pipeline politics
Newsletter
Credit: LoggaWiggler/Pixabay
Midwestern CO2 pipeline gets Iowa approval but faces further challenges
Iowa regulators approved Summit Carbon Solutions' CO2 pipeline project, but it still needs approvals from other states to proceed.
In short:
- The $5.5 billion project will transport CO2 emissions from over 50 ethanol plants in five states for underground storage in North Dakota.
- Opponents fear land seizures and potential hazards from pipeline ruptures, while supporters argue it aids climate change efforts and economic growth.
- Summit must secure approvals from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska before construction can begin.
Key quote:
“Whether you think it’s smart or silly, the world’s largest airlines want to decarbonize their fuel.”
— Monte Shaw, executive director at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
Why this matters:
For advocates, the pipeline represents a crucial step in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. By capturing and storing CO2, the project could help lower the carbon footprint of biofuel production, making it a more sustainable option. Farmers and landowners have voiced strong opposition, fearing the pipeline could disrupt agriculture and threaten water supplies. Environmentalists are divided, with some supporting carbon capture as a necessary tool in the fight against global warming, while others argue it distracts from investing in renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
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Credit: Mark Klotz/Flickr
Lawmakers push to penalize pipeline protests
Lawmakers, driven by fossil fuel donors, are working to expand criminal penalties for pipeline protests under new federal safety regulations.
In short:
- New federal pipeline safety legislation may significantly increase penalties for pipeline protests, broadening the definition of "attacks" on pipelines.
- The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s draft reauthorization bill could make even attempting to impair pipeline operations a felony.
- Advocates worry the vague language could criminalize peaceful protests, threatening free speech and dissent.
Key quote:
“What rights do these corporations have to come through our communities and wreak havoc and not be held accountable for anything they do?” — Anne White Hat, Indigenous activist.
Why this matters:
Increased criminalization of protests could suppress environmental activism, hindering efforts to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for potentially dangerous pipeline projects that threaten public health and safety. Read more: Why Indigenous women are risking arrest to fight Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline through Minnesota.
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Newsletter
Credit: MPCA Photos/Flickr
New pipelines spotlight flawed safety oversight
A growing network of pipelines faces scrutiny as inadequate regulatory oversight leaves safety in the hands of companies, risking both public and environmental safety.
In short:
- Despite inspectors flagging unstable construction conditions, the Revolution ethane pipeline continued until a landslide caused an explosion in Pennsylvania in 2018.
- Federal oversight agencies rely heavily on company-funded private inspectors, whose warnings are often disregarded or downplayed.
- Expansion in oil, gas, and carbon dioxide pipelines continues with insufficient regulatory resources to ensure proper safety standards.
Key quote:
"No industry is going to police itself very well. We need an independent regulator to be the one that does that."
— Bill Caram, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust
Why this matters:
The pipeline industry's self-regulation risks health and environmental safety, as insufficient oversight can lead to explosions, leaks, and toxic emissions. Read more: How Native tribes, hell-raisers and lawyers have combined to battle pipeline projects.
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Newsletter
Credit: Kinder Morgan
Proposed pipeline project faces legal challenges over environmental risks
Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) over its approval of a pipeline slated to supply methane gas to a new Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power plant in Middle Tennessee.
In short:
- The Sierra Club and Appalachian Voices are challenging FERC's approval of the 32-mile pipeline, citing risks to communities and natural resources along the route.
- The controversial pipeline will supply methane gas to a TVA plant, one of several gas-powered plants TVA has proposed, despite environmental criticism.
- The pipeline's route will impact predominantly poor or Black communities, and environmentalists warn of higher energy costs and climate damage.
Key quote:
“FERC is supposed to safeguard the public interest, not rubberstamp unnecessary pipeline projects that will harm our communities, hurt the climate, and contribute to higher power bills.”
— Spencer Gall, senior attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center
Why this matters:
Environmental groups argue that such projects exacerbate climate change and lead to health and financial burdens for already vulnerable communities. Read more: Protesting oil and gas pipeline development harms mental health and creates distrust in government.
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Newsletter
Credit: David Niddrie/Flickr
Pipeline project impacts Indigenous sacred site, fueling legal battle
The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project through British Columbia's sacred Pípsell region sparked opposition from the Stk’emlúpsemc te Secwépemc Nation over violation of Indigenous Rights and sacred spaces.
In short:
- Despite previous agreements, the Stk’emlúpsemc te Secwépemc Nation claims the project violates Secwépemc law and infringes on Aboriginal Title.
- The nation argues the approval to trench through Pípsell bypasses proper consultation and disrupts cultural and spiritual practices.
- The case could set a precedent on Indigenous land rights versus industrial projects.
Key quote:
"They dug through the medicines. They made roads over it. They parked all their stuff on it."
— Mike McKenzie, Secwépemc Knowledge Keeper
Why this matters:
The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion highlights the tension between government and Indigenous land rights, potentially impacting future projects and influencing how nations protect their sacred spaces. Read more: Why Indigenous women are risking arrest to fight Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline through Minnesota.
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Credit: Mark Klotz/Flickr
Trial of land defenders fighting the Coastal GasLink Pipeline is put on hold as Canadian police come under scrutiny for excessive force
The defense for three activists from First Nations argues abuse of process by security forces around the pipeline construction site, as the U.N. and Amnesty International allege excessive force, surveillance and criminalization of land defenders.
Photo by peter schreve on Unsplash
Inside the last-ditch effort to stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline
The pipeline is over budget and late, with more hard work ahead. Opponents hope that discourages fossil fuel companies from building others.
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