Monumental drought relief funding
Biden-Harris Administration invests in national labs and announces net-zero initiative
Funding diverted from fossil fuel equipment installation
Republican energy plans
Manchin looks to reform defence bill for stalled permitting
Climate change priority level shifting
Voters approve $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act
Wins for climate-friendly democrats at state level
California climate impact report
This article outlines pertinent legal and policy climate change developments in the United States during the past week.(1)
Monumental drought relief funding
The Department of Interior recently announced the Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency programme, which is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. The programme is seeking proposals for projects that advance water conservation and efficiency efforts and prevent the Colorado River basin from declining to critically low elevations. The 21 November 2022 proposal deadline is fast approaching.
Biden-Harris Administration invests in national labs and announces net-zero initiative
The Biden-Harris administration announced a $1.5 billion investment to "build and upgrade America's national laboratories" to drive clean energy solutions. The White House additionally released a report identifying "five initial priorities that will help enable the United States to meet the President's goal of cutting greenhouse gases by 50-52 percent in 2030 and get to net-zero emissions by no later than 2050".
Funding diverted from fossil fuel equipment installation
The General Services Administration (GSA) announced that, across the country, it will not be using the funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to install fossil fuel-based equipment in its 1,500 buildings. As a reflection of the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to incorporate climate policies across agencies, GSA aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
As Republicans plan to assume the majority in the House of Representatives, their energy agenda will focus on quickly approving fossil fuel projects and investigating the huge climate expenditures of the Biden-Harris administration. Additionally, the effort is likely to incorporate elements of Kevin McCarthy's previously released energy strategy, which seeks to address gas prices and increase all types of energy production.
Manchin looks to reform defence bill for stalled permitting
At Stanford University's Global Energy Forum, Senator Joe Manchin indicated that he seeks to include his permitting reform language into the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. With the expectation of a Republican controlled House, Democrats are seeking to address permitting concerns and President Biden continues to indicate his support for changes.
Climate change priority level shifting
In the approach to the 2022 midterm elections, polling revealed that the climate change crisis is not a pivotal point. While republicans view climate change as a low priority, election cycles indicate that the democrats' attitude towards it is shifting. This is said to be due in part to participation from a younger voting generation who have grown up with the climate change crisis being a constant concern.
Voters approve $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act
New York voters approved $4.2 billion in state borrowing that was proposed by governor Kathy Hochul and the state legislature to pay for major climate projects. These projects are said to be pivotal in the development of a more robust response to pollution and climate change.
Wins for climate-friendly democrats at state level
The recent midterm elections saw wins for state-level democrats following the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act earlier this year. Democratic successes included wins for governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Tim Walz of Minnesota, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, J B Pritzker of Illinois and Janet Mills of Maine.
California climate impact report
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's Indicators of Climate Change in California report found that climate impacts are affecting California sooner than expected. The report highlights that California's fiscal 2022-23 budget had to accommodate drought, wildfire risks and fossil fuels transitions, among other things. The budget also had to take into account its mandate to sell increasing numbers of zero-emission vehicles. California is simultaneously wrestling with worsening climate impacts.
For further information on this topic please contact Kenneth J Markowitz, Stacey H Mitchell, Dario J Frommer or Christopher A Treanor at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP by telephone (+1 202 887 4000) or email ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or ctreanor[email protected]). The Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP website can be accessed at www.akingump.com.
Leila Fleming, public policy specialist, assisted with the preparation of this article.
Endnotes
(1) For further updates, including upcoming congressional hearings, federal agency climate news and events, click here. For the previous week's update, click here.