TEXAS
CenterPoint Energy to Strengthen Infrastructure
Houston area utility CenterPoint Energy announced plans to upgrade its power grid infrastructure in preparation for the 2025 hurricane season, following criticism of its response to Hurricane Beryl in July. The Houston-area electric utility aims to install 25,000 durable fiberglass or alternative material poles to replace some wooden ones by June 1, 2025. Additionally, the company plans to trim or remove vegetation along 4,000 miles of its approximately 30,000 miles of aboveground power lines. CenterPoint also intends to place more than 400 miles of power lines underground. Read more
Radioactive Waste Storage Case to Be Heard by Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a long-standing case regarding a plan to transport highly radioactive nuclear waste to a storage facility in rural West Texas, which could impact national waste management practices. Interim Storage Partners has sought to move “high-level” nuclear waste from various power plants to the facility in Andrews County but faced legal challenges after a Texas-led lawsuit blocked their federal license. This decision was upheld by a federal appeals court, prompting the company and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to petition the Supreme Court for reconsideration. The central issue is whether federal regulators can authorize privately operated nuclear waste storage sites located far from the waste’s source, with potential implications for a similar project in New Mexico. Opponents of the Texas plan, including local oil and ranching interests, argue it poses risks to the region, while supporters insist that federal law grants the NRC authority to approve such facilities. The case reflects a decades-long struggle for U.S. administrations to find a permanent solution for managing dangerous nuclear waste, with the proposed facilities viewed as temporary solutions that could last for years. Read more
Power Plant Expansion Connected to Bitcoin Mine Faces Opposition
Constellation Energy’s proposal to build a new 300-megawatt power plant near existing plants in Granbury that border residential neighborhoods is facing opposition from residents. Concerns are amplified by the presence of Marathon Digital, a cryptocurrency company operating a 300-megawatt Bitcoin mine on the same site, which has generated complaints about constant noise from cooling fans associated with mining operations since the mine opened in 2022. Read more
Oil and Gas Waste Management Rules Under Revision
Texas is nearing the adoption of revised oil and gas waste management rules for the first time since 1984, as the Railroad Commission of Texas has announced a draft rule aimed at regulating various disposal sites for oil and gas drilling wastes. This includes managing materials such as drilling mud, sludge, cuttings, and produced water, which can be highly toxic. The rule-making process was accomplished through a task force comprising oil industry members and consultants providing recommendations over two years. The Railroad Commission solicited public comment on the revised draft until October 15. Read more
LOUISIANA
Clean Hydrogen Task Force Announces Projects
The Louisiana Future Energy Center, comprising 25 partner organizations focused on clean energy, has announced 40 projects that are expected to create more than 26,000 jobs and attract $60 billion in capital investment over the next five years. A legislative task force is exploring the importance of clean hydrogen for the state’s economy and aims to draft supportive legislation. The task force’s discussions emphasized that the energy transition is already underway, with more than one-third of Gulf Coast manufacturing investments in 2023 directed toward fuel adaptation for decarbonization. Jobs in refining and chemical manufacturing have increased by 2.8 percent from the previous year, with opportunities in clean energy plants outpacing those in upstream oil and gas by over 10,000 positions. Research was presented that highlighted the significant hydrogen demand for exports, electricity, and manufacturing, noting that Louisiana needs to prepare for the impacts of decarbonization policies and position itself as a global hydrogen exporter. Read more
Carbon Sequestration Well Research Project Planned
Louisiana State University researchers are set to drill a deep carbon sequestration well near Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge as part of a project aimed at establishing Louisiana as a hub for carbon capture technology. The well, scheduled for completion by 2025, will be located at LSU’s Petroleum Engineering Research, Training and Testing Lab, and will be used to test safety and monitoring technologies related to carbon sequestration. Funding for the project is partly sourced from federal and state dollars, along with contributions from Halliburton and ExxonMobil. Read more
Orphan Wells Program Revamped
The Louisiana Department of Energy & Natural Resources (DENR) is revamping its oilfield restoration program in response to the issue of orphaned (abandoned oil and gas) wells, with an estimated 4,700 such sites needing plugging. New DENR Secretary Tyler Gray, appointed by Governor Jeff Landry, acknowledged that the previous program, the Louisiana Oilfield Restoration Association (LORA), was ineffective in achieving its goals. State law previously limited Gray’s oversight of the Office of Conservation, restricting his ability to address LORA’s shortcomings. Recent legislation enhances the agency’s authority over the conservation office and lead to creation of the Louisiana Natural Resources Trust Authority, which will oversee financial security measures for drillers. The changes aim to ensure that operators have the financial means to maintain their wells and prevent future orphaned sites. Read more
