WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY: Good afternoon and Happy Monday readers! With the official start to the winter season just days away, we are still keeping our eyes peeled this week for the administration’s liquefied natural gas exports report and the EPA’s expected approval of California’s ban on sales of new gas vehicles.
In today’s edition of Daily on Energy, we kick things off looking at recommendations from the Trump transition team regarding policies for electric vehicles. Also, today the Supreme Court declined to hear a petition regarding California’s clean vehicle standards.
Plus, keep reading to see which hearings and events are on our radar this week.
Welcome to Daily on Energy, written by Washington Examiner energy and environment writers Callie Patteson (@CalliePatteson) and Maydeen Merino (@MaydeenMerino). Email cpatteson@washingtonexaminer dot com or mmerino@washingtonexaminer dot com for tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email, and we’ll add you to our list.
TRANSITION TEAM LOOKS TO SCRAP POLICIES SUPPORTING EVS AND EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS: President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is reportedly recommending the incoming president make widespread cuts to federal backing for electric vehicles and undo emissions standards, while blocking materials from China.
The details: A document reviewed by Reuters outlines the recommendations, which align with the president-elect’s campaign promises. It specifically calls Trump to rescind any remaining funds from the $7.5 billion for EV charging stations allocated by the Biden administration through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Instead of going toward more EV charging infrastructure, the transition team is reportedly calling for the money to go towards battery-minerals processing as well as “the national defense supply chain and critical infrastructure.”
The document reportedly alleges that charging stations and EVs are not critical for defense production. Meanwhile, batteries, minerals and other components for EVs are deemed as critical. The transition team is reportedly looking to walk back emission standards set by the preceding administration and push for more gas-powered vehicles to be produced. The document also recommends blocking states like California from setting their own emissions standards, according to Reuters.
What else is there? Other policy recommendations reportedly include waiving environmental reviews for federally funded EV infrastructure projects, imposing tariffs on EV supply chain imports, expanding export restrictions regarding technology for EV batteries, ending requirements for federal agencies to purchase EVs, and ending all Department of Defense programs that involve purchasing or developing electric vehicles for the military.
IRAN SHUTS DOWN CITIES BECAUSE OF DENSE SMOG: Thick air pollution has descended on multiple provinces in Iran, prompting a nationwide crackdown on energy use amid wintry weather.
The details: As of Sunday, many schools, banks, and businesses were shut down for at least three days as the country has faced freezing temperatures and snow, according to the Financial Times. The winter weather has trapped a dense smog over several provinces and cities, including Tehran.
Some areas have seen temperatures drop as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit, leading to a jump in demand for heat. Over the weekend, gas consumption in homes, businesses, and small industries reportedly hit record levels of around 640 million cubic meters. This was an enormous 18% increase from the same time in 2023. In order to conserve energy for the coming months, local governors opted to impose the widespread shutdowns.
At the same time, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has turned to the public’s help to ensure there is enough energy later in the winter. The government has specifically asked residents to lower the temperatures in their homes by two degrees.
TEXAS SEES THOUSANDS OF GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION REPORTS: Nearly every county in Texas has reportedly been affected by groundwater contamination, as over 250 more cases were reported last year.
The details: The most recent report released by the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee has revealed there are 2,870 open cases of groundwater contamination in the state, which relies on groundwater for around 55% of its water supply, according to Inside Climate News. Last year, state regulators reportedly notified 34 local authorities in numerous cities, including El Paso and Houston, that contamination could affect the local public drinking water. At the same time, 289 property owners were notified their private wells may be contaminated. As a result, around 224 out of 17,900 public water supply wells are reportedly contaminated.
Some experts have estimated that the actual contamination numbers are much higher than what is being reported. Ronald Green, a hydrologist and contractor with the South West Research Institute, told Inside Climate News that little testing is done for groundwater in rural areas that see oil and gas drilling operations.
“There just are so few wells and so few samples of wells that have been collected and analyzed,” Green told the outlet. “There’s no way you have an accurate reflection of how the groundwater has been impacted.”
Why does it matter? Groundwater contamination can be caused by a variety of human activities, such as lawn care and the use of pesticides, as well as leaks from pipelines, gas stations, septic systems, swimming pools, car washes, and more. Once contaminated, it can be very difficult and expensive to clean – particularly as the groundwater can go on to pollute nearby bodies of water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that around half of the population relies on groundwater for domestic uses, such as drinking or irrigation. If contaminated water is consumed, the EPA has found, certain pollutants can cause damage to kidneys, the liver, the nervous system, and the reproductive system, as well as cause cancer, in some cases.
