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    NY AG Schneiderman Takes Russian Oil Money, Attacks US Shale

    NY AG Schneiderman

    If this doesn’t beat all. New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has, for years, been at the center of a conspiracy to shake down Exxon Mobil by claiming the company “knew” that burning its fossil fuels would lead to man-made global warming, and that Exxon actively worked to suppress that knowledge in the public sphere. Earlier this year Schneiderman refused (still refuses) to turn over emails that show he has been colluding with Big Green groups and those who fund them in a conspiracy against Exxon (see NY’s AG Schneiderman Sowing the Seeds of His Own Destruction). It’s now time to remove Schneiderman from office. Evidence has come out that Schneiderman has accepted more than $60,000 from a Ukranian billionaire with ties to Russia’s big oil companies. That is, Scheiderman has taken campaign money (bribes?) from Russian oil–and turned around and attacked American oil and gas. Schneiderman is fully behind New York’s ban on fracking. He’s also in there fighting against natural gas pipelines. Scheiderman has also received a whopping $251,000 from liberal billionaire Communist George Soros (and the Soros family). Soros is another Exxon enemy. So how does that work Mr. Schneiderman? You take money from Russian Big Oil and Communists, only to turn around and attack America’s shale industry? Really? It’s corrupt, and Schneiderman needs to go, NOW…
    Read More “NY AG Schneiderman Takes Russian Oil Money, Attacks US Shale”

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    Radicals Admit #ExxonKnew Effort Aimed at Suppressing Free Speech

    A radical activist “closely aligned” with the #ExxonKnew campaign to try and bankrupt the oil giant has admitted the campaign is not really about a “cover-up” by Exxon that it “knew” global warming is real and that its oil/gas is contributing. In a bombshell admission, Naomi Oreskes says the #ExxonKnew campaign is actually about punishing Exxon for arguing against specific Big Green climate policies–not about what the company “knew”. That is, she admits it is about removing Exxon’s right to free speech. Shutting them up. Bullying them into silence. This is how free speech dies folks–when the fascist left demands nobody says anything they don’t like. Thankfully, Exxon is sticking up for free speech and our First Amendment rights…
    Read More “Radicals Admit #ExxonKnew Effort Aimed at Suppressing Free Speech”

  • Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Wed, Aug 23, 2017

    The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading. In today’s lineup: Youngstown City Council votes today on anti-fracking charter amendment; rig count steady in Ohio Utica; Kinder Morgan pipe expansion in Connecticut topic of public hearing; antis flood Virginia gov with form letters opposing pipelines; BHP quits the shale business; red flag for US shale; Microsoft and Halliburton team up; PHMSA should play more active role in natgas pipelines; China’s LNG imports double; and more!
    Read More “Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Wed, Aug 23, 2017”

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    PA State Senator Floats Bill to Make Criminal Protesters Pay

    PA residents in Lancaster County have a keeper in freshman Senator Scott Martin. Back in May MDN reported that Martin was cooking up legislation to send the cleanup bill for illegal protests–to the protesters (see PA State Senator Introducing Law to Send Protesters Cleanup Bill). The bill is now here–Senate Bill (SB) 754 (full copy below). Sen. Martin has refined his ideas. Law and order folks (those of us who are sane, rational people) are tired of the lawless actions by a few who oppose pipelines, drilling, Trump…whatever. Sen. Martin and those in the drilling/pipeline industry fully support free speech the right of antis to make fools of themselves. It provides entertainment! What Sen. Martin and those in the industry don’t support, however, is when paid protesting thugs break the law by destroying property and blocking access to legal businesses attempting to do legal work. We saw how so-called environmentalists (who were actually anarchists) “protested” in South Dakota–leaving behind an environmental disaster that cost millions to clean up–far worse than any pipeline spill would have been. Police and first responders were deployed–at a cost of millions of dollars. South Dakota bore most of the cost. That is, taxpayers paid for it. Under Sen. Martin’s bill, if protesters break the law while protesting in PA, incidents that require police and other first responders to handle the situation, those law-breaking protesters will pay the cost of said police and first responders. WE LOVE IT! It’s about time people were actually held accountable for their illegal actions…
    Read More “PA State Senator Floats Bill to Make Criminal Protesters Pay”

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    New 870 MW Gas-Fired Electric Plant in NW Ohio Begins Operation

    Oregon Clean Energy Center

    Ohio Gov. John Kasich officiated at a ceremony to launch a new Utica gas-fired electric generating plant in Oregon (Lucas County), near Toledo, yesterday. CME Energy’s Oregon Clean Energy Center plant will generate 870-megawatts of electricity, enough to power 700,000 homes. The plant cost $900 million to build and employed close to 1,000 people during construction (which began in Nov. 2014). Engineering firm Black & Veatch built the plant for CME. This is the first of 10 new Utica-fired projects either under construction or planned (see List of 10 Utica-Powered Electric Plant Projects Coming to Ohio). Gov. Kasich was jazzed about the new plant, calling it “the future” and “a big deal.” Indeed it is! The Oregon Clean Energy Center plant is “one of the most technologically advanced natural gas plants in the country.” Let’s pop a cork on the champagne bottle and join the celebration…
    Read More “New 870 MW Gas-Fired Electric Plant in NW Ohio Begins Operation”

