EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 8/17/26

PIPELINE NEWS

• Chatham Journal: More than 350 pack Chatham public hearing as Enbridge pipeline fight centers on land, water and local control

• Durango Herald: Federal agency fails to ease fears of future Enterprise pipeline failures in Southwest Colorado

• Des Moines Register: At Soapbox, Thomas Laehn bashes carbon pipelines, presidential power

• Resilience: Bad River Tribe scores victory in fight to remove illegal oil pipeline

• Pipeline & Gas Journal: Enstar repairs leaking gas pipeline beneath Alaska’s Twentymile River

• Quantum Commodity Intelligence: Enbridge seeks to recontract capacity on Canada-US Express oil pipe

• Reuters: WhiteWater-led venture approves Permian-to-Texas gas pipeline project

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• Reuters: Trump urges Americans to accept higher gas prices as he escalates Iran rhetoric

• Carbon Herald: Treasury And IRS Extend Section 45Q Safe Harbor

• Bloomberg: IRS Guidance Expands Safe Harbor for Carbon Capture Tax Credit

• E&E News: 25 groups urging Supreme Court to kill climate case have ties to oil companies, report says

• Guardian: BP to develop offshore gasfield in Venezuela with firms linked to Trump administration

STATE UPDATES

• Press release: Coastal Commission Votes Against Southern California Offshore Fracking

• Noozhawk: Citing Oil Spill Concerns, Coastal Commission Objects to SB Channel Fracking

• Grand Forks Herald: New partner takes lead on Project Tundra carbon-capture facility

• Los Angeles Times: Hydrogen failed as car fuel. Now California’s big dollar bet on it for green energy is fading, too

• Source NM: Most of New Mexico’s oil-related water contamination in area around Chaco, advocate tells lawmakers

• Iowa Capital Dispatch: State Sen. Mike Bousselot ends 2026 campaign

• KPFA: Carbon Capture & Storage for California?

• KXNET: 1,100 barrels of produced water spilled in Mountrail County

EXTRACTION

• E&E News: US threatens EU over its green reporting rules

• The Narwhal: As Canadian oil companies rake in record profits, should taxpayers get a larger share?

• Press release: First Nations Lead Kino Aski LNG – A Major Canadian Energy Project

• Harvard Media: Carbon capture sector gathering in Edmonton as Pathways decisions approach

• Associated Press: A British firm starts containment of oil spill from stricken tanker off Oman

• BBC: Major oil slick washes up on Iran coast after Hormuz ship strike

TODAY IN GREENWASHING

• Enbridge: Volunteer EMTs get a new ride to the rescue

OPINION

• Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA): How carbon capture is failing the capital discipline test
  

PIPELINE NEWS

Chatham Journal: More than 350 pack Chatham public hearing as Enbridge pipeline fight centers on land, water and local control
Everette Pitts, 8/15/26

“More than 350 people packed a special Chatham County Board of Commissioners meeting Aug. 5 to deliver an overwhelmingly unified message about Enbridge Gas North Carolina’s proposed 28-mile natural gas pipeline: They do not want it crossing the county’s farms, forests, rivers and family land, and they want county leaders to use every legal tool available to slow, scrutinize or stop the project,” the Chatham Journal reports. “For nearly two hours, landowners, farmers, scientists, environmental advocates, veterans, attorneys and longtime residents described fears about eminent domain, drinking-water contamination, explosions, property values, agriculture, climate change and the possibility that new gas infrastructure could encourage large-scale industrial development. Many speakers urged commissioners to require a special- or conditional-use permit, adopt a formal resolution opposing the project, seek a more comprehensive environmental review and intervene wherever possible in state and federal permitting proceedings. But the meeting also underscored a fundamental complication confronting Chatham County: Much of the authority over the pipeline lies outside county government… “As a local government in North Carolina,” Robertson continued, “it is important to understand that the county has limited authority over the approval process and ultimate outcome of a project of this nature.” “...For many speakers on August 5, the controversy was less about abstract energy policy than about acreage their families had spent generations protecting… “No subject generated more emotion than eminent domain… “Residents at the August 5 meeting repeatedly questioned whether a pipeline they believe will disproportionately benefit industrial users meets the spirit or legal requirements of public use.”

