** Electric vehicle sales surpassed more than 10 million last year, a rise of 55% compared with 2021, with China accounting for about 60% of the market, according to an International Energy Agency report. ** The office of U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is facing a subpoena threat from House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer …
Category: EPA
Senate votes to overturn EPA rule targeting big trucks
Oklahoma U.S. Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin were among those who voted this week to overturn Environmental Protection Agency rules targeting heavy-duty trucks for their smog-emissions. Despite the 50-49 vote, the White House said President Biden will veto the measure. Among supporters for the bill was Democratic Senator Joe Manchin reported Reuters. Click …
What an unfunded EPA mandate means for Oklahoma City
Critics of federal government overreach often cite “unfunded mandates” forced upon states and local municipalities. One such unfunded mandate is one from the Environmental Protection Agency which forced Oklahoma City to implement a monthly drainage fee beginning in 1995. As a result, every month, when water bills are sent to Oklahoma City residents, part …
Other energy headlines
** An explosion and fire at the Seneca Petroleum petroleum refinery in suburban Chicago killed one person and injured a second Tuesday morning, authorities said. ** Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., says he would support the repeal of a sweeping bill he negotiated with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., last year that includes major climate, health and …
Headlines of other energy stories
** Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Friday praised a gas pipeline project and called for an independent government agency to proceed “expeditiously” on it. Granholm’s letter in support of the Mountain Valley Pipeline — a project that has also been pushed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) — comes amid tensions between the senator and administration on energy issues. …
Fast energy reads
** The Biden administration is planning to announce strict carbon limits on existing and future power plants for the first time — plants which currently generate 60 percent of America’s electricity.Three people briefed on the administration’s plans told the New York Times that under the EPA’s new rules, almost all coal and gas-fired power plants would have to cut …
Biden creates new Environmental Justice office
Environmental justice for all—it’s what President Biden said was the goal of the executive order he signed on Friday creating a new office of Environmental Justice within the White House. The order requires federal agencies to notify communities of toxic substances are released from a federal facility. “This is about people’s health. It’s about …
Lucas challenges EPA’s stance on farm insecticide
It was a busy week for Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas who advocated to make NOAA an independent agency, grilled the head of the SEC about rules changes, then put some pointed questions to the head of the EPA. EPA Administrator Michael Regan came before the House Agriculture Committee where Rep. Lucas is a member. …
Headlines of other energy stories
** New York City’s chief financial officer Brad Lander has announced plans to divest from fossil fuel stocks in the two largest city retirement funds. The funds have pension contributions and assets worth more than $170 billion. It may also lead to NYC pension bankruptcies. The highest performing stocks by industry in 2022 were oil and …
Energy headlines from the US and the world
** A Michigan GOP state lawmaker is asking Congress to demand all “federal resources available” to investigate whether Gotion High-tech, a Chinese energy company with U.S. subsidiaries, is doing business or attempting to do business with enemies of the United States. ** A Nevada county rescinds a geothermal energy company’s exploratory drilling permit in the Black Rock …