Climate Policy Update - May 3, 2021
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Climate Policy Update
May 3, 2021
Good afternoon! This is Akin Gump’s weekly policy newsletter on all things climate change. Below are the
major federal climate policy headlines of the past week:
• White House Announces $8.25 Billion in Loans to Modernize the Electric Grid
On Tuesday, April 27, the White House announced new efforts to expand and modernize the electric grid through a
coordinated program between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The initiative
includes up to $5 billion in loan guarantees for transmission projects and up to $3.25 billion in loan guarantees in the
Western Area Power Administration’s transmission infrastructure fund.
_
• Senate Votes to Repeal Trump Administration Methane Rule, 52-42 (POLITICO)
On Wednesday, April 28, the Senate voted 52-42 to pass S.J.Res. 14 which uses authority under the Congressional Review
Act to repeal a Trump Administration rule that weakened federal methane emissions restrictions. Senate Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the vote “one of the most important votes” on climate change cast in that last decade.
Joining Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) in support of the measure were Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH),
and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).
EPA Administrator Regan Testifies on FY 2022 EPA Budget Request
• 1) On Wednesday and Thursday, April 28 and April 29, EPA Administrator Michael Regan appeared before the
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee to testify on
the President’s Budget Request for the Environmental Protection Agency. Administrator Regan confirmed the
administration’s request for $1.8 billion in programs to tackle the climate crisis, including $30 million to “improve
knowledge of the impacts of climate change on human health and the environment” through research programs.
Check out below for newly introduced climate legislation and regulations, more federal climate policy headlines,
and a look at the week ahead in congressional hearings and think tank events…
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Quotes of the Week“Today the Senate is going to take the first, just the first, of many important steps to achieve the ambitious goal that
President Biden has set and that is to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.”
– Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Senate Democrats on Reversing Methane Regulations Rule
(C-SPAN – April 28, 2021)
“EPA’s attitude as it relates to oil and gas is focused on deploying regulations that accentuate the technologies available
to reduce methane. It’s not to target individual projects.”
– EPA Administrator Michael Regan responding to Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2022 Proposed Budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works – April 28, 2021)
“For too long we have failed to use the most important word when it comes to meeting the climate crisis. Jobs. For me,
when I think about climate change, I think jobs.”
– President Joe Biden
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by President Biden – Address to a Joint Session of Congress
(The White House – April 28, 2021)
“It’s an honor to return to the agency and to work alongside Administrator Regan, the incredibly talented career team,
and our many external partners, including the state and tribes, to protect our water, air, and improve the health of
American families, especially those living in environmental justice communities.”
– New Deputy EPA Administrator Janet McCabe
Janet McCabe Sworn in as 16th EPA Deputy Administrator
(EPA – April 29, 2021)
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Upcoming Congressional Hearings (May 3-7, 2021)
Senate House of Representatives
Climate and Energy Science Research at the Department of
Energy
House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology –
Subcommittee on Energy
Tuesday, May 4, 11:00 a.m. EST, Virtual Hearing
State Work Period
Built to Last Examining Resilience in the Face of Climate
No scheduled hearings.
Change
House Committee on Financial Services – Subcommittee on
Housing, Community Development, and Insurance
Tuesday, May 4, 12:00 p.m. EST, Virtual Hearing
Coral Reef Conservation Legislation
House Committee on Natural Resources – Subcommittee on
Water, Oceans, and WildlifeTuesday, May 4, 3:00 p.m. EST, Virtual Hearing
Pipelines Over People
House Committee on Oversight and Reform – Subcommittee
on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Wednesday, May 5, 10:00 a.m. EST, Virtual Hearing
The CLEAN Future Act: Driving Decarbonization of the
Transportation Sector
House Committee on Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee
on Energy
Wednesday, May 5, 11:30 a.m. EST, Virtual Hearing
FY 2022 Budget Request for the Department of Energy
House Committee on Appropriations – Subcommittee on
Energy and Water Development
Thursday, May 6, 1:00 p.m. EST, Virtual Hearing
________________________________________________________________________________________
LEGISLATION (April 26-30, 2021)
S. 1432 - A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish an
electric grid resilience grant program and an electric grid resilience
research and development program.