Durango Herald: Federal agency fails to ease fears of future Enterprise pipeline failures in Southwest Colorado
Jessica Bowman, 8/14/26

“It’s been roughly 20 months since a natural gas pipeline operated by Enterprise Products released tens of thousands of gallons of gasoline into the ground, yet the federal investigation into the cause of the spill remains incomplete,” the Durango Herald reports. “In December 2024, the pipeline ruptured on the Southern Ute Tribal reservation, sending 100,000 to 200,000 gallons – depending on whether it’s the company’s or tribe’s estimate – of gasoline into the environment and came hazardously close to contaminating the Animas River. For months, La Plata County commissioners have expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding pipeline oversight, operator enforcement and what appears to be a marginal effort to inspect the full-length of the Mid-American Pipeline to better prevent another catastrophic failure from happening… “We need to be prepared for the future. This is not going to be the last pipeline spill,” La Plata County Commissioner Matt Salka, told the Herald, following the meeting. “Right now, I feel that we’re kind of not in the know. We’re not allowed. We’re not privy to that level of information.” While Mulligan appeared live on screen, it was only to read a lengthy prepared statement and answer questions that commissioners submitted ahead of time; follow-up questions were not permitted… “PHMSA declined to answer those questions or speculate about enforcement because the agency is still monitoring Enterprise’s incident response… “I don’t want to be old and gray – which I’m already getting there – and sitting here and seeing infomercials on TV commercials going: ‘Did you drink well water in La Plata County? Call this number,’” Salka said.”

Des Moines Register: At Soapbox, Thomas Laehn bashes carbon pipelines, presidential power
Stephen Gruber-Miller, 8/15/26

“Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Thomas Laehn wants to end the federal tax credits that fund carbon capture pipelines and rein in the president’s power to make war without a declaration of Congress,” the Des Moines Register reports. “...If elected to the U.S. Senate, Laehn said one of the first pieces of legislation he’ll introduce will be to eliminate the 45Q and 45Z tax credits that provide financial incentives for carbon capture pipelines. He criticized a proposed pipeline that Summit Carbon Solutions is seeking to build across Iowa to sequester carbon dioxide from ethanol plants underground, saying that the project won’t provide any financial benefit and will enrich those behind it, including Summit CEO Bruce Rastetter, a major Republican donor. “It’s the biggest boondoggle in the history of our state,” Laehn said. “A project that actually doesn’t do any good at all, except to make Bruce Rastetter and his investors billionaires.” “...Not only is this a project that doesn’t do any good and wastes our taxpayer dollars, this private company has been vested with the power of eminent domain to take property from unwilling landowners along its proposed route,” he said.”

Resilience: Bad River Tribe scores victory in fight to remove illegal oil pipeline
Kala Hunter, 8/17/26

“...Today, the Mashkiigong-ziibiing, or the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is up against the odds to defend its land rights, sovereignty, and healthy water. The small 8,000-person Bad River Tribe has taken on a billion-dollar Canadian oil pipeline company to demand the removal of an illegal oil pipeline,” Resilience reports. “...Blanchard says the rerouted pipeline could still harm the Tribe’s ceded territory. “We do want it removed from the reservation, but we don’t want it within the Bad River watershed.” Since the rerouted pipeline would be upstream from the Bad River, if there were to be a spill or leak, it could affect the Tribe’s ability to hunt, fish, and gather on the reservation, which he believes still violates the treaties. “We are looking after our land, water, and harvest,” Blanchard says. “I do harvesting of wild rice and traditional medicine, all to feed my family, and I want my great-great grandkids to have what I have and to be able to do what I have done. Money is nice, but is it worth giving up land?”

