The Energy Age

Solar, Wind, Hydro, Gas, Coal

  • INCREASED U.S. Tariffs on Imports from China

    theenergyage

    WHITE HOUSE FACT SHEET:

    President Biden Takes Action to Protect American Workers and Businesses from China’s Unfair Trade Practices

    • SOLAR CELLS: The tariff rate (whether or not assembled into modules) will increase from 25% to 50% in 2024.
    • ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The tariff rate will increase from 25% to 100% in 2024.
    • LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES: The tariff rate will increase from 7.5%% to 25% in 2024, while the tariff rate on lithium-ion non-EV batteries will increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2026.

    The White House | Press Release | May 14, 2024

    President Biden’s economic plan is supporting investments and creating good jobs in key sectors that are vital for America’s economic future and national security. China’s unfair trade practices concerning technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation are threatening American businesses and workers. China is also flooding global markets with artificially low-priced exports. In response to China’s unfair trade practices and to counteract the resulting harms, today, President Biden is directing his Trade Representative to increase tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on $18 billion of imports from China to protect American workers and businesses.
     
    The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda has already catalyzed more than $860 billion in business investments through smart, public incentives in industries of the future like electric vehicles (EVs), clean energy, and semiconductors. With support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act, these investments are creating new American jobs in manufacturing and clean energy and helping communities that have been left behind make a comeback.
     
    As President Biden says, American workers and businesses can outcompete anyone—as long as they have fair competition. But for too long, China’s government has used unfair, non-market practices. China’s forced technology transfers and intellectual property theft have contributed to its control of 70, 80, and even 90 percent of global production for the critical inputs necessary for our technologies, infrastructure, energy, and health care—creating unacceptable risks to America’s supply chains and economic security. Furthermore, these same non-market policies and practices contribute to China’s growing overcapacity and export surges that threaten to significantly harm American workers, businesses, and communities.
     
    Today’s actions to counter China’s unfair trade practices are carefully targeted at strategic sectors—the same sectors where the United States is making historic investments under President Biden to create and sustain good-paying jobs—unlike recent proposals by Congressional Republicans that would threaten jobs and raise costs across the board. The previous administration’s trade deal with China failed to increase American exports or boost American manufacturing as it had promised. Under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs have been created and new factory construction has doubled after both fell under the previous administration, and the trade deficit with China is the lowest in a decade—lower than any year under the last administration.
     
    We will continue to work with our partners around the world to strengthen cooperation to address shared concerns about China’s unfair practices—rather than undermining our alliances or applying indiscriminate 10 percent tariffs that raise prices on all imports from all countries, regardless whether they are engaged in unfair trade. The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes the benefits for our workers and businesses from strong alliances and a rules-based international trade system based on fair competition.
     
    Following an in-depth review by the United States Trade Representative, President Biden is taking action to protect American workers and American companies from China’s unfair trade practices. To encourage China to eliminate its unfair trade practices regarding technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation, the President is directing increases in tariffs across strategic sectors such as steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, critical minerals, solar cells, ship-to-shore cranes, and medical products.

    Steel and Aluminum

    The tariff rate on certain steel and aluminum products under Section 301 will increase from 0–7.5% to 25% in 2024.

    The tariff rate on certain steel and aluminum products under Section 301 will increase from 0–7.5% to 25% in 2024.


    Steel is a vital sector for the American economy, and American companies are leading the future of clean steel. Recently, the Biden-Harris Administration announced $6 billion for 33 clean manufacturing projects including for steel and aluminum, including the first new primary aluminum smelter in four decades, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. These investments will make the United States one of the first nations in the world to convert clean hydrogen into clean steel, bolstering the U.S. steel industry’s competitiveness as the world’s cleanest major steel producer.
     
    American workers continue to face unfair competition from China’s non-market overcapacity in steel and aluminum, which are among the world’s most carbon intensive. China’s policies and subsidies for their domestic steel and aluminum industries mean high-quality, low-emissions U.S. products are undercut by artificially low-priced Chinese alternatives produced with higher emissions. Today’s actions will shield the U.S. steel and aluminum industries from China’s unfair trade practices.

    Semiconductors

    The tariff rate on semiconductors will increase from 25% to 50% by 2025.

    The tariff rate on semiconductors will increase from 25% to 50% by 2025.

    China’s policies in the legacy semiconductor sector have led to growing market share and rapid capacity expansion that risks driving out investment by market-driven firms. Over the next three to five years, China is expected to account for almost half of all new capacity coming online to manufacture certain legacy semiconductor wafers. During the pandemic, disruptions to the supply chain, including legacy chips, led to price spikes in a wide variety of products, including automobiles, consumer appliances, and medical devices, underscoring the risks of overreliance on a few markets.
     
    Through the CHIPS and Science Act, President Biden is making a nearly $53 billion investment in American semiconductor manufacturing capacity, research, innovation, and workforce. This will help counteract decades of disinvestment and offshoring that has reduced the United States’ capacity to manufacture semiconductors domestically. The CHIPS and Science Act includes $39 billion in direct incentives to build, modernize, and expand semiconductor manufacturing fabrication facilities as well as a 25% investment tax credit for semiconductor companies. Raising the tariff rate on semiconductors is an important initial step to promote the sustainability of these investments.

    Electric Vehicles (EVs)

    The tariff rate on electric vehicles under Section 301 will increase from 25% to 100% in 2024.

    The tariff rate on electric vehicles under Section 301 will increase from 25% to 100% in 2024.

    With extensive subsidies and non-market practices leading to substantial risks of overcapacity, China’s exports of EVs grew by 70% from 2022 to 2023—jeopardizing productive investments elsewhere. A 100% tariff rate on EVs will protect American manufacturers from China’s unfair trade practices.
     
    This action advances President Biden’s vision of ensuring the future of the auto industry will be made in America by American workers. As part of the President’s Investing in America agenda, the Administration is incentivizing the development of a robust EV market through business tax credits for manufacturing of batteries and production of critical minerals, consumer tax credits for EV adoption, smart standards, federal investments in EV charging infrastructure, and grants to supply EV and battery manufacturing. The increase in the tariff rate on electric vehicles will protect these investments and jobs from unfairly priced Chinese imports.

    Batteries, Battery Components and Parts, and Critical Minerals

    The tariff rate on lithium-ion EV batteries will increase from 7.5%% to 25% in 2024, while the tariff rate on lithium-ion non-EV batteries will increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2026. The tariff rate on battery parts will increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2024.

    The tariff rate on lithium-ion EV batteries will increase from 7.5%% to 25% in 2024, while the tariff rate on lithium-ion non-EV batteries will increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2026. The tariff rate on battery parts will increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2024.

    The tariff rate on natural graphite and permanent magnets will increase from zero to 25% in 2026. The tariff rate for certain other critical minerals will increase from zero to 25% in 2024.
     
    Despite rapid and recent progress in U.S. onshoring, China currently controls over 80 percent of certain segments of the EV battery supply chain, particularly upstream nodes such as critical minerals mining, processing, and refining. Concentration of critical minerals mining and refining capacity in China leaves our supply chains vulnerable and our national security and clean energy goals at risk. In order to improve U.S. and global resiliency in these supply chains, President Biden has invested across the U.S. battery supply chain to build a sufficient domestic industrial base. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Defense Production Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden-Harris Administration has invested nearly $20 billion in grants and loans to expand domestic production capacity of advanced batteries and battery materials. The Inflation Reduction Act also contains manufacturing tax credits to incentivize investment in battery and battery material production in the United States. The President has also established the American Battery Materials Initiative, which will mobilize an all-of-government approach to secure a dependable, robust supply chain for batteries and their inputs.

    Solar Cells

    The tariff rate on solar cells (whether or not assembled into modules) will increase from 25% to 50% in 2024.

    The tariff rate on solar cells (whether or not assembled into modules) will increase from 25% to 50% in 2024.

    The tariff increase will protect against China’s policy-driven overcapacity that depresses prices and inhibits the development of solar capacity outside of China. China has used unfair practices to dominate upwards of 80 to 90% of certain parts of the global solar supply chain, and is trying to maintain that status quo. Chinese policies and nonmarket practices are flooding global markets with artificially cheap solar modules and panels, undermining investment in solar manufacturing outside of China.
     
    The Biden-Harris Administration has made historic investments in the U.S. solar supply chain, building on early U.S. government-enabled research and development that helped create solar cell technologies. The Inflation Reduction Act provides supply-side tax incentives for solar components, including polysilicon, wafers, cells, modules, and backsheet material, as well as tax credits and grant and loan programs supporting deployment of utility-scale and residential solar energy projects. As a result of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, solar manufacturers have already announced nearly $17 billion in planned investment under his Administration—an 8-fold increase in U.S. manufacturing capacity, enough to supply panels for millions of homes each year by 2030.

    Ship-to-Shore Cranes

    The tariff rate on ship-to-shore cranes will increase from 0% to 25% in 2024.

    The tariff rate on ship-to-shore cranes will increase from 0% to 25% in 2024.

    The Administration continues to deliver for the American people by rebuilding the United States’ industrial capacity to produce port cranes with trusted partners. A 25% tariff rate on ship-to-shore cranes will help protect U.S. manufacturers from China’s unfair trade practices that have led to excessive concentration in the market. Port cranes are essential pieces of infrastructure that enable the continuous movement and flow of critical goods to, from, and within the United States, and the Administration is taking action to mitigate risks that could disrupt American supply chains. This action also builds off of ongoing work to invest in U.S. port infrastructure through the President’s Investing in America Agenda. This port security initiative includes bringing port crane manufacturing capabilities back to the United States to support U.S. supply chain security and encourages ports across the country and around the world to use trusted vendors when sourcing cranes or other heavy equipment.

    Medical Products

    The tariff rates on syringes and needles will increase from 0% to 50% in 2024. For certain personal protective equipment (PPE), including certain respirators and face masks, the tariff rates will increase from 0–7.5% to 25% in 2024. Tariffs on rubber medical and surgical gloves will increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2026.

