WASHINGTON UPDATE - National Association of Clean Air ...

WASHINGTON UPDATE
July 24-30, 2021                                                 www.4cleanair.org

In this week’s Washington Update:
     1. House Adopts Bill Containing FY 2022 Appropriations for EPA
     2. EPA Proposes Consent Decree to Settle Suit Alleging Agency Failed to Take
         Final Action on 2015 Ozone “Good-Neighbor” SIP Submissions
     3. EPA Releases Interactive Web-Based Tool to Provide Information on
         Disproportionate Impact of Power Plant Emissions on Overburdened
         Communities
     4. Markey Introduces Bill to Fund “Hyperlocal” Air Quality Monitoring and
         Mapping to Address Environmental Justice Hotspots
     5. Senate Advances Bipartisan $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan
     6. Senate Confirms Todd Kim as DOJ Environment Chief
     7. Ten States Ask Court to Block Biden Administration’s Interim Social Cost of
         Carbon
     8. Over 100 Members of Congress Urge EPA Administrator to Reinstate
         California’s Advanced Clean Cars Waiver
     9. Senators Seek Meeting with President Biden to Discuss Role of RFS in
         Energy and Climate Agenda
     10. Senators Feinstein and Padilla Urge President Biden to Take Swift Action to
         Strengthen NOx Standards for Highway Heavy-Duty Trucks
     11. Oregon Adopts Nation’s Earliest Utility Decarbonization Requirements
     12. Minnesota Celebrates Becoming Clean Cars State
     13. DOE Awards Grants to 24 Projects to Accelerate Advancements in ZEVs
     14. EPA Seeks Comment by August 19 on Candidates for CASAC PM Review
         Panel
     15. FERC to House: Clean Energy Needs More Transmission
     16. Australian Wildfires Forced Cooling and Were the Main Variable in Climate
         Forcing in 2020

This Week in Review
  (1) House Adopts Bill Containing FY 2022 Appropriations for EPA (July 29,
  2021) – By a vote of 219-208, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted H.R.
  4502, which contains FY 2022 appropriations for a host of federal agencies,
  including EPA. It calls for $320 million in grants to state and local air agencies
  under Sections 103 and 105 ($90.5 million above FY 2021 levels); $11.34 billion
  for EPA’s total budget (approximately $2 billion above FY 2021 levels); $150
  million for grants under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) ($60 million
  above FY 2021 levels); $71 million for Targeted Airshed Grants ($12 million above
  FY 2021 levels); zero for Multipurpose grants (which were $10 million in FY 2021);
  $100 million for six new Environmental Justice grant programs; and retention of
  PM 2.5 monitoring grants under Section 103 authority (the Administration’s request
  called for shifting it to Section 105 authority). Consideration of the bill on the
  House floor included votes on numerous amendments introduced by both

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Democrats and Republicans. Among those that were adopted included an
increase of $1 million for the Civilian Climate Corps, a transfer of $1 million from
the Department of Interior to EPA’s Targeted Airshed Grants and an amendment
intended to highlight advances in sensor technology for mobile air quality
monitoring and to encourage EPA to focus on continuing to integrate this
technology. Among the amendments that were voted down were measures that
attempted to eliminate funding for EPA’s Criminal Enforcement Division, the
Administration’s executive order to address climate change, DERA, the oil and
natural gas rule, the Civilian Climate Corps and new environmental justice
programs. Other rejected amendments would have reduced overall funding by 20
percent and environmental justice training and implementation grants by $100
million. The Senate has not yet acted on FY 2022 appropriations legislation so it
is highly likely Congress will need to adopt a continuing resolution to keep the
federal government in operation after the new fiscal year begins on October 1,
2022. For further information: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-
congress/house-bill/4502,
https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/Rule_HR4502.pdf
and https://appropriations.house.gov/hr-4502-amendment-tracker

