US Energy Dept. announces billions for projects to cut industrial emissions
The industrial sector in the United States is reportedly responsible for a fourth of the country’s emissions. Now, the Biden administration is spending the largest amount ever on industrial decarbonization projects to fight climate change.
The Department of Energy announced it is putting $6 billion in federal funds toward efforts to eliminate up to 14 million metric tons of industrial pollution annually, the equivalent of taking about 3 million gas-powered vehicles off of the road, according to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
The funding for the projects reportedly comes from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The $6 billion will consist of 33 projects across 20 states. The companies involved range from producers of iron, steel, aluminum, concrete, cement and food and beverage.
For example, one plan involves setting up a zero-carbon aluminum casting plant in West Virginia, using low-emission furnaces that are reportedly powered by hydrogen. The company that was awarded the funding uses aluminum to produce things like cars and planes.
Funding from the Energy Department will also be used for projects like replacing two electric furnaces. This particular project alone is expected to eliminate 1 million tons of greenhouse gases each year.
Another project at a cement plant in Indiana is getting money for an underground carbon capture facility, which will reportedly keep 2 million tons of CO2 from escaping into the Earth’s atmosphere each year.
The Biden administration claims the $6 billion plan will do more than cut emissions, it will also create and support union jobs, giving a charge to U.S. competitiveness.
The U.S. aluminum industry has fallen behind other countries in recent years. In 2000, the U.S. was reportedly the No. 1 producer of aluminum. Now, it’s reportedly ninth in production of aluminum.
The ultimate goal for the aluminum companies participating in these projects is to shift production to 100% clean energy.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel amid growing tension between the two countries, and the Justice Department is suing Campbell’s, one of several suits filed against the soup company. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, March 22, 2024.
Blinken arrives in Israel to discuss Rafah, cease-fire talks
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel, landing Friday, March 22, in Tel Aviv amid growing tensions between the two allies over the conflict in Gaza.
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Blinken is set to discuss with Israeli officials the United States’ position that Israel’s planned invasion of the city of Rafah would be a mistake. Rafah is currently a refuge for more than one million Palestinians.
Following meetings with leaders in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Blinken’s visit to Israel aims to address the ongoing crisis. In Cairo, he informed reporters the U.S. is advocating for a deal leading to a temporary cease-fire and the release of more hostages, though he acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “There is still more difficult work to get there.”
CIA Director William Burns is in Qatar, meeting with other intelligence officials to advance negotiations with Hamas.
Additionally, the U.N. Security Council is expected to vote today on a U.S.-sponsored resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Congress racing to approve $1.2 trillion spending package to avert shutdown
Congress is working quickly to pass a $1.2 trillion spending package to prevent a partial government shutdown before Friday night’s deadline. This package combines six spending bills, primarily focusing on defense.
The bill includes a 5.2% pay raise for service members and allocates funds to the Department of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, among other departments.
The House must pass the $1.2 trillion spending package with a two-thirds vote. In the Senate, unanimous consent from all 100 senators is required for swift passage. Any dissent could potentially slow the process and delay the package’s approval.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects the bill to pass.
Sen. Bob Menendez won’t seek reelection as a Democrat
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez will not seek reelection this year in New Jersey’s Democratic primary but is keeping the door open to an independent run, announced his office following a 14-count federal bribery indictment.
The indictment states that, in exchange for lavish gifts and hundreds of thousands of dollars, Menendez performed ‘official acts’ such as sharing ‘cabinet-level information’ with governments in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, among others.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, claiming they have subjected him and his extensive public service of more than 25 years to “a cloud of suspicion.”
Menendez posted a nine-minute video to social media on Thursday, March 21.
“I know many of you are hurt and disappointed in me with the accusations I’m facing. Believe me, I am disappointed at the false accusations as well,” Menendez said. “All I can ask of you is to withhold judgment until justice takes place. Until then, I will continue to work my heart out each and every day, as I have for the past years, to fight for New Jersey, for you, your family, and a more prosperous, secure future.”
