RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Republican dream of EPA makeover no easy lift
By Robin Bravender, E&E reporter.
The Republican Party this week unveiled its latest plan to chip away at U.S. EPA.
Delegates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland approved a platform Monday that calls for stripping EPA of much of its power and letting states take the lead in environmental regulation. EPA would then be turned into a "bipartisan commission" with limited authority.
While the plan lacks details, former top EPA officials say the scheme would involve a massive political lift, might lead to a patchwork of environmental policies across the country and could wind up hurting industries rather than helping them.
Trudeau commits to national carbon price to cut emissions
By Josh Wingrove, Bloomberg.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pledging to set a national carbon price to cut emissions, a key message sent as Canada’s provincial premiers meet to discuss how to proceed.
Trudeau and the premiers fell short of a commitment to impose a price earlier this year, instead pledging to study a plan that could include “carbon pricing mechanisms,” and report back on an emissions reduction plan by October. A carbon price typically means either a tax or a cap-and-trade regime.
Some provinces oppose such a plan, with Saskatchewan threatening legal action. Trudeau and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, however, have ratcheted up their pledges this month, suggesting the federal government will set a price if all provinces can’t agree on one.
Fighting Obama’s Climate Plan, but Quietly Preparing to Comply
By Coral Davenport, New York Times.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Matt Mead, the governor of Wyoming, the nation’s leading coal-producing state, fiercely opposes President Obama’s climate change regulations, which could shutter hundreds of coal plants and deeply wound his state, one of 27 that are suing to block the plan.
Nevertheless, Mr. Mead, a Republican, has ordered his top environmental officials to prepare to comply with the president’s effort, known as the Clean Power Plan — to prepare for a future in which Mr. Obama’s climate change rules prevail and the country’s coal market is nearly frozen. Wyoming is one of at least 20 states that are moving forward with efforts to comply with the rules or to analyze alternative plans. Several of these states are also suing to stop the rules, according to experts who track state climate change policy.
“Obviously we’re suing and going to fight,” Mr. Mead, a former United States attorney for Wyoming, said in an interview in his office here. “But from my court experience, I know you have to prepare not to win.”
Ryder Recognized as an Inbound Logistics Green Supply Chain Partner
Ryder System, Inc., a leader in commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions, today announced that for the eighth consecutive year, it has been named an Inbound Logistics Green Supply Chain Partner. Inbound Logistics editors have selected 75 companies that demonstrate a deep commitment to green initiatives in transportation and supply chain sustainability for the magazine’s annual “G75” issue.
“The fact that Ryder has been named a Green Supply Chain Partner each year for the past eight years is a tremendous honor,” said Ryder President of Global Fleet Management Solutions, Dennis Cooke. “Awards like this illustrate the importance we continually place on striving to deliver excellence and innovation for our customers across North America.”
Governor Kasich Signs House Bill 390
By Jason Phillips, Clean Fuel Ohio.
Clean Fuels Ohio is proud to announce that Governor Kasich signed Ohio HB 390 into law in late June. HB 390 was legislation that was amended to include the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Conversion Program which consists of $5 million for alternative fueled vehicles. This process took more than three years and we had to face difficulties in the legislative process. Certainly, some doubted that we and our members could get this done, even prior to when the Governor signed the bill. Through developing relationships with legislators, clearly demonstrating the need for incentives for the industry and through industry support we were able to convince Ohio policy-makers to approve legislation creating a new grant program.
Iowa waste authority close to decision on allowing yard waste in landfills
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
Dive Brief:
- Iowa's Metro Waste Authority (MWA) - an intergovernmental agency which services Polk County and 16 area cities - will decide on Wednesday whether to end the decades-old "Compost It" program for yard waste.
- The material is currently collected separately, but the MWA may begin commingling it with waste at landfills with methane-capture systems. The agency estimates this could save up to $2 million per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by cutting truck traffic for separate collections.
- While many residents are supportive, some local environmental groups are skeptical of the gas collection technology and concerned with potential methane leaks.
California Democrats Seek Support to Extend Trading Program
By Carolyn Whetzel, Bloomberg BNA.
July 18 — California's Democratic leadership is rallying climate policy supporters to press lawmakers for legislation extending the state's carbon trading program beyond 2020.
At a recent event in Sacramento, State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De León (D) urged clean energy businesses and workers to help push for a bill that ensures the cap-and-trade program and other key climate policies become permanent.
“We're going to push, push and push to make sure we can make these policies permanent and codify them into law,” De Leon said at a recent event highlighting the employment benefits of California's renewable portfolio standard.
To cut emissions, Canada could expand carbon pricing
By Jed Kim, Marketplace.
Last month, the leaders of three North American countries met for the annual so-called “Three Amigos Summit.” One of the results coming out of the summit was a pledge to reduce emissions, by promising to get at least half of the continent’s power from carbon-neutral sources by 2025.
Now, it appears Canada may be on the cusp of making a national carbon price, as Canada’s Environment Minister Catherine McKenna indicated to Bloomberg last week that the country’s upcoming emissions reduction plan would include a carbon price.
Speculation continues as to whether a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system will actually be required of every province, several of which have opposed such a plan. Andrew Light, a senior fellow at the World Resources Institute, said the minister’s statements did not clarify definitively whether a national plan will be instituted.
NextEra Energy, Hawaiian Electric announce termination of plans to merge
By Duane Shimogawa, Pacific Business News.
In the wake of a decision by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to reject the companies’ merger application, NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE: NEE) and Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. (NYSE: HE) announced Monday the termination of their plans to merge.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, NextEra Energy will pay Hawaiian Electric Industries a $90 million breakup fee and up to $5 million for reimbursement of expenses associated with the transaction. After taxes, the net amount of $60 million will help to fund Hawaii’s clean energy transformation, including the 2016 plan to invest about $145 million into Hawaiian Electric, HEI said in a news release.
North Dakota sues over new methane rule
By Devin Henry, The Hill.
North Dakota’s attorney general has sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over new methane emission rules at oil and gas facilities.
In a filing in the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, the state said it considers the new rule “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and not in accordance with law."
The EPA's rule, part of an Obama administration strategy to reduce methane emissions, sets new standards for methane leaks related to natural gas extraction, including drilling and pumping, at new or modified gas wells. The EPA published the rule in the Federal Register in June.
Don’t miss an update—join our weekly newsletter below.