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IEA Calls on U.S. to Streamline Pipeline Approvals

Pipeline construction

In its five-year U.S. energy review, the International Energy Agency recommended that the United States streamline permitting and siting decisions for natural gas pipeline projects in order to shorten lead times, keep up with shale production and reduce flaring from oil operations. Within the executive summary of the report, the IEA stated:

“Though the government has made efforts to streamline federal licensing for energy infrastructure (including rapid approval of projects such as the Keystone XL oil pipeline), there remain cases of midstream infrastructure struggling to keep pace with shale production growth due to permitting setbacks, local opposition and court challenges. Timely siting of gas pipelines will also benefit efforts to reduce associated gas flaring rates from oil production.”

Read more at the Oil & Gas Journal

To read the full report, click here. 

A Pathway to Environmental and Economic Wins

Electric Car Charging Station

The positive economic and environmental impacts of Royal Dutch Shell’s petrochemical complex in Potter Township, Beaver County are clear:

…Many of the materials we use to improve our environment include or are made of plastics. Electric cars, for instance, require plastics like polyurethane or ABS – commonly made from refined fossil fuels – to replace traditional metals and decrease the weight of the vehicle, which increases their efficiency and range. For hybrid cars, it allows for better mileage by cutting fuel consumption.

Read more – StateCollege.com

What’s Your Solution for Food Safety?

food safety

Much of what we eat is packaged to keep it fresh until someone purchases it and takes it home to eat. This is why the work done at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure the meals and snacks we eat every day are safe for us to consume is so important. With 328 million Americans to feed, this task is no small feat. The regulatory process around food safety is extensive, and much of it goes into how our food is packaged, and temperature-controlled, so it can be transported and stored safely on grocery store shelves across the country. When one, or both of these safety measures fails, that is usually when you see dramatic headlines in the news about someone getting sick, or worse, dying.

To ensure bacteria and bugs don’t penetrate our foods, company’s package deli meats, cereals, and snacks individually to help keep them fresh. Without proper packaging and temperature storage, we risk developing certain kinds of bacteria and mold in our favorite foods that can make us sick from eating them. Temperature damage is one of the leading risks to food safety. Temperature control is required by the FDA continuously from “farm to fork” in order to prevent or minimize the risk of bacteria and microbial growth. Much of what is used in refrigerated transportation is fueled from by-products of oil and gas through the petrochemical and cracking processes, which help keep the cooling units running.

Once that food has been purchased and comes home with us, much of the same food safety issues now become ours. You’ve seen the labels, “refrigerate after opening,” and many of us repackage our food once we get home too. That’s because many of us prep meals for ourselves and our families each week by preparing what we’ll use that week and saving what we don’t in the freezer. If you’re single, many people will apportion out individual servings to ensure there’s less waste and to ensure better savings when buying food. Those snack and storage baggies are in practically every household – and for good reason.

Polyethylene and polypropylene, the two most common plastics used for packaging food, are derived from oil and gas by-products. Roughly 5% of the U.S. petroleum consumption each year is earmarked for making plastics – that’s about 330 million barrels of oil a year, enough to fuel over 165 million roundtrip drives from New York City to Los Angeles. If we looked at some of the most common breakfast foods in America we quickly realize that many of our favorite items are kept fresh courtesy of plastic – cereal, bacon and sausage, bread, and even pre-made hard-boiled eggs all come wrapped in plastic. In some instances, there’s even more plastic on the inside to keep these products sealed.

We don’t just use these baggies for storage of our food at home, if you’ve ever been on a lengthy flight or road trip, they come in handy to pack snacks and treats. Maybe you forget to package something up before you left, then you’ve probably noticed that all these fun treats at a convenience store come packaged as well. From the plastic cups that your soda is poured into, to the fruit cup and sandwich, plastic has made it possible for us to eat even when we’re on the go.

Thanks to increased measures, and necessary regulations by the FDA that help keep Americans safe, we are able to purchase vegetables, meats, dairy, and snack products from all over the world with the knowledge that, in most cases, we are safe to consume what we’ve purchased.

Without the plastic packaging that keeps our food sealed from bugs and harmful bacteria, our trips to the grocery store might look a little different. So when we have conversations regarding America’s energy mix, expansion of renewables or offshore activities, we must take into consideration the luxuries we take for granted every day. Without the traditional energy we use every day, our grocery store shelves may look a bit different and the habits about how we consume our foods would have to change drastically too.

Public Policy Should Support, Not Eliminate, Technology Behind Shale Gas Revolution

Onshore fracking well pad

With all the noise coming from anti-energy activists and the politicians who enable their ideological zeal against natural gas, a quick dose of facts drawn from the real-world experience of families and businesses is a welcome antidote. David Spigelmyer explains in The Hill:

“With the greater use of natural gas, Pennsylvania — and our nation more broadly — is making incredible clean air strides. In 2017, total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States reached their lowest levels in 25 years, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, propelling the nation to the world leader in CO2 emission reductions. Asthma-inducing and ozone-harming air pollutants plummeted during the same period, and EPA data also conclude total methane emissions are 19 percent lower than in 1990.

