Community & Environment

Canadian Police Arrest Six at Coastal GasLink Site

Canadian police arrested six people on Thursday in a remote area of northern British Columbia where indigenous protesters have blocked construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

U.S. Flared, Vented More Natural Gas Again in 2019 - Data

The U.S. drilling industry flared or vented more natural gas in 2019 for the third year in a row, as soaring production in Texas, New Mexico, and North Dakota overwhelmed regulatory efforts to curb the practice, according to state data and independent research estimates.

Enbridge Line 3 Receives Minnesota Regulator Approval

A Minnesota regulator ruled on Monday that a revised environmental impact statement for Enbridge Inc’s Line 3 oil pipeline replacement is adequate, helping to clear a significant hurdle for the long-delayed project .

Prospects Advance for Canada's Oil Pipelines, Challenges Still Remain

Prospects for expanding pipelines to move Canadian oil to markets have brightened, but plenty of hurdles remain for the Canadian sector, which has struggled for years with low prices and a glut in storage due to long project delays.

What's Next for Keystone XL in South Dakota?

Plans for construction of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline inched forward last week with several approvals at both the federal and state levels, but opponents in South Dakota say they haven’t given up on preventing, or at least slowing, the pipeline’s construction.

Pembina Withdraws Jordan Cove Application, Holds Out for Federal Approval

Pembina Pipeline Corporation (Pembina) has withdrawn its application for a state permit for the Jordan Cover natural gas pipeline and export terminal in Oregon.

North Dakota Signals No New Conditions on Dakota Access Expansion

North Dakota regulators signaled Thursday that the state would not impose conditions beyond those required by the federal government on a proposal to double the capacity of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

South Dakota Board Approves Keystone XL Water Permits

The South Dakota Water Management Board on Tuesday approved five water permit applications for Keystone XL pipeline construction.

Michigan Officials Request Line 5 Records from Enbridge

Michigan officials requested records from Enbridge Inc. on Monday in an investigation of the company's oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel linking two of the Great Lakes.

NOAA: Jordan Cove LNG Project Would Have Minimal Environmental Impact

Federal authorities have suggested the environmental impact of the proposed Jordan Cove LNG terminal and pipeline in southern Oregon would be minimal, saying the contentious project wouldn’t jeopardize protected species or adversely change their critical habitat.

Louisiana Appeals Court Hears Arguments in Pipeline Lawsuit

A Louisiana appeals court heard arguments Wednesday on a lawsuit challenging state laws that let oil pipeline operators take private land for construction.

White House Unveils Plan to Speed Big Projects Permits

The Trump administration on Thursday unveiled a plan to speed permitting for major infrastructure projects like oil pipelines, road expansions and bridges, one of the biggest deregulatory actions of the president's tenure.

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Dip on Power Switch to Gas

U.S. emissions linked to climate change fell last year on a record drop in coal-fired power generation, but further declines are unlikely without rapid policy changes, according to an estimate released on Tuesday.

Mexico's President to Request Rerouting of Planned Gas Pipeline

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that he will ask for TC Energy Corp to be reroute its planned Tuxpan-Tula pipeline so it does not cut across lands considered sacred by communities in Puebla state.

Jordan Gets First Natural Gas Supplies From Israel

Texas-based Noble Energy has begun pumping the first supplies of Israeli gas to Jordan, Jordan's National Electricity Company (NEPCO) said on Wednesday, amid opposition in the Middle Eastern kingdom.

Williams Completes Gateway Expansion Project Ahead of Schedule

Williams today said it has placed its Gateway Expansion into full service 11 months ahead of schedule through "expedited project execution and construction," boosting natural gas deliveries to the energy-hungry U.S. Northeast by 65,000 MMcf/d in time for the winter heating season.

EDP Closes Financing for El Salvador LNG-to-Power Project

Energía del Pacífico (EDP) said it has completed project financing for the LNG-to-power project currently under construction at the Port of Acajutla, El Salvador. It is the largest private investment ever made in the country, EDP said.

French Union Extends Blockade of Fuel Deliveries from Total Refinery

France's hardline CGT trade union voted on Monday to extend a blockade of outbound fuel deliveries from Total's Grandpuits refinery near Paris until Jan. 6 as part of nationwide protests against a planned pensions reform.

French Protests Disrupt Output at Total's Grandpuits Refinery

Total's Grandpuits refinery near Paris is producing at a reduced rate after the CGT union voted to halt output as part of nationwide protests against a pensions reforms, the French energy company said.

French Strike has Little Apparent Impact on Pipelines, Yet

France's hardline CGT trade union has rejected pleas for a Christmas truce and has vowed to intensify a nationwide strike to try to force the government to drop its plan to reform the country's pensions system. Here is how the strike is impacting the sector.

Jesse Jackson Joins Push for Natural Gas Pipeline to Illinois Town

Not all pipeline activists are fighting against more construction. Rev. Jesse Jackson has joined local leaders in calling for extension of natural gas service to a low-income township south of Chicago.

Gas System Modernization Earns Project of the Year Honors

PSE&G’s Gas System Modernization Program (GSMP) was named Project of the Year by the Project Management Institute-New Jersey Chapter.

A Decade into DIMP, Pipe Replacement Still Keeps Workforce Busy

Ten years after it went into effect, the U.S. Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) continued to drive much of the nation's pipeline replacement activity.

Nord Stream 2 Says 100 Miles of Pipeline Left to Lay to Europe

The consortium behind Nord Stream 2 said on Monday that about 160 km (100 miles) of gas pipeline still needed to be laid, after a major contractor suspended work last week due to U.S. sanctions.

FERC Rules Clean Energy Sources Must Pay Higher Market Price

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday directed the largest U.S. power grid operator to force state-subsidized solar and wind electricity providers to raise prices, a move that opponents called a partisan attempt to protect fossil fuels.

New England Power and Gas Prices Spike During Cold Snap

Natural gas and power prices in New England spiked to their highest since last winter as a cold snap froze the six-state region. Next-day gas prices for Thursday jumped almost 25% to $14.50 per mmBtu, their highest since January, for a second day in a row.

Leviathan Gas Field to Start Up Monday; Court Lifts Injunction

Israel's energy ministry gave its final approval for the start of production at the giant Leviathan gas field and said the wells will open early on Monday after a court lifted a temporary injunction granted over environmental concerns.

Court Delays Decision on Trans Mountain Pipeline Challenge

A panel of Canadian appeals court judges withheld their decision on a challenge to Trans Mountain pipeline Wednesday, saying they need more time to make a decision after a three-day hearing.

Energy Firms Fight Surprise Court Order Blocking Leviathan Gas Output

Companies developing the huge natural gas field Leviathan will try to convince an Israeli court to remove an injunction that threatens to delay production due to environmental concerns.

Lawyer for Indigenous Contends Government Delayed Spill Reports

A Squamish Nation lawyer told a Canadian Court on Tuesday that the government delayed sharing critical documents about spill risks related to expanding its oil pipeline, in some cases waiting until after the conclusion of consultations with indigenous communities.