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☆ Biden’s EPA is trying to take a huge bite out of the climate crisis. But can it survive Trump’s Supreme Court?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Bottom row, from left, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, Associate Justice Samuel Alito, and Associate Justice Elena Kagan. Top row, from left, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. And environmental attorneys are intrigued by Barrett, who has had some tough questions for EPA’s challengers during recent Supreme Court arguments. The Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that the EPA can use its authority to regulate greenhouse gases. That gives the agency the recent Congressional direction the Supreme Court has said it so badly needs, some experts said.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Richard Lazarus, “, Michael Regan, ” “, ” Regan, Regan’s, ” Lazarus, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Gorsuch, Alito, ” David Doniger, “ Alito –, ”, Reagan, Anne Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, John Roberts, Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, Ketanji Brown Jackson, J, Scott Applewhite, Amy Coney Barrett –, Roberts, Barrett, Kavanaugh, Sackett, “ He’s, he’s, doesn’t, Ann Carlson, ” Carlson, ” Doniger Organizations: CNN, Joe Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency, Harvard Law, EPA, Republican, Natural Resources Defense Council, Chevron, DC, Appeals, DC Circuit, University of California, Biden, Congress Locations: China, United, Virginia, University of California Los Angeles, West Virginia, Congress

☆ EPA designates two ‘forever chemicals’ as hazardous substances
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Mira Cheng | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US Environmental Protection Agency designated two widely used “forever chemicals” as hazardous substances under the United States’ Superfund law on Friday. This ruling will allow the EPA to investigate and clean up leaks and spills of these harmful chemicals, according to the official news release. Exposure to “forever chemicals” has been linked to cancers, heart and liver disease and immune and developmental damage to infants and children, according to the news release. There are more than 12,000 forms of PFAS chemicals in the environment. The designation comes just weeks after the EPA announced new limits for “forever chemicals” in drinking water in the United States.

Persons: Michael S, Regan, Dr, David Andrews, ”, Sanjay Gupta, ” Lisa Frank, Harris, CNN’s Jen Christensen Organizations: CNN, Environmental Protection Agency, United, EPA, Environmental, CNN Health, PIRG, Fund, Environment America Research, Policy, Biden Locations: United States, U.S, Washington

Those more concerned with the climate crisis are asking a bigger question: what does this all mean for the planet? Gas-powered cars, hybrids and EVs all emit roughly the same amount of pollution to manufacture, until you get to producing the battery. Fully electric cars use large batteries made of materials that require heavy mining. And that would still mean less climate pollution on the road overall. And fully electric cars won’t be truly “green” until the energy that charges them comes from renewable sources, like wind and solar.

Persons: Akio Toyoda, EVs, Joe Biden’s, Toyota’s, Daniel Sperling, —, ”, Sam Abuelsamid, Abuelsamid, InfluenceMap, Biden, Kelley, Albert Gore, Gore, I’m, “, ” Monica Nagashima, Lia, Kena, Stephen Ciccone, ” Ciccone, BEV, ” UC’s Sperling Organizations: CNN, Toyota, Auto, US, Toyota Prius Prime, Toyota Toyota, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Ford, EPA, Gas, American Council for, Prius, EV, InfluenceMap, United, Lexus, Cox Automotive, Zero Emission Transportation Association, Getty, Toyota Motor North America, ” Toyota Locations: California, West Virginia, Canada, Australia, United States, EVs, InfluenceMap’s, Japan, Rockland, Blauvelt , New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — Twenty-four Republican-led states filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging a new Biden administration rule that sets tougher standards for deadly soot pollution. The EPA rule “will drive jobs and investment out of Kentucky and overseas, leaving employers and hardworking families to pay the price,” Coleman said. The soot rule is one of several EPA dictates under attack from industry groups and Republican-led states. Soot pollution has declined by 42% since 2000, even as the U.S. gross domestic product has increased by 52%, Regan said. The EPA said it will work with states, counties and tribes to account for and respond to wildfires, an increasing source of soot pollution, especially in the West.

