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☆ Republican attorneys general urge Biden to drop EPA emissions plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Signage is seen at the headquarters of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 10, 2021. The Environmental Protection Agency in April proposed new 2027-2032 vehicle standards that would cut emissions by 56% versus existing 2026 requirements. Many Republican state attorneys general have sued the EPA over its 2021 restoration of the Obama-era standards that were rolled back under Republican former President Donald Trump. The group called the proposal a "de facto battery electric vehicle mandate" and noted that EVs represented about 6% of new light-duty vehicles sales in 2022. Mazda (7261.T) said separately that it was worried about the "exceptional stringency" of the rule, while Ford Motor (F.N) said the EPA should "avoid setting criteria emissions requirements that will force unnecessarily large or ill-timed investments."

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Biden, Kentucky's Daniel Cameron, Patrick Morrisey, Obama, Donald Trump, EVs, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis, Leslie Adler Organizations: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Republican, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, West, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, General Motors, Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, Mazda, Ford, Thomson Locations: Washington ,

☆ 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

☆ ‘Forever chemicals’ in water: Nearly half of the tap water in the US is contaminated with PFAS, government study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Almost half of the tap water in the United States is contaminated with chemicals known as “forever chemicals,” according to a study from the US Geological Survey. Experts say it’s important for people to understand their risk of exposure through tap water. Water filters may help somewhat if tap water is contaminated, and there are moves to regulate some PFAS chemicals in US drinking water. This US Geological Survey map shows the number of PFAS detected in tap water samples from select sites across the nation. In August 2023, the EPA said it is conducting the “most comprehensive monitoring effort for PFAS ever” at large and midsize public water systems and hundreds of small water systems.

Persons: Jamie DeWitt, There’s, ”, DeWitt, They’re, Graham Peaslee, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, “, Peaslee, ” Peaslee Organizations: CNN, Geological Survey, National Institutes of Health, US Environmental Protection Agency, Survey, Eastern Seaboard, Environmental Health Sciences, Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Utilities, EPA, of Physics, University of Notre Dame, CNN Health Locations: United States, Great, Central, Southern California

The cases involve what has come to be known as the "administrative state," the agency bureaucracy that interprets laws, crafts federal rules and implements executive action. It also could overturn a decades-old precedent that helps federal agencies defend their regulatory actions in court. The case involves a lawsuit by trade groups representing the payday loan industry against the agency that enforces consumer financial laws. The companies asked the court to overturn its own precedent that calls for judges to defer to federal agency interpretation of U.S. laws, a doctrine called "Chevron deference." The court's embrace of the "major questions" doctrine has provided a seismic shift in its approach toward agency power.

Persons: Brianne Gorod, Jonathan Adler, Joe Biden's, Sarah Harris, Elena Kagan, Thomas McGarity, Andrew Chung, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Environmental Protection Agency, Constitutional, Center, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, University of Texas, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Cleveland, New Jersey, New York, Washington

[1/4] Liquified petroleum gas vessel Zita Schulte is seen docked at the port of Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S., May 15, 2023. A hydrogen hub would require access to millions of gallons of water – a challenge in Corpus Christi which is experiencing a multi-year drought. Peter Zanoni, the city manager for Corpus Christi, said the hydrogen project, if approved, all but requires the adoption of seawater desalination. And seawater desalination plants are energy intensive and expensive to build and maintain, energy experts say. Corpus Christi first proposed seawater desalination in 2017 to supply its rapidly growing energy and petrochemicals industries.

Persons: Zita Schulte, Joe Biden's, Read, Jennifer Granholm, Biden, Minh Khoi, Radhika Fox, Peter Zanoni, Zanoni, Paul Montagna, Christi, Errol Summerlin, Brandon Marks, Marks, Charles Zahn, Valerie Volcovici, Richard Valdmanis, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Investment, Jobs, Biden, Coastal Alliance, Corpus, U.S . Energy, Reuters, Rystad Energy, Department of Energy, DOE, Environmental, Corpus Christi, ExxonMobil, Saudi Arabia's Basic Industries Corporation, M University, Harte Research, Gulf of, Gulf of Mexico Studies, EPA, Texas Commission, Texas Campaign, Thomson Locations: Corpus Christi , Texas, U.S, Gulf, Christi , Texas, Corpus Christi, Southern California , Colorado , Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, Corpus, United States, Gulf of Mexico, San Diego , California, Hillcrest, San Antonio

☆ Smoke will keep pouring into the US as long as fires are burning in Canada
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Alaa Elassar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Massive fires burning in remote areas – like some of those currently burning in northwestern Quebec – are often too out of control to do anything about. Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images Smoke from wildfires in Canada shrouds the view of the Statue of Liberty on Friday in New York. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Smoke and haze is seen from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, June 27. Matt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty Images Smoke from Canadian wildfires obscures the visibility in Pittsburgh on June 8. Another issue is the increase in the wildfires are caused by climate change, and are simultaneously making climate change worse.