    The tariff rates on syringes and needles will increase from 0% to 50% in 2024. For certain personal protective equipment (PPE), including certain respirators and face masks, the tariff rates will increase from 0–7.5% to 25% in 2024. Tariffs on rubber medical and surgical gloves will increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2026.

    These tariff rate increases will help support and sustain a strong domestic industrial base for medical supplies that were essential to the COVID-19 pandemic response, and continue to be used daily in every hospital across the country to deliver essential care. The federal government and the private sector have made substantial investments to build domestic manufacturing for these and other medical products to ensure American health care workers and patients have access to critical medical products when they need them. American businesses are now struggling to compete with underpriced Chinese-made supplies dumped on the market, sometimes of such poor quality that they may raise safety concerns for health care workers and patients.
     
    Today’s announcement reflects President Biden’s commitment to always have the back of American workers. When faced with anticompetitive, unfair practices from abroad, the President will deploy any and all tools necessary to protect American workers and industry.
     

    ###

  • NEW Studies & Data on Sustainable Energy & Climate Change

    theenergyage

    News Story Excerpts 

    New Studies & Data on Sustainable Energy & Climate Change

    For Week Ending Friday – May 10, 2024

    SUN DAY CAMPAIGN (founded 1992)
    Ken Bossong, editor 

    8606 Greenwood Avenue, Suite #2
    Takoma Park, MD 20912-6656 
    301-588-4741;  sun-day-campaign@hotmail.com 
    follow on twitter: @SunDayCampaign 

    Note: News story excerpts provided below do not necessarily reflect the views of the SUN DAY Campaign or any of its respective members.   

    Mixed or Cross-Cutting:

    Global Market for Sustainable Manufacturing Estimated to Grow to More Than $150 Billion by 2033

    Guidehouse Insights, May 2, 2024

    According to a new Guidehouse Insights report, the global market for investment in industrial internet of things, industrial renewables, power purchase agreements, and carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration techniques in manufacturing will approach $62.0 billion in 2024 and grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.4% over the next decade, reaching $150.8 billion in 2033 – a 143% overall increase. As climate change accelerates and governments around the world grow more serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, manufacturers are realizing that esoteric sustainability goals in annual reports will no longer suffice. Regulations and mandates remain a key market driver.

    In 2023, Investment in Clean Energy Manufacturing Shot Up 70% and – Led by Solar PV – Accounted for 4% of Global GDP Growth but Still Lags Climate Goals

    Elektrek, by Michelle Lewis, May 6 2024

    According to an International Energy Agency report, “Advancing Clean Technology Manufacturing,” global investment in the manufacturing of solar, wind, batteries, electrolyzers and heat pumps – rose to $200 billion in 2023. This represents an increase of more than 70% from 2022 that accounted for around 4% of global GDP growth. Spending on solar manufacturing more than doubled last year, while investment in battery manufacturing rose by around 60%. As a result, solar module manufacturing capacity today is already in line with what is needed in 2030 based on the IEA’s net zero emissions scenario. For battery cells, if announced projects are included, manufacturing capacity is 90% of the way towards meeting net zero demand at the end of this decade. Further, many projects in the pipeline will be operational soon. Around 40% of investments in clean energy manufacturing in 2023 were in facilities that are due to come online in 2024. For batteries, this share rises to 70%.

    Globally, 70-85% of Wind Turbines and 95% of Solar Assets are Not Adequately Protected from Fire

    North American Clean Energy, May 6, 2024

    According to Firetrace International, a leading provider of fire suppression solutions supporting safe operations in renewable energy, the vast majority of wind and solar energy assets, both new and old, are not adequately protected from fire. Approximately 75-85% of operational wind turbines and 70-80% of new wind turbines globally, do not have fire suppression technology installed. When it comes to solar, an estimated 95% of all solar inverters do not have fire suppression technology installed.

    California Grid Sets Renewable Power Record

    EE News, by Francisco “A.J.” Camacho, May 6, 2024

    In a milestone, California produced enough renewable energy to meet its total electricity demand for portions of the past 21 straight days. Stanford University civil and environmental engineering professor Mark Z. Jacobson calculated that on 50 of the 58 days between March 7 and May 4 – including the last 21 consecutive days – renewable energy sources supplied more than 100 percent of energy demand for between 15 minutes and 10 hours on the California Independent System Operator grid – which accounts for 80 percent of the Golden State’s electricity.

    U.S. Added 5.6-GW of Utility-Scale Clean Energy in Q1, Up 28% Year-over-Year

    North American Clean Energy, May 7, 2024

    According to the American Clean Power Association, the U.S. utility-scale solar, wind, and storage sectors added a combined 5,585-MW of new capacity in the first quarter of 2024, marking an increase of 28% compared to installations in the same period a year ago. These additions are enough to power 1 million homes with clean energy. A substantial 4,557-MW of new solar capacity was added in Q1 2024, contributing to the U.S. climbing to over 100,547-MW of installed utility-scale solar. The commissioning of the South Fork Wind project in March, the first large-scale offshore wind initiative in federal waters, added 132-MW of capacity off the coast of New York. While energy storage deployments were flat compared to the same period in the previous year, the pipeline for new storage projects increased by 61% year-over-year to 31.6-GW in the near-term pipeline. Clean power procurement saw a robust 52% increase from Q1 2023, with 7,773 MW of new Power Purchase Agreements.

    U.S. Has Added 100,000 Clean Energy Manufacturing Jobs since IRA with Over One Quarter Solar

    PV-Tech.org, by J.P. Casey, May 7, 2024

    According to a monthly tally of private-sector announcements from E2, at least 105,454 new manufacturing jobs have been announced in the U.S. since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law, following the April announcements of four new large scale clean energy projects expected to hire 1,500 manufacturing workers. Since the act’s signing in August 2023, US companies have announced 69 new projects in the solar sector, adding 25,157 jobs to the US economy, second behind only electric vehicles. In all, at least 305 major clean energy projects have been announced in 40 states and Puerto Rico since the IRA passed. Companies have also announced over $123 billion in capital investment for these projects.

    Wood Mackenzie Finds High Interest Rates Hit Renewable Energy Harder Than Natural Gas

    UtilityDive.com, by Emma Penrod, May 7, 2024

    According to an analysis by Wood Mackenzie, a 2-percentage-point increase in interest rates pushes up the levelized cost of electricity for renewables. In fact, it hikes the levelized cost of electricity from renewables by as much as 20%, with utility-scale solar experiencing some of the greatest impacts. The LCOE for a combined-cycle natural gas plant, by contrast, increases just 11%, in part because fossil fuel generators already paid higher rates before central banks began to hike interest. For the past several years, financiers have generally considered wind and solar to be less risky than conventional energy projects like oil and gas but increased interest rates are closing the gap between the cost of electricity from renewable energy and fossil fuels.

    Renewable Energy Passes 30% of World’s Electricity Supply

    The Guardian, by Jillian Ambrose, May 7, 2024

    A new report by energy think-tank Ember shows that renewables – for the first time – provided more than 30% of global electricity in 2023, an expansion from 19% in 2000. This growth is being driven by the rising share of solar and wind, which was up to a record 13.4% in 2023 from 0.2% in 2000. Global electricity demand rose by 2.2%, or 627-TWh, in 2023. In 2024, demand growth is expected to be 968-TWh and to be more than met by clean generation growth, forecast at 1,300-TWh. This will lead to a fall in global fossil generation of 2%, or 333-TWh. Together with nuclear, low-carbon sources accounted for almost 40% of global electricity last year. The carbon dioxide intensity of global power generation therefore reached a new low, but a decline in hydropower prevented a fall in emissions. Because of drought conditions, hydropower generation declined to a five-year low, causing a shortfall that was met by coal, resulting in a 1% increase in global power sector emissions.

    Solar

    U.S. Electric Power Sector Reported Fewer Delays for New Solar Capacity Projects in 2023

    U.S. Energy Information Administration, May 8, 2024

    The U.S. electric power sector reported fewer delays to install new utility-scale solar photovoltaic projects in 2023 than in 2022. In 2023, solar developers pushed back the scheduled online date for an average of 19% of planned solar capacity compared with an average of 23% in 2022. Although the share of solar capacity reporting delays fell in 2023, it was still higher than the average share of delays between 2018 and 2021. The decrease in delays came at a time when utilities were adding more solar to the grid. In 2023, the electric power sector began operating 19-GW of new utility-scale solar PV generating capacity, a 27% increase from the existing solar capacity at the end of 2022.

    Solar PV Was World’s Fastest-Growing Source of Electricity Generation in 2023

    PV-Tech.org, by Jonathan Touriño Jacobo, May 8, 2024

    Energy think tank Ember’s fifth annual “Global Electricity Review” revealed that solar generation grew by 23% in 2023, the fastest-growing electricity source for 19 years in a row. With 1,631-TWh, solar PV accounted for 5.5% the global electricity mix, up from 4.6% in 2022. Solar’s generation growth in 2024 is expected to be even larger due to a record surge of installations towards the end of 2023. Among the four trends highlighted in Ember’s report that will shape the electricity transition in 2024, solar PV is at the forefront of the energy revolution and leading the way. Earlier this year, BloombergNEF forecast solar PV to add 574GW of capacity in 2024, up from the 444GW added in 2023.

    IEA Says Global Solar Manufacturing Sector Now at 50% Utilization Rate

    PV-Magazine, by Emiliano Bellini, May 8, 2024

    The International Energy Agency says that global solar cell and module manufacturing capacity grew by around 550-GW in 2023. Around 440-GW of 500-GW of total cell and module capacity was deployed throughout the world last year. Global investments in new solar factories amounted to $80 billion in 2023 alone, which is two times more than in 2022. Around 80% of the global PV manufacturing industry is currently concentrated in China, while India and the U.S. each hold a 5% share. Europe accounts for a mere 1%.

