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Benjamin J. Hulac

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"Democrats have to be the responsible adults in the room, and there's a lot in that bill we don't like, so we've got a tough decision to make in the next 24 hours," Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., said in an interview Tuesday.

Debt bill’s pipeline provision puts Democrats in a tight spot

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted May 31, 2023 at 12:22pm
The legislation would speed the approval of new power lines.

Power line bill gets traction in debt limit deal

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted May 25, 2023 at 5:06pm
Police in riot gear stand in front of the White House as demonstrators gathered to protest the death of George Floyd near the White House in 2020.

Inspector general faults Park Police in 2020 protest response

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted May 25, 2023 at 1:55pm
A coal-fired power plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, set to be decommissioned in 2025.

EPA releases proposal for limiting power plant carbon emissions

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted May 11, 2023 at 6:00am
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said the Biden administration "has made it clear they are hellbent on doing everything in their power to regulate coal- and gas-fueled power plants out of existence."

Manchin says he will oppose all EPA nominees

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted May 10, 2023 at 4:53pm
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., introduced permitting bills on April 4.

Meet the new permitting debate. It’s the same as the old one.

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted May 8, 2023 at 11:06am
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., one of the leaders of the inquiry while chairing the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Environment, passed its work to Senate Budget Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., who had previously talked with Khanna about examining the oil companies' climate comments.

Democrats still aim to probe oil giants’ climate-change knowledge

By David Jordan and Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted May 3, 2023 at 11:48am
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said he hopes the regulation considers the "terrible social cost of carbon emissions."

As EPA readies climate rule, Obama and Trump eras linger

By Benjamin J. Hulac and David Jordan
Posted May 1, 2023 at 12:38pm
A solar energy farm near Fort Stockton, Texas.

With defectors on both sides, House passes solar tariff measure

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted April 28, 2023 at 12:53pm
The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station generates electricity in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, Calif.

Biden threatens veto on measure to restore solar tariffs

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted April 24, 2023 at 2:41pm
A technician prepares a Toyota Mirai hydrogen-fuel cell car for a customer in El Monte, Calif.

Hydrogen energy gets ready for its close-up as US funds flow

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted April 20, 2023 at 6:00am
“American workers and consumers are being cheated," said Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo.

Resolution to restore solar tariff advances in House

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted April 19, 2023 at 12:45pm
Solar panels are being installed on the roof of a house in North Carolina.

Bipartisan measure to block solar tariff waiver heads to markup

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted April 17, 2023 at 2:33pm
Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy plans legislation that would impose fees on certain imports.

As European tax looms, a border fee draws bipartisan focus

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted April 12, 2023 at 5:00am
California GOP Rep. Michelle Steel walks down the House steps after the last vote on Thursday.

Environmental group ads target GOP supporters of energy bill

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted March 30, 2023 at 1:51pm
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, said the energy public lands and permitting package that passed the House "drags us backward."

House passes GOP energy bill

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted March 30, 2023 at 1:40pm
"The main goal is to lower energy prices," House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., said in a recent interview. "But there's some benefits that come along with that, like energy security and also national security. And in the process of that, you get economic growth in the U.S."

House GOP’s energy bill hitting the floor amid market volatility

By Lindsey McPherson and Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted March 27, 2023 at 11:23am
Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, says the methane tax in last year's climate law will hurt independent fossil fuel companies.

With US fossil fuel production up, GOP would step on the gas

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted March 20, 2023 at 11:52am
“Voters gave Republicans the majority in Congress to stop this radical anti-American energy agenda and to take action that will lower prices, and House Republicans listened,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said.

Sweeping GOP energy bill would sweep away Biden’s climate agenda

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted March 14, 2023 at 7:32pm, Updated at 7:40pm
Shortly after the budget request was released, Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., touted a coming package of GOP-sponsored energy bills to increase fossil energy output, narrow environmental safeguards and speed approval of energy projects.

GOP takes up arms against Biden’s energy, climate spending plan

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted March 13, 2023 at 2:10pm
Oil pipelines stretch across the landscape outside Nuiqsut, Alaska, where ConocoPhillips operates another oil field.

Alaska oil project approved as protection sought for other areas

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted March 13, 2023 at 1:44pm, Updated at 4:19pm
Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., has shepherded many of the bills through the Natural Resources Committee he chairs.

Scalise: Broad GOP energy package to House floor this month

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted March 8, 2023 at 1:55pm
The American Electric Power Mountaineer coal power plant in New Haven, W.Va., aimed to capture at least 90 percent of its carbon dioxide emissions. But the company withdrew from a 2009 DOE carbon-capture initiative, citing a lack of legislative and regulatory support for cost recovery, according to a 2021 GAO report.

Carbon capture, a federal spending target, has much to prove

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted March 6, 2023 at 3:44pm
Richard Nunn, assistant curator at the National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility, with an ice core sample.

Ice lab gets to the core of the climate crisis

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted February 28, 2023 at 12:32pm
Protesters call for an embargo of Russian oil and gas in front in the German Reichstag building in Berlin on April 6, 2022.

War in Ukraine has reshaped global energy markets

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted February 23, 2023 at 12:00pm
A ChargePoint station in New Carrollton, Md., is seen during an event on Sept. 20, 2021, to promote electric vehicles.

