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☆ As Groundwater Dwindles, Powerful Players Block Change
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Christopher Flavelle | Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +19 min

They serve on the board of Groundwater Management District 3, which since 1996 has overseen the pumping of 16.2 trillion gallons of groundwater — enough to fill Lake Mead, the country’s largest reservoir, twice over. From Maryland to Hawaii groundwater levels are falling, often the result of overpumping and underregulation, made worse by climate change. Groundwater Levels at Goldstrike Mine Observation wells at Goldstrike show a pattern of immense groundwater withdrawals. “And money talks.”Kansas City Groundwater Management District 3 KANSAS Wichita KANSAS Groundwater Management District 3 Kansas City Groundwater Management District 3 KANSAS WichitaGrowing corn in the Kansas drylandsIn Kansas, the power of the men who run Groundwater Management District 3 is enormous. Groups like Groundwater Management District 3 have until 2026 to come up with plans to sustain groundwater.

Persons: Lake Mead, —, Catherine Hospital —, we’re, ”, Lindsay Vaughn, David Robert Elliott, Joe Newland, Nevada Adam Sullivan, Christina Erling, Erling, Adam Sullivan, Emily Najera, Kim Raff, Julie Pazina, ” Barrick, Michael McCarthy, Barrick, ” Mr, McCarthy, Michael H, Taylor, Patrick Donnelly, don’t, Helena Billings, it’s, Galt, Wylie Galt, Bill Galt, Dutton, Wylie, Errol Galt, Galt’s, Matthew Hamon, The New York Times Eugene Graf, Montana homebuilders, The New York Times Montana, Brad Dundas, Dundas, Mr, John Tubbs, Tubbs, The New York Times Errol Galt, Eugene Graf, Graf, Guy Alsentzer, “, Lucas Bessire, Vaughn, Newland, Mark Rude, Kan, The New York Times Mark Rude, Ms, Lall, Ali Zaidi, Biden, Jared Huffman, Huffman Organizations: Groundwater Management, Walmart, State, The New York Times, Kansas Farm Bureau, New York Times, NEVADA Carson City Las, Barrick, Carson City Las, NEVADA Carson City, North, Barrick Gold Corporation, Nevada Gold Mines, Nevada, of Water, University of Nevada, Center for Biological Diversity, Republican, Representatives, The Times, Galt, state’s Department of Natural Resources, The New York, Montana Fish, Montana Building Industry Association, KANSAS, KANSAS Wichita KANSAS Groundwater Management, KANSAS Wichita, Kansas drylands, Management, Kansas City Topeka, Kansas City, Topeka Wichita, Survey, University of Oklahoma, Groundwater, Kansas, Columbia Water Center, Columbia University, Natural Resources Defense Council, Marin Municipal Water District, Fisheries Locations: United States, Garden City, Kan, America, Lake, Kansas, Maryland, Hawaii, Barrick, NEVADA Carson, Carson, Nevada, Canada, Goldstrike, North America, Barrick’s, ” MONTANA, Helena, Bozeman MONTANA, Helena Billings Bozeman, Montana, Galt, ”, Broadwater County, Elk, Confederate, Sulphur Springs, Mont, Upper Missouri, Townsend, ” Kansas, Groundwater Management District, KANSAS Wichita KANSAS, KANSAS Wichita KANSAS Groundwater Management District, KANSAS, Kansas drylands In Kansas, District, Wichita, Kansas City Topeka, Management District, Topeka, Kansas City, Arkansas, Washington, California, Marin

☆ Tougher EU methane rules mean US gas sector must clean up act -Maguire
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Snow covered transfer lines are seen at the Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Lusby, Maryland March 18, 2014. Methane is the primary component of natural gas, and is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide in terms of climate-warming potential over the near term, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, a U.S.-based nonprofit. However, in terms of methane intensity, or a measure of how much methane is emitted in the production of oil and gas, the United States ranks 10th, emitting 8.18 tonnes of methane per kiloton of oil energy equivalent (ktoe). That U.S. intensity rating compares favourably to Venezuela's 53.35 tonnes of methane per ktoe, and is 42% less than Russia's 14 tonnes of methane per ktoe. What's more, it is unclear where EU lawmakers will draw the line in terms of what methane intensity levels are acceptable, and if they plan to adjust thresholds over time.