These significant gains are not despite the shale revolution, but rather because of it.

America’s pursuit of a clean energy future must prioritize innovation, job growth and a sustainable economy. As our elected leaders grapple with how to best achieve this, they would do well to look to the benefits of natural gas as experienced in Pennsylvania.”

Read more – The Hill

Stupid Fracking Bans and the Green New Deal’s Madness – Houston Chronicle

Gasoline Sold Out

If you want to understand the reality behind the politically-motivated energy policies being bandied about by Democratic presidential candidates, let Houston Chronicle columnist Chris Tomlinson spell out the absurdity of them for you in simple, forceful and factual detail:

“On my first day as president, I will sign an executive order that puts a total moratorium on all new fossil fuel leases for drilling offshore and on public lands. And I will ban fracking — everywhere,” Warren tweeted, attracting 118,000 likes. But for a candidate renowned for her meticulous plans, this promise is just stupid.

A ban on fracking is as wise and as likely as President Donald Trump’s border wall, if the president even has the power to do such a thing.

Fracking is what provides the U.S. with cheap gasoline. Fracking is what makes OPEC powerless. Fracking is what makes electricity affordable. Fracking is what makes it possible to shut down coal-fired power plants. Fracking is what gives Europe a choice besides Russian natural gas.

A ban on fracking would reverse those things, send energy prices skyrocketing and crash the global economy.

Tomlinson goes on to explain why we need natural gas and greater renewable growth, and how extreme activists are actually shooting themselves in the foot with unrealistic demands:

More importantly, the environmentalists pressuring candidates refuse to acknowledge that a fracking ban would hurt the climate far more than regulating it more effectively.

Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar have grown dramatically, but all they have done is keep up with new electricity demand. The only reason why generators can close coal-fired plants is because natural gas offers a lower-priced alternative with lower emissions.

If fracking is banned, natural gas prices will triple, and electric utilities will switch back to coal. There is not enough wind turbine or solar panel manufacturing capacity to replace natural gas generation within the next decade. And our natural gas supply depends on fracking.

Read more – Houston Chronicle

Cuomo’s War on Pipelines Means Pain for Little People

New York City Skyline

To understand the impact of ill-advised decisions by Cuomo on New Yorkers, look no further than Craig Stevens piece in the New York Post about the increasing denial of hook-ups, entrepreneurs hurting to pay back loans, and families caught in the way of poor politics.

“With record production of domestic natural gas and safe pipeline technology in the 21st century, it is alarming that New Yorkers are being denied access to reliable natural gas. Natural gas is responsible for more than a third of our nation’s electricity needs; about half of US homes rely on it for heating, cooking and drying clothes.”

Read more – New York Post

Offshore Drilling Votes Are Political Theater for Bad Economic & Environmental Policies: CEA President

Offshore oil rig with workers

Trio of bills destined for nowhere threaten American energy security

WASHINGTON- A trio of House bills (H.R. 205, H.R. 1941 and H.R. 1146) that propose eliminating U.S. energy exploration off our coasts and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are prime examples of legislation carried out to create publicity for anti-energy activists, David Holt, President of Consumer Energy Alliance, said in a statement.

“At a time when America should be taking stock of the global significance of its expanded energy production and leadership in environmental stewardship, this set of House bills – which have no chance at becoming law but may be helpful for generating press releases for radical anti-development groups and politicians – represent a step in the wrong direction for families and businesses all across the country.

“These bills all propose to take natural resources away from their rightful owner, the American public, while tossing aside millions of jobs and billions in tax revenue. In doing so, they threaten our energy security by reintroducing the possibility that we will return to the days when the U.S. relied on energy supplied by nations that do not share our interests.

“America can and must continue our environmental stewardship and energy development. We are showing the world that both can occur at the same time. These bills would take the U.S. in the wrong direction, harming our energy economy and offering no real environmental leadership.”

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 meeting our energy needs.

Contact
Bryson Hull
P: 202-657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org

Gov. Cuomo Should Support The Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline

New York Brooklyn Bridge

Cuomo’s battle against energy and pipelines is one that will not end well for consumers.

“In formulating sound energy policy, however, we must remain practical. My primary point is that while wind and solar are growing and will remain vital components of the U.S. energy mix, gas plants will be essential to the grid to help maintain system reliability and grid resilience.”

Read more – Forbes

Support Push for American Energy Dominance

resting after a workout in the park

From agribusiness to airlines, every aspect of Georgia’s economy depends on energy. Our lawmakers should continue to support the push for American energy dominance, not blanket energy bans that will weaken our economy, national security, and harm families and businesses.

