by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Petroleum Independence Isn’t Price Independence -- The United States today produces roughly as much petroleum as it consumes. That’s a remarkable change from the oil-shock era of the 1970s. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing unlocked enormous domestic
(U.S. Department of the Interior) Accelerates permitting procedures to develop American Energy Dominance -- In response to President Donald J. Trump’s declaration of a National Energy Emergency, the U.S. Department of the Interior will implement emergency permitting procedures to accelerate the development of domestic energy
by Stephen Dinan (The Washington Times) A federal judge ordered the administration Tuesday to reopen the “spigots” for climate and clean energy funding programs, ruling against President Trump’s funding pause. Judge Mary S. McElroy, a Trump appointee to the court in Rhode Island,
by Doug Durante and Doug Sombke (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/South Dakota Farmers Union/Biofuels Digest) As usual there is a lot of angst in middle America these days with uncertainty over RFS volumes, small refinery waivers, bird flu, budget cuts, and looming
by Heather Richards (E&E News PM) Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will lead the group tasked with centralizing national energy policies. -- President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday establishing a White House energy council to promote the nation’s energy industries amid
by Jean Chemnick (E&E News Climatewire) The president ordered EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to decide by next week on one of the first major issues facing his agency. -- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has one week to tell President Donald Trump whether
(U.S. Department of Energy) As part of the Energy Act of 2020 (P.L 116-260, 42 USC 16298e), Congress directed the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to deliver a report on carbon dioxide removal (CDR). To inform this report, DOE organized an Interagency
by Ben Lefebvre (Politico) The Senate easily confirmed Doug Burgum as secretary of the Interior Department Thursday, a job that positions him to act on President Donald Trump’s energy strategy. The 79-18 vote makes the wealthy former North Dakota governor the official
by Jeff Stein, Jacob Bogage and Emily Davies (Washington Post) Trillions of dollars could be on hold, according to an Office of Management and Budget memo. -- The White House budget office is ordering a pause to all grants and loans disbursed
By: Andres Picon, Heather Richards, Kevin Bogardus (Politico Pro E&E Daily) Interior nominee Doug Burgum, Energy pick Chris Wright and EPA nominee Lee Zeldin are in for some tough questions during confirmation hearings this week. -- The three men poised to be at the
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) President-elect Donald Trump continues to announce choices for administration positions at record speed and the Renewable Fuels Association is generally pleased so far. “We’re excited about the opportunity to sit down with the new leadership in the incoming Trump administration,
by Evan Halper, Maxine Joselow, Maegan Vazquez and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) The executive has taken a defiant approach to fighting climate change by attacking policies that call for a shift from fossil fuels. -- President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has
by Isaac Arnsdorf (Washington Post) Donald Trump said during his speech at Mar-a-Lago he would name North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the Interior Department. A formal announcement will come on Friday, he said. READ MORE Related artices (see also White House for information
by CJ Evans (Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition/Project Financing Assistance/Biofuels Digest) You can make a difference. You can raise your voice and make your voice heard … you can help create a grant program within the federal government to provide development capital
by Thomas Catenacci (FOXBusiness) White House pushing EV regulations on auto makers -- Oil industry CEO warns energy crisis may be on horizon without proper policies -- The American Petroleum Institute (API), the nation's top fossil fuel industry group, is launching an eight-figure
(Carbon180) With the dollars and power to establish and expand key federal programs for carbon removal, the government plays a critical role in deploying solutions at scale. With Carbon180’s Funding Tracker, stay up-to-date on the appropriations, authorizations, and funding opportunity announcements
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Tule River Indian Reservation is 56,000 acres serving about 2,000 members drawn from Yokuts, Pauite, Mono, Tubatulabal tribes. Found on the foothills and western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, land uses include forestry, cattle ranching, and
by Jerry Hagstrom (DTN Progressive Farmer) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce Wednesday that USDA will spend $300 million to improve measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in climate-smart agriculture and forestry. The money will come from
by Ben Lefebvre (Politico Pro) The Interior Department is drafting language into a new rule that would allow companies holding offshore oil leases to convert them to allow the acreage to be used to store carbon dioxide instead, a department official
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The White House Office of Management and Budget on June 13 published its Spring 2023 Unified Agenda and Regulatory Plan, which shows several rulemakings related to carbon capture and storage (CCS) are underway by federal
(Clean Energy Fuels/Business Wire) -Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE), the largest provider of the cleanest fuel for the transportation market, announced a slew of new deals with several well-known consumer brands and some of the nation’s largest and most environmentally-conscious transit
by Dimana Doneva (Carbon Herald) Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced on May 12 the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies (CREST) Act. The new legislation directs the Departments of Energy and Interior to put in place new research programs
by Adrian Cortez (Office of Rep. Kim Schrier D-WA/Quad City Herald) U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced the Biochar Research Network Act of 2023 to increase research funding for biochar on March 21. Biochar is a charcoal-like product created by
by Vanessa Suarez and Alyson Lee (Carbon 180) 2022 was another invigorating year for carbon dioxide removal (CDR), with historic milestones like the passage of the biggest federal climate deal in history and over $1 billion authorized for carbon removal research, development, and demonstration (RD&D).