Persons: Snow, Gary Cameron, Gavin Maguire, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Natural Resources Defense Council, . Energy Information Administration, U.S, LNG, Russia, International Energy, United States, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Lusby , Maryland, LITTLETON , Colorado, United States, U.S, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, States, Canada, Saudi Arabia

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

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

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

That has been a sticking point for the United States in months of discussions with Beijing on climate change. The United States and China have an outsize role to play there as nations debate whether to phase out fossil fuel. That is significant because the current Chinese climate goal addresses only carbon dioxide, leaving out methane, nitrous oxide and other gases that are acting as a blanket around the planet. Then, early this year, an American fighter jet shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had floated over the continental United States. When it comes to climate change, no relationship is as important as the one between the United States and China.

Persons: Biden, Xi Jinping, ”, David Sandalow, Clinton, Obama, Sandalow, they’re, Mr, John Kerry, Xie Zhenhua, “, Xi, Manish Bapna, ” Mr, Bapna, Kerry, Xie, Valerie Volcovici, Nancy Pelosi, Kerry’s, optimistically, . Biden, Donald Trump, Keith Bradsher Organizations: Hamas, Columbia University’s Center, Global Energy, International Energy Agency, U.S ., Cooperation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Beijing, Republican Locations: Bohai, Weifang, China, United States, Taiwan, Ukraine, Israel, Beijing, Dubai, United Nations, United Kingdom, U.S, California, ”, Europe, American, America

The world is off track in its efforts to curb global warming in 41 of 42 important measurements and is even heading in the wrong direction in six crucial ways, a new international report calculates. On the flip side, public money spent to create more fossil fuel use is going in the wrong direction and faster than it has in the past, said study co-author Kelly Levin, science and data director at the Bezos Earth Fund. The globe has already warmed about 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the mid 19th century. But he said the report shows “we’re really struggling to pick the low-hanging fruit.”___Read more of AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment. ___Follow Seth Borenstein on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @borenbears___Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations.

Persons: Kelly Levin, it’s, ” Levin, ”, Joe Thwaites, Katharine Jacobs, ” Jacobs, Justin Mankin, “ we’re, ___ Read, Seth Borenstein Organizations: Climate, World Resources Institute, Fund, United Nations, United, Natural Resources Defense, Arizona State University, Twitter, AP Locations: Canada, South Asia, Dubai, United States, Paris, Ukraine, Dartmouth

Steam feeding into the Unit 3 turbine generator of the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Waynesboro, Ga. “The United States is now committed to trying to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy,” John Kerry, President Biden’s climate envoy, said in September. One recent Pew survey found that 57 percent of Americans favor more nuclear plants, up from 43 percent in 2016. A NuScale engineer gave a tour of a control room simulator, modeling the company’s plans for new nuclear reactors, in 2013. “The demand for clean energy is almost unprecedented,” said Maria Korsnick, president of the Nuclear Energy Institute, an industry group.

Persons: Biden, ” John Kerry, Biden’s, “, ”, Jacopo Buongiorno, Jimmy Carter, Rosalyn Carter, Bruce Springsteen, Dan Reicher, Gavin Newsom, Reicher, Clinton, Jeffrey Collins, Arnie Gundersen, John Williams, “ It’s, Patty Durand, Julie Kozeracki, Kendrick Brinson, Jay Wileman, Bill Gates, Dow, Roger Blomquist, NuScale Power, Jose Reyes, Adam Stein, it’s, they’re, Ahmed Abdulla, Robert Taylor, Leah Nash, NuScale, David Schlissel, Joshua Freed, didn’t, Maria Korsnick Organizations: Unit, Republicans, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Associated Press, Madison, Natural Resources Defense, California Gov, Democrat, Associated, Fairewinds Associates, Components, Workers, Georgia, Southern Company, Georgia Power, Georgia Public Service Commission, Energy Department, The New York Times, GE, Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Vogtle . Ontario, Tennessee Valley Authority, Argonne, National Laboratory, Energy, Nuclear Regulatory, NuScale, ”, Breakthrough Institute, Carleton University, Soaring, Institute for Energy Economics, United, Nuclear Energy Institute Locations: U.S, Waynesboro, Ga, Savannah, Georgia, United States, ”, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Jenkinsville, Vogtle, South Carolina, South, Canada, Tennessee, Argonne, Chicago, Idaho, Wyoming, California, Alaska, Maryland, Pueblo County, Colo

