Overnight Energy: Koch backs bill opposing carbon taxes | Lawmakers look to Interior budget to block offshore drilling | EPA defends FOIA process

by Miranda Green and Timothy Cama - 07/16/18 5:56 PM ET

KOCH INDUSTRIES BACKS MEASURE OPPOSING CARBON TAXES: Koch Industries on Monday offered support for a House resolution that would oppose any carbon tax.

In a letter to House lawmakers supporting the measure, Koch takes a clear stance that Congress should denounce potential taxes on carbon dioxide emissions.

The company’s president of government and public affairs, Philip Ellender, urges support for the GOP-backed resolution that would make clear that “a carbon tax would be detrimental to the American economy.”

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“Rather than imposing a carbon tax that would ultimately hurt the very people it is trying to protect, it is important that the government allow energy innovation to progress in line with market demand,” Ellender wrote. “At a time when more American families are feeling the benefits of tax reform and a strong, pro-growth economic agenda championed by Congress and the administration, it is important to keep the momentum at full speed.”

The House is set to vote this week on the measure, which would condemn the idea of a carbon tax. The legislation would ultimately be nonbinding.

The resolution was introduced by House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) in April, and would say that a tax on carbon dioxide emissions “would be detrimental to American families and businesses, and is not in the best interest of the United States.”

“A carbon tax would make energy more expensive and raise the costs of consumer products and services on which people depend,” Ellender said in his letter. “It would also make U.S. producers less cost competitive, driving production and jobs to other parts of the world.”

The stakes: Carbon taxes have long been supported by many Democrats and environmentalists as a way to discourage the use of fuels that contribute to climate change. But lately, some conservative economists have also backed the idea.

Read more here.

ON TAP TUESDAY:

The Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee will consider amendments to the Endangered Species Act — a decades old law that Republicans have increasingly challenged as too restrictive to industry. The main bill to be considered was unveiled by Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) earlier this month.

The Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee will discuss the Interior Department’s final list of critical minerals for 2018. An area of disagreement will likely stem from proposals to add uranium to the list.

The House Natural Resources Committee’s subcommittee on federal land will hold a hearing on eight bills in its jurisdiction.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s subcommittee on Interior will hold a hearing on tribal energy resources.

The House Science Committee’s subcommittees on energy and environment will hold a hearing on the future of fossil fuels.

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY:

A federal appeals court ruled that the U.S. Geological Survey isn’t responsible for the death of a helicopter pilot who flew into an overhead cable the agency owns, the Arizona Daily Sun reports.

Rumors about potential releases from the United States’ federal oil stockpile helped send oil prices plunging Monday, CNNMoney reports.

An investment group announced plans Monday for a 7,100-acre solar farm on federal land in Nevada, KSNV reports.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Check out stories from Monday and the weekend …

-Koch backs House measure opposing carbon taxes

-EPA defends FOIA policy after criticism

-Putin on high gas prices: There is ‘space for cooperation here’

-Lawmakers aim to use spending bill to block offshore drilling

-WeWork will stop serving meat at company events in effort to reduce environmental impact

-Adidas to only use recycled plastics in its products by 2024

-New EPA chief draws sharp contrast to Pruitt