(2) EPA Proposes Consent Decree to Settle Suit Alleging Agency Failed to
Take Final Action on 2015 Ozone “Good-Neighbor” SIP Submissions (July
29, 2021) – EPA published in the Federal Register (86 Fed. Reg. 40,825) a notice
announcing a proposed consent decree reached with plaintiffs in a case alleging
that EPA failed to perform its nondiscretionary duty under the Clean Air Act (CAA)
to take final action on certain infrastructure State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for
the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone. The plans, also
referred to as “Good Neighbor SIPs,” are required under Section 110 of the CAA
and must “contain adequate provisions prohibiting . . . any source or other type of
emissions activity within the State from emitting any air pollutant in amounts which
will contribute significantly to nonattainment in, or interfere with maintenance by,
any other State with respect to any such [NAAQS].” The SIPs in question were
submitted by Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and West Virginia but
EPA never approved or disapproved them, in whole or in part. Downwind states
New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and New Jersey, as well as the
City of New York, sued EPA on January 12, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York. The proposed consent decree includes specific
deadlines by which EPA would need to act on these six SIP submissions.
Comments on the proposed consent decree are due to EPA by August 30, 2021.
For further information: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-07-
29/pdf/2021-16155.pdf and https://www.4cleanair.org/wp-
content/uploads/Proposed_Consent_Decree-NY_v_EPA-Ozone_GN_SIPs-
072921.pdf

(3) EPA Releases Interactive Web-Based Tool to Provide Information on
Disproportionate Impact of Power Plant Emissions on Overburdened
Communities (July 29, 2021) – EPA released an interactive web-based resource
intended to “empower” the public and policymakers by giving them information and

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tools to better understand the disproportionate impacts of air pollution from power
plants on overburdened communities. This mapping tool, made available through
EPA’s Power Plants and Neighboring Communities initiative, improves access to
power plant emissions data and highlights the demographics that might be
affected and how. Six key population groups of communities within three miles of
a power plant are tracked and compared to the rest of the nation: low-income,
people of color, those with less than high school education, those who are
linguistically isolated, children under five years of age and adults over the age of
65. In addition to providing explanatory text, supplemental graphs and maps and
data sets, the resource advises state and local policymakers on how to use the
information to protect their most vulnerable populations. Data from more than
3,400 fossil fuel-fired power plants are included in the resource. EPA
Administrator Michael S. Regan said of this new tool, “We know air pollution
affects some people worse than others. Achieving environmental justice starts
with improving our understanding of the impacts of air pollution, especially in
overburdened and historically underserved communities. This web resource
equips users with actionable, science-based data on air quality in communities
near power plants, many of whom are suffering the worst from pollution.” For
further information: https://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/power-plants-and-neighboring-
communities

(4) Markey Introduces Bill to Fund “Hyperlocal” Air Quality Monitoring and
Mapping to Address Environmental Justice Hotspots (July 27, 2021) –
Senator Edward Markey (D-MA), Chair of the Environment and Public Works
Committee, introduced legislation that would direct $100 million a year to enable
state, local and tribal air agencies to partner with nonprofit organizations to
conduct hyperlocal air quality monitoring, in order to identify and address
persistent elevated levels of air pollutants in environmental justice communities.
The “Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act of 2021” is co-sponsored by
Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL),
Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Tammy
Duckworth (D-IL). The bill would establish a five-year pilot program to award
competitive grants to air agencies and their partner organizations. Projects eligible
for funding would carry out air quality monitoring that yields frequently repeated,
ongoing measurements of air pollutants at a block-level resolution and identify
areas of persistent elevated air pollution levels above relevant background levels.
The projects would also generate “equity maps” using data related to factors such
as race, ethnicity and income level, and mapping tools that would make this
information available to communities and air agencies. “The continuing respiratory
pandemic has shed light on the deep-rooted injustices of air pollution in
communities across our country. Black, Brown, and low-income families have for
too long been overburdened by the dirtiest air without enough federal support to
address it,” Senator Markey said in a statement. “But we can’t manage what we
don’t measure, and one size does not fit all from block to block. With more air
quality monitors to capture hyperlocal data and inform pathways to reduce
pollution in these hotspots, we can help ensure that healthy air is no longer

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determined by ZIP code.” For further information:
https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/air_quality_bill_pr.pdf

