Amid urgent climate warnings, EPA gives coal a reprieve
5 years, 6 months ago

Amid urgent climate warnings, EPA gives coal a reprieve

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Amid scientists’ increasingly urgent warnings, the Trump administration ordered a sweeping about-face Wednesday on Obama-era efforts to fight climate change, easing restrictions on coal-fired power plants in a move it predicted would revitalize America’s sagging coal industry. It came despite scientists’ cautions that the world must cut fossil fuel emissions to stave off the worst of global warming and the EPA’s own analysis that the new rule would result in the deaths of an extra 300 to 1,500 people each year by 2030 compared to the never fully enacted Clean Power Plan, owing to additional air pollution from the power grid. Trump has rejected scientific warnings on climate change, including a dire report this year from scientists at more than a dozen federal agencies noting that global warming from fossil fuels “presents growing challenges to human health and quality of life.” Administration officials argue climate science is imperfect, and that it’s not clear climate change would have as great an impact as forecast. Presidential contender Elizabeth Warren called for broad action to reduce emissions, saying “the climate crisis is endangering our country, our health, our economy and our national security.” New York Attorney General Letitia James quickly tweeted a pledge that her state would sue, an early signal of what environmental groups said would be more court challenges.

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History of this topic

Opinion | Climate Activists Need to Radically Change Their Approach Under Trump
1 month ago

Opinion | Climate Activists Need to Radically Change Their Approach Under Trump

New York Times  

Donald Trump’s return to Washington might seem like a terrifying moment for the fight against climate change. The incoming administration is not just hostile to the energy transition; it’s also expected to pull the United States out of the Paris climate agreement, roll back a wide range of pollution regulations and promote domestic fossil fuel production — decisions likely to …

Why green investments have become the last line of defense for Biden’s climate agenda
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Why green investments have become the last line of defense for Biden’s climate agenda

CNN  

CNN — Can the green shoots of clean energy break through the “brown blockade”? The brown blockade is the phrase I’ve used to describe the hardening tendency of the states most deeply integrated into the existing oil and gas economy, as either major producers or consumers of fossil fuels, to support Republican presidential and congressional candidates who are resolutely opposed …

In new term, Trump set to go after measures that are doing the most to fight climate change
2 months ago

In new term, Trump set to go after measures that are doing the most to fight climate change

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The election of Donald Trump as president for a second time and the Republican takeback of the U.S. Senate could undo many of the national climate policies that are most reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, according to climate solutions experts. Trump, by contrast, has summed up his energy policy as “drill, baby, drill” and pledged to dismantle what …

Supreme Court lets Biden’s power plant climate rule take effect
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Supreme Court lets Biden’s power plant climate rule take effect

Politico  

The Supreme Court’s decision elevates the issue of climate change just weeks before the presidential election. “We will continue to fight through the merits phase and prove this rule strips the states of important discretion while forcing plants to use technologies that don’t work in the real world.” Alex Bond, the executive director for clean energy and environment at the …

US appeals court allows EPA rule on coal-fired power plants to remain in place amid legal challenges
5 months, 3 weeks ago

US appeals court allows EPA rule on coal-fired power plants to remain in place amid legal challenges

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In a victory for President Joe Biden’s administration, a federal appeals court on Friday ruled that a new federal regulation aimed at limiting planet-warming pollution from coal-fired power plants can remain in force as legal challenges continue. The EPA rule, announced in April, would force many coal-fired power plants to capture 90% of their carbon emissions or shut …

Strict new EPA rules would force coal-fired power plants to capture emissions or shut down
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Strict new EPA rules would force coal-fired power plants to capture emissions or shut down

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Coal-fired power plants would be forced to capture smokestack emissions or shut down under a rule issued Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The rule was among four measures targeting coal and natural gas plants that the EPA said would provide “regulatory certainty” to the power industry and encourage them to make investments to transition “to a clean …

EPA delays rules for existing natural gas power plants until after the November election
10 months, 1 week ago

EPA delays rules for existing natural gas power plants until after the November election

