Vietnam
Date: 2020-03-20
In Hanoi, the government of Vietnam reports the introduction of legislation to reduce the country of 98,000 resident's reliance on coal and advance its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, as per the Paris Climate Accord.

The four-pronged legislation includes; cap and trade; a ban on chemicals that destroy the ozone; corporate emission reporting rules; and a database of both emissions and the measures to decrease them. The legislation includes measures to decrease emissions by focusing on reforestation, creating a domestic carbon credit market, and drastically cut coal consumption which presently generates almost one-third of the country's electric power -- figure projected to increase by five times by 2030. (Source: Various Media, VOA Khymer, 19 Mar., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  Coal,  Paris Climate Accord,  Vietnam Emissions,  

Oregon,Cap-and-Trade
Date: 2020-03-18
In the Beaver State, the Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB) submitted the following comments on Democratic Gov. Kate Brown's executive order concerning state actions to aggressively lower greenhouse gas emissions: "Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB) is strongly opposed to the new carbon regulation outlined in the Governor Brown's sweeping executive order issued on Tuesday. The executive order is designed to implement caps on emissions from transportation fuels, natural gas, and large industrial sources, as well as ramp up the state's already ambitious Clean Fuels Program.

"OFB has consistently engaged around carbon policy in our state for the past decade, and we have shared our concerns about the impacts of the cost increases associated with past proposals for the past several years. Instead of addressing those concerns, we believe the approach in the executive order will be even more detrimental to rural communities than any of the previous cap-and-trade proposals. The cost increases on communities associated with this proposal will be astronomical.

"In addition, the governor has issued this executive order knowing that the rules adopted pursuant to it will face significant legal challenges. A similar effort in Washington state resulted in years of costly litigation, with limited results.

"The executive order also hands over unprecedented levels of power to un-elected bureaucrats who will have the authority to regulate virtually every sector of our state's economy, including input costs on farms and ranches. As we read it, state agencies are directed to advance rules to drive up the cost everyday necessities for Oregon farmers, including gasoline and diesel and basic utilities like natural gas and propane.

"New mandates directed at in-state food processors will add additional costs to being located in Oregon. This will certainly drive down Oregon's (carbon) footprint because these businesses will be incentivized to leave the state -- taking local jobs and tax revenue with them.

"Oregon farmers and ranchers are already doing our part to sequester carbon and reduce our environmental footprint. This executive order will not make a meaningful difference in combating global climate change, will cost the state millions to defend in court, and will have an immediate and severe impact on Oregon's rural communities. We strongly urge Governor Brown to reconsider this approach." (Source: Oregon Farm Bureau On Line, St. Helens Chronicle, 14 Mar, 2020) Contact: Office of Gov. Kate Brown, (503) 378-4582, www.oregon.gov/gov/pages/contact.aspx[endlink; Oregon Farm Bureau, (503) 339-1701, [starrtlink]www.oregonfb.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Kate Brown,  Climate Change,  Cap-and-Trade,  

United Nations Environment Programme
Date: 2020-03-16
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) International Resource Panel has just published a recent report titled Resource Efficiency and Climate Change: Material Efficiency Strategies for a Low-Carbon Future. Commissioned by the G7 countries, it shows that natural resource extraction and processing account for more than 90 pct of global biodiversity loss and water stress, and around half of global greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the report, emissions from the material cycle of residential buildings in the G7 and China could be reduced by at least 80 pct in 2050 through a series of material efficiency strategies. A design with fewer or alternative materials, and more recycling of construction materials are among the most promising strategies, it says.

Download Resource Efficiency and Climate Change: Material Efficiency Strategies for a Low-Carbon Future HERE. (Source: The United Nations Environment Programme, Mar., 2020) Contact: UN Environment, Martina Otto: martina.otto@un.org, www.unenvironment.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News UNEP,  Climate Change,  Energy Efficiency,  

S&P Dow Jones
Date: 2020-03-16
S&P Dow Jones Indices is reporting the launch of the S&P GSCI Carbon Emission Allowances (EUA) EUR. The new index provides investors with a reliable and publicly available investment performance benchmark for European Carbon Emission Allowances -- EU emissions trading system (EU ETS), a market-based cap-and-trade method developed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by companies. The S&P GSCI Carbon Emission Allowances (EUA) EUR index is based on the ICE EUA Futures Contract. (Source: S&P Dow Jones, STL News, Mar.,2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News S&P Dow Jones ,  UE ETS,  Carbon Emissions,  

Neste
Date: 2020-03-13
Espoo, Finland-headquartered biofuels and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) producer Neste Oyi reports it is committed to reaching carbon neutral production by 2035. The commitment complements Neste's other strategic climate commitment of reducing customers' greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 million tpy by 2030. To that end, the company:

Continues to focus on energy efficiency to optimize the use of fuel gas, electricity, hydrogen and steam in its production. The improvements in the turnaround at Porvoo refinery in 2020 will decrease production emissions by more than 100 kt CO2eq annually;

Increases the use of renewable electricity at its production sites. As an example of this, Neste has already agreed to start using wind power in Finland;

Increases the weight of greenhouse gas emissions in the investment calculations and business case evaluation;

Explores new, less emitting production methods, for example utilizing biogas or electrolysis for hydrogen production;

Has started a project for GHG emission reductions at the Porvoo production site, focusing on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and identifies reliable compensation models for the remaining part which cannot be achieved by emission reductions.

Neste is working on rolling out the detailed plan and timeline for implementing the initiatives aimed at carbon neutral production by 2035. (Source: Neste Oyi, PR, Mar., 2020) Contact: Neste Oyi, Salla Ahonen, VP Sustainability, +358 50 458 5076, media@neste.com, www.neste.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Neste,  Carbon Neutral,  Carbon Emissions,  

Oregon
Date: 2020-03-11
In Salem, Oregon Governor Kate Brown (Dem) has issued a 14-page executive order aimed at sharply curbing greenhouse gas emissions with a full-court press by government agencies. The executive order comes less than a week after a Republican walkout killed Oregon Senate Bill 1530,

Under the order, the Department of Consumer and Business Services will set new building energy efficiency goals aimed at a 60 pct reduction in annual energy consumption, compared to 2006 building codes. Additionally, the Department of Energy will update home appliance energy efficiency standards "at least to levels equivalent to the most stringent standards among West Coast jurisdictions." In total, 18 state agencies and commissions directing a large portion of the state's bureaucracy are tasked under the order aimed reducing emissions and addressing climate change. (Source: Office of Gov. Kate Brown, OPB, 10 Mar., 2020) Contact: Office of Gov. Kate Brown, (503) 378-4582, www.oregon.gov/gov/pages/contact.aspx

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

Neste,Sunfire
Date: 2020-03-11
Espoo, Finland-headquartered renewable diesel specialist Neste Corp. is reporting acquisition of a minority stake in Dresden, Germany-based Sunfire -- developer of a patented high-temperature electrolysis technology for the production of renewable hydrogen.