(5) Senate Advances Bipartisan $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan (July 27, 2021)
– The U.S. Senate has voted to begin debate on a bipartisan infrastructure
agreement, a critical step toward its possible eventual passage. Although the $1
trillion proposal is smaller than the $2.3 trillion plan originally proposed by the
White House, the deal would provide $550 billion in new federal money for public
transit, roads, bridges, water and other physical projects over the next five years.
Senators voted 67-32 to proceed with the bill, with contains the text of several
bipartisan bills including the Environment and Public Works Committee’s highway
bill, (S. 1953); the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee’s rail bill, (S.
2016); the Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s energy bill (S. 2377);
among others. A White House release about the bipartisan deal touted a number
of investments aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. “The deal’s
$73 billion investment is the single largest investment in clean energy transmission
in American history. It upgrades our power infrastructure, including by building
thousands of miles of new, resilient transmission lines to facilitate the expansion of
renewable energy” the factsheet says, and “invests in demonstration projects and
research hubs for next generation technologies like advanced nuclear reactors,
carbon capture, and clean hydrogen.” While the largest single expenditure is $110
billion in new funding for roads, bridges and other major projects, the White House
noted that this would be spent with a “focus on climate change mitigation”. It also
proposes $39 billion for transit but cuts support for electric school buses to $2.5
billion from the $7.5 billion originally included in the framework, and includes only
$7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations, far lower than the President’s
proposed $174 billion for electric vehicles and supportive infrastructure. The
legislative package must still be approved by the full U.S. Senate and undergo
reconciliation with a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democrats have signaled their intent to pass both the bipartisan deal and a
separate $3.5 trillion budget resolution to launch the reconciliation process for
other Democratic priorities before the August Senate recess. For further
information: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-
releases/2021/07/28/fact-sheet-historic-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/ and
https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s1953/BILLS-117s1953is.pdf and
https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/ACEB4B07-B232-4176-BDE8-
8CC5C9531639 and https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s2377/BILLS-
117s2377rs.pdf

(6) Senate Confirms Todd Kim as DOJ Environment Chief (July 27, 2021) –
By a 58-41 vote, Todd Kim was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant
Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Environment
and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). ENRD is the DOJ litigating component
charged with enforcing the nation’s environmental laws and defending the Biden
administration’s environmental regulations in court. Kim had been serving since
January as deputy general counsel for the Department of Energy. He previously
spent seven years as an ENRD appellate lawyer during the Clinton and George

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W. Bush administrations. He then served for eleven years as the first solicitor
general for the District of Columbia, followed by three years in private practice at
Reed Smith LLP. In 2014, Kim was nominated by President Obama to be a judge
on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, but the Senate
never acted on that nomination. Following Kim’s confirmation as Assistant
Attorney General for ENRD, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, released the following statement: “With Mr. Kim leading
ENRD, the American people can trust that our nation’s public lands and natural
resources will be protected by a proven expert in environmental law – and an
accomplished lawyer who knows the Division inside and out. I look forward to
working with Mr. Kim on these efforts.” For further information:
https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/250

(7) Ten States Ask Court to Block Biden Administration’s Interim Social Cost
of Carbon (July 27, 2021) – A coalition of ten states led by Louisiana filed a
motion asking the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana to issue
a preliminary injunction (PI) prohibiting the federal government from implementing
the interim social cost of greenhouse gases (SC-GHG) (also referred to as the
“social cost of carbon”) developed pursuant to President Biden’s January 20, 2021
Executive Order (EO) 13990. The SC-GHG is an analytical tool used in regulatory
decision-making to estimate the monetized damages associated with incremental
increases in greenhouse gas emissions. EO 13990 established an interagency
working group tasked with developing an interim SC-GHG within 30 days. In
March, the group endorsed raising the SC-GHG to $51 per ton (under the Trump
Administration, it had fallen to $1 per ton). In their PI motion and accompanying
memorandum of law, the plaintiff states asset that the interim SC-GHG metric
“may be the most significant regulatory encroachment upon individual liberty and
State sovereignty in American history.” They claim that the President and the
working group lacked authority to promulgate and enforce the SC-GHG estimates,
that it contravenes several statutes (including the Clean Air Act), and that its
promulgation violated federal rulemaking requirements. The state plaintiffs in this
lawsuit (Louisiana v. Biden, W.D. La. No. 2:21-CV-1074-KDC-KK), which was filed
in April, are Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South
Dakota, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming. A similar lawsuit was filed by a
coalition of twelve states in the U.S. District Court for the District of Missouri in
March. For further information: https://www.4cleanair.org/wp-
content/uploads/Louisiana-v.-Biden-W.D.La_.-PI-Motion-7-27-21.pdf (Motion for a
Preliminary Injunction) and https://www.4cleanair.org/wp-
content/uploads/Louisiana-v.-Biden-W.D.La-PI-Memo_7_27_21.pdf (Memorandum
of Law in Support of Motion)