    Wind

    Study Says ‘Wake Effect’ Could Drain 38% of Offshore Wind Power

    EE News, by Heather Richards, May 6, 2024

    According to recent research from the Colorado University Boulder and National Energy Technology Laboratory, downstream turbulence from offshore wind turbines can reduce power generation at nearby turbines, substantially reducing the total potential from planned U.S. offshore wind projects. Offshore wind turbines off the U.S. East Coast could rob neighboring turbine arrays of wind speed and thus power generation depending on daily conditions, by more than 30%. Most of the potential loss to power generation will occur within individual turbine arrays, from wake effect slowing wind speeds to some turbines.

    Report Reveals Wind Industry Must Triple Its Capacity to Meet Global Targets

    The Cool Down, by Jeremiah Budin, May 8, 2024

    According to a recent Global Wind Energy Council report, capacity installation of wind energy was 50% higher in 2023 than the year before. Global cumulative wind power capacity passed 1-TW for the first time in 2023. To reach the goal laid out at COP28 of 3-TW by 2030, the industry will need to add at least 320 gigawatts per year (roughly double the amount added last year) over the next seven years. That means that if capacity installation continues at its current pace, the world will fall short of the goal – but if it continues to grow exponentially, “we have a shot … but we now have just seven years.”

    Turbine Manufacturers Install 121-GW in Stellar Year

    ReNews.Biz, May 9, 2024

    According to Global Wind Energy Council market intelligence, wind turbine manufacturers supplied a record amount of volume in 2023. GWEC found a total of 30 wind turbine manufacturers installed 120.7GW of new capacity last year. Chinese suppliers installed 81.6GW in 2023, resulting in Chinese companies occupying four of the top five spots in this year’s supplier rankings. Goldwind emerged as top supplier in 2023, with Envision moving up three positions to second place and Denmark’s Vestas in third place. Windey and Mingyang occupy fourth and fifth place respectively.

    Bioenergy

    EIA Expects U.S. Biomass Power Capacity to Hold Steady in 2024 and 2025

    Biomass Magazine, by Erin Voegele, May 7, 2024

    The U.S. Energy Information Administration currently predicts biomass to account for 2.25% of renewable electricity generation in 2024, falling to 2.04% in 2025. Biomass accounted for 2.44% of renewable electricity generation last year. Biomass is expected to be used to generate 21.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity this year, falling to 21.5 billion kWh in 2025. Biomass generation was at 21.1 billion kWh in 2023.

    USDA Predicts 14 Billion Pounds of Soybean Oil Will Go to Biofuel Production for 2024-’25

    Biomass Magazine, by Erin Voegele, May 10, 2024

    In its latest “World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report,” the USDA predicts soybean oil use in biofuel production will increase by 1 billion pounds to 14 billion pounds for 2024-25.  The USDA currently expects 14 billion pounds of soybean oil to go to biofuel production for 2024-’25, up from 13 billion pounds estimated for 2023-’24 and 12.491 billion pounds consumed for 2022-’23.

    Hydro/Water Power

    How Much Tidal Energy Can Alaska’s Electricity Grid Support?

    HydroReview, by Elizabeth Ingram, May 6, 2024

    A report released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that the largest existing power grid in Alaska, known as the Railbelt, can support 200 MW of tidal energy and up to 300 MW with grid upgrades. The Railbelt carries 70% of the state’s electrical energy to about three-quarters of its population. Today, that grid runs mostly on natural gas. But Alaska’s Governor, Mike Dunleavy, wants 80% of the Railbelt’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2040. Switching to renewables – including hydroelectric, wind, solar, geothermal and tidal power – could reduce the state’s spending on electricity generation by about $100 million per year.

    Storage

    Study Suggests Marcellus Shale Could Supply 40% of U.S. Lithium

    EE News, by Hannah Northey, May 8, 2024

    A study from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory has found that two regions of Pennsylvania that overlay the Marcellus Shale formation could pump out enough lithium-rich wastewater to meet up to 40 percent of the nation’s current domestic consumption of the mineral. The findings, published in “Scientific Reports,” are significant given growing demand for lithium used in batteries for everything from grid storage to laptops to electric vehicles.

    Hydrogen

    BNEF Says E-Fuels Could Scale Up to Over 1 Billion Gallons by 2030

    BloombergNEF, by Rose Oates, May 7, 2024

    E-fuels offer a decarbonization solution for hard-to-abate transport sectors like shipping and aviation. According to BloombergNEF, the power-to-liquids pathway to produce e-fuels made from hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide could scale up from several pilot plants in 2024 to an annual capacity of over one billion gallons (3.785 billion liters) in 2030. There are more than 30 projects in the pipeline planned to come online by 2030 plus several more with unscheduled start dates, representing a total production capacity of over 1.3 billion gallons a year. North America accounts for 615 million gallons of the planned capacity by 2030 thanks to a big project by HIF Global in Texas, while Europe accounts for 350 million gallons.

    U.S. Government Targets $2/kg by 2026 and $1/kg by 2031 for “Clean” Hydrogen Production Costs

    PV-Magazine, by Sergio Matalucci, May 8, 2024

    The US Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office has published a detailed strategy and planning document that will help guide hydrogen innovation and research in the coming years. The document aims for “clean” hydrogen production costs of $2/kg by 2026 and $1/kg by 2031, but also electrolyzer system costs of $250/kW (low-temperature electrolyzers) and $500/kW (high-temperature electrolyzers) by 2026.

    Electric Vehicles

    Electrify America EV Charging Network Set to Grow by 25% in 2024

    Green Car Reports, by Bengt Halvorson, May 5, 2024

    On the sixth anniversary of its first fast-charger installation, Electrify America confirmed that it’s planning to reach 5,000 chargers by the end of the year, including larger charging stations and broader support for Plug & Charge payment tech. As of May 2, there are currently 931 Electrify America station locations and 4,182 charge ports; the latter corresponds to what Electrify America considers a charger. The expansion would constitute a roughly 20% increase over what’s currently available.

    IDTechEx Says Solar EV Charging to Bypass the Grid and Be a $2.5 Billion Market by 2034

    North American Clean Energy, May 6, 2024

    IDTechEx predicting over 180 million electric vehicles to be sold annually by 2044. In addition, IDTechEx predicts that solar charging systems will make up a sizeable portion of the overall $16 billion off-grid charging infrastructure hardware market by 2034. IDTechEx research also indicates several other technologies likely to be adopted for off-grid EV charging. Hydrogen fuel cell charging is likely to emerge as a key solution for use cases requiring much greater power per area, with a particular expected focus on electrified construction sites.

    Local Governments See EV Charging as Costly and Lower-Priority

    Green Car Reports, by Stephen Edelstein, May 7, 2024

    According to a new University of Michigan survey, more local governments across Michigan see EV charging as a relevant issue, but the number is still fairly low, and those interested in EV charging see cost as a barrier. Just under 40% of local leaders surveyed said EV infrastructure planning is somewhat or very relevant – a 23% increase from 2019. Just over a quarter said EV charging isn’t relevant in their jurisdictions, compared to 40% in 2019. Over a third of respondents (34%) said their community had too few public charging stations, up from 29% in 2019. A majority of those surveyed (53%) pointed to the cost of adding EV charging stations or lack of interest among residents (51%) as major barriers to further infrastructure expansion.

    Report Says EVs Are Slowing the Pace of Growth in Gasoline Demand

    Green Car Reports, by Stephen Edelstein, May 8, 2024

    According to the consultancy Wood Mackenzie, growing EV sales in both the U.S. and China could contribute to a halving in gasoline demand in 2024. Demand is likely to rise 340,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 26.5 million bpd for the year, but that’s the slowest growth since 2020, and down from a growth rate of 700,000 bpd last year. And it’s partly because, with increased EV sales, China is nearing the point of peak transportation fuel demand, while the U.S. has surpassed it.

    Global EV Sales Grew 19% in March

    CleanTechnica.com, by José Pontes, May 9, 2024

    Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 19% in March 2024 compared to March 2023. There were 1.3 million registrations. BEVs were up by 7% YoY, while plugin hybrids jumped 50% YoY, with March being its second-best month ever. In the end, plugins represented 19% share of the overall auto market (13% BEV share alone). Add the 1.1 million plugless hybrids registered in March, a new record, and we have a staggering 35% of global sales in March having some kind of electrification.

    Energy Efficiency

    Americans Burn 50% Less Fossil Fuel in Their Homes Than They Did 50 Years Ago

    CleanTechnica.com, by Joe Wachunas, May 10, 2024

    Today, Americans burn about 55% less fossil fuel in their homes on average compared to half a century ago. Moreover, American households have steadily been using less natural gas since the 1970s. Total use of natural gas in homes has been flat in the US (even declining slightly from its peak in 1972) for 50 years while the U.S. population has grown by 60%. Per capita gas use has fallen by almost 40%. Meanwhile Americans use almost 90% more electricity per person than they did in the early 70s. Electricity as a percentage of per capita energy that Americans use in their homes has thus nearly tripled from 16% in 1972 to 45% today. Moreover, while there are many more electric appliances in the home now, they are significantly more efficient and use a fraction of the energy of their predecessors.

    CLIMATE CHANGE

    Survey Finds Fewer Americans See Climate Change as a Very Serious Problem

    The Hill, by Sarah Fortinsky, May 6, 2024

    According to a new Monmouth University poll, conducted on April 18-22, fewer Americans today see climate change as a “very serious” problem than they did three years ago. It shows a 10-point decline in Americans who says climate change is a “very serious” problem, falling from 56 percent in September 2021 to 46 percent in April. The decline was less steep overall – with 66 percent describing climate change as a problem that’s either “very serious” or “somewhat serious.” That’s down from 2021, when 70 percent of respondents described the climate change problem as either “very serious” or “somewhat serious.”

