EXTRACTED: Daily News Clips 8/7/26

PIPELINE NEWS

• Canadian Press: South Bow on track for mid-2027 decision on Prairie Connector investment

• Press release: South Bow Reports Second-quarter 2026 Results and Declares Dividend

• Reuters: Canadian Natural says oil sands expansions paused until government agreements finalized

• Canadian Press: Pembina Pipeline says West Coast pipeline stake fits into its broader strategy

• KSBY: Sable Offshore pipeline fight intensifies as legal battles continue

• Politico: Fewer pipelines, mo problems

• News & Observer: Opposition to proposed Chatham County pipeline grows as hundreds pack meeting

• Cleveland.com: Orange mayor working with Enbridge Gas to try to prevent future gas line breaks

WASHINGTON UPDATES

• E&E News: Senators outline future of permitting talks

• Washington Examiner: Trump warns gas prices could rise again: ‘We may have to send it up’

• NOTUS: Trump Is Losing the Battle With Public Opinion on Data Centers

• E&E News: Data center foes win big in Tuesday’s primaries

• Government Accountability Office (GAO): Carbon Capture Tax Credit: Actions Needed to Improve Federal Administration and Evaluation of Tax Expenditure

• Accounting Today: Carbon capture tax credit claims face long delays and rejections

• E&E News: Inside Doug Burgum’s rocky tenure at Interior

• Reuters: RWE, Trump administration reach $1.22 billion agreement to cancel offshore wind leases

• E&E News: EPA proposes letting New Hampshire end tailpipe inspections

STATE UPDATES

• Press release: Governor Newsom calls on Californians to fight back against Trump’s reckless offshore drilling agenda

• Inside Climate News: As Solar and Batteries Dominate in Texas, Republican Lawmakers Consider Natural Gas Minimums

• Utility Dive: Texas data center pause puts 20% of US pipeline at risk of delay: BNEF

EXTRACTION

• Globe and Mail: Canada’s carbon capture compromise

• E&E News: World’s largest carbon removal plant to open at the end of 2026

• Reuters: ConocoPhillips completes $1.7 bln asset sale, hits divestiture target early

OPINION

• Outside Magazine: I Helped Restore Protections for Bears Ears. Now It’s at Risk Again

PIPELINE NEWS

Canadian Press: South Bow on track for mid-2027 decision on Prairie Connector investment
8/6/26

“South Bow Corp. says it is on track to make a final investment decision on its Prairie Connector project by mid-next year after it secured shipper commitments,” the Canadian Press reports. The proposed project would ship oilsands crude to the Canada-U.S. border and onto U.S. destinations, serving a similar purpose to the previously failed Keystone XL expansion. “Achieving commercial success has enabled us to move into the next phase of development as we advance the work required to support a final investment decision, which we are targeting for mid-2027,” South Bow CEO Bevin Wirzba said on the company’s second-quarter earnings call. “Over the coming months, we will focus on stakeholder engagement, execution planning, cost refinement, financing, and securing the permit durability needed to support that decision. As we’ve said previously, permit durability remains a key requirement for South Bow.” “...South Bow also announced the outcome of a previously announced “open season” — a formal process to solicit bids from potential customers — for the Prairie Connector proposal. The company said it secured 20-year commitments from nine customers, totalling 465,000 barrels per day.”

Press release: South Bow Reports Second-quarter 2026 Results and Declares Dividend
8/6/26