Pipeline & Gas Journal: Enstar repairs leaking gas pipeline beneath Alaska’s Twentymile River
8/17/26

“Enstar Natural Gas is making emergency repairs to a leaking 8-inch submerged pipeline beneath Alaska’s Twentymile River while preparing to construct a new crossing to maintain natural gas service to the community of Whittier,” Pipeline & Gas Journal reports. “According to Anchorage Daily News, the leak was reported Aug. 9 after a boater smelled natural gas near the river crossing, about a half-mile from a Seward Highway boat launch south of Girdwood… “Enstar plans to shut down the affected pipeline once a trailer carrying liquefied natural gas arrives from Fairbanks. The LNG would be regasified and introduced into the local system to help maintain service during the repair work, ADN reported.”

Quantum Commodity Intelligence: Enbridge seeks to recontract capacity on Canada-US Express oil pipe
8/14/26

“Enbridge is seeking to recontract 10,000 bpd of capacity on its Express pipeline that transports western Canadian production to the US Rockies,” Quantum Commodity Intelligence reports.

Reuters: WhiteWater-led venture approves Permian-to-Texas gas pipeline project
Varun Sahay, 8/17/26

“Infrastructure company WhiteWater and its joint venture partners Devon Energy, MPLX, Diamondback Energy and Western Midstream ​Partners said on Monday they had reached a ‌final investment decision (FID) to build two natural gas pipelines from the Permian Basin to Katy, Texas,” Reuters reports. “...The companies said the joint venture, known as the Solitude Pipeline System, is backed by substantial long-term firm transportation ​agreements with investment-grade shippers. The pipeline system will be ​developed in phases, with initial capacity of about 2.25 billion cubic ‌feet ⁠per day (Bcf/d) expected in late 2029, the companies said. A second phase is due in 2030 and would add another 2.25 Bcf/d of capacity, bringing total capacity ​to about 4.5 ​Bcf/d, they ⁠added… “Solitude ⁠is ​expected to enter service in ​the second half of 2029, subject to customary regulatory and other approvals.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

Reuters: Trump urges Americans to accept higher gas prices as he escalates Iran rhetoric
Eman Abouhassira, Enas Alashray and Humeyra Pamuk, 8/15/26

“President Donald Trump on Friday urged Americans to accept slightly higher gasoline prices as the cost of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and said he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S territory,” Reuters reports. “The comments underscore the growing political risk for Trump as higher fuel prices collide with his campaign promise to lower energy costs, with Democrats already seeking to make the economic fallout from the Iran war an issue heading into the November midterm elections. In a speech in Garden City, Trump said Americans who had to “pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline” should remember that this was the cost of ensuring “a very evil country” could not have a nuclear weapon. “What we’re doing is a great service for the world, not only for ourselves… and we’re really doing a great job,” said Trump, adding he would never apologize for attacking Iran… “After we finish defeating Iran… pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” said Trump, escalating his rhetoric over the vital waterway. It was unclear how seriously Trump intended the remark or whether it represented a new policy position.”

Carbon Herald: Treasury And IRS Extend Section 45Q Safe Harbor
Violet George, 8/17/26

“The US Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued Notice 2026-50, expanding and extending a critical safe harbor for the federal Section 45Q carbon capture tax credit,” the Carbon Herald reports. “The guidance addresses growing regulatory uncertainty created by a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal to eliminate key requirements under its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, including Subpart RR protocols for geologic sequestration… “The newly updated safe harbor preserves an alternative compliance pathway if the EPA’s electronic reporting system becomes unavailable, extending the measure beyond 2025 and expanding its coverage to include enhanced oil and gas recovery (EOR) projects. Additionally, the guidance permits taxpayers to utilize the safe harbor when determining whether previously claimed tax credits must be recaptured due to potential atmospheric leakage… “Jessie Stolark, executive director of the Carbon Capture Coalition, expressed gratitude to Treasury and the IRS for providing taxpayers with operational certainty through the notice.”

