** U.S. officials announced a $241 million settlement with Marathon Oil over alleged air pollution violations at dozens of the company’s oil and gas facilities on a North Dakota Indian reservation, saying it was part of an ongoing crackdown. ** More than a dozen Democratic senators called on Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to relax guidelines around federal …
Category: EPA
Red-faced Colorado Congresswoman over court ruling?
Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert had the tables turned on her this week as she pressed EPA Administrator Michael Regan during a House Committee hearing. Her questioning of Regan displayed her lack of understanding of the recent U.S.Supreme Court ruling that overturned the so-called Chevron decision. It also allowed Regan and a New York Democratic …
Energy briefs
** The Biden administration announces $1.7 billion to retool or expand 11 auto plants in eight states for electric vehicle manufacturing, including $500 million for General Motors to convert a Michigan assembly plant. ** Tesla’s share of the U.S. electric car market falls to less than 50% in the second quarter as the popularity of General Motors, …
Oklahoma offers another $6.5 million from VW settlement fund
In another move aimed at reducing emissions from cars and trucks, the State Department of Environmental Quality is offering $6.5 million from the Volkswagen Settlement Trust On-Road Program. DEQ said the money is available for a reimbursement program to replace or repower eligible on-road vehicles, and some vehicles are eligible for up to 100% …
Denver’s Suncor refinery hit with new long list of pollution violations
After making a $10.5 million settlement three years ago for pollution violations in Colorado, Suncor was hit this week with another round of violation claims by the EPA and Colorado regulators. Suncor was named in a 140-page list of alleged new violations. They were drawn up by the EPA’s regional office and accused …
Energy briefs
** Exxon Mobil said on Monday lower natural gas prices and refining margins are expected to hit the oil major’s second-quarter earnings. The oil major would be reporting its first earnings after closing the acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources for $60 billion, with the combined operations making it the largest oil producer in the Permian basin. ** …
Energy briefs
** Rail cars carrying hazardous materials derailed in North Dakota on Friday and caught fire, the latest train derailment in the U.S. as concerns over railroads remain high. Twenty-nine cars of a Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) train derailed around 3:45 a.m. in a marshy area surrounded by farmland that’s about 140 miles northwest of Fargo, according to Andrew Kirking, …
Energy briefs
** Rail cars carrying hazardous material that derailed early Friday were still burning more than 12 hours later in a remote area of North Dakota, but officials said no one was hurt and the threat to those living nearby appeared to be minimal. Twenty-nine cars of a CPKC train derailed around 3:45 a.m. in a marshy area surrounded by …
Wyoming joins Oklahoma and others in suing over Biden’s EV mandates
Days after Oklahoma and 24 other states sued the Biden administration over its EV mandates, another state joined the cause. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon announced this week that Wyoming joined the lawsuit against the Biden administration over a new rule issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration imposing new standards requiring auto manufacturers …
Energy briefs
** The Biden administration on Tuesday announced the sale of 1 million barrels of gasoline in its latest effort to push down the price of gas which largely will impact the northeast United States ahead of Fourth of July travel. ** As the nation sizzles, the Biden administration is proposing the nation’s first-ever standards aimed …