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    KM Plans to Convert Tennessee Gas Pipeline to Flow M-U NGLs South

    TGP – section of pipeline to reverse & convert to NGLs (click for larger version)

    Here’s a story that wasn’t actively on our radar. It’s an old story, but is now in the news again with the recent quorum reestablished at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In August 2013, exactly four years ago, midstream giant Kinder Morgan and competitor midstream company MarkWest Energy (now part of Marathon Petroleum) signed a joint venture agreement to repurpose a significant portion of Kinder’s Tennessee Gas Pipeline (964 miles of it) running from the Louisiana Gulf Coast to Ohio. That 964-mile portion of TGP currently flows natural gas from the Gulf northward. Kinder and MarkWest want to reverse the flow and instead flow natural gas liquids (NGL) through the pipeline from the Utica and Marcellus region south to the Gulf Coast. The project would also build a new 200-mile pipeline from TGP in Louisiana to Texas. In order to make the project happen, the first step is to ask FERC for permission to “abandon” (stop using) the 964-mile segment, called Pipeline No. 1, from Louisiana to Ohio. Which TGP did in Feb. 2015. The project progressed. Last November FERC issued a favorable environmental assessment for the project (full copy below). And then FERC lost a quorum of voting members in February of this year, stalling further progress. With a quorum now restored, antis in Kentucky, a state that seems to be allergic to any kind of pipeline for any purpose, have begun bellyaching about it. Which is what caught our attention. We’ve gathered together information we can find on this project–a potentially very important project–to move Marcellus/Utica NGLs to the Gulf Coast…
    Read More “KM Plans to Convert Tennessee Gas Pipeline to Flow M-U NGLs South”

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    Hypocrite Maryland Gov Hogan Throws Switch on NatGas Elec Plant

    Must be Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (Republican in Name Only) didn’t read the rest of the memo from his Big Green pals. You may recall Hogan, a first-term Republican, campaigned on a platform of supporting natural gas development in his state and after getting elected, he caved to radical Big Green extremists and signed a law that bans fracking (see Maryland Gov. Hogan Pulls the Trigger, Commits Fracking Suicide). You see, according to Hogan’s Big Green pals, extracting fracked gas is evil. Not only is extracting from the ground bad for the environment–burning it to produce electricity and burning it for fuel is evil too. It’s positively Satanic. Yet last week Hogan attended a ceremony to flip the switch on a brand new electric/heat generating plant at the Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. That’s right. The new plant uses evil, Satanic fracked natural gas as its fuel! Anyone else see a problem here?…
    Read More “Hypocrite Maryland Gov Hogan Throws Switch on NatGas Elec Plant”

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    Using FOIA, Antis Discover 2 Minor Infractions by Rover in WV

    Anti-fossil fuel activists attempting to stop the unstoppable Rover Pipeline are doing their best to smear and prejudice people against the project. Rover has had its share of problems. We’ve chronicled those problems–like leaking 2 million gallons of drilling mud in Ohio when performing underground horizontal directional drilling (see Rover Pipeline Accident Spills ~2M Gal. Drilling Mud in OH Swamp). The company also had problems with water filling up trenches dug for the pipeline when severe rain hit (see OEPA & Rover at Odds Over Storm Water Runoff, “Fine” Now $714K). Rover also had problems in West Virginia. The WV Dept. of Environmental Protection to stop work in two of four counties after storm water runoff/erosion issues there (see WV DEP Orders Rover to Stop Pipe Construction in 2 of 4 Counties). The stop work order was lifted after a few weeks. Antis, using the Freedom of Information Act, have “discovered” that Rover was cited for similar issues in two other counties. However, WVDEP and Rover worked it out and resolved those issues…
    Read More “Using FOIA, Antis Discover 2 Minor Infractions by Rover in WV”

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    Coal Supporters Still Trying to Stop WV NatGas Electric Plants

