Climate Cost Study Revives Debate Over Merits Of California's GHG Rules
Opponents and supporters of California's landmark climate rules -- including its greenhouse gas (GHG) trading program and low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) -- are sparring over an industry-funded study that finds massive costs from the rules that critics of the rules may use to fight future GHG regulations in the state or elsewhere.
GOP Weighs Tar Sands Spill Tax Review As House Advances Keystone Bill
Several House Republicans are urging the tax oversight panel to review an apparent exemption for diluted bitumen -- also known as tar sands and oil sands -- from the oil spill trust fund tax, even as they rebuffed Democratic attempts to consider the issue prior to the House's May 22 approval of a bill to clear the path for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.
California Official Vows 'Significant Changes' To Landmark Fracking Rules
A top California official is vowing “significant changes” to the state's draft hydraulic fracturing rules that could set a model for other states, including an extension of a planned notice period that oil and gas operators must provide to agencies on their intention to frack wells, and revisions to confidential business information provisions.
EPA Bid To Identify New Biofuels Unlikely To End Attacks On RFS' Targets
EPA is proposing to allow additional biofuel pathways such as biogas to qualify toward its renewable fuel standard (RFS) cellulosic production targets in a bid to help fuel producers meet the ambitious goals, but critics say the nascent plan is unlikely to end attacks on existing RFS goals and could slow investment in other advanced biofuels.
Obama Seeks Revised Agency Rules To Speed Renewable Energy Permits
President Obama is ordering an interagency task force he created last year to craft measures for “modernizing” environmental review and permitting requirements for renewable energy and other infrastructure projects to significantly curb “aggregate” approval times, an approach that falls short of the fixed deadlines Congress is seeking.
EPA Floats Options To Meet D.C. Circuit's Test For Utility Air Trading Plan
EPA is floating at least three options for ensuring a future federal plan to cut interstate transport of emissions from utilities and other facilities complies with a restrictive appellate court ruling that scrapped the agency's most recent air transport cap-and-trade rule and created new limits on how EPA can impose an interstate air policy on states.
Wyden Opens Door To Legislative Talks On Key Fracking Regulatory Issues
Senate energy committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) is asking participants in his panel's natural gas forums to provide views on two hot-button issues associated with regulating hydraulic fracturing -- whether to require disclosure of fracking fluids prior to injection and whether fracking causes water contamination -- a move that could open the door to discussion on possible legislative efforts.
States, Advocates Advance Efforts To Boost Energy Efficiency In Air Plans
Eastern states and environmentalists are stepping up efforts to promote energy efficiency as a key component of air quality plans, with states looking to a new air quality model to help quantify emission cuts from efficiency pilot projects while environmentalists are floating options to pressure states and EPA to boost use of efficiency in air plans.
EPA Defends Utility NSPS Emissions Testing Mandate From Industry Suit
EPA in a new legal filing is broadly rejecting a utility industry lawsuit claiming flaws in the agency's new source performance standard (NSPS) to reduce conventional pollutants from new and existing power plants, with the agency saying it has Clean Air Act authority for its emissions testing requirements and several other provisions.
EPA, White House Seek To Boost Utilities' Use Of CHP For Grid Resiliency
EPA and the White House are working with utilities to try and encourage greater use of combined heat and power (CHP) and distributed power generation as key strategies for bolstering the electric grid's resiliency, including ways to overcome financial hurdles to greater use of CHP and end some utilities' opposition to reliance on CHP.
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GHG Rule Advocates Seek Increased Carbon 'Cost;' Senators Review LNG Export Process
Climate rule advocates are pushing for an increased value for the social “cost” of carbon to drive new greenhouse gas rules. Senators are weighing a potential need to revise the liquified natural gas export facility review process. EPA's fuel and vehicle policies are prompting push-back from refiners. President Obama is seeking swifter approval for energy facility permits. House legislation to clear the path for the Keystone pipeline is highlighting debate over taxing tar sands. These developments and more are covered in the latest Weekly Analysis.
Semiconductor Sector Warns EPA Of Fragmented GHG Rules
Manufacturers of semiconductors -- microchips used in electronics -- are criticizing EPA's plan to adopt global warming ratings for fluorinated greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by the sector that are at . . .
GOP Resists Tying Keystone To GHG Cuts
Republican senators are urging President Obama to reject calls from some Democrats and environmentalists to pair approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline with enactment of greenhouse gas (GHG) . . .
Democrats Seek Bill To Address Grid Cyber Threats
House Democrats are making the case for legislation to protect the electric grid from cyber attacks, issuing a new report that warns of major gaps in grid cybersecurity planning and . . .
Judge Rejects Climate 'Trust' Suit
A federal district court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by two environmental groups and five teenagers claiming EPA is violating the common law “public trust” doctrine by not taking . . .
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