OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Parties trade barbs on park closures, gas and mining battles flare, and more

The U.S. natural-gas production boom has fueled an array of industry applications to expand exports. The Energy Department has approved a few plans, and pro-export lawmakers and business groups are pressing for more.

“Such a summit with our global friends would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago. Our natural gas boom is creating jobs and revitalizing manufacturing here at home, but it also offers an opportunity for us to help our allies and trading partners fuel their economy and reduce the world’s reliance on unstable regions of the world,” committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said in a statement. 

{mosads}But the export push is getting pushback from some prominent Democrats and a handful of big manufacturers — notably Dow Chemical — who fear higher domestic prices for consumers and industries that rely on the fuel.

ON TAP THURSDAY II: A House Natural Resources subcommittee will hold a hearing on what Republicans call “abusive actions” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) against mining operations across the country.

The EPA’s “onerous regulations” and “burdensome red tape” have halted work at mines, according to a subcommittee notice about the hearing.

The hearing will explore topics including coal policy and the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, a copper-and-gold mining project that Republicans accuse the EPA of trying to scuttle.

Click here for more information about the hearing.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Check out these stories that ran on E2-Wire on Wednesday . . .

– GOP: EPA ‘listening’ tour ignores coal-powered states
– Big flooring retailer accused for importing illegal wood
– LA Times won’t print letters denying global warming
– Groups sue EPA over outdated furnace, boiler regs
– Rep. King: Shutdown shouldn’t delay biofuels rule
– Report: Carbon taxes, trading bring most cost-effective CO2 cuts
– Coal supporters put fresh pressure on White House

NEWS BITES:

In praise of ‘Risky Business’

The Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change sent a letter to activist donor Tom Steyer, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson cheering their new initiative to gauge the economic risk of global warming.



The trio recently revealed plans to fund an analysis that will provide a detailed look at the effects of climate change on the U.S. economy.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), a co-chairman of the bicameral climate group, plans to send every member of Congress the Oct. 3 Washington Post op-ed that the three penned.

“As business and government leaders skilled in risk management, you are asking exactly the right questions: What are the economic risks to the United States of climate change and what are the prudent steps we need to be taking now to manage this risk? We salute you for undertaking this effort and look forward to using the initiative’s findings to inform Congress about the costs of carbon pollution,” states the letter from Waxman, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and other Democrats.

From around the web . . .

The Denver Post looks at wind power growth in Colorado.

The New York Times reports that the head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development wants to make climate change a higher priority on the global agenda.

National Public Radio explores the battle over the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

The Associated Press reports that a federal court dealt a blow to green groups trying to halt the southern piece of Keystone XL.

Please send tips and comments to Ben Geman, ben.geman@digital-staging.thehill.com, or Laura Barron-Lopez, laurab@digital-staging.thehill.com

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