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it is delaying planned rules to curb emissions from existing natural gas plants that release harmful air pollutants and contribute to global warming. “As EPA works towards final standards to cut climate pollution from existing coal and new gas-fired power plants later this spring, the agency is taking a new, comprehensive approach …

Big Oil just gifted us a lump of coal
1 year ago

Big Oil just gifted us a lump of coal

Raw Story  

Watching Republicans ignore climate change while the planet cooks is like being trapped in the backseat of a car, windows rolled up and locked, with a chain-smoking uncle. The U.S. special envoy for climate change, John Kerry, called the pact “the most important decision since the Paris agreement.” The UN describes the agreement as “the beginning of the end of …

EPA: New pollution limits proposed for US coal, gas power plants reflect ‘urgency’ of climate crisis
1 year, 7 months ago

EPA: New pollution limits proposed for US coal, gas power plants reflect ‘urgency’ of climate crisis

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration proposed new limits Thursday on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants, its most ambitious effort yet to roll back planet-warming pollution from the nation’s second-largest contributor to climate change. President Joe Biden called the plan “a major step forward in the climate crisis and protecting public health.” If finalized, the proposed regulation …

EPA says pollution limits proposed for U.S. coal, gas power plants reflect climate crisis ‘urgency’
1 year, 7 months ago

EPA says pollution limits proposed for U.S. coal, gas power plants reflect climate crisis ‘urgency’

LA Times  

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan speaks about new proposed limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants during an event at the University of Maryland on Thursday in College Park, Md. The Biden administration proposed new limits Thursday on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants, its most ambitious effort yet to roll …

President Joe Biden's next climate hurdle: Entice Americans to buy green
1 year, 11 months ago

President Joe Biden's next climate hurdle: Entice Americans to buy green

Firstpost  

Washington: President Joe Biden persuaded Democrats in Congress to provide hundreds of billions of dollars to fight climate change. But it also means the administration’s battle against global warming will be waged “one household at a time,” said Shannon Baker-Branstetter, who works on energy issues at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank closely aligned with the White …

Supreme Court limits EPA in curbing power plant emissions
2 years, 6 months ago

Supreme Court limits EPA in curbing power plant emissions

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In a blow to the fight against climate change, the Supreme Court on Thursday limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. I cannot think of many things more frightening.” Biden, in a statement, called the ruling “another devastating decision that aims to take our country backwards.” …

Supreme Court rules for coal-producing states, limits EPA’s power to fight climate change
2 years, 6 months ago

Supreme Court rules for coal-producing states, limits EPA’s power to fight climate change

LA Times  

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled for the major coal-producing states and sharply limited the Biden administration’s authority to restrict the carbon pollution that is causing global warming. Gen. Patrick Morrisey called the ruling a “huge win for West Virginia and a huge victory against federal overreach and the excesses of the administrative state.” Harvard law professor Richard Lazarus, an …

Biden restores stricter environmental review of big projects
2 years, 8 months ago

Biden restores stricter environmental review of big projects

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is restoring federal regulations that require rigorous environmental review of major infrastructure projects such as highways, pipelines and oil wells — including likely impacts on climate change and nearby communities. A rule finalized Tuesday will restore key provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, a bedrock environmental law designed to ensure community safeguards during reviews …

Justices wrestle with EPA power to curb carbon emissions
2 years, 10 months ago

Justices wrestle with EPA power to curb carbon emissions

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court wrestled Monday with the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to curb greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s power plants, a case that could hamstring the Biden administration’s plans to combat climate change. A new policy to regulate carbon productions from power plants is not expected before the end of the year, Elizabeth Prelogar, Biden’s top Supreme …

The U.S.’s Best Hope For Real Climate Policy Is Fizzling. What Happens Now?
3 years, 2 months ago

The U.S.’s Best Hope For Real Climate Policy Is Fizzling. What Happens Now?