With Menendez stepping out of the Democratic primary, the race is expected to intensify. Democrats are bracing for a fierce primary battle between incumbent Congressman Andy Kim and Tammy Murphy. The state’s November election is anticipated to be highly competitive.
Department of Justice sues Campbell Soup over pollution at Ohio plant
According to the Justice Department, Campbell has been violating pollution limits at its northwestern Ohio plant since 2018. The pollutants identified in the water coming from Campbell’s plant include bacteria and E. coli.
The lawsuit was filed just hours after two environmental groups brought similar suits against the company. These suits seek to have the court fine Campbell for more than 5,000 violations and require the company to upgrade its plant’s wastewater treatment facility.
In response, Campbell issued a statement saying the company is taking the concerns very seriously and is acting to permanently resolve them.
FAA warns of total solar eclipse impacting air travel
In a bulletin titled “Special Air Traffic Procedures,” the FAA alerted travelers to potential disruptions to air travel before and after the eclipse. The agency warned of higher than normal traffic volumes and delays at airports along the eclipse’s path, including in cities like Cleveland, Dallas, and Indianapolis.
Fifteen states are located in what is known as the path of totality, where the moon completely blocks the sun for several minutes. However, every state will experience at least a partial solar eclipse.
For more information, look out for a special report on the total solar eclipse on SAN.com in the coming days.
More than 2,000 brackets remain perfect after 16 games
With the first round of the men’s NCAA tournament underway, many fans are facing busted brackets this morning. However, not everyone is out of the running; some brackets remain perfect.
After 16 games, more than 2,000 brackets are still intact out of over 29 million entries across major online tournament challenges, including those hosted by the NCAA, ESPN, CBS, and Yahoo.
The NCAA noted that most brackets were busted after the first two games, with victories by No. 9 Michigan State and No. 11 Duquesne. The upset of No. 14 Oakland defeating No. 3 Kentucky eliminated even more brackets — 6.5 percent of participants had Kentucky winning the championship.
Despite the widespread bracket failures, fans have made more accurate predictions than last year, when only 787 brackets remained perfect after the first day.
Loopholes in some plastic bag bans increase plastic waste
Do plastic bag bans work? A new report found that some people living in a city or state with a single-use plastic bag ban may still carry their groceries back from the store in plastic.
Environment America recently published a paper titled “Plastic Bag Bans Work.” The paper outlines the impacts of the bans throughout the nation, particularly in relation to litter and pollution.
“Single-use plastic bags, I think have become a poster child for wasteful plastics,” said Beyond Plastic Campaign Director Celeste Meiffren-Swango, an author of the paper and advocate for banning single-use plastic bags. “They’re constantly getting caught in trees, they’re lining our roadways. They’re polluting our waterways where they can harm wildlife. And so cities and states across the country have started taking action to reduce the use of this ubiquitous but kind of unnecessary product.”
According to the report, as of 2021, more than 500 cities across 28 states have a plastic bag ordinance. In 2024, there are 12 states that have some form of statewide ban in effect. Two of the most recent states to enact bans are Colorado and Rhode Island, where single-use plastic bag bans went into effect on Jan. 1.
“Unfortunately, in a set of the places that have passed bans on single use plastic checkout bags, the plastics industry figured out a way to continue to produce and sell wasteful plastic bags,” Meiffren-Swango said. “So our report found that in some places, a loophole actually allowed businesses to replace thin plastic bags with thicker, allegedly reusable ones at checkout for a fee. But a lot of people were only using these thicker bags once, too, before throwing them away.”
Some states actually saw an increase in plastic waste because of the heavier, supposedly reusable plastic bags. This is apparent in a recent Freedonia Group report, which highlighted how plastic waste in states like New Jersey has tripled in the nearly two years since it implemented its ban, despite touting its law as “the strongest bag ban in the nation.”