    The West Virginia Public Service Commission will host a public hearing tomorrow on a proposed power plant in Brooke County, WV. The 750-megawatt Marcellus-fired electric plant will be built by Energy Solutions Consortium–the father and son team of Andrew and Matthew Dorn (based in Buffalo, NY). The Dorns are currently building another gas-fired plant–in Marshall County (see Progress for 3 WV NatGas Electric Plants; 1 Breaks Ground in 2016). In addition to Marshall and Brooke, the Dorns plan to build a third plant in Harrison County. The locals are on board with this project, which will generate millions in tax revenue and put some 400 people to work during construction. In March the Brooke County Commission and Brooke County Board of Education approved a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) for the project–meaning the plant will pay out $27.3 million to the county over 30 years. However, as has happened in the past, some misguided folks who advocate for (and work in) the coal industry are opposing the project. They think gas-fired electric plants will lead to layoffs in the coal industry…
    Read More “Coal Supporters Still Trying to Stop WV NatGas Electric Plants”

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    Antis Pressure Virginia DEQ to Delay or Deny Permits for 2 Pipelines

    Anti-fossil fuelers, aided and abetted by liberal local media, continues the drumbeat to pressure the Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality to either block, or greatly slow down, approvals needed to build both the $5 billion, 594-mile Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) project and the $3.5 billion, 301-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). Both pipelines start in West Virginia. ACP crosses through Virginia and stretches into North Caroline. MVP terminates in southern Virginia. Some oppose the projects due to an insane hatred of fossil fuels (the same fossil fuels that make their existence and protest possible). Others don’t want a pipeline cutting across their favorite horse pasture. Ruins the look, ya know. There have been a blizzard of lawsuits and legal actions to try and stop both projects (see Corrosive Use of Legal System Attempts to Stop M-U Pipelines). However, antis have learned if they can pressure, coerce or otherwise threaten environmental agencies, that can be the most effective strategy of all. It has certainly worked in New York, where our Dept. of Environmental Conservation, bowing to political pressure, has (so far) blocked three urgent/critical pipeline projects. Virginia antis are hoping for a repeat there. If they can only pressure the DEQ into blocking or delaying ACP and MVP, it would give new meaning to their pathetic lives…
    Read More “Antis Pressure Virginia DEQ to Delay or Deny Permits for 2 Pipelines”

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    Dominion Asks FERC to Allow Feed Gas for Testing at Cove Point LNG

    Fantastic news to report! Dominion has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for permission to begin flowing feed gas (for testing purposes) to parts of the Cove Point LNG export facility. We are now getting close to startup at the facility, which is supposed to go online in the fourth quarter of this year. Cove Point sits along the coast of Maryland. Dominion began work on the $3.5 billion plant in 2015. When complete, the plant will liquefy and export 1.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of Marcellus/Utica Shale gas to India and Japan. Currently there is only one export facility in the U.S. in operation, along the coast of Louisiana (Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass). That one facility has fundamentally changed the economics of LNG (liquefied natural gas) here at home and around the world. Just imagine what another 1.8 Bcf/d will do! And it’s ALL from our region. Here’s more about the good news that Cove Point is ready to begin testing…
    Read More “Dominion Asks FERC to Allow Feed Gas for Testing at Cove Point LNG”

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    Faux “Conservative” Group Campaigns Against Fixing PA’s Broken DEP

    A national group of antis calling themselves “conservative” are attempting to meddle in the affairs of Pennsylvania. If you’ve been reading MDN for any time, you know about the current huge, stinking mess of a budget in Pennsylvania. Republicans, which control both the House and Senate, passed an unbalanced budget of $32 billion. Problem is, there’s only $30 billion of projected revenue. So after passing the spending part of the budget, they now have to “come up with” $2 billion to cover the difference. The pressure has been intense to punish the successful Marcellus industry by stealing even more of their money (PA already takes an overly generous portion of their profits). Senate Republicans caved to the pressure and floated a spending plan that includes a severance tax (see Traitorous PA Senate Republicans Pass Severance Tax Bill). The House, so far, has resisted the siren song that wants to lure them onto the rocks of killing the Marcellus industry. So far. The Marcellus industry has, for years, complained about the sloooooooow response times in approving drilling permits by the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP). As an olive branch to the industry, Senate Republicans also included (in the budget bill) fixes to the slow DEP, to speed things up (see PA Senate’s “Olive Branch” of “Relaxed Regulations” for Drillers). Now we hear from some national group, calling themselves Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, that the PA Senate plan to fix the DEP will create an environmental holocaust. Let us assure you, there is nothing “conservative” about Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship. They are Big Green liberals pretending to be conservative. They’re now spending big money (from their Big Green friends) to advertise, in a bid to pressure the legislature to dump the “fix the DEP” plan…
    Read More “Faux “Conservative” Group Campaigns Against Fixing PA’s Broken DEP”

  • Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Tue, Aug 22, 2017

    The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading. In today’s lineup: 2nd Circuit decision may not mark the end of the Constitution Pipeline after all; OH Gov Kasich not backing nuclear bailout; Indiana PA Chamber goes to Louisiana, has eyes opened re petchem; WV Congressman advocates for ethane storage; new chief of staff at FERC; the Golden Age of natgas; peak oil demand, again; electric vehicle prospects; first LNG cargo reaches Lithuania; and more!
    Read More “Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Tue, Aug 22, 2017”

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    Court Rejects Constitution Pipe’s Case Against NY DEC; Now What?

