Automobile & Engine Manufacturers Industry
Issue Alerts
Weekly Climate Policy Update - December 21, 2007
Kyle Danish, Andrea Hudson, Shelley FidlerDecember 21, 2007
This week, President Bush signed an energy bill that significantly increases fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, mandates greater biofuels production, and creates efficiency standards for buildings. Although the bill was not as comprehensive as earlier versions – which included a renewable portfolio standard and tax incentives for renewable energy production – it addresses a number of energy issues facing the U.S. The enactment of the bill and its increased fuel economy standards also contributed to EPA’s landmark decision to deny California’s request for a waiver to implement its vehicle CO¬2 emission standards. The denial marks the first time that EPA has denied such a waiver and sets the stage for a showdown between the state and the agency. The denial, and EPA’s reasoning for denying the waiver, may have important implications for the future of GHG regulation at the agency.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - October 26, 2007
Andrea Hudson, Kyle Danish, Shelley FidlerOctober 26, 2007
The Lieberman-Warner bill got its first Congressional hearing this week in a subcommittee of the Environment & Public Works Committee. Permitting issues for coal-fired power plants remain at the forefront of the climate change debate. Read more about these and other developments in this week's Update.
Fall 2007 Federal Energy Outlook: Energy Bills Face Uncertainty in Conference
Thomas Roberts, Douglas Smith, Kyle DanishSeptember 12, 2007
One of the major challenges for Congress this fall will be to reconcile, through a conference committee, the differences between energy bills passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. This Alert discusses the status of, and outlook for, the energy bills.
Supreme Court Holds EPA Must Consider States’ Request for Climate Change Rule
Andrea Hudson, Howard ShapiroApril 2, 2007
On April 2nd, the Supreme Court decided its first climate change case and held that (1) a group of states have standing to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) denial of their petition under the Clean Air Act for a rule regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new motor vehicles, (2) that the Agency has the statutory authority to issue such a rule, and (3) that EPA’s rejection of the rulemaking petition was arbitrary and capricious.
Bipartisan Commission Advocates New Energy and Environmental Policies
Bob Nordhaus, Kyle DanishDecember 14, 2004
A private, bipartisan commission issued a report advocating the adoption of new national policies addressing oil security, climate change, natural gas supply, and other energy-related issues. The report was released by the National Commission on Energy Policy, which includes top industry officials, labor representatives, environmentalists, and former government officials.