Articles tagged with "natural-gas"
Renewables as a Bridge to Gas? America's Energy Logic Goes Backwards - CleanTechnica
The article discusses a controversial statement made by John Ketchum, CEO of NextEra Energy, at the Politico Energy Summit in June 2025, where he suggested that renewables like wind, solar, and storage should be viewed as a temporary "bridge" to expanding natural gas generation. This reverses the long-standing narrative that natural gas is a bridge fuel toward a renewable future. Ketchum’s argument centers on the urgent need for new electricity capacity in the near term, driven by rising demand from AI data centers, electric vehicles, and broader electrification. He emphasized that renewables are currently the only energy sources deployable quickly enough to prevent reliability crises, whereas new gas infrastructure faces significant delays. The delays in gas turbine deployment—often five to seven years—stem from manufacturing backlogs caused by limited production capacity, aging infrastructure, supply chain disruptions, and workforce shortages, rather than surging global demand. This bottleneck is partly a consequence of the market’s long-term shift away from
energyrenewable-energynatural-gassolar-powerwind-energyenergy-storageelectricity-demandBillions In Subsidies Flow To LNG Canada As Kitimat Terminal Nears Launch - CleanTechnica
The article highlights the extensive public subsidies and fiscal incentives underpinning the launch of LNG Canada’s Phase 1 liquefied natural gas terminal in Kitimat, a project initially valued at around C$17–18 billion. Federal, provincial, municipal, and international support has played a critical role in reducing the project's capital costs. Notably, the federal government contributed approximately C$275 million in direct grants, including C$220 million from the Strategic Innovation Fund for advanced gas turbines and C$55 million for infrastructure upgrades like the Haisla Bridge. Beyond direct funding, significant hidden subsidies have been provided through tax exemptions and tariff waivers, such as the roughly C$1 billion exemption on import duties for fabricated steel modules sourced primarily from Asia, which substantially lowered construction costs. The article also contrasts the political reactions to LNG Canada’s reliance on large-scale imports from China with the contentious debate over British Columbia’s decision to commission hybrid ferries from Chinese shipyards. While the ferry contracts sparked vocal partisan criticism
energyLNGsubsidiesnatural-gasinfrastructurefossil-fuelsCanadaMethane Pollution Has Cheap, Effective Solutions That Aren’t Being Used
The article highlights methane as a potent greenhouse gas that, despite being odorless and colorless, significantly contributes to global warming—trapping up to 84 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a short timeframe. Methane emissions, largely driven by human activities such as energy production and cattle farming, account for nearly a third of the global temperature increase since the Industrial Revolution. Recognizing its impact, over 100 countries pledged in 2021 to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. However, major emitters like Russia and China have not committed, and global methane emissions from energy production continue to rise, partly due to inadequate measurement and reporting. The article also underscores the challenges in tracking methane emissions accurately, as measurement-based data is scarce and emissions often go underreported. Methane leaks occur throughout the natural gas lifecycle—from drilling and transportation to consumption—and from coal mining, which releases even more methane than natural gas production. Despite the availability of low
energymethane-emissionsclimate-changenatural-gasfossil-fuelsenvironmental-monitoringemission-reductionU.S. Primary Energy Production, Consumption, and Exports Increased in 2024 - CleanTechnica
In 2024, the United States continued to produce more energy than it consumed, reaching a record high primary energy production of 30.9 quadrillion British thermal units (quads), a 4% increase from 2023. Energy consumption remained steady at 21.7 quads, resulting in the highest net energy exports on record at 9.3 quads. Total U.S. energy consumption was 94.2 quads, still below the peak of 99.0 quads set in 2007. Notably, renewable energy consumption rose by 5% to 8.6 quads, driven by biofuels, wind, and solar, while coal consumption fell to a historic low of 7.9 quads. Record production was achieved across multiple energy sources, including natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas plant liquids, contributing to a total U.S. energy production of 103.3 quads—the third consecutive year of record-breaking output
energyenergy-productionenergy-consumptionrenewable-energynatural-gascrude-oilenergy-exportsLNG Canada’s True Cost: 2.2 Billion Tons Of CO₂e Over 50 Years - CleanTechnica