Sunfire's Power-to-X platform enables the production of emission-free renewable hydrogen and conversion of CO2 into fuels, chemicals and materials.

In addition to Neste's equity investment in Sunfire, both companies will work together to demonstrate the production of renewable hydrogen at Neste's refinery with Sunfire's high-temperature electrolyzer.

Neste MY Renewable Diesel is a cost competitive, low-carbon fuel produced from 100 pct renewable and sustainable raw materials that cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 pct compared to petroleum diesel. (Source: Neste, Chemical Eng, 9 Mar., 2020, Contact: Neste, Peter Vanacker. Pres., CEO, +358 10 458 4128, www.neste.com; Sunfire, Nils Aldag, Managiung Dir., +49 351 896797-0, +49 351 896797-831 - fax, www.sunfire.de/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Neste,  Sunfire,  Hydrogen,  Renewable Hydrogen,  

Oregon Climate Change
Date: 2020-03-11
In Salem, Oregon Governor Kate Brown (Dem) has issued a 14-page issued an executive order aimed at to sharply curbing greenhouse gas emissions with a full-court press by government agencies. The order comes less than a week after a Republican walkout killed Oregon Senate Bill 1530, the Democrats' proposal for a cap-and-trade system in Oregon.

The Governor's Executive Order updates the state's carbon reduction goals, setting targets of a 45 pct reduction below 1990 levels by 2035, and an 80 pct reduction by 2050

Under the order, carbon polluters in the industrial, transportation and natural gas sectors would have their emissions capped by the state's Environmental Quality Commission and Department of Environmental Quality, with allowable emissions reduced over time.

The Department of Environmental Quality and Environmental Quality Commission are directed to ratchet up restrictions for how emissions intensive fuel can be. The order set a go pct below 2015 levels by 2030, and 25 pct by 2035;

The Oregon PUC will place emphasis on greenhouse gas emissions and wildfire risk when regulating Oregon power companies

The Department of Consumer and Business Services will set new building energy efficiency goals aimed at a 60 pct reduction in annual energy consumption, compared to 2006 building codes

The Department of Energy will update home appliance energy efficiency standards "at least to levels equivalent to the most stringent standards among West Coast jurisdictions."

The Department of Admin. Services will develop a plan to transition the state's automobile fleet to zero-emissions vehicles and add charging stations at public buildings.

In total, 18 state agencies and commissions directing a large portion of the state's bureaucracy are tasked under the order aimed reducing emissions and addressing climate change. (Source: Office of Gov. Kate Brown, OPB, 10 Mar., 2020) Office of Gov. Kate Brown, (503) 378-4582, www.oregon.gov/gov/pages/contact.aspx

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emission,  Oregon Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  Energy Efficiency,  Cap-and-Tarde,  

ExxonMobil
Date: 2020-03-09
ExxonMobil reports it's Joliet Illinois Refinery has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR certification for industrial plant energy efficiency performance.

ExxonMobil notes it improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements including: improved process unit and energy-critical equipment reliability; implementation of seasonal energy efficiencies; improved the performance of heat exchangers, process heaters, and boilers in the refinery's steam system.

EPA ENERGY STAR program is a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. To date, tens of thousands of buildings and plants across all fifty states have earned the ENERGY STAR. (Source: ExxonMobil, PR, Mar., 2020) Contact: EPA ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News ExxonMobil,  ENERGY STAR,  Energy Efficiency,  

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Date: 2020-03-09
In Albany, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced the launch of the New York Power Authority (NYPA)--Israel Smart Energy Challenge, a $2.5 million competition to attract Israeli companies with expertise in energy efficiency and clean energy generation to submit proposals to collaborate with New York's public utility on new clean energy technologies. NYPA is collaborating with the Israel Smart Energy Association on the project aimed at attracting Israeli companies that will advance power grid reliability, storage, sustainability and affordability, all of which benefit ratepayers, utilities and the environment.

The competition will focus on research areas centered around meeting digital utility challenges such as electric vehicle charging, distributed energy solutions, grid modernization, energy storage, microgrids, cybersecurity, blockchain and energy trading, buildings/campus energy management, data analytics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and use of drones/autonomous robots in power systems.

Interested companies may apply and submit their proposals to the NYPA/Israel Smart Energy Challenge online. The deadline for submissions is April 20. A pre-bid conference for parties interested in applying to the Challenge is scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2020 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at: Ha-Umanim Street 12, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Register on Eventbrite or meetup.

Governor Cuomo's Green New Deal climate and clean energy initiative puts the Empire State on a path to being entirely carbon-neutral across all sectors of the economy and establishing a goal to achieve a zero-carbon emissions electricity sector by 2040, faster than any other state. It builds on New York's ramp-up of clean energy including a $2.9 billion investment in 46 large-scale renewable projects across, the creation of more than 150,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector, a commitment to develop nearly 1,700 MW of offshore wind by 2024, and 1,700 pct growth in the distributed solar sector since 2012.

The recently passed Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandates the Green New Deal's clean energy targets: nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, six gigawatts of distributed solar by 2025, and three gigawatts of energy storage by 2030, while calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy. The CLCPA also directs New York State agencies and authorities to collaborate with stakeholders to develop a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 pct from 1990 levels by 2050 and aim to invest 40 pct of clean energy and energy efficiency program resources to benefit disadvantaged communities. (Source: New York State Governor's Office, PR, Google News, 6 Mar., 2020)Contact: Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, www.governor.ny.gov; Israel Smart Energy Association, www.isea.org.il; NYPA, Gil C. Quiniones, Pres., CEO, www.nypa.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo,  New York Power Authority,  Clean Energy,  Renewable Energy,  

Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association
Date: 2020-03-02
The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) reports Brazil and India have inked a technical cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the use of Ethanol as an alternative fuel in India.

The MoU calls for the exchange of information on the production and sustainable use of ethanol as well as encouraging and increasing investment in biofuels, bioelectricity, and biogas. I also aims to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help redirect the sugar surplus in India, which currently requires government subsidies to guarantee competitive prices in the international market.

India has set an Ethanol blending target of 10 pct by 2022 rising to 20 pct by 2030. (Source: UNICA, EnergyInfraPost, 28 Feb., 2020) Contact: Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, (202) 506 5299, (202)747-5836 - fax (Washington DC office), english.unica.com.br

More Low-Carbon Energy News Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association,  India,  Etanol,  

DOE
Date: 2020-03-02
Reporting from Sacramento, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and a coalition of 16 attorneys general and the City of New York, have filed a lawsuit in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the the US DOE's Dec. 27, 2019 final determination rejecting stronger energy efficiency standards for common light bulbs.

The DOE's "unlawful and ill-advised decision ignores direction from Congress to transition the nation to inexpensive, efficient, and widely available lighting sources. It would increase greenhouse gas emissions and consumers' energy costs," the suit claims.