by Madison Hirneisen (The Center Square) New oil and gas leasing in central California will be prohibited until the U.S. Bureau of Land Management conducts a more thorough review of the impact of drilling in the region under a settlement agreement
by Chris Dunker (Lincoln Journal Star) Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey have joined the expanding research effort at AltEn to better understand how pesticides used widely in seed treatments move across the landscape. And, by scouring creek beds, studying food
by Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) A recent court ruling that bars the Biden administration from accounting for the real-world costs of climate change has created temporary chaos at federal agencies, upending everything from planned oil and gas lease sales to infrastructure
by Brendan Cole (Newsweek) The administration of President Joe Biden faces an escalating battle over fossil fuel production in the U.S. after the American Petroleum Institute (API) said it would challenge a January court decision to annul a massive sale of oil
(Heliogen) Heliogen, Inc. (“Heliogen” or the “Company”) (NYSE: HLGN), a leading provider of AI-enabled concentrated solar energy, today announced that the United States Bureau of Land Management has awarded the Company the exclusive right to lease land in the Brenda Solar
by Tyne Morgan (Farm Journal AgWeb) The Biden Administration is ramping up its efforts to deploy clean energy infrastructure across the country. The White House announced this week plans to utilize public lands and rural America for wind, solar and other clean energy
by Raphael Orlove (Jalopnik) ... 1st Gear: Here’s Another Fun ‘Wait Do We Actually Want These Lithium Mines’ Article -- Every day I feel like there’s a new article about lithium mining coming home. Just the other day, Bloomberg was wringing its
by Matthew Choi (Politico's Morning Energy) The Office of Management and Budget revealed the administration’s key regulatory goals for 2022 on Friday under its Unified Agenda. The laundry list of action items include further rollbacks of Trump-era actions and other self-imposed
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (December 2, 2021), the U.S. Department of the Interior’s U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing cooperation between
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Enegy) With the selections of New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland for Interior secretary and North Carolina regulator Michael Regan for EPA chief, the Biden administration has rounded out the top brass of its climate team.
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Congressional negotiators are expected to unveil the legislative text of a $1.4 trillion omnibus deal today that would boost federal agency budgets through next September and thwart a shutdown at week's end, POLITICO's Caitlin Emma
(Carbon 180) We partner with policymakers, scientists, and businesses around the globe to develop policy, promote research, and advance solutions that transform carbon from a pollutant to a resource and foster a prosperous, carbon-conscious economy that removes more from the
(Climate 21 Project) The Climate 21 Project taps the expertise of more than 150 experts with high-level government experience, including nine former cabinet appointees, to deliver actionable advice for a rapid-start, whole-of-government climate response coordinated by the White House and accountable to the
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) — The Biden transition named members of the teams that will guide the transfer of power inside federal agencies. — World leaders piled on the congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden this week, with many pledging to
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs on Sept. 3 announced it is providing funding to hire consultants to identify, evaluate or assess the market for energy or mineral resources that a Tribe
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) G20 nations — which account for 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions — have committed a total of at least $150 billion to support fossil fuels since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic,
(Our Daily Planet) Yesterday, President Trump released his FY2021 budget, and the proposed cuts to federal agencies and research programs were severe.As Science Mag summarized, Trump’s budget proposes the following cuts: National Institutes of Health: a cut of 7%, or $2.942 billion,
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management published a notice of availability on Jan. 15 establishing eligibility and selection criteria for biomass demonstration project proposals submitted for BLM-managed lands as authorized by the Indian
(Federal Register/Land Management Bureau) The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is establishing eligibility and selection criteria for Tribal Biomass Demonstration Project and Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Project proposals submitted for BLM-managed lands, as authorized by the Indian Tribal Energy Development
(Biomass Research and Development (BR&D) Board) Created through the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000, the Biomass Research and Development (BR&D) Board facilitates coordination among federal government agencies that affect the research and development of biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. Since
by Meg Cunningham (Roll Call) Rulemaking follows Interior Department actions that drew congressional criticism -- A new EPA rule would allow political appointees to review and withhold documents requested by the public under the Freedom of Information Act. The final rule, published Wednesday
