FracTracker Alliance

FracTracker’s Midwest Program Coordinator, Gwen Klenke, was invited to speak at Howell Township’s informational meeting about a proposed data center project. The meeting drew more than 200 residents, who came to learn about what a large-scale data center could mean for electricity demand and local infrastructure. Gwen presented alongside Dr. Ben Green, Prescott Balch, and Andrea Pierce, sharing analysis on grid capacity, transmission needs, and the impacts of backup generators. Since that meeting, the developer has withdrawn the project and the accompanying zoning text amendment! The township board has also enacted a six-month moratorium to allow for additional review. We were so grateful to support the community organizers who led this effort and provide clear, data-driven information to residents! #EnergyPolicy #DataCenters #GridInfrastructure #Michigan https://lnkd.in/dGFq7thz

FracTracker Alliance is hiring! 🌱📊 We’re excited to share three new opportunities to engage in meaningful research, data analysis, and environmental justice work — including: • a part-time Spring Internship • a 6-month Data Center Research Fellowship • a full-time Coordinator role supporting the Environmental Justice Data & Mapping Society Join us in advancing public health, community advocacy, and equitable environmental data practices. Learn more & apply: https://lnkd.in/gHMB54eE

GREAT NEWS 🎉 Pennsylvania’s Environmental Quality Board voted to accept a petition for study that could increase minimum setbacks between fracking wells and homes, schools, and drinking water sources—protections that affect 3.6 million Pennsylvanians living near fracked wells. By accepting the petition, EQB has directed DEP to formally evaluate the science and determine whether the state should strengthen its outdated no-drill zones. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eGHea9qp  Read the press release: https://lnkd.in/eCSPKRz6

Huge news from the UK today: after a massive fight at COP over language on fossil fuel phase-out, the UK has announced that it will in fact be keeping many millions of barrels of oil & gas in the ground. Deeds rather than words for a change! Today the UK gov published its North Sea Future Plan. It includes its approach to exploration licensing and its plan for O&G workers & communities. The headline is that there will be no new oil & gas exploration licences issued. After 50 years of drilling, this is a huge step. The govt states "alongside meeting our moral obligation to support today’s workers, we must also meet our moral obligation towards future generations by helping to tackle the climate crisis". The plan does include a new instrument called a Transitional Energy Certificate, which will allow known resources to be developed if they're linked to an existing field & needed for a managed transition. Our calculation is that these tie-backs would, at most lead to 45 million barrels of oil-equivalent in total. And that's if they're all developed. Given the Rosebank oil field is 500 mill barrels, it's a comparatively small amount of resource. Plus the govt has confirmed that it won't issue licences for onshore O&G anymore either. The other big news is that the govt has jettisoned the principal objective of "maximising economic recovery of offshore oil & gas" for the O&G regulator, replacing it with objectives aligned with the gov'ts broader socio-economic & climate objectives. No doubt there will be much discussion about how those new objectives are interpreted in practice, but replacing MER as an objective is an eminently sensible, welcome move. Although we've repeatedly said new licensing will do little for jobs or energy security, this is a line that desperately needs to be drawn for a safe climate. It's a historic, hugely welcome development for a significant oil & gas producing country, a G7 economy & a country with significant historical responsibility for the climate crisis to take this step. Now onto the just transition part: The govt deserves credit for recognising there's a need for a plan & taking steps in the year like its Clean Energy Jobs Plan, which was welcomed by unions. There's also been a recognition that for offshore wind to create jobs at scale, we need to ramp up manufacturing, upgrade port infrastructure, support workers to redeploy in new sectors & ensure supply chains can pivot. The new plan doesn't get us there & needs to go much further. It does establish a North Sea Future Board w union reps to oversee delivery, including more support for the supply chain. It’s crucial that the Board, which should also include Scottish gov, strengthens the plan. All up, this is a major break from the previous market-led approach to the North Sea, which has led to companies laying off workers while making huge profits & kept drilling going in a climate crisis. There's much more to do but this at least feels like a new start.

FracTracker is featured in The New York Times! 🎉 Our data reveals that more than 168,000 abandoned oil and gas wells lie within 30 miles of U.S. national parks. These neglected wells leak methane, threaten drinking water, and pose serious risks to public health and the climate. At FracTracker, we’re committed to making data like this public so communities, regulators, and advocates can act on it. 👉 Read the article https://lnkd.in/eEdcvuQ3

Know someone who wants to help shape how FracTracker shares data and stories that advance public health and environmental justice? This full-time, remote position oversees FracTracker’s digital presence, reviews and edits all organizational content, and works closely with staff to make complex information accessible and engaging. The right candidate will have strong writing and editing skills, experience managing a CMS, and an eye for detail and quality. Apply today at https://lnkd.in/g2hWMnT2