“South Bow Corp. reports its second-quarter 2026 financial and operational results… ”Recorded second-quarter 2026 average throughput of approximately 596,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) on the Keystone Pipeline and approximately 800,000 bbl/d on the U.S. Gulf Coast segment of the Keystone Pipeline System. Throughput on the Keystone Pipeline and the U.S. Gulf Coast segment of the Keystone Pipeline System averaged approximately 606,000 bbl/d and 755,000 bbl/d, respectively, during the first half of 2026. Continued to advance remedial actions relating to the Milepost 171 (MP-171) incident, including in-line inspections and integrity digs, while continuing to work closely with the Company’s in-line inspection technology vendors. Findings from these activities are being incorporated into the Company’s remedial work plan and ongoing integrity management programs to enhance system integrity and support safe, reliable operations… “Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50/share, payable on Oct. 15, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Sept. 29, 2026… “South Bow continues to advance its organic growth strategy, with a focus on the proposed Prairie Connector project and the joint development of the proposed Liberty Bridge Pipeline project with Bridger. In the second quarter of 2026, South Bow reached a significant milestone by securing 20-year binding commitments from nine customers, totalling 465,000 bbl/d of firm transportation service from Hardisty, Alta., to U.S. delivery points, reflecting strong commercial support. Key activities underway include advancing permitting and regulatory approvals, pursuing government assurances related to permit durability, progressing execution planning, refining cost estimates, engaging with communities, landowners, Indigenous and Tribal Nations, and other stakeholders, and evaluating financing alternatives.As development activities progress, South Bow and Bridger remain focused on securing the regulatory certainty and permit durability required to support a FID, targeted for mid-2027. Any FID will remain subject to the successful completion of these activities and will be evaluated in accordance with South Bow’s risk preferences and capital allocation framework. South Bow expects its share of total pre-FID development costs in 2026 to be approximately $65 million… “South Bow and Bridger continue to jointly advance development of the proposed Liberty Bridge Pipeline project, including progressing stakeholder engagement, permitting, and execution planning activities. Development efforts are supported by a route that follows an existing corridor on privately held lands… “South Bow continues to expect modest growth in Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) crude oil supply through 2026, with production remaining below total pipeline egress capacity. As a result, demand for uncommitted capacity on the Keystone Pipeline is anticipated to remain tempered in the near term. Following strong demand for capacity on the U.S. Gulf Coast segment of the Keystone Pipeline System in the second quarter of 2026, declining crude oil inventories in Cushing, Okla. have caused pricing differentials to tighten, and as a result, demand for capacity on the U.S. Gulf Coast segment of the Keystone Pipeline System is expected to moderate in the second half of 2026.”

Reuters: Canadian Natural says oil sands expansions paused until government agreements finalized
Amanda Stephenson and Varun Sahay, 8/6/26

“Canadian Natural Resources will not move ahead with any ‌mid- to long-term oil sands expansion projects until the details of a recently signed memorandum of understanding with the Canadian and Alberta governments are cemented in binding legal agreements, the company’s CEO said on Thursday,” Reuters reports. “This means that the company’s approximately C$650 million, 30,000-barrel-per-day Jackfish project and ​its approximately C$2.5 billion, 70,000-bpd Pike 2 project remain on hold, as do longer-term projects such as the ​proposed 150,000-bpd Jackpine mine expansion, CEO Scott Stauth told a conference call… “Stauth’s comments are the latest indication ​that Canadian oil producers are not rushing to increase output despite large-scale policy reforms promised by the federal and Alberta governments ​in an effort to spur growth in Canada’s oil industry… “Many of the proposed policy changes contained in the agreement — including agreements around carbon pricing, financial supports, and permitting — have not yet been drafted into final legislation… “Suncor Energy on Wednesday said it is not yet ​willing to accelerate plans for ​production increases, while pipeline ⁠operator Enbridge said last week it is postponing plans for a second phase of its Mainline pipeline expansion.”

Canadian Press: Pembina Pipeline says West Coast pipeline stake fits into its broader strategy
8/7/26

“Pembina Pipeline Corp. says its participation in the proposed West Coast oil pipeline fits into the company’s overall strategy ahead of the pipeline’s potential designation as a project of national interest in the fall,” the Canadian Press reports. “During the second quarter, Pembina entered into a non-binding agreement that would see it take a 10 per cent interest during construction of the proposed West Coast oil pipeline, with the opportunity for an additional up to 10 per cent interest once the project enters commercial operation. “When I think about the strategy, this fits clearly in the connect bucket. Anything we can do in the basin, whether it’s natural gas, (liquefied petroleum gas), crude oil, to increase the production and the netback for our customers has that knock-on effect throughout the business,” Pembina CEO Scott Burrows said on the company’s second-quarter earnings call… “We’re willing to put some money at risk, but it comes back to the risk-reward, and when we stacked up all the key aspects of this project, we felt like it was something that we wanted to be involved in and are very excited about it, not just for Pembina but what it can do for the basin as well,” Burrows said.”