(US Department of Agriculture) The federal Biomass Research and Development (BR&D) Board today unveiled a multi-agency strategy to accelerate innovative technologies that harness the nation’s biomass resources for affordable biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. The Bioeconomy Initiative: Implementation Framework was developed by the B&RD
by Niv Elis (The Hill) The White House is expressing concerns that a funding bill set for a vote Thursday in the House does not make deep enough cuts for agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The House is debating
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is listing 35 minerals used in aircraft, cellphones, and other important technologies as "vital" to national security in a move to wean the U.S. off foreign suppliers. The list includes such valuable metals
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On March 8, Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., introduced companion bills that aim to dismantle the Renewable Fuel Standard and sunset blending obligations for conventional, advanced, cellulosic, and biomass-based diesel fuels. The
by Scott Waldman (E&E News) Scott Pruitt is one of the Trump administration's most aggressive critics of climate change science, but lately he's been talking about the dangers of greenhouse gas. Well, one greenhouse gas in particular: methane. ... But when it comes to
by Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday instructing his deputies to devise “a strategy to reduce the Nation’s reliance on critical minerals” that are largely imported and used to produce everything from smartphones to weaponry. ... Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who has backed
(National Biodiesel Board) The last thing a hiker wants to encounter is a haze of smog that diminishes the view from atop a picturesque vista. With more than 11 million visitors annually, Great Smoky Mountains National Park strives to maintain
by Tim Meko and Laris Karklis (The Washington Post) There are more than 900,000 active oil and gas wells in the United States, and more than 130,000 have been drilled since 2010, according to Drillinginfo, a company that provides data and
by Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke, who has represented Montana’s at-large congressional seat for one term, to serve as secretary of the Department of the Interior, according to an individual with firsthand
by Bobby Magill (Climate Central) U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a sixth-term Republican from Washington State who is a climate change denier and an ardent opponent of regulations for greenhouse gas emissions, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) The Great Plains lost more grassland to agriculture in 2014 than the Brazilian Amazon lost to deforestation, says a recent report from the World Wildlife Fund. And it argues that the continued expansion of cropland
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) ... Biofuels: Trump said in Iowa in January that he wants ethanol volumes set under the Renewable Fuel Standard restored to statutory levels, but he has surrounded himself with RFS opponents, leaving the future of
by Paul Raeburn (Newsweek) ... (Myron) Ebell, the director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and a prominent climate-change skeptic, was chosen at the end of September to head the Environmental Protection Agency’s transition team
(U.S. Geological Survey) The Northern Great Plains of North and South Dakota, which support over 40 percent of United States commercial honey bee colonies, are quickly becoming less conducive to commercial beekeeping as a result of land-use changes, according to a
by Katie Fehrenbacher (Fortune Magazine) This is how much methane pollution that eleven oil and gas companies emit annually. Eleven oil and gas giants in the U.S. leak so much of a potent green house gas into the atmosphere every year that
(U.S. Department of Justice) Thomas Davanzo, of Estero, Florida, and Robert Fedyna, of Naples, Florida, pleaded guilty today for their participation in a multi-state scheme to defraud biodiesel buyers and U.S. taxpayers by fraudulently selling biodiesel credits and fraudulently claiming
by Corinne Young and Michele Jalbert (re:chem/Biofuels Digest) A Billion Ton Bioeconomy. For those of us who have worked in this space for the last decade, the US government’s aspiration to grow the sector to such size and scope is music
by Nika Knight (CommonDreams.org) 'This spill shows why there is a new and vibrant movement in the Gulf of Mexico for no new drilling' -- Royal Dutch Shell's offshore drilling operations were pouring oil into the Gulf of Mexico on
by Darryl Fears (The Washington Post) But a study by the U.S. Geological Survey appears to have answered a critical question about the millions of gallons of chemical-laced water that are injected into the wells to fracture rocks and release trapped
by Mark Drajem (Bloomberg) Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, says he’s confident that the next president — whether Donald Trump, or Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton — would be fine for the biofuel industry. ... Both Trump and Clinton advocated
by Adam Klasfeld (Courthouse News Service) Officially linking a controversial natural gas-drilling method to earthquakes for the first time, the U.S. Geological Survey released a groundbreaking report documenting links between fracking and skyrocketing seismic activity. Released on Monday, the agency's "2016
by Eric Wolff (Politico Morning Energy) The massive methane spill at the Aliso Canyon storage field has pumped out at least 77,500 metric tons of gas since Oct. 23, and it will be months before the spill can be closed.
