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Leaders Gather for COP27 as Fallout From Ukraine War Complicates Climate Talks
World leaders began to converge on Egypt on Monday at the outset of two weeks of climate talks overshadowed by the war in Ukraine and energy-market turmoil. French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will help kick off the proceedings, while President Biden will join the talks later in the week. Absent from the summit are the leaders China and Russia, countries that have a pivotal role in shaping the global energy map. [ read more … ]
Wind Energy
Offshore energy battle looms over ‘must pass’ defense bill
One of the most underappreciated high-stakes legislative fights in recent memory — featuring some of the strangest political bedfellows — is coming soon to a lame-duck session near you. The issue: House-passed legislation attached to that chamber’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act that would require the use of U.S. crews or similarly paid workers on foreign vessels servicing offshore energy projects. [ read more … ]
Inflation Reduction Act
Auto companies want feds to clear the battery fog
Automakers are worried about the federal government’s new subsidies for electric vehicles, and they want clarity right now. That’s the take-home message from comments auto companies sent to the IRS by a deadline of last Friday. They sought to point out the many ways for automakers to fall afoul of the rules and be unable to offer their customers a tax break. The new rules should “properly account for the realities and complexity of the battery supply chain,” said General Motors Co., America’s largest automaker, in its comments. [ read more … ]
Climate
Why America’s climate law is causing rifts at COP 27
While delegates gathering in Egypt for this year’s global climate talks say they’re glad the U.S. finally has a climate law in hand, the Democrats’ law has sparked significant controversy with even its closest allies. The measure has attracted widespread criticism from U.S. trading partners, in large part because the Inflation Reduction Act is saturated with provisions that seek to encourage U.S. production of electric vehicles and green energy. Those incentives have angered both rich and poor countries and opened the door to trade disputes. [ read more … ]
States
Oil crackdown emerges as winning strategy for Colo. governor
When Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed a sweeping overhaul of Colorado’s oil and gas law three years ago, he declared that the state’s “oil and gas wars are over.” Supporters and opponents of drilling have scoffed at the notion that the law, which toughened the state’s approach to drilling and enacted provisions such as a gas-flaring ban, ended the bitter fight about production. After all, skirmishes continue as environmentalists and neighborhoods seek to block drilling projects in the suburbs [ read more … ]
Politics
Energy issues prominent in midterm closing arguments
Energy and environment talking points have been prominent as Democratic and Republican leaders scramble to sway voters ahead of the midterm elections. President Joe Biden joined former President Barack Obama for a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday to support gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who is running against Republican Mehmet Oz in one of the toughest Senate contests this year. [ read more … ]
Manchin unloads on Biden over coal plant comments
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin unleashed a broadside against President Joe Biden this weekend over the commander-in-chief’s comments on coal — an unprecedented intraparty attack just days before the midterm elections that will determine whether the Democrats continue to control Congress. “President Biden’s comments are not only outrageous and divorced from reality, they ignore the severe economic pain the American people are feeling because of rising energy costs,” Manchin, of West Virginia, said in a statement Saturday. “Comments like these are the reason the American people are losing trust in President Biden.” [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.