** Energy watchdog group Power the Future (PTF) filed a freedom of information lawsuit against the Biden administration on Tuesday, alleging it failed to divulge Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry’s taxpayer-funded staff. ** The Biden administration finalized regulations severely tightening restrictions on fine particulate matter that the manufacturing and energy sectors are legally allowed to emit, an action …
Category: EPA
Suncor Refinery hit with largest pollution fine in Colorado
Suncor Energy is coughing up $10.5 million to settle pollution violations at its refinery in Commerce City, Colorado outside of Denver—-the largest such fine in state history. Suncor was accused by the Colorado Air Pollultion Control Division of hundreds of unpermitted air releases at the refinery between July 2019 and June 2021. The Canadian …
Energy quick reads
** One person is dead following a sudden explosion at a petroleum pumping station in Cass County, Michigan.The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says two men were working at the oil pumping station when it exploded. ** The Senate’s border and Ukraine spending package contains more than $2 billion in funds for uranium processing, as the U.S. …
Texas LNG projects on hold because of Biden’s moratorium
Because of President Biden’s recent moratorium on LNG projects across the nation, four such LNG projects totaling billions of dollars are on hold in the state of Texas. Developers contend the White House, as a result of the order, is jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars invested by developers. The Houston Chronicle reported that …
Energy quick reads
** Georgia Power Co. said Thursday that vibrations found in a cooling system of its second new nuclear reactor will delay when the unit begins generating power. ** ExxonMobil and Chevron reported lower but still strong profits Friday as they push ahead with hefty shareholder payouts and major acquisitions. The two biggest US oil companies, which have …
EPA nominee approved despite opposition from Sens. Lankford and Mullin
(AP Photo/Mead Gruver, File) With Oklahoma U.S. Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin voting against him, President Biden’s nominee to lead the EPA’s air pollution office was confirmed by a one-vote margin. Joe Goffman, a longtime EPA official was approved on a 50-49 vote. West Virginia Sen. Joe Machin was the lone Democrat to …
EPA moves to declare “forever chemicals” as hazardous waste
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is taking some of the credit for the EPA’s decision to classify “forever chemicals” as hazardous waste under federal law. The EPA announced two new proposed rules to ensure that certain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS are hazardous waste under federal law. New Mexico’s Environmental Department, in a …
Energy quick reads
** President Biden finally plans a visit next month to East Palestine, Ohio, a year after a disastrous train derailment sent dangerous chemicals into the air. The mayor of the city says Biden’s visit is too late. ** John Podesta, a senior White House adviser focused on clean energy and climate, will take over as …
Energy quick reads
** The U.S. State Department on Tuesday indicated that it would reimpose sanctions on Venezuelan oil without further election reforms. ** California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is committing to the removal or circumvention of several long-disputed dams in a bid to revive the state’s salmon. ** The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will compensate local and state …
Energy quick reads
** The Biden administration has published a new rule for some gas and electric stoves to be more efficient — but these rules are significantly weaker than what was initially proposed reports The Hill. The Energy Department said in a press release that 97 percent of gas stoves and 77 percent of electric stoveson the market already meet …