(8) Over 100 Members of Congress Urge EPA Administrator to Reinstate
California’s Advanced Clean Cars Waiver (July 27, 2021) – In a letter to EPA
Administrator Michael S. Regan 113 members of the U.S. House of
Representatives urge prompt reinstatement of the Clean Air Act (CAA) waiver
previously granted for California’s Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) program. In 2013,
EPA granted California’s request for a waiver of federal preemption for the state’s

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ACC program under CAA Section 209, allowing California to enforce its program.
Under CAA Section 177, other states were then authorized to adopt and enforce
this program as well, which many have done. In September 2019, under the
Trump Administration, EPA withdrew the waiver for two components of the ACC
program – the greenhouse gas emission standards and the Zero-Emission Vehicle
standards. As the legislators write in their letter, “The withdrawal of the waiver by
the Trump Administration was unprecedented, and because it was based on
erroneous interpretations of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended
by the Energy Independence and Security Act, and the Clean Air Act, it was
unlawful. EPA has never previously withdrawn a waiver, and we believe the
agency lacks the authority to do so. However, even if EPA did have such
authority, there was not a proper basis for doing so in this case.” On April 28,
2021, pursuant to an Executive Order issued by President Joe Biden upon taking
office in January 2021, EPA published a notice in the Federal Register (86 Fed.
Reg. 22,421) seeking comment to inform its reconsideration of the waiver
withdrawal. The comment period for responses to the solicitation closed on July 6.
As further action is awaited, the congressmen write, “The waiver provides
important benefits to the entire nation. By enabling states to adopt standards to
protect residents’ public health and welfare, the waiver has spurred significantly
greater innovation and development of cleaner vehicle technologies. Similarly,
California and other states’ adoption of its zero-emission vehicle program has
been critical to fostering the development and introduction of electric vehicles,
which are now available everywhere and reduce both pollution and fuel expenses
for all Americans. These regulatory programs lead to life-saving air quality
improvements, which is especially critical for people of color and low-income
communities, who experience disproportionate harm from motor vehicle pollution.
The mounting threats to health and welfare posed by climate change makes [sic]
the authority of the states to lead more important than ever. It is vital that the
waiver be reinstated to allow pioneering states to continue the process of
innovation in clean vehicles.” For further information:
https://matsui.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2021.07.27._epa_letter_re_reinstating_cle
an_cars_waiver_ecc.pdf

(9) Senators Seek Meeting with President Biden to Discuss Role of RFS in
Energy and Climate Agenda (July 28, 2021) – Nine Senators sent a letter to
President Joe Biden asking to meet with him to discuss the renewable Fuel
Standard (RFS) and how biofuels can play a key role in the nation’s energy and
climate agenda: “…we seek an audience to discuss the tremendous opportunity
that biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel present to bolster affordable American
energy, underpin a strong agricultural economy, and immediately lower
transportation emissions using the existing consumer vehicle fleet and fueling
infrastructure. Unfortunately, the promise of homegrown biofuels and our
agriculture sector appear [sic] to be woefully underrepresented in your
administration’s energy, environmental, and transportation agenda.” In particular,
the Senators write that they would like to discuss “immediate and intermediate”
steps that can be taken, including the “foundational” actions of directing EPA to
adopt modern greenhouse gas modeling for renewable fuels and approving “long-

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stalled” registrations for advanced, cleaner fuels. The Senators also identify
several other actions they believe the Administration should take, including
formally recognizing the reduced carbon emissions of American biofuels and
enabling greater use of advanced biofuels in the U.S. market to promote expanded
export opportunities, writing “[h]omegrown, American biofuels are a prime
candidate for reducing our trade deficits…” They also recommend that the
Administration maximize near-term emission reductions by supporting biofuel
blending infrastructure, and rigorously implement and enforce the RFS.” The nine
Senators who signed the letter are John Thune (R-SD), Chuck Grassley (R-IA),
Roy Blunt (R-MO), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mike Rounds (R-SD),
Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ben Sasse (R-NE) and Roger Marshall (R-KS). For further
information: https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/5/f/5f1e2d05-0a3f-
47c7-bd69-
eafef38a32b6/2C6218B823D227DFBACA197E2B57C605.9a5ade19a58da653b06
1a79c56efe977.thune-rfs-letter-to-potus-with-signatures-final.pdf

