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☆ Second Trump Presidency Would Axe Biden Climate Agenda, Gut Energy Regulators
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

Much of that work could go up in smoke if his likely rival Donald Trump beats him at the polls in November, according to Republican policy advisers. Reuters spoke with a dozen Republican policy consultants and former Trump administration officials who are helping lay the groundwork for a second Trump presidency to sketch out the administration's likely approach to energy and environmental issues. Trump formally withdrew the U.S. during his first term in office but Biden swiftly reversed the move in 2021. "A big lesson that everybody in the first Trump administration learned was that personnel is really important. The idea of taking a hatchet to the entire IRA could, however, give some oil industry officials and Republican politicians pause, a former Trump administration official said.

Persons: Valerie Volcovici, Gram Slattery WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Stephen Moore, Trump's, Larry Kudlow, David Bernhardt, Rick Perry, Kevin Hassett, Harold Hamm, Biden, George David Banks, Ivanka, Mike McKenna, Diana Furchtgott, Roth, Timothy Gardner, Richard Valdmanis, Deepa Babington Organizations: Republican, United Nations, Trump, Reuters, White, Heritage Foundation, Republicans, Economic, Energy, Biden, America, Policy Institute, Heritage Locations: United States, Paris, Biden's

So far, Woods' plans have turned investors demanding an energy transition strategy into believers - at least on climate. At the same time, the company plans to have a leading role in the vehicle electrification business. Reuters GraphicsMORE OIL VS GREEN AMBITIONExxon's ambitious agenda includes starting up the world's largest hydrogen power plant by 2027. RISKY BUSINESSThe $17 billion budget for low carbon technologies as the company's total revenue grows next year "will continue to rise", the CEO said. Spending in low carbon currently is constrained by scarcity of customers willing to sign up for contracts and insufficient regulations, Woods said.

Persons: Darren Woods, Carlos Barria, Woods, ”, Paul Sankey, Sankey, Chris James, Dan Ammann, Goldman Sachs, Neil Mehta, Ammann, Brian Weeks, Chris Bohn, Sabrina Valle, Richard Valdmanis, Gary McWilliams, Anna Driver Organizations: ExxonMobil, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Exxon Mobil, Natural Resources, Chevron, Reuters, Exxon, Sankey Research, Carbon Solutions, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, United States, Sankey, Americas, Brazil, Guyana, Texas, Gulf of Mexico, Houston, Dubai

DUBAI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - U.S. special climate envoy John Kerry on Tuesday launched an international engagement plan to boost nuclear fusion, saying the emissions-free technology could become a vital tool in the fight against climate change. Kerry said the plan involved 35 nations and would focus on research and development, supply chain issues, and regulation, and safety. "There is potential in fusion to revolutionize our world," Kerry told the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry participates in an event on women's role in building a climate-resilient world, at COP28 World Climate Summit, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 4, 2023. Of the two main types of fusion, one uses lasers to concentrate energy on a gold pellet containing hydrogen.

Persons: John Kerry, Kerry, Amr Alfiky, Valerie Volcovici, Richard Valdmanis, William James, Alexander Smith Organizations: Dubai . Fusion, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Dubai, U.S, United Arab, Britain, United States, Australia, China, Germany, Japan, California

In this year's gleaming host city of Dubai, billboards advertise the benefits of wind energy, climate ambition and Exxon Mobil's (XOM.N) carbon capture projects. This is seen by some as a sign of success and by others as a dangerous distraction from the business of combating climate change as over nearly three decades global oil demand, carbon emissions and temperatures have marched steadily upward. "It's a lobby fest where polluters can schmooze with politicians, all under the guise of tackling climate change," Pascoe Sabido, a researcher at the Corporate Europe Observatory, which scrutinizes corporate influence on policy-making, said. Delegates walk at the Dubai's Expo City during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 4, 2023. For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter here.