According to the California AG release, approximately three billion lighting sockets -- nearly half of all lighting sockets in U.S. homes -- contain bulbs affected by this proposal. DOE's decision directly impacts consumers who stand to lose significant energy savings.

On December 27, 2019, DOE issued its final determination halting energy efficiency improvements to the lightbulbs in question, also known as General Service Incandescent Lamps (GSIL). It concluded that improved GSIL standards were not "economically justified." DOE's decision is part of an ongoing effort by the agency to stifle progress in energy efficiency. The agency's decision attempts to undermine a provision in federal law that moves retailers away from selling lightbulbs that do not meet the minimum standard of 45 lumens per watt. This decision would cost consumers $12 billion each year in lost electricity savings by 2025 -- a $100 loss per household per year, accoding the the California AG release.

DOE's decision amounts to a failure to enact a stronger standard in violation of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.

Joining Attorney General Becerra in filing this lawsuit are the Attorneys General of New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia, as well as the City of New York. (Source: Office of California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, YubaNet, 26 Feb., 2020) Contact: Office of California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, www. oag.ca.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency.Light Buld Energy Efficiency,  

City of Manchester
Date: 2020-03-02
In the UK, the city of Manchester (pop. 2.8 million), in keeping with its pledge to reach net-zero carbon by 2038, has issued a call to "collective action" on the climate crisis with proposals to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, primarily through increased energy efficiency.

To that end, the city council wants to retrofit and upgrade the energy efficiency of as many of the 350 city-owned buildings, install solar and wind energy generation capacity on city owned sites and housing complexes, complete the ongoing replacements of the city's street lighting with energy efficient LED lighting, promote energy conservation, incentivize cleaner and more efficient transportation and other energy efficiency initiatives.

Under the plan, the city council will work with and continue to fund the Manchester Climate Change Agency to establish community-wide climate change related engagement activities and to encourage businesses to improve their energy efficiency reduce their carbon footprint. (Source: City of Manchester, Manchester Evening News, Mar.,2020) Contact: Manchester Climate Change Agency, www.manchesterclimate.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

City of Manchester
Date: 2020-03-02
In the UK, the city of Manchester (pop. 2.8 million), in keeping with its pledge to reach net-zero carbon by 2038, has issued a call to "collective action" on the climate crisis with proposals to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

To that end, the city council wants to retrofit as many of the 350 city-owned buildings with more efficient technology, install solar and wind energy generation capacity on city owned housing sites and complexes, and complete the ongoing replacements of the city's street lighting with low energy LED lighting. The city will also invest roughly £10 million to replace diesel power fleet vehicles with alternative fuel and electric vehicles. City staff will also be incentivized to use cleaner transportation and to conserve energy.

The council also intends to plant 2,000 trees, hedge trees and four community orchards per year beginning this year. The city's existing tree coverage stores 124,330 tonnes of carbon, absorbs 4,980 tonnes and removes 84 tonnes of pollution, according to the city release.

Under the plan, the city council will work with and continue to fund the Manchester Climate Change Agency to establish community-wide climate change related engagement activities and to encourage businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and sign up to the zero-carbon ambition. (Source: City of Manchester, Manchester Evening News, Mar.,2020) Contact: Manchester Climate Change Agency, www.manchesterclimate.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Energy Efficiency,  

University of Pittsburgh
Date: 2020-03-02
In the Steel City, the University of Pittsburgh reports it has committed to become carbon neutral on the Pittsburgh campus by 2037. Through partnerships, increased building and infrastructure efficiencies, expanded use of renewable energy sources and other measures, Pitt will build on the success of its ambitious Sustainability Plan and existing greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 22 pct between 2008 and 2017. Key initiatives to achieve this goal include:

Building Efficiency -- With 130 buildings, including 14 projects certified under U.S. Green Building Council standards, Pitt will continue pursuing its 50 pct reduction in energy use by 2030 in existing facilities. For new construction, the goal is an 80 pct reduction by 2030 in support of the 2037 neutrality goal.

Renewable Energy -- The University has committed to purchase at least 50 pct of campus electricity from renewable sources by 2030, including from a low-impact hydroelectric power plant in the Allegheny River that will come online by 2023.

Infrastructure Efficiency -- In 2009, Pitt built one of the most efficient steam plants in the nation which has helped reduce CO2 emissions to date. The University is also growing its current fleet of five zero emissions electric vehicles. Efficiencies in purchasing supply chains, materials diversion, greater utilization of active and shared transportation modes and offsets will also help Pitt to become carbon neutral.

Leadership and Collaboration -- Students, faculty and staff have embraced Pitt's commitment to sustainability and continue to develop new initiatives, many with funding support.

The University's pledge exceeds the carbon reduction targets of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Pittsburgh. Pitt's progress toward carbon neutrality will be shared via a newly created online "sustainability dashboard" updated by the University Office of Sustainability. (Source: University of Pittsburgh, PR 28 Feb., 2020) Contact: University of Pittsburgh, Office of Sustainability, Dr. Aurora Sharrard, Dir., (412) 624-5122, asharrard@pitt.edu, sustainability@pitt.edu, www.sustainable.pitt.edu

Naturgy Energy
Date: 2020-02-28
Madrid-based Naturgy Energy Group SA reports its 24-MW Parque Eolico Frescano wind farm in the aautonomous community of Aragon, Spain is now fully operational.

The € 25 million ($27.1 million), 7-turbine installation is expected to generate sufficient electric power for 30,000 homes and avoid around 63,157 tpy of pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions.

Overall, the autonomous community has 3,033 MW of wind and 980 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) parks in operation, and a project pipeline of 5,400 MW. (Source: Naturgy, Renewables, 26 Feb., 2020) Contact: Naturgy Energy Group, www.naturgy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Naturgy Energy ,  Wind,  

RGGI, Pa DEP
Date: 2020-02-28
Following up on our 4 Oct., 2019 coverage, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell has defended Gov. Tom Wolf's (D) executive order directing the agency to develop rules for joining RGGI, a cap and trade regional program that charges power producers for the pollution they emit.

McDonnell's comments came in response to concerns from the House Appropriations Committee over how the state's share of the RGGI programs quarterly auction program would be used by the state, relative to climate change issues rather than unrelated programs and projects.

Sec. McDonnell assured the Appropriations Committee "improvements to public transportation, installing energy efficient windows, insulation, or appliances, or building out alternative fuel vehicle infrastructure" were among the projects the RGGI funds would be applied to.

Governor Wolf's executive order follows the implementation of aggressive clean energy targets announced last year, including a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent by 2025. Pennsylvania also became the 24th state to join the U.S. Climate Alliance -- a group formed in 2017 after President Donald Trump withdrew the nation from the Paris Agreement.

