LNG terminals contradict Biden’s methane pledge, advocates say

OIL & GAS: Climate advocates say planned export liquefied natural gas export terminals could negate the Biden administration’s promised efforts to crack down on methane emissions. (Canary Media)

ALSO:

• Leading Republican presidential candidates want to boost domestic oil and gas production, though analysts say it’s unclear if more fuel supplies would significantly lower prices. (E&E News)
• Three of the Southeast’s biggest utilities want to build more natural gas-fired power into their long range plans. (E&E News)
• Ohio environmental groups are challenging a state commission’s claims that its decisions to allow oil and gas drilling in state parks and wildlife areas can’t be appealed in court. (Energy News Network)

CLIMATE: The Biden administration touts $1 trillion in climate achievements over the last three years — a number with unclear sourcing that far exceeds the $369 billion Inflation Reduction Act. (E&E News)

GEOTHERMAL: Colleges across the northern U.S. are building geothermal systems equipped with ground-source heat pumps to heat and cool buildings without emissions. (New York Times)

ELECTRIFICATION: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to introduce an ordinance this week that would ban natural gas hookups in new buildings and homes, a climate strategy facing pushback from a powerful local union. (Sun-Times)

MINING: An Arkansas town that was once dotted with oil wells sees familiarity in Exxon Mobil and other companies’ plans to explore lithium production in the area. (Grist)

GRID:

• Indigenous tribal nations and advocates file a federal lawsuit seeking to block a southern Arizona section of the SunZia transmission project, saying it imperils cultural resources. (Associated Press)
• Federal regulators reject a proposed cap on MISO’s interconnection queue, saying it could hurt the grid operator’s ability to cover potential short-term supply shortfalls. (Utility Dive)

PIPELINES: A forthcoming U.S. Justice Department brief will show the Biden administration’s view on how a 1977 energy treaty with Canada affects efforts to shut down the Line 5 pipeline in Michigan. (Canadian Press)

EFFICIENCY:

• A bipartisan group of 12 U.S. senators seek to block proposed transformer efficiency rules, saying the changes will further challenge an already strapped industry and delay electrification. (Utility Dive)
• A startup wants to promote energy efficiency measures by agreeing to pay business’ utility bills in exchange for a flat rate, then making efficiency upgrades to lower the monthly bills. (Canary Media)

SOLAR: Solar installations for houses of worship became more appealing under the federal Inflation Reduction Act, which allows them to directly claim tax credits. (Interlochen Public Radio)

POLICY: Connecticut lawmakers were unable to pass most of the provisions outlined in major climate bills in 2023, despite extreme weather and regional policy progress. (CT Mirror)