The Interior Department has cancelled three planned offshore oil and natural gas lease sales. A key Democrat asked for documents from the Postal Service regarding its preference for a mostly gasoline-powered vehicle car fleet.
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Lease sales of interior axes in Gulf of Mexico, Alaska
Interior Department Planned oil and gas lease sales will not be madeIt announced Wednesday night in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaskas Cook Inlet.
A spokesperson for Cook Inlet confirmed that the sale of the leases would not proceed due insufficient industry interest. According to a spokesperson, the planned sale of two leases (lease 259 and lease 261) in the Gulf of Mexico will not take place due to contradictory court decisions on the leases.
The Alaska lease would have covered over 1 million acres. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has previously canceled lease sales in this area in 2007, 2008, and 2011, citing a lack of interest from the industry at that time.
Enviros cheer, GOP jeers
- Im glad Cook Inlet belugas wont be forced to face even more oil drilling in their only habitats, but much more must be done to protect these endangered whales from offshore drilling, Kristen Monsell, Oceans Program Litigation Director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement.
- Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) stated in a statement, “The decision approaches levels of irresponsibility reckless stupidity never before seen.”
The most recent legal history:
- Soon after taking office, President Biden signed an executive decree freezing all new oil-and gas leasing on federal lands. The ruling was overturned by Judge James Cain, a Trump appointee. This prompted the Biden administration’s appeal.
- In January, the Washington, D.C., District Court invalidated a second Gulf of Mexico lease sold to the federal government, lease 257. Although the Interior spokesperson named a separate lease, the administration is not appealing this January ruling.
Find out more about the cancellation.
Top Dem wants to know more about the Postal Service’s EV issue
Carolyn Maloney, Chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee (D-N.Y.), on Thursday Louis DeJoy, Postmaster GeneralFor more information on the acquisition of majority-gas-powered vehicles by the Postal Services for its fleet, please visit:
Maloney expressed concern in the letter that the Postal Service relied on outdated and incorrect data when it issued its order.
Based on testimony from the Committees on this topic, and information from the contractor who built these vehicles, I am concerned about the Postal Service’s use of flawed assumptions to justify purchasing gas-powered trucks and underestimating the environmental and cost savings from electric vehicles, Maloney wrote.
Maloney specifically cited the testimony of Jill Naamane from the Government Accountability Office, (GAO) that she gave to the committee.
- Naamane stated that a GAO analysis showed that the Postal Service had conducted cost analyses based on an underestimation about the cost of gas between 2020- 2030.
- Naamane testified that the Postal Service assumed that gas would cost between $2.21 to $2.36 for this period, which is about $2 less than current average gas prices.
Maloney also raised concerns about the gas-powered vehicle being designed to avoid emission limits. A Postal Service official testified that it was exactly 1 pound heavier that the weight at which strict emissions standards would kick in. The same official stated that Oshkosh, not the Postal Service, had determined the vehicle’s weight.
Maloney asked DeJoy for a cost analysis and an environmental impact analysis. She also suggested a new proposal that would allow for a larger share of the vehicle order electrified.
She also requests documents, including a complete, unredacted cost assessment and communications related to the purchase decision for electric vehicles.
Learn more about her letter by clicking here
MINERS PUSH MANCHIN OVER RECONCILIATION
Thursday: West Virginia coal miners Launched a campaignWe urge Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. to support a Democratic Budget reconciliation bill that would provide funding for black lung patients.
President Bidens Build Back Better Act was torpedoed by Manchin late last year. It included Manchins bill for an increased coal excise to pay benefits to coal miners with black lung diseases.
The higher tax rate was repealed at the end last year, creating uncertainty for a trust fund that provides monthly benefits and medical benefits to more then 25,000 people with the debilitating condition.
Advocates argue that a Democratic reconciliation bill is the only major legislative package that includes the bill. This would allow the excise to tax to be extended for ten years.
This bill is unlikely to be moved. It must be included in a package. This is the only package that has been offered at the moment that would fit this bill. Courtney Rhoades (an organizer at the Appalachian Citizens Law Center) stated during a Thursday press release in Charleston.
Black lung disease is a condition that affects about 1 in 5 coal miners working in central Appalachia. This is due to miners inhaling toxic coal dust and silica particles on the job. Doctors have not found a cure for the deadly disease that slowly cuts off oxygen flow.
As part their campaign, Were Counting on You, Joe, advocates are running radio ads and digital ads in West Virginia urging Manchins to take action.
Gary Hairston, president and CEO of the National Black Lung Association said that if nothing is done, we’ll have to wait until next years. We need Joe to come on board today.
You can read more at The Hills Karl Evers Hillstrom.
OFFSHORE WIND Lease Sale NETS $315M
On Wednesday, two companies were awarded the right for offshore wind energy development off the coast North Carolina.
A total of $315 Million was made available through a lease sale by the Interior Department. It granted Duke Energy and TotalEnergies permission to build wind farms on the Carolina Long Bay.
According to the Interior Department’s estimates, the leased areas could generate up to 1.3 gigawatts of offshore wind energy. This would be enough to power approximately 500,000 homes.
According to the Biden administration, it plans to deploy 30 gigawatts offshore wind electricity generation capacity by 2030.
WHAT WE’RE READING
- Natural-Gas Prices Soar In Europe After Russia Sanctions Energy CompaniesThe Wall Street Journal)
- Study shows that cleaner air is associated with more Atlantic hurricanesThe Associated Press)
- California saw snowfall in April and May. What does this mean for the snowpack (SFGate)
- Big Oil plans to revolt against proxy voting season’s climate plans (CNBC)
- Refineries continue to emit dangerous gasses that can cause cancer (E&E News)
ICYMI
Finally, something a bit off-beat and unusual: Holey Moly!
That’s all for today. Thank you for reading. Check out The Hills Energy & Environment pageFor the most recent news and coverage. We hope to see you again tomorrow.