KSBY: Sable Offshore pipeline fight intensifies as legal battles continue
Gianella Ghiglino, 8/6/26

“The fight over the Sable Offshore pipeline is heating up again as oil continues flowing through the Santa Ynez Pipeline System and legal challenges move forward,” KSBY reports. “...After years offline following the 2015 Refugio oil spill, Sable restarted operations, renewing debate over pipeline safety, environmental impacts and the future of offshore oil production along the Central Coast. In June, KSBY News reporter Gianella Ghiglino visited Sable Offshore’s Goleta headquarters, where company leaders defended the project and environmental advocates raised concerns… “Environmental groups, including the Environmental Defense Center, continue to question the impacts of restarting the pipeline system. “When they brought this back online, they doubled greenhouse gas emissions in Santa Barbara County,” Jeremy Frankel, a senior attorney with the Environmental Defense Center, told KSBY. Frankel also raised concerns about the risks of operating the pipeline system, pointing to its route through communities, waterways and groundwater sources. “There is serious risk of another spill,” he told KSBY.”

Politico: Fewer pipelines, mo problems
Noah Baustin, 8/6/26

“Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a high-profile bill last year to increase drilling in oil-rich Kern County. Now, two things — a pipeline problem and an offshore oil operation — are throwing a wrench into that plan,” Politico reports. “Though it’s become easier to score a permit to drill in oil-rich parts of the state, it’s become more difficult for producers to secure space for their oil in one of the shared pipelines that transport product to the coastal refineries. That has Sen. Shannon Grove, who represents the county, saying that the state has more work to do to support its drillers. “If you get a permit to drill for oil and you have nowhere to put it because there is no pipeline or refinery to receive it, it defeats the purpose of getting the permit,” Grove said… “The fact that it’s becoming harder for drillers to get their product to buyers, and the resulting poor negotiating position this puts producers in, is the primary reason for the sluggish interest in new wells, said Rock Zierman, CEO of the California Independent Petroleum Association, a drilling industry group… “Since Sable hooks up to the same pipeline network that runs from Kern to LA, it began suddenly taking up a large share of the space in one of those pipelines. The state desperately needs Sable’s oil, according to Dave Noerr, a longtime oil man and the mayor of the oil-hub city of Taft. “But the way they’re having to bring it in is crowding the south-bound pipeline because the northbound pipeline has been shut down,” Noerr said. That’s making competition fierce for California drillers who want to use one of the two pipelines running from Kern County to the Los Angeles refiners.”

News & Observer: Opposition to proposed Chatham County pipeline grows as hundreds pack meeting
Ava Menkes, 8/6/26

“The battle to stop a pipeline in Chatham County has only heated up. Enbridge Gas North Carolina has proposed a 28-mile natural gas pipeline, 12 inches in diameter, from Moncure to Siler City,” the News & Observer reports. “...Enbridge said it has surveyed 200 people in the area and assigned each a land agent to communicate any concerns they have with the study corridor map Enbridge has presented… “On Wednesday evening, more than 320 residents packed the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in a meeting held by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. Inside, farmers, scientists, professors, veterans, business owners and landowners lined up for more than two hours to oppose the proposal, each with their own testimony. “I’m coming up here for my family and all my neighbors. But as a Marine, and so many veterans here — we’re always ready for a fight,” resident John Ladner said… “At both a July 17 community meeting hosted by Haw River Assembly, an environmental advocacy group, and a July 28 open house hosted by Enbridge, residents in the area have made clear three major issues: property, potential leaks and the environment. James Gunipero, who spoke at Wednesday’s meeting, and his wife, Eileen, previously told The N&O that Enbridge has downplayed the long-term restrictions that easements could have on farm owners who would no longer be able to grow or build near the pipeline… “Richard Ojeda, and Democratic state Sen. Natalie Murdock of Durham, also came to show support for the residents… “At the meeting, resident Whitney Schmidt asked the Chatham County Board of Commissioners to pass a resolution of opposition to the project… “Residents also urged commissioners to require Enbridge to obtain a special-use permit, which would force the project to undergo the same local review process as other major developments.”

