EPA Announcement Pits Two Failing Industries Against Each Other
On Thursday the EPA announced that it is seeking comments on a proposal to increase the permitted amount of ethanol in regular gasoline to be increased from 10% to 15%. This debate will pit the army of lobbyists from two struggling industries against each other. On one side we have the corn industry, which has been struggling mightily since their market became saturated last year. Currently one-quarter of all corn produced in the U.S. is used to make ethanol. Increasing the gasoline blend limits would help prop up this highly subsidized industry.
And on the other side we have the even more vulnerable automotive industry. While carmakers, like GM, have been touting their green “flex-fuel” capabilities (read: boondoggle), they argue that if 15% blends are used in their older models that it could damage those vehicles’ fuel lines. Alan Adler, a GM spokesman disclaimed that “we want to be sure that we’re not on the hook for vehicles” that end up having problems with higher blends.
Of course, it is unclear in this debate which policy is actually in the public’s interest. We have two industries that are so thoroughly dependent on government subsidization for survival that anything they say or do must be viewed in that light. This is just one of many examples of how government mandates can distort the noble goal of improving the environment and decreasing our use of foreign oil. However, as see with this current debate, comprehensive subsidies and mandates are a clunky and inefficient solution to an incredibly complex problem.
Supreme Court: Power Plants Not Required to Use State-of-the-Art Water Cooling Process
The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the EPA can balance business costs against environmental benefits when deciding whether to impose closed-cycle cooling requirements on power plants.
The case was originally brought before the Court last year by the Bush Administration, which had argued that business interests must be properly considered. Environmentalists opposed this idea, claiming that the Clean Water Act required the use of closed-cycle cooling technologies. The harm at issue stems from the process by which power plants take water from surrounding sources to cool the plant’s operations. Without closed-cycle cooling, very hot water can be released back into the environment, thereby doing harm to the surrounding aquatic life.
While the Court’s ruling will allow the EPA to take into account business interests, the Obama Administration will have leeway in how it crafts future rules.
Ohio Leads the Nation in Toxic Air Pollutants, Largely From Coal
The EPA’s annual Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) was published on Thursday. The report takes an accounting of the amount of toxic chemicals reported to be released into the U.S. environment each year. The current report looks at data from 2007.
The vast majority of toxic releases nationwide came from electric utilities and mining operations. The state of Ohio lead the nation in air pollution, with over 115 million pounds of toxic pollutants being released into the air. Nearly two-thirds of those toxins were from coal-fired power plants. The main pollutants included hydrochloric and sulfuric acids, mercury, lead and barium.
The report has been short on details since 2006, when President Bush cut back on reporting requirements for industries. However, these changes were undone by the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, signed into law by President Obama on March 11.
Obama May Support Single National Standard for Vehicle Efficiency
While early indications appeared that the Obama Administration was going to grant California its waiver to independently regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, it now looks like they are considering a single national standard. On Sunday, Obama’s assistant for energy and climate, Carol Browner said “The hope across the administration is that we can have a unified national policy when it comes to cleaner vehicles.”
The impact of such a policy shift would depend entirely on how strict any national standard is crafted. Historically, car companies and anti-environmentalists have supported national emissions standards because Congressional legislation is invariably weaker and more watered down than legislation that comes out of liberal states like California. And if federal pre-emption is followed, states are locked out of creating their own standards.
While federal standards, in theory, could be just as strong, if not stronger than state laws, this is never the case. Current federal law aims to have a national average of 35 mpg by 2020, while California’s proposed rule would be 42 mpg. It seems unlikely, especially having seen the extreme partisanship with the stimulus package, that Obama would have the political capital and votes in Congress to buck this historic trend and push-through a meaningful national standard.
EPA Rejects Bush Administration Position on Coal Emissions
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said on Tuesday that the agency would reconsider regulating CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants, in opposition to the previous administration’s position laid out by former Administrator Stephen Johnson in December.
Jackson noted that the Bush Administration’s position is not “the final word on the appropriate interpretation of the Clean Air Act,” but she stopped short of issuing a stay of former Administrator Johnson’s memorandum. Jackson’s position brings the Obama Administration’s position closer to that expressed by the EPA Appeals Board in November, which held that the permitting process for new coal plants must consider the use of “best available controls” by that plant to limit CO2 emissions.
Environmental groups are optimistic that this is the first step towards implementing an emissions regime for coal-fired plants. Already, many coal energy projects have been put on hold over fears that impending regulations could make these projects unfeasible since carbon sequestration techniques are extremely expensive and unproven.
Obama: America will not be held hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes and a warming planet
President Obama delivered his expected remarks on energy and climate change today at the White House. As expected, he announced that his administration will grant California a waiver to more strictly regulate vehicle emissions, will have federal agencies increase energy efficiency in federal buildings, and will increase federal fuel efficiency rules. But most importantly, Obama articulated the reasons why we must address these issues and why his strategy will work.
Reviewing the transcript of the speech, here are some of the highlights: READ MORE
Obama: Will Grant California a Waiver to Increase Emissions Regulations
President Obama will announced on Monday that he will be directing the EPA to grant California its long sought after waiver to more strictly regulate vehicle emissions than current federal standards.
Former President Bush had previously sided with automakers and refused to grant this waiver, leading to a conflict between the state and federal government. Once the EPA grants California this waiver under the Clean Air Act, the state will implement a more stringent emissions regime. Thirteen other states have also adopted the California rules, and will similarly be permitted to follow suit under the waiver.
