Previous Fossil Fuel News 2021
America’s biggest city is ditching fossil fuels in new buildings 12-16-21
New York City lawmakers voted to ban gas appliances in new buildings Read more
Methane’s climate effects get new attention during summit 12-14-21
Until this year, methane hadn’t received the attention it deserved for being a huge source of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, despite being nearly as much to blame as carbon for overheating the planet. Read more
Natural gas company goes to great lengths to avoid saying the word ‘pipeline’ 11-12-21
Why call it a pipeline when you could call it “an infrastructure”? Read more
At COP26, 7 countries initiate the beginning of the end of fossil fuels 11-11-21
Meet BOGA, the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance. Read more
‘Luxury carbon consumption’ of top 1% threatens 1.5C global heating limit 11-05-21
Richest 1% will account for 16% of total emissions by 2030, while poorest 50% will release one tonne of CO2 a year Read more
The Divestment Movement’s Big Month 10-29-21
Investors, foundations, universities and governments pulled their assets from fossil fuel companies in record numbers in October. Read more
The dirty dozen: meet America’s top climate villains 10-27-21
Few are household names, yet these 12 enablers and profiteers have an unimaginable sway over the fate of humanity. Read more
“Code Red” for climate means reducing US oil and gas production 10-12-21
Whatever long game the Biden administration hopes to play, the planet is telling us that we are going into the fourth quarter with no promise of overtime. Read more
Over 30 Countries Agree to Cut Methane by 30% 10-12-21
In addition to diplomatic efforts, 20 philanthropic organizations committed $223 million in support of the Global Methane Pledge. Read more
College formally announces plan to divest from fossil fuels 10-08-21
The announcement of decisions made in the last several years comes after years of student activism. Read more
Line 3 Pipeline Complete, Oil to Flow on Monday 09-30-21
Enbridge Energy announced this week that the construction of the Line 3 pipeline has been completed, and oil will start flowing Monday. Protesters have fought the pipeline since Minnesota regulators approved the project back in 2015, arguing against its violation of Indigenous rights, harm to waterways and wild rice, and climate impact. Read more
The climate costs of keeping Line 5 open would be very high 09-17-21
Scientists estimate the pipeline could generate $41 billion in climate damages between 2027 and 2070. Read more
Three-Fourths of the Worlds Planned Coal Projects Scrapped Since 2015 09-15-21
A new report has found that since the 2015 signing of the Paris agreement, more than 75% of the world’s planned coal plant projects have been scrapped, and 44 countries have no future coal plans whatsoever. Read more
Harvard Will Move to Divest its Endowment from Fossil Fuels 09-09-21
Following years of public pressure, Harvard said Thursday it would allow its remaining investments in the fossil fuel industry to expire, paving the way for it to eventually divest from the sector. Read more
Joe Manchin’s Dirty Empire 09-03-21
The West Virginia Senator Reaps Big Financial Rewards From a Network of Coal Companies With Grim Records of Pollution, Safety Violations, and Death. Read more
Virginia county fends off natural gas plant, but battles continue 08-31-21
A company planning to bring one of two natural gas-fired power plants to Charles City County, VA, said this summer it is abandoning the projects. Read more
Does rural Illinois really need a new gas pipeline? 08-27-21
In this historic Black farming community, some want renewables instead. Read more
Playing Nice With the Fossil Fuel Industry Is Climate Denial 08-09-21
A new report on climate change shows the futility of the Biden administration’s electric vehicle dream. Read more
Big Oil spent $10 million on Facebook ads last year — to sell what, exactly? 08-05-21
A report found that the ads peaked when politicians were poised to act on climate. Read more
Why Texas fossil fuel unions signed onto a climate plan 07-30-21
“We get these narratives that the fossil fuel unions are against climate action. I think it’s a lot more complicated than what we hear.” Read more
Pipelines Leak, Colonial Could Pay For Its NC Damages 07-11-21
Following a massive gasoline leak in Huntersville, North Carolina, Colonial Pipeline could face a daily fine of $200,000 if it doesn’t improve how it detects leaks. Read more
DeSantis’ Big Gift to Big Gas 06-24-21
Cities and towns across Florida can no longer ban fossil fuels and prioritize clean energy projects after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law. Read more
Keystone XL is history. What about the other pipelines? 06-14-21
Activists say Biden needs to do more on pipelines to uphold his climate promises. Read more
Big Oil wants you to believe a tanker full of fossil fuel can be “carbon neutral” 06-13-21
The latest greenwashing scam tries to rebrand hydrocarbons as carbon-neutral. Read more
Restoring land around abandoned oil and gas wells would free up millions of acres of forests, farmlands and grasslands 06-08-21
President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan proposes to spend US$16 billion plugging old oil and gas wells and cleaning up abandoned mines. Read more
Biden Suspends Drilling Permits in ANWR 06-02-21
Yesterday, the Department of the Interior moved to suspend all oil drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, undoing a highly contested move made by the Trump administration last year. Read more
ExxonMobil’s Shareholder Meeting Drama — Board Seats Contested By Pro-Climate Hedge Fund 05-25-21
A group of investors is attempting to displace four members of the ExxonMobil Board of Directors in the Board election at the annual meeting to be held on Wednesday. Read more
A cultural shift away from coal 05-25-21