Bloomberg: IRS Guidance Expands Safe Harbor for Carbon Capture Tax Credit
Erin Schilling, 8/14/26

“The IRS Friday expanded a safe harbor for taxpayers claiming the carbon capture tax credit,” Bloomberg reports. “Notice 2026-50 updates a previous safe harbor the IRS created late last year for determining eligibility and the value of the Section 45Q carbon oxide sequestration credit when the carbon is captured by injecting it into the ground. The previous safe harbor didn’t address the eligibility for carbon oxide that is used as a tertiary injectant in a qualified enhanced oil or natural gas recovery project because there were other reporting standards taxpayers could use to claim the credit.”

E&E News: 25 groups urging Supreme Court to kill climate case have ties to oil companies, report says
Lesley Clark, 8/17/26

“A survey released Monday by the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog found that 25 of the 38 individuals and organizations that have filed friend of the court briefs on behalf of the industry have financial ties or other connections to the fossil fuel companies that are facing billions of dollars in potential damages for contributing to climate change,” E&E News reports. “The report argues that many of the briefs make “nearly identical legal arguments.” “...The report came as the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments in the blockbuster climate showdown, Suncor v. Boulder, on Oct. 5 — the opening day of its new term. The justices will weigh whether federal law or the Constitution bars local governments from suing fossil fuel companies for costs associated with climate change. If the high court decides that the city and county of Boulder cannot use state consumer protection and other laws against Suncor and Exxon Mobil, the ruling stands to invalidate nearly two dozen similar climate lawsuits… “In its survey, Consumer Watchdog said it found that 16 of the groups filing friend of the court briefs received funding tied to the two fossil fuel defendants — Exxon or entities connected to billionaire Paul Singer, whose Elliott Investment Management is one of Suncor’s largest investors.”

Guardian: BP to develop offshore gasfield in Venezuela with firms linked to Trump administration
Jillian Ambrose, 8/14/26

“BP has answered Donald Trump’s call for oil companies to help rebuild Venezuela’s fossil fuel industry with new plans to develop a large offshore gasfield,” the Guardian reports. “BP will partner with two oil firms with close links to the Trump administration to develop the second phase of the Loran gasfield, in one of the first large-scale foreign investments in Venezuela since the US ousted its leader Nicolás Maduro in January. The London-listed oil company holds a licence to develop the field alongside a Qatari company owned by the Al-Khayyat brothers, the Syrian-born billionaires working with Ivanka Trump, the US president’s daughter, and her husband, Jared Kushner, to build a controversial multibillion-dollar resort in Albania. BP will also work alongside the overseas investment arm of UAE’s national oil company run by the industry minister, Sultan Al Jaber, who in 2025 promised Trump that the Gulf state would increase its investments in the US energy sector more than sixfold to $440bn (£325bn) within a decade… “The US oil companies ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips have begun scouting opportunities in Venezuela, but have been slower to play a role in its fossil fuel revival after the Latin American country nationalised the industry in 2007. Chevron remained in the country as a minority partner to Venezuela’s state oil company and has continued to produce crude.”

STATE UPDATES

Press release: Coastal Commission Votes Against Southern California Offshore Fracking
8/13/26

“The California Coastal Commission unanimously objected today to an oil company’s proposal to frack 16 offshore wells at Platform Gilda in the Santa Barbara Channel. The commission cited oil spill risk and aging infrastructure as grounds for its objection. This is the first fracking proposal off the California coast in more than a decade… “The California Coastal Commission, under the Coastal Zone Management Act, has the authority to weigh in on whether federal proposals are consistent with state coastal protection policies. Earlier this week the federal government initiated a review of California’s authority, which could revoke the state’s ability to consult under the Act. “The proposal to frack off of the Ventura coast violates state and federal law, threatens marine life, and puts the health of communities at risk,” said Maggie Hall, deputy chief counsel at the Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara. “As we have seen over and over again on the California coast, there is no safe way to drill for oil in the ocean, and fracking would only increase the danger. Thank you to the Coastal Commission for standing up for our coast.”