It was also reported that Obama will announce that he is directing federal agencies to substantially increase the energy efficiency of their buildings. These measures are aimed at saving as much as $2 billion a year in energy costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Finally, Obama will also direct the Department of Transportation to begin drafting increased fuel efficiency regulations in order to comply with a law passed in December 2007. Bush had delayed implementing these regulations until the expiration of his term.
Obama Administration Likely to Grant California Emissions Waiver for Cars
One of the most immediate environmental impacts the incoming Obama administration is expected to make is to grant California a waiver to impose their own greenhouse gas emission standards on vehicles.
The EPA under Bush has refused to grant this waiver, which has sparked a round of litigation between the state and federal government. Without the waiver, carmakers have only been required to meet the relatively lax federal CAFE standards. However, once the waiver is granted and California, along with more than a dozen other states expected to adopt the California standards, carmakers will be held to materially higher efficiency requirements. This could result in an average of 3 miles more per gallon by 2015, and 7 more by 2020.
The LA Times notes that Lisa Jackson, Obama’s nominee to head the EPA has stated, “If I am confirmed, I will immediately revisit the waiver.”
And GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, who is stuck between the need to keep ornery politicians happy and getting the most federal money possible, noted, “we can meet the law, but it’s going to take a lot of money.”
EPA Nominee Jackson Advocates Science Over Politics at Confirmation Hearing
In a rebuke to the outgoing administration’s tendency to sometimes push a political agenda at the detriment of science, Lisa Jackson, the nominee to head the EPA, stated in her prepared remarks today:
“Science must be the backbone of what EPA does… If I am confirmed, I will administer with science as my guide. I understand the laws leave room for policy-makers to make policy judgments. But if I am confirmed, political appointees will not compromise the integrity of EPA’s technical experts to advance particular regulatory outcomes.”
The Bush administration has been criticized for pushing its political agenda too strongly in many of its agencies, including the EPA and NASA.
EPA Will Consider Limiting Rocket Fuel in Drinking Water
Last year the EPA proposed not setting a national standard for perchlorate in drinking water. However, dangerous levels of perchlorate, which is a toxic component of rocket fuel, have been found in at least 395 locations in 35 states.
Nonetheless, the EPA previously held:
“that in over 99% of public drinking water systems, perchlorate was not at levels of public health concern. Therefore, based on the Safe Water Drinking Act criteria, the Agency determined there is not a ‘meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction’ through a national drinking water regulation.” READ MORE
Farm Lobby’s Straw-Man Threat May Become Real
Despite the multitude of news articles and opinion pieces in recent months published in opposition to a livestock emissions fee from the EPA, that agency has never proposed such a fee and (at least under this administration) says that it lacks the authority to even do so.
From Factcheck.org:
“This one is a case study in how lobbyists sometimes justify their own salaries by loudly fighting against hypothetical but non-existent threats from Washington.
“The source of this hokum is a misleading news release put out by the American Farm Bureau Federation on Nov. 20. The highly inaccurate headline read: “AFBF Opposes EPA-Proposed Tax on Livestock.” In truth, however, the Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t proposed any tax on livestock. In fact, the Farm Bureau’s own documentation admitted as much. READ MORE
Ford’s Hybrid Fusion a Bright Light Coming Out of Detroit
Lately, the most progressive product to come out of Detroit is the marketing campaign for the planned electric Chevy Volt that may or may not eventually be built, and may or may not eventually work.
Fortunately, it appears that Ford may actually deliver a modern, efficient (and real) car next year. The new Ford Fusion hybrid, is slated to go on sale in the spring of 2009. The car has been certified by the EPA to get 41 mpg/city and 36 mpg/highway, with a combined rating of 39 mpg.
This will make the Fusion hybrid the third most efficient widely owned car on the road, after the Toyota Prius (46 mpg combined) and Honda Civic hybrid (42 mpg combined). READ MORE
EPA Administrator Makes Last Ditch Attempt to Tie Obama’s Hands re CO2 Regulation
In a naked political maneuver, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson has issued a memorandum saying that CO2 is not a pollutant that should be considered when approving new power plants.
This memorandum comes in response to a decision by an EPA panel that requires the consideration of CO2 mitigation processes in the permitting process for new coal fired plants.
GreenBiz reports on this issue:
U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson has issued a memorandum saying that carbon dioxide is not a pollutant that is subject to regulation when approving new power plants. READ MORE
EPA’s Most Wanted Environmental Fugitives List
The EPA has posted a most wanted environmental fugitives list. The following description from the EPA explains who makes the list and what to do if you find one of these guys:
Defendants charged with environmental crimes or violations of the U.S. Federal Criminal Code sometimes flee the court’s jurisdiction and/or the USA rather than face prosecution or to serve a sentence. When these circumstances occur, the defendants become fugitives from justice.
The following wanted posters identify fugitives sought by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division. Each one provides a brief case summary and instructions on how to report information related to their identity and/or current location. You may also report the information to your local police or if you are outside the United States, to the nearest U.S. Embassy.
Do not attempt to apprehend any of these individuals.
Classic.
Hat tip: Baltimore Renewable Energy Examiner
Key energy and environmental positions in Obama’s cabinet impress environmentalists
The key energy and environmental positions in President-elect Obama’s cabinet have been identified and are bringing praise from environmentalists.
For Energy secretary, Obama chose physicist Steven Chu. Chu won a Nobel Prize for the “development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light,” and is the director of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Under Chu’s leadership, the lab has focused on alternative energy research and efforts to boost energy efficiency in buildings.
For head of the EPA, Obama picked former New Jersey environmental protection commissioner Lisa Jackson. Jackson previously worked for the EPA for 16 years before she joined the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which she has run since 2006. She also supported efforts to create a cap-and-trade system among Northeastern states. READ MORE