    In a disappointing, but perhaps not all that unexpected decision (full copy below), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Friday ruled against the Constitution Pipeline and their lawsuit against the Cuomo-corrupted New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The DEC dithered, for years, on a decision about whether or not to grant stream-crossing permits (Section 401 permits, a federal Clean Water Act thing) to the Constitution Pipeline, a $683 million, 124-mile pipeline from Susquehanna County, PA to Schoharie County, NY carrying Marcellus gas. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorized the project in 2014. Since that time the DEC delayed, and eventually denied permits for the project (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). So the Constitution (being built by Williams) sued the DEC in federal court (see Constitution Pipeline Case Goes to Court in 2 Weeks, Briefs Filed). We had hoped that the court would grant Constitution the right to commence building. But they didn’t. So now what? There are three options left for Constitution: (1) appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, (2) file a new case with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals (a different court), or (3) request FERC take matters into its own hands by deciding the DEC took too long (which would probably be challenged at the D.C. Circuit). The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is a different court than the Second Circuit that just ruled. Our best guess? Williams will take option #3 and ask FERC to overrule NY DEC and grant the permit themselves…
    Read More “Court Rejects Constitution Pipe’s Case Against NY DEC; Now What?”

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    Rover Pipe Ready to Flow! Seeks FERC Permission for Aug 31 Start

    Click for larger version of Rover map

    While the Rover Pipeline remains in regulatory limbo with some of its construction, the vast majority of the pipeline as it snakes across Ohio is already done, or will be within the next few days. On Friday, Rover made an official request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to begin flowing natural gas through Phase 1A of the pipeline by August 31st. Phase 1A is three primary areas in Ohio: (1) the Cadiz Lateral, which is 3.5 miles of 30-inch diameter natural gas pipeline in Harrison County; (2) Supply Connector Line A, which is 18.6 miles of single, 42-inch diameter natural gas pipeline from the Cadiz tie-in in Harrison County extending north to Mainline Compressor Station 1 and the interconnection with Mainline A in Carroll County; and (3) Mainline A, which is the bulk of the new pipeline through OH–190.9 miles of single, 42-inch diameter natural gas pipeline originating at the Mainline Compressor Station 1 in Carroll County and terminating at the Defiance Compressor Station in Defiance County. In addition, Rover asked that the Panhandle-Rover Interconnect be turned on a few days ahead of the 31st so the gas will be ready to flow through the new Rover pipeline. This is (a) great news, and (b) something of a miracle, given the stiff headwinds Rover has faced with the Ohio EPA and FERC over several construction problems in recent months…
    Read More “Rover Pipe Ready to Flow! Seeks FERC Permission for Aug 31 Start”

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    WV Legislature Panel on NatGas Dev Meets Tuesday, Forced Pooling?

    The West Virginia Legislature has appointed a new Joint Committee on Natural Gas Development, composed of Senators and Delegates, to put their collective heads together to see how they can encourage more oil and gas development in the Mountain State. The committee will meet tomorrow for the first time. The effort is being supported by the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association (WVONGA). In general, it certainly seems like a good idea–WV needs more drilling. However, WVONGA plans to use the committee as a platform to push its “modernized mineral efficiency laws”–i.e. forced pooling lite. As we reported last week, WVONGA is making an all-out push for new forced pooling laws in 2018 (see WVONGA Makes Plans to Push Forced Pooling Lite in 2018). There are two components to WVONG’s agenda: (1) Co-tenancy. The concept of co-tenancy means if a majority of mineral rights owners of a property (75%) want to lease the property for drilling, they can–even if a small 25% minority doesn’t want to lease. This helps overcome an urgent problem in WV where sometimes not all mineral rights owners can be found–or where someone with a sliver of the rights wants to blackmail (our word) the other rights owners for a larger share of the profits. (2) Joint development. This is the one we have a problem with. Currently there are a number of existing old leases, signed before shale drilling began, that prevents drillers from drilling a horizontal well across an individual property boundary line–until a new lease is signed. Joint development says if the driller already owns the leases on all adjoining properties that they want to combine into a drilling unit, they can do so without signing a new lease. WVONGA says it corrects a loophole that prevents more drilling from happening. Rights owners say joint development legislation lets drillers have a freebie–instead of signing a new lease (for more money), the driller gets something never envisioned when the original lease was signed. Although the topics of co-tenancy and joint development are sure to be raised tomorrow, the committee will look at more than just those issues. They will also consider how to attract more downstream (petrochemical) investment in the state…
    Read More “WV Legislature Panel on NatGas Dev Meets Tuesday, Forced Pooling?”