This is the second in a series of Gray Reed energy lawyer Paul Yale‘s examination of three books that raise questions such as:
Can we save the polar bears and the whales, … Are they in need of saving?
Will we 
drown by 2100? (Not “we” as in you and me, but you know
Gray Reed’s in-house Cassandra, energy partner Paul Yale, has set out to educate energy industry professionals, and anyone else willing to learn, on the latest developments in the climate change debate. Here is Part One, in which Paul reviews three books with differing points of view: The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming,
Now that our new president has been elected (Proud Boys, its over!), let’s take a look at what people smarter than I are predicting it will mean for the domestic oil and gas industry and the climate. In summary: bad for one, no meaningful help for the other, and the fury of the fiscal kraken will be unleashed. (As usual these are summaries; see the articles for a fuller picture).
Continue Reading Predicting the Effect of Biden’s Election on the Oil Industry and the Climate
The battle lines between pipeline companies and landowners are still being drawn. In Bayou Bridge Pipeline v. 38.00 acres nobody had a gun, nobody got taken away, and one side was right and one side was wrong.
There were two survivors:
Note to non-Louisiana lawyers: Unlike Texas at least, a Louisiana pipeline must obtain a judgment of expropriation before going on the property.
Continue Reading Louisiana Oil Pipeline Expropriation System is Constitutional
As the US continues to be more successful in reducing CO2 emissions than the parties to the Paris Climate Accord, those who would do the St. Vitus dance on the grave of the domestic oil and gas industry should consider the risks posed by the alternatives. Here are thoughts from some who know better than
The focus from many quarters on “Environmental, Social, & Governance” is intensifying. If you attended TIPRO’s annual summer conference week before last you heard Rep. Kenny Marchant confirm his belief that ESG considerations are not going away. Your energy business will be more competitive if you understand ESG and embrace it
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TOM MCNULTY, Principal
Gas flaring, especially in the Permian and the Eagle Ford, is coming in hot these days at the Texas Railroad Commission. Presented here are viewpoints from several stakeholders in the discussion. My comments are summaries. For a fuller understanding please read the reports for yourself.
The players are in general agreement on several points:
The Texas Methane and Flaring Coalition
These seven trade associations and 40 operators are members of the Railroad Commission’s Blue Ribbon Task Force for Oil Economic Recovery. Their positon, among others:
Continue Reading How Will the Texas Railroad Commission Address Gas Flaring?
Last week’s discussion of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury’s report on alleged failures in enforcement of hydraulic fracturing is worthy of a follow-up. Here, combined into one document, is the Grand Jury’s report, the Department of Environmental Protection’s response (beginning on page 112) and the Department of Health’s response (beginning on page 165).
The Grand Jury recommends
Expand no drill zones, stop the “chemical cover-up”, regulate all pipelines, add up the air pollution sources, transport toxic waste more safely, deliver a real public health response, end the “revolving door”, and use the criminal laws.
The DEP responds
The report is unreliable, legally and factually inaccurate, not informed by applicable law or facts, relies on undocumented assertions, “does the public a disservice”, and the Attorney General failed to give the Grand Jurors accurate information. This, from a Democratic governor.
The former Secretary defends the department
A response from Michael Krancer, Secretary of the DEP from 2011 until 2013, says:
There is “new news” and there is the same-old-same-old. Today is mostly the latter but it seems more “out there” than in it used to be.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General convened a grand jury that slammed regulatory failures in Pennsylvania gas drilling and recommended setbacks that would effectively destroy the ability to develop shale resources.
If you follow the Marcellus shale there are political developments you should know about. Daniel Markind, a partner in the Philadelphia office of Flaster Greenberg PC, gave me permission to share this recent blog post.
Devastated By Coronavirus, New York’s Pipeline Politics Ensure A Tougher Second Round
By: This article originally ran on Forbes.com on May 20, 2020. All rights reserved.
Approximately 30% of all confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States have been reported in the New York City metropolitan area, which is located mainly in southeastern New York state and northeastern New Jersey. Last weekend, the administrations of the Governors of both states, Andrew Cuomo of New York and Phil Murphy of New Jersey, rejected once again the key permits for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (NESE), a natural gas pipeline that would have ensured sufficient natural gas supply to much of New York City and its environs. These decisions probably mean the death of NESE.
Click here to read the article in its entirety on Forbes.com.
Continue Reading Marcellus Pipeline Permits Rejected by New York and New Jersey