Persons: Joe, General Russell Coleman, Patrick Morrisey, ” Coleman, West Virginia —, Obama, Michael Regan, Regan, ″ Regan, Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Biden, Environmental Protection Agency, West Virginia, EPA, GOP, European Union, Environmental, White House, Industry, U.S . Chamber, Commerce Locations: Kentucky, West Virginia, — Ohio, Indiana, West, United States, China, India, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, U.S, Besides Kentucky, Alabama, Alaska , Arkansas, Florida, Georgia , Idaho , Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Louisiana , Mississippi , Missouri, Montana , Nebraska, North Dakota , Ohio , Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota , Tennessee , Utah, Wyoming

☆ Man charged with smuggling greenhouse gases from Mexico into US in first-of-a-kind prosecution
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A California man was arrested and charged Monday with allegedly smuggling potent, planet-heating greenhouse gases from Mexico, marking the first such prosecution in the US, according to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. He is then alleged to have sold them for a profit on sites including Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. These greenhouse gases are short-lived in the atmosphere, but powerful — some are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide in the near-term. “The illegal smuggling of hydrofluorocarbons, a highly potent greenhouse gas, undermines international efforts to combat climate change,” said David M. Uhlmann, the assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. In 2016, nearly 200 nations including the US agreed to the Kigali Amendment to reduce planet-heating pollution from these greenhouse gases.

Persons: Michael Hart, Hart, Todd Kim, HFCs, ”, David M, Tara McGrath, ” Hart Organizations: CNN, US, Office, Southern, Southern District of, Facebook, Justice Department’s, Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA’s, UN Environment, AC, Department of Justice Locations: California, Mexico, Southern District, Southern District of California, San Diego, United States, Kigali

☆ Analysis: While eyes are on Trump, Supreme Court conservatives prepare to rewrite the rulebook
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Joan Biskupic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Supreme Court conservatives are accelerating their moves to overhaul the way the federal government protects Americans, whether from air pollution or unfair financial practices. The case has determined a swath of court judgments on agency policy, well beyond the environmental realms, and become one of the most cited rulings in Supreme Court history. The Corner Post is protesting a Federal Reserve rule adopted in 2011 that caps debit card fees merchants obtain with every transaction. Three Republican-led states and power industry groups turned to the high court, seeking immediate relief and asking that any implementation be barred. Kagan focused on the multiple preliminary issues that lower court judges would have typically assessed before the case reached the justices.

Persons: Donald Trump, won’t, Elena Kagan, Let’s, Trump, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Barrett, Kagan, Benjamin Snyder, Chevron, Gorsuch, ”, ” Gorsuch, John Roberts, Snyder, “, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Bryan Weir, ” Weir, Honig, Roberts, Malcolm Stewart, ” Jackson, Mathura, ” Sridharan, Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, Catherine Stetson, it’s Organizations: CNN, Securities, Exchange Commission, Food, Chevron, Natural Resources Defense Council, Department, Federal, ”, Federal Reserve, ” Liberal, Corner Post, Liberal, DC Circuit, Republican, EPA Locations: Washington, American, North Dakota, “, Ohio

It is the second letter that auto dealers have sent to the White House in two months on the EPA’s upcoming ruling, which could codify the agency's strictest-ever tailpipe emissions limits, proposed last April. The dealerships said Thursday that the Biden administration did not respond to their first letter sent on Nov. 28. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe EPA says its proposed regulations would require up to two out of every three vehicles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2032. Most automakers around the globe have pledged hundreds of billions of dollars to transition to all-electric new vehicle sales in the coming decade as momentum to address climate change builds. Automakers can meet EPA regulations not just through pure-electric vehicle sales, but also through a sales mix including hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, “, Alexa St, John Organizations: DETROIT, White House, EPA, ”, Republicans, Traffic, Administration, Associated Press Locations: United, U.S, Press, ast.john@ap.org, AP.org