Huff Post  

A man uses a garden hose to water down dry vegetation as the Alisal fire burns at the edges of a ranch near Goleta, California, on Oct. 12. “The White House better have a Plan B for how we’re going to maintain those cuts.” West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin's family controls a coal empire. On Tuesday, however, Manchin seemed …

Climate impact of coal sales from US lands scrutinized
3 years, 4 months ago

Climate impact of coal sales from US lands scrutinized

Associated Press  

— U.S. officials launched a review Thursday of climate damage and other impacts from coal mining on public lands as the Biden administration expands its scrutiny of government fossil fuel sales that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Almost half the nation’s annual coal production — some 250 million tons last fiscal year — is mined by private companies from leases …

New infrastructure deal must focus on climate, activists say
3 years, 6 months ago

New infrastructure deal must focus on climate, activists say

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Climate activists and their Democratic allies in Congress are pressing with renewed urgency for huge investments to slow global warming, after a bipartisan infrastructure plan cut out some of President Joe Biden’s key climate initiatives. On the other hand, a less costly bill that does not fully address climate change risks losing support from large numbers of liberal …

Tennessee Valley Authority considers replacing coal with gas
3 years, 6 months ago

Tennessee Valley Authority considers replacing coal with gas

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The nation’s largest public utility is looking at shutting down three of its five remaining coal-fired power plants, saying they are old and no longer practical. But despite President Joe Biden’s goal of a carbon-pollution-free energy sector by 2035, the Tennessee Valley Authority, an independent federal agency, is considering replacing the lost megawatts from coal with another …

Go green or go bipartisan? Biden’s big infrastructure choice
3 years, 6 months ago

Go green or go bipartisan? Biden’s big infrastructure choice

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s hopes of channeling billions of dollars into green infrastructure investments to fight climate change are running into the political obstacle of winning over Republican lawmakers who oppose that approach as unnecessary, excessive spending. As negotiations unfold in Congress in search of a bipartisan deal, the White House’s ability to ensure a climate focus in Biden’s …

Opinion: Republicans are still sticking their heads in the tar sands on climate change
3 years, 10 months ago

Opinion: Republicans are still sticking their heads in the tar sands on climate change

LA Times  

And so it begins. A dozen Republican attorneys general have filed a legal challenge — apparently the first of many expected group efforts — over President Biden’s executive order restoring an Obama administration directive that federal agencies estimate the social costs of carbon emissions when devising policies. “My immediate reaction is that these states should have a very hard time …

Unpacking Biden’s New Environmental Executive Orders
3 years, 11 months ago

Unpacking Biden’s New Environmental Executive Orders

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING For the second time in as many weeks, President Joe Biden issued sweeping executive orders to confront global climate change and other environmental crises. Biden’s latest actions will: Put A Freeze On New Federal Oil And Gas Leases The order directs the secretary of the Interior Department to pause “to the extent possible” new oil and gas …

Joe Biden outlines ambitious climate change agenda: “Environmental justice will be at the center"
3 years, 11 months ago

Joe Biden outlines ambitious climate change agenda: “Environmental justice will be at the center"

Salon  

President Joe Biden signed a series of bold executive orders on Wednesday that he reassured the public would help combat climate change, which poses an existential threat to humanity. The series of executive orders declared that addressing climate change is a national security priority, revoked all new gas and oil leases on public lands and waters, stopped new fossil fuel …

Congress takes aim at climate change in massive relief bill
4 years ago

Congress takes aim at climate change in massive relief bill

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The huge pandemic relief and spending bill includes billions of dollars to promote clean energy such as wind and solar power while sharply reducing over time the use of potent coolants in air conditioners and refrigerators that are considered a major driver of global warming. “This historic agreement includes three separate pieces of legislation that will significantly reduce …

The Trump Environmental Protection Agency’s Parting Gifts
4 years, 1 month ago

The Trump Environmental Protection Agency’s Parting Gifts

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The fastest way for President-elect Joe Biden to begin cutting planet-heating emissions will likely be through regulation, as Republicans look poised to keep control of the Senate, dimming hopes of Congress passing sweeping climate legislation. “Any administration should support the transparency and clarity that will be facilitated by these rules are an excellent foundation for good governance …

Five things Joe Biden can do to fight climate change — without Congress’ help
4 years, 2 months ago

Five things Joe Biden can do to fight climate change — without Congress’ help

LA Times  

Climate change is fueling record-breaking fires, hurricanes and floods. If Republicans keep control of the Senate, then much of the legislation that would be needed to implement Biden’s aggressive plans to tackle climate change would likely be blocked. Make America drive like California, again One of the most significant steps Biden could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would to …

