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☆ Mining Giant BHP Makes $39 Billion Bid for Rival Anglo American
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Melissa Eddy | More About Melissa Eddy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

BHP Group, the world’s largest mining company, has proposed a takeover of its rival Anglo American, in a deal that has the potential to shake up the industry at a time when demand for copper is soaring. BHP said on Thursday that it had approached Anglo with a bid valued at 31.1 billion pounds, or $39 billion, in what would be one of the most significant deals in the industry in years. If successful, the acquisition would create the world’s largest miner of copper at a time of growing global hunger for the metal, which is essential to the green-energy transition. Anglo confirmed that it had received an “unsolicited, nonbinding and highly conditional combination proposal from BHP” and that its board was reviewing the offer with its advisers. In the United States, President Biden’s signature climate and energy law, the Inflation Reduction Act, contains hundreds of billions of dollars in tax credits to help companies switch to low-carbon energy sources.

Organizations: BHP Group, BHP, BHP ” Locations: United States

CNN —In a fight over keeping the identity of witnesses protected in the criminal document mishandling case against Donald Trump, special counsel Jack Smith this week detailed myriad threats against prosecutors, judges and other witnesses. One threat against a witness has prompted a federal investigation, the special counsel’s office wrote in court filings. Possible witnesses against Trump are “routinely” being threatened in a way that could intimidate them from participating in the case, they added. Trump’s lawyers have sought to make public the witness names and related information in the case, since they have included them in court filings. “Their objective is plain—to delay trial as long as possible,” prosecutors wrote in a filing Thursday in the case.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Witnesses, ”, “, Aileen Cannon, Cannon, Trump, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, ‘, Trump’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, FBI, Department, ”, National Archives, Records Administration, Department of Energy, ‘ Trump Locations: Florida, Mar

☆ At COP28, US announces rule to slash powerful planet-warming gas by nearly 80%
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The oil and gas industry is one of the main sources of global methane emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. The new US rule, which will be implemented by the EPA, is expected to slash methane emissions by nearly 80% through 2038, compared to what they would have been without the rule. The rule will crack down on methane leaks from industry in several ways. It will also rely on independent, third-party monitoring – using satellites and other remote-sensing technology – to find very large methane leaks. “The easiest way to stop that pollution is to stop sending it to flares in the first place.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Michael Regan, Ali Zaidi, Regan, Harris, Zaidi, Carrie Jenks, Jon Goldstein, ” Goldstein Organizations: CNN, White, International Energy Agency, Biden, Harris Administration, Harvard Law School’s, Energy Law, “, Environmental Defense Fund Locations: Dubai

☆ Make America Build Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +37 min

America is the sixth-most-expensive place in the world to build subways and trolleys. The solutions will cost trillions of dollars and require a pace of building unseen in America since World War II. Perhaps the single most pressing question we face today is: How do we make America build again? "For this class of projects, federal environmental laws are more the exception." The prospect of overhauling our hard-won environmental laws might feel like sacrilege to anyone who cares about the Earth.

Persons: Anne, Marie Griger's, Griger, —, They're, Obama, I'm, we've, We've, I'd, It's, Matt Harrison Clough, Jamie Pleune, AECOM, Joe Biden's, There's, David Adelman, David Spence, Spence, James Coleman, NECA, Coleman, everyone's, Danielle Stokes, Nobody, Bill McKibben, Mother Jones, McKibben, Michael Gerrard, Columbia University —, they've, David Pettit, it's, Zachary Liscow, That's who's, Adam Rogers Organizations: RES Group, Environmental, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs, Land Management, Forest Service, University of Utah, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Brookings, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, White, University of Texas, Greenpeace, Natural Resources Defense Council, Act, NEPA, Berkeley, University of California, University of Southern, Southern Methodist University, Ecosystems Conservation, GOP, Biden, Motorola, Telecommunications, Conservatives, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, University of Richmond, UC Berkeley, USC, Star, Sabin, Climate, Columbia University, Natural Resources Defense, Republicans, Democrats, Management, Budget, Yale Law School Locations: Panama, Colorado, . California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, China, America, Washington, , Wyoming, Nantucket, New England, San Francisco ., University of Southern California, California, New York, Florida, Southern California, Las Vegas

