POLITICS AND POLICY
Sinema and Manchin’s covert debt deal operation
Burgess Everett and Jennifer Haberkorn, Politico
Last term, the two centrist senators publicly shaped nearly every piece of major legislation. They revived the act on the debt limit — but this time, they stayed behind the scenes.
Debt limit deal gives Republicans a win on energy. Is there still room for a bipartisan agreement?
Rachel Frazin, The Hill
Democrats are giving up an energy bargaining chip in the debt limit deal, raising questions about whether they will be able to accomplish high-priority electricity reforms.
The weatherman using his climate knowledge in Congress
Timothy Cama, E&E News
When Eric Sorensen wanted to start talking about climate change while delivering the weather forecast in the Quad Cities area of Illinois and Iowa, it wasn’t an easy lift.
West Virginia Governor’s Coal Empire Sued by the Federal Government — Again
Ken Ward, Mountain State Spotlight
The lawsuit, filed by the Justice Department, seeks millions in unpaid environmental fines as Gov. Jim Justice begins his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Federal appeals court halts EPA effort to impose air pollution plan in Missouri
Jim Salter, The Associated Press
A federal appeals court has put on hold an Environmental Protection Agency regulation aimed at reducing air pollution in Missouri, drawing criticism from environmentalists but praise from the state’s attorney general who called the proposal “unconstitutional overreach.”
Climate proposals withered at the Texas Capitol this year
Alejandra Martinez et al., The Texas Tribune
Proposals to improve energy efficiency failed. Bills that sought to limit greenhouse gas emissions in Texas were ignored, and legislation to block cities from taking action on climate change passed.
UAE oil chief is ‘the perfect person’ to lead UN climate talks, COP28 director general says
Sam Meredith, CNBC
The UAE, the third-largest oil-producing member of the OPEC alliance, will host the COP28 climate summit from Nov. 30 through to Dec. 12.
Oregon youths’ climate lawsuit against US government can proceed to trial, judge rules
The Associated Press
A federal judge ruled on Thursday that a lawsuit brought by young Oregon-based climate activists can proceed to trial years after they first filed the lawsuit in an attempt to hold the nation’s leadership accountable for its role in climate change.
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
Drought, water overuse prompt Arizona to limit construction in some fast-growing parts of Phoenix
Jacques Billeaud and Suman Naishadham, The Associated Press
Arizona will not approve new housing construction on the fast-growing edges of metro Phoenix that rely on groundwater thanks to years of overuse and a multi-decade drought that is sapping its water supply.
EPA promised clarity, transparency after Ohio train derailment. But some air monitors didn’t work.
Ellie Borst and Kevin Bogardus, E&E News
Federal and state officials engaged in a tense back-and-forth over how to alert the public about a problem in their response to the fiery February train wreck and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio.
Wildfires threaten to undo decades of progress in fighting air pollution
Daniel De Vise, The Hill
Climate change threatens to reverse decades of progress in cleaning America’s air, especially in the West.
Tropical Depression Forms on the First Day of Hurricane Season
Brian K. Sullivan, Bloomberg
A tropical depression has spun up in the Gulf of Mexico northwest of Ft. Myers, Florida, on the first official day of the Atlantic hurricane season.
RENEWABLES AND NUCLEAR
Why This Investor Is Betting on AI for Climate Tech
Scott Patterson, The Wall Street Journal
Optimized fish farms? Drones to track solar panels? Artificial intelligence is a focus in an $81 million venture-capital fund’s clean-energy investments.
Record Q1 global wind turbine orders suggest US installation downturn is poised to end: WoodMac
Emma Penrod, Utility Dive
Wind turbine manufacturers received a record 23.5 GW of orders during the first quarter of 2023 representing a 27% year-over-year increase, according to data from Wood Mackenzie.
FOSSIL FUELS
Exxon strikes CO2 capture deal with steel giant Nucor
Ben Geman, Axios
Exxon just announced a deal with steel giant Nucor to trap, transport and store carbon dioxide emissions from a Louisiana plant.
OPEC+ prepares for weekend meeting after Saudi warns speculators to ‘watch out’
Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC
They face a market rattled by supply volatility, demand uncertainty and a prospective recession, which could throttle transport fuel consumption.