☆ Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch has a grudge against federal agencies. He holds their fate in his hands
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Joan Biskupic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Her memoir was, appropriately, entitled: “Are You Tough Enough?”Her son Neil Gorsuch, a Supreme Court justice since 2017, has shown his own brand of defiance and anti-regulatory fervor. In recent years, Justice Gorsuch has voted against regulations that protect the environment, student-debt forgiveness and Covid-19 precautions. He has led calls on the court for reversal of a 1984 Supreme Court decision that gives federal agencies considerable regulatory latitude and that, coincidentally traces to his mother’s tenure. The lawyers who will argue on behalf of the challengers are seasoned appellate advocates who once served as Supreme Court law clerks, as did Solicitor General Prelogar. That argument has prevailed in courts for decades, but the Supreme Court has signaled that it is ready for a new era.

Persons: Anne Gorsuch, Ronald Reagan White, Neil Gorsuch, Gorsuch, Chevron, Charles Koch, Trump, “, ”, ” Gorsuch, Elizabeth Prelogar, ” Neil Gorsuch, Ronald Reagan, –, Robert Burford, Anne Burford, Neil, John Paul Stevens, Thomas Merrill, Stevens, Merrill, Magnuson, Koch, Prelogar, Roman Martinez, ” Martinez, ” Paul Clement, ” Clement, ” Prelogar, Biden, Don McGahn, Anne Gorsuch Burford, McGahn, “ I’ve Organizations: CNN, Environmental Protection Agency, Congress, Ronald Reagan White House, Chevron USA, Inc, Natural Resources Defense Council, Chevron, Marine Fisheries Service, ”, Supreme, “, White House, Land Management, Columbia University, Conservative, National Marine Fisheries Service, Loper Bright Enterprises, Stevens Conservation, Management, “ Chevron, Trump Locations: Washington, Chevron, Colorado

It is responsible for about one-third of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. The new methane rule will help ensure that the United States meets a goal set by more than 100 nations to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels, Regan said. The EPA rule is just one of more than 100 actions the Biden administration has taken to reduce methane emissions, Zaidi added. The plan marks the first time the U.S. government has directly imposed a fee, or tax, on greenhouse gas emissions. The oil industry has generally welcomed direct federal regulation of methane emissions, preferring a single national standard to a hodgepodge of state rules.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, Michael Regan, Ali Zaidi, Regan, ” Regan, Zaidi, Harris, Harold Wimmer, Wimmer, David Doniger, ”, Obama, I'm, Fred Krupp Organizations: WASHINGTON, Environmental Protection Agency, United Nations, United Arab Emirates, Oil, UN, United States, Biden, Harris Administration, American Lung Association, EPA, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund Locations: Dubai, United Arab, U.S, Paris, Scotland, Egypt, United

☆ 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

☆ Cricket World Cup 2023: Polluted air the common opponent
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Air quality during 2023 Cricket World Cup matchesChart categorises the 2023 cricket World Cup matches held in 10 Indian cities by the air quality observed during the matches they hosted. Twenty matches were held in ‘unhealthy’ air quality, 11 in air that was ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 12 in ‘moderate’ air quality and only two in ‘good’ air quality. Average 24-hour PM 2.5 levels on all cricket World Cup match days between 1983 and 2019Chart shows average PM 2.5 concentration on match days at places that hosted a cricket World Cup match between 1983 and 2019. Of all the regions that have ever hosted a cricket World Cup match, the Indian subcontinent has seen the most polluted air. Map shows average annual PM 2.5 levels in 2019 across the world and locations that have ever hosted a cricket World Cup match.