☆ Biden to Travel to Minnesota to Highlight Rural Investments
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Lisa Friedman | More About Lisa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The White House on Wednesday will announce more than $5 billion in funding for agriculture, broadband and clean energy needs in sparsely populated parts of the country as President Biden travels to Minnesota to kick off an administration-wide tour of rural communities. But the president and his aides are well aware that his hopes for a second term are likely to be determined closer to home. Rural voters like the ones he will address at a corn, soybean and hog farm south of Minneapolis are increasingly voting Republican. A recent poll showed that most voters had heard little or nothing about a health care and clean energy law that is the cornerstone of Mr. Biden’s economic agenda. And the president even faces a challenge within his own party, from Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who announced his long-shot presidential bid last week.

Persons: Biden, Dean Phillips Organizations: Republican, Dean Phillips of Locations: Minnesota, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Minneapolis, Dean Phillips of Minnesota

☆ EU Parliament passes bill hiking renewable energy targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The law significantly raises the EU's renewable energy targets, requiring 42.5% of EU energy to be renewable by 2030, replacing a current 32% target for that date. It faced a tough passage through negotiations among EU countries' governments, and only secured support after France won carve-outs for nuclear energy - which is low-carbon, but not renewable. EU countries and lawmakers had negotiated a deal on the renewable energy law in March which was supposed to be final, but was held up by countries seeking greater recognition of nuclear power. A Commission spokesperson said on Tuesday it was aware of the difficulties and was in touch with renewable energy manufacturers to discuss possible solutions. Europe got 22% of its energy from renewable sources in 2021, the latest year for which official EU data are available.

Persons: Pascal Rossignol, Markus Pieper, Pieper, Kate Abnett, Ed Osmond, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, France, European, EU, Thomson Locations: Bevillers, France, Rights BRUSSELS, EU, Brussels, China, Europe

WASHINGTON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - U.S President Joe Biden on Wednesday used the first anniversary of his signature Inflation Reduction Act to pitch the landmark clean-energy law as an economic powerhouse to a public that remains largely unaware of its contents. The legislation, Biden said, has shifted production of critical components away from China and into the United States. [1/3]U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during an event to celebrate the anniversary of his signing of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act legislation, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., August 16, 2023. The bill's name, the Inflation Reduction Act, helped solve a political problem for Democrats who were concerned that voters would punish them for soaring prices in the 2022 congressional elections. "Voters hear the Inflation Reduction Act, but they do not see their grocery bills coming down.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Moody's, Kevin Lamarque, MARK Biden, WHAT'S, Jimmy Siegel, Jarrett Renshaw, Nichola Groom, Moira Warburton, Heather Timmons, Grant McCool, Jonathan Oatis, Andy Sullivan Organizations: Biden, LOVE, Wall, Bank of America, White, REUTERS, Democrats, Reuters, Washington Post, University of Maryland, White House, Democratic, Thomson Locations: China, United States, U.S, Asia, Europe, Washington , U.S

☆ For Biden, Celebrating What a Law Did Rather Than What It Did Not
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Peter Baker | More About Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden staged a day of celebration on Wednesday to herald the reduction in inflation and the Inflation Reduction Act even though experts believe one had little to do with the other. The fact that the anniversary came at the same time as a significant decrease in the inflation rate was more happy coincidence than anything else, say economists, who attribute it more to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate increases and other factors. The legislation did plenty of important things in terms of investing in clean energy, raising corporate taxes and curbing prescription drug prices. As even Mr. Biden implicitly conceded last week, the name of the bill was more about political branding than policy goals. The legislation, after all, advanced plenty of cherished Democratic priorities and will be one of Mr. Biden’s major arguments for a second term in next year’s election.

Persons: Biden, Biden’s Organizations: White

A Venture Global LNG spokesperson did not comment on the Shell and BP claims. Shell and BP missed out on billions of dollars in sales that went to Venture Global LNG because they were unable to get their contracted fuel, one of the people familiar with the arbitration filings said. Another Venture Global LNG contract customer, Spanish energy firm Repsol SA (REP.MC), has asked U.S. regulators to release confidential records that would shed light on the plant's startup. Founded by a former energy lawyer and investment banker, Venture Global LNG has emerged as a market force with its ability to obtain financing and rapidly build export plants. The contracts were tied to Calcasieu Pass LNG, the first of Venture Global LNG's three planned facilities.