Persons: Exxon Mobil's, Pascoe Sabido, Alden Meyer, Meyer, Lisa Jacobson, Jacobson, Thaier, We're, –, Daniel Lund, Joko Widodo, COP28, Jake Schmidt, Darren Woods, General Antonio Guterres, Al Gore, Valerie Volcovici, Katy Daigle, Kate Abnett, Sarah McFarlane, Bernadette Christina, Richard Valdmanis, Alexander Smith Organizations: Exxon, Corporate, Observatory, United Nations, Business Council, Sustainable Energy, Global Strategic Communications Council, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Natural Resources Defense, Exxon Mobil, Drillers, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Dubai, Berlin, The Hague, COP28, United Arab, Fiji, Indonesia, China, UAE

☆ COP28: UAE signs deal with Bill Gates' nuclear company on advanced reactors
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Bill Gates' advanced nuclear reactor company TerraPower LLC and the United Arab Emirates’ state owned nuclear company ENEC said on Monday they have agreed to study the potential development of advanced reactors in the UAE and abroad. “For the UAE, we're looking for a future for the clean electrons and molecules that will be brought to reality by advanced reactors,” said Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO of ENEC, during the signing ceremony. "Bringing advanced nuclear technologies to market is critical to meeting global decarbonization targets," said TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque. The UAE currently has one traditional nuclear power plant, near Abu Dhabi, which began producing electricity in 2020. The MOU between TerraPower and the UAE said they would explore uses for advanced nuclear reactors such storing power on the grid and providing the energy needed to produce hydrogen, and decarbonize coal, steel and aluminum plants.

Persons: Bill Gates, Thomas Mukoya, ENEC, ”, Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chris Levesque, TerraPower, Richard Valdmanis, Kim Coghill Organizations: Microsoft, United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, TerraPower, United, UAE, The UAE, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, UAE, Abu Dhabi, U.S ., Wyoming, TerraPower, Russia, TerraPower's Wyoming, Ukraine, United States

A general view of a wind turbine at Westmill Wind Farm & Solar Park, which is owned by the community and supports local renewable energy, at Watchfield, near Swindon, Britain, September 24, 2021. "More than 110 countries have joined already," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the COP28 summit on Thursday of the renewables pledge. A draft of the renewable energy pledge, seen by Reuters, called for "the phase down of unabated coal power" and ending the financing of new coal-fired power plants. Africa receives just 2% of global investments in renewable energy. Somalia has the highest onshore wind power potential of any African country, yet one of the lowest electrification rates in the continent, according to the International Energy Agency.

Persons: Andrew Boyers, Ursula von der Leyen, Najib Ahmed, Kate Abnett, Richard Valdmanis, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, United Arab, BP, Reuters, International Energy Agency, ___, Thomson Locations: Watchfield, Swindon, Britain, United States, United Arab Emirates, China, India, South Africa, Vietnam, Australia, Japan, Canada, Chile, Barbados, COP28, Africa, Somalia

☆ COP28: Exxon Mobil CEO rebuffs IEA criticism of carbon capture strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, reacts at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. "So, you could say that about carbon capture today, you could say that about electric vehicles, about wind, about solar. The future role of carbon capture technology and fossil fuels is a key issue at the conference. Exxon has announced $17 billion of investment in its low carbon business, which includes carbon capture, and has argued that greenhouse gas emissions are the problem causing climate change, not the fossil fuels themselves. Woods declined to provide details of the contracts, but said U.S. subsidies in last year's Inflation Reduction Act of up to $85 a ton for carbon capture and sequestration would make the investments profitable.

Persons: Darren Woods, Carlos Barria, Woods, EVs, We're, Richard Valdmanis, Katy Daigle Organizations: ExxonMobil, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Exxon Mobil, International Energy, Reuters, Exxon, IEA, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Dubai, Gulf of Mexico, United States

John Kerry, President Joe Biden's climate envoy, is expected to announce at COP28 a global strategy in nuclear fusion. If it is produced using renewables like wind or solar power, as opposed to fossil fuel generated power, it is called green hydrogen. Governments and companies think green hydrogen could be a way to clean up hard-to-decarbonize industries like steel and cement-making and other industrial manufacturing. PwC said technologies like green hydrogen and reducing food waste have relatively high emissions reduction potential, but are receiving a small share of start-up investment. In 2023, green hydrogen got 3.9% of global climate-tech venture funding, while food waste got 0.7%, it said.

