RFS Under Threat In Transportation Bill, As Biofuels Face Cuts In Farm Bill
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), a longstanding biofuels supporter and a senior Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, is raising concerns over a proposed amendment to the transportation bill that would terminate EPA's renewable fuel standard (RFS) -- and, Harkin says, complicate his push to restore Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for key biofuel programs in the Farm Bill reauthorization.
California Analysts Doubt Plan To Spend $500 Million From GHG Revenue
California's independent Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) in a new report is questioning Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) plan to save the state's General Fund $500 million in the coming fiscal year by spending that amount from the revenue of forthcoming greenhouse gas (GHG) allowance auctions on existing programs that reduce GHG emissions.
Evolving California Rules For Biodiesel Raise Stakes For LCFS Compliance
California regulators will soon restart talks with stakeholders on the development of first-time emission specifications for biodiesel blends, an action that may have a significant impact on which fuels are chosen by suppliers to comply with the state's low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), sources say.
Bush Counsel Eyes SIP Changes To Spur Demand For Natural Gas Vehicles
C. Boyden Gray, former counsel to President George H.W. Bush, is urging the natural gas industry to work with states in trying to spur demand for natural gas vehicles (NGVs) by pushing EPA to allow the use of the vehicles to win credit for cutting particulate matter (PM) in state implementation plans (SIPs) outlining how states will meet EPA's PM standard.
Energy Debates Help Stall Transportation Bill; Better Monitoring Sought On Fracking
Progress on a massive transportation bill containing renewables, electric vehicle and other clean energy provisions slowed in both the House and Senate. Environmentalists' next goal in the hydraulic fracturing debate is better monitoring of environmental impacts. And utilities are making a last-ditch effort to block EPA's greenhouse gas rule. These developments and more are covered in the latest Weekly Analysis.
State Energy Regulators Double Size Of EPA Rules Group, Expand Role
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) has doubled the membership of a committee responsible for educating members about EPA regulations and has expanded the group's role to serve as the state regulators' liaison with federal and other agencies involved in tracking and shaping intertwined environment and reliability issues, according to the chairman of the new group.
PJM Storage Incentives Plan Attracting Wide Interest As It Heads To FERC
A plan recently approved by stakeholders in the 13-state PJM interconnection for giving higher compensation to storage batteries, flywheels and other regulation services that support clean energy programs is already attracting attention among other regions, according to sources tracking the proposal as PJM prepares to send it to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) next month for review.
EPA Backs E15 Health Study But Warns Of Further Testing Requirements
EPA has approved an ethanol industry study showing limited human health harms from allowing a 15-percent ethanol (E15) blend in the nation's fuel supply, a key step in the industry's bid to win approval for E15, but the agency is also warning of new testing mandates under its forthcoming Tier III air quality rule that could require additional testing before registering the fuel.
Other News- House GOP Lawmakers Urge OMB To Block EPA Climate NSPS
- Senate Bill Would Ease NEPA For Keystone Project
- CRS Report Suggests Congress Could OK Keystone
- Federal Court Blocks Implementation Of California's Low-Carbon Fuel Standard
- Appellate Court Stays EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
- EPA Issues Final Renewable Fuel Standard Volume Requirements For 2012
- EPA Issues Final Utility Air Toxics Rule Largely Mirroring Proposal
- Flurry Of Briefs Filed In Suits Challenging EPA GHG Rules
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Obama Readies Energy Policy Speech
President Obama is poised to give a Feb. 23 speech on energy policy that is likely to elaborate on White House plans to boost energy production and stem rising fuel . . .
Democrats May Seek DOE Recess Appointments
Senate Democrats are vowing to seek presidential recess appointments of numerous nominees to Department of Energy (DOE) and other posts if Republicans refuse to sign off on the nominations. In Feb. . . .
Automakers Seek Harmonized Vehicle Rules
A group of foreign automakers is urging EPA to ensure it harmonizes its pending stricter fuel and vehicle emission proposed rules with California's recently enacted stricter vehicle regulations, while also . . .
NMA Campaigns Against NSPS
The National Mining Association (NMA) is poised to launch an online petition drive to campaign against EPA's pending new source performance standards (NSPS) to limit coal-fired power plants' greenhouse gas . . .
