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Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Connecticut fights Trump EPA over clean air standards
By Neil Vigdor, CT Post.
Connecticut could sue President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency over its plans to relax clean-air standards for power plants and cars — the latest confrontation between the Democrat-run state and the pro-business president.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy sent a letter Thursday to Trump’s controversial EPA chief, Scott Pruitt, blasting the agency’s preliminary decision to exempt nine states, most of which are in the Rust Belt, from tougher scrutiny of coal-fired power plants. Those states, the governor wrote, should be held accountable for their adverse impact on the air quality in the Northeast.
By Neil Vigdor, CT Post.
Connecticut could sue President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency over its plans to relax clean-air standards for power plants and cars — the latest confrontation between the Democrat-run state and the pro-business president.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy sent a letter Thursday to Trump’s controversial EPA chief, Scott Pruitt, blasting the agency’s preliminary decision to exempt nine states, most of which are in the Rust Belt, from tougher scrutiny of coal-fired power plants. Those states, the governor wrote, should be held accountable for their adverse impact on the air quality in the Northeast.
Connecticut leaders further fear that Trump’s administration, under pressure from U.S. automakers, will unwind Obama-era fuel efficiency standards and caps on tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide.
“Obviously, this is a guy who was a sellout to fossil fuels to begin with and doesn’t mind polluting Connecticut’s air with (emissions) from Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania,” Malloy told Hearst Connecticut Media, referring to Pruitt.
An EPA spokesperson declined to comment. Hearst also reached out to the White House for a response.
Scott Pruitt’s office deluged with angry callers after he questions the science of global warming
By Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis, The Washington Post.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s phones have been ringing off the hook — literally — since he questioned the link between human activity and climate change.
The calls to Pruitt’s main line, 202-564-4700, reached such a high volume by Friday that agency officials created an impromptu call center, according to three agency employees. The officials asked for anonymity out of fear of retaliation.
By Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis, The Washington Post.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s phones have been ringing off the hook — literally — since he questioned the link between human activity and climate change.
The calls to Pruitt’s main line, 202-564-4700, reached such a high volume by Friday that agency officials created an impromptu call center, according to three agency employees. The officials asked for anonymity out of fear of retaliation.
By Saturday morning calls went straight to voice mail, which was full and did not accept messages. At least two calls received the message that the line was disconnected, but that appeared to be in error.
EPA spokeswoman Nancy Grantham said in an email that the agency “has logged about 300 calls and emails.”
While constituents sometimes call lawmakers in large numbers to express outrage over contentious policy issues, it is unusual for Americans to target a Cabinet official.
Pruitt’s comments on the CNBC program “Squawk Box” — that “we need to continue the debate and continue the review and the analysis” over climate change — prompted an immediate pushback from many scientists and environment groups. It also drew a rebuke from at least two of his predecessors at the EPA.
EPA chief unconvinced on CO2 link to global warming
By Doina Chiacu and Valerie Volcovici, Reuters.
The new head of the Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday he is not convinced that carbon dioxide from human activity is the main driver of climate change and said he wants Congress to weigh in on whether CO2 is a harmful pollutant that should be regulated.
In an interview with CNBC, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said the Trump administration will make an announcement on fuel efficiency standards for cars "very soon," stressing that he and President Donald Trump believe current standards were rushed through.
By Doina Chiacu and Valerie Volcovici, Reuters.
The new head of the Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday he is not convinced that carbon dioxide from human activity is the main driver of climate change and said he wants Congress to weigh in on whether CO2 is a harmful pollutant that should be regulated.
In an interview with CNBC, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said the Trump administration will make an announcement on fuel efficiency standards for cars "very soon," stressing that he and President Donald Trump believe current standards were rushed through.
Pruitt, 48, is a climate change denier who sued the agency he now leads more than a dozen times as Oklahoma's attorney general. He said he was not convinced that carbon dioxide pollution from burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal is the main cause of climate change, a conclusion widely embraced by scientists.
"I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do and there’s tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact," he told CNBC.
"So no, I would not agree that it’s a primary contributor to the global warming that we see," Pruitt said. "But we don’t know that yet, we need to continue to debate, continue the review and analysis.”
Trump campaigned on a promise to roll back environmental regulations ushered in by former President Barack Obama, including those aimed at combating climate change. He framed his stand as aimed at boosting U.S. businesses, including the oil and gas drilling and coal mining industries.
Pruitt allies lobby against changing RFS point of obligation
By Timothy Cama, The Hill.
A pair of allies to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Scott Pruittare lobbying policymakers on ethanol issues.