Persons: PwC, John Kerry, Joe Biden's, David Schatsky, Schatsky, Timothy Gardner, Richard Valdmanis, Diane Craft Organizations: International Energy Agency, Fusion Industry Association, FIA, Companies, Deloitte, Entrepreneurship, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Olfus, Iceland, Dubai, United States, Texas, Louisiana, Australia, China, Germany, Japan, U.S, ASIA, AFRICA, France, India, Asia, Africa

"Since then, the United States has turned ambition into action." On the sidelines of the conference, the United States also unveiled new measures to curb emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane from oil and gas operations. That awkward coincidence underscores one of COP28's most contentious questions: Can the world's response to climate change involve continuing use of fossil fuels? Harris told the conference that the United States supports phasing out of "unabated coal" use, but she did not mention other fossil fuels. "We're in a context in which we need to reduce production of fossil fuels and ... we need to be on a path of lower consumption.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Harris, haven't, aren't, Catherine Abreu, John Podesta, Richard Valdmanis, Valerie Volcovici, Sarah McFarlane, Simon Jessop, Katy Daigle, Kevin Liffey, Diane Craft Organizations: Climate Fund, OPEC, United, UAE, Saturday, Exxon Mobil, Saudi Arabia's Aramco, Oil, Climate Initiative, Reuters, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, United States, Dubai, COP26, America, China, Texas, New Mexico, United Arab Emirates, U.S, Saudi, Ukraine

☆ What are they saying at the U.N. climate summit?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here are the latest comments:KENYA PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO:"The long standing adversarial dynamic between global north and global south proves practically counterproductive. Climate change does not respect artificial distinctions, traditional boundaries or old antagonisms. "We must resolve that every country shall fulfil the climate targets it is setting for itself and the commitments it is making." U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES:"We cannot save a burning planet with a fire hose of fossil fuels... The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels.

Persons: United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Antonio Guterres, Britain's King Charles, WILLIAM RUTO, NARENDRA MODI, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, KING CHARLES III, GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES, William James, Elizabeth Piper, Katy Daigle, Richard Valdmanis Organizations: United, United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, KING, GENERAL, Reuters, Thomson Locations: United Arab Emirates, Dubai, United Arab, DUBAI, KENYA, Gaza

☆ Explainer-Can Technology Solve the Global Climate Crisis?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Persons: Timothy Gardner, PwC, John Kerry, Joe Biden's, David Schatsky, Schatsky, Richard Valdmanis, Diane Craft Organizations: Reuters, International Energy Agency, Fusion Industry Association, FIA, Companies, Deloitte, Entrepreneurship Locations: Dubai, United States, Texas, Louisiana, Australia, China, Germany, Japan, U.S, ASIA, AFRICA, France, India, Asia, Africa

☆ At climate summit, Turkey, South Africa hit out at Israel over Gaza war
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan delivers a national statement at the World Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 1, 2023. "The current situation in Gaza constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity; those responsible must be held accountable under international law," he said. The war against the innocent people of Palestine is a war crime that must be ended now," he said in his address. The "international youth delegate" said he would try to raise awareness at the COP28 conference of the Palestinian cause. The assault sparked outrage in the Arab world, though most Western leaders have supported what they say is Israel's right to defend itself.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Al Sudani, Israel, Cyril Ramaphosa, Jordan's King Abdullah, Mohammed Ursof, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Rishi Sunak, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Isaac Herzog, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Herzog, Oded Joseph, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Abdul Latif Rashid, Gustavo Petro, Alexander Cornwell, Nadine Awadalla, Jana Choukeir, Huseyin Hayatsever, Mai Shams El, Richard Valdmanis, William Maclean Organizations: United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Hamas, United, U.S, State Department, Palestinian Authority, Dubai, UAE, Foreign Ministry, Reuters COP28, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Africa, Palestine, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, COP28

