Lewis Larsen

China holds 10,191 carbon capture and storage (#CCS) patents. That’s about half the world’s total and almost three times as many as second place U.S. which has 3,574. Japan ranked third with 2,977 patents. #sustainability #energytransition #CO2 #carbon #decarbonization #decarbonisation #ccus #carbonremoval

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The WSJ Editorial Board writes, climate-obsessed politicians are celebrating after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finalized a 1,363-page transmission rule to accelerate the green-energy buildout. Now they can bypass Congress on permitting reform. FERC’s actions are “what we need to see the clean energy revolution we catalyzed with the Inflation Reduction Act come to fruition,” Chuck Schumer crowed. What he means is that renewable developers will now capitalize on more taxpayer largesse, while states and businesses socialize the costs of their climate policies. Liberals are using FERC to drive policy they can’t pass in Congress. The goal is to transform the US electrical grid to accommodate solar and wind power while rolling over states that object. Renewables are intermittent and far from population centers, which increases transmission costs. Moreover, many states don’t want to pay for power they don’t need. And heavily subsidized renewable power can also undercut fossil-fuel and nuclear plants, which provide 24-hour baseload power Tens of thousands of miles of new transmission are needed to reach the climate lobby’s net-zero nirvana. But this won’t be quick or cheap. Princeton researchers in 2021 estimated the grid buildout alone will cost $3.5 trillion by 2050—and inflation has further run up costs for everything from copper wire to transformers since this estimate. FERC’s rule effectively subsidizes favored “socially responsible” corporations, as Commissioner Mark Christie noted in his dissent. Google will no longer have to worry about how to move wind power in one area to support its data centers in another. That will be the job of grid operators. Grid operators will also socialize transmission costs across states in their region. Liberals in DC are cheering FERC because they believe they will no longer have to compromise on permitting reform to advance their climate goals. But FERC’s rules don’t override the National Environmental Policy Act, which means states and third parties can still sue to block transmission lines. Our Take 1: This is an excellent piece by the Board. Although they don't say it outright, they've nailed the real reason why these changes are being pushed through—to keep sky-high power prices in liberal states from standing out like sore green thumbs compared to rates in states that haven't fallen for the phony promise of renewables. Is anyone surprised we're at this point? Our Take 2: There are plenty of hoops to jump through before this new rule changes things in a big way. But if it’s believed the stars will align for the rule to work as planned, we can foresee politicians in states like Michigan and New Jersey losing their minds over the prospects of contracting for renewable power generated in windy and sunny places like Oklahoma and Nevada—with ratepayers in every state in between sharing a good portion of the transmission costs. It could get a wild. ⚡💲👀 #renewables #electricity #energy

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Geothermal is Not Just for Electricity It is clear that new geothermal methods can be useful in many ways. Which raises the obvious question for any hoping-to-emerge technology -- which way can make the big money needed to justify the effort in a world with alternatives that are better known, though not necessarily better performing. https://lnkd.in/giQvTHSz

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Methane Rule Blowback Begins The EPA's new methane rule is deeply troubling, especially for small family-owned energy businesses. The potential for bankruptcies looms large, with devastating effects on families across the country. As these businesses struggle or close, we face the grim prospect of orphaned wells leaking methane into the atmosphere, exacerbating emissions issues. This not only endangers our environment but also threatens to push us towards greater reliance on foreign oil, sending our money to nations that may not have our best interests at heart. It's a concerning shift that could have far-reaching consequences, both economically and environmentally. Moreover, as the U.S. produces less, our allies across the Pacific will also find themselves forced to rely on these rogue enemy nations for oil and gas. This dependency not only jeopardizes our own energy security but also puts our allies' economies and way of life at risk. The ripple effects of these regulations could lead to a dangerous scenario where we are all beholden to nations that seek to undermine our interests and values. https://lnkd.in/gBBAXpxj If you want to learn how to receive a monthly Royalty check from a billion-dollar company, feel free to give us a call. Thank you! Visit our website. https://lnkd.in/gudyxG3m Listen to and like this video then Subscribe to this channel. Uncover ways to use Self Directed IRA and 1031 Exchange funds to purchase a mineral property. Do you have a strategy to protect your wealth from recession, inflation, stagflation, hyperinflation or the energy crisis? We offer FREE reviews if you are evaluating an oil well drilling or re-work deal. Give us a call or send us an email. #oilandgasindustry #minerals #mineralresources #energy #naturalgas #oilandgas This video is meant for educational or entertainment purposes only. This video is not a solicitation. I am not a lawyer, CPA, or financial advisor and I am not giving legal, financial, or tax advice.

