To:
Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov]
From: Morning Energy
Sent: Mon 9/25/2017 2:03:36 PM
Subject: POLITICO'S Morning Energy, presented by the U.S. Chamber's Global Energy Institute:
Climate skeptics find new favorite talking point -- Solar world fears gloomy 2018 amid potential tariffs --
Cuomo's pipeline rejection raises eyebrows nationally
By Anthony Adragna | 09/25/2017 10:00 AM EDT
With help from Alex Guilln
NEW FUEL FOR THE CLIMATE SKEPTIC FIRES: The small group of climate change skeptics, led by the Heartland Institute, has seized upon a recent peer-reviewed study to vindicate their calls for a debate on the fundamentals of climate change, Pro's Emily Holden reports. The paper concluded the planet can tolerate more greenhouse gas emissions in the near future than previously thought, a finding its authors said does not undercut the basic consensus that human activity is causing temperatures to rise faster than normal. But Heartland Institute President Tim Huelskamp, whose group has submitted nominees for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's red team, blue team exercise and EPA's Science Advisory Board, says the report raises more questions. "This is exactly the type of debate discussion scientists need to be having," said Huelskamp, a former Republican congressman from Kansas. "If they were wrong 10 years ago, what makes their new modeling correct?"
Scientists bash mischaracterizations: Authors of the study said their work has been willfully misinterpreted for political purposes. While they expected their conclusions to be mischaracterized, they said they hadn't expected such an intense reaction. "We are not trained in PR.... Our job is to do solid science and communicate that. It's not really our job to guard against every possible critique, especially when they're not real critiques," said Damon Matthews, a study author and Concordia University Research Chair in Climate Science and Sustainability. "[T]here is no scientific result in our story that questions the basics of climate change and the imperatives for mitigation action."
What did the report find? The study found Earth has 20 years at the current rate of carbon dioxide emissions - 10 years more than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had estimated in its 2013 report - before average global temperatures grow 1.5 degrees Celsius. While previous research suggested countries had a "carbon budget" between 200 billion to 400 billion metric ton of carbon emissions before temperature increases exceeded 1.5 C, their paper pegged the figure above 700 billion metric tons. Some respected scientists have disagreed with the methodology the authors used to come to their conclusions.
WELCOME TO MONDAY! I'm your host Anthony Adragna, and the Glover Park Group's Hayley Moller was first to identify Tip O'Neil as the famous politician appearing in a 1983 episode of Cheers (clip here). For today: Which senator made a brief cameo in Wedding Crashers? Send your tips, energy gossip and comments to aadragna@politico.com, or follow us on Twitter @AnthonyAdragna, @Morning Energy, and @POLITICOPro.
FEARS OF A SOLAR SUNSET IN 2018: Experts point to the last time the U.S. slapped steep
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000350-00001
tariffs on imported goods as a cautionary tale for President Donald Trump as he ponders whether to erect harsh trade barriers sought by Suniva and SolarWorld USA on imported solar panels, Pro's Eric Wolff reports . Back in 2002, President George W. Bush put a 30 percent tariff on several types of steel imports, but the move led directly to a supply shortfall in the U.S., causing wild fluctuations in prices, according to Tom Werner, CEO of SunPower Corp and a tariff opponent. "There's a very good chance it could end up the same way," said Tori Whiting, a research associate at the Center for International Trade and Economics at the conservative Heritage Foundation. A reminder that we're at this point due to Friday's International Trade Commission ruling that opens the door for Trump to penalize cheap Chinese solar imports through tariffs.
Suniva and SolarWorld USA have both promised to restart production at shuttered factories if they get trade protections, and they reject the notion that tariffs would cost jobs. But getting factories back into operation will take years and attracting capital may prove difficult since tariffs are limited to four years under the law.
RAISING EYEBROWS, NOT PIPELINES, IN THE EMPIRE STATE: Amid speculation he's positioning himself for a possible 2020 presidential bid, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has blocked three pipelines in the last 16 months, drawing national attention as his environmental policy has grown decidedly more progressive, POLITICO New York's Marie J. French reports. Cuomo most recently denied a permit for Millennium Pipeline's 7.8 mile project - including a novel legal argument involving concerns about the greenhouse gas emissions from the power plant it would serve - after previously denying two other major pipelines permits over fears of how they'd affect water quality. "I think environmentalists have no choice but to pay some respect to Gov. Cuomo's moves - banning fracking was a big step, and he's followed it up with some other courageous decisions," 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben said. "We hope very much that he'll support the call for 100% renewable energy that's becoming the basic test for politicians going forward."
