- The Examiner: Study: Fracking brings economic growth to U.S.
- Oil & Gas Journal: Study: Emissions from U.S. refineries dropped in last 2 decades
- Morning Consult: Will the Quadrennial Energy Review Change Anything?
- National Journal: Congress Considers Roads for Robot Cars
- Wall Street Journal: Offshore Drillers Brace for Cancellations
POLITICO Morning Energy for 4/29/2015
MOVE OVER QUANTUM, SENATE MAY EXPERIENCE TSCA TUNNELLING: Senators on the Environment and Public Works Committee approved a bipartisan bill yesterday reforming the regulation of dangerous chemicals, and now they’re hoping to use it as a model for trudging through other issues mired in gridlock. The 15-5 vote to make the first significant update to the Toxic Substances Control Act since the law was first implemented in 1976 made a strong statement considering it happened in a panel that has often been a forum for partisan firebrands and sharp differences on environmental law over the past decade, Pro Energy’s Darren Goode reports. EPW members hope the wildly complex TSCA deal could create some momentum behind the panel’s upcoming debate over major infrastructure legislation and the full Senate’s efforts over heavy topics such as immigration, trade and the Iran nuclear talks.
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Always the optimist: “If we come together as Democrats and Republicans on an issue that’s been languishing for so long and an issue that creates great passions on both sides, we can do a lot of good in other areas too as a Congress,” Sen. Tom Carper said. Darren has more for Pros: http://politico.pro/1Gu7NIs
SPEAK NO KEYSTONE, TAKE YES MONEY: When it comes to the Keystone XL oil pipeline, Hillary Clinton may be following a bit of Calvin Coolidge’s philosophy: You don’t have to explain something you haven’t said. But that apparently won’t stop her from visiting billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer next week for a fundraiser, Pro Energy’s Elana Schor reports. The May 6 fundraiser at the home of the anti-Keystone activist and his wife Kat Taylor is billed as an afternoon “Conversation With Hillary,” and it comes as the former hedge fund manager winds down climate policy work at his nonprofit with a busy 2016 campaign season ahead. Elana has the news for Pros: http://politico.pro/1AdAQ0B
Mc VERSUS Mc? Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski will don her hat as leader of the Interior and Environment Appropriations subcommittee this afternoon and take testimony from EPA chief Gina McCarthy. Besides Murkowski’s own issues with EPA regulations, the hearing also presents Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell with a prime opportunity to go face to face with the leader of an agency he’s tangled with for years. McConnell is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and has spots on both the Energy and Water, and the Interior and Environment subpanels. Although the Kentucky Republican, alongside Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at 3 p.m. in McConnell’s office, as the guy who controls the Senate calendar it seems like he’d make the time. EPA’s acting CFO, David Bloom, will also testify. If you go: The hearing starts at 2:30 p.m. in Dirksen 124. http://1.usa.gov/1KrQ5JC
HAPPY HUMP DAY! I’m Darius Dixon, and I want to thank everyone who sent ME advice on flying with a baby. I’m incrementally less stressed about a six-hour flight with mini-ME. BTW, we’ve been to Seattle a couple of times but we’re always interested to hear any suggestions on food and locales. Ideas? Send your energy news, tips and commentary to ddixon@politico.com, and follow us on Twitter @dariusss, @Morning_Energy and @POLITICOPro.
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RELEASE THE RIVER (OF AMENDMENTS)! The House Rules Committee has approved a modified-open rule for the chamber’s $35.4 billion fiscal 2016 energy and water spending bill as well as the military construction appropriation measure. Leadership intends to take up the MilCon bill first today, debate amendments and pass the bill before tackling E&W. The modified-open rule allows any member to offer amendment to either bill that complies with House rules. You can expect a lot of money musical chairs over the next few days.
Planning ahead: House leadership says it wants to pass both bills by the end of the week — before the chamber takes a one-week recess — which definitely means lawmakers will be here Friday. Since MilCon is going first, today will be the long night for the folks who track that measure. If amendment debate and passage can wrap up sometime tomorrow, the Late Show with E&W will take place Thursday with the potential for final passage on Friday.
