Russian takeover sparks nuclear jitters
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Today, we looked at the long-term consequences of Russias purchase of a Ukranian nuclear power plant. We also examined the White House’s signalling openness to cuttingRussian oil imports. President Biden
Joe BidenFire breaksout at a major Ukrainian nuclear plant amid fighting Russia inflames the political war over gas prices and oil drilling On The Money Pushes to block Russian imports hit wallThe GOP on gas price
Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk were the Hill’s editors. Send us your tips: [email protected]And [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter: @RachelFrazinAnd @BudrykZack.
Lets jump in.
Russian attack reignites nuclear anxieties
Russia’s seizure the Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s largest nuclear power station, sparked new concerns Friday about the potential for terrorist attacks on nuclear infrastructure.
The 15 nuclear reactors in the former Soviet republic are all operational. This is the first European military conflict to be conducted on such hazardous ground. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was the site of the worst accident at a nuclear power plant in history, is also located in Ukraine.
Experts agree that although new safeguards were put in place after the Chernobyl catastrophe, this latest incident is a troubling sign of Russia’s increasing interest in energy infrastructure.
According to a senior official at the Energy Department, we want to emphasize to Russia that it is important to protect civilian nuclear power stations and not do anything that could cause an actual incident.
Russian forces seized control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor in Ukraine. This drew concern and condemnation. Authorities said that they didn’t appear to have caused radioactive material to leak from the plant.
Russia also attacked Chernobyl in Russia, where a 1986 nuclear disaster that claimed the lives of two people caused an explosion that resulted in a massive explosion and exposed many more to radiation.
How bad is that? Officials and observers raised concerns on Friday about the future of conflict following the seizure at the power plant.
It is not possible for nuclear facilities to be part of this conflict. U.S. ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Linda Thomas-GreenfieldMurkowski says banning Russian oil imports worth the ‘hurt’ of higher gas prices UN passes resolution condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine US ambassador to UN offers condemnation of Russian actions MOREDuring an emergency meeting of UN Security Council
Russia must cease any further use force that could further put at risk all 15 operational reactors across Ukraine, or interfere with Ukraine’s ability maintain the safety of its 37 nuclear facilities.
IFriday’s press conference saw Edwin Lyman, director of safety in nuclear power at the Union of Concerned Scientists express grave concern. He said that, despite all the safety measures, Ukraine’s plants were not constructed with the goal of withstanding war.
He said that no nuclear plant is designed to withstand a full-scale military strike. These fragile facilities add an extremely dangerous dimension to Russia’s ongoing humanitarian and environmental catastrophe. All parties must ensure that these plants are not damaged and remain functional.
Continue reading the story about the attack tonight Visit our website.
White House plans to curb Russian oil imports
President BidenIs considering steps to reduceU.S. The White House announced Friday that it is considering steps to reduce U.S. oil imports, in light of increasing bipartisan support for a ban on imports from Russia. This comes amid the Russian invasion Ukraine.
We are exploring all options that we can take to reduce U.S. energy consumption, but we are very focused upon minimizing the impact on families, White House press secretary Jen PsakiDuring a briefing Friday afternoon, he told reporters. You will raise gas prices if you reduce global supply.
Is there anything that is set in stone? Psaki declined explicit disclosure of the steps Biden is considering. Bloomberg News reportedFriday’s White House announcement indicated that it is considering banning U.S. imports from Russia of crude oil as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Psaki pointed out that the Biden administration officials Brett McGurk (Brett McGurk) and Amos Hochstein had been in discussions with global suppliers about other sources of energy in light of the crisis in Ukraine. McGurk, Hochstein and officials from Saudi Arabia met recently with Hochstein.
Hell will continue to discuss with his team the possibility of taking domestic steps, Psaki stated, referring to Biden.
This is still a potential sea change. Although the White House has not ruled out the possibility of banning Russian oil imports from the table, officials seem to be hesitant about the idea, arguing that it could raise domestic energy prices.
Biden also wanted to coordinate his sanctions on Moscow with European allies. They are not keen to restrict Russian oil and natural gases due to their dependence on Russian energy.
Continue reading at The Hills Morgan Chalfant.
Russia sparks political conflict over drilling
GOP lawmakers use rising gasoline prices and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an excuse to attack President Bidenarguing that the administration has failed U.S. Energy Independence.
Experts claim that many of their claims are misleading. They point out that administration actions have had very little impact at the pump and have not had much effect on the conflict overseas.
However, the rhetoric of the Republicans is a likely preview for their midterm argument: That electing Republicans will result in better U.S. Energy policies and lower prices.
Recent days have seen Republicans attack Biden’s decision to halt or delay oil and natural gas leasing and the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Thosejoining inon the criticismincludeHouse Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthyMcCarthy-backed Republican wins contested Texas House primary Russia inflames political war over gas prices, oil drilling Lawmakers want House to stay in session to pass aid to Ukraine MORESens. Ted Cruz(R-Texas). James Lankford
James Paul LankfordRussia inflames Political War over Gas Prices, Oil Drilling Inhofe Retirement to Set Off Intense Jokeying in Oklahoma Senate Republicans ask DOJ to reject a request for a ‘no fly list’ for unruly Passenger MORE(R-Okla.), who specifically discussed Bidens move for nixing a border crossing permit to allow the pipeline.
It’s not true. The permit was revoked by Biden, but the pipeline was only 8 percent complete. In 2020, the company behind it stated that it didn’t expect the vessel would deliver energy until 2023.
Experts also note that the global natureof energy markets raises serious questions about the merits of the critique.
There is very little evidence to support the claim that Keystone XL would have prevented some of this price rise. The Keystone pipeline capacity is less that one-tenth the Russian oil exports, James Glynn, a senior researcher at Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy, stated to The Hill via email.
Even if Keystone XL had been filled with fully Canadian export capacities, which would have seemed unlikely, it would not balance oil markets around the world where oil prices are determined by a global arbitrage.
Learn more about the back and forth here.
ON TAP NEXT WOEEK
Tuesday:
- The Senate Energy & Commerce Committee is holding a business meeting in order to consider nominations
- The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will host a Hearentitled Federal Climate Adaptation and Resilience: The 21st Century
- The House Energy & Commerce Committee will host a Hearentitled “Charging Forward”: Securing American Manufacturing, Our EV Future
Wednesday:
- The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis is holding a HearTitle: Climate Impacts: Federal Strategies to Equitable Adaptation, and Resilience
WHAT WE’RE READING
- Shell Purchases Russian Oil at a Bargain Price (The Wall Street Journal)
- Record-breaking amounts of electricity are being produced by wind and solar power (USA Today)
- Piney Point cleanup, closure could take up to 2025The Tampa Bay Times)
- Environment NGOs Demand an End to Russian Wood Imports During War With UkraineForbes)
ICYMI
Finally, here’s something completely off-beat.Attorney at Paw
That’s all for today. Thank you for reading. Check out The Hills Energy & Environment pageStay up-to-date with the latest news and coverage We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
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