methane-gas

February 27, 2017

Washington, DC -- Today, TransCanada announced that is has suspended its $15 billion NAFTA complaint against the U.S. over the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. The project, which was rejected by President Barack Obama, was recently revived by Donald Trump.

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:

April 3, 2017

Oklahoma City, OK -- Today, the Western Oklahoma District Court announced, after the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), the state agency tasked with regulating oil and gas operations, took several steps towards tackling the earthquake epidemic, that it planned to dismiss without prejudice a landmark lawsuit against three of the largest fossil fuel companies in Oklahoma. The week after the notice of intent to sue was filed, the OCC announced a volume reduction plan for several dozen disposal wells in western Oklahoma.

February 23, 2017

Washington, DC -- Today, Donald Trump rescinded a Office of Natural Resource Revenue rule that prevented companies from selling fossil fuels extracted on public lands to a subsidiary at a low price, paying royalties on that initial sale, and then reselling the fuel at a far higher price without paying royalties on the second sale.

In response, Sierra Club Lands Protection program Director Athan Manuel released the following statement:

March 30, 2017

Boston, MA -- Seventy-four city and town conservation commissions across Massachusetts today urged Governor Charlie Baker to drop his support for wasteful and costly fracked-gas pipelines in Massachusetts.

 

Ina joint letter, the conservation commissions say new pipelines impede the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals in the Global Warming Solutions Act and Baker’s Integrated Climate Change Strategy.

February 22, 2017
May 22, 2017

Boston, MA - The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has written Governor Charlie Baker to ask him to drop his support for new natural gas pipelines until the state and federal agencies conduct comprehensive analyses  to measure their effect on the climate and human health.

 

May 10, 2017

Hartford, CT--The Connecticut Siting Council voted today to approve a draft order denying the siting of a proposed 550 MW natural gas power plant in Killingly, Connecticut. The Council found that plant is not needed for energy reliability in Connecticut or the broader New England region.

 

May 9, 2017

Washington, DC -- Today, the U.S. Senate defeated a vote that would have paved the way for revoking the Bureau of Land Management’s methane waste prevention rule, a standard which would prevent the leaking and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands. Senator Michael Bennet voted against the bill while Senator Cory Gardner voted in favor of nullifying the rule.

May 9, 2017

Washington, DC -- Today, the U.S. Senate defeated a vote that would have paved the way for revoking the Bureau of Land Management’s methane waste prevention rule, a standard which would prevent the leaking and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands. Senator John McCain voted against the bill while Senator Jeff Flake voted in favor of nullifying the rule.

In response, Sierra Club Arizona Chapter Director Sandy Bahr released the following statement:

May 9, 2017

Washington, DC -- Today, the U.S. Senate voted down a vote that would have paved the way for revoking the Bureau of Land Management’s methane waste prevention rule, a standard which would prevent the leaking and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto voted against the bill while Senator Dean Heller voted in favor of nullifying the rule.

May 9, 2017

Washington, DC -- Today, every Senate Democrat and three Senate Republicans voted against a procedural vote that would have paved the way for revoking the Bureau of Land Management’s methane waste prevention rule, a standard which would prevent the leaking and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands. The three Senate Republicans voting against the bill were Senators Susan Collins, Lindsay Graham and, John McCain.

May 8, 2017

Washington, DC -- Last night, Senator Rob Portman (OH) announced support for a Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) methane waste prevention rule. The rule curbs methane pollution from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands, preventing waste and reducing the health effects of methane pollution on nearby communities. Senator Portman credited his decision to support nullifying the rule based on concessions from Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to take action on methane.