EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 8/18/26

PIPELINE NEWS

• Reuters: Canada’s pipeline ambitions hinge on uncertain output expansion

• KAAL: Company behind North Iowa pipeline sued for $6.6 million over unpaid equipment

• Reuters: Proposed Canadian crude oil pipeline projects

• WUNC: Residents in Chatham County organizing against planned pipeline

• Source NM: Proposed gas pipeline for Project Jupiter data center delayed to 2027, filings show

• Bloomberg: Lightning Sparks Fire at Massive US Fuel Depot on Key Pipeline System

• KOTV: Three tanks burned at Glenpool pipeline facility following lightning strike

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• E&E News: Key Democrat calls for investigation into Trump disaster denials

• E&E News: Enviros appeal Trump rollback of Texas lizard protections

• E&E News: ‘He’s there to run it’: Trump’s energy whisperer looks ready to call the shots at major oil trade association

STATE UPDATES

• CNBC: Nvidia backing $105 billion in financing for OpenAI data center in Ohio

EXTRACTION

• The Energy Mix: Alberta’s Carbon Price Barely Dents Oil Sands Profits, Report Finds

• Taproot Edmonton: Carbon-capture project on hold at Edmonton cement plant

• New Civil Engineer: Drax bioenergy plant granted permit to use carbon capture to reduce emissions

• Reuters: Tanker salvage and oil spill clean-up hampered by weather and technical challenges, Oman says

OPINION

• OilPrice.com: Carbon Capture’s Biggest Problem Isn’t Capturing Carbon
  

PIPELINE NEWS

Reuters: Canada’s pipeline ambitions hinge on uncertain output expansion
Amanda Stephenson and Arathy Somasekhar, 8/18/26

“Canadian pipeline firms are proposing billions of dollars in new projects despite oil sands companies being reluctant to commit to significant production expansions amid ongoing uncertainty around climate ​policies and long-term global demand,” Reuters reports. “At least six different pipeline projects are underway or proposed in Canada, to move oil to the United States or to export markets on the Pacific coast. If ‌all are built, the country’s export pipeline capacity would increase by 45%, or 2.25 million barrels per day, by 2035, according to a Reuters calculation. But filling all those pipes would require Canadian oil supply to increase by more than a third by 2034, a near-doubling of its current annual average growth rate. It would also require Canadian producers to move ahead with major new oil sands projects of the type that no company has undertaken in more than a decade. The mismatch between proposed export pipeline expansions and the pace of output growth highlights ​how Canada may struggle to achieve Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “energy superpower” ambitions, despite a more supportive regulatory environment and growing interest in Canadian oil from international buyers… “Producers are behaving with discipline,” Enbridge’s executive vice-president for liquids pipelines Colin Gruending said on a conference call. “I think they’ll get there. We were just a ​little too quick off the line here.”

KAAL: Company behind North Iowa pipeline sued for $6.6 million over unpaid equipment
8/15/26

“A new lawsuit claims Summit Carbon Solutions, the company behind a major pipeline project set to take root across northern Iowa, failed to pay a pipeline supplier at least $6.6 million for equipment tied to its proposed carbon pipeline project,” KAAL reports. “...The complaint also alleges Summit told Patton Myhre in May 2025 that it would not pursue the multi-billion-dollar, multi-state pipeline project. According to the complaint, Summit no longer wanted all of the valves and told Patton Myhre to find other buyers because its “executive leadership had decided to ‘conserve capital’ rather than pay Patton Myhre.” The lawsuit has Floyd County landowner, Kathy Carter, questioning how Summit Carbon Solutions would treat landowners if its pipeline were to ultimately take root. “If Summit is willing to treat multi-national business partners with such disregard, why would we expect them to treat Iowans any better? Iowans expect honesty and fair play. Summit is not Iowa nice, not acting in good faith and they can’t be trusted with just a handshake,” Carter told KAAL. ABC 6 News has reached out to Summit Carbon Solutions for its response to the lawsuit, but has yet to hear back.”

Reuters: Proposed Canadian crude oil pipeline projects
Arathy Somasekhar, Amanda Stephenson, 8/18/26

“...At least ⁠six different pipeline projects ​are underway or proposed, which together ​could increase the country’s export pipeline capacity by 2.25 million barrels ​per day by 2035 and ​ultimately boost Canada’s oil exports, according ‌to ⁠a Reuters calculation. Below is a list: Current and proposed Canadian oil export pipeline projects: Enbridge Mainline Phase One Optimization: 150,000 (Volume in ​barrels ​per day); Approved (Project ⁠status); 2027 (Target in-service date). Trans ​Mountain drag reducing agent: 90,000; Approved; 2027. “Enbridge ​Mainline ⁠Optimization Phase Two: 250,000; Proposed; Unknown. Trans Mountain Mainline optimization: 210,000; Proposed; 2028. South Bow/Bridger Prairie Connector: 550,000; Proposed; 2028. Alberta West ⁠Coast ​pipeline: 1,000,000; Proposed; 2033-2034; 2,250,000.”