To close the loophole, some states require alternative grocery bags to be made out of paper or fabric. Rhode Island, for instance, requires bags to have a stitched handle and Colorado sells paper bags for 10 cents apiece at point-of-sale. Both states advocate for the use of fabric reusable bags.
“People across the country are ready to kind of move beyond plastic,” Meiffren-Swango said. “And these plastic bag bans really are a huge step in the right direction.”
On average, a well-constructed plastic bag ban can eliminate almost 300 single-use plastic bags per person per year. Meiffren-Swango’s report also includes a calculator that states and cities can use to figure out how much plastic they could possibly save if they instituted a ban.
“Nothing we use for just a few minutes should be polluting the environment for centuries,” Meiffren-Swango said. “And so the bottom line is that we are encouraging cities and states to continue to pass bag bans so that we can reduce plastic waste, cut down on litter and build a cleaner, greener future for everybody.”
US electric school bus adoption hits new high, detractors debate practicality
More electric school buses are set to hit American roadways than ever before, jumping by more than 200% since the start of 2022. There are now electric school bus commitments in 49 states, simulated by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rebate program, which awarded over $900 million for thousands of these vehicles across the nation.
“This investment will transform how millions of students get to school each and every day. It will help clean the air we breathe, protect public health and tackle the climate crisis,” said Michael Regan, administrator of the EPA. “These efforts will help build a better America by sending a strong signal to the industry and communities that zero-emission vehicles, they are the future.”
This initiative is part of the $5 billion earmarked within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models by 2026. The EPA projects that come 2027, nearly one-third of all school buses will be electric.
To keep up with growing demand, Blue Bird — one of the nation’s oldest school bus manufacturers — is investing millions in a new Electric Vehicle Build-up Center. The company hopes this new facility will help increase their production capacity from four electric buses per day to 20. Doing so would ultimately allow Blue Bird to output around 5,000 of these vehicles annually, more than quadrupling the number it currently has in operation.
“Based on the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law alone we anticipate thousands of additional electric school bus orders valued at an estimated $1 billion over five years,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Our new EV Build-up Center reflects Blue Bird’s steadfast commitment to school districts across the U.S. and Canada to meet increasing demand and deliver clean, safe and reliable student transportation when they need it.”
Experts say there are a number of potential benefits from this coming transition to electric school buses. A study by the World Resources Institute found that electrifying the full school bus fleet in the United States by 2030 would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off the roads.
Because electric school bus motors create no tailpipe emissions, they reduce students’ exposure to dangerous air pollutants. That keeps students safe from the serious physical dangers of diesel exhaust pollution.
Electric School Bus Initiative
“Because electric school bus motors create no tailpipe emissions, they reduce students’ exposure to dangerous air pollutants,” the Electric School Bus Initiative said. “That keeps students safe from the serious physical dangers of diesel exhaust pollution. Reducing students’ exposure to air pollution from school buses has been shown to have positive and significant effects.”
Each electric school bus produces less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of their diesel or propane-powered counterpart. They also offer reduced health risks when compared to the over 40 toxic air contaminants that exhaust fumes from diesel buses contain.
“Diesel engine exhaust is carcinogenic to humans, based on sufficient evidence that exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer,” said the American Lung Association. “Clean, electric school buses are better for kids’ health. School bus electrification is an important part of making the air healthier for everyone, especially children.”
Electrifying bus fleets also can save school districts money in the long-run, at an average of $6,000 every year on operational expenditures. Duncan McIntyre, CEO of Highland Electric Fleets — a company contracting services for electric school buses — said the maintenance costs are “probably about a third of the cost of a combustion engine vehicle.”
However, opponents of the movement say a mass adoption of electric school buses still is not practical. While the cost of maintaining these buses is less than those with combustion engines, their upfront expense is three to four times higher, coming with a price tag of around $350,000 to $450,000.