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking to require current coal and future gas power plants to cut their emissions 75% with #carboncapture. #Electricity is the second-largest source of carbon emissions in the US, with coal providing about 16% and natural gas about 43%. Also read "Tough new EPA rules would force coal-fired power plants to capture emissions or shut down" in the Washington Post here: https://wapo.st/4dg7EAm Read the EPA press release here: https://lnkd.in/dgtSRSBK #sustainability #energytransition #IRA #CO2 #carbon #decarbonization #decarbonisation #ccs #climatechange #climateaction

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What's the best remedy for something horrible? Some portion of it. Give the people what they say they want and see how they cope. The problem with big national politics is that it's so removed from the people's real issues. It takes forever until those problems pierce through to the politicians as they are so far away, so shielded from those same problems in their elite bubble. Reform of this can only come from below. The states must drive the movement towards sanity and it must go even lower. County politics must drive state leaders to do what's good for the people. Pain from the national level will help keep them motivated. https://lnkd.in/d7N8ZCPQ

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Allysia Findley writes in the WSJ, power outages are now a common in renewables-obsessed California. LA's mayor blamed the most recent outages on "extreme heat." The real culprit is the state's climate policies. Sacramento politicians' drive to power all things with green energy is straining the grid. Power surges are causing the Port of LA to experience momentary losses of electricity. That has disrupted operations, delayed port traffic and caused accidents. The risk of power surges increases as more devices plug into the grid. This can overload local systems, in the same way that too many power-guzzling appliances can fry a home circuit. That hasn't deterred the port from seeking to make all equipment “zero emission" by 2030, or the state from mandating electric trucks and forcing ships to plug into the grid. California's utilities are spending heavily to accommodate more EVs and intermittent green energy. Unlike nuclear and fossil-fuel plants, solar and wind don't produce constant power at a steady frequency. High levels of renewable penetration can therefore make the grid less stable. Aging equipment compounds the problem. Still, California has required utilities to get 60% of their power from renewables by 2030 and 100% by 2045. The result—more equipment failures. To quell fury over outages and soaring rates, PG&E execs have held town-halls with customers. One session last year culminated with the power going out. Call it dark comedy. It isn't unusual for monthly electric bills in California during the summer to now top $500. Residential rates on average have increased about 11.8% in the past year and roughly 130% over the last decade, more than 4x as much as nationwide. One explanation is that to back up solar, utilities are commissioning large-scale batteries, which cost 10 times as much as natural-gas power. They also are prone to catch fire. A blaze at a battery storage facility in Escondido recently forced nearby schools to close and residents to evacuate. Meanwhile, California's “net metering" program forces customers to subsidize affiuent folks who own solar panels. The PUC estimates this will cost Pacific Gas and Electric Company without solar panels $6.5B this year. And "public benefit" programs subsidize lower rates and electric appliances and vehicles for lower-income households. As rates increase, so do the subsidies. All of this is why LA's Office of Public Accountability this summer recommended the city scale back its 100% renewable goal for 2035, warning its public utility risked adopting costly battery tech that could become outdated. This doesn't worry politicians in Sacramento, who've directed utilities to add more batteries and subsidize them for homeowners. A cynic might suspect they're cheering for outages, hoping blackouts will induce people to buy batteries. A pragmatist would buy fossil-fuel-powered generators before they, too, are run out of the state. ⚡♻️ 👀 #california #renewables #electricity

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Sometimes you find the truth where you least expect it. But in this article about oil industry expansion efforts in Ohio, the author states a fact that is known in the industry and rarely mentioned. Why? Because it means the future of the Permian and the US shale industry is compromised. "For petroleum companies, the process has also promoted efficient oil and gas extraction. Otherwise, reduced pressure from too many wells could reduce the total recovery from an area." Reduced total recovery. Remember that phrase these next few years as the Permian is not delivering as they promised. One thing you can't say about the US fracking boom is that it in any way resembles "efficient oil and gas extraction." Short term greed driven cash grab is more accurate. The dumb ways the oil industry has ignored its engineers and geologists to try to make CEOs rich are what is known as "mortgaging your future." And now we are there. https://lnkd.in/eQ8_jF54

