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Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Energy-sector CO2 to stagnate without Clean Power Plan — EIA
By Emily Holden, E&E News.
Coal use and energy-sector carbon emissions in the United States would both flatline without the Obama administration's climate standards for power plants, according to a U.S. Energy Information Administration outlook released yesterday.
Natural gas and renewable power would grow to meet increasing power demand, although the specific levels will depend on how much each cost, the annual report notes. Overall, many EIA cases suggest the country could become a net energy exporter in the 2020s.
By Emily Holden, E&E News.
Coal use and energy-sector carbon emissions in the United States would both flatline without the Obama administration's climate standards for power plants, according to a U.S. Energy Information Administration outlook released yesterday.
Natural gas and renewable power would grow to meet increasing power demand, although the specific levels will depend on how much each cost, the annual report notes. Overall, many EIA cases suggest the country could become a net energy exporter in the 2020s.
The study's baseline case assumes existing laws and regulations will be in place, although President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have sworn to reverse climate action in ways that could greatly alter the independent agency's projections.
"There's a lot of nuances in policy changes," said EIA chief Adam Sieminski. "Until we see a clear pattern of what both the Congress and the executive branch are going to do, I think you have to stick with EIA's existing set of side cases."
EIA has received some criticism for assuming in its business-as-usual case that the Clean Power Plan will move forward even though it faces court challenges and now will likely be shot down by the Trump administration. Projections from EIA traditionally assume current policies will continue, although alternative cases explore what else might happen.
Senators of biofuel states have 'positive meeting' with EPA nominee Scott Pruitt
By Joseph Morton, World-Herald Bureau, via Omaha World Herald.
WASHINGTON — Nebraska and Iowa Republican senators seemed satisfied as they emerged Thursday from a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, arranged the sit-down to discuss the importance of renewable fuels with Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who has been critical of policies such as the Renewable Fuel Standard in the past.
Grassley and other senators indicated they liked what they heard.
By Joseph Morton, World-Herald Bureau, via Omaha World Herald.
WASHINGTON — Nebraska and Iowa Republican senators seemed satisfied as they emerged Thursday from a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, arranged the sit-down to discuss the importance of renewable fuels with Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who has been critical of policies such as the Renewable Fuel Standard in the past.
Grassley and other senators indicated they liked what they heard.
“It was a very positive meeting,” Grassley told reporters as he stood next to Pruitt. “As far as I know, every senator was very satisfied with the answers we got.”
Pruitt declined to answer reporters’ questions.
Asked whether he’ll support Pruitt’s nomination, Grassley offered his standard line that he will wait until after the confirmation hearing to decide.
“There’s been nothing at this point that would discourage me from voting for it,” he said.
In addition to the four Nebraska and Iowa senators, the meeting included senators from South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri and Kansas.
Grassley said Pruitt offered not just reassuring words on renewable fuels but general support for the rule of law. That echoed comments from other senators in the meeting.
API wants to 'change the conversation' under Trump, Pruitt
By Spencer Chase, AgriPulse.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2017 - American Petroleum Institute CEO Jack Gerard sees 2017 as a big moment in the life of the energy industry, and he hopes he has allies in the incoming administration.
Speaking at API's annual state of American energy event in Washington, Gerard said the industry is poised to have a banner 2017, but only if Congress and the administration permit it.
“For the first time in our lifetime, we can now say that North America has the potential to become a net energy exporter,” Gerard said in his speech. “That's a revolutionary change, a significant shift from where we were just a few short years ago.”
By Spencer Chase, AgriPulse.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2017 - American Petroleum Institute CEO Jack Gerard sees 2017 as a big moment in the life of the energy industry, and he hopes he has allies in the incoming administration.
Speaking at API's annual state of American energy event in Washington, Gerard said the industry is poised to have a banner 2017, but only if Congress and the administration permit it.
“For the first time in our lifetime, we can now say that North America has the potential to become a net energy exporter,” Gerard said in his speech. “That's a revolutionary change, a significant shift from where we were just a few short years ago.”
Gerard said for that to happen, the energy industry - oil and gas production in particular - will need help in the form of regulatory relief. He said there have been 145 “regulations and other executive actions” the industry has been subjected to in the “last few years,” but the new year and a new Congress provide “an opportunity to change the national conversation.”
