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PA DEP Dings PGE 3rd Time for Causing Muddy Water in Loyalsock Creek
The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has, for a THIRD time, served a notice of violation (NOV) of the PA Clean Streams Law to Pennsylvania General Energy (PGE) for causing sediment pollution in the Loyalsock Creek north of Montoursville (Lycoming County). PGE is constructing a natural gas pipeline, a freshwater pipeline, and withdrawals of fresh water for Marcellus Shale-related activities at the site. A November 28 inspection by the DEP noted new violations.
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Contrary to all the blabbering by enviro-nuts, using natural gas reduces so-called greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide (CO2), and helps to achieve theoretical “net-zero” carbon emissions much sooner than by not using natural gas. Validere, a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) SaaS company, released a study on Friday that is eye-opening. The study looks at the climate benefits of building and using two Appalachia-to-Southeast pipelines–the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP, now canceled), and the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP, on pause).
Last week PPL Corporation subsidiaries Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company announced a plan to replace 1,500 megawatts of aging coal-fired generation (nearly one-third of Kentucky’s coal fleet!) with two 621-megawatt natural gas combined-cycle units along with several unreliable, intermittent solar projects. The coal-fired plants are due to be retired by 2028.
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Decaying Allegheny County oil and gas wells to be plugged with federal money; DeIuliis to donate $1.5M in compensation to Mentorship Academy; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: GOP lawmakers accuse investment firms of breaking O&G divestment law; NATIONAL: Manchin spurs US reversal on carbon capture funding; INTERNATIONAL: Germany: Scholz opens country’s first LNG terminal; Europe’s $1 trillion energy bill only marks start of the crisis.
Spire Inc. is the owner and operator of the Spire STL Pipeline, a 65-mile pipeline that connects to and flows Marcellus/Utica gas from the Rockies Express (REX) pipeline in Scott County, IL, to residents and businesses in the St. Louis, MO area. Yesterday the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a new permanent certificate for the pipeline to operate (continue operating). Both Chairman Richard “Dick” Glick and former NRDC lawyer and extremist radical Commissioner Allison Clements voted in favor of the permanent certificate–but not before they trash-talked it one last time.
Here’s something you won’t read on any other news or blog site: Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) failed to issue a final certificate to build and operate the Williams Transco Regional Energy Access Expansion project. The project is vital for delivering more Pennsylvania Marcellus gas to New Jersey and beyond. Williams CEO Alan Armstrong, in a strongly-worded letter to FERC Chairman Richard “Dick” Glick in November, warned the project is in jeopardy if it doesn’t get a certificate now, this year (see 
Two days ago, MDN brought you the news that U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, from West Virginia, would make one more attempt to “shock” his permitting reform bill (that would allow the Mountain Valley Pipeline to finish up more quickly) into life once again (see 
The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a consent order assessing a $600,000 fine against a trucking company that hauled drill cuttings from West Virginia and dumped them (without a permit) at several sites owned by the trucking company in Fayette County, PA. The unsanctioned dumping happened between the years 2012 and 2015.
Yesterday, Washington Gas (a local gas utility in D.C. and surrounding suburbs) announced it is taking “the next step” in the company’s commitment to reduce so-called greenhouse gas emissions. That step is to use more Marcellus gas! Except the gas it will use (sell to customers) has been certified as responsible gas by the MiQ standard. Washington Gas is buying its certified Marcellus gas from Chesapeake Energy and Antero Resources.
Last week (Dec. 5-11), the number of permits issued to drill new shale wells in the Marcellus/Utica dropped by one to 20 from the prior week’s 21. Pennsylvania came back to life with 14 new permits. Ohio and West Virginia both issued just three new shale permits.
The Rice boys–Dan, Toby, and Derek–have done it again. Yesterday, the Rice boys’ second publicly traded shell company (or SPAC), called Rice Acquisition Corp II, announced it is acquiring NET Power–an electric power developer with revolutionary new technology to capture every last molecule of carbon dioxide from natural gas-fired power plants. The deal values NET Power at $1.46 billion. Existing shareholders, including Occidental Petroleum, Constellation Energy, and Baker Hughes, will roll their existing equity into a new public version of the company. Both the Rice boys and Oxy will contribute another $100 million in equity each. When the deal is done, the current CEO of NET will retire, and Dan Rice will take over as CEO.
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.
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.