Noozhawk: Citing Oil Spill Concerns, Coastal Commission Objects to SB Channel Fracking
Evelyn Spence, 8/14/26

“The California Coastal Commission objected Thursday to a proposal that would allow fracking at Platform Gilda in the Santa Barbara Channel,” Noozhawk reports. “In line with a staff report that recommended denying the plan because of California Coastal Management Program inconsistencies, commissioners unanimously voted no. They were concerned about with a possible oil spill, containment measures and aging infrastructure… “Oil and natural gas are transported to the shore via pipelines that were installed in the early 1980s to DCOR’s Mandalay Onshore Facility in Oxnard… “Without fracking, production at Platform Gilda would continue to decline and eventually cease, commission staff said… “The commission, however, cited past spills off the California coast and was unconvinced that DCOR’s proposed spill-prevention measures would fully prevent or sufficiently clean up a spill. Commissioners also expressed concern about the platform’s infrastructure because it is operating twice as long as its originally predicted lifespan… “The Environmental Defense Center, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and other environmental groups lobbied against the proposal, citing concerns about impacts to marine life in the area as well as a possible spill.”

Grand Forks Herald: New partner takes lead on Project Tundra carbon-capture facility
Carrie McDermott, 8/14/26

“After years of delays, Project Tundra is advancing under a new development structure,” the Grand Forks Herald reports. “Reliant Carbon Capture & Storage, LLC, will now lead the development, ownership and operation of the carbon-capture facility at the Milton R. Young Station near Center, North Dakota. According to an announcement from Minnkota Power Cooperative, Reliant brings over 30 years of emissions-control experience to the venture and has multiple carbon-capture, utilization and storage projects in process… “The updated development structure and emerging CO2 utilization opportunities strengthen the long-term potential of Project Tundra,” Minnkota CEO Mac McLennan told the Herald. “The addition of carbon-capture technologies at the Young Station would help preserve the value of the facility while delivering economic and environmental benefits, supporting North Dakota’s energy economy and maintaining reliable, affordable electricity for our members.” “...The restructuring follows the exit of previous partners TC Energy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kiewit. Ben Fladhammer, Minnkota’s senior manager of communications, told the Herald that the pivot to Reliant intends to reduce costs and simplify construction through a modular design, manufactured offsite. “This approach could shorten the construction schedule while potentially capturing more CO2 than the original design,” Fladhammer told the Herald. He told the Herald the project is being structured to require limited capital investment from Minnkota, minimizing the financial obligation for its members.”

Los Angeles Times: Hydrogen failed as car fuel. Now California’s big dollar bet on it for green energy is fading, too
Blanca Begert, 8/17/26

“Hydrogen, viewed by its advocates as a clean fuel and a solution to climate change, is having a “non moment,” but don’t ask anyone in the industry to say that on the record,” the Los Angeles Times reports. “Years of market turmoil, federal funding cuts, canceled projects and industry pullback have made it clear: California’s grand vision for fleets of vehicles and heavy industry running on clean hydrogen fuel has stalled. Yet at a recent gathering in Sacramento, those in the nascent industry continued to tout the potential of a fuel they hope will turn around and thrive. Practically no one wanted to be quoted on the bleak outlook… “Some 95% of hydrogen used today is made from natural gas. That’s because freeing hydrogen from its bond with oxygen in water requires an extraordinary amount of energy — and expensive equipment — making it cost prohibitive… ““There was a race between batteries and hydrogen, and batteries won,” Bill Magavern, policy director at the Coalition for Clean Air, told the Times… “In recent years, the state has pivoted toward hydrogen for buses, trucks and port equipment, but these too have struggled to get off the ground… “But the state’s dream of a vast network of green fuel production sites and pipelines serving thousands of hydrogen-powered vehicles across California is a harder sell… “Many environmental groups have long been skeptical even of the 1% of hydrogen that is produced cleanly — called green hydrogen. They contend the costs and energy demands of producing and distributing it make it inferior to batteries in almost every case… “But even before that, projects to make zero and low-carbon hydrogen were being canceled across the country as they struggled to bring down costs… “Producers are hanging their hopes on utilities, which just got permission to count green hydrogen they burn toward renewable energy targets.”