Trump weakens fuel economy standards, rolling back key U.S. effort against climate change
4 years, 9 months ago

Trump weakens fuel economy standards, rolling back key U.S. effort against climate change

LA Times  

The Trump administration on Tuesday weakened one of the nation’s most aggressive efforts to combat climate change, releasing new fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks that handed a victory to the oil and gas industry. “We are delivering on President Trump’s promise to correct the current fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in …

After confirming withdrawal from Paris climate accord, US eases Obama-era rules on coal pollution
5 years, 2 months ago

After confirming withdrawal from Paris climate accord, US eases Obama-era rules on coal pollution

India Today  

The Trump administration accelerated the pace of its environmental rollbacks for the country's coal-fired power plants on Monday, proposing to weaken two Obama-era rules aimed at cleaning up dangerous heavy metals and ash from coal plants and keeping them from washing into groundwater and waterways. The new proposals - the latest in a series of regulatory breaks granted by the …

21 states sue Trump administration over new coal rules
5 years, 4 months ago

21 states sue Trump administration over new coal rules

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A coalition of 21 Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration Tuesday over its decision to ease restrictions on coal-fired power plants, with California’s governor saying the president is trying to rescue an outdated industry. In June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency eliminated the agency’s Clean Power Plan and replaced it with a new rule that gives states …

22 U.S. States, seven cities sue Trump administration over carbon rule replacement
5 years, 4 months ago

22 U.S. States, seven cities sue Trump administration over carbon rule replacement

The Hindu  

Twenty-two States, including New York and California, and seven cities on Tuesday sued to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency's replacement of the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan, arguing it prolongs U.S. reliance on coal power and obstructs States that pursue cleaner electricity generation. The petitioners argue that the EPA's Affordable Clean Energy rule, which it finalized in June, will not …

California sues to stop Trump rollback of Obama-era restrictions on coal-burning power plants
5 years, 4 months ago

California sues to stop Trump rollback of Obama-era restrictions on coal-burning power plants

LA Times  

California and other states are suing to stop Trump administration policies that would help protect coal-fired power plants, like this one in Maryland. California and a coalition of 21 other states on Tuesday sued to block the Trump administration’s attempt to gut restrictions on coal-burning power plants, limits that were central to President Obama’s climate change policy. Gen. Xavier Becerra …

Trump moves to gut Obama climate policy and bolster the coal industry
5 years, 6 months ago

Trump moves to gut Obama climate policy and bolster the coal industry

LA Times  

The Trump administration on Wednesday unveiled its final plan to rewrite a major Obama-era climate change policy, scrapping proposed regulations that would have cracked down on coal-burning power plants. The administration’s plan would gut the so-called Clean Power Plan, President Obama’s signature domestic program to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Under Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency has branded the rewrite as …

Trump Administration Weakens Climate Plan To Help Coal Plants Stay Open
5 years, 6 months ago

Trump Administration Weakens Climate Plan To Help Coal Plants Stay Open

NPR  

Trump Administration Weakens Climate Plan To Help Coal Plants Stay Open Enlarge this image toggle caption J. David Ake/AP J. David Ake/AP Updated at 3:11 p.m. Sponsor Message Wheeler echoed arguments coal industry supporters have made, saying the Obama administration overstepped its authority under federal law when it issued the more sweeping Clean Power Plan in 2015. Sponsor Message The …

EPA rolls back Obama-era plan limiting coal emissions
5 years, 6 months ago

EPA rolls back Obama-era plan limiting coal emissions

CNN  

Washington CNN — The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday said states can set their own carbon emissions standards for coal-fired power plants – a rule that the agency itself says could result in 1,400 more premature deaths by 2030 than the Obama-era plan it will replace. In it, he instructed EPA to rescind, replace or revise the Clean Power Plan.” …

Trump’s rollback of GHG curbs won’t stop shift away from coal
5 years, 6 months ago