Critics of RGGI argue it will cripple Pennsylvania's economy, force fossil fuel plants into early retirement and drive up electricity prices. Critics note that Pennsylvania is the nation's number two natural gas producer and the region's top power exporter -- making it very different, economically, from the other RGGI participants. (Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, The Center Square, 26 Feb., 2020) Contact: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, www.dep.pa.gov; C RGGI, www.rggi.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News RGGI,  Carbon Emissions,  ,  

California-Quebec Cap-and-Trade
Date: 2020-02-28
The Western Climate Initiative (WCI) is reporting the results of February's joint California-Quebec auction.

The auction raised roughly $600 million for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which California will use for programs that further reduce climate and local air pollution and advance environmental equity.

Quebec raised over $240 million (Cdn) ($185 million) to support climate action in the province.

Western Climate Initiative Inc is a non-profit corporation formed to provide administrative and technical services to support the implementation of state and provincial greenhouse gas emissions trading programs. (Source: Western Climate Initiative, 26 Feb., 2020) Contact: Western Climate Initiative, www.wci-inc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Western Climate Initiative,  Cap-and-Trade,  

BP
Date: 2020-02-28
Petroleum industry giant BP reports it is dropping its affiliation with three industry trade association on the grounds that the associations' climate change related policies and positions do not align with BP's.

BP is dropping the Western Energy Alliance because its interests did not aligned on federal regulation of methane in the US, and the Western States Petroleum Association and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers over carbon pricing positions.

As previously reported on 14 Feb., BP plans to:

Achieve a 50 pct cut in the carbon intensity of its products by 2050 or sooner

Install methane measurement at all BP major oil and gas processing sites by 2023 and reduce methane intensity of operations by 50 pct.

Increase its investment in non-oil and gas businesses over time.

More actively advocate for policies that support net-zero, including carbon pricing -- carbon tax.

Further incentivise the company's workforce to deliver aims and mobilize them to advocate for net- zero and set new expectations for relationships with trade associations.

Aim for recognition as a leader for transparency of reporting, including supporting the recommendations of the TCFD, and launch a new team to help countries, cities and large companies decarbonize.

BP's current worldwide greenhouse gas emissions from its operations stand at 55 million tpy of CO2 equivalent (MteCO2e), and the carbon in the oil and gas that it produces is equivalent currently to around 360 MteCO2e emissions a year -- both on an absolute basis. Taken together, delivery of these aims would equate to a reduction in emissions to net zero from what is currently around 415 MteCO2e a year, according to the BP release. (Source: BP Website, 26 Feb., 2020) Contact: BP Press Office, +44 (0) 20 7496 4076, bppress@bp.com, www.bp.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News BP,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  

Pakistan
Date: 2020-02-26
Reporting from Islamabad, Malik Amin Aslam, the climate change adviser to the Prime Minister notes the Pakistan government is eyeing grant funding of more than $350 million to mitigate the impact of increasing greenhouse gas emissions and the possible devastation of global warming.

According to a release, Pakistan would use roughly $200 million from the Green Climate Fund to mitigate environmental degradation and combat climate change. An additional $188 million would be used to fund major projects including the upcoming Ecosystem Restoration Initiative that aims at implementing the "Ten Billion Tree Tsunami" tree planting programme. (Source: Various Media, The Nation, 24 Feb., 2020) Contact: Green Climate Fund, www.greenclimate.fund

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Climate Fund,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  Global Warming,  Pakistan Climate Change,  

Neste
Date: 2020-02-24
Helsinki-headquartered Home furnishings manufacturer and retailer IKEA Finland reports it is using Neste MY Renewable Diesel in its commercial vehicles in the Helsinki and other areas of Finland. The use of Neste fuel is in keeping with IKEA's goal of emission-free deliveries by 2025.

Neste MY Renewable Diesel is a cost competitive, low-carbon fuel produced from 100 pct renewable and sustainable raw materials that cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 pct compared to petroleum diesel. (Source: IKEA Finland, PR, Various Media, Biofuels News, 21 Feb., 2020) Contact: Neste, +358 10 458 4128,www.neste.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Neste,  Renewable Fuel,  Renewable Diesel,  

ACEEE
Date: 2020-02-24
According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) just released 2020 Utility Energy Efficiency Scorecard, the 52 largest U.S. electric utilities have dramatically increased their overall energy savings as they adopt innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Utilities leading the way are National Grid Massachusetts and Eversource Massachusetts, which tied for first place for the second time, followed by San Diego Gas & Electric, Commonwealth Edison in Illinois, Baltimore Gas and Electric and Pacific Gas & Electric, in that order. Rounding out the top 10 are the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), DTE in Michigan, Portland General Electric, and Eversource CT in that order.

The scorecard notes that, as a group, the utilities boosted their annual energy savings by 20 pct since 2015, saving almost 20 TWh of electricity in 2018 from programs administered that year -- enough to power 1.8 million homes.

The report highlights the ways in which the utility landscape has transformed since 2015, the baseline for the 2017 scorecard. New technologies are emerging -- states, utilities, and other stakeholders are increasingly focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the important role of energy efficiency with more than 900 different efficiency programs in 2018, about 300 more than in 2015. Additionally, 32 utilities piloted new programs that involve smart thermostats, online marketplaces for energy-saving products, commercial energy efficiency financing, and integration of efficiency with other DERs such as demand response and storage.

While overall energy savings increased, this upward trend was not universal, and seven utilities saw their energy savings decrease by more than 20 pct since 2015.

The scorecard also found that, while there is increased focus on changing utility business models nationally, utilities are generally slow to change these models and are often reluctant to give customers access to energy usage data.

The scorecard, which received no utility funding, increases the availability of utility-sector energy efficiency data to enable benchmarking and help utilities strengthen their programs. ACEEE focuses on the 52 largest electric utilities by retail sales volume, including all 51 utilities from its 2017 Scorecard, plus Tampa Electric.

Download the 2020 Utility Energy Efficiency Scorecard at www.aceee.org/utility-scorecard. (Source: ACEEE, 21 Feb., 2020) Contact: ACEEE, Steven Nadel, Exec. Dir., www.aceee.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News ACEEE,  Energy Efficiency,  

Malaysian Palm Oil Board
Date: 2020-02-21
In Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian government reports it will be rolling out its B20 palm oil biodiesel B20 blend programme in stages to cover 3,400 petrol stations nationwide and expects the program to be fully implemented by mid 2021. The B20 program is part of a push towards greener energy and increasing palm oil production.

The B20 initiative kicked off in Langkawi and Labuan last month and will be expanded to Sarawak (April), Sabah (August) and Peninsular Malaysia (June 2021). Malaysia introduced the B10 and B7 biodiesel programmes in the transportation and industrial sector last year. In total, these two programmes will use 1.3 million tonnes of palm oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.8 tpy. (Source: Malaysian Palm Oil Board,The Edge Markets, FMT , 20 Feb., 2020) Contact: Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, www.mpob.gov.my

More Low-Carbon Energy News Malaysian Palm Oil Board,  B20,  Biodiesel,  Palm Oil,  

UMass Lowell
Date: 2020-02-21
In the Bay State, the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Lowell and the city of Lowell have announced the Green Community Partnership -- an alliance committed to driving down the city's carbon footprint. The effort, which is being funded by Lowell philanthropist Nancy Donahue and numerous community partners, already has $50,000 available for joint university-community clean energy projects.