☆ Why some of the 'clean' hydrogen hubs in the U.S. plan to use natural gas, a fossil fuel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

The others will use a combination of renewables, nuclear power, and natural gas with carbon capture and storage. Putting federal money behind a program to fight climate change while using natural gas, a fossil fuel, as one of its main ingredients may not seem intuitive. To wit, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, where the funding for the hydrogen hubs comes from, specifically required that two of the selected hydrogen hubs be located in natural gas-rich regions. Making hydrogen from natural gas with carbon capture will require additional energy and be more expensive than producing hydrogen from natural gas where the excess carbon emissions just spew into the atmosphere. That is what the U.S. government is trying to change with its hydrogen hubs program and the production tax credit.

Persons: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Flores, Jennifer Granholm, Rachel Fakhry, Fakhry, Jonathan Ernst, Kent, Sean Heinroth, Young's, That's, Heinroth, Tom Oakland, Wisconsin —, They've, Alex Kizer, Kizer Organizations: Cummins, Star Tribune, Getty, Swiss Army, U.S . Department of the Energy, Natural Resources Defense, Energy, Department of Energy, CNBC, Reuters, Infrastructure Law, Ernst, of Energy, North Dakota Department of Commerce, Oakland, EFI Foundation, U.S, Treasury Department Locations: America, Fridley, Minn, United States, U.S, Tioga, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, Houston, Montana , North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington

☆ Why the hydrogen tax credit has become a lightning rod for controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

The proposed tax credit, 45V, is meant to turbocharge the production of low-emissions hydrogen. "The IRA's section 45V production tax credit is the most generous clean hydrogen subsidy in the world," Jesse Jenkins, professor of macro-scale energy systems at Princeton University, told CNBC. John Macdougall | Afp | Getty ImagesThe adjudication of the hydrogen tax credit has become about more than just the hydrogen tax credit, too. The amount of the hydrogen tax credit, which is available for 10 years, depends on the emissions generated in making hydrogen. If hydrogen is produced without releasing any carbon emissions, the tax credit is maxed out at $3 per kilogram of hydrogen.

Persons: that's, It's, Jesse Jenkins, John Macdougall, Wilson Ricks, Jenkins, Ricks, Rachel Fakhry, electrolyzers, Andriy Onufriyenko, Eric Guter, Josef Kallo, H2FLY, Guter, Phil Musser, Shannon Angielski, Angielski, Shi, Fakhry Organizations: Istock, Treasury, Princeton University, CNBC, Daimler Truck Holding, Afp, Getty, Energy, Research, Princeton, Natural Resources Defense Council, Power, Singularity, Air Products, Bloomberg, Air, Products, Hydrogen Company, European, EU, NextEra Energy, Hydrogen Future Coalition, BP, Duke Energy, Exxon Mobile, General Electric, Siemens Energy, American, Shell, Hydrogen, Coalition Locations: Biden's, United States, U.S, Berlin, additionality, Maribor, Slovenia, Oxagon, Saudi Arabia, Wilbarger County , Texas