Persons: ” Robert Gray, you’ve, they’re, “ There’s, don’t, ”, Daniel Perrakis, ” Gray, Shiraaz Mohamed, Gray, “, ” Perrakis, Ed Jones, David Dee Delgado, Gary Hershorn, Haze, Gene J, Jim Watson, Megan Smith, Kamil Krzaczynski, Cpl Marc, Andre Leclerc, Drew Angerer, Shannon Stapleton, Ronald Reagan, Saul Loeb, Matt McClain, Emmalee Reed, Hannah Beier, Mandel Ngan, New York City, Timothy A, Clary, Mike Segar, John Minchillo, Shanita Hancle, Seth Wenig, Matt Rourke, Ting Shen, Matt Slocum, Amr Alfiky, John Meore, Leah Millis, George Washington, Peter Carr, Yuki Iwamura, Kareem Elgazzar, Carlos Osorio, Frank Franklin II, Merrily Cassidy, Spencer Colby, Jason Rock, BJ Fuchs, Anne, Sophie Thill, we’ve, it’s Organizations: CNN, Canadian Forest Service, Firefighters, Getty, ” “, Nature Conservancy, Rockefeller Center, North, Corbis, PNC Park, Major League Baseball, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Traffic, Chesapeake, Lincoln Memorial, USA, People, Canadian Forces, Reuters, BC, Service, Xinhua, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Capitol, Trade, AP Transit, T, Alberta Wildfire, New, New York City, Getty Images Workers, Citizens Bank, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Empire, George Washington Bridge, New York State Thruway, Cincinnati Enquirer, Cape Cod Times, Anadolu Agency, Canadian Press, AP, Wildfire Service, Communications, Space, NASA, Reuters Firefighters, Kamloops Fire Rescue, Shining Bank Locations: Wisconsin, Vermont, North Carolina, Canada, Quebec, Canadian, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, France, AFP, New Jersey, Manhattan, New York, North America, New, Pittsburgh, Stevensville , Maryland, Washington ,, Chicago, Lake Michigan, Mistissini, Ronald Reagan Washington, Arlington , Virginia, Washington, Philadelphia, Elmont , New York, Baltimore, Evansburg , Alberta, Brooklyn , New York, Piermont , New York, Fort Lee , New Jersey, George, West Nyack, New York's, New York City, Cincinnati, Rock Harbor, Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Ottawa, Fort Nelson, Shelburne County , Nova Scotia, Communications Nova Scotia, Shelburne , Nova Scotia, Fort St, John, Kamloops, Shining Bank , Alberta, Lytton

☆ Factbox: A look at the US Supreme Court's major rulings this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Industry Insight | Corporate Attorneys Don T Want To Pay Law Firms For Chatgpt When They Could Use It Themselves | Zach Warren | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Here is a look at some of the rulings issued by the court this term. STUDENT LOANSThe justices on June 30 blocked President Joe Biden's plan to cancel $430 billion in student loan debt. The court elected not to further roll back protections contained in the Voting Rights Act as it had done in two major rulings in the past decade. The ruling against Republican state legislators stemmed from a legal fight over their map of North Carolina's 14 U.S. House districts. The court ruled that state prosecutors had not shown that he was aware of the "threatening nature" of his statements.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Constitution's, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Biden, Joseph Percoco, Andrew Cuomo, Louis Ciminelli, John Kruzel, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Harvard University, University of North, Harvard, UNC, Black, Republican, U.S . House, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Biden, Democratic, Postal Service, New, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, University of North Carolina, Alabama, U.S, Idaho, Texas, Louisiana, Washington, Colorado

☆ Magnus Carlsen headlines new chess tournament ‘to scale the game to a billion fans’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Ben Church | Coy Wire | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The inaugural Global Chess League (GCL), which got underway in Dubai on June 22, is the latest event to offer a new format for the game. The franchise-style format allows fans to follow teams, as well as players, and some of the game’s biggest stars are getting involved. “I think this is definitely something quite special,” grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who is participating in the tournament, told CNN. Carlsen hopes the new league format will succeed in opening the game up to a new audience, an ambition matched by the GCL chairperson Jagdish Mitra. “I think it’s an opportunity for the sport of chess and its 600 million fans,” Mitra told CNN Sport.