ICYMI – EPA TO APPROVE CALIFORNIA BAN ON SALES OF NEW GAS CARS BY 2035: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to approve California’s rule to ban new gas vehicle sales, a rule President-elect Donald Trump is expected to reverse once in office.
Over the weekend, the Washington Post first reported that, according to two people briefed on the matter, the EPA will likely approve California’s Advanced Clean Cars II, which bans new gas vehicle sales after 2035. Under the 1970 Clean Air Act, California can set stricter auto pollution standards by requesting that the EPA approve a waiver.
About 17 states follow California’s auto emission standards. However, Trump has promised to reverse many of the Biden administration’s climate policies, including California’s gas vehicle ban.
“California has imposed the most ridiculous car regulations anywhere in the world, with mandates to move to all electric cars,” Trump has said. “I will terminate that.”
The state is expected to challenge any rule reversal by the incoming administration. It’s also been reported that Trump’s transition team is considering cutting the $7,500 tax credit from the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
California has requested that the EPA approve six other emission regulations.
SCOTUS: Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition to review California’s clean vehicle standards brought by Ohio and other states. The order follows the high court’s decision on Friday to examine whether oil companies and business groups have legal standing to challenge California’s authority to set vehicle standards.
“California’s clean car standards have successfully helped reduce the dangerous soot, smog, and climate pollution that put all people at risk, while also turbocharging clean technologies and job creation,” Director and Lead Counsel for Transportation and Clean Air Policy for Environmental Defense Fund, Alice Henderson said.
“EPA’s decision to grant California this preemption waiver is based on a rock-solid legal foundation and decades of precedent, and it ensures vital clean air protections for millions of people,” she added.
PRO-NUCLEAR COUNTRIES WILL NOT SUPPORT NEW EU ENERGY TARGET IF IT EXCLUDES NUCLEAR: Several European Union countries have indicated that they will not support a new renewable energy goal if it excludes nuclear power, Reuters reports.
Earlier this month, the European Commission announced a plan to set new EU renewable energy targets for 2040, but it excluded nuclear energy. The new target has caused disagreements among countries, with some arguing that nuclear energy should not be considered renewable because of the toxic waste.
According to Reuters, French energy minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said during a pro-nuclear alliance meeting that some of the ministers expressed concern to the new EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen about the target excluding nuclear energy.
A senior official from one EU country told Reuters that countries have indicated they would vote to block the new energy targets if they do not include nuclear power. However, Jorgensen, who released the targets, said renewables and nuclear should not be mixed into one target.
“I don’t think that would be a wise way to do it, I think we need to maintain the definitions that we already have in our renewable target,” Jørgensen said in a news conference.
50 YEARS OF THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT: The Environmental Protection Agency celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act, a law signed by President Gerald Ford in 1974 to set nationwide standards to ensure quality drinking water.
“For 50 years, EPA has worked with states, Tribes, and local partners to ensure that communities across the country can count on safe drinking water. As a result, Americans are leading longer, healthier lives while the foundation of safe drinking water attracts businesses to communities and fosters opportunity,” said Bruno Pigott, Deputy Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Water.
“The Safe Drinking Water Act provides a framework for developing collaborative solutions to address drinking water challenges of today and tomorrow,” Pigott added.
Under the Biden administration, the EPA has promulgated rules to reduce the exposure of chemicals in drinking water, such as lead and copper as well as Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Carper said: “Before the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, there was no comprehensive federal regulation protecting drinking water. Thanks to the Safe Drinking Water Act, and significant reforms since then, we’ve made immense progress in our efforts to ensure every American has access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water.”
A LOOK AHEAD:
Dec. 16 Berkeley Lab and the Department of Energy held a roundtable discussion on new energy technology innovation, investment and implementation in 2025.
Dec. 17 The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a briefing tomorrow about the recently released DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) 2024 Investment Snapshot report.
Dec. 17 The Climate and Community Institute is holding a panel on building up public power under the incoming Trump administration.
Dec. 18 Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing to “examine the climate-driven insurance crisis.”
Dec. 18 The American Association for the Advancement of Science holds a virtual discussion on land-applied biosolids and PFAS exposure.
Dec. 18 – 19 The Scholars Forum is hosting the International Conference on Renewable Energy Efficiency and Power Issues in Washington D.C.
Dec. 19 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will hold its December open meeting.
Dec. 21 is the Winter solstice.
RUNDOWN
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