    Earth Experienced Its Warmest April on Record as U.S. Prepares for Brutal Summer Heat

    Yahoo.com, by Julia Jacobo & Daniel Peck, May 7, 2024

    According to a monthly climate report by Copernicus, Europe’s climate change service, Earth has just experienced its 11th straight warmest month on record after it measured as the warmest April on record. April 2024 saw an average surface air temperature of 15.03 degrees Celsius, or 59.05 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature measured at 1.21 degrees Fahrenheit above the 1991 to 2020 average for April. May 2023 through April 2024 was the warmest 12-month stretch on record with a global average temperature of 2.90 degrees Fahrenheit above the 1850 to 1900 pre-industrial average.

    Seven Separate Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters Have Struck the U.S. This Year

    National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, May 8, 2024

    There were five new billion-dollar weather and climate disasters confirmed last month, including three severe storm events that impacted the central, southern and eastern U.S. in mid-February and early April. There were also two winter storms that impacted the northwest and central U.S. in mid-January. In total, there have been seven confirmed weather and climate disaster events this year, each with losses exceeding $1 billion. These disasters consisted of five severe storm events and two winter storms.

    Climate Scientists Say 2.5º C Is Now the Best-Case Scenario

    CleanTechnica.com, by Steve Hanley, May 9, 2024

    Recently, “The Guardian” reached out to every lead author or review editor of IPCC reports since 2018 – 843 people in all – to ask them how the fight against global heating was going. 380 people responded. 80% of them said they expect global temperatures to rise by at least 2.5º C (4.5º F) above pre-industrial levels this century, blasting past internationally agreed targets and causing catastrophic consequences for humanity and the planet. Almost half anticipate at least 3º C (5.4º F). Only 6% thought the 1.5º C (2.7º F) limit agreed to by virtually all the nations of the world in Paris in 2015 would be met.

  • BRAINDEAD: Cell Tower Permitted in Our Public Park

    theenergyage

    Peters Township Ready to Double-Down

    Email to Peters Township Council dated April 21, 2024
    For: Council meeting April 22, 2024

    To Peters Township Council —

    As council meets on this EARTH DAY 2024, a contrary question looms: 

    Is it time to close the upper playground in Peterswood Park?

    RF recording on May 13, 2024
    Poster created on May 13, 2024

    While watching a replay of the last PT Council meeting, township manager Paul Lauer said something to the effect: AT&T has been asked to add another carrier to the Peterswood Park cell tower “at the urging of the township.” 

    Who exactly is “the township” anyway?  

    This action would be ‘doubling down’ on the original abomination of installing a cell tower in our premiere township park, close to a playground and athletic fields. 

    Studies have clearly shown the health risks… to people and trees. The strongest radiating ‘main beam’ from that cell tower is pointed directly at the upper playground in Peterswood Park! 

    Is it time to close that playground for public safety?

    While an in-depth, 10-year German study on 700 trees (that I previously presented to Council) clearly detailed tree damage from cell masts and towers, first on one side then expanding to the entire tree, my greatest concern is now for the children who spend time at the upper playground, as well as individuals lingering at nearby picnic shelters (especially Pavilion 2). 

    RF recording on May 13, 2024

    The increase in cell tower radiation from additional carriers and cell masts, would also increase health risks for individuals at the soccer field complex, even though it’s located a bit further away, and at an elevation just slightly below the strongest main beam. 

    RF recording on May 13, 2024

    Therefore, I would strongly urge council to override any attempt to increase cell tower radiation in Peterswood Park. What a great gesture this would be on Earth Day!

    (Note: This emailed comment wasn’t included, or even mentioned, during the April 22, 2024 Peters Township council meeting)

    Radiofrequency radiation injures trees around mobile phone base stations

    Science of The Total Environment
    Volume 572, 1 December 2016, Pages 554-569
    by Cornelia Waldmann-Selsam, Alfonso Balmori-de la Puente, Helmut Breunig, Alfonso Balmori

    Highlights

    • High frequency nonionizing radiation is becoming increasingly common.
    • This study found a high level of damage to trees in the vicinity of phone masts.
    • Deployment has been continued without consideration of environmental impact.

    Trees have several advantages over animals as experimental subjects and the aim of this study was to verify whether there is a connection between unusual (generally unilateral) tree damage and radiofrequency exposure. To achieve this, a detailed long-term (2006–2015) field monitoring study was performed in the cities of Bamberg and Hallstadt (Germany). During monitoring, observations and photographic recordings of unusual or unexplainable tree damage were taken, alongside the measurement of electromagnetic radiation.

    “significant differences between the damaged side facing a phone mast and the opposite side”

    The measurements of all trees revealed significant differences between the damaged side facing a phone mast and the opposite side, as well as differences between the exposed side of damaged trees and all other groups of trees in both sides. Thus, we found that side differences in measured values of power flux density corresponded to side differences in damage.

    “30 selected trees in low radiation areas showed no damage”

    The 30 selected trees in low radiation areas (no visual contact to any phone mast and power flux density under 50 μW/m2) showed no damage. Statistical analysis demonstrated that electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone masts is harmful for trees.

    “damage afflicted on trees by mobile phone towers usually start on one side, extending to the whole tree over time”

    These results are consistent with the fact that damage afflicted on trees by mobile phone towers usually start on one side, extending to the whole tree over time. Source

    58-page PDF of the study including scores of photos

    Trees in Bamberg and Hallstadt in the radiation field of 65 mobile phone base stations. Examples from a documentation of about 700 trees (2006-2016).

    More on the German tree study with additional links

    If RF does that to trees, what about human beings?

    Evidence for a health risk by RF on humans living around mobile phone base stations: From radiofrequency sickness to cancer

    Environmental Research
    Volume 214, Part 2, November 2022, 113851
    by A. Balmori

    ABSTRACT
    The objective of this work was to perform a complete review of the existing scientific literature to update the knowledge on the effects of base station antennas on humans. Studies performed in real urban conditions, with mobile phone base stations situated close to apartments, were selected. Overall results of this review show three types of effects by base station antennas on the health of people: radiofrequency sickness (RS), cancer (C) and changes in biochemical parameters (CBP)… The existence of similar effects from studies by different sources (but with RF of similar characteristics), such as radar, radio and television antennas, wireless smart meters and laboratory studies, reinforce the conclusions of this review. Of special importance are the studies performed on animals or trees near base station antennas that cannot be aware of their proximity and to which psychosomatic effects can never be attributed.

    CONCLUSION
    In the current circumstances, it seems that the scientific experts in the field are very clear about the serious problems we are facing and have expressed this through important appeals (Blank et al., 2015; Hardell and Nyberg, 2020). However, the media, the responsible organizations (World Health Organization, 2015) and the governments are not transmitting this crucial information to the population, who remain uninformed. For these reasons, the current situation will probably end in a crisis.

    My earlier comment to Peters Township council:

    August 10, 2023
    SUBJECT: New cell tower in Peterswood Park

    To Peters Township Council and Staff:

    It was both a shock and disappointment to see Peters Township lease land, with an easement and right-of-ways inside Peterswood Park for a gigantic cell tower. While council has stated in recent months that due to federal regulations they have little control to prevent or curtail the rapidly increasing population of 5G cell antennas within our township, council certainly had the ability to protect and exclude Peterswood Park.

    Beyond all the negatives of placing a cell tower there, I marvel at the ‘bargain basement’ lease terms outlined in that contract, obtained using a recent ‘Right to Know’ request. Peters Township only gets $2,000 dollars per month. An initial 5-year term with 3 automatic renewals, will total 20 years. While the Social Security COLA increase for 2023 was 8.7-percent, the cell tower lease payment only increases 2-percent a year, from the previous year. What a deal!

    The ‘carrot at the end of the stick’ for adding this monstrosity to our premiere public park, was additional lighting for the football field, which already has 4 tall towers with full lighting arrays. So where was the need?

    Maintenance of the new tower area, along with monthly electric bills and repairs to the new lights, will be the full responsibility of Peters Township. It will also be interesting to see how much ‘bright light splash’ glares into neighborhoods in adjacent areas, since the new lights will have to shine further outward, since they are placed so far away from the football field.

    Our connected world is increasingly bombarded with invisible electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from cell phones and wireless devices. Unfortunately, 5G will require more cell antennas, closer together, than its 4G predecessor. A 10-year study (from 2006-2015) was done in Bamberg & Hallstadt Germany, on about 700 trees that were in the radiation field of 65 mobile phone base stations. Turns out the damage to trees by mobile phone towers usually starts on one side, extending to the whole tree over time.

    Finally, it’s my sincere hope that Peters Township Council (and Peters Township School District) don’t lease additional public lands for cell towers and antennas. While our school board may not have had any control over the matter, two new cell antennas were installed directly in front of Peters Township Middle School. I’ve included those photos, along with related ones, in the following pages.

  • OIL AND GAS Violations Run Rampant in Pennsylvania

    theenergyage

    Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection:

    Imposed $2.2 Million in Penalties Against Shale Gas Drilling, Pipeline Companies In 2023 for Violations Dating Back to 2018

    By David E. Hess | PA Environment Digest Blog
    May 14, 2024 | Full story

    Information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in response to a Right to Know request shows DEP took major enforcement actions against 26 shale gas drilling and pipeline companies in 2023, including imposing $2,290,849 in penalties for violations going back to 2018.

    ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
    The enforcement actions included issuing administrative enforcement orders, signing consent orders and agreements and civil penalty agreements.  

    129 ACTIONS
    DEP took a total of 129 of these actions against shale gas drillers and pipeline companies, according to the “enforcements” information in DEP’s Workload Report for 2023.

    PLUS ANOTHER 1,310 VIOLATIONS
    These actions are in addition to the 1,310 notices of violation DEP issued shale gas drilling and pipeline companies in 2023, according to DEP’s December 29 Workload Report.  Read more here.

    DEP issued the most penalties against EQT Corporation and related companies– $1,120,135

    EQT TOPS THE LIST

    DEP issued the most penalties against EQT Corporation and related companies– $1,120,135

    • Followed by Equitrans-related companies– $419,740
    • CNX-related companies– $385,403
    • Range Resources Appalachia- $182,900
    • Diversified Production- related companies– $89,100

    The penalties were typically assessed for violations that occurred between 2018 and 2022. The most frequent violations included erosion and sedimentation control measure failures, spills and releases of wastewater and other fluids.

    Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

    The information provided by DEP in response to this Right to Know request said the agency issued major violations for abandoning and not plugging shale gas wells to four companies in 2023–

    • Chesapeake Appalachia LLC: no details provided except “addressed through enforcement;”
    • M4 Energy LLC for abandonment and not plugging three shale gas wells at the Triana Young well pad in Hector Township, Potter County;
    • Roulette Oil & Gas LLC for abandoning a shale gas well in Hebron Township, Potter County; and
    • XTO Energy, Inc. for abandoning four shale gas wells in Prospect Borough, Butler County.

    However, the weekly reporting by PA Environment Digest based on DEP Oil and Gas Inspection Reports shows DEP issued 10 unconventional shale gas operators 20 notices of violation at 11 well pads during 2023 for abandoning wells without plugging them.   Read more here.

    These operators include–

    • Chesapeake Appalachia, Inc: Stoorza Well Pad, Terry Twp., Bradford County;
    • EQT Chap LLC: Basista-Dermotta Well Pad, Sewickley Twp., Westmoreland County:
    • EQT Prod Co.: Phoenix Well Pad, Duncan Twp., Tioga County;
    • Frontier Natural Resources: Winner Well Pad, Keating Twp., Clinton County;
    • M4 Energy LLC: Triana Young Well Pad, Hector Twp., Potter County;
    • Penn View Exploration: Huff Well Pad, Franklin Twp., Butler County;
    • Roulette Oil & Gas, Inc.: Guardian Well Pad, Hebron Twp., Potter County;
    • Seneca Resources Co. LLC: LEH WT2973 Well Pad, Shippen Twp., Cameron County;
    • West Texas Operating Co.: Hillegass Well Pad, Stonycreek Twp., Somerset County;
    • XTO Energy, Inc.: Patton Well Pad, Prospect Borough, Butler County;
    • XTO Energy, Inc.: Hall Well Pad, Springfield Twp., Fayette County.

    Major Actions Take By DEP In 2023

    The enforcement actions taken by DEP against the five shale gas companies with the most penalty assessments, include– 

    CNX Gas Company, LLC  – $92,490

    • Civil Penalty – $7,500 – Finnegan RHL8 – Greene County, Richhill Twp. – Spill (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $42,765 – Conrhein NV13 Pad – Washington County, Morris Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent Order – $13,000 – RHl 13 Well Pad – Greene County, Richhill Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2019) [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $26,725  – Mor42 well site – Washington County, East Finley Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $2,500- Morris to Majorsville Pipeline Project  – Greene County, Gray Twp. – Spill (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    2017765_3255247_sairinspectionreport_1632397560.0.pdfDownload

    CNX Midstream OPR Co, LLC – $189,000

    • Consent Order – $174,000 – Mor44 Pipeline Project – Washington County, East Finley Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent Order – GH56 to Lightner Pipeline – Greene County, Center Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $15,000 – RHL23-RHL4-WEB22 Pipeline Project – Greene County, Richhill Twp. –  Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

    CNX Midstream Partners LP –  $103,913

    • Civil Penalty – $88,650 – WFN10 to WFN6 Gathering Pipeline – Washington County, West Finley Twp. – Industrial Waste Discharge, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $15,263 – Mor29 Gathering Pipeline – Greene County, Morris Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

    Diversified Oil & Gas LLC – $70,850

    • Civil Penalty – $70,850 – Burchianti Well Pad 11A – Greene County, Cumberland Twp. – Spills, Well Integrity, Venting Gas  (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report]

    Diversified Production LLC – $18,250

    • Civil Penalty – $4,000 – Markle 13 – Westmoreland County, South Huntingdon Twp. – Failed To Construction Well To Meet Regulations (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $8,500 – Hunter 11 – Westmoreland County, South Huntingdon Twp. –  Failed to Notify DEP of Defective Well Equipment/Casing (2021) [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $5,750 – WH Wilson 5 – Washington County, West Pike Run Twp. – Failed  to dispose of waste properly  (2018 violations)   [DEP Inspection Report Not Available Online]
    • Compliance Order – JLL 1A – Greene County, Dunkard Twp. – Release, Improper Disposal of Waste (2023)  [DEP Inspection Report]

    EQM Gathering OPCO LLC  (Equitrans)  $311,240

    • Civil Penalty – $16,950 – NITMS014/NITMH012 Pipeline Project – Greene County, Wayne Twp. – Land Slip, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $41,000 – Beta Trunk Pipeline Project – Greene County, Aleppo Twp. – Land Slip, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $120,215 – Beta McNicholas to CDP-2 Pipeline Project – Greene County, Aleppo Twp. – Land Slip, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $28,200 – NIMIS009 Pipeline Project –  Washington County, Nottingham Twp.- Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $53,775 -NIPI-D001 PipelineLine – Washington County, East Finley Twp., – Land Slip, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $51,100 – NISTS002 Pipeline – Washington County, Amwell Twp. – Land Slip, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]

    EQM Poseidon Midstream LLC (Equitrans)  – $108,500

    • Civil Penalty – $108,500 – Cole Farm Compressor Station – Greene County, Wayne Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2018)  [DEP Inspection Report/NOV Response]

    Equitrans Water Svc (PA) LLC – $6,000

    • Consent/Civil Penalty – $6,000 – Back Nine Freshwater Impoundment – Washington County, Somerset Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failures, Compliance With Permit –     (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report, DEP Inspection Report]
    2617062_3480971_sairinspectionreport_1672348500.0.pdfDownload

    EQT Production Company – $893,600

    • Civil Penalty – $299,000 – Cogar Shale Gas Well Site – Washington County, Amwell Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failures (2022)    [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $166,400 – Spills At 2 Shale Gas Well Pads–
      • Harold Haywood Shale Gas Well Pad – Washington County, Carroll Twp.  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
      • Walter Stinger Shale Gas Well Pad – Greene County, Aleppo Twp. – Spill (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    1923701_3224128_sair_reportDownload
    1229329_3033281_sair_reportDownload
    • Consent Order – Fetchen H16, H17, H18, H33, H34, H35 – Allegheny County, Forward Twp. – Spill (2018)  [DEP Inspection Reports not available online]
    • Consent Order – Henderson 005, 006, 453, 454, 456, 457, 458, 459, 465 – Greene County, Morris Twp. – Spill (2018)  [DEP Inspection Report-573]  
    • Consent Order – Haywood H24, H25, H26, 789, 809 – Washington County, Carroll Twp. – Spill (2018)  [DEP Inspection Report-H26]
    • Consent Order – Moninger 315, 874 – Washington County, Amwell Twp. – Spill (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report-315]
    • Civil Penalty – $22,300 — Bailey 1021 Well Plugging – Greene County, Washington Twp. –  Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $26,250 – Prentice Shale Gas Well Site – Allegheny County, Forward Twp. – Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation  (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $34,500 – Drift Ridge Shale Gas Well Pad – Greene County, Wayne Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $47,500 – Wherry Shale Gas Well Pad – Washington County, West Bethlehem Twp. – Access Road actively subsiding 10 feet and slope failure vehicles stranded on the pad because of underground mining, fracking suspended  (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $65,000 – Lacko Shale Gas Well Pad –  Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failures (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Civil Penalty – $66,250 – Stout Shale Gas Well Pad – Washington County, East Finley Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent Order – No Details Available – DEP Inspection Report  #2692958 – 11/21/2016  (probably superseded by another action) 

    Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT] – $226,535

    • Consent/Civil Penalty – $49,550 – Corsair Shale Gas Well Pad – Greene County, Franklin Twp. – Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure  (2019- 2020)   [DEP Inspection Report-2019, DEP Inspection Report– 2020] 
    • Consent/Civil Penalty – $62,810 – Dragon Chan Shale Gas Well Pad – Greene County, Aleppo Twp. – Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent/Civil Penalty – $57,400 – Dahn-Tahn Shale Gas Well Pad – Greene County, Wayne Twp. – Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent/Civil Penalty – $27,350 – Three Musketeers Shale Gas Well Pad – Washington County, North Bethlehem Twp. – Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure  (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent/Civil Penalty – $29,425 – Don Flamenco Shale Gas Well Pad – Greene County, Richhill Twp. – Spill of production wastewater  (2021-2022)  [DEP Inspection Report-2021, DEP Inspection Report-2022]
    • Compliance Order – Iron Man 7H – Washington County, North Bethlehem Twp. – Spill, Failed to Notify DEP (2023)   [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent Order – Brova Shale Gas Well Site – Washington County, North Bethlehem Twp. – Spill (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent Order – Baby Bear Shale Gas Well Pad – Washington County, Somerset Twp. – Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Permit]
    • Administrative Order – No Details – DEP Inspection Report #3616462 – 6/21/2022 Not Available Online (probably superseded by another action)

    Range Resources Appalachia, LLC – $182,900

    Consent/Civil Penalty – $67,000 covering–

    • Consent Order – Kingston Sale Gas Well Pad – Washington County, Amwell Twp.  –  Failed To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent Order – Castro Shale Gas Well Site – Washington County, Morris Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent Order – Lindley John Shale Gas Well Site – Washington County, Morris Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent Order – J. Lindley South Shale Gas Well Site – Washington County, Morris Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure, Failed To Stabilize Site  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent/Civil Penalty – $25,400 – Dalbo Shale Gas Well Pad – Allegheny County, Findlay Twp. – Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent/Civil Penalty – $9,500 – Jodikinos Carol Shale Gas Well Pad – Beaver County, Independence Twp. –  Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent/Civil Penalty – $14,000 – Brownlee Kelley Shale Gas Well Pad – Washington County, Hopewell Twp. – Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

    Consent/Civil Penalty – $67,000 covering–

    • Consent Order – Kingston Pad 5H – Washington County, Amwell Twp. – Spill (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent Order – Godwin George 15H – Washington County, Cross Creek Twp. – Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    1046128_2977607_sair_reportDownload
    • Consent Order – Moritz Edward 3H – Washington County, Chartiers Twp. – Spill (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]
    • Consent Order – Bakerstown Road 8H – Allegheny County, Frazer Twp., – Spill (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]

    Click Here for the list of major shale gas-related enforcement actions taken by DEP in 2023.

