Energy + Environment
U.S. Senate panel calls on governors, mayor to talk big new infrastructure package
WASHINGTON — Senators who could decide the fate of President Joe Biden’s push for a major new infrastructure package seemed open to his priorities at a hearing Wednesday, particularly Biden’s emphasis on replacing vehicles that run on gas and diesel with ones that use electric power. But when it came to the question of who […]
U.S. Senate confirms Vilsack for a second stint as Agriculture secretary
WASHINGTON —The Senate on Tuesday in a 92-7 vote confirmed former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to run the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a second time. Vilsack, 70, also headed the $151 billion agency under the Obama administration, for eight years. But he has garnered criticism from Black and minority farmers for his treatment of […]
Biden pick for Interior secretary likely to face rocky confirmation hearing
U.S. Senate Republicans may use next week’s Interior confirmation hearing for Rep. Debra Haaland to air their grievances about the Biden administration’s energy policies, running the risk of alienating Native Americans in Western states. GOP Sens. John Barrasso of Wyoming and Steve Daines of Montana sit on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which will […]
Feds ramp up emergency help for states hit by extreme weather
WASHINGTON — White House officials said Thursday that they have been in close touch with governors in storm-stricken states to extend emergency assistance — but they also stressed the role of climate change in the weather crisis that has gripped large swaths of the nation. “The extreme weather events that we’re experiencing this week across […]
Missouri facing more rolling power outages as extreme winter cold continues
Rolling blackouts continued Tuesday morning in southwest and western Missouri, the result of extreme winter weather conditions creating high demand for electricity. Evergy, which serves eastern Kansas and western Missouri, announced plans Monday afternoon to begin shutting off power for rotating blocks of customers for 30-60 minutes at a time. The rolling blackouts were directed […]
Biden EPA nominee fields GOP discontent on president’s climate change orders
Michael Regan would “follow the science and follow the law” if confirmed as EPA administrator, he told the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee during a three-hour confirmation hearing Wednesday. President Joe Biden nominated Regan, who is currently the Secretary of Environmental Quality in North Carolina, for EPA administrator last month. Although Regan’s confirmation […]
Biden to pause new oil and gas leases on public lands in sweeping climate order
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is set to sign a host of executive orders on climate Wednesday that will put a hold on new oil and gas leases on federal property, place environmental justice in the center of climate reform and set goals of conserving nearly a third of the nation’s land and water. On […]
Buttigieg puts greenhouse gas reduction at center of Biden transportation policy
Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg offered an unapologetic defense of President Joe Biden’s vision for improved transportation and greenhouse gas reductions during a Senate hearing to consider Buttigieg’s nomination for U.S. transportation secretary on Thursday. “We need to build our economy back, better than ever, and the Department of Transportation can play a central […]
Biden yanks Keystone XL permit in first-day order, citing climate change
In one of his first official acts after taking office, President Joe Biden revoked the federal permit for the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline that would have traversed eastern Montana on its way from the Alberta oilfields to the Gulf of Mexico. The Wednesday move at least temporarily halts the construction on the highly contentious […]
Here’s what Joe Biden plans to do on his first day as president
WASHINGTON — Joe Biden early Wednesday unveiled the list of executive orders, memos and directives he will make when he assumes the presidency later in the day, reversing a slew of Trump administration actions and laying out new policies of his own. “These actions are bold, begin the work of following through on President-elect Biden’s […]
Biden picks Michigan’s Granholm for Energy, North Carolina’s Regan for EPA and New Mexico’s Haaland for Interior
President-elect Joe Biden will nominate U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland to lead the Interior Department, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to head the Energy Department and North Carolina’s top environmental regulator, Michael Regan, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, his presidential transition team said Thursday night. The selections were announced as part of the incoming Biden administration’s […]
Missouri PSC will not order a moratorium on utility shut offs
There will be no state-ordered moratorium on utility shut offs this winter, the Missouri Public Service Commission decided Wednesday in a unanimous vote. The five-member commission rejected a call from the Consumers Council of Missouri for a moratorium through March 31 and staff analysis that it had the legal authority to issue a moratorium order. […]