Project Bison, a large carbon removal proposal, faces delays
Corbin Hiar, E&E News
Project Bison, a closely watched Wyoming proposal intended to suck massive quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, is running behind schedule.
Exxon CEO says technology advances could double its shale output
Sabrina Valle, Reuters
Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Darren Woods said on Thursday he aims to double the amount of oil produced from the company's U.S. shale holdings over a five-year period using new technologies.
New Mexico imposes oil and gas moratorium on state land near schools
Susan Montoya Bryan and Christopher L. Keller, The Associated Press
Members of the Navajo community have complained to Samuel Sage for years about the noise and vibrations that rattle their homes.
TRANSPORTATION AND ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Why Are Electric Car Names So Bad?
Kyle Stock, Bloomberg
The bZ4X. The EQE. The e:Ny1. Carmakers are all-in on electric options, but branding them has been a half-baked mashup of ideas.
Boeing signs alternative fuel deal with Los Angeles startup to cut carbon footprint
Julie Watson, The Associated Press
As the aviation industry seeks to cut its carbon footprint, Boeing has just signed a deal to help its quest for a sustainable jet fuel, and it’s tied to an unlikely source: the ocean.
Volkswagen brings VW bus back to North American market after 20 years
Reuters
Volkswagen will start selling battery-powered versions of its VW bus in North America from 2024 onwards, the carmaker said on Friday, in what marks the reintroduction of the iconic model after a two-decade hiatus.
US lawmakers say Brazil low-carbon fuel program blocks US companies
Marcelo Teixeira, Reuters
A group of U.S. congressmen have formally complained about what they call unfair ethanol trade practices by Brazil that includes a blockade of U.S. companies seeking to take part in the Brazilian low-carbon biofuel program RenovaBio.
ELECTRICITY/UTILITIES/INFRASTRUCTURE
FERC aims to fix the grid’s renewable energy backlog. Can it?
Miranda Willson, E&E News
In the fall of 2007, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission raised concerns about how to manage the unprecedented number of renewable energy projects seeking to connect to the U.S. grid.
If you live in California, your power bill will soon depend on your income
Shannon Osaka, The Washington Post
A new California law is sparking backlash --- with uncertain benefits for clean energy.
LAND AND RESOURCES
Minnesota plans rewrite of rules for copper-nickel mining near popular wilderness
The Associated Press
Minnesota regulators have concluded that state rules governing where copper-nickel mines can be built are insufficient to protect the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from noise and light pollution, creating another potential obstacle to the proposed Twin Metals mine in northeastern Minnesota.
Man acquitted of igniting massive 2018 Southern California wildfire
The Associated Press
A man was acquitted Thursday of intentionally setting a fire that spread over 36 square miles (93 square kilometers) and burned more than a dozen cabins in remote Southern California canyons five years ago.
GENERAL
Louisiana, 9 other states sue US government over steep flood insurance rate increases
Kevin McGill, The Associated Press
Louisiana and nine other states filed a lawsuit against the federal government Thursday to block sharp increases in national flood insurance rates that are slated to be phased in over the coming years, saying the steeper price could cost some people their homes.
Financial peril looms nationwide as hurricane season starts
Thomas Frank, E&E News
Many of the nation’s disaster organizations are exposed to perilous financial risks at the start of hurricane season, jeopardizing efforts across much of the U.S. to recover from catastrophes.
U.S. regulation fears drive insurers' climate alliance break-up
Tommy Wilkes, Reuters
The success of Republicans in triggering the break-up of a coalition of insurance firms aimed at tackling climate change is down to U.S. states being the industry's primary regulator, interviews with industry executives and former officials show.
OPINIONS, EDITORIALS AND PERSPECTIVES
Exxon Is Capturing Dollars, Not Just Carbon
Liam Denning, Blomoberg
The biggest US oil producer has the opportunity to tap government subsidies for a new and risky business while also lifting a shadow from its stock price.
EVs Have a Hole Big Enough to Drive a Hydrogen Truck Through
Stephen Wilmot, The Wall Street Journal
Technology-sharing deal between Toyota and Daimler focused on heavy-duty trucks signals the onset of costlier times for big-rig makers.