Trump’s rollback of GHG curbs won’t stop shift away from coal

Al Jazeera  

Trump’s efforts to stop ‘war on coal’ won’t stop the transition to cheaper electricity generated by wind, sun and gas. President Donald Trump is scaling back sweeping Obama-era curbs on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants burning coal, his biggest step yet to fulfill his campaign promise to stop a “war” on the fossil fuel. The EPA’s final “Affordable Clean …

Former Bush, Reagan EPA heads warn on Trump rollbacks
5 years, 6 months ago

Former Bush, Reagan EPA heads warn on Trump rollbacks

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Environmental Protection Agency heads under three previous Republican presidents joined their Democratic counterparts Tuesday in telling lawmakers they were concerned by the Trump administration’s rapid rollbacks of environmental protections. Asked for reaction, EPA spokesman Michael Abboud said current EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler was working to engage the agency’s Science Advisory Board, or SAB. And we’re just getting started.” …

Judge: Resumption of US coal sales by Trump needs review
5 years, 8 months ago

Judge: Resumption of US coal sales by Trump needs review

Associated Press  

— A federal judge on Friday ruled that the Trump administration failed to consider potential damage to the environment from its decision to resume coal sales from U.S. lands, but the court stopped short of halting future sales. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris in Montana said Interior Department officials had wrongly avoided an environmental review of their action by describing …

Trump-appointed energy official: Climate change is real and we must lower carbon emissions
5 years, 9 months ago

Trump-appointed energy official: Climate change is real and we must lower carbon emissions

CNN  

New York CNN Business — A top federal energy regulator appointed by President Donald Trump is calling for urgent action to address climate change. Wednesday’s comments by Neil Chatterjee mark a striking contrast with Trump, who has voiced skepticism about climate change and recently suggested wind power causes cancer — despite no evidence to support that. Power emissions drop Natural …

More bad news for coal: Wind and solar are getting cheaper
5 years, 9 months ago

More bad news for coal: Wind and solar are getting cheaper

CNN  

New York CNN Business — The simple laws of economics threaten to doom America’s remaining coal power plants. Wind and solar costs have plunged so rapidly that 74% of the US coal fleet could be phased out for renewable energy – and still save customers money, according to a report released on Monday by Energy Innovation, a nonpartisan think tank. …

Judge: US must reconsider climate impacts of Montana mine
5 years, 10 months ago

Judge: US must reconsider climate impacts of Montana mine

Associated Press  

— U.S. officials have again been faulted by a federal judge for failing to adequately consider the potential climate change effects of expanding a massive coal mine in the sagebrush-covered hills of southeastern Montana. If she adopts Cavan’s recommendation, it would mark a setback to the Interior Department’s attempts to downplay the climate change impacts of burning fossil fuels extracted …

Democrats hit Trump EPA nominee on coal lobbying, rollbacks
5 years, 11 months ago

Democrats hit Trump EPA nominee on coal lobbying, rollbacks

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday called climate change “a huge issue” but not the “greatest crisis” and drew fire from Democrats at his confirmation hearing over the regulatory rollbacks he’s made in six months as the agency’s acting administrator. But Democrats pressed Wheeler about his work as a lobbyist helping an …

EPA nominee Wheeler says climate change is neither a hoax nor the ‘greatest crisis’
5 years, 11 months ago

EPA nominee Wheeler says climate change is neither a hoax nor the ‘greatest crisis’

LA Times  

Andrew Wheeler, President Trump’s nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency, told a Senate panel Wednesday that he does not believe climate change is the “greatest crisis” and vowed to continue the administration’s agenda of rolling back environmental regulations. “Through our deregulatory actions, the Trump administration has proven that burdensome federal regulations are not necessary to drive environmental progress,” Wheeler …

More coal plants have closed under Trump than in Obama’s last term
6 years ago

More coal plants have closed under Trump than in Obama’s last term

CNN  

Monongahela, Pennsylvania CNN — It sits on the banks of the Monongahela River like a monstrous monument to extinction. “He’s lying to them.” Former miner and now mining consultant Art Sullivan says coal miners have the ability to transfer to other fields. Bill Weir/CNN For 52 years, Sullivan worked in mines around the world and, like many in western Pennsylvania, …

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