Oct 13 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will announce in Philadelphia on Friday the recipients of $7 billion in federal grants for the development of regional hydrogen hubs, advancing a key part of his administration's broader plan to decarbonize the U.S. economy. "The regional hydrogen hubs will kickstart a national network of clean hydrogen production, consumers and the connected infrastructure necessary, while supporting the production, storage and delivery and end use of clean hydrogen,” a senior administration official said. The hubs selected will serve the mid-Atlantic, Appalachian, Midwest, Minnesota and Plains states, the Gulf Coast, Pacific Northwest and California. The grants are expected to leverage over $40 billion in private investment, generate tens of thousands of jobs and create a national hydrogen economy. Most of the selected hubs include the use of natural gas to power hydrogen production, which administration officials said would need to install carbon capture technology to qualify.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Biden, Chris Hannan, Rachel Fakhry, Valerie Volcovici, Diane Craft Organizations: Industry, Administration, of, Treasury Department, Natural Resources Defense, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia, U.S, Pennsylvania, California, Appalachian, Midwest , Minnesota, Plains, Gulf Coast, Pacific Northwest, Texas, of California

On the heels of that decision, a federal appeals court invalidated a federal law that bars an individual who is subject to a domestic violence restraining order from possessing a firearm. A three-judge district court panel struck down the plan in January, saying that race had been the predominant motivating factor. Three years ago, the Supreme Court limited the independence of the CFPB by invalidating its leadership structure. The court’s decision could impact whether the SEC and other agencies can conduct enforcement proceedings in-house, using administrative courts staffed with agency employees, or whether such actions must be brought in federal court. “It’s difficult to think of any other recent First Amendment cases in which the stakes were so high,” Jaffer added.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, ”, Biden, Zackey Rahimi, John Roberts, Taiwan Scott, Thomas, Elizabeth Prelogar, Magnuson, Paul Clement, ” Clement, “, pare, George Jarkesy, Sackler, ” Prelogar, Jameel Jaffer, Jaffer Organizations: CNN, Gun Safety, South Carolina’s Republican, South Carolina State Conference of, NAACP, Democrat, Republican, National Marine Fisheries Service, Chevron, Natural Resources Defense, Stevens Fishery Conservation, Management, Independent, Consumer Financial, Federal Reserve, US, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Securities, Exchange, US Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Social Security Administration, Circuit, Historic Purdue Pharma, Purdue Pharma, Sackler, Purdue, Facebook, YouTube, Columbia University’s Locations: United States, South Carolina, Alabama, Taiwan, Charleston County, Chevron, Florida, Texas

☆ The World’s Largest Salmon Fishery Is in Danger - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Carl Safina | Joel Reynolds | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Dunleavy’s direction, the state bypassed the normal appeals process by going directly to the United States Supreme Court to challenge the E.P.A. It’s no mystery why: Since last year, the Supreme Court has gut-punched the E.P.A. In fact, a recent poll found that 74 percent of Alaska’s voters are still concerned that the E.P.A.’s rejection of the project won’t do enough to protect the Bristol Bay watershed from large-scale mining. The initial petitions that led to the E.P.A.’s veto were filed by six Bristol Bay tribes and later joined by a consortium of other federally recognized tribes. Last summer alone, this single fishery produced a record run of nearly 80 million fish, surpassing a succession of annual record runs year after year.

Persons: Dunleavy, ’, ” Alannah Hurley, “ Organizations: Gov, United States, Bristol, Natural Resources Defense Council, “, United Locations: Bristol, United Tribes, Bristol Bay

Lawmakers have sent him bills aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, help schools adapt to the changing climate and ease the cost to taxpayers for the cleanup of orphan oil and gas wells. Newsom said he would sign a bill requiring companies making more than $1 billion in annual revenue to disclose a wide range of greenhouse gas emissions. BUILDING EMISSIONSLawmakers sent a bill to Newsom’s desk requiring state regulators to find an approach to reduce planet-warming emissions from buildings. The sector makes up about a quarter of California's greenhouse gas emissions, the state estimates. Another bill requiring the California Energy Commission to create a plan to help schools adapt to climate change effects reached Newsom's desk this year.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom, ”, Ann Alexander, Alexander, Sen, Lena A, Gonzalez, didn't, ___ Sophie Austin, @sophieadanna Organizations: —, Lawmakers, United, Natural Resources Defense Council, California Department of Conservation, Western States Petroleum Association, U.S . Energy Information Administration, California Energy Commission, Assembly, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, — California, United Nations, New York, In California, California, Los Angeles County