Persons: Delhi’s Arun, Arun Jaitley, ITO, Chandika Hathurusinghe, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Suranga Lakmal, Mohammad Shami vomited Organizations: Sri Lankan, teams, Arun, ITO, Labs Inc, . Environmental Protection Agency, Delhi, United States Environment Protection Agency, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, World Health Organization, Indian, Matches, Daily, International Cricket Council, Endurance Locations: New Delhi, Delhi, Lahore, Pakistan, Australia, Netherlands, India, ITO, Sri Lanka, England, Indian, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Sri Lankan, U.S, Canberra, United States, China, Bangladesh

For more than a year, the Environmental Protection Agency investigated whether Louisiana officials discriminated against Black residents by putting them at increased cancer risk. As attorney general, Landry fought the EPA’s investigation. Health officials, for example, wanted the unilateral power to decide if and when they had to do the EPA-proposed analysis. The AP reviewed a draft agreement edited by state health officials and sent to EPA in May, reflecting negotiations at the time. It has not reviewed any draft agreement that would show what Louisiana's environmental agency might have been willing to accept.

Persons: Biden, Eric Schaeffer, it’s, Schaeffer, Republican Jeff Landry, Landry, Deena Tumeh, Tumeh, “, ”, ” Tumeh, Kevin Litten, VI, Sharon, Lavigne, James, Michael Regan, It's, Stacey Sublett Halliday, Beveridge, Diamond, ” Sublett Halliday Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency, The Associated Press, EPA’s, Civil, Louisiana, Republican, EPA, Louisiana Department of Environmental, Louisiana Department of Health, Health, AP, Cancer, Associated Press, Walton Family Foundation Locations: Louisiana, chloroprene, St

Political Cartoons View All 1223 ImagesNow the agency is aiming to further reduce lead levels in drinking water and tighten a rule that failed to prevent recent drinking water crises in cities like Flint, Michigan and Newark, New Jersey. Bernstein said he is hopeful “that as we remove lead pipes, we’re going to see the numbers continue to fall. “CDC’s work was used in other cities with elevated water lead levels to dampen citizen concerns,” the congressional report said. Joe Cotruvo, a former director of the Drinking Water Standards Division at EPA, said the existing regulations work and should be credited with significantly reducing lead in drinking water, they just aren’t properly enforced. Lead pipes in both cities were rapidly removed and lead levels dropped.

Persons: Ronnie Levin, ” Levin, Joe Biden, ”, Levin, Flint, Aaron Bernstein, Bernstein, Mark Powell, Yanna Lambrinidou, “, Mary Jean Brown, Marc Edwards, wouldn't, Joe Cotruvo, Michael Schock, Schock, we’ve Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Harvard, Centers for Disease Control, Washington , D.C, D.C, Virginia Tech, CDC, Agency, Associated Press, Walton Family Foundation, AP Locations: Flint , Michigan, Newark , New Jersey, U.S, Boston, WASHINGTON, Washington ,, Washington, The Washington, Flint, Benton Harbor , Michigan, Newark, Benton, Benton Harbor

☆ Tesla faces Justice Department probe of range claim
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The Justice Department is investigating whether or not Tesla cars can live up to the EPA’s official estimates of how far they can go on a single charge. But Consumer Reports has conducted tests that it said shows Tesla vehicles fall well short of the advertised range, no matter the weather. The organization conducted its own range tests on the Tesla Model Y as well as the Volkswagen ID.4, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The ID.4 and Mach-E both did slightly better than claimed in warm weather, the Ioniq 5 got within two miles of the claim of a 256-mile range. It went 274 miles in warm weather in the Consumer Reports test, compared to the official EPA stated range of 326 miles.

Persons: “, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, The Justice, SEC, DOJ, Tesla, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Ford, Consumer, EPA, Justice Department Locations: New York

(AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday proposed banning the cancer-causing chemical trichloroethylene, which can be found in consumer products including automobile brake cleaners, furniture care and arts and crafts spray coating. “Today, EPA is taking a major step to protect people from exposure to this cancer-causing chemical.”Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey, who has led the effort to ban TCE, welcomed the move. Political Cartoons View All 1215 Images“With this rule, we can see a future where we will no longer be manufacturing, processing and distributing a chemical known to be deadly,” Markey said. The chemical presents an “unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment” in 52 of 54 uses in industrial and consumer products, the EPA has found. The 2016 law required the EPA to evaluate chemicals and put in place protections against unreasonable risks.