(10) Senators Feinstein and Padilla Urge President Biden to Take Swift
Action to Strengthen NOx Standards for Highway Heavy-Duty Trucks (July
27, 2021) – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) sent a
letter to President Joe Biden urging that his Administration “swiftly revise the
nitrogen oxide (NOx) exhaust emission standards for heavy-duty trucks, which
have not been revised in 20 years.” The California Senators use areas within their
state to illustrate the compelling need for signification reductions in NOx emissions
from heavy-duty trucks, writing that these emissions, “threaten many regions’
ability to meet upcoming Clean Air Act requirements for [health-based] ozone
standards,” but also acknowledge the critical nationwide need, writing “[a]lthough
these regions have already achieved significant emissions reductions through their
decades-long implementation of the most stringent stationary and mobile
regulatory control programs in the nation, the EPA acknowledges that numerous
states will need to obtain significant NOx emission reductions in order to meet both
the 2008 and 2015 ozone standards.” For further information:
https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/9/f/9f3dca1c-430e-475c-a0b4-
558f7c8b865d/80AF3C8989B2FF2C13CC6A9E453614B2.padilla-feinstein-letter-
on-nox-emissions-standards.pdf

(11) Oregon Adopts Nation’s Earliest Utility Decarbonization Requirements
(July 28, 2021) - Oregon Governor Kate Brown has signed a bill into law that sets
the nation's most ambitious targets for electric utilities to eliminate their
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The “100% Clean Energy for All Act” (HB
2021), which passed in Oregon's Senate 16-12 and in the House 35-20, requires
Oregon’s investor owned utilities, Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, to
submit plans to reduce GHG emissions by 80% from a baseline amount by 2030,
90% by 2035 and 100% by 2040. Seventeen other states and the District of
Columbia have already adopted similar goals, but Oregon's has the earliest
compliance date. It also prohibits the state from permitting new or expanded fossil
fueled power infrastructure, includes labor provisions like apprenticeship training
requirements, and establishes $50 million in community-based renewable energy

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project grants. For further information:
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Measures/Overview/HB2021

(12) Minnesota Celebrates Becoming Clean Cars State (July 26, 2021) –
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz led a celebration marking publication in the state
register of the notice finalizing the Clean Cars Minnesota plan. “Today, as
Minnesota becomes a clean cars state, we’re creating jobs across every corner of
the state, we’re giving Minnesotans more choices at their local car dealer, we’re
saving Minnesotans money, and we’re reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
protecting our environment for future generations. These clean cars standards are
a win across the board. With cleaner air, more car options, economic growth, and
less money spent on foreign oil, every Minnesotan will benefit,” said Governor
Walz. With this action, Minnesota becomes the fifteenth state to adopt clean car
standards. The plan requires automakers to meet both Low-Emission Vehicle
standards and Zero-Emission Vehicle Standards beginning with the 2025 model
year. For further information:
https://mn.gov/governor/news/#/detail/appId/1/id/491262

(13) DOE Awards Grants to 24 Projects to Accelerate Advancements in ZEVs
(July 28, 2021) – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it has
awarded $60 million in grants to support 24 projects to accelerate advancements
in Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs). The research and development (R&D) projects
receiving grants seek to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars
and light- and heavy-duty trucks. DOE’s intent is for these R&D projects to
contribute to the decarbonization of the transportation sector and enhancement of
the infrastructure necessary to support the expanding adoption of ZEVs, which is a
critical component of reaching the Administration’s goal of a net-zero emissions
economy by 2050. Each of the 24 projects focus on one of the following: 1)
accelerating innovation in electric vehicle batteries and electric drive systems, 2)
readying new mobility systems technology for commercial and consumer use, 3)
developing lightweight materials to increase passenger and commercial vehicle
efficiency, 4) reducing exhaust emissions while improving commercial vehicle
engine efficiency or 5) improving understanding of energy use and environmental
impact of new vehicle technologies. For further information:
https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-awards-60-million-accelerate-advancements-
zero-emissions-vehicles and https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2021-
07/FY21_VTO_2420_selections_table-for_release.pdf