WUNC: Residents in Chatham County organizing against planned pipeline
Celeste Guajardo, 8/18/26

“On a windy and sunny afternoon in late July, Stephanie Davis was giving away T-shirts, buttons and yard signs showing opposition against the proposed 28-mile, 12-inch diameter pipeline from Enbridge Gas North Carolina,” WUNC reports. “...Davis is one of more than 100 landowners impacted by the proposed route. She’s worried how the project will affect the local land, water and wildlife. “Let’s do our best to stop it,” Davis told two Chatham County residents who stopped at her table to grab a free shirt. “That’s why we’re here.”Davis was sitting outside the Chatham County Convention Center, catching people before they went inside, where Enbridge Gas was hosting a community event to answer questions about the project… “Enbridge is also currently building its 45-mile T-15 pipeline running from Eden to Roxboro. Additionally, Mountain Valley Pipeline is constructing its Southgate project that starts in Virginia and goes down to Eden. Finally, Williams-Transco is set to start building its Southeast Supply Enhancement Project this fall. One of the biggest concerns about all of these natural gas projects is the continued use of fossil fuels… “50 people spoke for almost two hours. Every single one opposed the project. Residents are concerned about everything from farmland disruption and water quality issues to property devaluation and threats to wildlife and endangered fish.”

Source NM: Proposed gas pipeline for Project Jupiter data center delayed to 2027, filings show
Joshua Bowling, 8/17/26

“A pipeline intended to transport natural gas to the Project Jupiter data center under construction in southern New Mexico won’t come online until early next year at the soonest, according to new federal regulatory filings,” Source NM reports. “The pipeline, referred to as the “Green Chile Project” in federal documents submitted by the Dallas-based company Energy Transfer, was initially proposed as a $60 million project that would carry gas from El Paso to Project Jupiter, the Oracle and OpenAI data center planned for Doña Ana County… “In filings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission late last week, Energy Transfer wrote that the pipeline’s anticipated “in-service date” has moved from this month to February of 2027… “A spokesperson for Oracle wrote in a statement to Source NM that “Project Jupiter remains on schedule, and we continue to work closely with our partners to move the project forward.” On Friday, the environmentalist organization the Sierra Club announced it had sent thousands of comments opposing the pipeline expansion to Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, who voiced support for it earlier this year.”

Bloomberg: Lightning Sparks Fire at Massive US Fuel Depot on Key Pipeline System
Nathan Risser, 8/17/26

“Explorer Pipeline’s Glenpool tank farm outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was struck by lightning early Monday, igniting three tanks of natural gasoline, according to the company,” Bloomberg reports. “Images posted on social media by the Tulsa Fire Department show flames sending large black clouds of smoke into the sky that were visible from inbound flights to Tulsa International Airport. The Glenpool tank farm is a critical storage hub on Explorer’s 1,800 miles of pipeline that transports fuels like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel between the Midwest, Oklahoma and Texas. It can store some 3.4 million barrels of fuel across more than 30 tanks, according to a government report. Explorer’s southern system can ship 660,000 barrels of fuel each day, while it’s northern system extends as far as St. Louis and Chicago and can transport 450,000 barrels daily. The fire will probably have at least a short-term impact on the tight US fuel market, with disruptions likely to flows at the major commodities transport hub.”

KOTV: Three tanks burned at Glenpool pipeline facility following lightning strike
Brooke Cox, Brian Smallwood, 8/17/26

“All tanks have been extinguished at the Explorer Pipeline tank farm in Glenpool after a suspected lightning strike sparked a fire that spread to three tanks Monday morning,” KOTV reports. “...Glenpool Fire Public Information Officer Mandy Vavrinak told KOTV the fire cannot be fought with water alone and requires specialized chemicals, equipment and personnel… “Officials said nothing hazardous has been detected at ground level and there is currently no danger to the public from the smoke… “The shelter-in-place recommendation for the Glenpool area was lifted around 2 p.m. Monday. The shelter-in-place recommendation was also lifted for Glenpool Public Schools… “There have been three previous tank fires in Glenpool in years past. At least two were caused by lightning strikes.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

E&E News: Key Democrat calls for investigation into Trump disaster denials
Thomas Frank, 8/17/26