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced new regulations requiring #coal #powerplants to #capture #CO2emissions or face closure, marking a significant step towards reducing #fossilfuel #emissions. Existing #coal-fired #plants and new natural gas plants active over 40% of the time must reduce #CO2emissions by 90%, with a compliance deadline of 2032 and potential closure by 2039 for non-compliance. Environmental groups generally welcome the regulations, viewing them as a crucial move towards transitioning away from #fossilfuels and curbing #carbonemissions. However, critics, including the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO, argue that the regulations are unlawful, unrealistic, and costly, expressing concerns over the feasibility of #carboncapture and the short compliance timeframe. The EPA's provisions include flexibility for #powerplants to temporarily bypass certain regulations in emergencies to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the grid. subrata hazra chowdhury https://lnkd.in/g942tvvq

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Kara Reinhardt at LinkedIn suggests Americans sour on #RenewableEnergy based on Pew Research Center surveys. Are they right? How about #NaturalGas, #Coal, #Nuclear? Although the research shows there is absolutely partisan divide, some things are united: "Overall, 58% of Americans say they oppose these rules that would make #EVs at least half of all new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. by 2032." In the land of the free, Americans don't particularly favor mandates, and with early adopters already sold on EVs, the next level of growth is naturally more difficult and a harder sell. It's not rocket science, it's price, range anxiety, battery replacement, and other real issues to address. It's not me saying it, it's the broad public. Overall, Americans are also not too happy about shouldering the load of high costs, inconvenience, etc. of the called for #ClimateAction. "One-in-four Americans say it is extremely or very important to them personally to limit their own 'carbon footprint.' Larger shares say this is either somewhat (42%) or not too or not at all (32%) important to them." I personally think PEW missed on this: "Among Republicans, younger adults stand out for being much more supportive of renewable energy than their older counterparts. When asked whether developing renewable energy or fossil fuel sources should be the more important priority, two-thirds of Republicans ages 18 to 29 prioritize renewable energy production. By contrast, about three-quarters of Republicans ages 65 and older (76%) prioritize developing production from oil, coal and natural gas. Almost all Democrats, regardless of age, prioritize developing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar." Interestingly, support for #OilandGas and #Coal increases across the age demographic for #Republicans. Is it knowledge and experience or is it simply favoring newer technology and the environment? But incredibly, among #Democrats, every age demographic is at ~88% #renewables over #FossilFuels. Digging a bit deeper might be interesting. Not given much research or depth is #NuclearEnergy (don't be surprised I guess), though they report: "A smaller majority (56%) also supports more nuclear power plants to generate electricity." But get this, support by Democrats (and all Americans) for #Fracking and #OffShore drilling has INCREASED (though modestly) since 2020 despite the then candidate #Biden declaring "No new drilling, period." #EnergySecurity and #EnergyCosts are important to everyone. What do you think? Let's make better energy decisions. RBAC, Inc. rbac.com Full report: https://lnkd.in/dJW2eHUC

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Illinois has the largest nuclear fleet in the United States and today's rule change from the U.S. Department of the Treasury is great news as it will allow Illinois Manufacturers'​ Association member Constellation and their merchant nuclear fleet to earn credits for hydrogen production. Nuclear power provides a significant amount of power for Illinois homes and businesses while operating 24/7 - during the heat waves and polar vortexes. We need generation and transmission to meet the need of our manufacturing sector, data centers, businesses and families. “We are pleased to see that the U.S. Treasury Department has changed course and that the final rule allows a significant portion of the existing merchant nuclear fleet to earn credits for hydrogen production. Our customers need access to reliable nuclear energy in order to transition to clean hydrogen and other sustainable technologies as they reliably power their businesses and drive economic growth for our nation,” said Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation. “As illustrated by yesterday’s announcement of the landmark 10-year agreement between the U.S. General Services Administration and Constellation for clean, 24/7, always-on nuclear power, the government, utilities and American families and businesses are turning to nuclear energy as a resource to meet their power and sustainability needs. While any incrementality limit is incompatible with the conclusion that clean hydrogen customers should be able to use reliable nuclear energy from America’s fleet of plants, the final rule is an important step in the right direction.” https://lnkd.in/gidcFNtK

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Getting to 80 years of baseload in Michigan People keep telling me that Solar + Storage is way cheaper than nuclear power. So let me try again to put some facts into this discussion. Nuclear power is an 80–100-year asset, solar is typically a 20-year asset, and batteries are 15 year assets. So, build nuclear once, solar 4 times and batteries 6 times Nuclear is between 6 and 15 billion a GW (so we will use $15 billion – the cost of Vogtle) Solar is about $1/watt installed A kilowatt of PV produces 52 kWh in December There are 744 hours in December so 52kWh/744 = 69 watts in an average hour 14.31 GW of solar PV in December is 1 GW of baseload power Using good farmland (flat, and level) that asset covers 112 square miles @5 acres per MW. The cost is $14.3 billion, not including transmission and substations. Batteries are $600/kWh installed. Solar operates 4 hours a day above the 1 GW level, so 20 hours of storage would be required to make solar baseload in Michigan. That is 20 GWH for day/night shifting (on long term storage). $12 billion. Build 80-year asset: Nuclear = $15 billion Solar PV = 14.3 billion X 80/20 = 57.2 billion Storage = 12 billion X 80/15 = 64 billion Nuclear $15 billion vs. Solar + Storage $121 billion It costs more to maintain this amount of battery and solar PV than it does Nuclear. Note in the first comment are the sources used to put this together.