Glenn Coffee and Crystal Coon, through their firm, Coffee Group, filed paperwork this week with Congress to represent Oklahoma-based gasoline station and convenience store owner QuikTrip Corp. on issues related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
By Timothy Cama, The Hill.
A pair of allies to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Scott Pruittare lobbying policymakers on ethanol issues.
Glenn Coffee and Crystal Coon, through their firm, Coffee Group, filed paperwork this week with Congress to represent Oklahoma-based gasoline station and convenience store owner QuikTrip Corp. on issues related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
Pruitt and Coffee were both Republican state senators in Oklahoma from 1999 until 2011, when they both took on state government positions.
Pruitt became attorney general and Coffee became secretary of state that year, and they remained close, according to StateImpact Oklahoma. Coon was a senior adviser to Pruitt from 2015 to 2016.
Greenwire first reported on the lobbying registration Friday.
QuikTrip is the first federal lobbying client for Coffee and Coon, who are still based in Oklahoma City.
Calgary wants study on potential of converting city's landfill gas to energy
By Brodie Thomas, Toronto Metro.
One city’s trash could be electricity for thousands of homes in that same city.
After a lapsed pilot project, the city is once again looking at tapping into that sweet, sweet methane gas generated by Calgary’s three landfills.
Martin Ortiz, manager of disposal and processing for waste and recycling services, said some of the infrastructure needed is already in place.
By Brodie Thomas, Toronto Metro.
One city’s trash could be electricity for thousands of homes in that same city.
After a lapsed pilot project, the city is once again looking at tapping into that sweet, sweet methane gas generated by Calgary’s three landfills.
Martin Ortiz, manager of disposal and processing for waste and recycling services, said some of the infrastructure needed is already in place.
Calgary installed gas collection systems at its East Calgary facility in 2004 and at the Shepard facility in 2005.
Plans are in the works to install the same sort of system at the Spy Hill facility this year.
The city’s initial 11-year pilot project involved cleaning the gas, and then burning it in a special engine, which turned a generator.
“Combined – the two facilities produced enough to power 1,500 homes,” said Ortiz.
However, the pilot project ran its course, and when the equipment reached the end of its lifecycle, the city shut it down.
Before decision, Idaho Commission requests more information on sorghum, biogas facility
By Olivia Weitz, Idaho Press.
CALDWELL — The Canyon County Commissioners on Wednesday postponed making a decision on a $94 million sorghum and biogas manufacturing facility proposed on the outskirts of Parma.
After taking more than three hours of testimony during a public hearing, commissioners requested additional information and more time to consider all aspects of the project before making a decision. The commissioners agreed to continue the hearing and deliberation until April 4.
By Olivia Weitz, Idaho Press-Tribune.
CALDWELL — The Canyon County Commissioners on Wednesday postponed making a decision on a $94 million sorghum and biogas manufacturing facility proposed on the outskirts of Parma.
After taking more than three hours of testimony during a public hearing, commissioners requested additional information and more time to consider all aspects of the project before making a decision. The commissioners agreed to continue the hearing and deliberation until April 4.
County leaders also asked the applicant, Treasure Valley Renewables, to provide a summary of similar projects that have been built elsewhere to help better understand the scope of the facility and its impacts.
Commissioners also want to know if Intermountain Gas Co. has agreed to accept natural gas created at the facility into its existing pipeline network.
“This is a very complicated issue as you have all pointed out to us,” said Canyon County Commission Chairman Tom Dale. “We want to make sure we make the right decision.”
In December, the Canyon County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that commissioners deny the request to re-zone a 48-acre parcel of agricultural land a few miles northeast of Parma to accommodate the industrial project, and to change the comprehensive land map. Hearings held by the planning and zoning board drew plenty of opposition and concern from Parma residents.
US EPA provides Genscape extension to respond to notice of intent
By Ron Kotrba, Biodiesel Magazine.
U.S. EPA has granted Genscape Inc. an extension to respond to the agency’s Jan. 4 notice of intent to revoke the company’s ability to verify renewable identification number (RIN) credits as a third-party auditor under the Renewable Fuel Standard Quality Assurance Program. Genscape now has until April 18 to respond to EPA.
By Ron Kotrba, Biodiesel Magazine.
U.S. EPA has granted Genscape Inc. an extension to respond to the agency’s Jan. 4 notice of intent to revoke the company’s ability to verify renewable identification number (RIN) credits as a third-party auditor under the Renewable Fuel Standard Quality Assurance Program. Genscape now has until April 18 to respond to EPA.