Coal-dependent towns and regions are working to not just replace coal, but to build stronger and healthier communities with economies that don’t exploit people or the planet. Read more
ExxonMobil wants you to feel responsible for climate change so it doesn’t have to shoulder the blame 05-13-21
A new study reveals how the oil company used “cutting-edge propaganda” to focus on fossil fuel consumption. Read more
Leaked Docs: Gas Industry Secretly Fights Electrification 05-03-21
In public, Eversource Energy likes to tout its carbon neutrality goals and its investments in offshore wind. Read more
13 U.S. Oil Refineries Release Illegally High Levels of Benzene 05-04-21
A new list from the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) shows that last year, thirteen U.S. oil refineries emitted more of the cancer-causing chemical benzene than was permitted by the government. Read more
White House Climate Advisor Sees A Path To A Clean Energy Transition Through Coal Country 04-05-21
For decades now, rhetoric around action on climate change has been about things like saving the planet, or saving polar bears. Read more
Fossil Fuel Firms Slashed Nearly 60,000 Jobs In 2020 While Pocketing $8.2 Billion Tax Bailout 04-02-21
Last year was $8.2 billion less painful for 77 big fossil fuel companies, thanks to a tax bailout provision in a big pandemic stimulus bill. Read more
The ‘Green Energy’ That Might Be Ruining the Planet 03-26-21
The biomass industry is warming up the South’s economy, but many experts worry it’s doing the same to the climate. Will the Biden Administration embrace it, or cut it loose? Read more at Politico
Activists Welcome Cancellation of Texas LNG Terminal 03-23-21
Leading U.S. fossil fuel company on Monday announced the cancellation of a planned fracked natural gas terminal in southern Texas. Read more at EcoWatch
Students find obscure law that could make university fossil fuel investments illegal 03-22-21
A new legal strategy could give Harvard the kick it needs to divest. Read more at Grist
This Billionaire Governor’s Coal Companies Owe Millions More in Environmental Fines 03-12-21
The richest person in West Virginia, who is also the state’s governor, owns coal companies that routinely violate environmental laws. Read more at Propublica
As coal dies, the US has no plan to help the communities left behind 03-03-21
Here are two tales of the energy transition unfolding in coal country, USA. Read more at Grist
Here’s why this new fracking ban in the Northeast is a big deal 03-03-21
The Delaware River Basin, a 13,539-square-mile area bisected by a sparkling riverthat stretches from New York’s Catskill Mountains to the Delaware Bay, is officially closed to fracking. Read more at Grist
Decline of Coal shows Gov’t Policy, Renewables crucial to Reducing Carbon Emissions: The Market isn’t Enough 03-02-21
Low natural gas prices nor the adoption of renewable energy significantly reduced the life of coal units. Read more at Informed Comment
The key to making sound climate policy? Rein in (or win over) utilities monopolies. 03-02-21
Now that we’ve had a couple weeks to process all that went wrong in Texas, people are paying more attention to the national electricity landscape, how it functions, and who’s in charge. Read more at Grist
DivestVU, Dores Divest hold an over 30-person protest at Vanderbilt’s Kirkland Hall 02-23-21
Dores Divest’s 14-foot-mystical creature, an orange unicorn, made an appearance on Library Lawn at 2 p.m. CST and marched with students to Kirkland Hall. Read more at Vanderbilt Hustler
150 years of spills: Philadelphia refinery cleanup highlights toxic legacy of fossil fuels 02-16-21
It’s a glimpse of what lies ahead if the United States hopes to wean itself off fossil fuels and clean up the toxic legacy of oil, gas and coal. Read more at Reuters
Appalachia’s Natural Gas Counties 02-12-21
Contributing more to the U.S.economy and getting less in return. Read the full Ohio River Valley Institute Report. Click here to read the full report
How the Fossil Fuel Industry Convinced Americans to Love Gas Stoves 02-11-21
In early 2020, Wilson Truong posted on the NextDoor social media platform—where users can send messages to a group in their neighborhood—in a Culver City, California, community. Writing as if he were a resident of the Fox Hills neighborhood. Read more at Mother Jones
Deaths from fossil fuel emissions higher than previously thought 02-09-21
Fossil fuel air pollution responsible for more than 8 million people worldwide in 2018 Read more at Harvard School of Engineering
Living with natural gas pipelines: Appalachian landowners describe fear, anxiety and loss 02-03-21
Advocates and experts point to a long-standing pattern of corporate influence on the nation’s ‘go-to source of nutrition advice.’ Read more at The Conversation
PR firms need to dump Big Oil. This guy wants to help them do it. 02-03-21
Since November, Henn has been leading an effort to pressure his colleagues in advertising and PR to drop their petro clients. Read more at Grist
A Thin Green Line 01-31-21
During a decade when Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia flouted carbon emissions goals, activists fighting fossil fuel exports made global impact. Read more at Grist
Coal Communities Across the Nation Want Biden to Fund an Economic Transition to Clean Power 01-26-21
The president promised to create a task force on how best to help the communities. Advocates want that and new jobs, broadband internet and funding for health and education. Read more at Inside Climate News
U.S. cities consider treating fossil fuels like nuclear weapons 01-12-21
For decades, the potential for a nuclear catastrophe felt like a waking threat, just around the corner. Read more at Grist
Creighton University to divest fully from fossil fuels within 10 years 01-05-21
Creighton University announced it plans to phase out all investments in fossil fuels from its $587 million endowment within the next 10 years and target new investments in sustainable energy. Read more at EarthBeat