Persons: TCE, Michal Freedhoff, Massachusetts Sen, Edward Markey, ” Markey, “, Anne Anderson, Jimmy, Anne, ” Anderson, Frank, Matthew Daly Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency, of Chemical Safety, “, EPA, Woburn, Andersons, Chemical, Press Locations: WOBURN, Mass, U.S, United States, Massachusetts, Woburn ., America, Woburn, Washington

☆ Major tests await conservative US Supreme Court in new term
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Monday marks the first day of the U.S. Supreme Court’s new term as it prepares to tackle major cases involving gun rights, the power of federal agencies, social media regulation and Republican-drawn electoral districts, and considers taking up a dispute over the availability of the abortion pill. FILE PHOTO: A police officer patrols outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, U.S. June 30, 2023.? The conservative justices in multiple rulings in recent years have pared back the authority of federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency. A case to be argued on Nov. 7 presents the conservative justices with an opportunity to broaden gun rights even further. Circuit Court of Appeals in its ruling barred telemedicine prescriptions and shipments of mifepristone by mail.

Persons: Jim Bourg, ” “, ”, Erwin Chemerinsky, Steve Schwinn, Roe, Wade, Joe Biden’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Supreme, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Chevron, University of California Berkeley Law School, Environmental Protection Agency, ” University of Illinois, South, Republican, House, Circuit, Appeals Locations: U.S ., Washington , U.S, Iowa, Chevron, ” University of Illinois Chicago, South Carolina, Texas, Florida, New Orleans

WASHINGTON (AP) — Efforts by the Biden administration to limit pollution from automobile tailpipes — a major source of planet-warming emissions — face a crucial test as legal challenges brought by Republican-led states head to a federal appeals court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear arguments Thursday and Friday on three cases challenging Biden administration rules targeting cars and trucks. The cases before the appeals court will test a 2021 Environmental Protection Agency rule that strengthened tailpipe pollution limits and a 2022 EPA decision that restored California’s authority to set its own tailpipe pollution standards for cars and SUVs. The court cases come as the Biden administration pushes the auto industry to quickly adopt electric vehicles as part of its climate agenda. “Far from doing something unexpected or novel'' in the tailpipe pollution rule, "EPA merely tightened existing standards,'' Kim wrote.

Persons: Biden, Ken Paxton, Joe, ”, Paxton, Dave Yost, Peter Zalzal, ″, Pete Huffman, Todd Kim, “, Kim, Zalzal Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, U.S, Appeals, District of Columbia, Biden, Transportation, Supreme, Environmental, Agency, EPA, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Texas, GOP, Texas Senate, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, NHTSA, Justice Department's, Natural Resources, General Motors, Ford, GM, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, EV, Auto Innovators, Department, EDF Locations: U.S, California, Russia, Ukraine, Texas, Ohio, West Virginia

The decision by EPA Administrator Michael Regan means that one of the agency's most important air quality regulations will not be updated until well after the 2024 presidential election. Political Cartoons View All 1145 ImagesThe delay marks the second time in 12 years that a Democratic administration has put off a new ozone standard prior to an election year. Former President Barack Obama shut down plans to tighten ozone standards in 2011, leading to four-year delay before the standards were updated in 2015. "Unfortunately we’ve seen the process for updating the ozone standards repeatedly swept up in political games that risk lives,'' the lawmakers said in an Aug. 7 letter to EPA. Lianne Sheppard, a University of Washington biostatistics professor who chairs the scientific advisory panel, said Regan's decision was “his alone” to make.

