 Energy & Environment |
Energy & Environment |
|
|
White House narrows executive order restricting IRA funds |
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued new guidance Wednesday clarifying limits to the disbursement of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds ordered by President Trump on Monday. |
In one of a flurry of Inauguration Day executive orders, Trump directed federal agencies to "immediately pause the disbursement of funds" from both the IRA and the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. A full halt to the disbursement could imperil billions of dollars, including to projects in red states and districts. The order drew immediate pushback from Democratic lawmakers such as House Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), who denounced the move as illegal and "cost[ing] countless Americans their jobs." Some Republican allies also expressed reservations about the idea of a full shutdown of disbursement. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, told Politico it was a "concern, but again I don't know how big a concern," adding "that doesn't mean the payments aren't going to be made." In the Wednesday memo, the Trump OMB clarified that the pause "only applies to funds supporting programs, projects or activities that may be implicated by the policy established in Section 2 of the order," which includes funding related to climate change mitigation and incentives for electric vehicle charging. "For the purposes of implementing section 7 of the Order, funds supporting the 'Green New Deal' refer to any appropriations for objectives that contravene the policies established in section 2," the memo states. "Agency heads may disburse funds as they deem necessary after consulting with the Office of Management and Budget." Trump has frequently falsely conflated Biden-era climate policies with the "Green New Deal," an ambitious suite of energy and environmental legislation supported by lawmakers including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). Read more 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. |
|
|
How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: |
|
|
Evacuations were ordered on Wednesday for remote communities near a new fast-moving wildfire in mountains north of Los Angeles, as Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds ahead of possible rain over the weekend. |
| |
|
With few natural landscapes available in the country’s second-most-dense urban environment, San Francisco’s coyotes are shifting their diets — and doing so in different ways depending on their zip codes. |
| |
|
President Trump issued a broad slew of energy policies and efforts to roll back environmental protections on his first day in office. |
| |
|
Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
|
|
President Trump on Tuesday announced the creation of a new project to invest up to $500 billion in building the infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence (AI) development over his second term. |
|
|
News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: |
|
|
There are no "acts of God" anymore (Vox) South Carolina to Reboot Giant Nuclear Project to Meet AI Demand (The Wall Street Journal)
The Pope Led Notre Dame Toward Decarbonization. He Hasn't Influenced the School's Alabama Coal Investment (Inside Climate News)
|
|
|
Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will vote on the nomination of Lee Zeldin as Environmental Protection Agency administrator.
- The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will vote on the nominations of Doug Burgum as Interior secretary and Chris Wright as Energy secretary.
- The House Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a hearing Thursday on four pieces of pending legislation.
|
|
|
Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
|
|
The House on Wednesday passed the Laken Riley Act, sending the immigration-related bill to President Trump's desk in what is poised to be his first legislative victory since returning to the White House this week. Read more |
| Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday said he will establish a new select subcommittee that will probe the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot — and likely dig into the now-defunct Jan. 6 select committee that was led by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and then-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). Read more |
|
|
Op-eds related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: |
|
|
You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 |
Copyright © 1998 - 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
|
If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe.
No comments:
Post a Comment