Cleveland.com: Orange mayor working with Enbridge Gas to try to prevent future gas line breaks
Judson Kline, 8/6/26

“Village officials have set up a meeting with Enbridge Gas Ohio and the Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association to discuss the gas line breaks that have occurred recently in Northeast Ohio and what can be done to try to prevent them in the future,” Cleveland.com reports. “On July 30, officials in Orange and Solon temporarily halted work on the Miles Road waterline replacement project after three gas line breaks during construction, the latest of which happened that day. The July 30 incident marked the second time in two days that a line was hit… “It happens throughout the region, and we need to work together to find ways in which this cannot happen in our communities,” Mayor Judson Kline told Village Council Wednesday (Aug. 5)... “This is something that (Enbridge needs) to address and take responsibility for in full,” he said… “Kline also said officials from both Orange and Solon, along with representatives from Enbridge Gas and Terrace Construction of Cleveland – the contractor for the waterline replacement project – met July 30 at Village Hall to examine what caused the gas line strikes, review existing safety procedures and develop corrective measures to prevent additional disruptions.”

WASHINGTON UPDATES

E&E News: Senators outline future of permitting talks
Josh Siegel, 8/7/26

“After failing to secure a long elusive deal this week on easing approvals for all kinds of energy projects, Senate negotiators and an ideologically diverse army of lobbyists are eyeing September as a new deadline,” E&E News reports. “Major legislation usually doesn’t get done during an election year, but top lawmakers on both sides insist permitting reform can get done, even if there’s grumbling about the Trump administration’s actions against wind and solar. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said during a sit-down interview with POLITICO that Democrats want this as much as she does… “Capito told E&E getting a permitting deal done in September would deliver policy and political wins for both Republicans and Democrats, and that both Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have indicated to her in recent conversations that they back the goal… “Some Democrats are open to negotiating changes to bedrock environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Water Act, but their allies in the environmental community are wary of giving away too much… “Environment and Public Works ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) told E&E he would prefer to avoid kicking the issue yet again to the post-election lame-duck period, when Democrats could have more leverage if they were to regain power… “Whitehouse reiterated that the Trump administration is “not even close” to satisfying Democrats’ demands to ease off its actions against solar and wind… “Capito and other Republicans who favor certainty for all forms of energy projects have also been frustrated by the Trump administration’s moves and have been working behind the scenes to push the White House to change course… “Capito told E&E Thursday she doesn’t expect a major course correction from the Trump administration before senators reach an agreement and that any deal would hinge on Democrats having trust in the White House to implement permitting changes fairly… “Another key factor Democrats are wrestling with is how to sell any deal to environmental groups that will include trade-offs that could benefit fossil fuel projects and constrain their ability to stop projects.”

Washington Examiner: Trump warns gas prices could rise again: ‘We may have to send it up’
Claire Carter, 8/5/26

“President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that gasoline prices could climb again as the conflict with Iran continues, saying lower prices would return once the war is over,” the Washington Examiner reports. “Speaking in Las Vegas, Trump touted his administration’s economic success, but acknowledged how the war with Iran, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has affected gas and oil prices for Americans… “When oil goes down, and it’s going to go down very rapidly and is already happening. We may have to send it up again. We may have to — you know what happens when we send it up,” Trump later added, referring to prices reacting to warfare. “But we don’t have to. But when the oil and gasoline go down, everything else goes down.” Trump’s attack on California coastal protection is “chilling”. “For months, the Trump administration has sought to open the California coast to a radically industrialized future: large-scale desalination plants, floating nuclear reactors, more rocket launches and expanded offshore oil drilling along the state’s most iconic beaches.”

NOTUS: Trump Is Losing the Battle With Public Opinion on Data Centers
Mara Hoplamazian, 8/6/26

“The residents of Boulder City, Nevada, are raging mad at the federal government,” NOTUS reports. “The Trump administration unilaterally approved a data center on a tract of public land within the city’s jurisdiction this summer without giving residents a say in the matter and without conducting an environmental assessment specific to the project. “Tyranny,” one resident described it in front of the City Council in July. “I would call it a surprise attack,” said another… “We do not have guardrails for artificial intelligence. We do not have Congress implementing rules to try to navigate what happens when these corporations succeed because we have become a nation that is pay-to-play,” Gabriel Cornejo, a Democrat who ran an unsuccessful campaign for Nevada’s 1st Congressional District, said at the City Council meeting. “That concentration of power is going to yield, unfortunately, the pitchforks.” “...Local zoning, state and municipal permits, electric grid interconnection and supply chain issues all tend to be more significant constraints than federal permitting, Ben Schifman, a senior technology fellow at the Institute for Progress, told NOTUS.”

