NERC Urges Grid Reliability Considerations In Setting GHG Targets
The group tasked by the federal government with ensuring electric grid reliability is warning that development of advanced clean-energy technologies, such as energy-storing batteries and transmission line upgrades, must keep pace with the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets being considered by regulators and Congress. FULL STORY
Pew Argues Cap And Trade Offers Most Cost-Effective GHG Cuts
A report by the environmental think tank Pew Center on Global Climate Change argues that cap and trade is the most cost-effective method for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a finding that is intended to alleviate concerns about energy price spikes and market manipulations under an emissions trading system.
Activists Petition EPA To ‘Fix’ GHG Inventory Biomass Data
The Center for Biological Diversity is petitioning EPA under the Data Quality Act to revise its greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory to account for the impact of burning biomass for energy. EPA’s inventory does not include GHG emissions from biomass combustion in the energy portion of the inventory, arguing the carbon emissions will later be absorbed by plants grown to replace the biomass.
Western Cap-And-Trade Program Unveils Regulatory Plan
The Western Climate Initiative, a regional cap-and-trade program slated to launch in 2012, has released a regulatory design plan that features limited use of greenhouse gas offsets, unlimited banking of emission allowances and measures to prevent so-called “leakage” of emissions and jobs to areas not covered by the regulatory program.
NERC Eyes Grid Reliability Impacts Of Climate Rules
The congressionally mandated group for overseeing the reliability of the nation's electricity grid, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, has issued a report noting that federal and state requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will force an overhaul in power generation and delivery systems.
California Officials Eye Bypassing Anti-AB 32 Push To Move Cap & Trade
California officials are expected to examine legal routes to continue implementing a greenhouse gas (GHG) cap-and-trade program even if a voter referendum passes in November that suspends the state’s AB 32 climate change rules, according to officials and other sources.
Key Groups Quietly Push Tiered CCS Liability Plan For Future Climate Bill
A group of power companies, environmentalists and insurers is urging Congress to codify their tiered plan for addressing potential environmental and other liabilities for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) operations, a key issue that industry is seeking to resolve to provide legal certainty before they deploy the climate control technology.
Ruling Could Hinder Activists’ Push For Climate, Emissions Nuisance Suits
A federal appeals court has rejected a lower court’s finding that neighboring states are creating a public nuisance with air pollution in North Carolina, dealing what sources say could be a major blow to environmentalists’ and others push to file tort nuisance cases to force cuts in greenhouse gases (GHGs) and conventional air pollutants.
Reid Energy Bill Promotes Plug-In Electric Vehicles To Reduce GHGs
The scaled-back Senate energy bill unveiled this week includes several provisions that are being sold as addressing climate change, including efficiency incentives and a program to encourage the deployment of plug-in electric vehicle.
WCI Plan Includes California Cost Controls, Compliance Flexibility
Western Climate Initiative (WCI) officials are proposing a number of cost-containment and compliance flexibility provisions in their design for a regional greenhouse gas (GHG) cap-and-trade program that were also recently floated by California officials, who are developing a trading program specifically for the state but which is expected to link to WCI.
Draft EPA GHG Registry Sparks CO2 Underground Injection Debate
Environmentalists are urging EPA under its proposed greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting rules to beef up monitoring and recordkeeping of carbon dioxide (CO2) that is injected underground at enhanced oil and natural gas recovery and geologic sequestration projects.
Congress
- Senate Impasse On Climate Bill Shifts Focus To Regulatory Efforts
- Energy Committee Bills May Influence Revised Senate Climate Agenda
- Democratic Senators Reframe GHG ‘Target’ To Ease Compliance Concerns
EPA Administration
- After Backlash, EPA Seeks Input On Assessing Biomass GHGs In Permits
- Public Utilities Argue Against Natural Gas As Climate BACT
- States Among Last-Minute Challengers To EPA GHG Vehicle Rules
EPA has rejected 10 petitions for the agency to reconsider its finding that greenhouse gases (GHGs) endanger public health and welfare, refuting the petitioners' . . .
Study: Renewables Doable In SouthA new analysis by a university think tank that supports carbon dioxide (CO2) controls finds that 16 states in the South could generate as . . .
NOAA Study Shows ‘Unmistakable’ Global WarmingThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released a major new report that shows “unmistakable” evidence of the impacts of climate change, noting . . .
Climate Semantics SuitProponents of a California voter referendum to suspend the state’s AB 32 greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations have sued the state secretary and Attorney General . . .
Conference Strategy SpeculationWhite House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is suggesting the House and Senate could conference on climate change legislation even if the Senate only passes . . .
Climate Adaptation . . . Lost OpportunityAs policymakers are expecting increased focus on climate adaptation measures, EPA and other federal officials are lamenting that the government lost an . . .