LNG Canada, a large liquefied natural gas facility in Kitimat, British Columbia, is nearing full operation and represents a significant development in Canada's energy and climate landscape. The project, led by Shell with international partners, aims to export 14 million tons of LNG annually, sourced from British Columbia’s Montney Formation and transported via the 670-kilometer Coastal GasLink pipeline. While LNG Canada incorporates efficiency measures such as using hydroelectric power for part of its liquefaction energy and employing high-efficiency turbines, the overall LNG supply chain remains energy-intensive and emits substantial greenhouse gases. The facility primarily serves Asian markets, with shorter shipping routes compared to U.S. Gulf Coast LNG exports, which somewhat reduces transit emissions. Despite these efficiencies, the full LNG supply chain experiences significant energy losses—about 66% of the original energy content is lost from extraction through to electricity generation. This includes losses during gas transmission, liquefaction, marine transport, regasification, and power generation,
energyLNGnatural-gasemissionshydroelectricitygas-turbinesenergy-efficiencyxAI is facing a lawsuit for operating over 400 MW of gas turbines without permits
xAI’s Colossus data center near Memphis is facing a lawsuit from the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), acting on behalf of the NAACP, for operating over 400 megawatts of natural gas turbines without the required preconstruction or operating air pollution permits. SELC alleges that xAI installed and ran at least 35 combustion turbines over the past year without regulatory approval, violating the Clean Air Act. These turbines have the potential to emit over 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) annually, pollutants that contribute to smog and exacerbate respiratory issues. Memphis already struggles with poor air quality and high asthma rates, making the unpermitted emissions a significant public health concern. Despite local health authorities initially claiming the turbines were exempt from permitting, SELC’s investigation—including aerial and thermal imaging—confirmed extensive turbine operation without proper permits or pollution controls. Although some turbines have been removed recently, around 26 remain operational, maintaining a generating capacity near 407 megawat
energygas-turbinesair-pollutionClean-Air-Actnatural-gasemissionsdata-center-energy-useHelium & Hot Air: Saskatchewan’s Greenwashing Sustainability Claims - CleanTechnica
The article critiques Saskatchewan’s government for promoting misleading sustainability claims, particularly highlighting an ad campaign that touts the province as a leader in environmental stewardship. A key example is the province’s helium production being equated to planting billions of trees. While Saskatchewan’s helium extraction produces relatively low greenhouse gas emissions compared to global standards—due to a unique geological occurrence where helium is found alongside nitrogen rather than methane—this advantage is a matter of geological luck rather than deliberate environmental policy. The province is essentially marketing this natural quirk as a conscious sustainability achievement, despite continuing significant emissions from oil and gas extraction, which accounts for about 30% of its greenhouse gases. The article further contextualizes Saskatchewan’s overall environmental impact, noting that it remains one of Canada’s highest per-capita emitters of greenhouse gases, with roughly 74 million tons of CO2 equivalent emitted in 2023—about six times the per-capita emissions of Ontario or Quebec. Besides oil and gas, major emission sources include coal and natural
energyhelium-extractionsustainabilitygreenhouse-gas-emissionsmethane-emissionsnatural-gasenvironmental-policyOntario’s first Integrated Energy Plan builds on progress while failing to address security and affordability concerns of natural gas - Clean Energy Canada
Ontario’s first Integrated Energy Plan, released recently, advances the province’s leadership in modernizing its electricity system by emphasizing distributed energy resources (such as battery storage, rooftop solar, and smart EV charging) and energy efficiency. These initiatives are seen as positive steps that can help address cost-of-living challenges and serve as a model for other Canadian jurisdictions. The plan also initiates an integrated energy planning process, which is a significant development for the province’s energy strategy. However, the plan has notable shortcomings, particularly regarding natural gas. While it sets broad goals around affordability, security, reliability, and clean energy, it lacks specific targets or metrics to measure progress. Independent modeling accompanying the plan highlights risks associated with continued reliance on natural gas, especially for household energy affordability. Contrary to these findings, the plan proposes expanding natural gas use in electricity and distribution systems, which could undermine potential consumer savings from electrification and clean technologies. Thus, despite the plan’s strengths, significant concerns remain about its ability to meet
energyintegrated-energy-planclean-energynatural-gaselectricity-system-modernizationenergy-efficiencydistributed-energy-resourcesBenzene: The Toxic Chemical in Both Gas Stoves & Cigarette Smoke - CleanTechnica
