EnviroPolitics Blog

Federally assisted orphan well cleanup in Pa underscores the enormity of the task

An abandoned oil well in a residential yard in Ohio Township, Pa. Photographer: Bobby Magill/Bloomberg Law

By Bobby Magill, Bloomberg Law

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited the Pittsburgh area Thursday to announce the plugging of the first 10 abandoned oil and gas wells in the area paid for with funds from the 2021 infrastructure law.

But with 27,000 known abandoned oil wells to plug across Pennsylvania and possibly hundreds of thousands more left to discover, the announcement underscored the daunting task ahead for Congress and the federal and state agencies in charge of finding and capping oil and gas wells.

Haaland, standing in front of a derelict oil well in Ed and Mary Vojtas’ front yard in Ohio Township, Pa., said the well is leaking gas and will be one of the state’s first to be plugged with federal infrastructure money.

“These wells emit methane, they litter the landscape with rusted dangerous equipment posing safety hazards and threats to wildlife,” Haaland said. “Many of these wells have been left behind in backyards.”

Pennsylvania, the birthplace of America’s oil industry, has more documented orphaned wells than any other state. Its effort to plug the state’s orphaned wells using federal infrastructure funding starts soon, with 10 wells in the Pittsburgh area, Richard Negrin, acting director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, said, speaking alongside Haaland.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaks about orphaned oil wells in Ohio Township, Pa., on Feb. 9, 2023. Photographer: Bobby Magill/Bloomberg Law

Until now, Pennsylvania was able to plug “only a handful” of abandoned wells annually, but federal funding will allow the state to plug 235 wells in 2023, Negrin said.

Millions of Wells to Cap

Read the full story here

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Soaring energy prices motivating Connecticut buildings to move to solar

By Braley Dodson, News 8

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Pete Rappoccio knew he wanted solar panels on Sign Pro’s new building.

It was 2018. The manufacturing facility was set to be about 40,000 square feet, housing printers, and welders. Solar wasn’t a very common feature at the time, but it was a fresh site, and he knew it was time to take the leap.

“It was always something I looked at, and I looked forward to as a possibility,” he said.

About 890 solar panels went onto that roof in Plantsville — enough to power 1,340 houses. Since then, the business has tripled its number of employees, built another facility and is using the extra electricity it’s generated to power a new electric vehicle fleet.

“It’s pretty huge,” Rappoccio said.

From the beginning, that meant not having to pay the supply portion of the company’s Eversource bill. After adding a solar bank to store that extra energy to use at night, Sign Pro is now completely off the grid.

“We’ve been very happy with our solar program and what we’ve done is any surplus money, we’ve reinvested into our company,” Rappoccio said.

It’s a gamble that has already paid for itself, with the cost of the new storage bank alone recouping the price of the investment within four months.

And with Connecticut electric companies increasing prices by 50% this year, Rappoccio is glad for that decision he made just a few years ago. He now advocates for other businesses to also make the switch.

“If you see the amount that comes back, it’s amazing,” he said.

Read the full story here

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Loggers forecast a ‘huge effect” if Fort Drum’s biomass plant cannot stay open

ReEnergy is scheduled to close in March 2023 if the state doesn’t support their petition to stay open

By Zach Grady, 7 News, Waretown, NY

FORT DRUM, New York (WWNY) – You don’t normally think about where the wood goes when Bill Elliott & Sons Tree Service cuts down a tree. A large amount of the wood waste is sent to Fort Drum and its Biomass plant. A plant that is set to shut down.

“Huge effect. Right now, we generate about 60,000 yards a year of wood waste. About 45,000 of that goes to ReEnergy,” said Justin Elliott, Co-Owner of Bill Elliott & Sons Tree Service.

The biomass plant provides Fort Drum with all of its power, not needing power from National Grid.

ReEnergy CEO Larry Richardson says more than 300 jobs could be lost if the plant does closes in March.

“It will affect probably two employees at our place; a guy in the yard, and a truck driver,” said Elliott.

The issue is what’s now considered as renewable energy. Those that are, like hydro and wind, are eligible for state tax incentives. Those that aren’t, like biomass, do not.

Richardson says “Although we enjoy strong local support, including our local state legislators, we were unable to secure the support we needed from the State Legislature or Public Service Commission.”

ReEnergy needs support from the state by month’s end or else the company says it’ll start the process of closing.