** A message from the U.S. Chamber's Global Energy Institute: American energy is changing our economy. And now, it is changing the world. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Energy Institute is at the forefront of the policy discussions in Washington and around the nation that will help fuel the global energy revolution. Learn more at www. globalenergyinstitute .org **
GUESSING GAMES: Trump's penchant for leaving himself wiggle room on contentious policy decisions like trade, taxes, immigration, health care and climate change is inducing whiplash in many of the political insiders, business leaders and even foreign governments with a stake in the outcomes, POLITICO'S Emily Holden, Andrew Restuccia, Aaron Lorenzo and Ted Hesson report . On the international climate front, diplomats have been left in the dark about what precisely the United States wants since June, when Trump announced his intention to exit the Paris agreement but "begin negotiations" to either reenter the nearly 200-nation accord or join an entirely new deal.
White House spokeswoman Kelly Love said: "President Trump was put into office precisely because he isn't beholden to lobbyists and special interests. If they're upset that they can't stroll
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000350-00002
into the White House and drive administration policy anymore, that's a badge of honor for a president who was elected to drain the swamp."
BONN BONN BONNNNN: Trump's decision to leave the Paris climate accord have raised the stakes for international climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany for nations around the world to reiterate their commitment to the accord, Pro's Eric Wolff reports , citing an interview with the top climate negotiator for Fiji who's leading the meeting. "Our aim was changed by President Trump's announcement," Ambassador Nazhat Khan said. "Now we must deliver a visionary [conference]. Every work item for COP 23 is measured for the enhancing and restating of the overall vision."
RELIEF FINALLY BEGINS TO FLOW IN PUERTO RICO: A ship carrying 16 million gallons of water, 23,000 cots, dozens of generators and food arrived Sunday in Puerto Rico - the first of many expected in the coming days - as millions of Americans brace themselves for potentially months without electricity and damaged drinking water infrastructure, the Associated Press reports. Rep. Nydia Velazquez plans to request a one-year waiver from the Jones Act, a federal law requiring domestic cargo shipments to move only on U.S. vessels. "We will use all our resources," Velazquez said. "We need to make Puerto Rico whole again. These are American citizens."
Dam worries linger: There were mixed reports on the status of the Guajataca Dam in Northwest Puerto Rico. Some suggested the structure remained in danger of collapse Sunday after authorities previously evacuated 70,000 residents in that area, while others quoted local officials saying the risks were overblown.
Congress plots relief efforts: Lawmakers are beginning to plot potential relief options for the island, which may include tax breaks and more Medicaid funding, POLITICO Financial Services' Colin Wilhelm reports. "This is a natural disaster in Puerto Rico like we haven't seen ever," said Carlos Mercader, executive director of the commonwealth's Federal Affairs Administration. "Think about Katrina but even worse because this is the whole island." In an interview with Colin on Sunday, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello called for Congress to treat Puerto Rico like a state in any comprehensive emergency aid package. Remember Puerto Rico was already dealing with a massive government debt crisis, crumbling infrastructure and a bankrupt electric utility before the storm.
Relief not fast enough for many: Cuomo, who visited Puerto Rico on Friday, jabbed Trump for his focus on the NFL instead of the emerging humanitarian crisis over the weekend: "Instead of arguing with football players, instead of obsessing about how to take health care from the poor, why don't we put the politics aside and focus on helping Americans in desperate need?" he said, according to the Albany Times-Union. Hillary Clinton tweeted : "President Trump, Sec. Mattis, and DOD should send the Navy, including the USNS Comfort, to Puerto Rico now. These are American citizens.
Toxic waste removed in Texas: Tucked away in a Friday press release was the disclosure EPA recovered 517 containers of "unidentified, potentially hazardous material" from Superfund sites in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey but the agency isn't providing any additional information
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000350-00003
about the waste, the Associated Press reports. EPA won't say what sites the material came from, whether they've been identified or if there's a human health threat.
QUID PRO QUO? EPA staff directed staff to take the first toward reversing the proposed veto of Alaska's Pebble Mine in July shortly after Pruitt met with Tom Collier, CEO of Pebble Limited Partnership, CNN reports , citing interviews and government emails. "This is a process issue," Collier told CNN in an interview. "[Pruitt] is not saying he's not going to veto this project. He's just saying that the rule of law says that you do an environmental impact statement first, right? That's Mr. Pruitt's position." Collier said Pebble plans to file mining permit applications in December. Pruitt's move allows the company to submit a permit application but does not guarantee it would be approved.
NATIONAL CLEAN ENERGY WEEK KICKS OFF: A veritable who's who and VIPs of the clean energy world are in town this week to tout the benefits of clean energy technologies and try to rally support in Congress and the administration for the sector's continued growth. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Energy Secretary Rick Perry launch the festivities in earnest on Tuesday at 8 a.m. A full schedule is available here.