A member of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, UMass Lowell has committed itself to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The city of Lowell has made substantial investments in the energy efficiency of its buildings resulting in a 31 pct reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.The city has also committed to using 100 pct renewable energy to the use of 100 pct clean and renewable energy.

For more information about the Green Community Partnership HERE. (Source: UMass Lowell, PR, Contact: UMass Lowell, www.uml.edu, uml.edu/greencommunity

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  Carbon Emissions,  

Airport Council International
Date: 2020-02-19
In Germany, Munich Airport reports the Airport Council International (ACI Europe), the umbrella organization of European airports, has again recognized the airport for its continuous efforts to reduce its CO2 emissions.

The Munich Airport reduced its directly attributable CO2 emissions from approximately 3.4 kg per passenger in 2009 to around 2.2 kg per passenger in 2018 -- a drop of 35 pct.

The airport documents its emissions in accordance with the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG), the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions.

The airport plans to achieve additional emissions reductions through innovative technologies, without purchasing carbon certificates, and to achieve ACA certified carbon "neutrality" by 2030. (Source: Munich Airports, PR, 18 Feb., 2020) Contact: Munich Airport, Jost Lammers, Pres., CEO, +49 811 5522128, www.munich-airport.com; Airport Council International (ACI Europe), the umbrella organization of European airports, Airport Council International, www.aci.aero; Greenhouse Gas Protocol, www.ghgprotocol.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aviation Emissions,  Carbon Emissions,  Greenhouse Gas Protocol ,  

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Date: 2020-02-17
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is reporting the pending bipartisan Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act energy efficiency bill now before the U.S. Congress would, if passed, help the US cut energy bills by $51 billion through 2050, as well as save 32 quadrillion Btu of energy and avoid 1.3 billion tons of CO2 emissions cumulatively through 2050.

According to ACEEE sernior policy advisor Lowell Unger, "The numbers are in: This would be the biggest cut of energy waste from any new federal law in a decade. By spurring the construction of more energy-efficient buildings and houses, reducing energy waste in industrial plants, and assisting energy improvements in existing buildings, it would cut our energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions, and that's just smart policy." (Source: ACEEE, PR, Feb., 2020) Contact: ACEEE, www.aceee.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,  ACEEE,  Energy Efficiency,  

Montana Climate Change
Date: 2020-02-14
The Montana Climate Solutions Council has published draft recommendations on how the Cowboy State should tackle climate change.

The Montana Climate Solutions Plan outlines dozens of possible initiatives that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the state adapt to the changing climate, develop new technologies and transition to a low-carbon, greener economy. The plan also recommends expanding the state's research and monitoring of climate change, incorporating climate change into government planning efforts, investing in energy storage, supporting community-based renewable energy projects, creating tax breaks for low- and zero-emission vehicles and offering building energy efficiency incentives.

Download the Montana Climate Solutions Plan HERE. (Source: Montana Climate Solutions Council, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 12 Feb., 2020) Contact: Montana Climate Solutions Council, (406) 444-2544, deq.mt.gov › DEQAdmin › dir › Climate

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  

BP
Date: 2020-02-14
In the UK, petroleum industry giant BP is reporting plans to become a net-zero carbon company by 2050 or sooner. To that end, the oil giant aims to:

Reach net-zero carbon in its oil and gas production on an absolute basis by 2050 or sooner.

Achieve a 50 pct cut in the carbon intensity of its products by 2050 or sooner

Install methane measurement at all BP major oil and gas processing sites by 2023 and reduce methane intensity of operations by 50 pct.

Increase the proportion of investment into non-oil and gas businesses over time.

More actively advocate for policies that support net-zero, including carbon pricing -- carbon tax.

Further incentivise the company's workforce to deliver aims and mobilise them to advocate for net- zero.

Set new expectations for relationships with trade associations.

Aim for recognition as a leader for transparency of reporting, including supporting the recommendations of the TCFD, and

Launch a new team to help countries, cities and large companies decarbonise.

BP's current worldwide greenhouse gas emissions from its operations stand at 55 million tpy of CO2 equivalent (MteCO2e), and the carbon in the oil and gas that it produces is equivalent currently to around 360 MteCO2e emissions a year -- both on an absolute basis. Taken together, delivery of these aims would equate to a reduction in emissions to net zero from what is currently around 415 MteCO2e a year, according to the BP release. (Source: BP, PR, Feb., 2020) Contact: BP press office, +44 (0) 20 7496 4076, bppress@bp.com, www.bp.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News BP,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  

Climate Change
Date: 2020-02-14
In Washington, the Trump administration Republicans -- led by a president that proposes to cut down Alaska's Tongass National Forest and famously claimed "climate change is a hoax invented by China to gain a competitive edge" -- will reportedly soon introduce new energy, environmental and climate change legislation.

The legislation will reportedly call for a tax credit for carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) technology R&D and -- here's the exciting part -- the planting of 3.3 billion trees per year over the next 30 years -- well beyond the widely accepted crucial 2050 date -- when the fight to contain climate change may well be lost.

"The Donald" reportedly wholeheartedly backs the proposed legislation which includes no targets, dates or quantities for reducing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions. (Source: Various Public Media, Feb., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Trump Climate Change,  

Chevron
Date: 2020-02-14
In the Land Down Under, Chevron is reporting it has passed a milestone of one million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions captured and sequestered underground at its $2.5 billion Gorgon Island LNG plant in Western Australia.

When fully operational, the CO2 capture system is expected to reduce Gorgon's greenhouse gas emissions by about 40 pct -- more than 100 million tonnes over its life. (Source: Chevron, Financial review, 15 Feb., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Chevron news,  CCS news,  LNG news,  

Dominion Energy
Date: 2020-02-12
In the Old Dominion State, Richmond-based Dominion Energy reports it is expanding its greenhouse gas emissions-reduction goals with a commitment to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its electric power generation and and gas infrastructure operations by 2050.

Dominion previously committed to cut methane emissions from its natural gas operations by 50 pct between 2010 and 2030 and carbon emissions from its power generating facilities by 80 pct between 2005 and 2050. To date, Dominion has cut carbon emissions approximately 50 pct since 2005 and reduced methane emissions by nearly 25 pct since 2010.

The utility has committed to invest in carbon-beneficial renewable natural gas (RNG) projects that will capture an amount of methane from U.S. farms at least equivalent to any remaining methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the company's natural gas operations, making Dominion's gas infrastructure area net zero 10 years before the overall company. (Source: Dominion Energy, PR, NewsWire, 11 Feb., 2020) Contact: Dominion Energy, Thomas F. Farrell, CEO, Pres., www.dominionenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Dominion Energy ,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Southern California Gas
Date: 2020-02-12
In the Golden State, Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalEd) is reporting its various energy efficiency programs collectively saved $55.6 million in 2019. The savings were equivalent to removing more than 265,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and taking more than 57,000 cars off of California roads for one year, according to a release.