E&E News: Data center foes win big in Tuesday’s primaries
Timothy Cama, Liz Crampton, 8/6/26

“...Primary voters rewarded progressive candidates in Michigan and Kansas calling for tough crackdowns on data centers, intensifying the split within the Democratic Party over the right approach to regulate the industry,” E&E News reports. “William Lawrence, co-founder of the progressive Sunrise Movement, won the Democratic primary for Michigan’s Lansing area 7th District. And Abdul El-Sayed, who nabbed Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary over more-moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, was one of the earliest midterm candidates to embrace data center concerns. “People really effing hate data centers,” El-Sayed said at a July event… “His platform, released in January when he was far behind in polling, called for electric grid, water and other protections, and he recently took things a step further by endorsing local and state — but not federal — moratoria until Congress can enact nationwide protections.”

Government Accountability Office (GAO): Carbon Capture Tax Credit: Actions Needed to Improve Federal Administration and Evaluation of Tax Expenditure
8/6/26

“...The 45Q tax credit was created to incentivize development of this technology. But some taxpayers have difficulty claiming it,” according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). “Those who use captured carbon to make products face the biggest hurdles—long delays for approval and a high rejection rate, for example. No agency is tasked with measuring results and the law didn’t set clear goals, so it’s hard to know if the 45Q tax credit is working… “However, taxpayers using carbon to produce products face compliance burdens, delays, and uncertainty in claiming the credit. GAO identified areas in the approval process for carbon utilization where IRS and the Department of Energy (DOE) could potentially minimize compliance burden and improve certainty for taxpayers. Pursuing such opportunities—for example, streamlining certain processes, or clarifying acceptable datasets that can be used to calculate carbon displaced—could improve the process and help minimize delays for both agencies and taxpayers… “Multiple potential goals, the lack of a designated agency to evaluate the effectiveness of the credit, and data limitations complicate Congress’s ability to understand the performance of the 45Q credit… “GAO is recommending that Congress consider directing agencies to collect and analyze data to answer key questions about the performance of the 45Q credit, such as how well it is working to achieve its goals, how efficiently it is performing, and how it compares to other policy tools. GAO is making four recommendations to IRS and two recommendations to DOE to improve the review process for carbon utilization, by reducing taxpayers’ burden while still mitigating potential noncompliance. These include determining a time period of carbon capture data needed to begin claiming the credit, and clarifying datasets acceptable for calculating carbon displaced. IRS partially agreed with one recommendation; IRS and DOE disagreed with the remaining five. GAO maintains the recommendations are warranted as discussed in the report… “The Commissioner of Internal Revenue, in coordination with DOE, should determine the feasibility, including the costs and benefits, of developing a Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) model for common 45Q utilization pathways, allowing an LCA process that can be submitted upon tax return filing without prior review, similar to the 45V and 45Z credits.”

Accounting Today: Carbon capture tax credit claims face long delays and rejections
Michael Cohn, 8/6/26

“Companies claiming tax credits for carbon capture technology have been confronting heavy compliance requirements, prolonged waits and uncertainty about being rewarded, according to a new report,” Accounting Today reports. “The report, released Thursday by the Government Accountability Office, examined the Carbon Oxide Sequestration Credit, also known as the 45Q credit after that section of the Internal Revenue Code… “The number of 45Q credit claims more than tripled from 2019 to 2023, according to data from the Internal Revenue Service… “According to stakeholders who talked to the GAO, one problem involves a requirement for pre-approval of a lifecycle analysis combined with the requirement to use direct data through the end of the tax year creates considerable timing challenges that can delay taxpayers from claiming the credit… “Meanwhile, delays caused by direct data requirements make it difficult to secure investors in developing Carbon Capture Utilization and Sequestration facilities, according to stakeholders we interviewed. The timing of LCA pre-approvals can also prevent taxpayers from benefitting from another 45Q feature, transferability, through which they transfer all or a portion of their credit to an unrelated taxpayer… “Carbon capture and storage technology also faces other problems. A recent report from ProPublica found that worldwide such facilities are permanently capturing and burying less carbon dioxide than a single large power plant can emit in a year.”