    Report Violations

    To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

    Text photos and the location of abandoned wells to 717-788-8990.

    Check These Resources

    Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and owner and the Inspection Reports Viewer.

    Act 14 Advanced Notice Of Permits

    Many communities and citizens are not aware that a state law passed in 1984 gives them the first chance to comment on Department of Environmental Protection permit applications even before they are submitted to the agency.  Read more here.

    Act 14 requires applicants to submit notices to municipalities and counties for air quality, water obstruction (Chapter 105), any permit issued under the Cleans Streams Law (including Chapter 102, stormwater, NPDES, many more), any solid waste and hazardous waste, land recycling and water allocation permits.

    These notifications, sent by registered mail, must give municipalities and counties at least 30 days to comment to DEP and in the case of solid waste and hazardous waste at least 60 days, according to the law.

    Without proof Act 14 notices were sent to municipalities and counties within the required timeframe, a DEP permit application is not complete and DEP cannot review it.

    And the notices must be sent each time an applicant wants to modify, renew or expand what their applications cover, so there can be a lot of them.

    For those interested in the oil and gas industry, these notices cover almost every aspect of developing oil and gas drilling well pads and all gas infrastructure– pipelines, gas processing plants, water and wastewater storage facilities, pigging and metering stations and more.  Read more here.

    DEP’s eNOTICE

    Also Sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE service which sends you information on oil and gas and other permits submitted to DEP for review in your community.

    2023 Oil & Gas Compliance Reports:

    PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

    [Posted: May 14, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

  • PA Oil & Gas Weekly Violations – May 4-10, 2024

    theenergyage

    Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard

    May 4-10, 2024

    • 32 More Abandoned Conventional Well Violations
    • Failure To Cleanup Spills
    • Failure To Get Permits

    By David E. Hess | PA Environment Digest Blog
    May 10, 2024 | Full story

    From May 4 to 10, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 891 inspection entries, and caught up posting inspection reports from last week.

    So far this year, DEP took these action as of May 3— 

    • NOVs Issued In Last Week: 20 conventional, 14 unconventional
    • Year To Date – NOVs Issued: 3,159 conventional and 405 unconventional
    • Enforcements 2024: 195 conventional and 56 unconventional
    • Inspections Last Week: 311 conventional and 312 unconventional
    • Year To Date – Inspections:  5,815 conventional and 8,811 unconventional
    • Wells Drilled Last Week: 8 conventional and 4 unconventional
    • Year To Date Wells Drilled: 46 conventional and 116 unconventional

    32 Abandoned Conventional Wells

    On May 1, 2024, DEP did follow-up inspections on six conventional wells owned by Questa Petro Co. in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County and found one well abandoned and not plugged and five venting gas.

    The wells included–

    • Calvin & Evelyn Miller 1: abandoned, not plugged
    • Dryburgh 2: Venting gas
    • Fretts 2: Venting gas
    • Nemec 1: Venting gas
    • Price Junior 4: Venting gas
    • Sovich 1: Venting gas

    DEP originally issued violations for venting gas on or about February 26, 2024 and for the abandoned well March 11, 2024 and the owner did nothing.

    Violations were also issued for failure to submit well integrity reports and site restoration.

    DEP’s eFACTS database says Questa Petro has 379 permits for conventional wells.

    DEP’s inspection report [Dryburgh 2 –  example] requested the owner– again– to submit a written report by June 1, 2024 on how the wells will be brought into compliance.

    On May 2, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection of the Anderson 1 conventional gas well in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County owned by C & D Gas Co and found it was still venting gas and was still abandoned and not plugged.

    DEP issued violations for abandonment, venting and failure to submit annual production, waste generation and mechanical integrity reports on March 7, 2024.

    The well is also located within a few feet of a People Gas pipeline.

    DEP did receive a notice of intent to plug the well on April 24, but no actions have been taken by the owner.

    DEP’s eFACTS database says C & D Gas has 217 permits for conventional wells.

    DEP’s inspection report— again– requests the well owner to submit a write report by June 2, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.

    On May 3 & 6, 2024, DEP did routine inspections of 21 conventional wells owned by All Amer Energy, Inc. in Cecil Township, Washington County and found 21 wells were abandoned and not plugged.

    The wells include: JD Saunters 3, JD Saunters 8, Gallagher Stering 2, W. Patterson 2, WE Woods 6, WE Woods 8, R Gladden 14, GH Miller 5, Cubbage Heirs 3, Cubbage Heirs 5, Cubbage Heirs 6, Cubbage Heirs 10, Berry Heirs 2, GH Miller 5, JP Scott 23, M Moorhead 1, Shane Bros 10, Carlisle 2, Elliott Bros 1, Little 19, and R  Gladden 10. 

    Seven of the wells were also venting gas– WE Woods 8, R Gladden 14, Cubbage Heirs 3, Cubbage Heirs 10, R  Gladden 10, Little 19 and M Moorhead 1.

    DEP issued violations for abandonment, venting gas and for failure to submit annual production, waste generation and disposal and well integrity reports.

    DEP’s eFACTS database says All Amer Energy has 101 permits for conventional wells.

    DEP’s inspection reports [Cubbage Heirs 3 example] requested the owner to submit a written plan between May 20 and May 30 on how the wells will be brought into compliance.

    On May 6, 2024, DEP did an inspection of two conventional gas wells owned by Energy Exploration & Dev LTD in West Salem Township, Mercer County and found–

    — John Patterson 1: abandoned, not plugged, owner did not submit well integrity reports since 2015, last production/waste report in 2014

    — Reeher 1: owner did not submit well integrity reports since 2015, last production/waste report in 2014

    DEP’s inspection reports requested the owner to submit a written report by June 7, 2024 to bring the wells into compliance.

    DEP’s eFACTS database says Energy Exploration has 12 permits for conventional wells.

    On May 6 & 7, 2024, DEP inspected multiple conventional gas wells owned by Diversified Prod LLC in Knox Township, Jefferson County as a result of a complaint of contaminated private water supply.

    The wells included–

    • Allshouse 3492: Found to be abandoned and not plugged; Methane readings in slam bar holes show methane leaks
    • NFG 39011: Methane readings in slam bar holes show methane leaks
    • Fee Knox Station 1 38125: Methane readings in slam bar holes show methane leaks.  This well was issued violations for methane leaks on August 23, 2023.

    DEP inspection reports found each of the wells exhibiting signs of casing failure and the soil gas readings outside the well-bore “which is a source of pollution to the groundwater.”

    The wells were less than 2,500 feet from the complaint’s drinking water well.

    DEP’s inspection reports [Allshouse example] included violations for casing failure and in the case of Allshouse 3494, well abandonment.

    The well owner was requested to do an investigation of the possible source of methane leaks and provide a written report by May 21, 2024 on how the wells will be brought into compliance.

    On May 7, 2024, DEP did routine inspections of four conventional wells owned by Bialy Gas Production in Allegheny and Beaver counties and found all four wells were abandoned and not plugged.

    The wells included–

    • Allegheny County, Moon Twp.: J. Kerr HRS JKH2 (abandoned, not plugged)
    • Beaver County, Baden Boro: Fisher 1A (abandoned, not plugged)
    • Beaver County, Economy Boro: Roy Musgrave 7 (abandoned, not plugged)
    • Beaver County, Economy Boro: Alan C. Martin 1 (abandoned, not plugged, leaking gas)

    DEP’s eFACTS database says Bialy has 36 permits for conventional wells.

    DEP’s inspection reports [Alan C. Martin 1 example] requested the owner to submit a written response by May 20, 2024 on how the wells will be brought into compliance.

    On May 9, 2024, DEP did follow-up inspections on three conventional wells in Upper Burrell Township, Westmoreland County owned by Vernard L. Shumaker and found three wells abandoned and not plugged.

    The wells included– Alcoa 3, Alcoa 4 and John Kline 2.

    Violations were issued for abandonment and continued for failure to submit well integrity, production and waste generation reports.

    DEP’s eFACTS database says Shumaker has 306 permits for conventional wells.

    DEP’s inspection report [Alcoa 4 example] requested the well owner to submit a written report by June 10, 2024 on how the wells will be brought into compliance.

    475 Conventional, 2 Shale Gas Abandoned Well Violations In 2024

    So far in 2024, DEP issued 475 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners and 2 shale gas well owners for abandoning wells and not plugging wells.

    Not counting Quaker State/Pennzoil’s nearly abandoned 12,505 conventional wells… yet.  Read more here.

    Shale Gas Well Pad Water Contamination Not Cleaned Up

    On May 2, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Taft 851 shale gas well pad in Middlebury Township, Tioga County owned by Seneca Resources Co LLC and found polluted water in a sediment pond and on unprotected areas of the pad.

    The original violations for these infractions were issued on March 6, 2024.

    DEP’s inspection report continues these violations, but does not include any further direction to the well pad owner.

    On May 9, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection of the Folta 22HC shale gas well pad in Tuscarora Township, Bradford County owned by Chesapeake Appalachia LLC and found a spill area has not yet been cleaned up since May 2.

    Elevated conductivity levels were found in fluids outside of secondary containment in a truck off-loading area where an unknown quantity of fluid was spilled, the owner is pursuing an Act 2 Land Recycling Program cleanup.

    DEP’s inspection report requests the owner to submit a written report by May 30, 2024 on how the area will be brought into compliance.

    Leaking Conventional Wastewater Tanks

    On May 8, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection at the Cowden 55 conventional well in West Bethlehem Township, Washington County owned by Diversified Prod LLC and found evidence a wastewater tank was still leaking.