☆ ProPublica: Clarence Thomas attended Koch network donor events
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Ariane De Vogue | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Justice Clarence Thomas attended a private dinner in 2018 during a winter donor summit of the Koch network, the political organization founded by libertarian billionaires Charles and David Koch, ProPublica reported Friday. Thomas attended Koch donor events at least twice over the years, according to interviews with three former Koch network employees and one major donor conducted by ProPublica. Thomas arrived for the 2018 dinner on a Gulfstream G200 jet, although a Koch network spokesperson told the outlet that the network did not pay for the private jet and it was not disclosed on his financial disclosure forms for that year. A spokesperson for the Koch network told ProPublica that Thomas wasn’t present for fundraising conversations. CNN has reached out to the Supreme Court for comment.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Koch, Charles, David Koch, ProPublica, Thomas, ”, Thomas ’, Thomas wasn’t, ” Thomas, Loper, Raimondo, Critics, Clarence Thomas ’, Charles Koch, Harlan Crow, Lisa Graves, Crow Organizations: Washington CNN —, Koch, ProPublica, Gulfstream G200, CNN, Loper Bright Enterprises, Inc, Conservatives, Chevron, Natural Resources Defense, True, Research, GOP Locations: Congress, Washington

Biden is trying to turbocharge the market for electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent China from solidifying its grip on a growing industry. However, some in the UAW fear the transition will cost jobs because electric vehicles require fewer people to assemble. China is the dominant manufacturer of electric vehicles and batteries. Some environmental groups, conscious of how labor remains crucial to securing support for climate programs, have expressed support for the strike. Former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, sees an opportunity to drive a wedge between Biden and workers.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Erik Gordon, Brittany Eason, Eason, ” Biden, “, Dave Green, ’, Suzanne Clark, Sam Gilchrist, It's, Donald Trump, NBC's “, ” Trump, Shawn Fain, “ That’s, ” Ammar Moussa, Trump, Barack Obama, Fain, Madeline Janis, Joey Cappelletti Organizations: WASHINGTON, United Auto Workers, UAW, University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, Ford Assembly Plant, White, ”, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Natural Resources Defense, Presidential, Republican, Press, MSNBC, Energy Department, Ford, South, White House, Associated Locations: Michigan, China, Wayne, Mich, Detroit, Ohio, Indiana, U.S, United States, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Korean, Lansing

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

☆ Extreme heat is the deadliest natural disaster. FEMA can’t treat it like one
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Extreme heat is far deadlier than other natural disasters, killing on average more than twice as many people each year as hurricanes and tornadoes combined, according to data tracked by the National Weather Service. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego recently told Biden the city’s extreme heat is a “long-term emergency.” But it can’t get FEMA federal assistance unless Congress amends the Stafford Act – something some Western lawmakers are pushing for. “Just because we don’t necessarily have the authorities right now in the Stafford Act, that doesn’t mean we’re sitting idly by,” Criswell said. “Right now, FEMA doesn’t treat extreme heat in the same way as it does other disasters because it can’t,” Juanita Constible, senior climate and health advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, told CNN. “Adding it to that official list from Congress would clarify FEMA’s role in addressing heat,” Keith said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kate Gallego, Biden, Ladd Keith, Deanne Criswell, ” Criswell, ” Juanita Constible, Gallego, Stafford, “, ” Gallego, –, Ruben Gallego, hasn’t, ” Keith, Keith, Constible, ” Constible, there’s, ” Organizations: CNN, National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Phoenix, University of Arizona, “, Washington Post, Natural Resources Defense Council, Democratic Rep, Rep, Department of Labor Locations: Stafford, Chicago, Pacific, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Arizona, Maricopa County, Phoenix, San Antonio