We can have a robust economy, energy development and environmental protection. The “Keep it in the Ground” political campaign being waged by multinational activist groups may be an attractive slogan for some folks on the far left, but families, farmers, and small businesses need affordable domestic energy. We need more energy solutions and fewer empty campaign slogans.

Read more – Savannah Morning News

Georgia Families and Households Need a 21st Century Grid

Georgians Need Smarter, More Capable Electric Infrastructure to Ensure Reliability and Keep Prices Low

Making Investments Today, to Improve Tomorrow
You may not realize it, but we are asking more from our electric grid than ever before in terms of providing power delivery, reliability, renewable integration, device interconnectivity and increased customer-distributed energy options.

That means we need to consider making wise choices now to make sure we develop the type of capable, modern infrastructure we need to improve service and prevent costly outages and bottlenecks for families, small businesses, and our workplaces.

In 2018, over 40 states and the District of Columbia examined grid modernization efforts – an increase of 60 percent from 2017. All of this regulatory and policy change is occurring against a backdrop of relentless cyber adversaries who want to do us harm. These threats are in the news almost daily. Recently, media outlets reported that a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group was suspected of being the most likely culprit for an organized attack on U.S. utility companies in July 2019.

To ensure we have the infrastructure to safely deliver energy for our lives, homes, devices, and increasingly, vehicles, we need to make investments today to set us on a reliable path that ensures affordable electricity for families, small businesses, and households in the future.

Media reports have estimated that $2 trillion alone will be needed by 2030 just to maintain existing grid reliability. According to a 2017 analysis by the American Society of Civil Engineers, it graded our nation’s energy infrastructure as a D+.

The vast majority of our nation’s electric grid infrastructure was built in the 20th Century and has served our communities remarkably well, but it is in need of updates. This interconnected network is made up of power plants, transmission lines, substations, transformers, and other equipment that delivers power to homes and businesses. It was not designed to meet all of the demands of our increasingly technology-focused world, so a lot of infrastructure needs to be replaced due to age, or in many cases in states like Georgia from storm damage.

There is an opportunity now before Georgia regulators to replace aging transmission infrastructure with automated technology that can help reduce power outages and restoration times. This saves families, seniors, and small businesses valuable time and money.

Storm Recovery and Energy Reliability
Over the past six years, Georgia has faced numerous destructive hurricanes and storms. Last year, Hurricane Michael entered Southwest Georgia as a Category 3 storm and caused nearly $3 billion in just agriculture damage alone. It threw roughly 1.5 million tractor-trailer loads of wood debris across the state, according to the Georgia Forestry Council. One utility, Georgia Power, has responded to over 50 severe weather events, three destructive hurricanes, and an ice storm which impacted over 1.5 million customers in the past six years.

Georgia’s Regulatory Structure Must Keep Pace
To pull off the changes needed to invest in grid modernization and storm restoration for families and communities, utility regulators hold hearings to examine if the new demands and issues are being adequately addressed in existing base rate charges.

In essence, these base rate charges are the fixed costs utilities have to pay to deliver electricity to your home or business. It includes not only the cost of producing and distributing electricity but also the wires, poles, power plants, personnel, grid maintenance and additional services that customers demand.

It’s important to understand that Georgia has affordable residential electric rates that are well below the national average, according to recent federal data. In 2018, Georgia Power’s rates were 16 percent below the national average and based on the utility’s figures, rates have averaged at least 13 percent less than the national average since 1990.

This has occurred while tremendous amounts of renewable and distributed energy options have been added to the grid and customer demands for IT connectivity have surged.

Distributed energy deployment, such as residential rooftop solar, has greatly expanded across the state in recent years due to falling costs for installation (down near 70 percent nationwide since 2009) as well as programs like net metering and federal tax incentives.

In 2018, Consumer Energy Alliance updated its multi-state analysis of solar incentive polices across the country. The study found that rooftop solar customers in Georgia were receiving significant incentives back through net metering credits and favorable tax treatment. That paid back the cost of installing systems by 50 percent for those who directly owned them and by 81 percent for those used third-parties for installations.

As more people take advantage of these incentives, the study found that over time, these programs create holes or deficits in grid maintenance because participating customers have avoided paying the true costs of maintaining the electric infrastructure from which they benefit.

Moving Forward
Georgia regulators will have an opportunity to consider and approve the phase-in of additional investments for the grid to enhance its security, resiliency, and restoration of emergency response efforts that help reduce costly outages and help keep a lid on expensive future repairs.

Making wise choices today to modernize our electric infrastructure will help families, communities and small businesses thrive in the future, by generating the benefits of a more capable grid that will keep services reliably powering their everyday lives.

***Note: This is a conceptual model of smart grid/grid modernization connectivity.

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