-The EPA’s recent claim that fracking has not caused “widespread, systemic impacts” on U.S. drinking water has people on both sides of the debate feeling validated. As the Christian Science Monitor notes, the API pointed to the EPA’s study as proof that fracking is “being done safely,” while the Sierra Club used the agency’s qualifier that fracking has the potential to affect drinking water as confirmation the practice is “dirty.” The EPA did find a few instances of drinking water well contamination from fracking, but the number was small compared to the number of wells it studied.
-A U.S. appeals court today rejected a challenge by industry groups to the Obama Administration’s proposed regulations on CO2 emissions from existing power plants. Via Reuters, a three-judge panel determined more than a dozen states and Murray Energy Corp. filed lawsuits against the government too soon. Judge Brett Kavanaugh wrote on behalf of the court the plaintiffs would have to wait until the rules have been formally issued. The EPA is expected to issue final rules as soon as August.
-Meanwhile, the U.S. power sector’s coal consumption will hit its lowest level since 1991 this year, according to the Energy Information Administration. Via Platts, low natural gas prices are the reason for the precipitous drop in coal use by the power sector. The EIA said average electricity usage would increase 2.6% year-over-year this summer.
-Energy Transfer Partners signed long-term contracts with Pennsylvania driller EdgeMarc to support a new $1.5 billion natural gas pipeline and processing project. Via FuelFix, Energy Transfer said it made a deal to buy 20 miles of pipeline from EdgeMarc and provide the driller gas gathering, processing and fractionation services. The new project is expected to start up in 2017.
-Spectra Energy is preparing to recover a natural gas pipeline that ruptured in the Arkansas River May 31. Via the Associated Press, a section of the pipeline floated downstream and came to a stop on the north bank of the river. The rupture prompted a brief closure of a two-mile stretch of the river near Little Rock, Ark.