Source NM: Most of New Mexico’s oil-related water contamination in area around Chaco, advocate tells lawmakers
Joshua Bowling, 8/13/26

“The majority of water contamination linked to oil and gas spills in New Mexico happens in a county that includes much of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a culturally and spiritually significant site for many Pueblos and tribes that the Trump administration is proposing to open up to more oil and gas operations, an environmental advocate told state lawmakers on Thursday,” Source NM reports. “Melissa Troutman, a climate and health advocate with WildEarth Guardians, spoke before legislators on the interim Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee in Los Alamos. In a presentation, she said that the oil and gas industry reported spills that impacted 15 waterways across the state in 2025. The vast majority of them — 12 — were in San Juan County, which includes Farmington, the Four Corners region and Chaco Culture National Historical Park… “The Bureau of Land Management last month opened a two-week window for members of the public to weigh in on its proposal to eliminate or shrink the 10-mile buffer zone that protects Chaco from mining operations. Native leaders in New Mexico and every member of the state’s federal delegation have sharply criticized the proposal.”

Iowa Capital Dispatch: State Sen. Mike Bousselot ends 2026 campaign
Kathie Obradovich, 8/14/26

“State Sen. Mike Bousselot, an Ankeny Republican, announced Friday he is ending his campaign for reelection in Senate District 23 as he “pursues a private-sector professional opportunity,” the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports. “...Bousselot will serve until the end of the year when his term ends. “This is not a decision I make lightly,” Bousselot said in a statement. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Iowa and humbled by the confidence voters placed in me. It has been a privilege to represent my constituents and participate in the work of the Iowa Legislature.” Bousselot did not specify the professional opportunity but said in his release he had intended to pursue it while continuing to serve in the Iowa Senate. “It was only recently that he learned the requirements associated with the role would not allow him to do both. The position is entirely outside of politics and does not involve lobbying or advocacy before the Iowa Legislature,” the press release stated.”

KPFA: Carbon Capture & Storage for California?
8/14/26

“On today’s show, carbon capture and storage for California? That is the question. I’ll speak to Ileana Navarro policy associate with the Central California Environmental Justice Network, Stanford University Woods Institute for the Environment policy fellow and scientist Thom Hersbach and Nina Robertson, deputy managing attorney for Earthjustice to get some answers,” KPFA reports. “Response from California Air Resource Board (CARB)’s Lindsay Buckley: “California’s ambitious climate goals require both significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and growth of carbon sequestration. To help meet this charge, CARB staff initiated work on the Senate Bill 905 rulemaking last year which requires the agency to create the Carbon Capture, Removal, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Program to evaluate, demonstrate, and regulate CCUS and carbon dioxide.”

KXNET: 1,100 barrels of produced water spilled in Mountrail County
Edward Segal, 8/14/26

“The North Dakota Oil and Gas Division reported a produced water spill Thursday in Mountrail County,” KXNET reports. “Falcon Midstream Services LLC says 1,100 barrels [46,200 gallons] of produced water were spilled at their site about 10.5 miles northwest of Ross. 1,062 barrels have been recovered.”

