** The Interior Department said it plans to cut rents and fees for solar and wind projects on public lands by about 50% as the Biden administration aims to bolster renewable projects. The administration will also increase the number of staff members who process environmental reviews and permits by establishing five coordinating offices in Washington, Arizona, …
Category: EPA
EPA says Pruitt’s phone booth was a “violation” of appropriations law
Scott Pruitt finds himself on the defensive again for the days he spent as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. He says he did not make controversial decisions about the building of a $43,000 soundproof booth for his office and for renovations that have since been found were made in violation of federal appropriations …
Headlines of other energy stories
** Given the staffing and operations challenges, Delta Airlines announced that it will be reducing service by about 100 daily departures between July 1 and August 7, primarily in the United States and Latin America. Delta also said that it will “continue to proactively adjust select flights in the coming weeks.” ** The U.S. EPA’s longstanding budget …
Other energy headlines
** The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has been racked by infighting for the past several weeks, with two of its Republican commissioners feuding with its Democratic chair, Arthur Traynor, in a bitter argument involving allegations of financial malfeasance by senior staffers and toxic workplace conduct reported POLITICO. ** Scott Yager is now environmental VP …
Headlines of world and national energy stories
** A further decline in Russian oil supply is likely to spark a global recession, Bank of America said Friday. The bank warned oil prices could hit $150 a barrel, and an energy crisis could ensue, if supplies fall sharply. ** The American oil and gas supermajor, Chevron Corporation CVX, recently announced that it closed an agreement …
EPA all show and no go in search of methane emissions in the Permian?
After spending huge amounts of taxpayer money in 2019 and again in 2020 to detect methane gas emissions from wells in the Permian Basin, the Environmental Protection Agency still has not fined many of the violators. Instead, it reached settlement agreements with a few of the oil and gas companies. Click here for Capital …
Inhofe presses Biden nominee about EPA’s handling of small refinery operations
The President’s nominee to be a top EPA official faced some stiff questioning Wednesday by Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe about the administration’s energy efforts and how they affect the nation’s supply of aviation fuel. Joseph Goffman, Biden’s nominee to be Assistant Administrator of the Office of Air and Radiation at the EPA went …
US and World headlines of other energy stories
** The White House could suspend summertime blending rules applying to all grades of gasoline in an effort to combat high prices at the pump, reported Reuters. The rules, which help reduce smog in the hotter months, require refiners and blenders to avoid lower-cost butane during the summer, though the sources said a final decision has …
Headlines of other energy stories
** Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Don McEachin (D-Va.) are introducing a bill to eliminate 11 tax breaks for oil and gas companies, including for marginal wells and enhanced oil recovery, to fund a $500 direct cash rebate for consumers reeling from high prices. ** President Biden seems to praise high gas prices as ‘incredible transition’ Americans must go through. …
Other energy headlines
** President Biden announces Hyundai will spend $5.5 billion to build its first electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the U.S. near Savannah, Georgia. ** The U.S. Energy Department seeks an unprecedented expansion of high-voltage electricity lines to carry clean power by prioritizing shovel-ready projects and seeking state support for interregional connections. ** A Spanish energy company begins construction of a 300 MW …