☆ Defying Pope's calls for climate action, US Catholic bishops cling to fossil fuels
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Richard Valdmanis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

The ongoing investments in the U.S. reflect a long-running rift between U.S. Catholic bishops and the pope on how to address global warming. The pope's Laudato Si encyclical urged immediate action against climate change, declaring that "highly polluting fossil fuels need to be progressively replaced without delay." The Vatican bank, which is separate from APSA, also does not invest in fossil fuels, a bank official said. Notably absent are any dioceses in the U.S.Reuters reviewed the financial reports published by two dozen of the nation's more than 170 Catholic dioceses, including several of its largest, and found that few provide details on specific investments. He called the enormous financial gains by oil companies "immoral profits."

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Dan DiLeo, Peter Marlow, Anne, Marie Welsh, William Lori, Joshtrom Kureethadam, Chieko Noguchi, Noguchi, USCCB, Sabrina Danielsen, Danielson, Richard Valdmanis, Philip Pullella, John Mair, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Catholic, drillers, U.S . Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Church, Reuters, Justice, Peace, Creighton University in, Vatican, Opportunity Fund, Collective Investment, Archdiocese, Development, American Petroleum Institute, Christian Brothers Investment Service, Investment, BP, Shell, Creighton University, U.S, Thomson Locations: United States, Dubai, Creighton University in Nebraska, U.S, APSA, Vatican, Ireland, Germany, Archdiocese, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Erie , Pennsylvania, Texas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth . Erie, Erie, Baltimore, Paris, Saudi Aramco, PetroChina, India, Vatican City, Berlin, Sydney

☆ Insight: Defying Pope's calls for climate action, US Catholic bishops cling to fossil fuels
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Richard Valdmanis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

The ongoing investments in the U.S. reflect a long-running rift between U.S. Catholic bishops and the pope on how to address global warming. The pope's Laudato Si encyclical urged immediate action against climate change, declaring that "highly polluting fossil fuels need to be progressively replaced without delay." The Vatican bank, which is separate from APSA, also does not invest in fossil fuels, a bank official said. A CCF official said energy and fossil fuels stocks make up between 3.5% and 6% of archdiocese investment funds, and that CCF uses its shareholder status to press for corporate environmental improvements. He called the enormous financial gains by oil companies "immoral profits."

Persons: Pope Francis, Dan DiLeo, Peter Marlow, Remo Casilli, Anne, Marie Welsh, William Lori, Bernard Hebda, Saint, Joshtrom Kureethadam, Chieko Noguchi, Noguchi, USCCB, Sabrina Danielsen, Danielson, Richard Valdmanis, Philip Pullella, John Mair, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Catholic, drillers, U.S . Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Church, Reuters, Justice, Peace, Creighton University in, Vatican, Opportunity Fund, Collective Investment, Archdiocese, Minneapolis, Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota, CCF, Development, American Petroleum Institute, Christian Brothers Investment Service, Investment, BP, Shell, Creighton University, U.S, Thomson Locations: United States, Dubai, Creighton University in Nebraska, U.S, APSA, Vatican, Ireland, Germany, Archdiocese, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Erie , Pennsylvania, Texas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth . Erie, Erie, Baltimore, Saint Paul, Paris, Saudi Aramco, PetroChina, India, Vatican City, Berlin, Sydney

Scientists have said carbon removal is needed to keep climate goals alive. Otherwise, the enormous price tag for world-scale carbon removal would need to fall to governments if there is any chance of these projects surviving. A major concern is that DAC technology is both expensive and unproven at scale. More mature carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, which traps emissions at a point source like a smokestack, also requires a rapid scale up to make a difference. Their money will be made instead by marketing carbon removal credits to corporations not involved in fossil fuels that wish to offset unavoidable emissions, or to governments seeking to stay on track with climate targets.

