 Energy & Environment |
Energy & Environment |
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EPA drops push to include EVs in biofuel plan |
In a new ethanol blending rule published Wednesday, the EPA did not include its previous proposal to incorporate electric vehicles into a biofuel credit program. |
The agency issues rules on the exact amount of ethanol or other biofuels that must be blended into gasoline, with refiners that fall short required to purchase credits to cover the difference. The EPA announced late last year it would offer credits for biofuels used for electric vehicles, but the mandates announced Wednesday did not include that provision. The agency said it will continue exploring "potential paths forward" for the program. "Today's final rule reflects our efforts to ensure stability of the program for years to come, protect consumers from high fuel costs, strengthen the rural economy, support domestic production of cleaner fuels, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a written statement. The blending volumes for "conventional" biofuel, a category that includes corn-based ethanol for the years 2024 and 2025 are lower than they were in last year's proposal. This fact drew pushback from the industry, which said the volumes signal a "flatline" trajectory rather than growth. But the World Resources Institute, an organization that works on issues including climate change, said the rule is too generous to biofuels. "Biofuels were thought to be a climate solution fifteen years ago but today we know converting crops to fuel is a disaster for the planet. It increases emissions, raises food prices and is a terrible use of prime farmland." Read more in a full report at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. |
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How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: |
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The Biden administration announced two proposed rules Wednesday morning that would undo Trump administration rollbacks of Endangered Species Act (ESA) enforcement.
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Regulators have approved "lab-grown" meat to be sold in the United States for the first time at restaurants and eventually in supermarkets. |
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The Senate on Wednesday failed to override President Biden's veto of legislation that would have overturned his administration's truck pollution rule. |
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Branch out with a different read on The Hill: |
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A team of North Carolina State University scientists have identified elevated levels of "forever chemicals" in the blood of every pet dog and horse they tested in a recent community study. The research, … |
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News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: |
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Garret Graves reflects on Republican NEPA gains, future talks (E&E News)
Arizona Is Running Out of Cheap Water. Investors Saw It Coming (Bloomberg) Are we in the Anthropocene? Why Canada's Crawford Lake may hold the answer (The Washington Post)
Landmark climate trial over. Youth plaintiffs describe it as 'just the beginning.' (Montana Free Press)
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- On Thursday, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory is slated to testify before the House Natural Resources Committee on the council's budget.
- The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing Thursday titled "Driving Affordability: Preserving People's Freedom to Buy Affordable Vehicles and Fuel."
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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The escalating feud between former President Trump and his one-time Attorney General Bill Barr is reaching a fever pitch, with Trump's indictment on federal charges last week adding accelerant to what had already been a fiery break between the two men. Read more |
| House Republicans teed off Wednesday on one of their own colleagues, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), over her stunning move to force a vote this week to impeach President Biden. Read more |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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