Energy Services | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Statewide WV | West Virginia
Manchin’s “Save MVP” Permitting Reform Dies (Again) in Senate Vote
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 Dr. Manchinstein Tries to Shock Permitting Reform Bill into Life). Manchin got Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to schedule a vote to add the permitting bill to a defense authorization bill. That vote happened yesterday, and Manchin’s bill was voted against by ten of his own fellow Democrat Senators–sinking any chances of getting it approved.
Read More “Manchin’s “Save MVP” Permitting Reform Dies (Again) in Senate Vote”
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.
NATIONAL: National Grid CEO Kisses Joe Biden’s rear-end at White House summit; USA Energy Sec offers olive branch to oil industry; Biden thwarting US energy concerns.
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.
Earlier this week, MDN brought you news of a new vision from CNX Resources CEO Nick DeIuliis called “Appalachia First” (see 
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