by Chris Mooney (The Washington Post) Even as President Obama further amplifies his rhetoric about addressing climate change, a coalition of environmental organizations released a letter Monday seeking to push his administration much further still. Not content with recently announced curbs on emissions
(Office of Senator Tom Udall (D-NM)) In a letter this week to Office of Management and Budget (OPM) Director Shaun Donovan, U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham called for
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The White House Office of Management and Budget has published a statement of administration policy that details its opposition to several components of an appropriations bill pending the in the U.S. House of Representatives,
by Lori Montgomery (The Washington Post) ... What to do about the plague of earthquakes is, however, very much an open question in Oklahoma. Last year, 567 quakes of at least 3.0 magnitude rocked a swath of counties from the state capital
(Associated Press/The Washington Post) The Obama administration on Wednesday announced its latest move to combat global warming, this time trying to rein in heat-trapping methane gas that escapes from oil and gas fields. The plan relies on voluntary steps and new
by Esther Whieldon (SNL) The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will feature a new subcommittee in 2015 dedicated almost entirely to energy issues and another that will examine cybersecurity, incoming Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, announced Dec. 17. The new Interior Subcommittee,
(The White House Office of Science and Technology) ... Continued progress into the future will depend on ensuring a climate-smart citizenry and a next-generation American workforce of city planners, community leaders, engineers, and entrepreneurs who understand the urgent climate-change challenge and are equipped
by Jeff Guo (The Washington Post) Assateague, a 37-mile-long smear off the shores of Maryland and Virginia, is the East Coast’s climate change canary. It’s one of the most vulnerable islands in America, almost certain to be one of the
by Lenny Bernstein (The Washington Post) Ninety health, environmental and sportsmen’s groups asked the federal government Thursday to clamp down on the release of methane gas by the petrochemical industry, asserting that the United States cannot reach its goal for
by Jessica Goad and Matt Lee-Ashley (Center for American Progress) Spanning more than one-fifth of the U.S. landmass, America’s national forests, national parks, and other public lands have long been valued for their ability to absorb and store carbon and other air pollutants.
by Matthew Daly (Associated Press/ABC News) The National Park Service has withdrawn "inappropriate" comments about a proposed rule regulating hydraulic fracturing operations on public lands. Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis says no one in management reviewed the staff comments, which he
by Raquel Hendrickson (Bugle/Verde Independent) ... The unprecedented project intends to treat and restore ponderosa pine forests in the Coconino, Kaibab, Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves national forests in Arizona. Now, the massive stewardship contract has been transferred from Pioneer Forest Projects to
by Col. Bill Holmberg (ret.) (American Council On Renewable Energy) “Up with octane, down with aromatics, and embrace the needs of people and nature,” says ACORE’s legendary biomass guru. But less freak-out, more reach-out is needed, he cautions. ...However, certain forces
by Patrick Rucker (Reuters) President Barack Obama wants Congress to create a $2 billion clean-energy transportation fund using fees paid by oil and gas producers on federal lands, the White House said Wednesday, expanding a plan announced in Obama's State of the
(U.S. Geological Survey) USGS scientists have developed a new method for mapping grasslands that demonstrate high potential for growing biofuel crops with relatively little energy input and environmental impact. The pioneering investigation used remote sensing data from satellites to identify detailed
by Evan Bush (iwatchnews) In election year, Interior Department may take on a popular target: Big Oil The Obama administration may be readying for a fight with the energy industry as it prepares to raise royalty charges for oil and gas
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