“A senior House Democrat is calling for an “immediate investigation” into President Donald Trump’s decisions last month to deny millions of dollars in disaster aid for four Democratic-led states,” E&E News reports. “Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey urged Republican committee leaders who oversee funding programs related to natural catastrophes to launch the inquiry following a report by POLITICO that revealed how Trump rejected the requests for disaster aid after his administration had determined the states met federal criteria for receiving it. Trump overrode his own federal agencies by denying $227 million in aid to New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island following a record-breaking blizzard in February. Pallone in a two-page letter noted that Trump’s denials on July 2 came after “federal officials determined [the states] had met government thresholds for receiving aid.” “Denying disaster assistance to American citizens just because they live in states that elected Democratic governors is a betrayal of the oath President Trump swore to uphold,” Pallone wrote.”

E&E News: Enviros appeal Trump rollback of Texas lizard protections
Ian M. Stevenson, 8/17/26

“Environmentalists are trying to stop the Trump administration from removing protections for an imperiled lizard whose survival could interfere with Texas oil and gas development,” E&E News reports. “The Center for Biological Diversity filed an appeal on Friday with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in an attempt to reverse a decision issued last month by a lower bench that allowed the administration to reverse a Biden-era effort to list the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered, siding with the oil and gas industry and the state of Texas… “During the Biden administration, the Fish and Wildlife Service moved to list the lizard as endangered under the Endangered Species Act after finding that its shrubland habitat in Texas, known as the shinnery oak ecosystem, was contracting, often as the result of oil and gas development.”

E&E News: ‘He’s there to run it’: Trump’s energy whisperer looks ready to call the shots at major oil trade association
Mike Soraghan, 8/18/26

“Harold Hamm, the shale-oil pioneer President Donald Trump has called his “original oil guy,” may soon sit in the driver’s seat of one of the largest oil trade associations in the country, people familiar with the matter told E&E News. Hamm, a wildcatter oil tycoon who regularly bends Trump’s ear while visiting Mar-A-Lago, merged his Domestic Energy Producers Alliance this summer with the much larger Independent Petroleum Association of America. The move puts one of Trump’s biggest oil industry allies atop a trade group that employs 12 people to keep an adversarial eye on environmental regulations and promote a more parochial view of oil and gas production than Exxon Mobil, Chevron and other companies with a more international presencd It calls itself the oil industry’s ‘strongest presence in the nation’s capital.’ “...An early test for IPAA could be whether it carries on DEPA’s role in a legal effort supporting the Trump administration’s decision to repeal EPA’s endangerment finding, the legal foundation for many of EPA’s climate regulations. While other oil trade groups suggested more nuanced approaches to addressing the finding, DEPA gave full-throated support to a complete eradication of the rule.”

STATE UPDATES

CNBC: Nvidia backing $105 billion in financing for OpenAI data center in Ohio
Samantha Subin, 8/17/26

“Nvidia will provide up to $105 billion in financing for a new artificial intelligence data center for OpenAI in Ohio, a securities filing revealed on Monday,” CNBC reports. “...The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Nvidia was set to cut that guarantee to less than $120 billion for the buildout… “As part of the Ohio deal, SB Energy and SoftBank will build power sources supporting 10 gigawatts of energy and invest at least $4.2 billion into regional grid infrastructure. Nvidia will invest $1.5 billion in SB Energy. OpenAI said the new data center will support 35,000 new construction jobs through 2032 and 2,500 long-term positions. OpenAI President Greg Brockman told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Monday that compute is a “fundamental resource” for the industry. “Compute is really becoming the new oil, the new limited resource of the AI age,” he told CNBC.”

EXTRACTION

The Energy Mix: Alberta’s Carbon Price Barely Dents Oil Sands Profits, Report Finds
Chris Bonasia, 8/17/26

“Alberta’s oil sands facilities on average will pay less than $2 per barrel under an updated carbon pricing schedule, effectively making the much-maligned “carbon tax” a marginal cost for producers, finds a new report,” according to The Energy Mix. “The research is “relevant now because of renewed interest in carbon pricing following both the release of the implementation agreement for the Alberta-Federal memorandum of understanding on energy policy, and last year’s repeal of the consumer facing carbon price,” report author G. Kent Fellows, a fellow-in-residence for the C.D. Howe Institute, told The Energy Mix… “Given that the operating costs for 99% of operators are between $21 and $65 per barrel, the carbon price represents a small portion of overall marginal costs in the oil sands,” he told The Energy Mix… “The outcomes of Fellows’ analysis are important for anticipating how the updated carbon pricing scheme will create incentives for companies to reduce emissions. A “rational profit-maximizing firm” will only invest in carbon reductions if the cost of doing so is less than the cost of paying the carbon price or for buying carbon credits, he writes.”