    The violation was originally issued on November 15, 2023 and there was still evidence of staining and conductivity readings indicating contamination remains.

    DEP’s inspection report had no follow-up for the well owner.

    On May 9, 2024, DEP did a complaint investigation at the Walls 3 conventional well in Bloom Township, Clearfield County owned by Stonehaven Energy Mgt Co LLC and found evidence of a large area impacted by a wastewater release.

    The inspector said a screw had been inserted into the wastewater tank to try to stop the leak.

    DEP’s inspection report included violations related to the release and requested the well owner to submit a plan by May 30, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.

    2024 Land Recycling/Brownfield Cleanups

    So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 118 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups.  Read more here.

    Conventional Well Continues To Vent Gas

    On May 3, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection of the Kamerer 1 conventional well in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County owned by Vernard L. Shumaker and found it was still venting gas.

    DEP issued the original violation on March 12, 2024 and for failure to submit mechanical integrity, production and waste generation reports.

    DEP’s eFACTS database says Shumaker has 306 permits for conventional wells.

    DEP’s inspection report continues these violations and– again– requests the owner to submit a report by June 2, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.

    Olympus Energy Failed To Get Pipeline Permit

    On May 8, 2024, DEP issued a formal notice of violation to Olympus Energy, LLC for failure to obtain a Chapter 102 Erosion and Sedimentation General Permit for a 2.8 mile section of the Morchesky to Athena water pipeline in Salem and Washington townships and the Municipality of Murrysville in Westmoreland County.

    DEP requested the company to respond to the violation within five days.

    Report Violations

    To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

    Text photos and the location of abandoned wells to 717-788-8990.

    Check These Resources

    Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and owner and the Inspection Reports Viewer.

    Sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE service which sends you information on oil and gas and other permits submitted to DEP for review in your community.

    [Posted: May 11, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

  • PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities – May 11, 2024

    theenergyage

    PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities

    May 11, 2024

    Permit Notices, Opportunities to Comment

    By David E. Hess | PA Environment Digest Blog
    May 10, 2024 | Full story

    The following DEP notices were published in the May 11 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

    Land Recycling/Brownfield Cleanups

    — T&T Compression, Inc. – Alexander Roy 1 Well: DEP received a Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with Aluminum, Barium, Boron, Chloride, Iron, Lithium, Manganese, Strontium, Vanadium, and Zinc and groundwater contaminated with Selenium to meet Statewide Health Standards for the project located in Grant Twp., Indiana County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2575)

    — Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining & Marketing LLC – 860 Unit Cooling Tower & Point Breeze South Yard: DEP received a Final Report on remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum to meet Statewide Health Standards for a project located at 3144 Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia.  (PA Bulletin, page 2575)

    — Chesapeake Appalachia, Inc. – Wissler Shale Gas Well Pad: DEP approved a Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with wastewater to the Statewide Health Standards for the pad located in McNett Twp., Lycoming County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2576)

    — Coterra Energy, Inc. – Diaz Family Shale Gas Well Pad: DEP approved a final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with hydraulic fluid to the Statewide Health Standards for the pad located in Bridgewater Twp., Susquehanna County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2576)

    2024 Land Recycling/Brownfield Cleanups

    So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 118 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups.

    Air Quality Permits

    — The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 11 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed Title V Air Quality RACT III Permit for the Montour LLC Coal/Natural Gas-fired Power Plant located in Derry Twp., Montour County.  If requested, a hearing will be held June 18.  (PA Bulletin, page 2544)  Read more here.

    — The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 11 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the renewal of a Title V Air Quality Permit for the Shawville Natural Gas-fired Power Plant located in Bradford Twp., Clearfield County.  If requested, a hearing will be held on June 14. (PA Bulletin, page 2545)  Read more here.

    — NFG Midstream Covington, LLC – Tract 007 Compressor Station: DEP approved an Air Quality Permit for multiple sources of air pollution at the station located in Delmar Twp., Tioga County. (PA Bulletin, page 2578) 

    — Anegada Energy, LLC – Shale Gas Well Pad: DEp issued an Air Quality General Permit 5A for natural gas processing equipment located in Worth Twp., Butler County. (PA Bulletin, page 2578) 

    — Eureka Resources, LLC – Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Facility: DEP issued a state-only Air Quality permit for the facility located in Standing Stone Twp., Bradford County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2579) 

    — Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC -Wellsboro Compressor Station: DEP issued a state-only Air Quality permit for the facility located in Charleston Twp., Tioga County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2580) 

    Chapter 105 Encroachment Permits

    — Highland Field Services, LLC – Freshwater Pipeline: DEP invites comments on Chapter 105 permit for a project impacting Baldwin Run (High Quality), Crooked Creek, Norris Brook, Exceptional Value wetlands located in Delmar and Middlebury Townships, Tioga County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2556)

    — Greylock Production LLC – Genesee Forks Surface Water Withdrawal Project: DEP invites comments on Chapter 105 permit for a project impacting Genesee Forks (High Quality) located in Hector Twp., Potter County. (PA Bulletin, page 2557)

    — Greylock Production LLC – Pine Creek Water Withdrawal, Pipeline: DEP invites comments on Chapter 105 permit for a project impact Pine Creek (High Quality) located in Ulysses Twp., Potter County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2557)

    — SWN Production Company LLC – 2 Water Intakes, 2 Pipelines: DEP invites comments on Chapter 105 permit for a project impacting North Branch Mehoopany Creek in Forkston Twp., Wyoming County. (PA Bulletin, page 2557)

    Erosion & Sedimentation Permits

    — EXCO Resources PA, LLC: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting rock Run (Exceptional Value) located in Shrewsbury Twp., Sullivan County. (PA Bulletin, page 2585)

    — Coterra Energy, Inc.: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting Meshoppen Creek located in Dimock Twp., Susquehanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 2585)

    — NFG Midstream Covington, LLC:  DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting Losey Creek located in Chatham Twp., Tioga County. (PA Bulletin, page 2585)

    — Equitrans Water SVC: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting Ruff Creek and Tenmile Creek located in Morris Twp., Greene County. (PA Bulletin, page 2585)

    Oil & Gas Well Drilling Permits [5.3.24]*

    — Last Week – Permits: DEP issued 6 conventional and 7 unconventional

    — Year To Date – Permits: DEP issued 69 conventional and 168 unconventional

    — Year To Date – Wells Drilled: 48 conventional and 116 unconventional

    *Weekly Workload Report – 5.3.24

    *DEP’s Weekly Oil & Gas Program Workload Report – Most Recent

    DEP Issued These New Oil & Gas Permits *

    *Click Here to find oil and gas well permits recently issued near you

    Sign Up! DEP eNotice: The Only Way You’ll Know When Applications Come In To DEP

    Did you know DEP can send you email notices when permit applications are submitted to DEP in your community?  

    This is the only way you can get notified of when oil and gas-related permits are submitted to DEP.   

    You’ll also get notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations.

    Click Here to sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE today!

    [Posted: May 10, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

  • SARAH Well Pad in Union Township PA

    theenergyage

    SARAH WELL PAD

    Union Township, Washington County, PA

    Act 14 Notice to neighboring townships:

    Permit Application to Drill – SARAH 1H WELL (6-page PDF)
    Proposed Sarah 1H, 3H, 5H, 7H, 9H
    Union Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania

    sarah_act-14-notice_may-13-2024-ptDownload
    Map: Sarah 1H Unconventional Well Path
    Top hole is on the well pad
    Landing point is where the well lateral begins
    Bottom hole is where well lateral ends
    (Well lateral is approximately 2-miles long)

    Earlier documents:

    FLYER sent out prior to 3/9/2022 meeting:

    OIL AND GAS TRANSMITTAL
    Comments By Reviewing Geologist: Well is within 2000′ (feet) of a storage field. Please review the casing and cementing plan.

    Plat shows Equitrans LP Finleyville Storage Boundary within 2,000 feet.

    Equitrans L P 
    The Finleyville field, which contains the Fifth Sand reservoir, is found in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The Finleyville field is a Depleted Field and is Active as an underground natural gas storage facility. The base gas of the Fifth Sand reservoir is 344,000 MMcf/d. The working capacity for the reservoir is 456,000 MMcf/d. The field capacity is 800,000 MMcf/d with the maximum delivery of 38,000 MMcf/d.
    Source: ArcGIS Hub Map – Equitrans L P

    Hartson compressor station may be related to the gas storage field.

    Underground Gas Storage Fields in Pennsylvania (2-page PDF)

    underground_gas_storage_fields_in_pennsylvaniaDownload

    WELL LOCATION PLAT – SARAH 9H WELL (5-page PDF)

    sarah-9h-marcellus-dep-combined-sealed-platDownload
    Map: SARAH 9H Well Lateral

    9/10/2021 – Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (5-page PDF)

    sarah-well-site-pndi-final-updated-9-10-21Download

    3/28/2022 – Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (5-page PDF)

    sarah-well-site-pndi-3-28-2022Download

    AFFIDAVIT – REQUEST FOR UNCONVENTIONAL WELL PERMIT RENEWAL (1-page PDF)

    sarah-9h_renewal-affidavit10.26.2022Download

  • EIA: Short Term Energy Outlook

    theenergyage

    Highlights from EIA’s latest 
    “SHORT-TERM ENERGY OUTLOOK” 
    (Released May 7, 2024) 

    SUN DAY CAMPAIGN (founded 1992) 
    Editor: Ken Bossong

    8606 Greenwood Avenue, Suite #2
    Takoma Park, MD 20912-6656 
    301-588-4741;  sun-day-campaign@hotmail.com 
    Twitter: Follow @SunDayCampaign 

    “We expect 2024 to be hotter than it was last year with around 1,550 cooling degree days (5% more than in 2023).”

    EIA notable quote

    EIA – Electricity/General:

    “We expect total U.S. generation will grow by 3%, or 114 billion kilowatthours (BkWh), in 2024 and by 1%, or 33 BkWh, in 2025.”

