For the second time this week, legislative language has been offered on Capitol Hill to strip the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of authority to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
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Articles from Capitol
Oil Execs Try to Shift Responsibility for Blowout, Spill
At the first Capitol Hill hearing on the Deepwater Horizon rig oil spill, top executives with BP America Inc., Transocean Ltd. and Halliburton defended their individual company’s actions and pointed fingers elsewhere.
Senate Climate Change Briefing Lacked Specifics
Several major energy groups, including the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Edison Electric Institute, attended a Capitol Hill briefing Tuesday where three senators involved in crafting climate change and energy legislation presented “their thinking” on the issues, but were short on details.
Senate Climate Change Briefing Lacked Specifics
Several major energy groups, including the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Edison Electric Institute, attended a Capitol Hill briefing Tuesday where three senators involved in crafting climate change and energy legislation presented “their thinking” on the issues, but were short on details.
New House Caucus to Focus Spotlight on Natural Gas
Reps. Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Dan Boren (D-OK) are laying the groundwork for a bipartisan Congressional Natural Gas Caucus to focus greater attention on natural gas on Capitol Hill.
Supply-Rich Industry Lobbying for Markets
Without the addition of an odorant, natural gas has almost no scent. Until recently gas producers had almost no voice on Capitol Hill. However, repeated success at unlocking gas from unconventional plays has them speaking up for policies that would make markets for their invisible and heretofore largely ignored fuel.
Gas Producers Wake Up and Smell the CO2
Without the addition of an odorant, natural gas has almost no scent. Until recently gas producers had almost no voice on Capitol Hill. However, repeated success at unlocking gas from unconventional plays has them speaking up for policies that would make markets for their invisible and heretofore largely ignored fuel.
Debate on Derivatives Reform Heats Up
Two critical issues emerged last week in Capitol Hill debate over futures, over-the-counter (OTC) and derivatives regulatory reform as lawmakers heard witnesses proposing mandatory clearing of all OTC contracts — or not; and the merging of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — or not. Senate committee debate also took a side trip into new charges of possible excessive speculation driving energy commodity prices higher.
House Speaker: Congress Will Not Hand Over $700B Blank Check
While the Bush administration Monday pressed Capitol Hill leaders to move quickly and pass the $700 billion rescue plan for the financial markets, Democrats said they weren’t about to hand over a blank check with no strings attached. Any bailout could have ramifications on the already skittish energy markets.
Capitol Hill Action on Energy — Much Ado About Nothing
There was a lot of talking on Capitol Hill about energy legislation last week, but in the end lawmakers made no substantive progress on energy policy before heading home for their month-long August recess. Last minute bills and threats, however, indicated they would be back to do it all over again in a short September session, before going off to get re-elected, or not.