9 item(s) were returned.
Last week, the latest chapter in the Clean Power Plan saga unfolded before an en banc hearing at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Petitioners argued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overstepped its congressional authority under the Clean Air Act. A central issue before the court was whether the agency exceeded its authority under Section 111(d) by designing a scheme that regulates “beyond the existing source’s fence line” – outside the four walls of the utility. Section 111(d) requires EPA to establish emission guidelines that reflect the best system of emission reductions (BSER) that have been adequately demonstrated. Petitioners, led by… [more]
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Today the aviation industry is responsible for about 2% of all GHG emissions. Experts predict that by mid-century, this number could triple without policies designed to combat aircraft emissions due to rapid industry growth. In response, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) has been negotiating a CO2 emissions standard for aircraft emissions with representatives from its member states, industry and non-governmental organizations. On February 8th, the CAEP unanimously approved a draft measure paving the way for final approval in 2016. If the ICAO emissions standards are approved by the ICAO’s 36-State Governing Council, the… [more]
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Founder and CEO
SMART WATER, SMART CITY LLC
Around the country, a new conversation is emerging among municipal leaders and utility executives as they explore the energy/water nexus. While Senator Murkowski started the discussion at the federal level in 2014, local leaders are just beginning to question the impact of the energy/water nexus. The water/energy nexus deals with the need for water to produce energy, and for energy to treat and distribute clean water. Water infrastructure is an essential public service in any city and is intrinsically linked to energy. Smart technologies and smart strategies for water and energy utilities are needed to address conservation challenges and form… [more]
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Executive Director
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
According to the EPA, its proposed Clean Power Plan (CPP) would lead to a 30 percent cut in carbon emissions from the power sector by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. The CPP sets a customized goal for each state, which takes into account its existing policies and the unique structure of its energy system. The current draft regulation gives states interim goals for 2020-29, and a final target for 2030. The EPA proposal offers a great deal of flexibility for states to choose how best to achieve these emissions reduction goals. The CPP suggests four “building blocks” that states can… [more]
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U.S. House of Representatives
Two of the most pressing issues facing us today are the need to address the economic costs and public health risks associated with climate change and strengthening the middle class. Over 97 percent of climate scientists agree that our planet is warming, primarily as a result of fossil fuel combustion, and that this warming is already causing more frequent, dangerous, and expensive extreme weather events. At the same time, our middle class is struggling. While the productivity of our economy increased by 75 percent between 1979 and 2012, wage growth for middle class workers increased by only 5 percent during… [more]
View InsightOn February 28th and 29th a federal appeals court in Washington, DC will hear oral arguments in Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. EPA, an aggregation of lawsuits challenging U.S. EPA’s authority to regulate climate change pollutants. The suits have been brought by industry and free-market groups seeking to overturn EPA’s greenhouse gas endangerment finding, clean car standards crafted under the Clean Air Act, and efforts to reduce industrial emissions. EPA’s endangerment finding for climate change pollutants, required by the Supreme Court case Massachusetts v. EPA, established that “greenhouse gases … in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of… [more]
View InsightOn December 21st, 2011 the EPA announced its newly proposed MACT Rules, placing stringent requirements on mercury and toxics emissions from power plants. The new rules were issued under the authority of the Clean Air Act, and are expected to heavily impact existing and new coal-fired power plants. According to AP, EPA “has estimated that 14.7 gigawatts — enough power for more than 11 million households — will be retired from the power grid in the 2014-15 period when the rules take effect.” The rules have received a great deal of criticism, ranging from the anticipated impacts on industry and employment to EPA’s “methodology… [more]
View InsightNote: Synopsis based on review of draft legislation as well as Congressional committee and media summaries. Synopsis intended solely for purposes of generating discussion. Key Provisions of H.R. 910, the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 (as of March 10, 2011) Would amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating or taking action on greenhouse gas emissions over concerns about climate change “Greenhouse gas” is defined as: water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulpher hexaflouride, hydroflurocarbons, perflurocarbons, and any other substance subject to, or proposed to be subject to, regulation, action or consideration under… [more]
View InsightNote: Synopses taken from Congressional Research Service summaries. H.R. 1476 & S. 835 H.R. 1476 S. 835 Requires each light-duty automobile manufacturer’s annual covered inventory to comprise at least: 50% fuel choice-enabling automobiles in years 2012-2014; and 80% fuel choice-enabling automobiles in 2015, and in each subsequent year. Requires each light-duty automobile manufacturer’s annual covered inventory to comprise at least: 50% fuel choice-enabling automobiles in years 2012-2014; and 80% fuel choice-enabling automobiles in 2015, and in each subsequent year. Defines “fuel choice-enabling automobile” as: a flexible fuel automobile capable of operating on gasoline, E85, and M85; or an automobile capable… [more]
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