E&E News: Inside Doug Burgum’s rocky tenure at Interior
Daniel Lippman, Ian M. Stevenson, Ben Lefebvre, 8/7/26

“...But since he took over at Interior last year, that hope has been replaced by confusion and concern that the agency is poorly run, has devolved into secrecy and has lost thousands of the staff needed to manage the national park systems and millions of acres of public lands,” E&E News reports. Some staffers were alarmed that some employees were asked to sign nondisclosure agreements, two former staffers told E&E. Former employees accuse Burgum of surrounding himself with a toxic leadership team, leading to staffers fleeing. Since Burgum came in, several top officials have left the agency — including the Senate-confirmed legal counsel, the secretary’s former chief of staff and Interior’s top energy official. Tony Irish, who worked at Interior for more than 20 years, including as associate solicitor for general law until he left last year, told E&E it is “abundantly clear” that Burgum does not solicit or value the opinions of career staffers. “Burgum appears to combine arrogance with an utter lack of curiosity or humility to seek out the advice of people who have dedicated their professional careers to [Interior’s] objectives,” Irish told E&E. “I think it shows his disdain for the rank and file.” “...According to three staffers who witnessed it, officials have routinely shredded official documents and use disappearing Signal messages — even for mundane scheduling matters — to avoid communications being preserved, as is required by the Federal Records Act. “They’re terrified of written records,” one former official told E&E.”

Reuters: RWE, Trump administration reach $1.22 billion agreement to cancel offshore wind leases
Nichola Groom, 8/6/26

“German energy company RWE said on Thursday that ‌it had reached a $1.22 billion agreement with the Trump administration to cancel three offshore wind leases in U.S. waters and to direct the funds to LNG and natural gas power plant projects,” Reuters reports. “The arrangement is the fifth, and largest, the administration has entered into this year as part of its wide-ranging effort to stop development of U.S. ​offshore wind projects, which U.S. President Donald Trump regards as costly and ugly. His administration has sought to increase domestic fossil fuel production and ​scrapped policies that support clean energy development… “After careful consideration, it was determined there is no path forward to ​permit these projects in the U.S. for the foreseeable future,” the company said in a statement. “The company determined that this resolution best serves the ​interests of its stakeholders and allows it to direct resources toward energy projects that can be advanced with certainty.” “...The company said it would spend $900 million to acquire a 16% stake in a Louisiana LNG project. It also signed a $300 million turbine order for its pipeline of 15 natural gas peaker plants across the U.S… “Trump is again spending billions of taxpayer money to limit the U.S. energy supply in favor of exporting more energy to countries like China,” Schumer wrote in a post on ​X. “This will only make your utility bill MORE expensive.”

E&E News: EPA proposes letting New Hampshire end tailpipe inspections
Alex Guillén, 8/6/26

“EPA on Thursday proposed allowing New Hampshire to end its vehicle emissions inspection program and pull out of a regional group of states that must reduce their smog-forming emissions,” E&E News reports. “The proposals, consideration of which was fast-tracked by EPA, come as the state faces a lawsuit arguing it is violating the Clean Air Act by ending its inspection program… “Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte last year signed into law an end to the state’s required emissions and safety checks for cars and trucks. But the emissions inspections are required because the state is a member of the Ozone Transport Region, which covers all or parts of states ranging from Maine to Virginia.”