“If I have to replace my entire fleet of buses, and let’s say the most expensive bus I have is $160,000, to replace everything with a bus that’s going to cost $400,000, that’s huge, that’s really significant to our budget,” said Mellissa Mulvey, a school superintendent in western New York.
Additional concerns include the range of the batteries, which are capped at around 100 miles, making longer commutes or field trips difficult with an electric school bus. Newer models are being developed with batteries that will allow them to travel greater distance in an effort to alleviate some of these fears.
“If somebody handed me an endless amount of money and said ‘electrify your entire fleet tomorrow,’there will be some routes that would be challenging to electrify today,” said Boston School District’s Deputy Director of Transportation Jacqueline Hayes. “But we’re pretty confident that technology is going to get there in the next five years.”
Meanwhile, rural communities have also voiced opposition due to the scarcity of EV chargers and the toll electric school buses would take on their local power grid. The EPA has said it will prioritize funding for these rural districts and others that are most in need of assistance.
EPA will prioritize applications that will replace buses serving low-income, rural and Tribal communities.
Environmental Protection Agency
“EPA will prioritize applications that will replace buses serving low-income, rural and Tribal communities,” the EPA said in a statement. “Large school districts with communities of concentrated poverty also will be prioritized if their application focuses on clean school buses serving those communities.”
Officials hope that those government funds will help clear these hurdles, making charging technology more widely available and reducing the costs faced by school districts. Solving this issue comes with a ticking clock, as more and more states are now setting deadlines to mandate the purchase of only electric school buses going forward.
What the government’s ceiling fan proposal means for you
The Biden administration is recommending another household item be upgraded for energy efficiency following gas stoves, dishwashers, light bulbs and water heaters. This time it’s ceiling fans. The Department of Energy says its latest proposal to limit the emissions related to using ceiling fans will save a “significant” amount of energy and reduce air pollution.
If applied to standard residential ceiling fans, the Energy Department says the rule would cut electricity costs by about 40% relative to the least efficient fans currently on the market. The department’s suggestion has gained stark opposition, much like when the government proposed regulations on gas stoves.
According to this story’s media landscape, powered by Ground.News, most outlets are not covering it. However, the right-leaning sites covering this story are blaming Biden, like the New York Post, whose headline reads “Biden admin’s latest home appliance crackdown: ceiling fans.”
Left-leaning outlets are calling out the right’s reaction, like Salon‘s headline: “The latest right-wing panic? Joe Biden is coming for your ceiling fans!”
As media outlets report on the DOE’s proposal, Republican lawmakers are reacting to it. Congressman Ronny Jackson of Texas posted, “Get your filthy tyrant hands off of my ceiling fans!!”
Congressman Ben Cline, R-Va., said, “First, they went after your car. Then they targeted your gas stoves. Now, they are coming for your ceiling fans. America will continue to reject the Biden climate police’s authoritarianism.”
As the media reacts, the question remains: Are your ceiling fans in jeopardy?
The Biden administration wants ceiling fan manufacturers to meet more efficient standards. The DOE says energy-efficient fans would save households $39 in energy costs over the lifetime of the new and improved fan.
Although, the agency predicts given its new design, consumers could expect the price of fans to increase by about $10 apiece. The government says the weight of the financial burden of the potential ceiling fan transition would be cast on the fan manufacturers.
The conversion to an energy-efficient design would cost $107 million. Republicans on the House Committee on Small Business argue that may put between 10 to 30% of small fan manufacturers out of business.
The GOP members of the group sent a letter to the Department of Energy warning it of the potential impact if the new ceiling fan standards were to go into effect.
In a statement to Fox Business on Friday, Aug. 25, a DOE spokesperson said, “These proposed standards, which are required by Congress, wouldn’t take effect until 2028, would give Americans more energy efficient options to choose from, and would save hardworking taxpayers up to $369 million per year, while substantially reducing harmful air pollution — a crucial fact that some have conveniently failed to mention.”