Persons: it’s, Magnus Carlsen, Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Ian Nepomniachtchi, ” Carlsen, ” Magnus Carlsen, Ali Haider, Chess.com, Jagdish Mitra, “, ” Mitra, It’s, Mitra Organizations: CNN, Global Chess League, “, FIDE, Tech Mahindra, SG Alpine Warriors, Global, GCL, CNN Sport Locations: Dubai, Indian, Russian

[1/2] Manufacturing equipment is seen during a tour of Foxconn's electric vehicle production facility in Lordstown, Ohio, U.S. November 30, 2022. The Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants for EVs program will provide cost-shared grants for making efficient hybrid, plug-in electric hybrid, fully electric, and fuel cell vehicles. The Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office said the program will prioritize projects that refurbish or retool manufacturing plants that have recently stopped operations or were expected to close soon. The Biden administration, as part of its goal of decarbonizing the economy by 2050, is pushing the U.S. auto industry to accelerate a transition to EVs. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents General Motors (GM.N), Stellantis NV (STLAM.MI), Toyota Motor (7203.T) and others, on Wednesday called the EPA proposal a "de facto battery electric vehicle mandate" that was "neither reasonable nor achievable."

Persons: Quinn Glabicki, Joe Biden's, Biden, Shawn Fain, Stellantis, Timothy Gardner, Joe White, David Shepardson, David Gregorio, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, United Auto Workers, UAW, Energy's Vehicle Technologies, Lordstown, Environmental Protection Agency, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, General Motors, Stellantis, Toyota, Energy Department, Thomson Locations: Lordstown , Ohio, U.S, DETROIT, Ohio, Michigan , Ohio , Illinois, Indiana, Belvidere , Illinois, Washington, Detroit

☆ 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

[1/2] Workers lift a solar panel onto a roof during a residential solar installation in Scripps Ranch, San Diego, California, U.S. October 14, 2016. "This historic boost in solar investments will advance millions of residential solar projects nationwide, protect people and the planet, deliver environmental justice," said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. Regan announced the launch of the "Solar for All" grant program in Vermont, where he joined Independent Senator Bernie Sanders to tour a residential solar project. The awards will help communities develop low-income solar programs that will provide financing and technical assistance like workforce development and ensure that low-income households receive the benefits of rooftop solar, including household savings, community ownership and energy resiliency. The program will guarantee a minimum 20% total electricity bill savings for households.

Persons: Mike Blake, Biden, Michael Regan, Regan, Bernie Sanders, Valerie Volcovici, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Workers, Scripps, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Environmental Protection Agency, Wednesday, Alaska Natives, Reduction, Independent, Clean Investment Fund, Communities Investment, Thomson Locations: Scripps Ranch, San Diego , California, U.S, Americans, Vermont

☆ Wildfire smoke hits New York again: 'We are truly the first generation to feel the real effects of climate change,' Gov. Hochul says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A screenshot of a map from AirNow.Gov shows air quality and smoke plumes on June 28, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. The AirNow Fire and Smoke map is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Forest Service. Kathy Hochul tweeted Wednesday afternoon that air quality health advisories were in effect for the state. City administrators will be working to alert residents of the hazardous air conditions on public transit and via cell phone alert systems. But Hochul advised residents to look up their zip codes on AirNow.gov for localized air quality readings.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, Hochul Organizations: U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, U.S . Forest Service, New York Gov, Western Locations: Canada, New York, U.S . Forest Service ., York, Western New York, Central New York, Eastern Lake Ontario

☆ 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

☆ The wife of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito leased a plot of land to an oil and natural gas company while the judge was weakening the powers of the Environmental Protection Agency, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In June 2022, Justice Samuel Alito's wife leased a plot of land in Oklahoma to an oil and gas company. Alito in several rulings before the court has been part of majority decisions to reduce the scope of the EPA. There are thousands of oil and gas leases across Oklahoma, where the energy sector is a critical economic driver. But the oil and gas lease troubles many environmentalists given Justice Alito's role in weakening the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency in several cases that have come before the court. And last year, the Supreme Court in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency limited the federal agency's ability to control the level of carbon emissions from power plants.