“We need to look at the regulatory regimes be it the Endangered Species Act or (the National Environmental Policy Act), whatever it might be to determine what needs to be done to regulate smartly and with common sense, but yet achieve our potential as a world energy superpower,” Gerard told reporters after his speech.
One thing API will continue to fight into the future is the Renewable Fuel Standard, a policy requiring the increased use of ethanol and other renewable fuels in the American fuel supply. API and other oil and gas groups have been opposed to increases in RFS requirements, proposing instead to cap renewable fuel blending requirements at 9.7 percent of gasoline demand.
Methane-to-energy generator commissioned in Easton, MD
By The Star Democrat.
EASTON — Easton Utilities officially commissioned a generator that converts methane gas into green energy.
“This project is mutually beneficial for the environment, our customers and the town of Easton,” said Hugh E. Grunden, president and CEO of Easton Utilities.
Easton Utilities purchased a used generator from another landfill, which created a cost-effective solution, Easton Utilities said in a press release. The expected life of the project in Easton is expected to last eight to 10 years, depending on the landfill’s ability to produce gas.
By The Star Democrat.
EASTON — Easton Utilities officially commissioned a generator that converts methane gas into green energy.
“This project is mutually beneficial for the environment, our customers and the town of Easton,” said Hugh E. Grunden, president and CEO of Easton Utilities.
Easton Utilities purchased a used generator from another landfill, which created a cost-effective solution, Easton Utilities said in a press release. The expected life of the project in Easton is expected to last eight to 10 years, depending on the landfill’s ability to produce gas.
Currently, landfill gas is extracted continuously and most of the gas is sent to the generator, which can produce up to one megawatt of electricity — enough to power about 700 homes.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), methane gas is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas emitted in the U.S. from human activities. It is one of the four greenhouse gasses the EPA has identified that traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to climate change.
Maryland Environmental Service (MES) installed compressors at the landfill and is handling the logistics regarding supply and flow.
House GOP to prioritize coal, methane rules for repeal
By Timothy Cama, The Hill.
House Republicans plan to make Obama administration rules on coal mining and methane emissions among the first regulations they work to repeal.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Wednesday said the GOP plans first to reform the way the executive branch writes regulations, and then to go after specific ones, with the coal and methane rules prioritized.
By Timothy Cama, The Hill.
House Republicans plan to make Obama administration rules on coal mining and methane emissions among the first regulations they work to repeal.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Wednesday said the GOP plans first to reform the way the executive branch writes regulations, and then to go after specific ones, with the coal and methane rules prioritized.
“While we haven’t yet determined what needs to be repealed first, I expect to start with swift action on at least on the Stream Protection Rule and methane emissions standards, both of which are limits to our energy production,” McCarthy said in a speech on the House floor.
“This process won’t be completed quickly, but as we remove harmful regulations and change the structure of Washington, draining the bureaucratic swamp that undermines the will of the people, we can rebuild trust between the people and their government again,” he continued, borrowing from the “drain the swamp” message that President-elect Donald Trump has used to frame his actions against lobbyists.
The Stream Protection Rule from the Interior Department puts new limits and standards on how coal mining companies, both through mountaintop removal and other means, protects and restores streams.
AFPM petitions EPA to waive portion of 2016 cellulosic RVO in accordance with any undersupply
By Erin Voegele, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
On Dec. 28, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers filed a petition the U.S. EPA waive the 2016 renewable fuel standard (RFS) cellulosic volume obligation, citing a shortfall in 2016 cellulosic production.
Within the waiver, AFPM notes that the EPA set the 2016 renewable volume obligation (RFO) for cellulosic biofuel at 230 million ethanol-equivalent gallons. Data published by the U.S. EPA currently shows approximately 159.83 million cellulosic renewable identification numbers (RINs) were generated under the RFS program on a net basis during the first 11 months of 2016. Data for December is not yet available. From January through November 2016, 3.3 million D3 cellulosic RINs were generated for ethanol, along with 96.53 D3 RINs for renewable compressed natural gas, 61.36 million RINs for renewable liquefied natural gas, and 534,429 D7 cellulosic diesel RINs for cellulosic heating oil.
Repealing the Clean Power Plan will bring more lawsuits, Democratic AGs warn
By Robert Walton, Utility Dive.
