Overnight Energy — Sponsored by the National Biodiesel Board — Perry predicts oil market ‘stability’ after Iran sanctions | Dem seeks restrictions on trophy hunting | EPA children’s health official put on leave
PERRY SEEKS OIL MARKET ‘STABILITY’: Energy Secretary Rick Perry predicted that world oil markets will be “stable” after the upcoming deadline for countries to stop buying oil from Iran.
Amid fears of massive price spikes from a major oil producer effectively dropping out of the market, Perry told reporters that he’s not overly worried, and believes other nations will pick up the slack.
“In the short run, is there potential for price spikes? Sure, I mean a lot of things could happen out there, I don’t want to speculate on them because they haven’t happened,” Perry said Wednesday.
“It’s not in anyone’s interests for these oil prices to spike,” he said. “So everything that we can do to send a message to the global market that we’re going to do everything within reason to keep a stable supply of crude — which in turn basically says there’s going to be a stable pricing of their cost of energy — is a good message.”
U.S. officials have told allies to stop buying oil from Iran by Nov. 4. It’s part of the reimposition of sanctions on the nation after President Trump rejected former President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran and other western nations.
Analysts expect 1 million to 1.5 million barrels per day of oil to be removed from the market when that deadline hits.
Keeping markets stable was a central message in Perry’s recent trip to Russia, Austria and Romania, which included meetings with top energy officials from both Russia and Saudi Arabia.
“Our message was that a steady supply is good for the world. These big, cyclical changes in supply … [that] is not good for the world’s economy. We need as best we can to keep that price of crude — which in turn drives the price of energy resources, whether it’s gasoline or some other condensate that comes from that — as stable as we can,” he said.
Saudi Arabia doesn’t mind Trump’s OPEC comments, Perry says: Perry said he doesn’t believe Saudi Arabian leaders mind Trump’s comments that OPEC is “ripping off the rest of the world.”
“I think they understand that we live in interesting times,” Perry said. “I don’t think that they particularly knee-jerk when something is said by me or the president. They understand that this is probably one of the best relationships with the United States that they’ve ever had.”
On coal and nuclear assistance: Perry largely didn’t have news for reporters on the Trump administration’s attempts to help coal and nuclear power plants.
“It’s still being talked about, still being bandied around the White House, and we’ve given them all the information that we have to show them where the potential for challenges are, and waiting for them to make a decision about what direction to go,” Perry said, adding that department officials have completed what the White House asked of them.
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GRIJALVA PROPOSES NEW TROPHY HUNTING IMPORT RESTRICTIONS: The top House Democrat overseeing endangered species is proposing new restrictions on the ability of trophy hunters to bring parts of animals they have hunted back into the United States.
The bill from Rep. Raul Grijalva (Ariz.), the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, would mandate permits for hunters to bring in trophies of animals that have been proposed for Endangered Species Act protections, and codify the requirement that any trophy imports must help conservation of the animal’s species.
It would also prohibit elephant and lion trophy imports from Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Grijalva named the legislation the Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large Animal Trophies Act, or CECIL Animal Trophies Act, after Cecil the African lion whose 2015 killing by American dentist and big-game hunter Walter Palmer caused an international uproar.
The Democrat introduced his legislation late Tuesday, in advance of the Natural Resources Committee’s consideration this week of a handful of GOP-backed bills to ease the Endangered Species Act, including by letting the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) delay consideration of petitions to protect species.
“This is the whole industry wish list in one sitting,” Grijalva said in a statement.
“If these bills become law, the Endangered Species Act will cease to exist and we’ll look back on Sept. 26 as Wipeout Wednesday. Democrats want to shrink the endangered species list by returning these species to full health; Republicans seem to want to shrink the list by letting endangered species die.”
Read more.
EPA’S TOP CHILDREN’S HEALTH OFFICIAL PUT ON LEAVE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday placed Office of Children’s Health Protection Director Dr. Ruth Etzel on administrative leave without explanation in a move critics warn could be part of an effort to shut the office down, an effort that the EPA denies exists.
The New York Times reports that Etzel was placed on leave and asked to hand over her badge, keys and cellphone, according to an EPA official who was familiar with the decision but would not speak publicly.
An EPA spokesman says that the agency does not comment on personnel matters and would not confirm nor deny the reports of Etzel’s employment status to The Hill.
The spokesman did however unequivocally deny comments that the agency was shutting down the Office of Children’s Health Protection, which is situated under EPA’s Office of the Administrator.
“EPA Headquarters has a number of specialty focused offices including the children’s health, environmental justice, civil rights, and small business offices and these offices will continue to be a part of headquarters and regional organizations,” John Konkus, EPA spokesman said in a statement.
“Children’s health is and has always been a top priority for the Trump Administration and the EPA in particular is focused on reducing lead exposure in schools, providing funds for a cleaner school bus fleet, and cleaning up toxic sites so that children have safe environments to learn and play.”
The reported administrative change set off fears for some in the health-care industry who have been watching the internal changes at EPA.
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ON TAP THURSDAY:
The House Natural Resources Committee will meet to vote on 10 bills on endangered species, historic protections, public land and other areas.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s energy subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the Energy Department’s new office of cybersecurity, energy security and emergency response.
The House Science Committee’s energy subcommittee will hold a hearing on the future of nuclear energy.
The House Oversight Committee’s subcommittee on Interior and environment will hold a hearing on environmental litigation.
OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY:
A federal judge ruled that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cannot regulate Gulf of Mexico fish farming, the Associated Press reports.
Germany’s environment ministry won’t work to block the European Commission’s new greenhouse gas limits despite its objections, Reuters reports.
British banking giant Standard Chartered plans to stop financing new coal-fired power plants, S&P Global Platts reports.
FROM THE HILL’S OPINION SECTION:
Bill Arnold, a professor of energy management at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, says Trump’s anger at OPEC won’t change much for the cartel.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Check out stories from Wednesday …
– Perry: Oil markets likely ‘stable’ after Iran sanctions take force
– Obama jabs at Trump’s lack of ‘commitment’ on climate change
– Dem bill would restrict trophy hunting imports
– EPA puts top children’s health official on leave
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