LET'S MAKE A DEAL?: California may go along with some changes the Trump administration and automakers would like to see to vehicle emissions rules in the near future, as long as the White House and industry agree to tougher rules that would kick in later. Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, told Bloomberg that she has spoken with White House energy adviser Mike Catanzaro about the administration's review of EPA emissions standards through model year 2025.
If EPA weakens those rules, California would still be able to enforce its own, more stringent standards, which .13 other states also have adopted. That would create a complex regulatory patchwork - or a protracted court fight over California's authority - that all parties would prefer to avoid, if possible. "The price of getting us to the table is talking about post-2025," Nichols told Bloomberg. California would be "willing to talk about specific areas if there were legitimate concerns the companies raised" as part of a larger discussion.
MAIL CALL! REMEMBER THAT TALK WE HAD? Six senators, led by Sheldon Whitehouse, sent a letter to FERC Chairman Neil Chatteijee on Friday requesting the commission move "as quickly as possible" to complete a rule on better integrating energy storage and small renewable energy installation, which Whitehouse and Sen. Ed Markey discussed with Chatterjee prior to his confirmation. At the time of meeting, Whitehouse said he received a commitment the rule would not be "unduly delayed."
CHINA MOVES TO CUT OFF OIL FOR NORTH KOREA: Moving to implement the latest round of U.N. sanctions, China announced Saturday it would ban exports of condensates and liquefied natural gas immediately, Reuters reports. The country also said it would limit exports of refined petroleum products from Oct. 1.
GREENS APPEAL HFC DECISION: ME readers previously learned it was coming, but the Natural Resources Defense Council on Friday formally asked a federal appeals court for an en
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000350-00004
banc rehearing of last month's decision striking down an EPA rule limiting use of hydrofluorocarbons, potent greenhouse gases, Pro's Alex Guillen reports in Energy Regulation Watch. The group feels the D.C. Circuit erred in its 2-1 decision and are likely to be joined in their appeal by Honeywell, a U.S. manufacturer.
GREENS OPPOSE FOUR EPA NOMINEES: Ten environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters and Waterkeeper Alliance, sent a letter to senators Friday urging them to oppose the four nominees expected to shortly come before the Environment and Public Works Committee for confirmation hearings. "Each of these individuals have demonstrated a willingness to advance the agenda of polluters and industry before health protections and safeguards for clean air and clean water," they wrote of the nominations of Matthew Leopold to be general counsel, William Wehrum to run the air office, Michael Dourson to run the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention and David Ross to run the water office
MORE CONCERN OVER CADIZ PROJECT: California Sen. Dianne Feinstein released a. letter Friday from the Metropolitan Water District questioning of safety and viability of the controversial California water project. David Bernhardt, Interior's number two, previously did legal work on behalf of the Cadiz project while in the private sector and the issue came up repeatedly during his confirmation process. Feinstein, a vocal opponent of the project, accused the Trump administration of trying to "muscle the Cadiz water project through" back in April.
BILL NYE THE BACHELORETTE GUY: A bunch of women dancing in an elevator ahead of a night out and in walks... Bill Nye. Watch here.
QUICK HITS
- Environmental advocates sue the EPA to implement stormwater plan. Boston Globe.
- Tioga oil pipeline spill cleanup nearing milestone after 4 years, but work continues. Bismarck Tribune.
- Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says Hurricane Harvey recovery at 20%. Austin AmericanStatesman.
- Failed pressure test may have caused the Valdez oil spill. KTUU.
- Duke Changes Mind; Will Post Coal Ash Disaster Maps. AP.
- Democratic Megadonor Tom Steyer Still Isn't Ruling Out a 2020 Run. The Atlantic.
THAT'S ALL FOR ME!
** A message from the U.S. Chamber's Global Energy Institute: Ten years ago, gasoline prices were at an all-time high, American dependence on foreign oil and natural gas was growing, and our energy future and security was at risk. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000350-00005
leaders in American business came together to form an institute to tackle these challenges head on. Now, 10 years later, we're excited to begin our second decade by transitioning to the U.S. Chamber's Global Energy Institute, reflecting America's new role as a global energy superpower. We'll still provide insight and analysis on the big energy issues of our day, along with our unique ability to bring together the entire energy industry and reach thousands in our local and state Chamber network. Learn more about our Institute and the last decade of progress in this video: http://bit.ly/2yeil2S **
To view online'. http://www.politico.eom/tipsheets/m ormng-energy/2017/09/25/climate-skeptics-find-newfavorite-talking-point-222460
To change your alert settings, please go to httpstt/secrire.Dolirieo.com/setrings
This email was sent tojackson.ryan@epa.gov by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA
Please click here and follow the steps to unsubscribe.
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000350-00006