Read the full story here

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Solar farms are a growing cash crop for farmers in Sussex County, Delaware

More and more solar panels will be constructed throughout Sussex County as county officials act on several applications for rural projects. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

By Ron MacArthur, Cape Gazette

Solar farms are rapidly becoming another cash crop for Sussex County farmers. Over the past two years, three solar projects have been approved, another six are pending a decision by Sussex County Council and another was introduced during the council’s Jan. 20 meeting. All of the projects are located on farmland.

In Sussex County, conditional-use applications are required because solar farms are not a permitted use in AR-1, agricultural-residential, zoning.

The largest project to date was approved in 2022. Freeman Solar has plans to construct a 75-megawatt solar farm with 166,500 panels on 10 parcels totaling 351 acres on Calhoun Road near Milford.

Two other projects have been approved:

• Broom Solar Partners – 3 megawatts on 35 acres on the north side of Frankford School Road near Pyle Center Road near Frankford

• Heimlich Solar Partners – 4.5 megawatts with 16,000 solar panels on 35 acres on the east side of Mile Stretch Road and near the Delaware Electric Cooperative facility near Greenwood. Many of the proposed solar fields will provide power to the cooperative.

Pending are:

Read the full story here

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Staten Island residents force developers to cancel plans for lithium-ion battery storage

Community asks: Are lithium-ion battery storage facilities safe?

New Leaf Energy has withdrawn plans for a lithium-ion battery storage facility that was slated to be built in the parking lot of Our Lady of Pity R.C. Church in Bulls Head. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

By Jessica Jones-Gorman , Staten Island Advance|

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – After community members and local leaders voiced concerns about the location of a proposed lithium-ion battery storage facility, condemning its purported placement in close proximity to a church and six local schools, developers have announced their intention to officially withdraw project plans.

“A rep from New Leaf Energy called my office this morning and told me the company will be rescinding their application,” said Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, (R-Mid-Island/North Shore) who represents the 63rd district and has been vocal about community opposition to the project.

“Although these facilities are beneficial to our distribution grid, due to the risk of fire and exposure to toxic chemicals, this has no place in school or residential zones. This project lacked concern for public safety and common sense, and my office will always stand up to protect their children and neighborhoods. I will move forward with introducing legislation at the state level to prevent these situations from occurring in sensitive zones in the future,” he added.

According to information provided by New Leaf, the battery energy storage system (BESS) was intended to include six large-scale rechargeable lithium-ion battery systems manufactured by Tesla, each one capable of storing up to 20 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity. Con Edison would store energy produced during periods of low demand there, and then draw power from the facility during peak hours.

Read the full story here

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NJ legislation would reduce organic waste going to landfills by 75% by 2032. Is it too aggressive?

It’s a target even advocates say will be hard to hit

By TOM JOHNSON, NJ Spotlight News

New Jersey wants to limit the amount of organic waste being dumped in landfills across the state, a goal touted as another step in its fight to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change.

The Senate Environment and Energy Committee voted 3–2 to approve a bill that aims to slash the amount of organic waste going into landfills. The goal is that by 2032 the state would cut 75% of the amount deposited in landfills, as measured against the amount of organic waste dumped in 2016. It’s a target even its advocates concede may be difficult to reach.

The legislation (S-421), sponsored by Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), is part of an ongoing initiative to better manage the disposal of organic waste, mostly involving food waste, which can break down and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Collecting landfill methane

So much methane is released by landfills that several counties now collect it and use it to produce energy. But much of it escapes into the atmosphere and ends up being a significant contributor to climate change. Organic waste is the largest component of municipal garbage.

“It (methane) is as much and maybe having more of an impact than carbon dioxide,’’ said Smith, the chairman of the committee. “We really need to get it out of landfills.’’

New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act mandates the state reduce global warming emissions by 80% below 2006 levels by mid-century, an aggressive target that clean-energy advocates say will be difficult to achieve.

Gary Sondermeyer, representing the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, a supporter of the bill, questioned whether the state could attain that target. “We’re not sure we are ready to do 75%,’’ he said, blaming what he described as the “woefully inadequate composting infrastructure in the state.’’

Ray Cantor, an executive with the NJBIA (New Jersey Business & Industry Association), also questioned whether the bill’s ambitious targets are achievable. He also objected to choosing the state Department of Environmental Protection to write regulations aimed at attaining those targets, fearing the rules will be too onerous.

Sen. Edward Durr (R-Gloucester), who voted against the bill, agreed, saying that he is concerned the lawmakers were giving the DEP too much power.

But the bill won backing from several environmental groups. “Food waste is one of our largest sources of greenhouse emissions,’’ said Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey. “Increasing composting and reducing food waste going to landfills needs to be a state priority.’’

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