The public comment period on the proposal ended last week.
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California is about to get the green light from the Biden administration to begin phasing out diesel-powered trucks. This comes as major trucking companies have been pushing back against the state’s proposed regulations.
California is looking to cut tailpipe pollution and phase out sales of diesel trucks. The state wants vehicles like delivery vans, garbage trucks and big rigs to cut emissions. The new regulations would begin as soon as the 2024 model year.
Truck makers will also be required to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emission trucks. The goal is to be selling all-electric vehicles by 2045.
According to sources from the Washington Post, the Environmental Protection Agency will approve the states’ clean energy policies, despite expected legal challenges from trucker organizations. Some of the nation’s largest truck manufacturers and their lobbying groups are expected to sue to stop the policies from taking effect.
It’s not only California looking to adopt more stringent pollution standards. New York, Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington and Vermont have committed to adopting California’s policies.
Warnock holds on to Senate seat; Trump organization guilty
Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock wins his Senate runoff election; Trump organization found guilty; airlines pay for pollution; and San Francisco calls off its killer robots. These stories and more highlight the morning update for Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022.
Raphael Warnock retains Georgia Senate seat
Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock defeated Republican challenger Herschel Walker in the Georgia runoff election.
“It is my honor to utter the four most powerful words ever spoken in a democracy, the people have spoken,” Warnock said Tuesday night.
While Democrats already had control of the Senate, Warnock’s win gives his party an outright 51-49 majority.
Supreme Court discusses controversial election theory
While the 2022 midterm election is now at a close after Tuesday night’s results, the landscape of future elections will be debated at the Supreme Court Wednesday.
The high court will discuss a controversial legal theory that declares state legislatures have the final say in how to conduct elections, including redistricting inside their states.
As it stands today, state courts can strike down a state legislature’s proposed redistricting map. That’s what happened in North Carolina. The state legislatures redrew the lines, but a state court threw it out. And Republican lawmakers sued.
It’s now up to the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether state lawmakers have the highest authority or whether oversight is warranted.
The ruling won’t only effect a legislature’s power over redistricting, it could also reshape many aspects of the election process.
Trump organization found guilty of tax fraud
“The former president’s companies now stand convicted of crimes. that is consequential,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Tuesday.
The organization faces a possible fine of up to $1.6 million. Top executives were accused of manipulating the books to avoid paying personal income taxes on what they considered write-offs, such as apartments and cars.
Former President Donald Trump was not on trial. The organization’s former finance chief had already pleaded guilty to tax crimes prior to yesterday’s ruling.
China’s Xi Jinping travels to Saudi Arabia today
China’s communist leader, Xi Jinping, will be arriving in Saudi Arabia Wednesday, just five months after Saudi leaders met with President Biden. They are now welcoming America’s adversary for talks on economy and security.
China’s visit is seen as a historic meeting between the two sides. A sign the two countries who share authoritative regimes could enhance a partnership.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have long shared an understanding, but they’ve recently been at odds after Saudi Arabia’s cut to oil production.
Airlines to pay for how much it pollutes
We told you yesterday that airlines are looking to cut emissions but the price of the transition to cleaner energy will fall on customers.
A new law announced Wednesday, puts new pressure on airlines to make that transition happen fast. The European Union took to a vote in the early hours today deciding airlines will now have to pay when their planes produce too much pollution in Europe.
It adds new pressure to the transportation sector to shift away from fossil fuels.
San Francisco reverses robot force
Remember when San Francisco agreed for its police to add robots to its force? Never mind, says the city officials in a drastic U-turn decision after public outcry.
The reversal comes just one week after the board voted 8 to 3 to approve the use of robots only in extreme situations.
Now, in another 8-to-3 vote, the board says they changed their mind, siding with protesters calling for a stop to killer robots.