Persons: Climeworks, ”, Vikrum Aiyer, Sultan al, Jaber, Vicki Hollub, Mike Avery, Christoph Gebald, Richard Valdmanis, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Occidental Petroleum, BlackRock, U.S ., Occidental, 28th United, OPEC, United Arab, International Energy Agency, IEA, Global CCS Institute, Stratos, DAC, Department of Energy, Thomson Locations: Tracy , California, Texas, In Louisiana, 28th United Nations, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Louisiana, Iceland, California, U.S, UAE, Occidental

REUTERS/David Swanson/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 24 (Reuters) - Canceled offshore wind projects, imperiled solar factories, fading demand for electric vehicles. A year after passage of the largest climate change legislation in U.S. history, meant to touch off a boom in American clean energy development, economic realities are fraying President Joe Biden’s agenda. Clean energy experts interviewed by Reuters say the mounting setbacks will make the United States' ambitious targets to decarbonize by mid-century even harder to reach. Solar energy facilities account for two thirds of those delays due in part to U.S. import restrictions. "These are the normal ups and downs of clean energy development and deployment," Reicher said.

Persons: David Swanson, Joe Biden’s, Biden, John Hensley, Wood Mackenzie, “, Ali Zaidi, Prakash Sharma, that's, Vic Abate, it's, Robert Walther, Walther, Dan Reicher, Reicher, Nichola Groom, Richard Valdmanis, Alistair Bell Organizations: REUTERS, Soaring, Ford, Reuters, American Clean Power Association, United Nations, White, Dominion Energy Inc, TEN, GE, Biden, Treasury Department, Trump, Stanford University, Thomson Locations: Palm Springs , California, U.S, Washington, Nations, Egypt, Dubai, United States, Paris, Virginia, Gulf of Mexico

The trend worries some U.S. lawmakers who fear corporate interest will make agricultural land unaffordable for the next generation of farmers. Investment firm acquisitions are also outpacing farmland purchases by foreign entities, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Lawmakers debated this year whether to curtail foreign farmland ownership, concerned that adversaries might buy land to exert political influence. "If the next generation isn’t enticed to come back to the farm," he said, "then who’s going to own that land?" About 60% of U.S. farmland is farmer-owned and -operated, with the rest owned by non-farmer operators including individuals, trusts, and corporations, according to USDA.

Persons: Nuveen, Paul Schadegg, Tim Gibbons, isn’t, It’s, David Gladstone, Gladstone, Cory Booker, Bruce Sherrick, Leah Douglas, Richard Valdmanis, Anna Driver Organizations: Investment, Reuters, Manulife Investment Management, National Council of Real Estate Investment, United Nations, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Lawmakers, Senate, National Defense, Farmers National Company, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, USDA, Gladstone, Agriculture Committee, TIAA, Research, University of Illinois, Thomson Locations: U.S, United, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Missouri

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department has sent notices to 30 ship management companies requesting information for more than 100 vessels it suspects of transporting Russian crude oil above the Western oil price cap, according to a source who has seen the documents. It bans Western companies from providing services such as transportation, insurance and financing for the oil sold above the cap. The price cap has caused a shift in global markets as China and India purchase Russian oil, much of which had traditionally gone to Europe and other markets. A rally in global oil prices this year has meant much of Russian oil has traded above the cap. Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Timothy Gardner, Richard Valdmanis, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Treasury Department, Foreign, Control, Treasury Department, European Union, Thomson Locations: Russia, United States, Washington, Moscow, Ukraine, Australia, China, India, Europe, Western

☆ How shipping more US natural gas to Europe helped fuel CO2 pollution
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Tim Mclaughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The administration approved five U.S. LNG export licenses to serve the European market following Russia's invasion, having approved none beforehand. U.S. special climate envoy John Kerry told Reuters last year that greenhouse gas emissions were an inevitable "downside" to increasing LNG exports to European allies. CO2 emissions from the energy-intensive process of liquefying gas for export mark only one stage in the industry's overall climate impact. Critics argue that it is unclear whether the U.S. gas export boom to Europe is displacing coal or delaying a transition to renewables like solar and wind. NextDecade Corp has said its proposed terminal near Brownsville, Texas, could remove more than 90% of its expected 6.4 million tons per year of carbon emissions.

