Md. Legislature Overrides Veto, Strengthens Green-Energy Standards
The Maryland Senate voted 32 to 13 on Thursday to override Gov. Hogan’s veto of a bill to boost the state’s use of renewable energy.
Source: Washington Post, 02/03/2017
Energy & Fuel
Rex Tillerson Is Confirmed as Secretary of State Amid Record Opposition
"Rex W. Tillerson, the former chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil, was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday in a 56-to-43 vote to become the nation’s 69th secretary of state just as serious strains have emerged with important international allies."
Source: NY Times, 02/02/2017
Lawmaker Wants To Ease Rules On Drilling In Natl Parks. Enviros Gripe
"It’s safe to say that Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.) is no friend of environmentalists. He boycotted Pope Francis’s speech to Congress in 2015 because the pontiff addressed climate change. ... But his latest move came as a surprise to many."
Source: Washington Post, 02/02/2017
With Resignation, FERC Lacks Quorum To Conduct Energy Sector Permitting
"After this week, FERC will not have enough members to issue major decisions, and confirming a new regulator could take months"
Source: Utility Dive, 02/01/2017
Army Orders Easement For Construction Of Dakota Access Pipeline
"Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., says the acting secretary of the army has directed the Corps of Engineers to proceed with the easement for construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline."
Source: NPR, 02/01/2017
Turbulent Prospects on Environment-Energy Beat Likely in Trump Era
While it's too soon to tell what the new Trump administration and 115th Congress will do, our special report suggests we may see a groundswell of environmental deregulation and massive energy development. Backgrounder looks at the top 10 energy-environment issues to watch in the President Trump era.
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"Florida Fracking Ban Bill Draws Bipartisan Support"
"Florida lawmakers have debated fracking regulations for years, but a new bill would end the debate and has Republican and Democratic support."
Source: InsideClimate News, 01/31/2017
"Trial Over TVA's Storage Of Coal Ash Begins"
"An expert told a federal judge in Nashville on Monday that a Gallatin power plant released more coal ash pollutants in an eight-year period than the 2008 in coal ash spill in Kingston and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico."
Source: Nashville Tennessean, 01/31/2017
Omnibus Politics: Building an Infrastructure Program
Democrats and Republications may agree on a vast federal program to build and repair the nation's crumbling infrastructure, but still uncertain is what will be built, how it will be paid for and who will vote for it. TipSheet looks at the politics of public works (what journalists used to call "pork").
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Could Trump 'Cancel' Paris Climate Deal?
President Trump said on the campaign trail that he would "cancel" the Paris climate agreement. But could he really wreck the treaty? Or are other nations — and our own — already too far down the road to fully undermine the international pact? TipSheet takes a closer look.
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