Drilled

Latest Episodes:

Coming Soon: The Bridge to Nowhere Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

Season 6 explores the natural gas industry in three parts, following he story of Formosa Plastics to explain the direct connection between the fracking boom and plastics surge. Formosa Plastics is a company so notorious for environmental violations that it moved operations abroad, to the American South, to capitlize on weaker regulations.

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Update: Steven Donziger's Trial in New York May 27, 2021

Show notes

Steven Donziger went to trial for the criminal contempt charge that's kept him on house arrest for 600 days and counting. Paul Paz Y Mino of Amazon Watch brings us an update.

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How Big Oil Made You Feel Guilty About Climate Change May 17, 2021

Show notes

Harvard science historian Naomi Oreskes reveals how the fossil fuel companies use language targeted specifically to downplay the reality of climate change and shift responsibility entirely onto consumers. Geoffrey Supran, the lead author on the study, joins to discuss.
Additional Resources:
Rolling Stone

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The Heath Impacts of the Coal-to-Gas Transition: Harvard's New Study May 11, 2021

Show notes

A new study out from Harvard University sheds light on the health impacts of transitioning from coal to other combustible fuels. These findings are important for climate policy, particularly the fact that biomass is a huge contributor to air pollution despite representing only a small percentage of energy generation. The study also finds that natural gas still contributes significantly to air pollution and its associated health impacts.

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Rep. Ro Khanna on Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Biden’s Infrastructure Plan Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

The first Congressional hearing on Earth Day 2021 is focused on fossil fuel subsidies. The elimination of such subsidies was written into Biden's infrastructure bill, and House Democrats want to make sure it stays there. Today's hearing will detail what those subsidies are, why getting rid of them is critical to climate action, and how the government can pull it off without raising the cost of living for average Americans.

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Update: The Latest Developments in the Steven Donziger Case Apr 17, 2021

Show notes

Steven Donziger is set for trial May 10, but his lawyers have already filed a motion to dismiss, claiming vindictive prosecution. Reporter Karen Savage provides an update.

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Corporate Personhood? What About Ecosystem Personhood Apr 10, 2021

Show notes

Can ecosystems have legal rights similar to corporations? We talked about rights of nature a bit in the Ecuador-Chevron season—the Latin American country was the first in the world to integrate the concept of rights of nature in its Constitution. Now the Constitutional Court is reviewing its first rights of nature case. United States communities are pursuing the idea as well, and the fossil fuel industry is trying to block rights of nature laws from ever passing. Josh Boaz Pribanic and Melissa Troutman, co-founders of Public Herald join to talk about their new documentary on the rights of nature, Invisible Hand.

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Infrastructure Week: Build Back Better, the THRIVE Act, and Climate Justice with Kaniela Ing Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

The Biden Administration's Build Back Better plan includes progressive wish list items, but the left is pushing for more. The THRIVE Act, reintroduced by Senator Markey and Representative Dingell is what they're pushing towards and Peoples Action Climate Justice director Kaniela Ing joins to walk us through the asks, and what he's hearing from folks on the ground.
Additional Resources:
THRIVE Agenda
Senator Markey, Rep. Dingell Reintroduce THRIVE Resolution to Build Back Economy Following Coronavirus Pandemic

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All Eyes on Weymouth: FERC Signals Interest in Environmental Justice Mar 27, 2021

Show notes

For years, local activists and legislators have been fighting the Enrbidge natural gas compressor in Weymouth, Massachusetts, arguing it poses serious health risks to a community already overburdened by pollution. The project was approved by FERC in 2019, built and became operational in 2020. Then it had an emergency shutdown. And another. Now FERC is considering the unprecedented move of re-thinking its permit, a decision that could have broad ramifications.
Additional resources:
Why A Federal Order In The Weymouth Compressor Case Has The Natural Gas World Worried

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How the Fossil Fuel Industry is Undermining Free Speech Mar 20, 2021

Show notes

Across the United States, fossil fuel-backed anti-protest laws are reshaping the rights to protest and to free speech. 14 states have based new laws, and are passing through statehouses in several more states, including six different bills in Minnesota, the only state with a big pipeline fight this year: Line 3. Researcher Connor Gibson joins to talk us through how this all started and where it's at.
Additional resources:
States Quietly Pass Laws Criminalizing Fossil Fuel Protests Amid Coronavirus Chaos
4 More States Propose Harsh New Penalties For Protesting Fossil Fuels
Increasing penalties for damaging energy infrastructure
A refinery lobbyist told Kansas legislators that his anti-protest bill has "nothing to do with protest"

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