Persons: Costas Baltas, Ira Joseph, Marwa Rashad, Curtis Williams, Scott DiSavino, Gary McWilliams, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Top, Shell, BP, U.S, Venture Global LNG, Venture Global, London Court, International, Edison SpA, Repsol SA, Columbia University's Center, Global Energy, Thomson Locations: Bermuda, Revithoussa, Greece, Europe, Calcasieu, London, Houston

WASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - A divided U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling on Wednesday, with majority support from both Democrats and Republicans to overcome opposition led by hardline conservatives and avoid a catastrophic default. The measure, a compromise between Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, drew opposition from 71 hardline Republicans. Progressive Democrats - who along with Biden had resisted negotiating over the debt ceiling - oppose the bill for a few reasons, including new work requirements from some federal anti-poverty programs. Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive independent who caucuses with the Democrats, said he would oppose the bill due to inclusion of an energy pipeline and extra work requirements. The debt-ceiling standoff prompted ratings agencies to warn that they might downgrade U.S. debt, which underpins the global financial system.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Chip Roy, Jim McGovern, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Schumer, Rand Paul, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, White, DBRS Morningstar, Fitch, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Moira Warburton, Gram Slattery, Julio, Cesar Chavez, Kanishka Singh, Scott Malone, Rosalba O'Brien, Alistair Bell, Diane Craft Organizations: House, Republicans, Republican, Senate, Caucus, Progressive Democrats, Democratic, Office, NEXT, Twitter, Internal Revenue Service, P Global, Thomson Locations: United States

WASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - A bill to suspend the U.S. government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling and avert a disastrous default cleared a key procedural hurdle in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, setting the stage for an vote on the bipartisan debt deal itself. The procedural vote, which allows for the start of debate and then a vote on the bill itself, passed by a vote of 241-187, with 52 Democrats needed to overcome the opposition of 29 Republicans. [1/6] U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) returns to his office from the House floor at the U.S. Capitol ahead of an expected vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on a bill raising the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, in Washington, U.S., May 31, 2023. "I cannot, in good conscience, vote for the debt ceiling deal," Sanders said on Twitter. White House Budget Director Shalanda Young, who was one of Biden's lead negotiators, urged Congress to pass the bill.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy's, Joe Biden's, McCarthy, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Schumer, Chip Roy, Roy, Kevin McCarthy, Julia Nikhinson, Rand Paul, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, Shalanda Young, Biden's, Young, White, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Moira Warburton, Julio, Cesar Chavez, Kanishka Singh, Scott Malone, Rosalba O'Brien, Alistair Bell Organizations: Kevin McCarthy's Republicans, Senate, Treasury, Republican, Office, ., U.S, Capitol, U.S . House, REUTERS, Twitter, White, Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, Democratic, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington , U.S, Washington

The House Rules Committee late on Tuesday, in the first procedural vote on the contentious legislation, cleared the measure for debate in the full House on Wednesday. The solid Democratic opposition is not necessarily indicative of how the party would vote on the bill itself. "We are certainly punching above our weight," she told her fellow House Republicans. [1/4] U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) returns to his office from the House floor at the U.S. Capitol ahead of an expected vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on a bill raising the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, in Washington, U.S., May 31, 2023. White House Budget Director Shalanda Young, who was one of Biden's lead negotiators, urged Congress to pass the bill.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy's, Joe Biden's, McCarthy, Biden, Chip Roy, Roy, Erin Houchin, Kevin McCarthy, Julia Nikhinson, Republican Mitt Romney, Dick Durbin, Shalanda Young, Biden's, Young, White, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Moira Warburton, Julio, Cesar Chavez, Scott Malone, Rosalba O'Brien, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S . House, Kevin McCarthy's Republicans, Twitter, Democratic, Treasury, Republican, White, Senate, Republicans, Office, ., U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Senators, National Institutes of Health, Internal Revenue Service, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington , U.S, Washington

