Facebook Instagram Linkedin RSS Twitter Youtube

Top 5 Stories in Energy This Week

energy
Construction Workers Paving Road

5It’s not just tennis shoes getting a plastic redesign, now it may be your roads.

TechniSoil Industrial is the company that has designed a new process for covering roads with a material that is, in part, made from recycled plastic bottles. Recycling roads is not a new concept, but it was only possible to recycle the lower layers, which consists of soil and aggregates. The new technology developed by TechniSoil has allowed for the top layer – what we know as asphalt – to be recycled as well. The company found that these roads can last 8 to 13 times longer than a standard road, according to lab tests. Can we say fill my local pothole, please? Check out the full story, here.

Oil Workers Climb a Rig

4It’s a technology that has helped America lead in emissions reductions, yet some individuals want it to go away.

America’s carbon dioxide emissions have plummeted and it’s all thanks to fracking. While the term itself fuels a political debate, the process has been proven as a “boon to environmental progress.” Fracking has helped the U.S. on the road to energy independence, which was only a glint in our eyes less than ten years ago. Yet, there are some who want us to believe rhetoric that is built out of fear and not on science. The Boston Globe Editorial Board breaks it down here.

Family in airport

3Once, it was a technology only the military and other rural outposts, now it’s coming to an airport near you.

The aviation industry has long been accused of being outdated in carbon emission reduction. Pittsburgh International Airport wants to prove us all wrong as they soar above those accusations – putting their money where their mouth is with an innovative solution – utilizing a micro-grid. While micro-grids aren’t new, utilizing this technology for an airport, including both terminals, the airfield, the properties Hyatt hotel, and Sunoco gas station, certainly is. For more from PIT – check out the story here.

Mother and Son Cooking

2Policymakers in Albany, New York played a dangerous game of musical chairs, except the one left without a seat in this version of the game left its own residents without a chair.

Policymakers in New York have been under fire for the recent National Grid debacle they created. Now the state’s administration is urging one of the largest utilities to restore service to homes and businesses after it denied various infrastructure projects across New York. Following a very public letter from the Administration to the utility, PSC Commissioner Diane Burman asks that state leaders rely on current energy sources before converting to cleaner, renewable energy. The question is, when will the citizens of New York realize that this shortage has been a long time in the making – up in Albany? You can read up more on this debacle here.

Taconite Mine Along Lake Superior

1The unintended consequences of halting hard rock mining today can only be realized if you look to developing nations – but are you?

When people talk about mining, they might envision a soot covered miner like Derek Zoolander coming up from a coal mine, but mining is more than just coal. These various types of mining are the foundations, and in some instances, the primary element needed for some of our leading technologies. Without these rare and precious minerals the path to renewables, electric vehicles and battery technology would be severely delayed. Worse, a May 2019 report from Foreign Policy shows that China controls 80% of rare earth elements, amongst other crucial mineral elements, and that doesn’t fair well for the U.S. (or its consumers) in the latest round of trade deals. So do you know what the trouble with critical minerals is? Find out here.

The Case Against Fracking Is Based on Ideology, Not Science

Onshore fracking well pad

While some condemn fracking based on political ideology and misinformation, the fact is, fracking has been a major contributor in decreasing emissions throughout the country.

At the same time — also thanks to fracking — America’s carbon-dioxide emissions have plummeted.

By unleashing vast quantities of clean-burning natural gas, fracking dramatically changed the economics of electricity production…Because natural gas releases only half as much carbon dioxide as coal, the sweeping shift to gas-fueled plants has led to a dramatic reduction in America’s greenhouse gas emissions. So dramatic, in fact, that no other nation matches it, as President Obama observed in his 2014 State of the Union address: ‘Over the past eight years, the United States has reduced our total carbon pollution more than any other nation on Earth.’

For anyone who worries about climate change and is intent on carbon reduction, all this should be cause for rejoicing. Fracking, which has made it possible, should be extolled as a boon to environmental progress.

Read more – Boston Globe

Pipeline delay tactics only hurting North Carolinians’ wallets

Mother and little son in the car reading

The delay on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project is impacting consumers across the coast. North Carolinians should prepare their wallets. These infrastructure delays can cost consumers dearly, but we would never throw the same tantrums over new roads or bridges.

