U.S. Produces Record Amount of Energy From All Sources Except Coal: EIA

U.S. Produces Record Amount of Energy From All Sources Except Coal: EIA

The United States produced a record amount of energy from various sources in 2018, reaching 96 quadrillion British thermal units, 8 percent higher than in the previous year, according to the Energy Information Administration’s latest Monthly Energy Review. While fossil fuels like crude oil and natural gas saw increases of 17 and 12 percent respectively…

Venture Global LNG’s Plaquemines Export Project Clears Federal Environmental Review

Venture Global LNG’s Plaquemines Export Project Clears Federal Environmental Review

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission found that the construction of  Venture Global LNG Inc.’s Plaquemines LNG, a natural gas liquefaction and export terminal in Louisiana, and the associated pipeline projects would result in some adverse environmental impacts, which would be reduced to less-than-significant levels, according to a May 3 notice. The Plaquemines terminal consists of…

Con Edison’s Pipeline Expansion Deal Could End Gas Connection Moratorium in 2023

Con Edison’s Pipeline Expansion Deal Could End Gas Connection Moratorium in 2023

The Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc. on April 24 announced an agreement with Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company LLC to boost the capacity in its existing pipeline that connects the utility’s distribution system to Westchester County. The utility said that the expansion could be in service by November 2023, providing the capacity needed to…

Indiana Regulator Denies Vectren’s 850-Megawatt Gas-Fired Plant, Citing Financial Risks to Customers

Indiana Regulator Denies Vectren’s 850-Megawatt Gas-Fired Plant, Citing Financial Risks to Customers

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission on April 24 turned down Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Company’s proposal to construct an 850-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant to replace its retiring coal power units. The agency said that the investment in the project, which is estimated to cost about $780 million, could become uneconomic over the long-term…

FERC Issues Final Environmental Impact Study for Kinder Morgan's Gulf LNG Export Terminal

FERC Issues Final Environmental Impact Study for Kinder Morgan’s Gulf LNG Export Terminal

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued its final environmental report for the Gulf LNG liquefaction project, bringing it one step closer to federal approval. The study found that the proposal would result in some adverse environmental impacts, which would be reduced to less than significant levels. The project, proposed by Gulf LNG Liquefaction Company LLC,…

FERC Approves Two Major LNG Export Terminals as Global Demand Rises

FERC Approves Two Major LNG Export Terminals as Global Demand Rises

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted authorization for Tellurian Inc.’s Driftwood LNG export project, a 27.6 million metric tons per year liquefaction facility in Louisiana, and the associated 96-mile pipeline connecting to the facility. The project is set to begin construction in 2019 and start operation in 2023. Port Arthur LNG LLC, a subsidiary…

Trump's Interior Pick, David Bernhardt, Confirmed by Senate

Trump’s Interior Pick, David Bernhardt, Confirmed by Senate

The U.S. Senate voted 56-41 on April 11 to confirm David Bernhardt as Secretary of the Interior. President Trump’s pick for the position has been acting secretary since Jan. 2, following Ryan Zinke’s resignation amid multiple ethics probes. He served as the department’s top lawyer under President George W. Bush and worked as a lobbyist for the…

Trump Signs Orders to Expedite Oil, Gas Pipeline Approvals

Trump Signs Orders to Expedite Oil, Gas Pipeline Approvals

U.S. President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on April 10 aimed to speed up the federal process for cross-border energy infrastructure projects and restrict the role of states in the permitting process for siting pipelines and other fossil fuel projects. One order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to review a section of the Clean…

Court Reinstates Obama’s Arctic Drilling Ban, Draws Criticism from Alaska Governor

Court Reinstates Obama’s Arctic Drilling Ban, Draws Criticism from Alaska Governor

The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska on March 29 overturned President Donald Trump’s executive order issued in 2017 to undo a ban on oil and gas drilling in most of the Arctic Ocean. The court ruled that only Congress has the authority to revoke the ban imposed by former President Obama in…...

Natural Gas Dethrones Coal in Nation's Largest Wholesale Electricity Market

Natural Gas Dethrones Coal in Nation’s Largest Wholesale Electricity Market

Natural gas accounted for nearly 31 percent of power generation in PJM Interconnection LLC’s footprint in 2018, surpassing coal’s share of about 29 percent, according to a March 18 report from the grid operator’s market monitor. Nuclear power dominated the region’s generating sector representing about 34 percent of the generation mix last year. Renewables had…...