The House Rules Committee late on Tuesday, in the first procedural vote on the contentious legislation, cleared the measure for debate in the full House on Wednesday. The solid Democratic opposition is not necessarily indicative of how the party would vote on the bill itself. "We are certainly punching above our weight," she told her fellow House Republicans. A successful House vote would send the bill to the Senate, where debate and voting could stretch into the weekend, especially if any one of the 100 senators try to slow its passage. White House Budget Director Shalanda Young, who was one of Biden's lead negotiators, urged Congress to pass the bill.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy's, Joe Biden's, McCarthy, Biden, Chip Roy, Roy, Erin Houchin, Republican Mitt Romney, Dick Durbin, Shalanda Young, Biden's, Young, White, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Moira Warburton, Julio, Cesar Chavez, Scott Malone, Himani Sarkar, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: U.S . House, Kevin McCarthy's Republicans, Twitter, Democratic, Treasury, Republican, White, Senate, Republicans, Office, Senators, National Institutes of Health, Internal Revenue Service, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington

The solid Democratic opposition is not necessarily indicative of how the 213-member party caucus would vote on the bill itself. But reflecting party divisions, Representative Erin Houchin countered that despite Democratic control of the White House and Senate, the bill would achieve significant Republican spending cuts. "We are certainly punching above our weight," she told her fellow House Republicans. White House Budget Director Shalanda Young, who was one of Biden's lead negotiators, urged Congress to pass the bill. A successful House vote would send the bill to the Senate, where debate and voting could stretch into the weekend, especially if any one of the 100 senators try to slow its passage.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy's, Joe Biden's, Biden, Chip Roy, Roy, Erin Houchin, Republican Mitt Romney, McCarthy, Dick Durbin, Shalanda Young, Biden's, Young, White, Richard Cowan, Moira Warburton, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Himani Organizations: U.S . House, Kevin McCarthy's Republicans, Democratic, Treasury, Republican, White, Senate, Republicans, Office, National Institutes of Health, Internal Revenue Service, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington

That vote underscored the need for Democrats to help pass the measure in the House, which is controlled by Republicans with a narrow 222-213 majority. The Congressional Budget Office also said the measure, if enacted into law, would reduce interest on the public debt by $188 billion. Many Democrats in Congress did not want Biden to engage in budget-cutting negotiations with Republicans until they lifted their hold on enacting a debt limit bill. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoWhite House Budget Director Shalanda Young, who was one of Biden's lead negotiators, urged Congress to pass the bill. The debt-ceiling standoff prompted ratings agencies to warn that they might downgrade U.S. debt, which underpins the global financial system.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Biden, McCarthy, we've, Wednesday's, Hakeem Jeffries, Calif, Jacquelyn Martin, Shalanda Young, Biden's, Young, Republican Mike Lee, White, Moira Warburton, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Steve Holland, Gram Slattery, Scott Malone, Mark Porter, Matthew Lewis, Gerry Doyle, Himani Organizations: Republicans, Senate, Treasury Department, Treasury, Congressional, Republican, Democratic, Capitol, Internal Revenue Service, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington

McCarthy called the bill the "most conservative deal we've ever had." The pair, Representatives Chip Roy and Ralph Norman, said they may vote against it if it is not changed to their liking. "I think it's important to keep in mind the debt limit bill itself does not spend money," he wrote on Twitter. A successful vote there would set up a vote by the full House on Wednesday. The debt-ceiling standoff prompted ratings agencies to warn that they might downgrade U.S. debt, which underpins the global financial system.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Calif, Jacquelyn Martin, McCarthy, we've, Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Roy, MASSIE, Thomas Massie, Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, Republican Mike Lee, White, Moira Warburton, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Gram Slattery, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Matthew Lewis, Mark Porter Organizations: Capitol, WASHINGTON, Republican, Democratic, U.S . Treasury Department, Republicans, Twitter, Top, Internal Revenue Service, Thomson Locations: Washington

Representative Stephanie Bice, a Republican vote counter, said she was confident it would pass. "I think it's important to keep in mind the debt limit bill itself does not spend money," he wrote on Twitter. At least one, Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, is a member of a moderate group that supports the deal. The debt-ceiling standoff prompted ratings agencies to warn they might downgrade U.S. debt, which underpins the global financial system. Reporting by Moira Warburton and Andy Sullivan; Editing by Kieran Murray and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

However just ahead of the expected call between Biden and McCarthy, Republican deal negotiator Patrick McHenry told reporters "major disagreement" remained between his party and Biden's Democrats. That's what we've offered with our approach to raising the debt ceiling, with work requirements for able bodied folks to get back in the workforce. The two sides have tentatively reached an agreement that would raise the debt ceiling by enough to cover the country's borrowing needs through the November 2024 presidential election. Republican Representative Dan Bishop reacted with anger to the idea of extending the debt ceiling through the next presidential election. A failure by Congress to raise its self-imposed debt ceiling before June 5 could trigger a default that would shake financial markets and send the United States into a deep recession.

