Energy Policy Practice
VNF Policy Updates
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - March 8, 2010
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Kevin Gallagher, Megan Ceronsky, Tomás CarbonellMarch 8, 2010
The Kerry-Graham-Lieberman team floated some elements of their plan: cap-and-trade for the power sector only, with a possible phase-in for industrial facilities, and a potential gasoline tax, with major oil companies advocating that the tax be payable at the pump. The Senators' plan drew mixed reactions from key moderates. It is not clear when legislative language will emerge . . . EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson offered to further tailor the Tailoring Rule, but coal state legislators Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Rick Boucher (D-VA) want to let out the seams a bit more. Will the Rockefeller and Boucher "delay" bills provide enough cover for moderate Democrats to reject the Murkowski "derail" bill?
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - March 1, 2010
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Kevin Gallagher, Megan Ceronsky, Tomás CarbonellMarch 1, 2010
Senators Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman floated a trial balloon this week, suggesting that they will be releasing draft legislation in March and that it will depart from the economy-wide cap-and-trade model in favor of an approach that uses different policy designs for different sectors . . . In an exchange of letters with Sen. Rockefeller and a group of other Senate Democratic moderates, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson outlined a new plan for delayed implementation of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration program. It now looks as though Senator Rockefeller will seek to codify that plan, or a plan with further regulatory deferrals, in legislation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - February 22, 2010
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Kevin Gallagher, Megan Ceronsky, Tomás CarbonellFebruary 22, 2010
President Obama announced the Administration’s first major loan guarantee for construction of a nuclear power facility. . . Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) circulated a draft “clean electricity standard” . . . Sixteen lawsuits have been filed for review of EPA’s endangerment finding, including petitions filed by three states. . . The White House Council for Environmental Quality issued guidelines for review of climate change impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act . . . China reaffirmed its emissions mitigation commitment under the Copenhagen Accord.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - February 16, 2010
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Kevin Gallagher, Megan Ceronsky, Tomás CarbonellFebruary 16, 2010
Senator Murkowski’s office believes she has sufficient votes in the Senate for her resolution disapproving of EPA’s endangerment finding . . . State Department Climate Envoy Todd Stern is calling on major developing countries to provide more detail on their mitigation commitments under the Copenhagen Accord . . . Rumblings in the Western Climate Initiative: Arizona’s Governor said the state will not participate in a regional cap-and-trade program, and the Utah legislature passed a resolution questioning climate change science . . .
EPA Issues New Rules Requiring Renewable Fuels to Meet Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance Standards
Curt Rich, Jennifer Owen, Henry SternFebruary 12, 2010
On February 3, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized long-awaited regulations implementing amendments to the Renewable Fuel Standard Program made by Congress through the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.