Persons: Arathy, Biden, John Kerry, Robert Fee, Critics, Alexandra Shaykevich, Sempra, Susan Richardson, Tim McLaughlin, Richard Valdmanis, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Reuters, Cheniere Energy, United, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Energy Regulatory, Biden White, LNG, The Energy Department, FERC, U.S, Energy Information Administration, Reuters Graphics, Washington, Venture Global, CCS, SEC, Talos Energy, NextDecade, Thomson Locations: Freeport, U.S, Freeport , Texas, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Texas, Cameron, Louisiana, Brownsville , Texas

☆ Insight: US solar panel manufacturing boom threatened by cheap imports
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

[1/5] Solar panels from SunPower are installed on residential buildings at a model home display in the Eureka Grove neighborhood of Granite Bay, California, U.S., October 5, 2021. But global solar panel prices have collapsed due to a wave of new Asian production capacity in recent months, leading many in the U.S. solar industry to worry many of these proposed factories may be uneconomical. U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that over-reliance on Chinese clean energy technology could pose a security risk similar to Europe's historical dependence on Russian natural gas. A White House spokesperson did not respond to questions about recent market challenges facing domestic solar manufacturers, but said Biden's policies had generated a huge wave of investment and were revitalizing American manufacturing. Mike Carr, executive director of the Solar Energy Manufacturers for America trade group, said factories could be delayed, extending U.S. dependence on China.

Persons: Nathan Frandino, Joe Biden’s, ”, Edurne Zoco, Wood Mackenzie, Mike Carr, ” Carr, Brian Lynch, Jekyll, Hyde, Lynch, Danny O'Brien, Meyer Burger, Hari Achuthan, Richard Valdmanis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, P, U.S . International Trade Commission, Companies, Reuters, Energy, Solar Energy Manufacturers, America, Insights, U.S . Commerce Department, Solar Energy Industries Association, Convalt Energy, Treasury Department, Commerce Department, Thomson Locations: Eureka Grove, Granite Bay , California, U.S, Europe, China, United States, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Mexico, Hanwha, Colorado, Asia, New York, Maine

☆ 'Never seen anything like this': Maine city grapples with aftermath of mass shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Richard Valdmanis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A child looks out through a window as Lisbon Falls remains on lockdown, following a deadly mass shooting in Lewiston, in Lisbon Falls, Maine, October 26. Police cordoned off the roads leading to the shooting sites, the bowling alley and a bar. Security agents in bullet-proof vests carrying automatic rifles guarded the entrances to the Central Maine Medical Center hospital in town, where many of the shooting victims had been taken. He said he had watched as police cars rushed in the direction of the Just-in-Time Recreation bowling alley and ambulances sped back the other way toward the hospital. Maine Governor Janet Mills said in a press conference the shooting had undermined Maine’s reputation as one of the safest states in the country.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, “ I’ve, ”, Mike Asselin, Asselin, Roger Lussier Jr, Janet Mills, “, Rich McKay, Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Police, Security, Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Lewiston, Lisbon Falls , Maine, Rights LEWISTON , Maine, Maine, Androscoggin, ”

☆ Ships Speeding Through US 'Go Slow' Zones Meant to Protect Endangered Whale -Report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BOSTON (Reuters) - More than 80% of ships are speeding through "go slow" zones set by environmental regulators along the U.S. East Coast to protect endangered North Atlantic Right Whales, according to a report released on Thursday by environmental group Oceana. Oceana said it analyzed boat speeds from November 2020 through July 2022 in slow zones established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) along the East Coast and found that 84% of boats sped through mandatory slow zones, and 82% sped through voluntary slow zones. "NOAA Fisheries’ approach evaluates overall compliance based on the percent of the total distance traveled by AIS-equipped vessels in the speed zones at compliant speeds," it said. It pointed out that ships sometimes enter the zones above 10 knots before slowing down. Oceana said it used data from Global Fishing Watch, an international nonprofit organization founded by Oceana in partnership with satellite imagery providers SkyTruth and Google, to track ship speeds and locations.