H.R. 2835 - A bill provide for the establishment of clean technology
Introduced April 28, 2021 by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
consortia to enhance the economic, environmental, and energy
security of the United States by promoting domestic development,
manufacture, and deployment of clean technologies.
H.R. 2885 - A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish an
Introduced April 26, 2021 by Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8) electric grid resilience grant program and an electric grid resilience
research and development program.
Introduced April 28, 2021 by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-
H.R. 2850 - A bill to provide for nuclear weapons abolition and 30)
economic conversion in accordance with District of Columbia Initiative
Measure Number 37 of 1992, while ensuring environmental H.R. 2887 - A bill to provide for certain Department of State actions
restoration and clean-energy conversion. relating to global climate change.
Introduced April 26, 2021 by Rep. Eleanor Norton Holmes (D-DC) Introduced April 28, 2021 by Rep. William Keating (D-MA-9)
H.R. 2852 – A bill to promote the domestic manufacture and use of
advanced, fuel efficient vehicles and zero emission vehicles,
H.R. 2888 - A bill to help prevent emerging events exacerbated by
encourage electrification of the transportation sector, create jobs, and climate change, which threaten national and international security, by
improve air quality. enhancing United States government capacities to prevent, mitigate,
Introduced April 26, 2021 by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL-1) and respond to such events.
Introduced April 28, 2021 by Rep. William Keating (D-MA-9)
H.R. 2854 - A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to require the
Electric Reliability Organization to propose a reliability standard that H.R. 2889 - A bill to amend the Natural Gas Act with respect to
address the resilience of the bulk-power system. actions for eminent domain by holders of certificates of public
Introduced April 26, 2021 by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-5) convenience and necessity.
Introduced April 28, 2021 by Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ-7)
S. 1400 - A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to provide energy
cybersecurity investment incentives, to establish a grant and technical S. 1485 - A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
assistance program for cybersecurity investments. include fuel cells using electromechanical processes for purpose of the
Introduced April 28, 2021 by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) energy tax credit.
Introduced April 28, 2021 by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)S. 1405 – A bill to authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect S. 1506 - A bill to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
to significant actions that exacerbate climate change, to reinforce Communications and Information to carry out a grant and revolving
comprehensive efforts to limit global average temperature rise. loan program to provide funding for projects to increase the resiliency
Introduced April 28, 2021 by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and energy efficiency of communications networks.
Introduced April 29, 2021 by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)
H.R. 2872 - A bill to establish an integrated national approach to
respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and H.R. 2931 - A bill to provide for certain programs and developments
climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the fish, in the Department of Energy concerning the cybersecurity and
wildlife, and plants of the United States, and to maximize government vulnerabilities to the electric grid.
efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation with state, local, and tribal Introduced April 30, 2021 by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA-9)
governments.
Introduced April 28, 2021 by Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8)
H.R. 2948 - A bill to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a
rebate program to promote the purchase and installation of electric
S. 1415 - A bill to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to vehicle supply equipment.
reinstate the ban on the export of crude oil and natural gas produced Introduced April 30, 2021 by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY-20)
in the United States.
Introduced April 28, 2021 by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) H.R. 2950 - A bill to provide for a fundamental research program for
the application of advanced computing practices to materials sciences
S. 1420 - A bill to establish an integrated national approach to challenges at the Department of Energy.
respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and Introduced April 30, 2021 by Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX-14)
climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the fish,
wildlife, and plants of the United States, and to maximize government
efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation with state, local, and tribal
governments..
