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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is setting tougher standards for deadly soot pollution, saying that reducing fine particle matter from tailpipes, smokestacks and other industrial sources could prevent thousands of premature deaths a year. Soot pollution has declined sharply in the past two decades, even as the U.S. gross domestic product has increased by more than 50%, Regan said. Bakersfield tied with Visalia in California's San Joaquin Valley as the most polluted city for year-round particle pollution. Wildfires in the western U.S. were a major contributing factor to increased levels of particle pollution, the report said. Six of the 10 cities with the most soot pollution were in California, and two more were in the West: Medford, Oregon and greater Phoenix.

Persons: —, Biden, Michael Regan, Harris, “, Obama, Joe Biden, Regan, we’ve, Manish Bapna, Ben Jealous, Jeffrey Zients, Barack Obama, Donald Trump Organizations: WASHINGTON, Environmental, Environmental Protection Agency, Industry, Biden, Democratic, Administration, Natural Resources Defense Council, EPA, Sierra Club, Republican, Companies, and Paper Association, National Association of Manufacturers, White House, American Lung Association, Visalia Locations: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Bakersfield , California, Fresno , California, Bakersfield, California's San Joaquin, U.S, California, West, Medford , Oregon, Phoenix

☆ Biden pauses approval of new LNG export projects in win for climate activists
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

President Joe Biden paused pending approvals of exports from new liquefied natural gas projects on Friday, a move cheered by climate activists that could delay decisions on new plants until after the Nov. 5 election. Biden said in a statement: "During this period, we will take a hard look at the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, America's energy security, and our environment." "We are committed to strengthening energy security here in the U.S. and with our allies," Granholm said. The last review of LNG export projects was in 2018 when export capacity was 4 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd). But the commission's panel of three regulators, which almost always approves LNG projects, could approve it as soon as February, which would then put its approval in the hands of the DOE.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Biden, Granholm, Ben Jealous, Sempra, CP2 Organizations: US Department of Energy, Department of Energy, DOE, Energy, Companies, U.S, Sierra, Sempra Infrastructure, Commonwealth LNG, Venture, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Venture Global Locations: Washington ,, Europe, Asia, U.S, wean, Russia, Ukraine, Louisiana, Alaska, Calcasieu, United States, Germany

☆ New House Speaker Champions Fossil Fuels and Dismisses Climate Concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Lisa Friedman | More About Lisa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana, the newly elected House speaker, has questioned climate science, opposed clean energy and received more campaign contributions from oil and gas companies than from any other industry last year. Even as other Republican lawmakers increasingly accept the overwhelming scientific consensus that human activity is dangerously heating the planet, the unanimous election of Mr. Johnson on Wednesday suggests that his views may not be out of step with the rest of his party. Indeed, surveys show that climate science has been politicized in the United States to an extent not experienced in most other countries. A Pew Research Center survey released Tuesday found that a vast majority of Democrats polled — 85 percent — said that climate change is an extremely or very serious problem, while 47 percent of Republicans viewed climate change as not too serious or not a problem at all. “It should concern us all that someone with such extreme views and so beholden to the fossil fuel industry has such power and influence during a time when bold action is more critical than ever,” said Ben Jealous, the executive director of the Sierra Club, an environment group.

Persons: Mike Johnson of, Johnson, —, ”, Ben Jealous Organizations: Pew Research Center, Sierra Club Locations: Mike Johnson of Louisiana, United States

It would also limit the need for environmental reviews for projects that federal agencies deem to have significant and long-lasting positive impacts. NEPA is a bedrock environmental law that requires environmental reviews for major projects, and is a frequent focus of litigation that can delay projects for years. The White House said the proposed rule "would fully implement and build upon new permitting efficiencies" directed by Congress in this year's debt ceiling law. The rule would build on initial work to reform the NEPA process finalized last year, when the White House reversed a Trump administration overhaul of the process. Last year's changes required federal agencies to consider the “direct,” “indirect,” and “cumulative” impacts of proposed projects or actions, including a full evaluation of climate impacts.

Persons: John Podesta, Joe Biden’s, ” Podesta, Kevin Cramer, Ben, Clark Mindock Organizations: Council, Environmental, White House, NEPA, Congress, Trump, Republican, Senate Environment, Public, Committee, Sierra Club, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ Debt Deal Includes a Green Light for a Contentious Pipeline
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Coral Davenport | Brad Plumer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The bill includes some other small steps aimed at getting energy projects of all types approved more quickly by modifying federal permitting policies under the National Environmental Policy Act. But opponents of the pipeline argue that completion was far from certain as several court cases are pending. A provision in the debt deal could deem those challenges moot, and would block any future lawsuits. The agreement would order federal agencies to approve any outstanding permits for the pipeline within 21 days and exempt those permits from judicial review. “This is an unprecedented end run around the courts, which have repeatedly rejected permits over M.V.P.’s failure to comply with basic environmental laws,” said Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, which has challenged several permits related to the pipeline.

Persons: ”, Ben Jealous Organizations: National Environmental, White, Pipeline, U.S ., Appeals, Fourth Circuit, District of Columbia Circuit, Sierra Club Locations: Richmond, M.V.P

☆ Ex-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan won't challenge Trump in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

He was Maryland's second Republican governor ever to be reelected. Some Republicans had hoped that Hogan, emerging as the new best hope of a small group of "Never Trump Republicans," would challenge Trump in 2020. In his first year as governor, Hogan went right to work on pocketbook issues. Hogan has long been upfront about his distaste for Trump as president. "I did not go out of my way to criticize the president," Hogan said.

☆ There have only been 2 Black elected governors in US history, but the 2022 midterm elections could usher in unparalleled change
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

There have only been two Black elected governors in US history, but that could change on Tuesday. With the victory, Wilder became the first Black elected governor in the United States, generations after P.B.S. He said people brag about him as the first Black governor elected in America. However, this year, Black gubernatorial candidates weren't overly reliant on the party leadership to help them land the nominations in their respective states. At the end of the day, if that's what I accomplished, that's not enough," Moore told Insider.

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