The Obama administration has announced a slew of initiatives to drive innovation, investment and development of renewable and energy-efficiency projects.
Construction starts in July remained generally unchanged from June’s pace, holding steady in a market that has seen 19% growth during the first seven months of 2015, according to Dodge Data & Analytics.
New U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed rules would cut methane emissions sharply but oil and gas industry groups contend they would put new requirements on oil and gas companies.
Related Links: EPA"s final rule White House Fact Sheet on the Clean Power Plan The Obama administration’s final Clean Power Plan—the centerpiece of the president’s strategy to address climate change—includes several changes from a 2014 draft, to make it easier for states to comply and still reduce carbon emissions, supporters say.But many construction companies and groups associated with the industry, from cement and steel producers to construction unions, worry that the regulation will cost jobs and boost the cost of electricity.Several states vehemently opposed to what they call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "war on coal" say they will file
Related Links: EPA's final rule Some statistics on coal ash use from the American Coal Ash Association Construction groups cheered the House’s passage of a bill that would codify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recent designation of coal ash as a non-hazardous material. The House approved a measure on July 22 that would ensure that EPA maintains its designation of coal ash as a “solid waste” under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).EPA in December 2014 released a final rule that set minimum standards for disposing of coal ash, a by-product of coal combustion. But the agency stopped short
Related Links: Page with link to bill summary American Council on Renewable Energy's media release and link to two policy reports highlighting policy recommendations related to renewable energy. Construction and energy groups are hopeful that, this fall, Congress will pass a bill to extend popular tax credits through the end of 2016. The Senate Finance Committee on July 21 easily approved a $95-billion package of “extenders.” But further action is unlikely before lawmakers begin their August recess. Over the past several years, Congress has dealt with tax-break extensions in the final weeks, or even days, of the year. The Finance
Related Links: Summary of key provisions in energy bill. Draft of House bill marked up by Energy and Power Subcommittee Comprehensive energy legislation is gathering steam on Capitol Hill.A House energy subcommittee on July 22 approved a bipartisan measure that focuses on modernizing energy infrastructure, workforce, energy security and energy efficiency. Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) called the bill a good starting point, but noted that more work needs to be done to ensure that “the right policies are put in place.” On both sides of the aisle, however, the legislation has critics. Industry groups, such as the American Petroleum
The U.S. Government Accountability Office says that while most federal agencies use third-party green-building rating systems, they still find requirements tough to implement on new projects and renovations.
The American Farm Bureau, National Association of Home Builders and other groups are reviewing whether they will appeal a court ruling upholding mandatory pollution reductions in Chesapeake Bay.In a July 6 decision, a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the Environmental Protection Agency, working with states, had the legal authority to enforce the bay plan.In 2010, EPA established a “total maximum daily load” to reduce the bay’s nitrogen and phosphorus levels. Under the plan, the six states that feed into the bay are required to implement measures to trim water pollution by 2025. If the
With the announcement that BP has reached an agreement with the federal government over damages caused to the Gulf of Mexico by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, observers say the time line for significant coastal restoration projects will be accelerated.