A 2023 study published in Environmental Science and Technology revealed that gas stoves emit benzene, a known carcinogen, at levels often exceeding those found in secondhand cigarette smoke. Benzene, recognized as a cancer-causing chemical by the IARC and EPA, can linger indoors for hours after cooking with gas stoves, posing significant health risks. In contrast, induction stoves produce no detectable benzene, and electric coil stoves emit minimal amounts. The study compared air quality in homes using gas versus electric stoves across California and Colorado, highlighting the dangers of indoor natural gas combustion. Further research from Stanford University in 2025 emphasized the heightened cancer risk for children exposed to benzene from gas stoves, especially in poorly ventilated homes. Benzene accumulates not only in kitchens but also spreads to bedrooms and living areas, increasing lifetime cancer risk nearly twofold for children. To mitigate exposure, experts recommend switching to electric or induction stoves, ensuring proper ventilation by opening windows during cooking
energynatural-gasindoor-air-qualitybenzenegas-stovesair-pollutionhealth-risksThe US Produced More Energy than Ever Before in 2024 - CleanTechnica
In 2024, the United States achieved a record high in total energy production, surpassing 103 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), marking a 1% increase over the previous record set in 2023. Key contributors to this growth included natural gas, crude oil, natural gas plant liquids (NGPL), biofuels, solar, and wind energy, each setting new domestic production records. Natural gas remained the largest source of U.S. energy since 2011, accounting for nearly 38 trillion cubic feet in 2024, consistent with 2023 levels. Crude oil production also hit a record, increasing by 2%, primarily driven by output from the Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas. Conversely, coal production declined to its lowest annual output since 1964, reflecting a long-term decrease since coal was the dominant energy source from 1984 through 2010. NGPLs, which include fuels like ethane and propane associated with natural gas, accounted for about 9% of total U.S. energy production and rose 7% from 2023, continuing a growth trend since 2005. Renewable energy sources such as biofuels, wind, and solar also set production records, contributing to the overall energy increase. Notably, biofuel production, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), reached 1.4 million barrels per day, a 6% rise from the previous year. The article highlights that while some traditional energy sources used primarily for electricity generation have peaked decades ago, the U.S. continues to diversify its energy mix with increasing contributions from renewables and cleaner fuels. The data referenced in the article comes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and uses standardized energy units (Btu) to compare different energy types. The report underscores the ongoing transition in U.S. energy production, with fossil fuels like natural gas and oil still dominant but renewable and alternative energy sources growing rapidly. The article also encourages readers to engage with CleanTechnica’s content for further analysis and updates on energy trends.
energyrenewable-energyUS-energy-productionnatural-gascrude-oilbiofuelssolar-powerWorld's widest burning gas crater is finally starting to die out
The Darvaza Gas Crater, also known as the "Door to Hell," is a massive natural gas fire in Turkmenistan's Karakum Desert that has been burning continuously since 1971. It originated when Soviet geologists accidentally drilled into an underground gas pocket and ignited it intentionally to prevent the release of toxic gases. Expected to burn out within weeks, the crater's flames have persisted for over 54 years, consuming millions of cubic meters of natural gas annually. The crater measures approximately 230 feet wide and 100 feet deep, with temperatures exceeding 1,832°F (1,000°C), and has become a notable tourist attraction drawing over 10,000 visitors each year. Recent reports from Turkmengaz, Turkmenistan’s state gas company, indicate that the crater's flames have significantly weakened as most of the flammable gas has been depleted. At a scientific conference in Ashgabat in June 2025, researchers revealed that the fire’s intensity has dropped to about a third of its original size, with flames now only visible up close rather than from miles away. Efforts to contain methane emissions by drilling wells around the site have contributed to this decline. This development may finally address long-standing concerns about the loss of valuable natural gas and environmental impacts, marking a potential end to one of the world's longest-burning gas fires.
energynatural-gasmethanegas-craterhydrocarbon-developmentemissions-reductionenergy-transitionTrump administration to claw back $3.7B in clean energy and manufacturing awards
energyclean-energymanufacturinglow-carbon-materialscritical-mineralscement-productionnatural-gasEmpire Offshore Wind Project Back On, Pipeline Still Mothballed
energyoffshore-windrenewable-energyinfrastructurenatural-gasenvironmental-policyenergy-transitionCơ chế cho nguồn điện sử dụng khí trong nước và LNG nhập khẩu Nghị định 100 2025
energynatural-gaselectricity-generationrenewable-energypower-systemsenergy-policythermal-powerQuy định chi tiết về cơ chế cho các dự án điện sử dụng khí trong nước và LNG nhập khẩu
energynatural-gaselectricity-generationrenewable-energyenergy-policythermal-powerenergy-regulation