Persons: Samuel Alito's, Alito, —, Samuel Alito, Martha Ann Bomgardner Alito, Alito's, Jeff Hauser, Paul Thomas Anderson, Joe Biden Organizations: EPA, Service, Citizen Energy III, Energy III, Environmental Protection Agency Locations: Oklahoma, Sackett v, West Virginia

☆ 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

☆ New EPA Rules Pressure Biofuel Producers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Bob Henderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A soybean processing facility in Greenwood, Miss. Soybean oil is a rapidly growing input for renewable diesel. Photo: Rory Doyle/Bloomberg NewsU.S. regulators spawned a booming industry for low-carbon trucking fuel. Shares of Darling Ingredients , the country’s largest renewable diesel producer through a joint venture, fell as much as 8%. Shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland and Bunge , which produce renewable diesel feedstocks, also slipped on the news.

Persons: Rory Doyle Organizations: Bloomberg News U.S, Environmental Protection Agency, Daniels, Midland, Bunge Locations: Greenwood, Miss

☆ How to repel mosquitoes, according to science
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Kate Golembiewski | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Here’s the lowdown on how mosquitoes hunt us, what attracts them, and what scientists recommend for keeping them at bay. The science of mosquito bitesMost of the time, mosquitoes drink plant nectars and juices, and even help pollinate flowers. “How attractive you think you are to mosquitoes might not necessarily correlate with how attractive you actually are to the mosquitoes,” McMeniman said. The itchiness and discomfort from mosquito bites come later when the perpetrator is no longer at risk of getting swatted. No silver bullet exists to protect yourself from mosquito bites, but get a good bug spray and reapply it as needed.

Persons: “ We’re, ”, Conor McMeniman, ” McMeniman, Olivier Morin, “, We’re, there’s, Rick Bowmer, Kristen Healy, Healy, ” Healy, they’ve, McMeniman, tantalizing, Kate Golembiewski Organizations: CNN, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Getty, Louisiana State University, American Mosquito Control Association, Environmental Protection Agency Locations: Baltimore, It’s, AFP, coexisting, Chicago

But in South Korea, “no-kids zones” have become remarkably popular in recent years. In addition to the world’s lowest birthrate, South Korea has one of the world’s fastest aging populations. A widely circulated crowd-sourced Google Map shows the location of many of South Korea's no-kids zones, as identified by users. A man looks at strollers at a baby fair in Seoul, South Korea, in September 2022. See why South Korea has the world's lowest fertility rate 02:41 - Source: CNNNo kids to kids first?

Persons: it’s, Yong Hye, Bonnie Tilland, Tilland, ”, Lee Yi, “ It’s, Lee Ji, Kim Se, “, choong, ” Tilland, Yong, don’t, ” Yong, Barista Ahn Hee, yul, they’re Organizations: Seoul CNN —, South, Google, Income Party, National Assembly, Facebook, Human Rights, UN, Yonsei University, Leiden University, Hankook Research, CNN Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Jeju, Japan, United States, South, Korea, Netherlands, ‘

Companies Tesla Inc FollowNEW YORK, June 23 (Reuters) - A U.S. Democratic lawmaker plans to reintroduce a bipartisan bill next month that would allow electricity generated from renewable biomass to qualify for credits under the nation's biofuel blending program. The new EV pathway would be a major overhaul of that program by expanding it to include stakeholders in the electric vehicle industry. Garamendi originally introduced the bill in 2021, with bipartisan cosponsors including Representative Jack Bergman, a Republican from Michigan, and Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican from Iowa. Groups including the Renewable Fuel Standard Power Coalition, the Biomass Power Association and the American Loggers Council have endorsed the impending bill. The bill would also make biomass removed from federal forestlands eligible under the RFS as renewable biomass.

Persons: Biden, John Garamendi, Garamendi, Jack Bergman, Mariannette Miller, Meeks, Stephanie Kelly, Alistair Bell Organizations: Tesla, U.S, Democratic, U.S . Renewable Fuels, . Environmental Protection Agency, Reuters, Republican, Standard Power Coalition, Biomass Power Association, Thomson Locations: California, Michigan, Iowa

June 22 (Reuters) - 3M Co has reached a $10.3 billion settlement with a host of U.S. public water systems to resolve water pollution claims tied to "forever chemicals," the chemical company announced on Thursday. The company said the settlement would provide the funds over a 13-year period to cities, towns and other public water systems to test and treat contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. 3M, which is facing thousands of lawsuits over PFAS contamination, did not admit liability, and said the money will help support remediation at public water systems that detect PFAS "at any level." "The result is that millions of Americans will have healthier lives without PFAS in their drinking water." 3M had been scheduled to face a test trial in South Carolina federal court earlier this month in a lawsuit brought by Stuart, Florida.

