ENERGY BATTLE TO WATCH IN IOWA: Iowa’s biofuel lobby is staking its future on carbon capture and sequestration. That’s why it’s issuing dire warnings this week to lawmakers in Des Moines who are considering putting new strictures on the construction of CO2 pipelines.
It would also prevent the state utilities board from granting a permit for CO2 pipelines unless it is in compliance with local zoning ordinances and permits. IRFA says the regulations would create a “de facto ban” against CCS projects and threaten the future of the ethanol industry, which is king in Iowa.
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Chairman Tom Carper and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito announced the hearing on Friday, saying it will focus on the emergency response to the derailment and related efforts to clean up the toxic chemicals being transported by the train. In addition to increasing fines for violating safety regulations, the agency will seek further rulemakings on high-hazard flammable trains and electronically controlled pneumatic brakes. The first of those was called for by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and other state politicians. The second has been a focus of liberals who want Buttigieg to replace an Obama-era rule that was undone by the Trump administration.
Keystone won funding support from the Department of Energy to design and demonstrate its tower design, which was manufactured at a factory in Pampa, Texas, at the site of a facility that previously manufactured oil and gas drilling equipment. Investments in the U.S. offshore wind market tripled in size to $9.8 billion last year, the Business Network for Offshore Wind report found. Offshore wind-related contracts grew by 36%.
To review: 10 whales have washed up on New York and New Jersey beaches since December. Others have washed up on beaches in Virginia and Massachusetts.
The whole CarbonCapture frenzy is insane & based on false premise that CO2 is harmful to the environment. CO2 is a vital, life-giving trace gas, plant food no less, completely natural & indeed vital for the survival of all life on earth. This bunch want to pump it underground!