door to Hell', 'Gateway to Hell' or 'Gates of Hell' thanks to the boiling mud and roaring, red burning flames covering the crater floor. According to Luryeva, numerous wells have been drilled around the crater to release the methane in a controlled way and cut off the the flame's fuel supply. Turkmenistan possesses the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas in its underground, exporting gas to countries such as Pakistan, China, India, Iran and Russia.
Zawya
21 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
TotalEnergies CEO anticipates Mozambique LNG project will resume 'this summer'
TotalEnergies expects its $20bn Mozambique liquefied natural gas (LNG) project to resume development "this summer", CEO Patrick Pouyanne said on Wednesday, 18 June 2025. He was asked about the timing during a session at the Japan Energy Summit in Tokyo. Covered by force majeure since 2021, following insurgent attacks, the project includes development of the Golfinho and Atum natural gas fields in the Offshore Area 1 concession and the building of a two-train liquefaction plant. The project will have a capacity of 13.12 million metric tonnes per annum. TotalEnergies is the project's operator with a stake of 26.5%, followed by Mitsui & Co with 20%, while Mozambique's state-owned ENH has 15%. Indian state firms and Thailand's PTTEP own the rest. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Housing costs predicted to skyrocket this summer, experts warn
Power bills are rising faster than grocery prices — and experts say it's only going to get worse this summer. Electricity costs jumped 4.5 percent last year — more than double the 2.2 percent rise in grocery prices — and energy analysts warn the surge isn't stopping anytime soon. A mix of soaring natural gas prices, massive utility investments, and a boom in data centers is fueling the spike. And with summer here, the Energy Information Administration predicts Americans will pay about 4 percent more for electricity this season compared to last. Natural gas deliveries to power plants alone are expected to cost 50 percent more through September than they did during the same stretch last year. 'The more we export gas, the more domestic prices will begin to reflect international ones,' Hugh Wynne (Pictured) of Sector & Sovereign Research told the Wall Street Journal .. The average US household is expected to pay $784 in electricity costs between June and September, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association — a 4.2 percent increase from summer 2023. The roots of this crisis trace back to the 2022 energy shock following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While prices briefly cooled, utilities have since raised rates to help cover storm-proofing efforts and wildfire prevention — investments made more expensive by rising labor and materials costs. Homebuyers had already been concerned over fears of an economic downturn before the Energy Information Administration concluded that electricity prices will outplace inflation through next year. Utility rises have also taken its toll on thousands of people like Adam Moore, an Indiana resident who was one of over 2,300 who protested CenterPoint Energy's plans to rise rates. This increased bills by around $5 a month, which the company insisted was needed to cover investments for various things like grid improvements and new solar plants. Meanwhile, data centers are driving a new wave of demand. PJM Interconnection — the nation's largest electric grid operator — expects $9.3 billion in additional costs to be passed on to customers as more data hubs come online. Pennsylvania utility regulators suggested residents consider searching for lower retail rates or conserve energy, since rates are set to rise 5% to 16% at most of its utilities. Even clean energy policy is under pressure. A rollback of tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act could push electricity costs even higher. Bottom line: with inflation-weary Americans already struggling, experts say power bills will likely keep climbing for at least the next 12 to 18 months. 'On both fronts, there's little reason to believe that ratepayers will see easing pressure on their pocketbooks,' said Akshat Kasliwal of PA Consulting Group.
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
European Gas Price Gains as Market Monitors Middle East Risks
0843 GMT – European natural-gas prices climb to 40 euros a megawatt hour in early trade as the market weighs the risk of supply disruptions in the Middle East. While LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have so far remained unaffected, increased jamming of vessel signals has been reported following recent airstrikes. Meanwhile, Israel's Energy Minister Eli Cohen reportedly said some gas exports to Egypt and Jordan may soon resume, after the country shut down two gas fields for security reasons. The benchmark Dutch TTF contract rises 3.3% to 39.98 euros a megawatt hour, bringing weekly gains to nearly 11%. Last week, investment funds increased their net positioning in TTF by 27 terawatt hours, according to analysts at DNB Markets DNB -2.80%decrease; red down pointing triangle. (
