PA DEP Issues Violation to Shell Cracker for Exceeding Air Emissions
Yesterday the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a notice of violation (NOV) to Shell Chemicals Appalachia, LLC (Shell) for exceeding its rolling 12-month total emission limits of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which happened during the commissioning of its cracker plant facility in Beaver County. Shell is limited by state permits to 516.2 tons of total emissions of VOCs over a rolling 12-month period. It had 521.6 tons by the end of September and 662.9 tons of VOCs by the end of October. The emissions are associated with the initial startup of the facility and (hopefully) won’t happen again.
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Hydrogen energy is the new savior that will keep the world from toasting itself out of existence. So goes the current faddish meme. But not just any old hydrogen (or H2) can be used. No, no, no! Hydrogen has to be “low carbon” hydrogen (i.e. produced by means that is low or no-carbon), or it is persona non grata. It reminds us of when “low fat” was all the rage in diets–until it wasn’t. But we digress… The Open Hydrogen Initiative (OHI) was convened earlier this year to measure and map the emissions footprint of “clean” (low or no-CO2) hydrogen. Earlier this week, a number of prominent energy companies joined OHI, including EQT, the largest natural gas producer in the U.S. (focused 100% on the Marcellus/Utica).
With today’s companion story about EQT joining the Open Hydrogen Initiative (EQT Joins Open Hydrogen Initiative Aimed at Producing Low-CO2 H2), and with all of the ongoing hype about hydrogen energy, we thought it prudent to bring you a splash of cold water to the face with respect to hydrogen. Is it the great energy savior? We spotted an excellent article (below) from someone who loves hydrogen energy and is a true believer in global warming hoo-ha. Yet he points out the hydrogen emperor has no clothes. We can make all of the gray, blue, green, and pink hydrogen we want, but the fact remains there’s no demand for it! Do you think hydrogen is ready to heat your home, cook your food, or power your car? Think again.
New analysis by S&P Global Commodity Insights finds higher natural gas prices have made methane capture projects increasingly economic, potentially unlocking vast amounts of new supply while lowering overall emissions. The analysis, funded in part by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), an anti-fossil fuel organization, says projects that capture and commercialize vented, fugitive, and flared methane are now cost-effective, given the high price of natural gas. In general, we agree.
Yesterday MDN brought you the great news that Coterra Energy (formerly Cabot Oil & Gas) would be allowed to restart drilling in a nine-square-mile area in Dimock, PA (Susquehanna County) following a “no contest” plea deal with PA’s bullying Attorney General, Josh Shapiro, on a misdemeanor charge (see 
Last week MDN told you that U.S. Senator Joe Manchin’s latest attempt to pass a so-called permitting reform bill (that would save Mountain Valley Pipeline as part of the bargain) had once again crashed and burned (see 
In 2020, EOG Resources, one of the largest oil and gas drillers in the U.S. (with international operations in Trinidad and China), sold *all* of its Marcellus assets, which were located in Bradford County, PA, to Tilden Resources for $130 million (see 
In April, a group of nearly 200 protesters from some 60 different wacko anti-fossil fuel groups turned out to protest a tiny 5-mile pipeline proposed in the Springfield, Massachusetts area (see 
The Freeport LNG export facility maintains it will restart accepting feedgas by the end of December. Following a request by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to Freeport to respond to a list of 64 questions, we wonder if the plant will make that deadline. We’ve lost track of how many times Freeport, which has been offline since early June following an explosion in the plant, has changed the restart date. Last week the company said the final final final final restart would happen by the end of December (see 
In addition to the so-called Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a carbon tax on coal- and gas-fired power plants in the northeastern U.S., there are a number of other carbon tax schemes operating around the world. It is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on the human race–getting us to pay for carbon dioxide emissions, the very stuff you breathe out with every breath you take. Part of the con job Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf tried was to convince everyone the carbon tax wouldn’t cost power plants all that much yet would deliver billions in revenue to the state. But the costs of carbon credits companies are required to purchase have skyrocketed over the past year. EIA says carbon credits went up an average 40% in 2021.
For all of you Paul Harvey fans (God rest his soul), this is, “The Rest of the Story.” Two weeks ago, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, about to become Governor on Jan. 1 (a bona fide tragedy), made a big splash by announcing he had finally bullied Coterra Energy, the former Cabot Oil & Gas, into taking a plea deal in the infamous Dimock, PA case of methane migration into a few water wells (see 
On Friday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will hold its last meeting of 2022. It appears it will be the very last meeting for FERC Chairman Richard “Dick” Glick, who has been blocked from receiving a reappointment hearing by WV Sen. Joe Manchin. Without a hearing, Glick will be forced to step down after this year. Blocking Glick is about the only thing Manchin has done right this year. At any rate, at Friday’s meeting, the five (soon to be four) FERC commissioners will vote on a variety of issues. Two of the issues (projects) are vital to the Marcellus/Utica: a new certificate for the Spire STL Pipeline to continue operating, and a certificate to allow the Williams Transco Regional Energy Access Expansion project to proceed.
We spotted a post by our favorite government agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), that says although natural gas use by the “industrial sector” leveled off over the past few years, industrial sector usage of natgas is growing again, at least for this year. EIA figures industrial sector usage will grow 2.4% in 2022. However, due to the high price of natgas and the sucky Biden economy, EIA believes industrial sector gas usage will decrease 3.4% in 2023.