(14) EPA Seeks Comment by August 19 on Candidates for CASAC PM
Review Panel (July 29, 2021) – EPA announced and invited public comment on
the candidates under consideration for the Particulate Matter (PM) Review Panel
to provide advice through the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee on the
science and policy assessments that will support the agency’s reconsideration of
the December 2020 decision to retain the PM National Ambient Air Quality
Standards. In the invitation, EPA includes bios of each of the 75 nominated
candidates and requests comments, preferably by email, by not later than August
19, 2021. For further information:

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https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/LookupWebProjectsCurrentCASAC/4
AA18140C350E1E8852586F5005940AE/$File/2021%20CASAC%20PM%20Panel
%20LOC-web.pdf

(15) FERC to House: Clean Energy Needs More Transmission (July 27, 2021)
– Members of the U.S. House of Representatives conducted an oversight hearing
for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), where they heard from
Commissioners that hundreds of gigawatts (GW) of planned renewable energy
generation depend on expansion of the nation’s high-voltage transmission system.
Speaking at a hearing conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy
and Commerce Committee, FERC Commissioner Allison Clements said that
roughly 93% of 750 GW of power projects now waiting for transmission
interconnections are for renewable energy. FERC Chairman Richard Glick
highlighted FERC’s current Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking
public comment on reforms to improve transmission planning and interconnection
processes as the U.S. transitions to cleaner energy sources. Committee Chairman
Frank Pallone (D-NJ) pressed the witnesses on progress to organize offshore wind
energy projects; Rep. Cathy Rodgers (R-WA) also reminded FERC to manage
reliability related to intermittent power sources that could "take America back to
the Dark Ages.” Rep. Gary Palmer, (R-AL.) raised energy affordability concerns,
asking “Does it make sense to deprive people of energy justice to promote clean
energy?” FERC Commissioner Neil Chatterjee said carbon pricing is the superior
approach to the clean energy transition. “My regulatory philosophy is that the
Commission should never be a barrier to progress,” he said. Asked by Rep. David
McKinley (R-WV), how FERC will consider cumulative impacts of GHG emissions
under its federal NEPA reviews of fossil gas pipelines and infrastructure, FERC
Chairman Glick said the agency currently cannot take those emissions into
consideration but will continue to consider GHG emissions directly from the
infrastructure being permitted. He also noted that FERC would increase its focus
on impact to vulnerable communities, saying that “it is essential that environmental
justice and equity get the attention in our decision-making processes that they
deserve.” For further information: https://energycommerce.house.gov/committee-
activity/hearings/hearing-on-the-changing-energy-landscape-oversight-of-ferc

(16) Australian Wildfires Forced Cooling and Were the Main Variable in
Climate Forcing in 2020 (July 26, 2021) - the authors of research published in
the journal Geophysical Research Letters have concluded that the overall effect of
the COVID-19 pandemic was a slight increase in global average temperatures in
2020, but that this effect was dwarfed by aerosol-induced cooling caused by
wildfires in Australia that year. “The main climate forcing of 2020 wasn’t COVID-19
at all,” according to an accompanying press release quoting the authors of the new
study, “It was the explosion of wildfires in Australia.” The study found that the
lockdowns associated with COVID-19 resulted in fewer clouds and a lower
planetary albedo reflecting sunlight before it could be absorbed at the Earth’s
surface, resulting in a slight warming influence on global climate, but that this was
offset by a much larger wildfire effect. “In contrast, the simulated response to
Australian wildfires is a strong and rapid cooling” in the Southern Hemisphere, the

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    study concluded. Wildfire emissions of sulfates and other particles resulted in
    clouds reflecting more sunlight to space before absorption at the surface. This
    result will be short-lived however, given that GHG emissions from the fires will lead
    to increased global heat trapping by the atmosphere, and a warming effect in the
    medium- and long-terms. For further information:
    https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021GL093841

The Week Ahead
•     Atlantic Council Webinar on "Opportunities for Bipartisan Climate Cooperation and the
      Role of the Private Sector in the Energy Transition" – August 3, 2021

•     House of Representatives in Recess – August 3 – September 7, 2021

•     Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing on the Nominations of
      Amanda Howe to be Assistant Administrator for Mission Support of the Environmental
      Protection Agency, David Uhlmann to be Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and
      Compliance Assurance of the Environmental Protection Agency, and Carlton
      Waterhouse to be Assistant Administrator of Land and Emergency Management of the
      Environmental Protection Agency – August 4, 2021

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