EXTRACTION

E&E News: US threatens EU over its green reporting rules
Milena Wälde, 8/14/26

“The U.S. on Friday threatened action against the EU unless Brussels reins in its environmental and human rights rules, which Washington says unfairly burden American companies,” E&E News reports. “Acknowledging Brussels had made “some positive reforms,” Washington said the EU had “failed to fully address U.S. concerns,” and that it “will take any actions necessary to address unreasonable burdens on U.S. commerce.” “...The dispute centers on two pillars of the EU’s corporate sustainability rulebook: the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which requires large companies to address human rights and environmental harms linked to their operations and supply chains, and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which requires companies to disclose sustainability-related information.”

The Narwhal: As Canadian oil companies rake in record profits, should taxpayers get a larger share?
Carl Meyer, 8/17/26

“Canada’s large oil companies are raking in record profits during an energy crisis,” The Narwhal reports. “...The oil and gas industry is the largest source of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, which cause climate change that scientists say has been driving major heat waves and wildfires across the country this summer, destroying communities and upending lives. Yet instead of using its windfall during the Russian invasion to invest heavily in non-emitting energy sources, or to widely deploy technology to decarbonize its operations, the industry began funnelling a larger proportion of its revenues to shareholders, while a group of oilsands companies went to governments asking them to cover much of the cost of their proposed emissions projects… “As Canadians see those profits, we need to see reinvestment into cleaner energy instead of share buybacks,” Guilbeault said in a video posted online in October 2022… “The conversation has reignited calls for a windfall profits tax on the oil and gas industry, something more than 60 unions and civil society organizations have been calling for… “Elbows Up For Climate, which represents almost 300 mayors, councillors and local officials from across Canada advocating for national environmental projects, is one of the groups calling for a windfall tax… “Applying a new windfall tax on oil profits today could generate between $18 billion and $46 billion over the next year, depending on the tax rate and how much of a company’s profits it applies to, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.”

Press release: First Nations Lead Kino Aski LNG – A Major Canadian Energy Project
8/17/26

“Kino Aski Inc. and Marinvest Energy Canada Inc. announced today the joint development of Kino Aski LNG, a First Nations–led energy corridor and liquefied natural gas (LNG) project designed to supply Europe with competitive, low–carbon Canadian energy. The project is based on an innovative partnership model where Kino Aski Inc. holds a majority ownership interest in the project development company, Kino Aski LNG Inc., while Marinvest Energy Canada Inc. holds a minority interest. This structure places First Nations at the centre of the project’s governance, financing, design, construction, and operations, while inviting international energy industry partners to provide expertise and invest alongside Canadian partners to secure a European energy supply… “The project is designed to deliver up to 15 million tonnes of LNG per year, powered by renewable electricity in Quebec. By supplying certified low-methane Canadian natural gas, Kino Aski LNG will help decarbonize existing energy consumers during the transition to net-zero emissions. Natural gas will be sourced from Western Canada and transported to the year-round operating Port of Baie–Comeau using a combination of existing and new pipeline infrastructure… “Kino Aski Inc. and Marinvest Energy Canada Inc. emphasize that the project remains in the development phase. Discussions with governments, communities, and industry partners are ongoing. No formal regulatory process has yet begun.”

Harvard Media: Carbon capture sector gathering in Edmonton as Pathways decisions approach
Jon Tupper, 8/17/26

“More than 5,000 people are expected in Edmonton next month for a national convention focused on carbon capture as governments and industry work toward agreements on the proposed Pathways project,” Harvard Media reports. “Carbon Capture Canada 2026 will run Sept. 15 to 17 at the Edmonton Convention Centre, bringing together representatives from government, industry, investment and technology sectors… “The convention comes after Canada, Alberta and the Oil Sands Alliance signed a memorandum of understanding July 2 concerning the Pathways carbon capture project. Definitive agreements related to the project are expected this fall… “Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is among the scheduled speakers, along with Oil Sands Alliance president Kendall Dilling and Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation CEO Chana Martineau.”

