BISMARCK, N.D. -- The Bureau of Land Management issued some new rules that are irking the oil and gas industry, but the agency says they were proposed for their health and environmental benefits. The regulations are expected to reduce the amount of gas flared or released from oil wells.

During the production of crude oil, excess natural gas and methane is sometimes burned or is simply released into the air. The new rules dictate that developers will have to do more to contain it.

Nicole Donaghy, oil and gas field organizer with the Dakota Resource Council, said the gases contain some dangerous materials - including BTEX, a mix of four chemicals commonly found in crude oil.

"We can see BTEX, which contains some carcinogenic material,” Donaghy said. “There's Volatile Organic Compounds that burn off and go into the air as part of, like, particulate matter."

Studies show that people living near well sites, such as those on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, suffer more respiratory issues, along with clusters of cancers, and low birth-weight babies, Donaghy said.

The oil and gas industry has fought to reverse the new regulations, claiming the BLM doesn't have the authority to regulate air quality, and that the industry is already plugging leaks voluntarily.

The states of North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming also oppose the new rules. But a district court judge ruled against opponents last week, saying the BLM has the authority to prevent the wasting of publicly owned resources.

Donaghy pointed out that allowing methane gas to escape wastes public money.

"Any gas that is flared, vented or leaked would have to be paid for by the oil industry or the development company,” she said. "And so, that revenue will go to the tribes, and it will go to the state."

President Donald Trump's pick to head the Interior Department, Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., hasn't taken a stand on the issue. Donaghy said the BLM rules are still new enough that they could be sidelined by Congress.

"You could take this rule and have Congress kill it,” she said. "And in order to reinstate any rule such as this, the Congress would have to act to reinstate those rules."

A 2013 report from the Clean Air Task Force showed that over 103 million cubic feet of gas was flared in North Dakota - more than 21 million cubic feet of that on the Fort Berthold reservation.

Information on gas recapture is available here.


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Many Floridians online are expressing concerns over the DeSantis administration's surprise proposal to add golf courses, pickleball courts and lodges throughout the state's award-winning park system.

The initiative, which some argued could redefine Gov. Ron DeSantis' conservation record, has ignited a firestorm of public backlash. The proposed changes include building a golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and constructing park lodges with 350-room capacities at Anastasia and Topsail Hill Preserve state parks.

Julie Wraithmell, executive director of Audubon Florida, expressed concern over the proposals' content and the expedited timeline for public input.

"Because it's happening so quickly," Wraithmell explained. "The announcement came out on Tuesday, and public meetings available for comment are as quick as next Tuesday during the workday when many Floridians won't be able to attend."

With just six days to review the sweeping park plans, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will hold simultaneous, in-person-only meetings across the state. All meetings are set for Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A growing bipartisan group of elected officials, including Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, president of the Senate, have called for the proposal not to move forward, saying it is "not in line with the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of nature." DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said Thursday, "It's high time we made public lands more accessible to the public."

Critics argued the developments conflict with the traditional purpose of Florida's state parks, which have long been celebrated for their natural beauty and environmental significance. Wraithmell pointed out the potential ecological effects, especially at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, home to endangered species such as the Florida scrub jay.

"The idea that we would be trading habitat without which this iconic Florida species can't survive, and instead we'd be getting yet another golf course that's left a lot of Floridians kind of scratching their heads over the wisdom of this proposal," Wraithmell asserted.

Several members of Florida's Cabinet, including Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, have also voiced opposition to the proposals.


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This past Friday marked the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, a milestone for Ohioans looking to make their buildings and homes more energy efficient.

Tax credits in the IRA have provided crucial financial incentives, and some Ohioans - both homeowners and businesses - have been taking advantage of them.

But Marcus Hazelwood, director of building optimization with EA Energy Solutions, said not everyone is aware of how tax deductions can offset the initial cost of energy-efficient upgrades - so it's important to keep getting the word out, especially to business owners.

"Helping them understand that with their existing infrastructure, the opportunity to see how a source of funding and capital to improve their buildings - which in the long term reduces their operational costs," said Hazelwood, "this is kind of supporting the initial up-front capital needed."

Ohio's new energy code simplifies qualifying for IRA deductions, which backers say also promote economic growth by supporting well-paid local jobs.

But critics of the IRA have said its cost is too high and that it doesn't do enough to lower the cost of energy-efficient products and services.

Ben Evans - federal legislative director with the U.S. Green Building Council - said the IRA isn't focused only on businesses, but also has benefits for individual property owners.

He explained that the versatility of the tax incentives, grants, and low-cost financing allows homeowners to maximize their savings and make meaningful improvements to their property.

"And the beauty of the Inflation Reduction Act is that you can combine a lot of these," said Evans. "It's not like you have to just pick one. You can get a couple of different tax incentives for the same project. Let's say you're renovating a building and you're also adding some rooftop solar. You can get tax incentives for each of those."

The IRA is made up of multiple programs, like the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, to boost energy efficiency.

Evans said Ohio is well-positioned to lead in this area, and that people have ample time to leverage these incentives over the next decade.




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The Inflation Reduction Act turns two today and one expert contended its impact in the state of Nevada has been significant.

Shannon Heyck-Williams, associate vice president of climate and energy for the National Wildlife Federation, said the legislation has kicked off growth in the clean energy economy in the Silver State and across the nation. She added the benefits made possible through the law have led to the creation of thousands of jobs and unleashed billions of dollars in private-sector investments at the state level.

"A lot of that growth is from renewable energy development," Heyck-Williams pointed out. "Solar power in particular is taking off in a big way in Nevada, and bringing that clean energy to the state and to the residents there."

She noted as the transition to electric vehicles also gains momentum, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law include investments for EV charging infrastructure. There are close to 2,200 charging stations throughout Nevada, according to PlugShare. Since transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, Heyck-Williams stressed investments in infrastructure are key.

The cost of the climate provisions in the measure, at around $730 billion, has drawn criticism, since it surpasses what was initially expected. But the Center for American Progress claims over the next decade, the savings made possible through the legislation will exceed the costs.

Heyck-Williams said the law is also helping to lessen the economic burden of energy-efficiency upgrades for homes and businesses.

"It includes credits to help homeowners be able to upgrade their appliances," Heyck-Williams outlined. "To be able to finally afford that new electric vehicle, to be able to replace dirty school buses for their kids with electric, clean school buses."

Heyck-Williams emphasized climate change is already here and is a serious problem communities in Nevada are facing. She contends the major federal investments are critical tools for a cleaner future.

"If they are implemented as planned, they should reduce those emissions by about 40%," Heyck-Williams reported. "Which is significant and puts us on track in the direction that we need to go, to actually get to a midcentury goal of net-zero emissions overall."