-Flint Hills Resources today announced it entered an agreement with the EPA to install state-of-the-art emissions control technology at its Port Arthur, Texas, chemical plant. The company has already completed some of the enhancements required by the consent decree, including enhanced leak detection and repair and a new flare gas recovery system. Flint Hills expects to spend approximately $44.5 million on the agreed-upon upgrades.
-The ethanol industry is mounting an effort to get the Supreme Court to overturn Calfornia’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Via Platts, the Renewable Fuel Association and Growth Energy have petitioned the high court to strike down the LCFS on the grounds that the law discriminates against Midwest ethanol producers. The state of California has determined that ethanol produced out-of-state is more carbon intensive than that produced in-state.
-Meanwhile, the American Petroleum Institute’s top downstream official expressed optimism that the group can get the House of Representatives to pass a bill reforming or repealing the Renewable Fuel Standard.
-Independent I&E firm Midstates Petroleum announced the resignation of President and CEO John A. Crum, effective March 31. Board member Peter J. Hill will serve as interim CEO until a permanent replacement is found. Midstates has oilfield operations in the Mississippian Lime play, the Anadarko Basin and the Upper Gulf Coast Tertiary trend.
-Northeast pipeline firm Millennium Pipeline brought back former president Joseph Shields to again lead the company. Shields returns to Millennium after serving in various leadership roles at NiSource’s Columbia Pipeline Group. He replaces Rocco D’Alessandro, who has opted to retire.
