Fuel Sector Ready For Showdown On EPA Rules; Senators Target Fracking Study
The biofuels and refinery industries are at odds ahead of a key meeting on EPA fuel rules. GOP senators say EPA is exceeding its authority in a study of hydraulic fracturing. And environmentalists are in court trying to stop coal projects at their source. More on these and other developments in the latest Weekly Analysis.
GOP Senators Charge Planned EPA Fracking Study Exceeds Statutory Scope
Senate Republicans are questioning whether EPA's proposed study on the environmental and human health impacts of hydraulic fracturing could exceed the scope of Congress' mandate for the agency to assess drinking water impacts, saying the agency's attempt to assess emissions and equity impacts is beyond the scope of its authority.
Biofuel Experts Weigh RFS Changes, CO2-Based Credits To Gain Refiner Support
Fuels and vehicle consultants are weighing options to improve and restructure EPA's renewable fuel standard (RFS) by eliminating the mandate's separate targets for cellulosic ethanol and advanced biofuels and creating a fuel-neutral policy that credits a fuel based on greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, rather than a volumetric target.
Industries Attack California Rules Linking Quebec To GHG Cap & Trade
Major California industry organizations are stepping up an attack on state regulators over recently proposed final rules to link the state's greenhouse gas (GHG) cap-and-trade program to the Canadian province of Quebec. The groups contend Quebec is not ready to participate in the highly complex system and that California businesses could be put at a significant competitive disadvantage under a joint program.
Boehner Debt Ceiling-Tax Reform Plan Has Short-Term Pain, Gain For Energy Firms
House Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) promise that the debt ceiling won't be raised without even larger cuts in spending dominated coverage of his May 15 speech to the Peterson Foundation, but the tax reform strategy he articulated also has big implications for energy companies and federal energy programs.
Senate Battle Brews Over Defense Department's Drop-in Fuels Policies
Biofuel proponents are gearing up for a major fight over Department of Defense (DOD) clean energy and alternative fuel policies when the Senate Armed Services Committee marks up the 2013 defense authorization bill May 23-25, as committee Republicans ready amendments to block DOD plans to purchase advanced biofuels.
Key Group Weighs Guide To Press States To Strengthen Drilling Air Rules
Pushed by environmentalists, a key multi-stakeholder group that assesses the adequacy of state oil and gas regulations is weighing a series of measures that, if adopted, would encourage states to strictly regulate emissions from the sector even before recently issued EPA regulations take effect.
Advisers Cite Massachusetts Biomass GHG Proposal As Model For EPA
EPA advisers developing recommendations for how the agency should account for biomass greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in clean air permits are citing a controversial Massachusetts proposal for crediting biomass under the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) as a potential model for the agency to follow.
Coalread more >>
Climate Changeread more >>
Vehicles and Fuelsread more >>
Natural Gasread more >>
Renewablesread more >>
- EPA Unveils Draft Guidance For Diesel Fracking Permits
- EPA Issues Long-Awaited Final Revised Emissions Rules For Oil And Gas Sector
- 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
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EPA Rule Delay Bill Advances
The House Energy & Commerce Committee has passed a bill to delay several EPA fuel and air rules until a multi-agency task force assesses the rules' cumulative impacts on fuel . . .
Senate Panel Debates CES, With No Clear Path Forward
Retiring Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingman (D-NM) in a May 17 hearing conceded that progress on a clean energy standard (CES) is unlikely, but established a . . .
Johnson Pushes Methane Capture Bill
Former EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, who unsuccessfully urged the Bush White House to regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs), is backing a California state Senate bill that would limit flaring of the . . .
EPA, Activists Agree To Delay Power Plant Rule
EPA and environmentalists have agreed to delay until after the November election the deadline for the agency to propose and finalize revised effluent limitation guidelines (ELG) for contaminated discharges from . . .