Louisiana Hubs For Energy Resilience Program Funded
The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources has announced a $249 million investment for the Louisiana Hubs for Energy Resilient Energy Operation program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program. The initiative aims to improve the reliability of energy sources and create “hubs” that provide essential services, such as charging stations and air conditioning, during outages. The program will be implemented over eight years, allowing time to identify effective projects, with costs shared among partners. Read more
MISSISSIPPI
DEQ Fines Wood Pellet Company for Air Emission Violations
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has fined the UK-based company Drax $225,000 for air emissions violations at its wood pellet plant in Gloster, which emitted hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) beyond its permitted limits in 2022, including 84 percent more methanol. This marks the third fine for Drax since the plant’s opening in 2016, following a $2.5 million penalty in 2020 for significant violations of volatile organic compounds and a $110,000 fine in 2019 for recordkeeping issues. The current fine requires Drax to pay $150,000 directly to MDEQ and use $75,000 to construct a dust suppression screen, to address community concerns about dust pollution. Read more
MSU Convenes Pathways to Resilience Summit
Stakeholders convened at Mississippi State University for the inaugural Pathways to Resilience Summit, focusing on enhancing Mississippi’s resilience to environmental and man-made threats. The event, organized by MSU’s Office of Research and Economic Development and other partners, featured insights from academia, government, and private industry. Keynote speaker Narcisa Pricope emphasized the importance of environmental security for national security, while Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson advocated for a unified conservation approach that considers entire ecosystems. Speakers highlighted the interconnectedness of local and global challenges, including how advancements in artificial intelligence and geospatial technologies are improving predictions and responses to environmental scenarios. Participants also explored the potential for Mississippi to pursue a Sentinel Landscape designation to promote sustainable land use practices near military installations. Read more
ALABAMA
Mobile Bay Dredging Project Faces Opposition
A $366 million project by the U.S. Army Corps Engineers to deepen and widen the Mobile Bay shipping channel for larger cargo ships is being challenged in court by environmental groups, including Mobile Baykeeper and the Center for Biological Diversity. The project involves dredging 30 million cubic yards of sediment, much of which is planned to be dumped in the bay, potentially threatening vital oyster reefs and the livelihoods of local fishermen. While more than half of the dredged material is designated for beneficial uses such as wetlands restoration, these groups are advocating for the remaining sediment to be deposited further offshore to safeguard essential habitats such as oyster reefs and seagrass beds. Read more
Bluestone Coke Plant Owner Subject of Clean Water Act Lawsuit
Jay Justice, son of West Virginia Governor and U.S. Senate candidate Jim Justice, failed to appear at a federal court hearing regarding a Clean Water Act lawsuit against Bluestone Coke, the company he leads. The presiding judge issued an order declaring Justice and Bluestone in civil contempt for not adhering to court directives. The lawsuit alleges that the idled coking plant in north Birmingham is polluting groundwater and nearby creeks with harmful runoff, including various pollutants. Plaintiffs Black Warrior Riverkeeper and GASP are seeking a court order to halt these discharges and impose civil fines on Bluestone. The affected neighborhoods are part of a designated Superfund site due to severe contamination. Coke production, while essential for steel manufacturing, generates pollution and waste, contributing to health risks for local residents. Read more
Death of Coal Miner Spurs Mine Closing
A 52-year-old coal miner, Jose Antonio M. Lara, died in September due to injuries sustained from a rock collapse at the Oak Grove mine in Jefferson County. His death, which marks the ninth U.S. coal mining fatality of 2024 and the first in Alabama, follows a series of safety violations at Oak Grove, including issues related to roof and rock collapses. In the month prior to Lara’s death, the mine was cited 89 times for safety violations, with 34 deemed “significant and substantial.” United Mine Workers of America safety experts are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, while operations at the mine have been halted. Read more
U.S. Top Greenhouse Gas Emitter for Nine Consecutive Years Named The James H. Miller Jr. Electric Generating Plant in West Jefferson has been identified as the top greenhouse gas emitter in the U.S. for the ninth consecutive year, releasing almost 16.6 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2023, according to the U.S. EPA. This amount surpasses the second-place emitter, Missouri’s Labadie Power Plant, by approximately 1.2 million tons. Alabama Power has not announced plans to retire or convert any units at Plant Miller. According to the EPA, power plants were the country’s largest source of planet-warming gases, with 1,320 plants releasing about 1.5 billion tons of CO2 equivalent. Read more
