The purpose of the prehearing is to establish a formal hearing schedule and discuss the next steps in determining whether the Commission should issue an order to have another public utility acquire the Venango Water Company.
This action continues the PUC’s response to the problems caused by the oil well spill that contaminated the Bellows Spring water supply last July, resulting in a “do not consume” advisory in the Village of Reno that lasted six weeks.
The PUC in August issued an emergency order to Aqua Pennsylvania to operate the Venango Water Company so clean water would continue to be provided to its customers.
The new PUC action was prompted by the desire of Randall and Kevin Rhodes, operators of the Venango Water Company for the Rhodes Estate, to cease being certified operators for their water companies.
The Estate also owns the Sugarcreek Water Company, West Hickory Water Company, Plumber Water Company, Fryburg Water Company, Cooperstown Water Company and the Blane E. Rhodes Sewer Company and their future may also be considered in the PUC case.
Images from the Titusville-Oil City Pennsylvania area
Only official parties to the proceeding can participate in this prehearing.
The parties include Randall Rhodes, the PUC Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, the Office of Consumer Advocate (Attorney General), Office of Small Business Advocate, Aqua Pennsylvania (the present Venango Water Company operator) and Pennsylvania American Water (operator of water companies in the area).
The public can listen to the prehearing call. The conference begins at 10:00 a.m.
Illegal PA Wastewater Dumping Continues Even on Mothers Day
—Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners’ Campaign of Intimidation of Senate Witness
—Now Dumping Before it Rains, on Paved Roads
Images: Lindell Road in front of Lawson’s home May 8 Top center: Scranton Hollow Road May 8 Bottom center: Logan Road May 4 Map: Dumping area around Lawson’s home
By David E. Hess | PA Environment Digest Blog May 14, 2024 | Full story
On Mothers Day, May 12, road dumping opponent Siri Lawson in Warren County said conventional oil and gas well owners left her another “present” — they dumped their wastewater on the road in front of her home in Farmington Township for the sixth time in the last six weeks.
Lawson testified before a Senate Committee on April 17 in opposition to the dumping of conventional wastewater on dirt and gravel roads and now it happens even on paved roads. Read more here.
“They brined me for the first time on the 4th of April. That made me decide I would testify, and then they brined me on the 15th,” said Lawson. “And then two days after the hearing on the 19th, and then on the 30th, and then on the [May] 8th and then on the [May] 12th [Mothers Day].”
Before April 4, Lawson said she did not have wastewater dumped on her road for more than six years after the Environmental Hearing Board case she brought a successful challenge to the DEP road dumping approval process in 2017-18. Read more here.
Lawson said the EHB hearing told the conventional industry what kind of physical reaction she has to conventional wastewater, especially when the dumping happens right in front of her house.
“It becomes increasingly hard to breathe. My heart goes crazy. There has been actual severe physical damage to my sinus and my lungs.”
Siri Lawson
My skin burns, my mouth burns, my eyes burn.
“These are specific reactions to oil and gas waste, and it’s painful. None of it is the usual allergy, sneezing and that stuff. This is painful,” said Lawson.
Historically, pre-2018, the industry and the townships had a rule of thumb, do not brine dirt roads from late fall to late spring because of soft road conditions and do not brine tar and chip ever. This targeted road dumping even violates that.
Lawson has been reporting all the dumping to DEP and providing photos that clearly show something was being dumped on roads surrounding her home as well as directly in front of her house.
“I feel this is to retaliate for the pictures and testifying, intimidate, punish, show me who’s boss. Force me to move.”
Siri Lawson
Lawson said it is now obvious that conventional well owners are not just dumping on dirt and gravel roads, they have expanded to dumping on paved roads and state roads and often just before it rains.
“Up until the 2018 decision, they had pretty much limited themselves to dirt roads. Except they had to have a way to get rid of it,” said Lawson. “Around 2022, I started seeing brining on paved roads. And it was like, they can’t be. It is the dead of summer and they’re doing this.”
“Last year, I saw more and more paved roads showing indications of well head brine spreading. And then this year, I began to frequently carry my camera and I began to catch it in spades.”
“I have never seen them dump on the paved roads like they’re doing now. I’ve just never seen it,” said Lawson.
“Now, brine road dumping tends to be when rain is called for. At first, it wasn’t. At first, it was right on dry pavement,” said Lawson.
“It’s just sheer audacity. The sheer audacity of all of this. It always has been my way or the highway for those folks”
Their batteries hurt the environment, but EVs still beat gas cars. Here’s why
By Camila Domonoske | NPR May 10, 2024 | Full story
With all that’s required to mine and process minerals — from giant diesel trucks to fossil-fuel-powered refineries — EV battery production has a significant carbon footprint. As a result, building an electric vehicle does more damage to the climate than building a gas car does. But the gas car starts to catch up as soon as it goes its first mile.
“The results were clearer than we thought, actually.”
Georg Bieker, with the International Council on Clean Transportation
If you look at the climate impact of building and using a vehicle – something called a “lifecycle analysis” – study after study has found a clear benefit to EVs. The size of the benefit varies – by vehicle, the source of the electricity it runs on, and a host of other factors – but the overall trend is obvious.
“A traditional car needs mining every day, needs mining every time it’s used. It needs the whole extraction complex of fossil fuels in order to power it.”
Thea Riofrancos
The carbon pollution from burning gasoline and diesel in vehicles is the top contributor to climate change in the U.S. And there are other costs: Oil spills; funding for corrupt oil-rich regimes; the illnesses and preventable deaths caused by pollution from fossil fuels.
Add it up, she says, and if you’re concerned about all the harms from mining, you’ll still want to choose an EV over a comparable gas car. And last but not least, battery minerals can be recycled.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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, 2024Poster 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
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.
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;
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 – $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]
Civil Penalty – $166,400 – Spills At 2 Shale Gas Well Pads–
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]
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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 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 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.
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 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.
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
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)
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