[USA] “Broad Energy Coalition Condemns Action to Subsidize Failing Coal, Nuclear Plants”

[SEIA, 1 June 2018]

Numerous energy industry and trade groups, including those focused in energy efficiency and storage, oil, solar and wind, and natural gas, have come together to condemn the Trump Administration’s recently revealed plan to “bail out coal and nuclear plants.” These groups include Solar Energies Industries Association (SEIA), American Petroleum Institute (API), Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), Electricity Consumers Resources Council (ELCON), Electric Power Supply Association (ESPA), Energy Storage Association (ESA), and Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA). The comments by these groups-against the bail out plan- are very similar; they say that it is not economically profitable or reasonable to support failing plants and that this will have negative repercussions on the electricity grid. For instance, Kelly Speakes-Backman, the ESA CEO, states, “Any action that undermines market stability to support new entrants like energy storage – resources that enhance grid resilience and reduce costs to consumers – will erode opportunities to create a more reliable and resilient, efficient, sustainable and affordable grid.” Todd Foley likewise comments, ““The Administration’s draft plan for potential emergency action would be unwarranted, and would actually undermine competitive markets, raising electricity costs to consumers and businesses across the country. Arbitrary market interventions deprive businesses of the certainty they need to invest in power plants of all types, harming not helping electric reliability.”

[USA] “President Donald J. Trump Prioritizes Efficiency in the Federal Government”

[The White House, 17 May 2018]

Trump signed an Executive Order on May 17, 2018 directing Federal agencies to better manage federal “buildings, vehicles, and overall operations to optimize energy and environmental performance, reduce waste, and cut costs.” This order also calls on the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to streamline requirements and directives regarding clean energy, procurement processes for federal facilities and assets, and energy and water consumption. The order also provides more flexibility to federal agencies in decision making processes and allows them to determine how best to meet operational and efficiency goals.  Finally, the order directs agencies to record and report their efforts to comply with the Executive Order; this data will then be used to evaluate an agency and their operations via the annual scorecard issued by the OMB. Trump said of his order, “We’re going to run government smoothly, efficiently, and on behalf of the very hardworking taxpayers.”

[USA] “EPA Administrator Pruitt: GHG Emissions Standards for Cars and Light Trucks Should Be Revised”

[EPA, 2 April 2018]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced at the conclusion of the “Midterm Evaluation (MTE) process for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for cars and light trucks for model years 2022-2025” that current emission standards (set by the Obama Administration) are higher than necessary. Accordingly, the EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will work together to begin a notice and comment rulemaking process to set standards that are in line with the Trump Administration’s views on this regard. Pruitt intends the new standard to apply at a national scale and is meant to encourage the affordability of new cars “while still expanding environmental and safety benefits of newer cars.”

[USA] “President Donald J. Trump Sparks Renewed Focus on American Infrastructure”

[White House, 27 March 2018]

Trump has identified this past week (week of March 26) as infrastructure week in the US. Accordingly, key members of the administration have released their own statements regarding the state of the US’s infrastructure system and the Trump plan.  Some of the key themes from these statements surround topics such as a bipartisan push for infrastructure development and easing regulatory burdens and permitting processes. Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Greg Walden (R-OR), commented on the importance of investing in energy infrastructure in order to ensure reliability and resiliency. The Chairman also mentioned in his statement that 24 energy infrastructure bills have passed the House of Representatives; these bills focus on “pipeline and electric transmission lines infrastructure, hydropower licensing, Brownfields, air quality standards, and energy efficiency.” As seen by the various calls for action put out by the Administration, the push for infrastructure spending remains strong.