Maryland commission backs fuel CO2 program
Maryland should move ahead with its plans to join a regional cap-and-trade program to reduce CO2 from the transportation sector to keep the state on a path to slash its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a government advisory panel says.
The Maryland Commission on Climate Change on 17 November gave a strong endorsement of making TCI a key part of the state's plan to reduce emissions, while also calling on lawmakers to set even more aggressive GHG targets.
"Maryland should lead in the interstate TCI discussions to develop, finalize, adopt, and implement an ambitious, equitable, and sustainable regional transportation cap-and-invest program that creates a new source of funding for clean transportation solutions that reduce GHG emissions," the commission said in its annual report to governor Larry Hogan (R) and the state legislature.
The commission, whose members include Hogan administration officials, lawmakers and representatives from utilities, environmental organizations and other stakeholder groups, called for the TCI program to "begin as soon as possible, ideally by 2022."
More broadly, the commission called for the legislature to replace the 40pc by 2030 GHG-reduction target it set in 2016 with a mandate to cut emissions by 50pc from 2006 levels by 2030. It also called for the state's plans to be designed with a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.
Hogan's administration did not immediately say how it would act on the commission's recommendations, but it was involved in crafting them.
"Maryland continues to make real progress in finding common ground for common sense solutions to our environmental challenges, and this report reflects that commitment," said Maryland Department of Environment secretary Ben Grumbles, who serves as chair of the commission.
The commission's recommendations comes as the TCI members are nearing the release of a final framework for the market.
As currently envisioned, the program would cover emissions from the petroleum component of on-road gasoline and diesel fuel use in 11 states and the District of Columbia, from Virginia north to Maine. New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu (R) last year said his state would not join the market because it will lead to higher gasoline prices, a concern echoed by many of the fuel suppliers that would be regulated by the market.
The states are contemplating requiring a 20-25pc reduction in emissions from 2022-32. The program would cover fuel suppliers and require them to hold allowances to cover reported emissions. Auctions would serve as the primary vehicle for distributing allowances.
Transportation, at 43pc, is by far the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the TCI states.
It remains to be seen how the Covid-19 pandemic will affect the final shape of the program, although Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker (R), one of the leading proponents of the market, this week suggested it may influence things.
Baker said the TCI members have been updating their modeling data to determine how the pandemic affects the final costs and benefits of the market. The update is needed because "we are living in a point in time now that is dramatically different" than a year ago when states first outlined their vision for the cap-and-trade program, he said.
"It is certainly something we think is an important part of helping states make decisions on this," Baker said during a 17 November press conference.
Once the final market framework is finished, each TCI state will decide whether to participate in the market.
Last year, the TCI members said the initial CO2 cap could be around 254mn short tons in 2022, which would be about three times the size of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a 10-state cap-and-trade program for power plant emissions that includes many TCI members, including Maryland and Massachusetts.
The Maryland commission for its part said the pandemic should not delay the state's efforts.
"Now, more than ever, Maryland should stay the course and lead on environmental protection efforts and make their climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy a key piece of the state's economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic," the commission said.
Related news posts
Etanol hidratado impulsiona início da safra 2024-25
Etanol hidratado impulsiona início da safra 2024-25
Sao Paulo, 26 April (Argus) — A produção de etanol no Centro-Sul aumentou 7,2pc na primeira quinzena de abril em relação ao ano passado, com produtores ainda favorecendo o hidratado em meio à demanda crescente. As usinas da região entregaram 841.000m³ ao mercado na primeira quinzena da safra de 2024-25, em comparação com 784.000m³ no mesmo período do ano anterior, segundo os dados mais recentes da União da Indústria de Cana-de-Açúcar e Bioenergia (Unica). A produção de etanol hidratado subiu 39pc e impulsionou a alta anual, totalizando 693.000m³. Já o processamento de anidro, utilizado como mistura na gasolina, caiu 48pc, para 174.000m³. As usinas permanecem destinando mais matéria-prima para o E100, em um cenário de paridade favorável para o biocombustível frente à gasolina na bomba. O hidratado está mais vantajoso para os motoristas em 80pc do mercado de combustíveis leves, disse a Unica. As plantas do Centro-Sul venderam 1,3 milhão de m³ de etanol para o mercado doméstico em abril, salto de 41pc na variação anual. As vendas de hidratado representaram 902.355m³ deste total, alta de 61pc, enquanto as de anidro subiram 14pc, para 448.431m³. Já as exportações totalizaram 52.104m³, queda de 6,2pc. O mix de produção na quinzena foi de 56,4pc para o etanol e 43,6pc para o açúcar, em comparação com 62pc para o biocombustível no mesmo intervalo em 2023. No período, a moagem de cana-de-açúcar avançou 14pc, para 15,8 milhões de t, à medida que a temporada inicia suas operações. Até 16 de abril, 171 usinas estavam operando no ciclo de 2024-25, número maior do que as 166 no mesmo intervalo do ano anterior. A Unica espera que mais 54 unidades recomecem as atividades durante a segunda metade do mês. O etanol à base de milho representou 32pc do volume total produzido na primeira parte de abril, somando 270.500m³, crescimento de 12pc na comparação anual. Por Laura Guedes Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.