Persons: Oceana, — it's, Gib Brogan, Richard Valdmanis, Sandra Maler Organizations: BOSTON, U.S ., Atlantic, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Reuters, NOAA Fisheries, AIS, Fishing Watch, Oceana, Google Locations: U.S, U.S . East Coast, Oceana, East Coast

☆ Ships speeding through US 'go slow' zones meant to protect endangered whale -report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales skim feed and sub-surface feed in the waters off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S., March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Lauren Owens Lambert/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBOSTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - More than 80% of ships are speeding through "go slow" zones set by environmental regulators along the U.S. East Coast to protect endangered North Atlantic Right Whales, according to a report released on Thursday by environmental group Oceana. North Atlantic Right Whales are on the brink of extinction, numbering just 340, with ship strikes among the top causes of death. Oceana said it analyzed boat speeds from November 2020 through July 2022 in slow zones established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) along the East Coast and found that 84% of boats sped through mandatory slow zones, and 82% sped through voluntary slow zones. "NOAA Fisheries’ approach evaluates overall compliance based on the percent of the total distance traveled by AIS-equipped vessels in the speed zones at compliant speeds," it said.

Persons: Lauren Owens Lambert, Oceana, — it's, Gib Brogan, Richard Valdmanis, Sandra Maler Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., Atlantic, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Reuters, NOAA Fisheries, AIS, Fishing Watch, Oceana, Google, Thomson Locations: Cape Cod , Massachusetts, U.S, U.S . East Coast, Oceana, East Coast

WASHINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is expected to announce on Friday the winners of $7 billion in federal grants to build out regional hydrogen hubs, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill allocated up to $7 billion to launch the initiative, called the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, which will help fund six to 10 regional clean hydrogen hubs across the United States. The hubs have many private and public sector partners and the federal grants are expected to unleash a wave of new state and private sector investment. The administration has also earmarked billions of dollars more in subsidies for hydrogen producers in last year's Inflation Reduction Act. The Philadelphia region is one of the locations vying for a share of the $7 billion in grants.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Jarrett Renshaw, Valerie Volcovici, Richard Valdmanis, Deepa Babington Organizations: Reuters, Energy Department, DOE, Department of Energy, Thomson Locations: California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, United States, Philadelphia

☆ Guyana contractor in US probe leaves $300 million Exxon shore base project
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Sabrina Valle | Thomson Reuters | U.S. Energy Correspondent Focused In Covering Global Operations Of Oil Majors Out Of Houston. | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Mohamed's decision to leave the consortium could reduce complications for the Texas-based company should U.S. authorities decide to levy sanctions on the pair or file an indictment. The construction of the shore base is part of Exxon’s efforts to expand oil production off Guyana’s coast, an important part of the company's growth plans. Following the Reuters report in July, Exxon had made an internal decision to remain neutral on the Mohameds, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter. Nazar was quoted in local media on Tuesday saying his decision to leave the consortium was based on religious beliefs. Reporting by Sabrina Valle; Editing by Richard Valdmanis, Richard Chang and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nazar Mohamed, Azruddin, Mohamed's, Alistair Routledge, Mohamed, Exxon, Andron Alphonso, Nicholas Deygoo, Boyer, Jan De Nul, Nazar, Washington, “, ”, George McEachern, Sabrina Valle, Richard Valdmanis, Richard Chang, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Exxon, Exxon Mobil Corp, Reuters, Mohamed’s, NRG Holdings, Company, U.S, FBI, International Corruption, Thomson Locations: Guyana HOUSTON, American, Texas, U.S, United States, Venezuela, Guyana, Vreed, European

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