Persons: Scott Summy, Stuart, Brendan Pierson, Clark Mindock, Alexia Garamfalvi, Chris Reese, Daniel Wallis Organizations: 3M, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, DuPont de Nemours Inc, Corteva Inc, Thomson Locations: U.S, South Carolina, Stuart , Florida, New York

☆ Tesla urges EPA to finalize tougher US heavy-duty emissions cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Companies Tesla Inc FollowWASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) urged the Biden administration to finalize significantly stricter heavy-duty emissions limits than proposed in April, arguing larger vehicles were being electrified much faster than envisioned and would lead to bigger pollution cuts. EPA should "actively embrace a more rapid transition to (battery electric vehicles)" adding "the time for doing so is now," Tesla said. Tesla cited its Tesla Semi production in making the case for tougher emissions rules, noting it anticipates production levels of a Class 8 Day Cab tractor at 50,000 per year with significant production volumes beginning in late 2024. Tesla submitted its Semi heavy-duty production plans through 2030 to EPA but did not make them public. This means Tesla’s production goal alone would far exceed the 5% EV sales deployment EPA anticipates in 2027," Tesla wrote, noting other companies are planning to build heavy-duty EVs.

Persons: Biden, Tesla, Elon Musk, David Shepardson, Chris Reese, Matthew Lewis, Sonali Paul Organizations: Tesla, WASHINGTON, EPA, Act, Analysts, American Trucking Associations, Thomson Locations: Washington

☆ Heavy-duty truck emissions: US Senate upholds Biden veto protecting regulation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, June 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Joe Biden's veto of legislation that would have stopped the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing new limits on soot and smog emissions from heavy-duty trucks. A Senate attempt to override Biden's veto got just 50 votes, far short of the 67 affirmative votes that needed. The vote allows the EPA to go ahead with plans to impose the regulations, although it still faces legal challenges. Among the heavy vehicles covered under the regulation are delivery trucks, motor homes, refuse haulers, transit, shuttle and school buses and tractor-trailers. Reporting by Richard Cowan and David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter and Conor HumphriesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Richard Cowan, David Shepardson, Mark Porter, Conor Humphries Organizations: U.S, Senate, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Thomson

☆ I would totally buy this $50,000 electric pickup truck that's the size of a Mini Cooper
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

EV startup Telo's first electric truck. EV startup Telo's first electric truck. EV startup Telo's first electric truck. EV startup Telo's first electric truck. EV startup Telo's first electric truck.

Persons: Telo, Cooper, Ford Organizations: Morning, Toyota, Ford Maverick, Hyundai, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Ford, EV, EPA Locations: Tesla's, American, Toyota Tacoma, Hyundai Santa

[1/2] Choices at the gas pump including ethanol or no ethanol gas are seen in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 29, 2020. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to finalize biofuel blending volumes at 20.94 billion gallons in 2023, 21.54 billion gallons in 2024 and 22.33 billion gallons in 2025, the sources said. That compares with the initial proposal announced in December of 20.82 billion in 2023, 21.87 billion in 2024, and 22.68 billion in 2025. But the finalized volumes include just 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuels like corn-based ethanol in all three years, plus a 250 million-gallon supplemental amount for 2023, the sources said. Ethanol producers and corn farmers like the mandates because they provide a market for their products, while the oil industry finds the requirements too pricey.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Biden, Emily Skor, Stephanie Kelly, Jarrett Renshaw, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, The, Environmental Protection Agency, Congress, Growth Energy, EPA, U.S . Renewable, EV, Thomson Locations: Des Moines , Iowa, U.S, The U.S, New York, Philadelphia

☆ Chipotle wants you to think composting before burrito bowl becomes trash
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Composting has been a key part of that for Chipotle, and the fast-casual restaurant chain is expanding that focus this year. In 2023, Chipotle has set a goal to institute composting programs in at least 23% more restaurants, or approximately 234 additional locations. In certain jurisdictions, compostable products have to be fiber-based, while in others plant-based compostable products are accepted. Infrastructure is key for Chipotle, Shibata said, as there are many Chipotle restaurants in areas where there is no facility that can compost certain items. She sees more jurisdictions pushing in the direction of more composting, and said that a focus from companies like Chipotle on composting will help generate momentum.

Persons: Brandon Bell, Chipotle, Brian Niccol, Laurie Schalow, Lisa Shibata, Shibata, We've, Frank Franciosi, Franciosi, Schalow Organizations: Mexican Grill, Getty, composted, Companies, New, New York City, Seattle Locations: Mexican, Austin , Texas, Chipotle, U.S, New York, West Coast, San Francisco

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