This undated handout image shows the carbon sequesterization unit at American Electric Power Company's Mountaineer Plant near New Haven, West Virginia. REUTERS/Tom Dubanowich/Handout /File PhotoAug 8 (Reuters) - U.S. power plant owners warned the Biden administration on Tuesday that its sweeping plan to slash carbon emissions from the electricity sector is unworkable, relying too heavily on costly technologies that are not yet proven at scale. Proposed in May, the EPA plan would for the first time limit how much carbon dioxide power plants can emit, after previous efforts were struck down in court. Industry is particularly concerned about proposed standards for existing natural gas power plants, saying those facilities would be hard to retrofit with CCS, or hydrogen, due to space constraints and other limitations. The EPA's proposal had been crafted to reflect constraints the Supreme Court imposed on the agency after it ruled an Obama-era power plant proposal went too far by imposing a system-wide shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Persons: Tom Dubanowich, Biden, EEI, Joe Biden, Jim Matheson, Nichola Groom, Valerie Volcovici, Sharon Singleton, Marguerita Choy Organizations: American Electric Power, Edison Electric Institute, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Task Force, Natural Resources Defense, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Labor, United Mine Workers of America, International Brotherhood of Electricity Workers, Thomson Locations: New Haven, West Virginia, U.S, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Washington

☆ DOT proposes new car standards that would modestly raise fuel economy and push the sale of EVs
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Gregory Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Biden administration on Friday proposed modest increases to fuel efficiency standards for the vehicles most Americans drive. The proposal fits alongside the administration’s push for increasing the share of electric vehicles on the roads. A nearly 700-page document outlined the potential options, including the administration’s proposal for increasing car fuel efficiency standards annually by 2% for cars and 4% for light trucks. The Environmental Protection Agency, which calculates the fuel economy estimates shown on vehicle window stickers, uses different tests that result in more realistic estimates. Soon after taking office, the Trump administration re-wrote the more stringent Obama administration’s proposal.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, that’s, Chris Harto, John Bozzella, ”, Dan Becker, Harto, Pete Huffman, Trump Organizations: CNN, US Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, Consumer, EPA, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Center for Biological, Natural Resources Defense Council, Democratic, Republican, Obama

The change drew the ire of several P&G investors. Its new forestry policy could put it at odds with a European Union deforestation law coming into effect in about 18 months banning certain goods linked to deforestation and forest degradation. "Our ongoing efforts to keep forests as forests while continuing to serve consumers with superior-performing products, all of those efforts remain unchanged." In its new forestry policy, P&G, which also makes Tide detergent and Dawn dish soap, consolidates existing guidelines for paper packaging and palm oil, used throughout its portfolio of products. The NRDC late last year filed a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to evaluate if P&G's claims that it prohibits forest degradation were materially misleading investors.

Persons: Leslie Samuelrich, Jack McAneny, McAneny, Elrod, Gaurav Madan, Madan, Shelley Vinyard, Vinyard, Peter van der, Jessica DiNapoli, Aurora Ellis Organizations: YORK, Procter, Gamble, Green, Funds, Reuters, Commodities, United, Food, Agriculture Organization, BNP, Asset Management, Natural Resources Defense, BlackRock, Street, UBS, Legal, General, Natural Resources Defense Council, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Thomson Locations: Cincinnati, Latin America, Europe, Canada, U.S, Robeco, New York

☆ US plans water heater standards, says they will save consumers $11 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday proposed energy efficiency standards on water heaters it said would save consumers $11.4 billion on energy and water bills annually. The standards on residential water heater efficiency, which are required by Congress, have not been updated in 13 years. The proposal would require the most common-sized electric water heaters to achieve efficiency gains with heat pump technology and gas-fired water heaters to achieve efficiency gains through condensing technology. Tankless water heater maker Rinnai (5947.T), however, said the proposed standards for its products were "technologically impossible" and would reduce consumer choice. Former President Donald Trump, a Republican, complained about efficiency standards for shower heads, saying that they interfered with the rinsing of his hair.

