OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Justices back EPA on greenhouse gas permits

by Laura Barron-Lopez and Timothy Cama - 06/23/14 6:53 PM ET

EPA GETS THE OK, WELL MOSTLY: The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can require permits for stationary sources of greenhouse gas emissions, but not if carbon dioxide is the only pollutant that needs a permit.

The court also ruled 7-2 that the EPA is still allowed to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

{mosads}The 5-4 decision on permits concluded that the EPA can require that factories, power plants, fuel refineries and other facilities that exceed thresholds for pollutants like soot and nitrogen oxide can also be required to adopt technology that reduces carbon.

The mixed ruling led to celebrations both by those who want to limit the EPA’s power over greenhouse gases and those who want to expand it. Read more here.

ON TAP TUESDAY I: The House will vote on legislation that would expedite liquefied natural gas exports.

Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), who is challenging Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) for his Senate seat this year, sponsored the bill, which initially set a 90-day clock on the Department of Energy (DOE) to approve pending applications for natural gas export facilities.

Udall revised his bill early last week, dropping the timeline from 90 to 45 days for the DOE.

On Friday, Gardner upped the ante, offering a manager’s amendment to his bill that would give the DOE only 30 days to decide on applications.

The bill is expected to easily pass the House, as Republicans have been pushing the administration to speed up exports to non-Free Trade Agreement countries in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis.

But don’t expect the Senate to move on it any time soon.

ON TAP TUESDAY II: The House Rules Committee will meet to consider two energy related bills that House leaders want to bring to the floor this week: Lowering Gasoline Prices to Fuel an America That Works Act, which seeks to reduce energy prices by expanding oil and gas drilling on federal land and offshore, and the appropriations bill to fund the DOE and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Rest of Tuesday’s agenda…

Natural gas … The Joint Economic Committee will hold a hearing on the economic impact of increasing natural gas production. Lawmakers have invited representatives of the United Parcel Service Inc., Anadarko Petroleum Corp., IHS Inc., the Environmental Defense Fund and the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.

Energy jobs … The House Natural Resources subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will host a hearing on the role of educational institutions in energy job opportunities. The panel has invited leaders from institutions around the country, including the Texas State Technical College System, Lackawanna College, the South Dakota School of Mines and technology, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Utah State University and Greenfield Community College.

WOTUS … The House Natural Resources subcommittee on Water and Power will hold a hearing on the EPA’s joint rule with the Army Corps of Engineers, known as the Waters of the U.S. rule, that seeks to redefine the federal government’s jurisdiction for the Clean Water Act. The witnesses will represent a range of affected parties, including the National Water Resources Association, the State of Wyoming, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, the Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. and the New Belgium Brewing Co.

EPA’s authority … The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee will mark up legislation that would block the EPA from proposing, or finalizing regulations based on science that isn’t transparent or commercially viable. Republicans claim the new carbon emissions standards are based on “unsound” science, and look to such legislation as a means to kill the rules.

LNG exports … The Natural Gas Roundtable is hosting a discussion on liquefied natural gas exports, transportation and the Panama Canal. Federal Maritime Commission Commissioner William Doyle will be the guest speaker.

NEWS BITES:

Climate anniversary… Also, in case you were wondering this week marks the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s speech at Georgetown University, which unveiled his climate change agenda.

Obama will speak at the League of Conservation Voters’ annual Capital Dinner. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will speak at an earlier LCV event Wednesday morning to mark the anniversary and to talk about the president’s climate agenda.

EPA’s powers … Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) wasn’t pleased with the Supreme Court Monday. Like Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), who also opposed the EPA’s climate regulations, and who called the ruling a “chink in the EPA’s armor,” Vitter slammed the decision.

“This ruling clearly limits EPA’s authority in some respects, but it’s equally clear to me that the courts are still providing the Agency too much deference,” Vitter said. “I hope – sooner than later – the courts will actually decide that the Agency cannot just make up numbers and science and violate these internal controls that should be taken seriously, like requiring emission reductions and the use of technologies that are based on shaky science and legal justifications.”

AROUND THE WEB:

Due largely to oil and natural gas, Houston’s economy is booming, but business leaders are afraid of running out of workers, Reuters reports.

The recent violence in Iraq has put into doubt its plans to increase oil production, the Associated Press reports.

Last month was the hottest May on record, the Los Angeles Times reports, citing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Check out Monday’s stories…

– Reid offers GOP anti-EPA vote for a price
– House passes energy efficiency bills
– Experts: Ruling helps target top polluters
– US mayors pass climate change resolution
– Consumer group: Drivers buying more fuel efficient cars
– House schedules hearing on EPA management
– Both sides see victory in Supreme Court’s ruling on EPA regs
– W.Va. Dem: Supreme Court ruling ‘chink in EPA’s armor’
– Former Bush official calls for carbon tax
– Supreme Court largely upholds EPA’s greenhouse gas powers
– Australian PM moves to repeal carbon tax
– Feds clear drilling in sensitive bird’s habitat
– Week ahead: House to vote on gas exports, pipelines