Top Stories

  • The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management proposed to open as much as 18.3 million acres of the 23-million acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to oil drilling, though it did not select a “preferred alternative” in its draft environmental impact statement. The Obama administration had moved to take half of the area off the table for development in 2013. (The Washington Post)
  • House Democrats released a bill that would call on federal agencies to establish technology-neutral plans for reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 100 Percent Clean Economy Act has more than 150 co-sponsors and is expected to be the first of several bills from Democrats targeting a clean economy by 2050. (The Hill)
  • The Boston suburb of Brookline became the first East Coast municipality to back a restriction on natural gas use in new and renovated buildings. The bylaw amendments are modeled on a similar ordinance adopted in Berkeley, Calif., and other cities in California this year, but Brookline’s final amendment would exempt gas piping for cooking and backup generators and will not affect propane appliances. (S&P Global Market Intelligence)

Chart Review

Events Calendar (All Times Local)

11/22/2019
Columbia University Event on Inventing the Future: Zero Carbon Fuels and Climate Restoration 10:00 am
EESI Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States 2:00 pm
View full calendar

The Influencer Report: Engaging Gen Z and Millennials

Based on over 2,000 survey interviews with 13-38 year-olds, Morning Consult’s “The Influencer Report” explores the scale and nature of influencer engagement. We look at where young Americans follow influencers, who they like to follow, why they follow, how much trust they have in influencers, and how much interest they have in becoming influencers themselves.

Download the Free Influencer Report.

General

Supreme Court weighs lawsuit pitting climate scientist against skeptics John Kruzel, The Hill

The dispute between scientist Michael Mann and the National Review has drawn attention from lawmakers, interest groups, academics and media, as the court weighs adding a potentially blockbuster First Amendment showdown to an already politically charged docket.

Trump’s NOAA Pick, Barry Myers, Asks to Withdraw Nomination Mihir Zaceri, The New York Times

Barry Lee Myers, whose nomination by President Trump to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration remained unconfirmed by the Senate for more than two years, asked the White House this week to withdraw it, saying that surgery and chemotherapy made it “impractical” for him to serve.

Young Republican staffers frustrate CO2-loving group Scott Waldman, E&E News

The CO2 Coalition, which includes former Trump administration officials, has spent about a year trying to brief lawmakers on its assertions that climate change isn’t a problem because more carbon emissions could help feed the world. Members of the group have reached some lawmakers, but at other times have been challenged by GOP staffers who don’t buy the message that the effects of climate change are minimal, said Caleb Rossiter, the group’s executive director.

Trump administration launches project to keep plastic waste out of oceans Josh Siegel, Washington Examiner

Energy Secretary Rick Perry announced the “Plastics Innovation Challenge” Thursday as one of his final initiatives before leaving his post on Dec. 1, having resigned amid the House impeachment inquiry focused on Ukraine.

Trump admin provides ‘customer’ service to troubled refinery Corbin Hiar, E&E News

The $1.6 billion bet, which includes the construction of a coral-destroying offshore fueling operation, could soon begin paying off because of a permitting effort personally directed and overseen by Wheeler — a rubber-stamping campaign that some EPA officials believe could serve as a road map for rushing through other environmentally destructive schemes.

Oversight Democrats ask EPA to turn over plans for regulating toxic ‘forever chemicals’ Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill

Democrats on the House Oversight and Reform Committee are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to turn over documents showing how the agency plans to regulate a cancer-linked chemical that has been leaching into the water supply across the country.

Forest Service Mum on Need for Tongass Roadless Exemption Bobby Magill, Bloomberg Environment

U.S. Forest Service officials are declining to say why the U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing to fully exempt Alaska’s Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Rule instead of choosing other options that would allow logging in the forest but maintain some roadless area protections.

Industry groups urge White House to finish overhauling U.S. environmental review process Valerie Volcovici, Reuters

More than 30 industry groups on Friday called on the Trump administration to finish a regulatory overhaul that would make it easier to clear federal environmental approval for big infrastructure projects such as pipelines and road expansions.

His White House Engulfed, Trump Keeps California in the Cross Hairs Coral Davenport and Katie Rogers, The New York Times

The cause of the recent bad blood appears to have been a secret deal that the governor brokered over the summer with Ford and three other major automakers, under which the companies agreed to comply with tighter climate pollution rules set by the state, defying Mr. Trump’s national effort to roll back federal regulations on tailpipe emissions.