Persons: Jennifer Granholm, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Timothy Gardner, Nichola Groom, Alison Williams, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Department of Energy, Congress, DOE, Energy, Natural Resources Defense Council, Democrat, Republican, Energy Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Washington, Angeles

☆ Key environmental groups endorse Biden despite approval of fossil fuel projects
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the League of Conservation Voters annual dinner in Washington, U.S., June 14, 2023. Four of the country's largest environmental groups have endorsed President Joe Biden's reelection bid despite disapproval from climate activists over his administration's support of fossil fuel plans, including the approval of an oil drilling project in Alaska and a natural gas pipeline in West Virginia. Some smaller climate groups, however, are withholding their support and condemning the president for breaking his early campaign promise to end all oil and gas drilling on federal lands. The Biden administration has since mandated the sale of offshore drilling leases, sped up completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline as part of a debt limit bill and approved a controversial Alaska drilling project called Willow. Endorsing groups said that while they'll continue to hold the administration accountable for fossil fuel projects, having Biden for a second term is critical for progress on other climate initiatives.

Persons: Joe Biden, Joe Biden's, Biden, Kamala Harris, they'll Organizations: League of Conservation Voters, The, of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, NextGen America Locations: Washington , U.S, Alaska, West Virginia, Washington ,

☆ Why the U.S. Electric Grid Isn’t Ready for the Energy Transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Nadja Popovich | Brad Plumer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

Power lines 100KV 345kV 500kV Data reflects the contiguous U.S. Power lines 100KV 345kV 500kV Data reflects the contiguous U.S. Power lines 100KV 345kV 500kV Data reflects the contiguous U.S. Power lines 100KV 345kV Data reflects the contiguous U.S. Power lines 100KV 345kV 500kV Data reflects the contiguous U.S. That makes it hard to build the long-distance power lines needed to transport wind and solar nationwide. To make the plan work, the nation would need thousands of miles of new high-voltage transmission lines — large power lines that would span multiple grid regions. Utilities are sometimes wary of long-distance transmission lines that might undercut their local monopolies. “The grid is already a critical element of our energy system,” said Matteo Muratori, an analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

☆ California's electricity bills could soon be based on how much you make — and some people are furious
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Brad Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A California law would set a sliding scale for electricity bills based on a household's income. It doesn't totally take out of the equation how much power each household uses: Part of each bill will still be based on that. But each bill also will have "fixed charges" that will be set based on income. Cities like Los Angeles need to build out their electric system to deal with increased demand. "This makes it cheaper to use electricity to operate electric cars or appliances," the NRDC argues — something that could become key in stoking demand for EVs.

Persons: that's, —, you've, Erik Von Weber, That's, they've, it's Organizations: Service, Privacy, Washington Post, California Public Utilities Commission, Pacific Gas & Electric San Diego Gas & Electric Southern Cal, Edison, The Washington Post, Getty, Natural Resources Defense Council Locations: California, Los Angeles, San Diego, Eureka

☆ The Supreme Court Case That Could Threaten the SEC’s Climate-Disclosure Rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Dylan Tokar | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In theory, virtually any rule-making by a regulatory agency could be subject to arguments around Chevron if the Supreme Court weakens the doctrine. Photo: ELIZABETH FRANTZ/REUTERSA Supreme Court review of a decades-old regulatory precedent is threatening to complicate the Biden administration’s push to enact tough new rules on climate, gun ownership and financial markets. The high court last week said it would reconsider Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court opinion that gives regulators legal cover to interpret ambiguous—and sometimes outdated—statutes.

☆ A herring fishermen group's lawsuit will give the Supreme Court the chance to hamstring federal climate regulations
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Supreme Court will take up a case brought by a group of New Jersey fishermen. If overturned, the case could have major impacts on federal climate and environmental regulations. The doctrine, established in the 1984 Supreme Court case Chevron USA v. Natural Resources Defense Council, calls for courts to defer to federal agencies' interpretations of ambiguous federal laws. Cause of Action Institute counsel Ryan Mulvey added that the Supreme Court "has an opportunity to correct one of the most consequential judicial errors in a generation." The conservative-majority Supreme Court is slated to hear the case in its next term.

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