SoCalGas energy efficiency programs include offering rebates on hundreds of home appliances and products such as smart thermostat,LED lighting, energy efficient furnaces, Energy Star appliances and others that help cut energy consumption and reduce costs. (Source: SoCalGas, CNS, Feb., 2020) Contact: SoCalGas, Darren Hanway, manager of energy programs and strategy , (800) 427-2200, www.socalgas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Southern California Gas ,  Energy Efficiency,  

AUstralia Climate Change
Date: 2020-02-03
In the Land Down Under, an open letter to the country's legislators and policy makers from 274 of Australia's leading climate, fire and weather scientists warns Australia "needs to pull its weight when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

The letter warns of longer and hotter heat wave, droughts, increased wildfire risk and threats to the Great Barrier Reef and a multitude of marine species and land animals.

According to Australian National University climate scientist Professor Nerilie Abram, "Scientists have been warning policymakers for decades that climate change would worsen Australia's fire risk, and yet those warnings have been ignored."

University of New South Wales climate scientist Professor Katrin Meissner noted "We need a clear, non-partisan path to reduce Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions in line with what the scientific evidence demands, and the commitment from our leaders to push for meaningful global action to combat climate change," she said. "Not tomorrow, but right now." (Source: Xinhua, China Daily, 3 Feb., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Australia Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  

Green Alliance
Date: 2020-01-31
"In June 2019, the UK became the world's first major economy to legislate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. This amended the previous target of 80 pct reduction on 1990 levels, which was set out in the Climate Change Act of 2008. Both were passed by large cross party majorities.

"But government policy is failing to match these world leading ambitions. In fact, the House of Lords appended a 'regret motion' to the net-zero legislation, expressing concern that the government had provided 'little detail on how the emissions target will be met'.

"Even before the new target was adopted, the UK was not on course to hit its lower target. That is in spite of proposals in The clean growth strategy, which was meant to show how the UK government would meet its legally binding fourth and fifth carbon budgets. In the light of the net zero commitment, this strategy is due to be reviewed and bold new policies have been promised.

"Most approaches to reduce emissions have relied on decarbonising energy supply, phasing out coal and drastically reducing the price of renewable energy. However, this ignores the potential contribution and benefits of the other side of the energy equation -- demand reduction, improved energy efficiency and flex energy demand.

"Even without much government intervention, demand reduction has a proven and profitable track record. Energy efficiency has been directly responsible for 25 pct of the UK's economic growth since 1971, And, globally, 90 pct of the decoupling of emissions and economic growth has come from reducing the energy intensity of the economy, rather than reducing the carbon intensity of energy generation."

Download the Balancing the Energy Equation -- Three Steps to Cutting UK Demand Report HERE ], (Source: Green Alliance, Jan., 2020) Contact: Green Alliance, +44 020 7233 7433, ga@green-alliance.org.uk, www.green-alliance.org.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News UK Green Alliance,  Net-Zero Carbon,  

California Energy Commission,Aemetis
Date: 2020-01-29
Cupertino, California-headquartered Aemetis, Inc. is reporting its subsidiary Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. has scored two grants totaling $14 million from the California Energy Commission for plant upgrades to reduce reduce natural gas consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve efficiency and decrease operating costs, and reduce the carbon intensity of fuel grade ethanol produced at the Keyes plant. The upgrades are expected to improve the annual operating cash flow of the Keyes plant by $13 million, according to the release.

The upgrades will include installation of a 1.56-MW photovoltaic micro grid solar array with integrated battery energy storage and an AI-driven power distribution control system, which is expected to significantly reduce the natural gas consumption improve operational efficiency. (Source: Aemetis, PR, NewsWire, 28 Jan., 2020)Contact: Aemetis, Eric McAfee, CEO , Todd Waltz, (408) 213-0940, emcafee@aemetis.com, www.aemetis.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News California Energy Commission,  Aemetis,  Biofuel,  

European Commission
Date: 2020-01-24
"There is no point in only decreasing greenhouse gas emissions at home if we increase the import of CO2 from abroad. It is a matter of fairness towards our business, towards our workers, and we will protect them against unfair competition." -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

Speaking yesterday at Davos , EC President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a warning to high-emitting nations that Europe could impose a carbon border tax "in the name of fairness" unless they implement carbon pricing systems of their own. Von der Leyen said she would prefer the world to operate under a global carbon pricing system, which she said would create a "level playing field" to help nations decarbonize. (Source: Various Media, Business Green, 23 Jan., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Greenhouse Gas,  CO2,  

Massachusetts
Date: 2020-01-24
In this week's 2020 State of the Commonwealth address, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) committed the Bay State to transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

In his address, the Governor reported "the state is leading the way in transitioning to clean, renewable energy" and noted a 50 pct drop in emissions from the power industry over the last decade under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Baker added the state's investments in renewable energy would meet 30 pct of the state's electric power needs and at the same time eliminate 5.7 million metric tpy of greenhouse gas emissions. (Source: Office of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Smart Energy, 23 Jan., 2020) Contact: Office of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, (617) 725-4005, www.mass.gov/governor

More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero Carbon,  Climate Change,  CO2,  Charlie Baker,  

Green Mountain Gas
Date: 2020-01-24
In the Green Mountain State, the state's sole natural gas provider, Green Mountain Gas, has announced plans to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 2050.

To achieve its goal, the company plans to increase its focus on renewable natural gas (RNG), double energy efficiency savings, develop strategies to reduce home and business emissions and continue sustainable partnerships in communities around the state, according to the company. (Source: Green Mountain Gas, The Middlebury Campus, Jan., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHG,  Greenhouse Gas Emissions,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Micorsoft,Bill Gates
Date: 2020-01-20
"We should discuss soil as much as we talk about coal. De-carbonizing the way we generate electricity would be a huge step, but it won't be enough if we don't reach zero net emissions from every sector of the economy ... that includes the agriculture, forestry, and land use sector, which is responsible for 24 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions." -- Bill Gates.

Bill Gates is an American business magnate, investor, author, philanthropist, and humanitarian best known as the principal founder of Microsoft Corporation. Gates' fortune is estimated at $100 billion. (Source: Bill Gates, Gates Notes, CIRCASA, 3 April, 2019)Contact: Gates Notes www.gatesnotes.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Microsoft,  Bill Gates,  Decarbonization,  

Eni S.p.A.
Date: 2020-01-20
Biofuels International is reporting the Italian Competition and Market Authority has fined Italian oil major Eni S.p.A. €5 million for "green washing" and deceptive advertising of its Eni Diesel+ "green" diesel and claims that the product has a "positive impact on the environment, saves fuel and reduces greenhouse gas emissions."