STATE UPDATES

Press release: Governor Newsom calls on Californians to fight back against Trump’s reckless offshore drilling agenda
8/6/26

“Donald Trump has spent over a year in office working to force offshore oil drilling on California — through illegal orders to restart a shuttered pipeline by claiming “emergency” powers, proposals to open new federal waters to leasing, and now, a new federal review that threatens to undermine California’s ability to protect the state’s $51 billion coastal economy, the well-being of coastal communities, and the Golden State’s vast coastal ecosystems. Today, Governor Gavin Newsom is encouraging Californians to make their voices heard: submit a public comment. “Trump is threatening California’s coast in pursuit of reckless offshore oil and gas extraction to pad the wallets of his corrupt oil cronies. We won’t stand by while Trump sidelines the people who rely on and care for California’s coast. Now is the time to make our voices heard. Give the Trump administration an earful.” “...In comments submitted by the California Natural Resources Agency, California pushed back on the Trump administration’s politically motivated review of California’s Coastal Management Program, warning that the review is a thinly veiled attempt to clear the way for new offshore oil drilling, pipeline restarts, and other reckless oil and gas development along California’s coast. Read the public comment. “California’s coast belongs to all Californians – full stop,” said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. “For decades, Republican and Democratic administrations alike have respected the partnership between states and the federal government that has protected our coast while supporting a thriving economy. Yet the Trump administration is singling out California and threatening unprecedented action in pursuit of dangerous new offshore oil drilling. We won’t stand by while the federal government attempts to sideline the people who rely on and care for California’s coast – now is the time to make our voices heard.” “California doesn’t believe that environmental stewardship and economic growth are competing priorities — they’re mutually reinforcing,” said Dee Dee Myers, Director of Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. “Strong, consistent protections give businesses the confidence to invest, communities the certainty to plan and industries the stability they need to grow. Protecting our coast isn’t just good environmental policy, it’s smart economic policy.” The Trump administration will hold one in-person meeting on Aug. 10 in Santa Monica and two virtual meetings on Aug. 11 and 12. Written comments will be accepted through Aug. 22.”

Inside Climate News: As Solar and Batteries Dominate in Texas, Republican Lawmakers Consider Natural Gas Minimums
Arcelia Martin, 8/6/26

“As new electricity generation skews toward solar and battery storage in Texas, Republican state senators are questioning whether it’s time to impose minimum standards for building gas plants and move away from free trade in the state’s electricity marketplace,” Inside Climate News reports. “The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the state’s grid operator, reported last week that 70 percent of generation in the 460-gigawatt interconnection queue is from solar and battery storage. Natural gas facilities make up less than 17 percent of that line… “State Sen. Phil King, a Republican from Weatherford, asked the leaders of ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) at a public hearing last week whether there should be a rule that puts a quota on what share of new generation connecting to the grid comes from fossil fuels. “Should we say that from a point of interconnection that 50 percent—or some percentage of new generation—has to be dispatchable generation as opposed to just letting the market forces guide that,” King asked, referring to gas plants as “dispatachable” because they can be ramped up or down on demand, unlike intermittent wind and solar power sources… “But both Vegas and PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson said there needs to be a way to provide long-term incentives for gas to get built in Texas… “In order to change the market to more widely incentivize the growth of gas and coal plants, Vegas said, ERCOT and the PUC would have to give those fuel-burning facilities a way to consistently make money to justify the billions of dollars required to cover the cost of investment and keep the plants running for the next few decades… “This over supply of renewables is where King sees a pause on renewable development being useful as the capacity of gas plants catches up. “Oil and gas is such a big part of our economy,” said King, a business and energy attorney. “When you build more gas plants, that’s not just benefiting the electric market and the consumers. It’s benefiting probably 30 or 35 percent of our economy at any time.”

Utility Dive: Texas data center pause puts 20% of US pipeline at risk of delay: BNEF
Robert Walton, 8/6/26

“Data center revenue losses could reach $8 billion by the first quarter of 2027 assuming 60% of the delayed capacity is AI-related, BNEF said,” according to Utility Dive. “ Should the pause extend into the 2027 Texas legislative session, the risk increases as lawmakers could consider changes to the new interconnection process. “Delays in energization over this period could thus put billions of dollars of data center leasing revenue at risk,” BNEF said. The firm’s analysis estimates AI computing capacity can earn around $1.76 billion per gigawatt per month. “The implied revenue at risk for data centers runs into many billions of dollars if interconnection policy changes in the next term,” BNEF said… “Any data center project that fails to comply with the verification and audit process to protect the reliability and resilience of the Texas electric grid must be denied,” the governor said in his letter. The Texas moratorium follows New York, which in July halted new data center approvals for up to a year while the state creates new development rules.”