Dive Brief:
- Led by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (D), officials from 14 states and several cities have sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging him not to scrap landmark climate rules that will cut emissions at existing power plants, the Hill reports.
- The Clean Power Plan aims to slash greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector by 32% by 2030, but Trump vowed months ago that he would dismantle the new restrictions.
- Schneiderman's letter appears to counter advice Trump's incoming administration received from more than two dozen states, outlining how the rules could be eliminated beginning on his first day in office.
Pruitt begins Capitol tour amid Democratic opposition
By Niina Heikkinen, E&E News reporter.
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt (R) is making the rounds on Capitol Hill this week in preparation for his upcoming Senate confirmation hearing.
Pruitt met yesterday afternoon with outgoing Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and incoming Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).
The nominee and senators did not answer reporters' questions about the content of their discussion or give a date for the start of Pruitt's confirmation hearings.
By Niina Heikkinen, E&E News reporter.
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt (R) is making the rounds on Capitol Hill this week in preparation for his upcoming Senate confirmation hearing.
Pruitt met yesterday afternoon with outgoing Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and incoming Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).
The nominee and senators did not answer reporters' questions about the content of their discussion or give a date for the start of Pruitt's confirmation hearings.
"We had a good conversation, we did," said Inhofe.
In a statement, Barrasso said he enjoyed meeting with Pruitt.
"We had a good conversation focused on policy and reforms that are necessary at the agency. He has excellent insights on how to help the EPA better meet its mission of protecting the environment while growing the American economy," he said.
While a number of Republicans, including Inhofe, have embraced Pruitt's nomination, Senate Democrats are voicing concerns about how much the fossil fuel industry could influence the potential future head of U.S. EPA (Climatewire, Dec. 22, 2016).
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), along with Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), sent a letter to Pruitt on Dec. 27, requesting more details about his connections with the oil and gas industry.
EPA Issues Notice of Intent to Revoke Genscape's RIN Verification Authorization
By U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
On January 4, 2017, the EPA issued a notice of intent to revoke the ability of Genscape to verify Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) as a third-party auditor under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Quality Assurance Program. Under RFS, obligated parties and exporters must obtain and retire RINs to meet their compliance obligations and demonstrate the RFS program’s renewable fuel mandates are met. EPA is taking this action to hold Genscape accountable for failing to meet all elements of its approved Quality Assurance Plan, and for verifying millions of RINs that were fraudulently generated by two companies, Gen-X Energy Group, Inc. (Gen-X), and Southern Resources and Commodities, LLC (SRC).
By U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
On January 4, 2017, the EPA issued a notice of intent to revoke the ability of Genscape to verify Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) as a third-party auditor under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Quality Assurance Program. Under RFS, obligated parties and exporters must obtain and retire RINs to meet their compliance obligations and demonstrate the RFS program’s renewable fuel mandates are met. EPA is taking this action to hold Genscape accountable for failing to meet all elements of its approved Quality Assurance Plan, and for verifying millions of RINs that were fraudulently generated by two companies, Gen-X Energy Group, Inc. (Gen-X), and Southern Resources and Commodities, LLC (SRC). EPA is aggressively pursuing bad actors in the RFS program to maintain a level playing field for firms that play by the rules. Genscape has 60 days to submit written comments to EPA in response to this notice. The EPA will review and consider these comments before taking final action concerning the proposed revocation of Genscape’s ability to verify RINs under the RFS. EPA is also requiring Genscape to retire valid RINs within 60 days to replace the approximately 68 million invalid A-RINs they verified, which were then used for compliance.
In response to requests from obligated parties including refiners, EPA created a voluntary program that allows third parties to audit RINs according to EPA approved Quality Assurance Plans (QAPs) to help verify that they are valid. This program provides a supplement to the “buyer beware” liability for obligated parties under the RFS program, and also provides clarity regarding which party is obligated to replace invalid RINs. Roughly 12% of the total volume of RINs generated under the RFS program are audited by a third party under a QAP.
Read more...
Fuels America Sends Letter To Trump On Renewable Fuel Standard Program
By National Law Review.
On December 15, 2016, Fuels America sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump on behalf of the nation's renewable fuels sector encouraging Trump’s continued commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program.
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