MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: PA lawmaker touts carbon capture bill; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Shell expands Gulf of America leadership position with Dover development

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: A state lawmaker from Greater Williamsport, PA Senator Gene Yaw, serving five north-central Pennsylvania counties, is pushing a carbon capture bill in 2025 to address critical environmental and energy issues, as reported by the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. The legislation, championed by Yaw (chairman of state Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee), aims to establish carbon capture hubs and enhance electric grid reliability through increased generation focus. Yaw argues that a robust economy is essential for environmental progress, linking economic strength to sustainable energy solutions. This initiative reflects a broader strategy to tackle statewide challenges like grid stability and emissions reduction, emphasizing practical measures to balance economic and ecological needs. The bill’s progress is seen as a step toward integrating advanced technologies into Pennsylvania’s energy framework, potentially setting a precedent for other regions.

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Shell Offshore Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc, has achieved first oil production from the Dover development, further strengthening its leadership position in the Gulf of America. Discovered in 2018 within the Mississippi Canyon area, approximately 170 miles southeast of New Orleans, the project targets an estimated 40 million barrels of oil equivalent in recoverable resources. Fully owned and operated by Shell, Dover showcases operational efficiency and collaboration with partners like C-Innovation and Bordelon Marine. This milestone builds on Shell’s strong presence in the Gulf, where it produces over 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily and holds a significant leasehold. The development aligns with Shell’s strategy to maximize value from deep-water assets, reinforcing its long-term commitment to sustainable energy production in the Gulf, a key area since Shell's first well there in 1948.

CF Industries CF Industries Holdings, Inc., a leading ammonia producer, is partnering with JERA Co., Inc., Japan’s largest energy company, and Mitsui & Co., Inc., a global trading firm, to form a joint venture for the construction of the world’s largest low-carbon ammonia plant in Louisiana. Announ, the initiative aims to support Japan's energy security and decarbonization efforts. The joint venture will hold a 40% interest, with JERA at 35% and Mitsui at 25%, in the $4 billion plant, set to commence operations in 2029. The plant will use autothermal reforming technology to produce 1.4 million metric tons of ammonia annually, capturing over 95% of CO2 emissions—about 2.3 million metric tons yearly—for sequestration by 1PointFive. The project is eligible for Section 45Q tax credits.

Chevron is set to lay off approximately 600 employees at its San Ramon, California, headquarters as it prepares to move its corporate operations to Houston, Texas, over the next five years. The job cuts, affecting various departments, represent about 25% of Chevron’s San Ramon workforce and are part of a broader restructuring effort. The move to Texas, where Chevron already employs 7,000 people, is driven by the state’s business-friendly environment. Positions supporting California operations will remain in San Ramon. This relocation aligns Chevron with other Fortune 500 companies moving to Houston, reflecting a strategic pivot amid operational changes.

New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program designed to reduce CO2 emissions, is being questioned as the state legislature grapples with rising energy costs that are disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income communities. While RGGI is credited with driving the closure of coal plants and fostering cleaner energy sources like nuclear, renewables, and natural gas in New Jersey, a recent TCR report highlights unintended consequences: the state’s involvement now increases CO2 emissions by 2.7 million short tons annually across the PJM electricity market—equivalent to adding over 532,000 vehicles to the road. This “l(fā)eakage” occurs as RGGI imposes a tax-like cost on New Jersey’s efficient gas generators, making them less competitive than dirtier coal plants in non-RGGI states like Pennsylvania, raising electricity costs by $1.16 billion and generating only $270 million in auction revenue. Critics argue that reconsidering RGGI could lower bills, reduce emissions, and support in-state generation.

In a session marked by economic recovery but also rising inflation and food insecurity, multiple bills aimed at regulating the oil and gas industry, a major economic driver in the state, failed to pass despite Democratic control of both the House and Senate. Among the legislation that didn’t advance was a measure to increase royalty rates on state land leases from 20% to 25%, a change that had not been seen since 1970. Another bill, which stalled in a House committee, aimed to ban freshwater use in oil and gas production, a practice that

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