Oil holds near two-month high on OPEC+ extension expectations Ahmad Ghaddar, Reuters

Oil prices held near two-month highs on Friday and were set for a third consecutive week of gains, boosted by expectations of an extension to OPEC+ production cuts although doubts over U.S. and China trade talks capped gains.

Oil and Natural Gas

US appeals court denies rehearing in case seeking Citgo assets from Venezuela Meghan Gordon, S&P Global Platts

The ruling by 13 judges on the US 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia upholds a decision allowing defunct Canadian miner Crystallex to auction shares in Citgo to collect on a $1.2 billion judgment related to Venezuela nationalizing its gold mine.

How the Saudi Aramco IPO Came Back to Life Summer Said et al., The Wall Street Journal

Khalid al-Falih had opposed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for months. The powerful energy minister had repeatedly stalled Saudi Aramco’s massive share sale. 

Billionaire Fracking Brothers Hammered by Permian Holdings Emma Vickers, Bloomberg

The brothers put some of their fortune into Cisco, Texas-based Wilks Brothers LLC to invest in various businesses, including natural gas producer Approach Resources Inc. The shale driller sought bankruptcy protection Monday after 4 1/2 years of losses, erasing more than $110 million of the Wilkses’ wealth.

Saudi Aramco looks for patriotic IPO support close to home Anjli Raval, Financial Times

Local banks, citizens and even the kingdom’s clerics seek stake in national champion.

Big Oil bets on recycling to keep plastics rolling Amy Harder, Axios

Two of the world’s biggest oil and gas producers — BP and Shell — are getting into the recycling business as they ramp up operations to make plastics.

Utilities and Infrastructure

New York Feud Over Gas Hurtles Toward a Utility’s Expulsion By Gerson Freitas Jr. et al., Bloomberg

In five days, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo may decide to expel one of the world’s biggest utilities from the state’s most populous region.

Renewables

Tesla Unveils Pickup Truck in Demo Marred by Shattered Glass Dana Hull and Edward Ludlow, Bloomberg

The angular vehicle, which has a stainless-steel skin, starts at $39,900 and will come in three variants, Musk told a packed audience in Hawthorne, California. 

A Solar ‘Breakthrough’ Won’t Solve Cement’s Carbon Problem Daniel Oberhaus, Wired

A Bill Gates-backed startup called Heliogen uses concentrated solar power to produce cement. The carbon-belching industry needs that—and much more.

Coal

Interior to hamstring federal mine oversight Dylan Brown, E&E News

The White House revealed yesterday the Interior Department’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) will propose a rule this month on so-called 10-day notices, a key instrument of federal enforcement.

Nuclear

Barrasso introduces legislation to address nuclear waste storage Wyoming Tribune Eagle

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, has introduced the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2019.

Bill Gates Says His Axed Nuclear Reactor Is a Trade War Warning Shelly Banjo, Bloomberg

When Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates tried to build an experimental nuclear reactor in China, his plan was thwarted by U.S. foreign investment restrictions. At Bloomberg’s New Economy Forum this week, Gates described the scuttled reactor project as “a five-year setback for technology.”

Climate

The World Burns All Year. Are There Enough Planes to Douse the Flames? Damien Cave, The New York Times

Fire seasons are running longer, stronger, hotter. The major fires now blanketing Sydney in smoke started early, within days of the last California blazes.

Opinions, Editorials and Perspectives

Working Together to Protect Utility Customers From Scams Monica Martinez, Morning Consult

With scams becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s no surprise that people of all ages are being impacted. In fact, millennials are 25 percent more likely to report losing money to fraud than those 40 or older, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Our bird populations are dying off. Here’s how we can save them. U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) et al., USA Today

Our farmers and ranchers are some of the greatest stewards of our land and water, and voluntary conservation programs for private and working lands help producers implement more environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

We need to preserve and expand nuclear energy U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Powell Tribune

Nuclear power provides clean, reliable, carbon free energy, to one in five American homes and businesses.

Nuclear is a necessary part of our clean-energy future U.S. Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Washington Examiner

Nuclear energy fuels our nation while helping to provide America with environmental, economic, and national security.

Research Reports

California’s Evolving Zero Emission Vehicle Program: Pulling New Technology into the Market Resources for the Future

We document numerous and significant changes to the design and stringency of the program. We also estimate values of ZEV credits traded among manufacturers.

Morning Consult