Persons: Michael Regan, “, Regan, ”, Barack Obama, Paul Billings, Raul Garcia, ” Garcia, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, we’ve, Conor Bernstein, EPA’s, Donald Trump, Bernstein, Andrea Woods, —, Lianne Sheppard, Richard Moore, Peggy Shepard, Moore, Sheppard, Tomas Carbonell, Carbonell Organizations: WASHINGTON, Environmental Protection Agency, Republicans, Democratic, American Lung Association, National Mining Association, American Petroleum Institute, Scientific Advisory, White, Environmental, EPA, University of Washington, E, White House, Los Jardines Institute, WE ACT, Environmental Justice, Air Locations: Billings, Albuquerque , New Mexico, New York City

☆ Tesla’s secret team to suppress thousands of driving range complaints
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +21 min

He expected to get something close to the electric sport sedan’s advertised driving range: 353 miles on a fully charged battery. Driving range is among the most important factors in consumer decisions on which electric car to buy, or whether to buy one at all. Electric cars can lose driving range for a lot of the same reasons as gasoline cars — but to a greater degree. The EPA said all the changes to Tesla’s range estimates were made before the company used the figures on window stickers. Independent automotive testers commonly examine the EPA-approved fuel-efficiency or driving range claims against their own experience in structured tests or real-world driving.

Persons: Alexandre Ponsin, ”, Tesla, Elon Musk, “ Elon, Scott Case, Case, Gregory Pannone, Pannone, “ They've, carmaker, Ford, I’m, ” Pannone, ” Jonathan Elfalan, Edmunds, Elfalan, ” Elfalan, Santa Clara –, Ponsin, ” Ponsin, “, Steve Stecklow, Norihiko, Heekyong Yang, Peter Henderson, Eve Watling, Lucy Ha, Ilan Rubens, Brian Thevenot Organizations: Reuters, Tesla, South, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai Kona, National Science Foundation, SAE International, U.S, Porsche, Benz, EV, Independent, General Motors, Hyundai, Korea Fair Trade Commission, Virtual Service, Santa, San Francisco Art Locations: AUSTIN, Texas, Colorado, California, Las Vegas, Austin , Texas, Nevada, U.S, Seattle, Vegas, Henderson, Utah, Santa Clara, London, Austin, Seoul, San Francisco

The groups in 2022 had challenged the EPA’s decision not to reconsider its 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding, which they claim has spurred climate regulations that drive up energy costs. David Wallace, the president of the FAIR Energy Foundation, said the groups are reviewing the decision and are considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The EPA’s endangerment finding was finalized in 2009, and determined that six greenhouse gasses, including carbon dioxide and methane, pose a danger to human health. The current challenge claims the finding is based on faulty science and that the EPA's refusal to reconsider it was arbitrary. v. EPA and FAIR Energy Foundation v. EPA, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, case Nos.

Persons: David Wallace, Harry MacDougald, Caldwell Carlson Elliott, DeLoach, Francis Menton, Brian Lynk, U.S . Department of Justice Read Organizations: Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, Concerned Household Electricity Consumers Council, FAIR Energy Foundation, U.S, Supreme, EPA, Electricity, U.S ., U.S . Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ GM says it could face compliance challenges under new emissions rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies General Motors Co FollowWASHINGTON, July 5 (Reuters) - General Motors (GM.N) said on Wednesday it could face compliance challenges under the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed vehicle emissions rules and other state and federal regulations, as it cited requirements on electric vehicles. The EPA estimates would result in 60% of new vehicles by 2030 being electric and 67% by 2032. GM said it supported the "original goals" outlined in President Joe Biden's August 2021 executive order of 50% of new vehicles as EVs or plug-in hybrids by 2030. In June, the Biden administration disclosed GM paid $128.2 million in penalties for failing to meet Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) vehicle requirements for the 2016 and 2017 model years. Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington Editing by Leslie Adler and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler, Matthew Lewis Organizations: General Motors, U.S, GM, EPA, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Washington