Lyondell Houston refinery to run at 95pc in 2Q
Lyondell Houston refinery to run at 95pc in 2Q
Houston, 26 April (Argus) — LyondellBasell plans to run its 264,000 b/d Houston, Texas, refinery at average utilization rates of 95pc in the second quarter and may convert its hydrotreaters to petrochemical production when the plant shuts down in early 2025. The company's sole crude refinery ran at an average 79pc utilization rate in the first quarter due to planned maintenance on a coking unit , the company said in earnings released today . "We are evaluating options for the potential reuse of the hydrotreaters at our Houston refinery to purify recycled and renewable cracker feedstocks," chief executive Peter Vanacker said on a conference call today discussing earnings. Lyondell said last year a conversion would feed the company's two 930,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr steam crackers at its Channelview petrochemicals complex. The company today said it plans to make a final investment decision on the conversion in 2025. Hydrotreater conversions — such as one Chevron completed last year at its 269,000 b/d El Segundo, California, refinery — allow the unit to produce renewable diesel, which creates renewable naphtha as a byproduct. Renewable naphtha can be used as a gasoline blending component, steam cracker feed or feed for hydrogen producing units, according to engineering firm Topsoe. Lyondell last year said the Houston refinery will continue to run until early 2025, delaying a previously announced plan to stop crude processing by the end of 2023. By Nathan Risser Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU adopts Net-Zero Industry Act
EU adopts Net-Zero Industry Act
London, 26 April (Argus) — Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have adopted Net-Zero Industry Act, which plans to allocate funds towards the production of net-zero technologies. The act provides a pathway to scale up development and production of technologies that are critical towards meeting the EU's recommendation of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. This would include solar panels, electrolysers and fuel cells, batteries, heat pumps, onshore and offshore wind turbines, grid technologies, sustainable biomethane, as well as carbon capture and storage (CCS). The act is designed to help simplify the regulatory framework for the manufacture of these technologies in order to incentivise European production and supply. It also sets a target of 40pc production within the EU for its annual "deployment needs" of these technologies by 2030. Time limits will be instated on permit grants for manufacturing projects, at 12 months if the manufacturing capacity is under 1 GW/yr and 18 months for those above that. It will introduce time limits of nine months for "net-zero strategic projects" of less than 1 GW/yr and 12 months for those above. This is further complemented by the introduction of net-zero strategic projects for CO2 storage, to help support the development of CCS technology. The act was met with positive reactions from the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA), which said the bill will set the benchmark for member states to match 40pc of the deployment needs for clean fuels for shipping with production capacity. ECSA said the Net-Zero Industry Act will be instrumental in supporting the shipping industry to meet targets set under FuelEU Maritime regulations , which are set to come into effect next year. By Hussein Al-Khalisy Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
New technologies aim to boost SAF production
New technologies aim to boost SAF production
London, 26 April (Argus) — A likely rise in global demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), underpinned by mandates for its use, is encouraging development of new production pathways. While hydrotreated esters and fatty acids synthesised paraffinic kerosine (HEFA-SPK) remains the most common type of SAF available today, much more production will be needed. The International Air Transport Association (Iata) estimated SAF output at around 500,000t in 2023, and expects this to rise to 1.5mn t this year, but that only meets around 0.5pc of global jet fuel demand. An EU-wide SAF mandate will come into effect in 2025 that will set a minimum target of 2pc, with a sub-target for synthetic SAF starting from 2030. This week the UK published its domestic SAF mandate , also targeting a 2pc SAF share in 2025 and introducing a power-to-liquid (PtL) obligation from 2028. New pathways involve different technology to unlock use of a wider feedstock base. US engineering company Honeywell said this week its hydrocracking technology, Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Unicracking, can be used to produce SAF from biomass such as crop residue or wood and food waste. Renewable fuels producer DG Fuels will use the technology for its SAF facility in Louisiana, US. The plant will be able to produce 13,000 b/d of SAF starting from 2028, Honeywell said. The company said its SAF technologies — which include ethanol-to-jet , which converts cellulosic ethanol into SAF — have been adopted at more than 50 sites worldwide including Brazil and China. Honeywell is part of the Google and Boeing-backed United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund , which is aimed at scaling up SAF production. German alternative fuels company Ineratec said this week it will use South African integrated energy firm Sasol's FT catalysts for SAF production. The catalysts will be used in Ineratec's plants, including a PtL facility it is building in Frankfurt, Germany. The plant will be able to produce e-fuels from green hydrogen and CO2, with a capacity of 2,500 t/yr of e-fuels beginning in 2024. The e-fuels will then be processed into synthetic SAF. Earlier this month , ethanol-to-jet producer LanzaJet said it has received funding from technology giant Microsoft's Climate Innovation Fund, "to continue building its capability and capacity to deploy its sustainable fuels process technology globally". The producer recently signed a licence and engineering agreement with sustainable fuels company Jet Zero Australia to progress development of an SAF plant in north Queensland, Australia. The plant will have capacity of 102mn l/yr of SAF. Polish oil firm Orlen formed a partnership with Japanese electrical engineering company Yakogawa to develop SAF technology . They aim to develop a technological process to synthesise CO2 and hydrogen to form PtL SAF. The SAF will be produced from renewable hydrogen as defined by the recast EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) and bio-CO2 from biomass boilers, Orlen told Argus . By Evelina Lungu Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Business intelligence reports
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more