“Besides generating jobs and tax revenue, pipelines help lower household energy expenses by increasing supply. That’s key for North Carolinians, who spend nearly $3,000 annually on energy. For those in poverty, that’s about 25% of their take home pay.”

Read more – The Fayetteville Observer

Ohio’s Natural Gas Resource Has Good Impact on the Economy

Columbus Ohio

Ohio’s economy has seen significant growth in the last ten years due to utilizing it’s own natural gas supply.

“With the significant increased assessment of how much natural gas Ohio and this region, the favorable impacts to Ohio’s economy should be expected to continue, especially with the growth of ancillary industries that feed off of the low cost natural gas.”

Read more – Metropreneur

New York gas emissions down by 95%, savings reach $30.9 billion

New York City

New York State Director, Wendy Hijos delivers the news that New York gas emissions have fallen 95% and consumers have seen a savings of $30.9 billion.

“Policies like the [Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act] CLCPA, which literally leave small businesses holding the bag, is something that people in our community should stand up against … this administration’s energy policies don’t account for everyone in our communities, passing the buck onto consumers who will end up feeling it in their wallets. This is an economic injustice. It is an energy injustice.”

Read more – Smart Energy International

 

New Jersey Emissions Fall as Much as 96 Percent Even as Natural Gas Use Almost Triples

Downtown Clinton, New Jersey

Newark, NJ — Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) today released an analysis of U.S government emissions data that looks at key pollutants and the overall environmental improvements seen across New Jersey, which shows statewide emissions have fallen by as much as 96 percent since 1990 even as the state’s energy demand has significantly increased, showing we can have energy production, expanded pipeline infrastructure and sound environmental stewardship at the same time.

This analysis is especially important as state leaders, community activists and local citizens try to make sense of the current draft of the state’s Energy Master Plan and how New Jersey will move forward. While the nation’s increased energy production has received a great deal of media focus in recent years, little notice has been paid to the significant emission reductions and overall environmental improvement in New Jersey and across the nation.

From 1990 to 2017, New Jersey’s emissions of key pollutants have decreased across the board, with a:

  • 77 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx),
  • 96 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2), and;
  • 75 percent reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

What’s even more impressive is that the use of natural gas as an electricity source almost tripled to about half of the total mix in 2017 from 17 percent in 1990. Additionally, from 1990 to 2016, New Jersey’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions declined by 15 percent.

These improvements occurred as other areas of the economy like agribusiness generated more than $1 billion, the Port of New York and New Jersey was on its way to becoming the nation’s second-busiest port, and tourism raked in $44.7 billion. Not only do these industries rely on the savings low-priced fuel delivers, but they also wouldn’t be able to operate profitably without it.

“This emissions data is out there for anyone to see, and local officials should take a hard look at it before proposing policies that will harm consumers to satisfy the demands of single-minded anti-energy activists,” said Mike Butler, CEA’s Mid-Atlantic Executive Director. “People within this state already pay enough regressive taxes – including our high energy prices – so we shouldn’t make it worse. This data shows that we can continue to make strides in our environment while also creating thoughtful policies now, which we don’t have to go back and correct later when people have been pushed to the brink. Energy and the environment can co-exist. This data proves that.”

This analysis follows CEA’s Energy Savings Report for New Jersey, which found that families, small business and manufacturers across the state saved more than $21.2 billion thanks to low-cost energy over the past decade. These savings are essential for a state that is the ninth-most tax burdened state in the nation, and where on average, each resident spent $3,124 – more than neighboring states Pennsylvania and New York – to meet their energy needs. With almost 1 million people who live in poverty and a majority of people living paycheck-to-paycheck, the EMP as it currently stands is not ready for prime time.

To view the analysis, click here.

###

About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading consumer advocate for energy, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households and businesses across the country. CEA works daily to encourage people across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our energy needs. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.

Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org

New York’s Statewide Emissions Have Fallen by as Much As 95 Percent

New York City Skyline

Albany, NY — Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) today released an analysis of U.S government emissions data that looks at key pollutants and the overall environmental improvements seen across New York, which shows that statewide emissions have fallen by as much as 95 percent since 1990 even as the state’s energy demand remained strong and natural gas usage surged.