☆ Auto industry seeks to soften Biden vehicle emissions proposal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 28 (Reuters) - The trade group representing nearly all major automakers wants the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to soften its proposal to sharply cut vehicle emissions through 2032 saying it is "neither reasonable nor achievable." The EPA, which declined to comment immediately, said the proposed 2027-2032 standards would cut emissions by 56% compared to the existing 2026 requirements. The group called the proposal a "de facto battery electric vehicle mandate." The group said the EPA proposal "substantially underestimates the cost of batteries while overestimating the availability of consumer and manufacturing tax credits." Environmentalists are pressing the Biden administration not to soften the proposal.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, David Shepardson, Howard Goller Organizations: . Environmental Protection Agency, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, General Motors, Volkswagen, Toyota, EPA, Thomson

☆ Opinion: The Supreme Court justices picked by Trump were bad. DeSantis would be much worse.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Opinion Duncan Hosie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

DeSantis has appointed far more extreme justices to the Florida Supreme Court than Trump did to the US Supreme Court. But DeSantis’ appointees to the Florida Supreme Court embrace the Thomas-Alito wing of the organization. DeSantis’ appointees, in contrast, have jumped at entrenching conservative electoral domination and curtailing Black political power. Imitating Thomas and Alito, DeSantis’ appointees have rushed into gratuitous political controversies, writing opinions heavy on theory and light on practicality. Thomas and Alito are in this vanguard, as are DeSantis’ appointees and some of Trump’s lower court appointees, with which DeSantis is aligned.

Persons: Duncan Hosie, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, Hugh Hewitt, DeSantis, Clarence, Thomas, Samuel, Alito, ” Duncan Hosie, –, Trump, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, George H.W, Bush, George W, Brackeen, Barrett, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, decisis, – Thomas, Thomas ’, Wade, – Carlos Muñiz, John Couriel, Jamie Grosshans, Renatha Francis, Meredith Sasso, they’ve, Barrett aren’t, Roe, DeSantis playbook, DeSantis ’, Biden, Alito’s, Smith, He’s, ”, groupthink, It’s, Trump’s, haven’t Organizations: New York Times, Washington Post, Street, CNN, Florida Gov, Republican, Trump, Florida Supreme, Detroit, of Education, –, Oregon, Federalist Society, Covid, Employment, today’s, Federalist, Twitter Locations: Florida, Alabama, Black, City of Philadelphia, lockstep

☆ Extreme heat means two-thirds of North America could suffer blackouts this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Periods of extreme heat stress the grid by spiking demand for electricity as families and businesses crank up the air conditioning to stay cool. Power grid officials have warned that large swaths of the United States could face blackouts if it’s a hot summer. “Two-thirds of North America is at risk of energy shortfalls this summer during periods of extreme demand,” the North American Energy Reliability Corporation (NERC) concluded in its summer outlook published last month. The risk of blackouts comes into play only if there is extreme heat. But many Americans in the South and Central regions of the United States are dealing with extreme heat right now.

Persons: NERC, ” NERC Organizations: New York CNN Business, North American Energy Reliability Corporation, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, US Energy Information Administration Locations: United States, North America, Mississippi, Central, Texas . New England, Ontario, “, South, Arizona, Alabama, West Texas, Pacific Northwest, Southwest , Texas, Southeast, Texas, Nevada , Utah, Gulf Coast

☆ US House Republicans blast EPA refusal to appear at EV hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A spokesperson for the House Oversight Republican majority said "the EPA’s excuse for not appearing before this week’s subcommittee hearing is devoid of logic" noting EPA Administrator Michael Regan's recent testimony. Last month, the EPA proposed sharp emissions cuts that it estimates would result in 60% of new vehicles by 2030 being electric and 67% by 2032. EPA said the requested witnesses had previously scheduled meetings with lawmakers and others Wednesday preventing their participation and because the proposed rules "are currently open for public comment." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet new proposed fuel economy standards. Last week, an auto trade group warned the EPA proposal may rely on a too rapid transition to EVs and poses significant challenges.

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