As the EU's second largest biodiesel producer, more than half of all palm oil and derivatives imported into Italy in 2018 was used for biodiesel production. (Source: Italian Competition and Market Authority, Biofuels Int'l., 20 Jan. 2020) Contact: Eni S.p.A., www.eni.com/en_IT/home.page

More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil,  Eni,  Biodiesel,  Green Diesel,  

Rebound Technologies
Date: 2020-01-17
In Denver, Rebound Technologies, developer of an energy-efficient and more cost-effective alternative to traditional vapor compression cooling systems, reports the closing of a $5 million Series A financing. The lead investors were Clean Energy Ventures and Skyview Ventures, with participation from Autodesk Foundation, the philanthropic investing arm of multinational software corporation Autodesk.

Rebound's IcePoint® technology reportedly uses significantly less energy than traditional methods, improves the freezing efficiency of cooling systems by 35 pct and potentially prevents 681 MMT of greenhouse gas emissions annually from the cooling sector by 2050.

Rebound will use the new capital to install its first industrial-scale systems with food manufacturers and cold storage logistics companies in North America. The company previously received funding from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and a group of seed investors including PRIME Coalition, Closed Loop Ventures, and Investors' Circle. About Rebound Technologies. (Source: Rebound Technologies, PR, 16 Jan., 2020)Contact: Rebound Technologies, Kevin Davies, CEO, www.rebound-tech.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

Ocean Renewable Energy Action Coalition
Date: 2020-01-15
An international Ocean Renewable Energy Action Coalition has been formed to advance sustainable deployment of ocean-based renewable energy -- offshore wind, floating solar, tidal and wave power -- and at the same time mitigate the impacts of climate change while meeting roughly 10 pct of the annual greenhouse gas emissions reductions needed by 2050 to keep global temperatures under 1.5 degreeC above pre-industrial levels, according to a report released by the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. Most of this climate change mitigation potential is expected to come from offshore wind.

The Action Coalition includes MHI Vestas, Orsted, Equinor, CWind, Global Marine Group, JERA, Shell, Mainstream Renewable Power, Siemens Gamesa, TenneT and The UK Crown Estate.

Download the The Ocean as a Solution to Climate Change -- Five Opportunities for Action Report HERE. (Source: High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, Various Media, Maritime Executive, 13 Jan., 2020) Contact: High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, www.oceanpanle.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ocean Energy,  

New York Power Authority
Date: 2020-01-15
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the City of Kingston recently announced the start of installation of LED streetlights throughout the city as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Smart Street Lighting NY program. The project will save the city more than $200,000 annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 570 tons per year. Smart Street Lighting NY is a statewide program that calls for at least 500,000 streetlights throughout the state to be replaced with LED technology by 2025.

The nearly $1.4 million upgrade, financed and implemented by NYPA, includes the replacement of 2,400 streetlights throughout the city with energy-saving LED fixtures, improving lighting quality and neighborhood safety while reducing energy and maintenance costs. Installation will begin next week and is expected to complete during the summer. (Source: NYPA, Environment Energy Leader, 14 Jan., 2020) Contact: City of Kingston, John Schultheis, Engineering Office, (845) 334-3967, www.kingston-ny.gov; NYPA, Gil C. Quiniones, CEO , Pres., www.nypa.gov; BuildSmartNY, www.buildsmart.ny.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News BuildSmartNY,  New York Power Authority,  Energy Efficient Light,  LED Streetlight,  

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
Date: 2020-01-13
In the UAE, the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company reports it plans to lower its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 25 pct by 2030. The company, which produced about 3 million bpd of oil and 10.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas, is currently among the five lowest greenhouse gas emitters in the oil and gas industry and has one of the lowest methane intensities in the world of 0.01 per cent, according to a release.

Additionally, ADNOC plans to scale up its carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) programme, from 800,000 tpy of captured CO2 to 5 million tpy by 2030. (Source: ADNOC, N Business, 13 Jan., 2020) Contact: ADNOC, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO, +971 2 7070000. +971 2 6023389 - fax, www.adnoc.ae

More Low-Carbon Energy News Abu Dhabi National Oil Company,  

Climate Change
Date: 2020-01-13
On Friday in Sacramento, Golden State Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) introduced a $12.5 billion 5-year budget proposal with ambitious goals for addressing climate change.

The budget proposal includes a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a $4.75 billion climate resilience bond that would to encourage investments that reduce risks from water, fire, extreme heat and sea level rise, as well as partially fund the recently introduced California Green New Deal Act.

The climate budget also includes $66 million for reducing flood risks, $51 million to speed up the deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure and $103 million for water resiliency. The budget proposes a $4.75 billion climate resilience bond which would address risks especially in the state's most vulnerable communities. The bond would also allocate $500 million to harden infrastructure in high-fire-risk communities and $250 million for forest health projects -- that's in addition to fuel reduction activities paid for by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund as well as the amount that the Legislature and governor have required utilities to contribute.

Additionally, the budget proposes a $965 million plan to spend cap-and-trade dollars on Cal Fire's forest health and fuel reduction program and reducing emissions from transportation -- "the largest greenhouse gas emissions source in California."

The budget includes $1 billion in general fund dollars -- $250 million this year and more in future years -- for a Climate Catalyst Fund that will offer low-interest loans for climate-related projects that help the state meet its climate goals. (Source: Office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Capital Public Radio, 10 Jan., 2020) Contact: Office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom , Kate Gordon, Director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, Snr. Climate Advisor, (916) 445-2841, (916) 558-3160 - fax., www.gov.ca.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  

ExxonMobil
Date: 2020-01-13
"As we wrap up 2019, it's useful to take stock of the past year and keep looking ahead to the future and what we need to do to accomplish our energy goals. We need to do a lot. We are at a crucial inflection point with climate change, as is all too clear from the regular stream of updates in our news feeds every day. ExxonMobil’s annual Energy Outlook, which came out recently, discusses how the world is still offtrack to meet certain climate goals without a lot of additional effort.

"That further work means continued technology innovation. We have to keep finding and inventing solutions to the myriad of individual problems posed by the dual challenge. These different efforts -- both within and outside of our own research labs -- are all essential to moving us forward. They include the important renewables work being done with wind, solar and geothermal by so many around the world; they also include research focused on carbon capture technology and biofuels -- and everything in between. On ExxonMobil’s end, we are proud of our portfolio of innovative emission-lowering projects that have led to more than 10,000 patents in the last decade. Since 2000, we've spent $16.5 billion on this kind of R&D.

"Moving into 2020, we need to stay focused on several key themes related to solving the dual challenge: scale, speed, collaboration and training the next generation of scientists, engineers and other problem solvers. Scale is everything in our efforts. Reducing carbon emissions to fight climate change as we simultaneously deliver more and more energy to a growing world is a big job. And it's not just one job. As I said earlier this year, 'Not only are the sizes we are talking about so big they are sometimes unfathomable, but we must deploy solutions globally AND across countless end uses. It's not one equation with one unknown, but multiple equations with multiple unknowns.'

