Trump EPA will weaken the rule limiting harmful air toxins and mercury from coal plants
The Trump administration announced Friday that it would roll back clean air regulations that limit mercury and hazardous toxic pollutants from power plants. Public health groups warned it would harm America's most disadvantaged. The Environmental Protection Agency of President Donald Trump has stated that easing pollution standards would?alleviate the costs for utilities who run older coal-fired plants, at a moment when the demand for electricity is on the rise due to the expansion data centers for artificial intelligence. Environmental groups claim that lowering standards for air toxics such as mercury…
Trump EPA will weaken the rule limiting harmful air toxics and mercury from coal plants
The Trump administration announced Friday that it would roll back air regulations for power plant?limiting mercury, and hazardous air toxin at an?event? in Kentucky. It says this will boost baseload electricity but public health groups claim it will harm the health of America's most vulnerable populations. The EPA of President Donald Trump has stated that lowering the pollution standards for older coal plants will reduce costs for utilities who run them at a moment when the demand for electricity is soaring due to the expansion?data centres used for artificial intelligent.
Environmental groups protest Trump's decision to repeal US climate regulations
On Wednesday, a coalition of environmental and health groups sued the Trump administration over its decision?to revoke?the scientific findings that form?the basis of?U.S. Climate regulations. The lawsuit filed before the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia challenges also the Environmental Protection Agency decision, announced last week, to repeal the tailpipe regulations that limit greenhouse gas emission from cars and trucks. The groups suing include the Center for Biological Diversity, ?American?Lung Association,?American Public Health Association,?Union of Concerned Scientists, Natural Resources Defense Council, Public Citizen and ?Sierra Club.
Politico reports that Trump has slammed the energy deal between California, Britain and Trump
Reports from Politico indicate that President Donald Trump denounced the clean energy agreement signed between California Governor Gavin Newsom and the United Kingdom on Monday. In an interview, Trump stated that it was "inappropriate for Britain" to deal with the Democratic Governor. Trump, who is Republican, called Newsom, "a loser", saying that "his state had gone to hell and his environmental work was a disaster." Newsom, an outspoken Trump opponent, has considered running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. Newsom and British Energy Minister Ed Miliband signed an energy agreement on Monday that pledged to cooperate on clean energy technologies…
Trump ends US vehicle emission standards, revokes climate regulations
On Thursday, the administration of President Donald Trump announced that it had repealed a scientific conclusion that greenhouse gasses endanger human life and removed federal tailpipe emission standards for cars and trucks. The administration has rolled back its climate change policies in the most dramatic way possible, following a series of regulatory changes and other actions designed to promote fossil fuels and to impede the development of "clean energy". Trump stated that the EPA had just finished a process to 'terminate the endangerment findings…
Deep-sea Mining Company seeks international permit in accordance with new Trump rules
The Metals Co became the first deep sea miner on Thursday to apply for Washington's permission?to mine?the international oceanbed, under a new streamlined permit process that was introduced this week. Deep-sea mines have the potential to produce large quantities of minerals for electric vehicles and energy transition. However, the debate about the possible environmental damage has been dragging on for decades and has prevented licenses from being issued. On 'Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that it would consolidate licensing and permitting into a single and shorter review.
Norway awards 57 drilling licenses in offshore oil and gas exploration round
Norway's Energy Minister told an industry conference that the country awarded shares in 57 offshore oil exploration licenses to 19 companies as part of its annual licensing round. The number of permits awarded to oil and gas companies has decreased from 20. Norway's plan to extend oil and gas production in Norway for decades is centrally based on the?annual predefined areas (APA) round of new offshore exploration acres. However, activity will?decrease in the next few years. Norway is Europe's largest energy supplier, but production will begin to fall in a few short years. We need to develop new projects which can slow down the decline and increase production.
Italy's offshore-wind push is stagnant, putting climate targets at risk
Analysts say that Italian plans to harness the offshore wind power are coming to a grinding halt. This puts the country's goals for climate change at risk and hits firms who have invested in this sector. A government decree from 2024 offered incentives for 3.8 gigawatts of?capacity?by 2028. However, the contracts were never awarded due to bureaucratic and regulation hurdles. This has prevented billions of euro in potential investments. The August 2013 decree approved by the Italian government targeted renewable technologies like floating platforms that are suitable for deep Mediterranean water.
Document shows that Shell has been approved as the majority partner of PetroSA in the block offshore South Africa.
A document obtained by revealed that South Africa's national oil company PetroSA has approved the deal for Shell Offshore to receive a 60% share in Block 2C off its west coast. The agreement, if it is successfully concluded, will increase Shell's exposure in the Orange Basin. This area has been dubbed one of the most sought-after exploration zones around the globe after the major oil discoveries made in Namibia. In a short note, PetroSA's priority programs stated that the company approved the farm-in agreement to allow Shell Offshore a…
Virginia data centers to replace coal where coal once reigned
Entrepreneurs are now looking at the rural area with the ambitious vision to rebuild its economic by converting the old mines into data centers and solar power systems that could help feed the growing power demand of the artificial-intelligence boom. A non-profit group called Energy DELTA Lab (Discovery, Education, Learning & Technology Accelerator), which is aiming to develop energy resources on approximately 65,000 acres in southwest Virginia, is currently working on such a project. Will Clear and Will Payne who manage Energy DELTA Lab say that they envision building a massive Data Center Ridge of 450 acres on top of the old mining lands.