Associated Press: A British firm starts containment of oil spill from stricken tanker off Oman
Sarah El Deeb, 8/13/26

“A British company said Thursday it has been hired to salvage a grounded Russian shadow fleet tanker off Oman’s coast and stop an oil spill that is threatening wildlife as it reaches the country’s shoreline following its dramatic spread in recent weeks,” the Associated Press reports. “Satellite images have shown that oil from the tanker Caroline Bezengi has exponentially spread over hundreds of square kilometers during stormy weather, endangering a marine protected area… “Ambrey, a UK-based maritime risk and response company, told AP its personnel boarded the vessel with help from the Omani air force to assess its condition before stabilizing it… “Satellite images also have shown that the tanker is increasingly submerged, and experts have warned of an unprecedented environmental disaster if the vessel sinks or breaks open and leaks its entire cargo… “Oman’s Environment Authority said Wednesday the oil spill has reached the shores of Ras Madrakah, more than 200 kilometers (more than 120 miles) north of Qabiliyah Island. Authorities said they estimated the spill could reach more than 100 kilometers further north, to Masirah Island. Hanen Keskes, a campaigner for the environmental group Greenpeace, told AP it is “extremely concerning” that the oil has spread from an offshore spill to the shoreline where it can contaminate coastal sediments.”

BBC: Major oil slick washes up on Iran coast after Hormuz ship strike
8/14/26

“Verified videos show a major oil slick washing up on Iran’s Qeshm Island, which analysts have said comes from a ship hit by a strike in the Strait of Hormuz,” the BBC reports. “BBC Verify has also analysed satellite imagery suggesting the oil spill originated from an attack on a vessel in Omani waters on 3 August. A week later, the apparent fuel leakage from the Minoan Pioneer bulk carrier had spread across a large area of the strait. Environmental experts say the spill threatens wildlife, protected ecosystems and fishing communities around Qeshm, which is home to mangrove forests, nearby coral reef habitats and nesting sites for critically endangered Hawksbill turtles… “A local environmental protection official has since said the spill has been “almost completely cleaned up”. BBC Verify has not been able to independently confirm this.”

TODAY IN GREENWASHING

Enbridge: Volunteer EMTs get a new ride to the rescue
8/14/26

“...Through our Safe Community First Responder Program, Enbridge invests in emergency response organizations near our operations—helping them purchase equipment and access training and critical services,” according to Enbridge. “Launched in 2002, the Safe Community program has invested about $24.7 million in organizations across North America. We recently chipped in with a Safe Community grant for Mohall’s new ambulance, which will make a world of difference when it arrives in late 2027—both for patients in need of urgent care, and volunteer crews who won’t need to decide which rig to use.”

OPINION

Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA): How carbon capture is failing the capital discipline test
Adam Hunt, 8/11/26

“CCS projects can struggle to clear ordinary commercial tests even with substantial subsidies; viable returns still depend on credible costs, firm demand and durable revenues,” Adam Hunt writes for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). “Technical performance is inseparable from financial risk for CCS: capture shortfalls and uncertain transport and storage performance can raise costs, weaken emissions benefits and create long-term liabilities. CCS should compete with other decarbonisation options for scarce capital; in some sectors, alternatives may offer investors stronger economic and emissions outcomes. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) rests on two promises: that it can cut emissions through secure, permanent carbon storage; and that the projects can make commercial sense. Project results are showing both promises may be difficult to meet… “Having an array of projects in the pipeline can create the appearance of momentum. But it does not establish that customers will buy hydrogen, ammonia, low-carbon power or carbon transport and storage services at prices that support investment… “Lower capture rates can also undermine the value of the product itself: IEEFA found that more realistic capture assumptions could push blue hydrogen’s carbon intensity to more than three times the U.S. clean-hydrogen standard. Capture is only one link in the chain. CO₂ must be transported and stored for decades. IEEFA has found limited long-term operating data for commercial-scale storage, alongside regulatory uncertainty and potential long-term liability… “Capital discipline does not mean ruling out every CCS proposal. It means requiring a convincing commercial case before investors, taxpayers or consumers are asked to carry the risk.”