    EIA – Renewables/General:

    “EIA expects electricity from solar, wind, and hydropower combined to account for 22% of total U.S. generation in 2024, increasing to 24% in 2025. Electricity from those three sources had made up 21% of U.S. generation in 2023.”

    EIA – Solar:

    “Solar supplies most of our forecast growth in U.S. electricity generation this year. … we forecast generation from utility-scale solar will contribute almost 60% of [the] increase … [in] U.S. electricity generation.

    “Utility-scale solar photovoltaic power plants generate 41% (66 BkWh) more electricity in 2024 in our forecast compared with 2023 as a result of 19-GW of generating capacity that was added late last year and 37-GW of solar capacity scheduled to be added this year. The increase in solar generation will be especially pronounced in summer 2024 (June–September). We expect solar generation will increase a further 25% (58 BkWh) in 2025.

    “In 2025, we expect generation from solar to exceed the contribution from hydroelectricity for the first year in history.”

    EIA – Wind:

    “We expect an increase of 5% (21 BkWh) from wind generation in 2024 with about 7-GW more generating capacity at the end of April than at the same time last year. However, wind speeds in recent months have been slower than normal. If this pattern continues, annual wind generation this year could be less than expected. Our forecast of wind generation grows 3% (14 BkWh) in 2025. … wind contributes 19% of 2024 U.S. electricity generation growth.”

    EIA – Hydropower:

    “On an annual basis, we forecast 6% (14 BkWh) more U.S. hydropower in 2024 than in 2023. Higher water supply in key areas of the Southeast and Northwest this year are the main driver of our forecast increase in hydropower generation. Most hydropower is generated in the western half of the country, but we expect that the Southeast will be the region with the largest increase in hydroelectric generation this year (up 10%). We expect U.S. hydropower will again grow by 6% in 2025, with growth centered in the Northwest.  …. hydropower contributes 13% [of 2024 U.S. electricity generation growth].”

    Renewables’ projected share of electrical generation in 2024: wind – 10.8%, hydro – 6.1%, solar – 5.6%, bioenergy + geothermal – 1%

    SUN DAY Campaign – Editorial note: EIA’s STEO confirms the SUN DAY Campaign’s forecast of the past two years: utility-scale solar capacity should roughly equal that of wind at some point in 2025. 

    EIA – Nuclear Power:

    Nuclear power’s share of U.S. electricity generation in both 2024 and 2025 will be 19.1%.

    EIA – Natural Gas:

    “The increased generation from renewables is likely to constrain growth in generation from natural gas-fired power plants, even with relatively low natural gas prices in the forecast. We expect U.S. natural gas generation in 2024 will be relatively flat throughout the forecast period.

    We expect U.S. dry natural gas production to fall by 2% from the first quarter of 2024 to 2Q24 as a result of low natural gas prices. We expect 1% less natural gas will be produced in the U.S. in 2024 than last year before production increases by 2% in 2025 to a record of almost 105 billion cubic feet per day. … We expect that less consumption in the industrial sector will offset increases in natural gas consumption in the electric power, residential, and commercial sectors.”

    EIA – Coal:

    “Low natural gas prices and retirements of coal-fired capacity will continue to reduce U.S. coal generation, which we forecast will decline 4% (28 BkWh) in 2023 and 7% (48 BkWh) in 2024.” *

    “[W]e … expect coal production will decline by 14% in 2024 to about 500 million short tons and then fall by about 1% next year. But more coal exports in this STEO compared with last month’s forecast mean the decline is less than we had forecast last month; we raised our forecast for U.S. coal production from last month by 3% in 2024 and by 6% in 2025.”

    *Coal’s share of electrical generation will drop from 28.4% in 2018 to 15.5% in 2024 and to 14.3% in 2025.

    CO2 Emissions:  

    EIA – CO2 Emissions: “U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions decrease year-over-year in almost every quarter during the forecast period, continuing an ongoing downward trend, and leading to 1% fewer annual emissions in 2025 compared with 2023. Coal-related CO2 emissions decline by 4% in 2024 as coal-fired electricity generation continues to fall. Natural gas emission rise by around 1% over the course of the year, mostly from increased natural-gas-fired power generation during 1Q24 and increased residential and commercial sector consumption in 4Q24. Petroleum emissions remain relatively unchanged in 2024.

    “U.S. CO2 emissions in our forecast decline by 1% from 2024 to 2025. Small reductions in CO2 emissions are mostly a result of continued changes in the electricity generation mix. Continued decreases in coal-fired generation reduce emissions in 2Q24 and 4Q24, and decreasing natural gas-fired generation reduces emissions in 3Q24.”

  • CAR BLOAT, the Chicken Tax, CAFE & Section 179

    theenergyage

    The reckless policies that helped fill our streets with ridiculously large cars

    Dangerous, polluting SUVs and pickups took over America. Lawmakers are partly to blame.

    By David Zipper | Vox
    April 28, 2024 |  Full story

    Unlike peer nations, the US has endured a steep rise in traffic deaths, with fatalities among pedestrians and cyclists, who are at elevated risk in a crash with a huge car, recently hitting 40-year highs.

    Car Bloat
    Car bloat also threatens the planet. Because heavier vehicles require more energy to move, they tend to gulp rather than sip the gasoline or electricity that powers them, increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Extra weight also accelerates the erosion of roadways and tires, straining highway maintenance budgets and releasing microplastics that damage ecosystems.

    CAFE
    Instead of setting a single fuel economy standard that applies to all cars, CAFE has two of them: one for passenger cars, such as sedans and station wagons, and a separate, more lenient standard for “light trucks,” including pickups and SUVs.

    Chicken Tax
    In the early 1960s, Europe raised the ire of American officials by slapping a 50 percent tariff on chicken exported from the United States. In retaliation, the US enacted a 25 percent tax on pickup trucks imported from abroad. The dispute is long forgotten, but the “Chicken Tax” lives on.

    Section 179
    A Hummer 1, for instance, weighs about 10,300 pounds (leading Section 179 to be dubbed the “Hummer Tax Loophole”). Other huge cars, such as a Chevrolet Suburban or an F-250 Ford Super Duty truck can qualify, too.

    Highway Trust Fund
    Every time a car owner fills her gas tank, a portion of the bill goes into the federal Highway Trust Fund, a central source of funding for roads and mass transit.

    That tax rate is set at $0.184 per gallon, a level that has been frozen since 1993

    That tax rate is set at $0.184 per gallon, a level that has been frozen since 1993, when Bill Clinton was less than a year into his presidency. Congressional proposals to increase the gas tax to close a yawning highway budget gap, or at least tie it to inflation, have gone nowhere. Over the last 31 years, consumer prices have risen 113 percent, making the real value of the gas tax less than half what it was in 1993.

    Solution
    It need not begin with new regulations or taxes. Federal leaders could do a world of good if they simply unwind the ill-advised policies already on the books.

  • WHAT, ME WORRY? Major MVP Pipeline Failure

    theenergyage

    Mountain Valley Pipeline segment ruptures during test

    Company says event shows that the testing process is working as ‘designed and intended’

    By Charlie Paullin | Virginia Mercury
    May 8, 2024 | Full story

    A picture of a ruptured section of the Mountain Valley Pipeline circulating on social media this week ignited a fury of opposition from those who have protested the project for years.

    “We have warned regulatory officials that MVP is a reckless company tossing corroding pipes into landslide prone mountain slopes in a rush to meet its contract obligations. It is past time for our safety to come first.”

    Russell Chisholm, co-director of the Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights Coalition

    The damaged pipeline, which the photo showed being hauled down a roadway, was the end result of hydrotesting on a section of the mainline pipe on May 1 near Route 221 on Bent Mountain. The incident came as the pipeline’s developers asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for an in-service date of June 1, a decision protesters continue to oppose.

    Photo: https://powhr.org/pipe-failures-plague-mvp/

    “The earth-shattering disasters MVP continues to cause on the methane gas pipeline route are a terrifying forecast for the future of people and planet if FERC allows it to go into service.”

    Russell Chisholm, co-director of the Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights Coalition (POWHR)

    The Mountain Valley Pipeline is a 303-mile natural gas pipeline intended to deliver natural gas from the Utica Shales of West Virginia into Virginia’s Pittsylvania County. A separate Southgate extension proposal — that environmental groups are also opposing and the company calls necessary to meet energy needs in North Carolina — aims to continue the pipeline by way of a new plan announced in December that scuttles a previously planned compressor station.

    PHMSA Consent Agreement and Order – Equitrans Midstream (16-page PDF)

    phmsa-consent-agreement-and-order-equitrans-midstreamDownload
    Source: https://appvoices.org/

    MORE

    A Week After Mountain Valley Pipeline Burst, Builder Says Testing Works

    May 9, 2024 – The 303-mile, 42-inch diameter pipeline, which stretches from Wetzel County, West Virginia, to Pittsylvania County, Virginia, has been one of the most contested fossil fuel infrastructure projects of recent years.

    State again cites Mountain Valley Pipeline for environmental violations

    May 10, 2024 – State regulators on Friday cited the Mountain Valley Pipeline for violations of environmental rules and ordered the developers of the $7.85 billion natural gas project to pay a $31,500 fine.

    Residents Near Mountain Valley Pipeline Say Details Are Scarce

    May 10, 2024 – In spite of assurances from builders of the Mountain Valley Pipeline that it’s ready for service, some residents of a Virginia community want more answers. Residents reported the sediment-laden water in creeks and on property on the morning of May 1 to the state’s Department of Environmental Quality. It took nearly a week for the pipeline’s builder and state and federal agencies to respond to West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s questions about the pipeline failure. People who live near the pipeline have encountered similar frustrations.

    Mountain Valley Pipeline fined again by regulators for environmental problems

    May 11, 2024 – State regulators again cited the Mountain Valley Pipeline for environmental violations, and are seeking another $31,500 in fines that total more than $2 million over the past five years. In an email sent Friday, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality informed the company that its inspections found at least 13 cases of non-compliance with erosion and sedimentation control regulations.