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Phase of the day — ‘Retain without revision’
The proposal has long been in the works but happens to come hot on the heels of preliminary research out of Harvard University connecting long-term exposure to particulate matter with increased mortality rates from the Covid-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus. “Now of all times is not the moment to halt progress from clean air protections when we have a respiratory pandemic sweeping over the whole world,” said Vijay Limaye, an environmental health scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. [ read more … ]
Emissions
Trump administration declines to tighten soot pollution standards – EPA chief
The Trump administration on Tuesday said it had decided not to tighten air quality regulations governing soot pollution, arguing that the current standards are adequate to protect human health. “We believe that the current standard is protective of public health… and does not need to be changed,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a conference call with reporters. [ read more … ]
US greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2018, EPA says
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased by about 3 percent in 2018, according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The increase follows declines in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. For example, emissions fell by about half a percent in 2017and by nearly 3 percent in 2016. The last time greenhouse gas emissions increased was 2014. [ read more … ]
US power sector GHGs projected to fall 7.5% in 2020 amid record drop in global emissions
The economic halt caused by COVID-19 is expected to decrease global carbon emissions by 5% in 2020, the largest annual decline ever, according to an April 9 analysis from Carbon Brief. U.S. power sector emissions are expected to drop 7.5% this year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook released last week.
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Markets
Thirst for Oil Vanishes, Leaving Industry in Chaos
No one expected 2020 would unleash a world-wide oil-production cut led by the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Russia. But since the new coronavirus hit, the world’s thirst for oil has vanished, creating an unprecedented crisis for one of the planet’s most powerful industries. With billions of people in lockdown to avoid the virus, crude-oil demand has collapsed as people stop driving and airplanes are grounded. [ read more … ]
Oil’s Belt-Tightening Is Bad News for Clean Power, Too
This drop in spending will matter beyond just the supply of liquid and gas hydrocarbons. Oil majors BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell Plc have each acquired electric vehicle charging networks. Although the expense of building out those networks pales in comparison to what the oil majors spend on rigs and pipelines each year—so much so that it’s not even broken out in their corporate disclosures—it does still require a capital outlay. [ read more … ]
Trump’s oil deal may not be enough to save some U.S. oil companies
Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States reached a major Easter weekend deal to cork the gush of oil flooding the world market during the coronavirus pandemic. But the move may not be enough to rescue the U.S. petroleum producers most struggling to stay afloat during what is shaping up to be the biggest economic downturn to hit the oil and gas sector in decades. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.