EXTRACTION

Globe and Mail: Canada’s carbon capture compromise
Tim Kiladze, 8/7/26

“...Final details are due by November, but there is now a concrete plan to construct a 400-kilometre pipeline to transport carbon from oil-sands facilities to an underground hub near Cold Lake, Alta.” the Globe and Mail reports “Yet in all this recent deal-making, something’s been glossed over. Around the world, carbon capture is losing its lustre… “There just isn’t enough economic incentive for the industry to grow, Peter Findlay, director of carbon management at Wood Mackenzie, a global energy consultancy, told the Globe and Mail… “Crucially, transporting carbon is expensive. Canada is lucky to have storage available on shore, unlike Norway’s project, but the Pathways pipeline is still estimated to cost between $20-billion and $30-billion. It’s tough to recoup that money. While there are some uses for captured carbon, such as for carbonated beverages, most gets buried, which means the process is just a cost. This makes it tough for oil companies to justify, financially speaking. For years they faced pressure from investors to abide by environmental, social and governance principles, but the ESG era has largely died out. Couple that with U.S. President Donald Trump’s disregard for climate change, and a growing number of carbon-capture projects globally have been paused or scrapped. In Canada, taxpayers are already shelling out at least $35-billion to build a new oil pipeline to the West Coast. Now they’re being asked to cover billions of dollars more for Pathways, a project whose emission reduction targets were just significantly scaled back. It all raises questions about Mr. Carney’s decision to barrel ahead with the plans. The carbon capture dream, once seen as a panacea by the environmental movement, is looking much less promising.”

E&E News: World’s largest carbon removal plant to open at the end of 2026
Corbin Hiar, 8/7/26

“Occidental Petroleum says it will begin operating the world’s largest carbon-removal facility at the end of 2026, ending months of uncertainty about when the West Texas project would begin extracting planet-warming pollution from the atmosphere,” E&E News reports. “The direct air capture megaproject, known as Stratos, has been under construction since May 2023 and had been slated to begin operations at the end of 2024. It will use power, heat, fans and carbon-dioxide-absorbing materials to suck up to 500,000 metric tons of climate pollution a year from the sky. By comparison, the largest DAC plant in operation today is capable of removing 36,000 tons per year. Occidental CEO Richard Jackson told investors Thursday the company is looking to begin offering carbon capture services to data centers and power plant operators. “We’re excited and have positioned ourselves, I think, to do that,” Jackson said on an earnings call. But, he added, the company can’t continue to invest in low-carbon projects without the support of regulators or other companies.”

Reuters: ConocoPhillips completes $1.7 bln asset sale, hits divestiture target early
Sumit Saha, 8/6/26

“ConocoPhillips said on Thursday it has completed the sale of $1.7 billion of noncore Lower 48 assets in July, helping the U.S. oil producer reach its $5 billion asset disposition target ahead of schedule,” Reuters reports. “Asset sales have become a key step for large shale producers looking to streamline operations, strengthen balance sheets and boost shareholder payouts while prioritizing returns over production growth… “The company said the divestments were part of its efforts to streamline its portfolio and focus on core, higher-return assets… “In its earnings release, ConocoPhillips said it received $200 million in proceeds from noncore asset sales during the quarter and funded $3 billion of capital expenditures and investments.”

OPINION

Outside Magazine: I Helped Restore Protections for Bears Ears. Now It’s at Risk Again
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, 8/5/26

“The first time I stood beneath the sandstone cliffs of Bears Ears as Secretary of the Interior, Tribal leaders guided me through places their ancestors have known for generations. We stopped before ancient cliff dwellings and pictographs—reminders that history isn’t confined to museums. It lives in the landscape,” Deb Haaland writes for Outside Magazine. “...The Trump administration’s plan to open up national monuments to industry is about more than lines on a map. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland explains the lasting human cost of prioritizing resource extraction over heritage… “The Antiquities Act was put in place to grant the president the authority to establish national monuments, not the authority to eliminate them or minimize the size of them in an effort to extract their natural resources. The Antiquities Act was meant to protect our heritage, yet the Trump administration has used it as an opportunity to attack our public lands and national monuments. Despite continued objection from millions of Americans, Donald Trump has made it clear that he will continue to make attempts to strip protections from our public lands to benefit industry’s bottom line.”