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Today we will be looking at a Biden administration’s new move to reverse Trump’s power plant rules. We also have pressure from House Democrats for climate action in Build back Better and this weekend’s “bomb cycle”.
Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk are The Hill’s Rachel Frazin & Zack Budryk. Send us tips to [email protected] or [email protected] Follow us on twitter: @RachelFrazinAnd @BudrykZack.
Let’s get started.
Officials reaffirm power-plant rule
Monday’s proposal by the Biden administration was to restore the legal basis of power plant pollution regulations after a Trump administration rollback.
Trump’s administration will be in office in 2020 Undercutting a regulationThe Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule (MATS) was created by changing its legal basis in a way that made the rule more vulnerable to lawsuits.
What does it do?The MATS rule sets limits on the amount of toxic substances that coal and oil power plants can release to the atmosphere. Children are particularly at risk from mercury, a neurotoxin.
The Obama-era standards were not affected by Monday’s action or the 2020 rule.
Instead, the Biden administration proposed Monday to affirm that it was “appropriate, necessary” to regulate emissions from power plants. The Trump administration had previously said that regulations were inappropriate and unnecessary.
Michael Regan, EPA Administrator said in a statement, “Sound science clearly shows that we must limit mercury and toxins within the air to protect children from dangerous pollution.”
He stated that the EPA is committed to reducing pollution from power sector so that everyone, regardless of their zip code or wealth, can breathe clean air, live productive and healthy lives.
According to the Website of the EPAThe standards have been estimated to have prevented between 4,200- 11,000 premature deaths each year.
From the beginning, controversy:Critics claimed that Trump administration was working to give polluters, who wanted to sue, an advantage in court at the time of the rollback. The changes were implemented. Coal companyIn court, the MATS rule was challenged.
Learn more about the announcement.
DEMS PUSH BIDEN IN ORDER TO KEEP CLIMATE FUNDING
Monday was a Monday for 23 Democratic members in Congress, who called President Biden to ensure any amended version of the ambitious Democratic reconciliation bill maintains its current climate.
Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., led the discussion. He noted a number natural disasters and extreme weather events that have occurred in the time that the House has been passing its version of the package. One example was a tornado in Kentucky that claimed at most 78 lives.
“The $555 Billion in climate investments passed by the U.S. House of Representatives under the Build Back better Act will help our country meet the challenge of cutting carbon pollution in half by 2030. It is a goal you set and science and justice require. The members stated that the time to take urgent and transformative climate action is now, as the devastating and deadly consequences of the climate crisis have been made abundantly clear through 2021.
“We urge all senators to act quickly to pass the most comprehensive legislation and to get this historic achievement to your desk for you to sign in the coming weeks.”
Who signed?The letter was signed by Cindy Axne from Iowa, Matt Cartwright from Pennsylvania, Angie Craig and Sharice Davids from Kansas.
Signers included members of the party’s centrist wing and members who were considered particularly at risk during the 2022 midterms.
After months of negotiations, Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), decided in December that he would not support the bill in its current form. Although Manchin has been in conflict with progressives on energy issues and environmental issues, he indicated his willingness to support the bill’s climate provisions.
You can read more about the letter here.
Many are left without power by Nor’easter
On Saturday, a nor’easter, also known as a bomb cyclone hit the East Coast, knocking out power for thousands.
According to poweroutage.us more than 100,000 Massachusetts residents were without power as the weekend began. Some areas of the state will see snowfalls of more than 20 inches.
Virginia, New Jersey and New York have all issuedStorm-related emergencies are more common than expected.
Storm-related cancellations of more than 4,000 flights were reported by the airline.
“Out of an abundance of care, I am declaring a State of Emergency today because this storm is poised create dangerous travel conditions. Heavy snowfall rates and sustained winds more than 50 mph tonight into Saturday,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) Friday.
“My team, and I are laser-focused on forecasting and we’ve been deploying emergency reaction assets ahead of storm to help with response efforts for the downstate.”
Learn more about the storm by clicking here.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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EPA and Supreme Court jockey to define Clean Water Act’s reach (E&E News)
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Scientists have compiled a list of all the tree species in the world (spoiler: there are a lot).Reuters)
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Appeal dismissed by 16 young Alaskans in climate lawsuit (Alaska Public Media)
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Climate change measurement: It’s more than heat. It’s humidity.The Associated Press)
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Peabody coalminer found large-scale emissions misreporting to Australian regulator (The Guardian)
Last but not least, something completely offbeat and off-beat Ineffable
This is it for today. Thanks for reading. Visit The Hill’s website. Energy & Environment PageFor the most current news and coverage. We’ll be there You tomorrow.