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Former Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz, remains true to the realities of physics. As a society, we must value three things at the same time: 1. Clean Energy 2. Affordable Energy 3. Reliable Energy They are not mutually exclusive, despite what you’ve been told. “Natural gas plays a critical role in balancing the three dimensions of the “energy trilemma”: energy security (the ability to meet energy demands), energy equity (the ability to provide affordable energy for domestic and commercial use), and environmental sustainability (the ability to address climate change and other energy pollution issues). Natural gas is relatively low-cost, abundant, and versatile; it can help manage the intermittency of renewable power and plays an essential role in meeting energy demands,” the report says. Most do not realize that Poverty ranks as the #1 issue in the world, according to the dozens of millions of voters at the United Nations, while Climate Change ranks #13 (out of 17 total issues). As Dr. Scott Tinker teaches, energy doesn’t end poverty, but you can’t end poverty without energy. Meanwhile, representing the extremists in this country who minimize the value of people in favor of nature, Michael Mann continues to resort to the lowest levels of Graham’s Heirarchy of Debate - instead of dealing with realities - he responded to this announcement with Ad Hominem attacks. “My concern is that Moniz is—and perhaps has been since his time in the administration—an advocate for polluters over people and the planet,” he said. I am confident that the United States voter sees people like Michael Mann for what he is - a zealot - and is able to appreciate common sense and basic physics when they see it too. I’m thankful for the nuclear MIT physicist, and former Obama Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz.

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Read "Bottleneck Grows For #CCS Projects Seeking EPA Approval" for a quick summary of the current state of Class VI #carbonstorage permitting by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There are currently 138 wells (47 projects) in the application process: 7 wells in the Completeness Review; 127 wells in the Technical Review; 0 wells in the Draft Permit; 0 wells in Public Comment; and 4 wells in Final Decision. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/eAWgCZCX #energytransition #IRA #CO2 #carbon #decarbonization #decarbonisation #carboncapture #ccus #carbonremoval #DAC #directaircapture #carbonsequestration

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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) some 15 years ago got a feasibility study on a small hydro electricity plant (HEP) at the Kiri Dam done - it was brilliant, they also had a multi-scenario cash flow financing model sensitivity analysis for 10-year, 20-year et 30-year PPAs and had AFC, AfDB, IFC, USEXIM, et al ready to fund either a 20MW or 35MW Kiri HEP. Surely, Adamawa State government should look to rekindling and executing this.

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🔎 CO2 storage and geothermal in the same room - a crossover episode? Captured carbon dioxide could be used in geothermal systems as the heat extraction fluid. There're lots of uncertainties and multiple technical and economic challenges, and pilot projects are yet to come. However, policies, regulations and public support are likely to be equally critical to integrating CO2 storage with geothermal power generation at a commercial scale Andy Wood Rosana Galindo Tiago Jacques #carboncapture #carbonstorage #geothermal #policy #regulation #publicacceptance #publicawareness #impactassessment #taxcredits #research #pilotprojects https://lnkd.in/eHbsvjnx

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A recent report prepared by ASTRAPÉ CONSULTING for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) showed that Illinois could address its resource adequacy shortfall through connecting 2,972MW worth of new energy storage. Check out my most recent article with Energy-Storage.news for the breakdown 📊 #EnergyStorage #PJM #Renewables #EnergyTransition

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Right Tech Moves, Even if Speculative: A Call for Committed Nuclear Strategy While big tech's involvement in nuclear energy through speculative MOUs and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) might seem like the right move, it’s largely a PR exercise. Without a robust federal mandate and long-term funding policies in place for the next 15-20 years, new nuclear programs will struggle to gain momentum. We've been down this road before successfully in the 1960s-1990s, but with today’s advanced systems, materials, and methodologies, we can do far better. What we can't afford is a stop-start, piecemeal approach. The stakes are too high for anything less than a fully committed, cohesive strategy aimed at achieving lasting progress.

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