Introduced April 28, 2021 by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Federal Climate Rules and Regulations (April 26-30, 2021)
Environmental Protection Agency Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
FINAL RULE: Revised Cross-state Air Pollution Rule Updated for NOTICE of INTENT TO PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
the 2008 Ozone NAAQS STATEMENT: Revolution Wind LLC’s Proposed Wind Energy
Published on: 04/30/2021 Facility Offshore Rhode Island
FR Document: 2021-05705 PDF Published on: 04/30/2021
FR Document: 2021-09048 PDF
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Federal Agency Climate News
The White House
FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Advances Expansion & Modernization of the Electric Grid (April 27)
President Biden Announces 16 Key Administration Nominations (April 28)
Remarks by Vice President Harris in a Roundtable Discussion on Public Transit (April 30)
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
DOE Announces Up to $8.25 Billion in Loans to Enhance Electrical Transmission Nationwide (April 27)Statement by Secretary Granholm on President Biden’s Latest Department of Energy Nominees (April 28)
DOE Awards $19 Million for Initiatives to Produce Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals (April 29)
DOE Announces $12 Million to Advanced Geothermal Energy Technologies (April 30)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA Administrator Regan Establishes New Council on PFAS (April 27)
EPA to Accept Applications for Grants to Enhance Recycling Markets Until June 1 (April 27)
EPA Announces $6.5 Billion in New Funding for Water Infrastructure Projects (April 27)
Janet McCabe Sworn in as 16th EPA Deputy Administrator (April 29)
Administrator Regan Statement on the First 100 Days of the Biden-Harris Administration (April 29)
EPA Announces Plan to Update Toxics Release Inventory to Advance Environmental Justice (April 29)
U.S. Department of the Interior
Interior Department Announces Newest Members of Agency Team (April 30)
U.S. Department of State
Program to Create Pathways to Safe and Secure Nuclear Energy Included in Biden-Harris Administration’s Bold Plans to
Address the Climate Crisis (April 27)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Congressional Press Releases on Climate
Markey, Heinrich, Schumer, King Champion Senate Passage of Resolution to Reinstate EPA Methane Emissions Standards
(April 28)
Whitehouse-Cartwright Bill Would Establish National Strategy to Protect Natural Resources from Climate Change (April
28)
Merkley, Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Request Review of Federal Wildland Firefighter Workforce (April 29)
Carper Leads Senate Passage of Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill (April 29)
Senators Markey and Wyden Introduce Green Communications Act to Promote Network Resiliency and Energy
Efficiency (April 30)
Pallone, Murphy Call for Investment in Coastal Resiliency Projects to Combat Climate Change and Create Jobs (April 30)
Bipartisan Lawmakers Highlight One Trillion Trees Initiative on Arbor Day (April 30)
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Upcoming D.C. Climate Events (Registration)
Fiscal Policies to Address Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific Setting an Agenda for Solar Geoengineering Research
Center for Global Development and GovernanceTuesday, May 4, 9:00 a.m. EST Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars
The Union of Concerned Scientists
Energy Efficiency Global Forum 2021 Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment
Alliance to Save Energy Thursday, May 6, 9:30 a.m. EST
Tuesday, May 4, 9:00 a.m. EST
Annual Membership Meeting and Public Policy Forum
A New Era for Climate Change and Food Security? U.S. Energy Association
Center for Strategic and International Studies Thursday, May 6, 10:00 a.m. EST
Tuesday, May 4, 10:00 a.m. EST
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Virtual
The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions Public Meeting
International Energy Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Wednesday, May 5, 5:00 a.m. EST Thursday, May 6, 12:30 p.m. EST
Indian Energy Minerals Forum Natural Climate Solutions: A Win-Win Solution for Our
U.S. Energy Association Environment and Our Economy
U.S. Department of Energy Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)
Wednesday, May 5, 12:00 p.m. EST U.S. Nature4Climate
Friday, May 7, 1:00 p.m. EST
The Oil and Gas Investment Landscape
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Wednesday, May 5, 1:00 p.m. EST
______akingump.comYou can also read