Administration to announce EV charging station standards

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted February 15, 2023 at 9:31am
Oil pipelines stretch across the landscape outside Nuiqsut, Alaska.

As Willow project decision nears, Alaska ponders ties to oil

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted February 15, 2023 at 9:28am
Environmental activists rallied in front of the White House last year to oppose more ocean drilling.

After big energy investments, Biden must prep for GOP scrutiny

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted February 6, 2023 at 12:51pm
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, seen here campaigning in November, nixed a potential Ford Motor Co. electric-battery plant in his state over worries about national security due to the automaker’s manufacturing ties with China.

With EV batteries in demand, some in GOP say ‘no’ to China

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted January 30, 2023 at 10:11am
FERC member Willie Phillips, above, was named acting chairman after the exit of Chairman Richard Glick, setting up possible 2-2 deadlocks on some issues.

Now in the spotlight, FERC has an acting leader and a vacancy

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted January 9, 2023 at 9:34am
Lobsterman Jim Hanscom of Bar Harbor was among demonstrators in Portland, Maine, last fall calling on the state to sue the federal government against requirements intended to protect the North American right whale.

Spending law presents challenges for environmental regulators

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted January 6, 2023 at 6:00am
Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, left, conferred with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2021 as President Joe Biden pledged billions in U.S. support for poor nations coping with climate change.

Biden faces international climate-aid challenge in fiscal 2024

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted December 28, 2022 at 6:00am
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has been the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Energy and Commerce agenda: More support for fossil fuels

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted December 19, 2022 at 6:00am
Sen. Joe Manchin III's legislation would change the Clean Water Act, set statutes of limitations on environmental lawsuits and create timelines for environmental reviews of industrial projects.

Permitting legislation finds roadblocks in path to NDAA

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted November 21, 2022 at 1:16pm
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit.

Climate talks convene with US and world falling short of goals

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted November 7, 2022 at 3:44pm
Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., is one of several lawmakers who have offered "right-to-repair" bills.

Bills target corporate practices thwarting product repairs

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted November 2, 2022 at 6:00am
Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., actor Martin Sheen, and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., wear their climate action pins during a January 2020 protest on Capitol Hill.

Climate pins join a long line of Capitol Hill lapel adornments

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted October 25, 2022 at 6:15am
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., seen here with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., right, in August, said last week the president's planned sale of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve would be a political stunt to help Democrats in November.

GOP pans oil reserve sale despite a long and bipartisan history

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted October 24, 2022 at 6:00am
President Joe Biden will announce another sale of 15 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Biden to announce more oil reserve sales to reduce gas prices

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted October 19, 2022 at 5:51am
Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., said OPEC's maneuver shows why the Senate should reconsider his permitting proposal, which would limit environmental permitting timelines, rewrite federal water laws and approve a gas pipeline in his state.

OPEC production cuts add fuel to domestic energy debates

By Benjamin J. Hulac and James Downing
Posted October 5, 2022 at 4:49pm, Updated at 5:11pm
Federal pipeline inspectors were among the responders investigating a 2010 gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif.

Pipeline safety agency with big task lacks key resources

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted October 5, 2022 at 2:17pm
Republicans often view a permitting overhaul as a way to cut through environmental reviews, while Democrats think of it as a way to speed low-carbon power projects and decouple from fossil fuels. Above, high-voltage electricity transmission towers and lines in Texas.

With Manchin’s bill aside, other permitting proposals await

By Benjamin J. Hulac and David Jordan
Posted September 28, 2022 at 6:30am
Connie Fitzsimmons of Blacksburg, Va., demonstrates in Washington with Appalachian and indigenous climate advocates against the Mountain Valley Pipeline project on Sept. 8.

Manchin push on pipeline approval recalls 1970s dam project

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted September 26, 2022 at 6:30am
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., left, and Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pushed for Senate action on the Kigali Amendment to limit highly potent greenhouse gases. The Senate approved the treaty 69-27 on Wednesday.

Senate approves treaty that would limit potent greenhouse gases

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted September 21, 2022 at 9:15pm
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and her husband are invested in one of the energy companies behind the Mountain Valley Pipeline in West Virginia.

Pipeline’s backers have financial, campaign ties

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted September 19, 2022 at 12:43pm
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III and Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito are both pushing legislation that would approve a natural gas pipeline for their state, West Virginia.

Beating Manchin to punch, Capito unveils permitting bill

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted September 12, 2022 at 6:48pm
Revesz may play a prominent role in the Biden administration’s policy agenda if Republicans take control of one or both chambers of Congress in January.

Regulatory oversight nominee made a career studying regulation

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted September 12, 2022 at 6:00am
Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, organized the letter.

72 Democrats sign letter opposing Manchin permitting bill

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted September 9, 2022 at 3:43pm
A man stands at a seawall partially washed away by Tropical Storm Noel in South Palm Beach, Fla., in 2007.

Lawmakers may argue about climate change, but they want seawalls

By Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted August 25, 2022 at 4:22pm
Coal-fired Navajo Generating Station near Page, Ariz.

Reconciliation language shores up EPA clean air authority

By David Jordan and Benjamin J. Hulac
Posted August 25, 2022 at 3:57pm