The White House has already chimed in and…surprise! Not. Veto threat: The White House yesterday threatened to veto the House’s energy and water spending bill, saying it “drastically underfunds critical investments” in clean energy and climate change, according to a statement of administration policy. The White House “strongly” objected to the $1.6 billion allocated for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, representing significant cuts to efficiency, renewables and sustainable transportation projects. It also wasn’t pleased with funding slotted for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project. The SAP also made a comment generally about the appropriations process: “The President’s senior advisors would recommend that he veto H.R. 2028 and any other legislation that implements the current Republican budget framework, which blocks the investments needed for our economy to compete in the future.” The SAP: http://1.usa.gov/1HWx184
LOOK WHO CAME TO DINNER: The Obama’s hosted an official state dinner for Prime Minister Abe and his wife, Akie — and a few familiar energy faces. Among those who got invites: White House senior advisor Brian Deese, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and his wife Naomi, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and her husband Kenneth McCarey, and Export-Import Bank chief Fred Hochberg. Also, the House and Senate are holding a joint meeting with Abe today at 11 a.m. in the Capitol. Here’s way more than you wanted to know about the dinner: http://1.usa.gov/1Jz98UL
For the nerds: George Takei, and his husband Brad, were at the dinner last night.
Didn’t expect to see this one: Prolific TV writer and producer Shonda Rhimes, of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” fame, attended (she said her chopsticks skills were “so-so.”)
WHERE WERE WE?: The House Energy and Commerce Committee will continue its markup of Rep. Ed Whitfield’s Ratepayer Protection Act this morning. The bill would essentially put EPA’s final carbon rule for existing power plants on hold until the courts have finished their review of the rule — though there’s a good chance courts would stay the rule anyway during the inevitable legal challenges. It would also exempt any state from the rule whose governor determines the rule would have an “adverse effect” on ratepayers or threaten reliability. Governors would have to consult with state regulators, environmental and health agencies and NERC. The bill appears poised to sail through the committee, despite general Democratic opposition. “We’re not repealing the regulation, but let’s let the courts render a decision,” Whitfield said during opening statements last night. The when and where: 10 a.m. in Rayburn 2123.
SENATE RESTRICTS THE FREE FLOW OF OIL EXPORT BAN MEASURES: North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp today plans to join onto Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski’s U.S. oil export ban-lifting amendment to Sen. Bob Corker’s Iran sanctions bill as a cosponsor. But whether the amendment gets a vote or passes is another matter. Three amendments to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act are slated for this afternoon and Murkowski’s isn’t one of them, as of last night. Nevertheless, if approved, it would give the Energy Department 60 days to conduct a study comparing the ability of Iran and U.S. to export crude oil and related products to the global market. Then after thirty days, regardless of the report’s findings, the ban on U.S. oil exports would be lifted, according to a Murkowski aide.
Of course, not everyone loves the idea: The CRUDE Coalition’s executive director Jay Hauck said his group was “surprised and dismayed” by Murkowski’s export ban-killing amendment. “Given the numerous complexities surrounding the oil-export issue, it would be premature and irresponsible to legislate a change to our 40-year-old energy security policy — particularly as a non-germane amendment to the pending Iran sanctions legislation.”
LAW & ORDER: DOE: The Energy Department is lengthening the list of crimes that its “protective force officers” can use to arrest someone without a warrant. In today’s Federal Register, DOE expands the specific list of federal crimes covered to include “assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees.” Don’t worry, Ernest Moniz is not sending a SWAT team after you for leaving your air conditioner on while you’re at work. Officers at DOE — or more specifically, DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration — are only allowed to make arrests for crimes related to federal property in its custody, namely nuclear weapons and other sensitive material. “DOE believes that this change is necessary to ensure that Federal Agents may effectively protect ongoing shipments of nuclear weapons, nuclear components and special nuclear materials,” the agency writes in the Federal Register: http://1.usa.gov/1zakqee
GREENING THE GOVERNMENT’S FOOTPRINT: Late last night, the EPA sent out an announcement praising more than 400 federal facilities for taking steps to “reduce pollution, support renewable energy, and operate more efficiently in 2014 as part of the Federal Green Challenge.” The agency estimates that the effort saved taxpayers at least $24 million. Awardees are designated on a national as well as regional basis across the categories of waste, electronics, purchasing, energy, water and transportation. The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Lab was one of those recognized for improving its environmental footprint in transportation. More info: http://1.usa.gov/1P4CTLg
QUICK HITS
— BP, Total Report Sharply Lower Profits but Show Some Resilience. The Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/1GGkzsF
— U.S., Canada will have oil train safety plan Friday -sources. Reuters: http://reut.rs/1JQTQY8
— Offshore wind energy sector off to a slow start. The Associated Press: http://bit.ly/1FwlhHt
— Pope Francis and climate change: why Catholic skeptics are so alarmed (+video). The Christian Science Monitor: http://bit.ly/1DV30Ox
— Is coal on the way out in Michigan? Michigan Radio: http://bit.ly/1bSmoWw
— Major N.C. solar producers look to export electricity from in-state projects. The Charlotte Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1drbhVa
