Trump signs legislation to boost DOE funding, extend wind power credit

President Donald Trump signed a "minibus" appropriations package into law Dec. 20 that increases funding for U.S. Department of Energy research efforts and extends the federal wind energy production tax credit by a year through 2020.

New Mexico aims to curb gas venting, flaring as volumes exceed state demand

As New Mexico's oil and gas industry vents and flares a higher volume of natural gas than state residents consume, stakeholders are looking at ways to reduce methane waste.

US EPA proposes new federal coal ash permit program, approves Georgia plan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Dec. 19 proposed to establish a new federal coal ash permitting program that could allow electric utilities to self-certify coal ash impoundments and landfills indefinitely without subjecting those facilities to outside review.

US EPA nixes financial requirements on coal, petroleum products sector

The U.S. EPA proposed not imposing financial responsibility requirements for facilities in the petroleum and coal products manufacturing industry under a section of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, or CERCLA.

EPA expands upstream oil and gas emissions well site self-audit program

A voluntary program allowing upstream oil and natural gas producers to audit and disclose Clean Air Act violations from well site vapor control systems and storage tanks has been expanded to include all existing upstream facilities, the U.S. EPA announced Dec. 19.

Climate advocates take aim at Md. emissions plan

An initial proposal for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland may not get the state to its goals, according to a review conducted on behalf of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the Climate XChange.

Renewable natural gas could help curb emissions, industry study says

Renewable natural gas use across multiple sectors could play a material role in curbing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent study the American Gas Foundation released.

Gas heating tech could cut residential emissions by 24% to 40%, industry says

Adoption of new natural gas technologies for home heating could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector, according to a study commissioned by the American Gas Association.

Conservation groups launch lawsuit over Colo. coal mine's methane emissions

Conservation groups filed a formal notice of an intent to sue Arch Coal Inc. over failure to reduce pollution from its West Elk mine in Colorado.

MIT study challenges need for methane capture, instead pushes renewables

Rather than trying to pin down and capture methane emissions leaking into the atmosphere because of its potent warming potential, policy makers can ignore methane reduction efforts and instead invest in renewables to meet climate change goals more efficiently, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology posit in a research paper.

Schlumberger commits to emissions reduction, will set targets by 2021

As part of its Global Stewardship program, oilfield services major Schlumberger Ltd. committed to setting science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, it said Dec. 19.