Fossil Fuels - Inside Climate News

California Governor Signs Bills to Tighten Restrictions on Oil and Gas Drillers

By Liza Gross — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 08:55:00 +0000

“We will hold the oil industry accountable for their pollution and public health impacts,” said Assemblymember Gregg Hart, author of one of the bills.

By Liza Gross

With pumpjacks nodding in the background, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed new laws to hold oil companies accountable and protect neighborhoods from oil development, protections community groups have fought more than a decade to win.

Activists Disrupt Occidental Petroleum CEO’s Interview at New York Times Climate Event

By Keerti Gopal, Jake Bolster — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:05:00 +0000

The move is part of a string of similar disruptions targeting appearances by oil company representatives and government leaders at Climate Week NYC.

By Keerti Gopal, Jake Bolster

NEW YORK—Vicki Hollub, the CEO of Occidental Petroleum, had barely stepped on stage for her interview at the New York Times’ Climate Forward event when an audience member leapt up into her path.

Will Young Voters’ Initial Excitement for Harris Build Enough Momentum to Get Them to the Polls?

By Keerti Gopal — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

While many young climate voters are rallying around Harris, her backpedaling on a fracking ban and support of President Biden’s oil and gas policies leave some disenchanted.

By Keerti Gopal

Last night, the youth-led activist group Climate Defiance—which had loudly called for Joe Biden to withdraw his bid for reelection earlier this year—endorsed Kamala Harris for president. But, despite that support and soaring enthusiasm from young people after Harris replaced Biden on the Democratic ticket, with 40 days left until the election, excitement has cooled off among many young voters who are prioritizing climate and calling for stronger commitments from the candidate.

New York City Youth Strike Against Fossil Fuels and Greenwashing in Advance of NYC Climate Week

By Keerti Gopal — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 09:05:00 +0000

The Fridays for Future protest called for a focus on ending production of oil, gas and coal at the annual gathering that coincides with the U.N. General Assembly session.

By Keerti Gopal

NEW YORK—Hundreds of young people and their allies walked out of school and work on Friday afternoon to call for government and industry leaders to end the production of fossil fuels to combat the climate crisis.

Study Finds High Levels of Hydrogen Sulfide in Central Texas Oilfield

By Martha Pskowski — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

The smell of oil wells has long permeated Caldwell County, within 50 miles of Austin and San Antonio. Now researchers have documented wells releasing dangerous amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas.

By Martha Pskowski

The first readings Abigail Edgar took of hydrogen sulfide and methane at oilfields in Caldwell County in 2021 were so high that she thought her equipment was malfunctioning.

A Company’s Struggles Raise Questions About the Future of Lithium Extraction in Pennsylvania

By Kiley Bense — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Amid public scrutiny over worker safety, Eureka Resources, a fracking wastewater treatment company, idled a facility, canceled plans to build another and intends to sell or close two more.

By Kiley Bense

When a new study suggested that vast quantities of the critical mineral lithium could be found in Pennsylvania’s fracking wastewater, Eureka Resources seemed perfectly positioned to take advantage of the frenzy of publicity that followed. In 2023, Eureka announced it had extracted 97 percent pure lithium carbonate from fracking wastewater.

A Dangerous Chemical Is Fouling Niagara Falls’ Air. New York State Hasn’t Put a Stop to It

By Jim Morris and Emyle Watkins — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Regulators cited the Goodyear chemical plant for releasing high amounts of a bladder carcinogen last year but say they are still investigating.

By Jim Morris and Emyle Watkins

This story is a collaboration between Public Health Watch, WBFO and Inside Climate News.

Q&A: Near Lake Superior, a Tribe Fights to Remove a Pipeline From the Wetlands It Depends On

By Kiley Price — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 20:07:03 +0000

An ongoing legal battle and federal permitting will determine the fate of a pipeline that cuts through the Bad River tribal reservation in Wisconsin.

By Kiley Price

This piece is part of our “Behind the Scenes” series, where Kiley Price interviews a fellow ICN reporter to learn more about one of their recent stories and how they reported it.

Departures From Climate Action 100+ Highlight U.S.-Europe Divide Over ESG Investing

By Mathilde Augustin — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 09:05:00 +0000

In recent months, several major U.S. financial firms have left Climate Action 100+ in apparent response to political pressure. Abroad, the initiative is anything but losing steam.

By Mathilde Augustin

Over the past few months, a string of large American asset managers have left Climate Action 100+, a global investor group created to ensure that the largest corporate emitters of greenhouse gases take action on climate change. Their departure coincides with intensifying political debate over sustainable investing, as a variety of Republicans have sought to crack down on what they call a “climate cartel.”

Proposals to Build California’s First Carbon Storage Facilities Face a Key Test

By Emma Foehringer Merchant, Inside Climate News and Joshua Yeager, KVPR — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 20:47:07 +0000

Experts say extensive monitoring of the sites will be required to ensure safety.

By Emma Foehringer Merchant, Inside Climate News and Joshua Yeager, KVPR

Proposals to build California’s first carbon storage facilities are facing key tests in the coming weeks, beginning with a vote by the Kern County Planning Commission Thursday night.