Environmentalists sue Gulf of Mexico Oil Auction to Stop it
On Tuesday, environmental groups sued the Trump Administration for its decision to proceed with the planned December 10, offshore oil and natural gas lease sale that covered 80 million acres (32 millions hectares) of the Gulf of Mexico. Why it's Important The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenges a large sale that is aligned with President Donald Trump’s policy of maximising domestic oil and natural gas development. This is just the latest of a series of recent lawsuits over offshore drilling which have resulted in victories for environmentalists. Irene Gutierrez is the senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Norway loses an appeal over oilfield development
The Norwegian Court of Appeal ruled against the government and in favor of environmentalists on Friday, confirming the lower court's ruling that the approval by the Energy Ministry of three offshore oil-and-gas fields was invalid. The court said that production from the oilfields affected would not stop, but the government could correct any deficiencies in the original approvals. Greenpeace Norway, Young Friends of the Earth Norway, and other environmental groups will file a lawsuit in 2023 regarding the approval of Equinor’s Breidablikk field and Aker BP’s Tyrving and Yggdrasil.
Amapa Governor: Brazil's Petrobras is studying a logistics base for Amapa
Clecio Liu, the governor of the Amazonian State of Amapa told reporters that Brazil's Petrobras had authorized studies to build a logistics centre in the state. Last week, the state-run oil company began exploring a promising offshore area. Luis explained that the company's Transpetro logistics subsidiary would do the studies. He added that the center will support Petrobras in the event of an important discovery. Petrobras did not give any further details. Magda Chabriard, Petrobras' Chief Executive, had previously said that the oil company could begin production within seven years if a significant find is made.
SNB divests from extractive industries with new divestment.
Swiss National Bank sold its stake in Anglo Australian miner Rio Tinto, adding to a recent series of divestments by companies in the extractive industries. LSEG data show. Unsere (Our) SNB is a group of 200 SNB shareholders that includes environmental groups. They claim the Rio Tinto divestment represents the entire stake in the SNB and values it at $227 millions. The SNB sold the 3.8 millions shares between June 2 to July 21. Rio Tinto and SNB declined comment. According to an analysis of LSEG company filings based on data, the SNB sold oil and gas stocks worth more than twice what it invested in the sector since 2024.
South African court cancels Eskom's permission to build new gas-powered plant
A top court in South Africa on Wednesday revoked a government permit that allowed state utility Eskom build a large natural gas-burning power plant, claiming there was not a proper consultation with the public. The government is planning to build a 3,000-megawatt plant on the east coast in the port city of Richards Bay as part of its plans to boost the country's power generation capacity following years of blackouts, and move away from coal. The Supreme Court of Appeal's judgment stated that "the effect of this order was to nullify the authorisation". Eskom will need to submit a new application for authorization once the public participation is complete.
The FCA of the UK is investigating energy company Drax for its disclosures about biomass sources
The UK's financial watchdog has launched an investigation into Drax Group's disclosures about the biomass it sources, following a previous investigation conducted by the energy regulator of the country. This sent its shares plummeting more than 12% in Thursday's trading. Ofgem fined Drax 25 million pounds ($33.77m) for reporting incorrect data about wood from Canadian forests. Drax supplies around 5% of Britain’s electricity through biomass-converted plants, and has received billions in green energy subsidies. Drax has been criticized by environmental groups for sourcing wood from Canadian forest.
New Zealand lifts the ban on oil and Gas Exploration imposed by Ardern
The New Zealand parliament passed legislation on Thursday to reopen New Zealand for offshore oil exploration. This lifted a ban placed by the former prime minister Jacinda Ardern. The law allows companies to apply for permits as early as September, even if they are not located in Taranaki. This energy-rich region of the North Island is a rich source of petroleum. Environmental groups have said that the decision to restart the exploration is a setback to the country's move to renewable energy. In 2018, the centre left Labour government…
Germany supports cross-border gas deal with Netherlands
The German cabinet backed a deal on Wednesday with the Netherlands that would support the extraction of gas from a reservoir located in the North Sea. Berlin is looking to increase its domestic gas production. After the Ukraine conflict and Germany's decision not to import Russian gas, the government is now focusing on alternative solutions, such as increasing domestic exploration and extraction. Since decades, the German natural gas industry has seen a decline. In 2022, the annual consumption of natural gas in Germany was only around 5.5%. This would be roughly 6-16% of the 80 billion cubic meters that Germany will consume in 2024.
Senate bill accelerates the end of wind and solar tax credits
Renewable energy advocates said that the latest version of the Senate’s massive budget bill, which the Senate will vote on as early as Saturday, deals a death blow to the use tax credits established since 2005 to encourage more wind and solar power. It would also impose a brand new tax for the first-time on these projects. The Senate's leadership introduced a new version of the bill overnight that effectively eliminates the solar and wind incentives immediately. Earlier in the week, there were hopes that the Senate might rework its language regarding the future use of Inflation Reduction Act Tax Credits to make them more useful and extend their use.
Divided US appellate court upholds Biden's biofuel rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023-2025 renewable fuel standards were not thrown out by a federal appeals court on Friday. However, the court concluded that regulators had failed to assess the impact the rule could have on climate changes and endangered species. The U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, ruled 2-1 in favor of environmental groups and refiners. It also ruled that a renewable fuel manufacturer was not allowed to challenge the fuel volume requirements set by the EPA for corn ethanol. The requirements increased how much biofuel oil refiners had to blend into the country's fuel mix.