Taproot Edmonton: Carbon-capture project on hold at Edmonton cement plant
Darcy Hoogers, 8/18/26

“Diminished interest in incentivizing reductions in carbon dioxide emissions has delayed an Edmonton project once touted to be the world’s first cement plant with full-scale carbon capture and storage,” Taproot Edmonton reports. “In 2023, Heidelberg Materials signed a partnership with the federal government to support a $1.36-billion project to bring a full-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage system to its cement plant in northwest Edmonton. The company said then that it would be capturing 1 million tonnes of C02 annually by the end of 2026. But the project, which the federal government called “a major step forward in establishing Canada as a global leader in the production of low-carbon concrete,” is not on track to be done this year, despite a successful pilot of the technology, and it’s not clear when it will be. The price of carbon emissions is “not an insignificant” element when determining the viability of a full-scale CCS project, David Perkins, vice-president of sustainability and public affairs for Heidelberg Materials, told Taprot. “Originally there was discussion around $170 a tonne by 2030,” he told Taproot. “The (federal) government has backed off of that now. The province has backed off of that to a much lower level.”

New Civil Engineer: Drax bioenergy plant granted permit to use carbon capture to reduce emissions
Thomas Johnson, 8/17/26

“The Environment Agency has approved a variation to the environmental permit for Drax Power Limited to allow carbon capture at its bioenergy plant near Selby, North Yorkshire, the regulator announced,” New Civil Engineer reports. “The decision follows a series of consultations dating back to the operator’s initial application in May 2023… “In a statement, the Environment Agency said it was satisfied the company has demonstrated it can meet the mandatory conditions set out in environmental law and has the systems necessary to operate without causing harm to the environment, human health or wildlife… “Drax’s proposal is to capture carbon dioxide produced during electricity generation at the plant – part of the company’s wider bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) plans – and transport the CO2 for permanent storage under the North Sea.”

Reuters: Tanker salvage and oil spill clean-up hampered by weather and technical challenges, Oman says
Menna Alaa El-Din, 8/17/26

“Weather conditions and operational challenges were hampering salvage efforts for a grounded tanker that was leaking Russian crude oil in a protected marine ​area off Oman’s coast, the sultanate’s state news agency reported on ‌Monday,” Reuters reports. “Oman has been coordinating the salvage operation with risk-management company Ambrey as part of efforts to contain environmental damage from a spill that some estimates put at 2,000 sq km… “Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Rawahi, director general of maritime affairs at Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said that difficulties emerged from the monsoon in the area and ​the shallow and rocky nature of the site where the vessel ran ​aground, the news agency reported. The conditions put salvage vessels and equipment under “operational and navigational risks”, ‌he was ⁠quoted as saying… “The vessel, which was carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of Russian oil and was under international ​sanctions, ran aground on ​June 30 near ⁠an Omani marine nature reserve that is home to wildlife including humpback whales and Socotra cormorants.”

OPINION

OilPrice.com: Carbon Capture’s Biggest Problem Isn’t Capturing Carbon
Leon Stille, 8/17/26

“Carbon capture is still debated as if technical performance were the decisive question. Can a solvent remove carbon dioxide from flue gas? Can the CO2 be compressed, transported and injected underground? Will the storage remain secure? These questions matter, but they no longer explain why most announced projects do not reach construction,” Leon Stille writes for OilPrice.com. “The missing component is usually commercial. A cement plant can capture carbon and still lose money on every tonne. A storage site can be technically ready and remain empty without contracted volumes. A pipeline can lower costs for an industrial cluster but cannot be financed if every emitter waits for someone else to move first. Carbon capture will not scale where the technology is most impressive. It will scale where the contracts make the system investable. The European Commission’s Industrial Carbon Management Strategy sets the scale of the challenge. The EU aims for at least 50 million tonnes of annual CO2 storage capacity by 2030. Its modelling points toward roughly 280 million tonnes of captured CO2 per year by 2040 and around 450 million tonnes by 2050. Those are industrial-system numbers. They cannot be delivered through a collection of bespoke capture demonstrations. Europe needs common specifications, transport networks, storage capacity, measurement rules, liability frameworks and customers willing to sign long-term contracts. Capture equipment is only one part of that chain. This explains why the sector has produced far more announcements than final investment decisions. Each project depends on infrastructure that may not exist until other projects commit. Emitters face a cost without a conventional product premium. Transport operators need guaranteed volumes. Storage developers need confidence that customers will still deliver CO2 years later. Every participant is waiting for bankability from the others.”