The two sides have tentatively reached an agreement that would raise the debt ceiling by enough to cover the country's borrowing needs through the November 2024 presidential election. It would boost spending on the military and veterans' care, and cap spending for many discretionary domestic programs, according to sources familiar with the talks. McCarthy said Republicans were also still pushing for reforms to energy permitting, including making it easier to drill for gas and oil. Republican Representative Dan Bishop reacted with anger to the idea of extending the debt ceiling through the next presidential election. A failure by Congress to raise its self-imposed debt ceiling before June 5 could trigger a default that would shake financial markets and send the United States into a deep recession.

☆ The homeowner basics of financing solar power for residential real estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

There are a host of complicated issues in the solar market, including some contentious politics. Last year, the growth of residential solar in the U.S. boomed. It won't repeat that in 2023, but will remain a large part of the solar market. Ohio, for example, has a state program that offers a reduced rate on a solar loan with certain lenders. GoodLeap (26% of the residential solar market) was No.

☆ Westinghouse announces a new small nuclear reactor — a notable step in the industry's efforts to remake itself
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Westinghouse is offering a smaller-scale nuclear reactor in an effort to expand access to nuclear power as demand for clean energy soars. The company announced the launch of a small version of its flagship AP1000 nuclear reactor on Thursday. Small nuclear reactors are also being eyed by industrial producers as carbon-free sources of heat, Merrifield told CNBC. But an AP300 nuclear reactor will produce roughly the same amount of electricity as what a typical coal plant produces, so replacing one coal plant with a small nuclear reactor would be simpler. "We have absolute confidence, because the NRC has already licensed every bit of this technology," Durham told CNBC.

☆ EV tax credits 2023: Which models are eligible for up to $7,500 in tax credits?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Under the new rule, consumers can get up to $7,500 back in tax credits on eligible cars. Which models are eligible for the new EV tax credit? Nine models, mostly from foreign brands including Hyundai and Nissan, do not qualify for the new tax credit. Under the new rule, consumers can get up to $7,500 in tax credits on eligible cars. Which countries can the materials come from under the new EV tax credit rule?

☆ EV tax credits: New rules could slash the number of eligible electric vehicles. Here's what you should know
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The new tax credit and the guidance are complex, and more information will be coming out in the coming weeks and months. The clearest impact on consumers will be the reduced number of vehicles eligible for credits starting April 18. Under the new rule, consumers can get up to $7,500 in tax credits on eligible cars. What is in the new EV tax credit rule and why is it complicated? New guidance from the Biden administration suggests fewer EVs will be eligible for tax credits starting April 18.

☆ Germany could seize property to speed LNG build-out -Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Arathy Somasekhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Germany, racing to end its reliance on Russian gas, plans to introduce new regulation that will make it possible to expropriate property to link offshore liquid natural gas terminals to the grid, Handeslblatt reported. Until earlier this year, some 55 billion cubic metres of gas were pumped to Germany each year through Nord Stream 1. Nord Stream 2 never went into operation. Germany, which has for decades fuelled its vast industrial sector with copious supplies of Russian gas, pledged after Russia's invasion of Ukraine to cut its imports from Russia to zero by 2024. Four planned floating LNG terminals, including one at Lubmin where the sub-Baltic gas pipelines land, are key to that ambition.

☆ Tax Filing Season Starts Next Week, Here’s What You Need to Know
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-16 | by ( Ashlea Ebeling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In September, Michael Durschlag bought a fire engine red Kia EV6, an all-electric crossover, for $70,000, expecting he would snag a $7,500 federal tax credit when he filed his return. But the biotech executive in San Diego turned out to be wrong. The sweeping energy law Congress passed in August included a provision that says electronic vehicles purchased on or after Aug. 16, 2022, must be assembled in North America to qualify for a tax credit. His Kia, made in South Korea, didn’t count.

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