"As we work to solve for these multiple unknowns, we are pursuing projects big and small. What they share in common is the strict requirement that they must lead to a scalable solution. Energy is gigantic, from the infrastructure that supports it to the markets that drive its supply and demand. Any solution we find in the lab, however brilliant, must be ready to immediately scale.

"And it needs to happen quickly. As we know, scientific discovery is an ongoing endeavor -- you can't put a deadline on invention. But we can accelerate innovation. First, we can follow the example of parallel processing from computer science. In our labs, we don't wait for the basic science to be definitively 'concluded' (if it even can be). We start the engineering while we're still doing the science and iterate between the two. That requires collaboration between different types of researchers and innovators – between our corporate lab and government and academic labs, for example -- and that's the other way we speed up scalable solutions: with partnerships. Partnerships are a force multiplier. They are absolutely key when it comes to solving the dual challenge. When I look back on the past year, I am proud of the scope and variety of partnerships we undertook as a company. To name just a few:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (and other DOE-funded labs) -- in a 10-year, $100 million collaboration to bring advanced energy technologies to market at scale, focused on reducing carbon emissions.

IBM -- to collaborate on quantum computing that could help make energy exploration and extraction enormously efficient.

MIT Energy Initiative -- to extend our existing relationship supporting this project, which is committed to discovering new emission-reducing technology.

Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) locations in Madras and Bombay -- to continue our research with scientists and students working on the ground in India to address the energy needs and challenges on the subcontinent, including studying life cycle greenhouse gas emissions in India's power sector.

Clariant and Genomatica -- to convert residue left over from farming into biofuel that can power trucks, ships and more. Clariant has expert processes to extract sugars from agricultural leftovers like wheat straw, while Genomatica turns sugars into biofuels.

Global Thermostat -- to evaluate the scalability of their innovative carbon capture technology, which removes CO2 from the atmosphere and industrial sources.

Microsoft -- to digitally transform 1 million acres of unconventional oil and gas fields in the Permian Basin, making it the largest-ever oil and gas acreage to use cloud technology, and also making it more efficient. Energy efficiency is an often overlooked area when we think about the dual challenge.

(Source: ExxonMobil, PR, , 31 Dec., 2019) Contact: ExxonMobil, Dr. Vijay Swarup, VP Research and Development , www.linkedin.com › dr-vijay-swarup-120a95159, (972) 444-1107, www.exxonmobil.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  ExxonMobil,  Vijay Swarup ,  

New York City
Date: 2020-01-13
In the Big Apple, under recently enacted Climate Mobilization Act legislation, any roof undergoing major construction must now host either solar photovoltaic (PV) panels or a vegetation covered "green" roof system. Construction projects affected include new construction, vertical and horizontal extensions, and major modifications to any roof requiring a permit.

Buildings are responsible for more than 70 pct of greenhouse gas emissions in NYC, according to the Climate Mobilization Act. (Source: silive, 12 Jan., 2020) Contact: NYC Climate Mobilization Act, www.council.nyc.gov/data/green

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Roof,  Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  NYC Solar,  

Climate Change
Date: 2020-01-10
In the nation's capitol, U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) has released the legislative framework of the draft Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for the (CLEAN) Future Act -- an ambitious new climate plan to ensure the U.S. achieves net-zero greenhouse gas pollution and 100 pct clean energy no later than 2050. The draft bill incorporates both proven and novel concepts, presenting a set of policy proposals that will put the U.S. on the path to a clean and prosperous economy. Specific to carbon emissions and climate change, the draft legislation:

Directs all federal agencies to use all existing authorities to put the country on a path toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It does not stipulate which energy sources or strategies qualify, instead taking a technology-inclusive approach to reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century. To ensure federal agencies' collective efforts remain on track, the draft legislation directs the EPA to evaluate each agency's plans, make recommendations and report on progress each year.

Empowers the states to complete the transition to a net-zero economy, based on the existing federalism model in the (Obama administration) Clean Air Act. The bill sets a national climate standard of net-zero greenhouse gas pollution in each state by 2050. States are then granted flexibility to develop plans to meet the 2050 and interim standards based on their policy preferences, priorities and circumstances. Each state must submit a climate plan to EPA, which then reviews and approves or disapproves each plan.

Establishes a National Climate Bank to mobilize public and private investments in low- and zero-emissions energy technologies, climate resiliency, building efficiency and electrification, industrial decarbonization, grid modernization, agriculture projects, and clean transportation.

The draft legislation reduces transportation emissions, the largest source of GHG emissions, by improving vehicle efficiency, accelerating the transition to low- to zero-carbon fuels and building the infrastructure needed for a clean transportation system. The bill directs EPA to set new, increasingly stringent greenhouse gas emission standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including off-road modes of transportation. (Source: Office of Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., Jan., 2020) Contact: Congressman Frank Pallone Jr , Chairman, Energy and Commerce Committee, (202) 225-4671 (202) 225-9665 - fax, https://pallone.house.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  

Vermont Climate Change
Date: 2020-01-10
In Montpelier, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation is reporting the issuance of its Vermont Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast: Brief 1990–2016 report. According to the report, while greenhouse gas emissions for Vermont in 2016 were down 4 pct from 2015 levels, they’re still 13 pct above 1990 levels.

The report notes that most of the state's GHG emissions reductions came from the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, with small decreases in waste and agricultural sectors. Meanwhile, increases were seen from the industrial processes, fossil fuel industry and transportation sectors. To uphold the Paris Climate Agreement, the state needs to cut greenhouse gas emissions somewhere between 26 pct to 28 pct below 2005 levels by 2025, the report notes.

Download the report HERE. (Source: Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation, Rutland Herald, 8 Jan., 2020) Contact: Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation , Emily Boedecker, Commissioner, 802-828-1556, https://dec.vermont.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Paris Climate Vermont Climate Change,  Agreement,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Equinor
Date: 2020-01-10
Oslo-headquartered Norwegian oil and gas major Equinor -- fka Statoil -- reports it aims reduce the absolute greenhouse gas emissions from its operated offshore fields and onshore plants in Norway by 40 pct by 2030, increasing to 70 pct by 2040 and to near zero by 2050, using 2005 as a baseline.

The GHG reduction goal will cover all of the company's Norwegian offshore fields and onshore plants, including both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions of CO2 and methane, levels of which are very low at the Norwegian continental shelf.

The reductions will be achieved through large scale industrial measures, including energy efficiency, digitalization and the launch of several electrification projects at key fields and plants, including the Troll and Oseberg offshore fields and the Hammerfest LNG plant, at an estimated cost NOK 50 billion ($5,630,500,000 US) or more. (Source: Equnior, Smart Energy Jan., 2020) Contact: Equinor, Eldar Saetre, CEO, Pal Eitrheim, VP New Energy Solutions, www.equinor.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Equinor,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,