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Climate bill positions big oil and gas companies to cash in
It is an appealing proposition for a nation urgently trying to confront globalwarming: enlist state-of-the-art machinery to trap and bury harmful greenhouse gas emissions from the most heavily polluting industries, enabling them to otherwise continue business as usual. Billions of dollars of new subsidies for such carbon capture technology are a signature component of the $370 billion climate package President Biden signed into law last month, with the administration and lawmakers across party lines promising it will help America meet its climate goals. [ read more … ]
Wind Energy
The world’s largest offshore wind farm is going to get even larger
There are plans in place to develop the UK’s Dogger Bank offshore wind farm in three phases: A, B, and C. It will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm upon completion, with an installed capacity of 3.6 gigawatts (GW). And it looks likely that it will get a fourth phase, Dogger Bank D, making it even more massive. [ read more … ]
Climate
Report says many utilities are slow-walking clean energy goals
A report released this week by the Sierra Club faults dozens of utilities that provide a major chunk of U.S. electric generation for failing to speed up their decarbonization efforts. The report, released Monday, is an update of a 2021 study the group did. The Sierra Club analyzed plans of 77 utilities that collectively supply about 40% of U.S. electric generation and gave out letter grades based on how well utilities, many with their own clean energy goals, were working to decarbonize. [ read more … ]
Nations Agree to Curb Emissions From Flying by 2050
After almost a decade of talks, the nations of the world committed Friday to drastically lower emissions of planet-warming gases from the world’s airplanes by 2050, a milestone in efforts to ease the climate effects of a fast-growing sector. The target to reach “net zero” emissions — a point in which air travel is no longer pumping any additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere — would require the aviation industry to significantly step up its climate efforts. [ read more … ]
EPA
EPA proposes deeming lead in aviation fuel a danger to public health
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed declaring lead in aviation fuel a public health danger, taking a step toward regulating this type of pollution from planes. Exposure to lead can cause kidney and brain damage, and is particularly harmful to children. Lead is used in fuel for piston-engine aircraft, which are usually small planes that carry between two and 10 people. As of 2014, there were about 140,000 of those in the U.S. Commercial planes use fuel that doesn’t contain lead. [ read more … ]
Flush with cash, EPA could toughen methane rules
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is slated to receive a windfall of more than $40 billion over the next 10 years. Americans could get a hint next week whether the extra money is going to translate into tougher regulations for air quality and climate change. That’s when the agency is expected to release two proposals designed to clamp down on methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The draft rules, which would be final next year, would force oil and gas companies to reduce methane leaks from their operations. [ read more … ]
SCOTUS
What a Supreme Court case on pigs means for renewable energy
The case challenges Proposition 12, a law passed by Golden State voters in 2018 that requires that pork sold in California come from facilities where sows have pens that are at least large enough for the animals to turn around and stand up. The pork producers’ central argument is that the state law will effectively require producers in other states to follow California’s hog-housing requirements. Controlling their conduct — out-of-state producers say — violates the dormant commerce clause, which bars state laws that hinder interstate commerce. California and its supporters, however, warn that a Supreme Court ruling in favor of the pork producers could more broadly undermine states’ rights. [ read more … ]
EVs
Ford Delivers Very Bad News to EV Buyers
Ford has decided to increase the prices of the F-150 Lightning, the electric version of its best-selling F-150 pickup. The base price of the F-150 Lightning will increase by $5,000 for 2023 model year vehicles. Consumers should therefore pay from roughly $52,000 to $97,000 depending on the version. For 2022 model year vehicles, base prices ranged from $40,000 to $92,000. These prices obviously exclude taxes, delivery and other charges. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.