The analysis demonstrates to policy leaders and anti-development activists that hastily passed the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) how we can have energy production and sound environmental stewardship at the same time. This policy plan came as New York had a marked increase in consumption from 2017 to 2018 in both residential and commercial end-users. These facts show, despite ideologically-driven attempts to shame energy development, many of the emissions reductions are the fruit of ongoing innovation, technology and the increased use of natural gas and nuclear energy in New York’s energy mix.

CEA’s analysis found that even as New York create strict policies that continue to harm low-income families, small businesses and cities including the Big Apple by restricting access to affordable energy sources, emissions of key air pollutants and greenhouse gases have declined significantly across the state.

From 1990 to 2017, New York’s emissions of key pollutants have decreased across the board, with a:
• 73 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx),
• 95 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2), and;
• 13 percent reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Additionally, from 1990 to 2016, New York’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions declined by 22 percent.

All of this improvement occurred while more than 78 percent of the state’s energy needs were being fueled by oil and natural gas. New York’s economy has continued to thrive, ranking 11th globally thanks to diverse income sources like agriculture from rich upstate farmland, business from one of the world’s great financial capitals and a bustling health care sector.

“With the emission reductions that have occurred recently, New York’s policymakers, regulators and leaders must come together in support of access to reliable energy resources and infrastructure development that will help the state continue to thrive,” said CEA’s State Director for New York, Wendy Hijos. “Policies like the CLCPA, which literally leave small businesses holding the bag, is something that people in our community should stand up against. While we applaud the efforts to continue our environmental stewardship, this administration’s energy policies don’t account for everyone in our communities, passing the buck onto consumers who will end up feeling it in their wallets. This is an economic injustice. It is energy injustice. Let’s strive for policies that help our environment and offer economic opportunities.”

This analysis follows CEA’s Energy Savings Report for New York consumers, which found that families, small business and manufacturers across the state saved almost $30.9 billion thanks to low-cost energy over the past decade. This is essential for New York as one of the top five energy consuming states in the nation, where one in four households use fuel oil for heat in the winter and 40 percent of the state’s electricity generation is powered by natural gas.

To view the analysis, click here.

###

About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading consumer advocate for energy, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households and businesses across the country. CEA works daily to encourage people across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our energy needs. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.

Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org

PURPA Needs an Upgrade Now

Natural gas powerplant

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978 is in desperate need of an upgrade. Several businesses and organizations have requested that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) make a ruling.

“State regulators have been concerned for years about PURPA provisions that require utilities to purchase power from independent generators, as well as whether the requirements are being abused by the qualifying facilities, and subsequently have led to higher electricity costs for end-users, says the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), a national non-partisan, non-profit association.”

Read more – Daily Energy Insider

New Jersey Energy Master Plan – How Much Will it Cost Consumers?

Liberty State Park

The 108-page New Jersey Energy Master Plan has questions being raised from multiple sources on how much it will cost consumers.

“What’s even riskier is the fact that the IEP [Integrated Energy Plan] wasn’t finished before the public comment period closed last month…As a result, no one in New Jersey will be able to comment about the cost of the plan.”

Read more – NJBIA

New Jersey Politics Once Again Delays Much Needed Energy for Families and Businesses

Pipeline worker in pipe

Newark, NJ – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) Mid-Atlantic Executive Director Mike Butler voiced his disappointment following today’s permit denial by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), which improperly used the 3rd Circuit Court’s litigation as a basis for the denial.

“We are disappointed, but not altogether surprised with the NJDEP’s decision to further delay the Penn East project. There is nothing in Federal law that requires an agency to deny or suspend permits for much-needed pipeline projects to service customers and families just because it’s in litigation.

“Households across New Jersey and Pennsylvania could have saved nearly $900 million in lower electric and gas costs if this project had already been in service during harsh winters just a few years ago. Nearly 75 percent of households in New Jersey rely on natural gas for home heating, and winter is just around the corner. It’s time to stop the bureaucratic red tape and foot-dragging and put our skilled trades to work by creating the infrastructure needed to bring vital energy needed across New Jersey.”

###

About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support America’s energy future. With more than 500,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop our diverse energy resources and energy’s importance to the economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.

Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org

1...101102103...338Page 102 of 338

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

© Consumer Energy Alliance