EPA stated this action of revocation is being pursued to hold Genscape accountable for failing to meet all elements of its approved QAP plan, and for verifying millions of RINs that were fraudulently generated by Gen-X Energy Group Inc. and Southern Resources and Commodities LLC.
As some federal energy incentives end, New York eyes substitutes
By Kat Friedrich, GreenBiz.
Quietly, while the United States focused on its national election, a set of federal clean-energy incentives phased out at the end of 2016. Now that they have vanished, states may seek to create replacements to keep these markets alive and help them grow.
For example, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is strategically replacing the missing incentives for renewable heating and cooling.
By Kat Friedrich, GreenBiz.
Quietly, while the United States focused on its national election, a set of federal clean-energy incentives phased out at the end of 2016. Now that they have vanished, states may seek to create replacements to keep these markets alive and help them grow.
For example, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is strategically replacing the missing incentives for renewable heating and cooling.
The decision to sunset the incentives was made long before the election. According to the United States Department of Energy, corporate tax credits for combined heat and powersystems, geothermal heat pumps, microturbine technology, hybrid solar lighting, small windinstallations and fuel cells all expired at the end of the year. For the residential market, credits for fuel cells, geothermal power and small wind installations ended at the same time.
The incentives were not necessarily timed to end when the markets matured. The current regional competitiveness of these technologies varies based on many factors.
Because the ground source heat pump market still requires upfront financing to thrive in New York, NYSERDA plans to allocate $15 million to support it over a two-year period. The individual incentives are $1,500 per ton for residences and $1,200 per ton for commercial or industrial buildings.
Icahn dismisses conflict of interest concerns as 'absurd'
By Matt Egan, NBC2 News.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Carl Icahn says it's "absurd" that Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats are claiming his new role as President Trump's regulation-buster creates a serious conflict of interest risk.
"I think that's completely ridiculous. I don't talk to Donald that often," Icahn told CNNMoney in a phone interview on Tuesday.
By Matt Egan, NBC2 News.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Carl Icahn says it's "absurd" that Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats are claiming his new role as President Trump's regulation-buster creates a serious conflict of interest risk.
"I think that's completely ridiculous. I don't talk to Donald that often," Icahn told CNNMoney in a phone interview on Tuesday.
The billionaire investor said his financial interests -- such as a major stake in an oil refiner subject to EPA regulation -- shouldn't prevent him from advising Trump.
"Would you say that Jamie Dimon, who knows banking, shouldn't talk to him because he also owns bank stocks? It's absurd to say that," Icahn said, referring to the JPMorgan Chase CEO.
Others don't agree. A watchdog group filed a complaint on Wednesday alleging that Icahn broke lobbying rules by using his new role to push the White House to change the EPA regulations that are hurting oil refiner CVR Energy.
Icahn was one of Trump's earliest supporters on Wall Street and after the election the new president tapped him to help get rid of "strangling regulations" that are hurting the American economy.
Watchdog presses U.S. lawmakers to probe Icahn's role with Trump
A government watchdog group, Public Citizen, said on Wednesday it has asked lawmakers to investigate whether Carl Icahn violated lobbying disclosure laws, a complaint the billionaire investor denied and called a "witch hunt."
The group said Icahn may have been acting as a lobbyist when he advised President Donald Trump to overhaul the U.S. biofuels program. Icahn, an unpaid adviser to Trump on regulation, submitted a proposal to Trump last month to change the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard by shifting the burden of blending biofuels into gasoline away from oil refining companies, and further down the supply chain to marketers.
A government watchdog group, Public Citizen, said on Wednesday it has asked lawmakers to investigate whether Carl Icahn violated lobbying disclosure laws, a complaint the billionaire investor denied and called a "witch hunt."
The group said Icahn may have been acting as a lobbyist when he advised President Donald Trump to overhaul the U.S. biofuels program. Icahn, an unpaid adviser to Trump on regulation, submitted a proposal to Trump last month to change the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard by shifting the burden of blending biofuels into gasoline away from oil refining companies, and further down the supply chain to marketers.
Public Citizen said that, because Icahn owns a controlling stake in a refinery that could benefit from the proposed change, he may have been required by a 1995 lobbying disclosure law to disclose his discussions with Trump on the subject as lobbying. The group said it has made its request for a probe in a letter sent to Congress on Wednesday morning.
"All of this has occurred with no record of any (Lobbying Disclosure Act) filings by or on behalf of Mr. Icahn," Public Citizen said in a copy of the letter provided to Reuters.
Icahn did not respond to Reuters requests for comment but described the complaint in an opinion piece on The Hill website as a "gross misstatement of the facts" and said he had vetted his activities with lawyers.
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