EPA finalizes first clean trucks rule in 21 years, but it could be better
The EPA has finalized a long-awaited update to their truck emissions rules, the first update to US truck clean air standards since 2001, though environmental groups say the EPA could do better.
Expand Expanding CloseThe EPA just awarded $1 billion to 389 school districts for electric school buses
The Biden Administration today announced the recipients of nearly $1 billion of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2022 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition. In other words, that means thousands of new electric school buses will soon hit the road across the US.
Expand Expanding CloseWhite House and EPA pen scathing letters to USPS over next-gen vehicle plan, including EV misinformation
Ever since Oshkosh received a $6 billion contract from the United States Postal Service for the development of a new mail delivery vehicle, the contract has drawn controversy. Oshkosh’s plan includes primarily gas-powered vehicles, and it won out over another plan for all-electric vehicles. Now the White House is urging the Postmaster General to fulfill his responsibilities and accelerate the modernization of the delivery vehicle fleet.
Expand Expanding CloseEGEB: GM backs EPA’s emissions reduction goals, US energy resilience and Sri Lanka stops coal
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- GM endorses the EPA’s stricter emissions rule, and 22 states say it’s not enough.
- The US energy secretary details how the country can achieve a more resilient power system.
- Sri Lanka will stop building coal plants, aims to be net zero by 2050.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Ford Mustang Mach-E GT/Performance gets impressive EPA ratings
Ford’s performance SUV EV has a very large battery at 88 kWh. But with those bigger motors and sporty tires, will the Mustang Mach-E GT and Mach-E Performance retain its ability to go on long drives?
Expand Expanding ClosePorsche Taycan Cross Turismo EPA range numbers released
Probably the biggest concern with Porsche’s Taycan is the car’s seemingly low EPA range, especially compared to other EVs in its class. We had a chance to review the bigger, off-road Cross Turismo variant last month and came away thinking that Porsche would be less conservative with its EPA range estimates this time around. We were right but only slightly…
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EPA acknowledges federal law, drops trump’s illegal attempt to block California clean air
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Monday that it is “reconsidering the previous administration’s withdrawal of California’s waiver to enforce greenhouse gas standards for cars and light trucks.”
Expand Expanding CloseCalifornia wins the emissions fight – automakers leave lawsuit, but still want dirty air
All automakers have dropped support for a lawsuit that threatened California’s long-held legal ability to set its own emissions rules, as reported by Reuters.
Expand Expanding CloseJoe Biden names his picks for interior secretary, EPA chief
President-elect Joe Biden has tapped Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM) for secretary of the interior and Michael S. Regan as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Haaland (pictured above left) will be the first Native American cabinet secretary and head of the Department of the Interior. Regan (pictured above right) will be the first Black man to head the EPA. Both appointments will need to be confirmed.
Expand Expanding CloseCA Clean Air chief Mary Nichols on short list to replace coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as EPA head
After four years of being filled by such industry mouthpieces as corrupt oil stooge Scott Pruitt and lying dirty coal advocate Andrew Wheeler, it looks like the Environmental Protection Agency is set to resume its actual purpose of protecting the environment come Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
While Biden’s selection for EPA head has not yet been announced, one name that should be familiar to electric car enthusiasts is reportedly on the short list: Mary Nichols, head of California’s Clean Air Resources Board (CARB).
Expand Expanding CloseEPA chief forgets he is not an oil lobbyist anymore in letter threatening to block California’s gas car ban
The head of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Andrew Wheeler mocked and threatened to block California’s recently announced plan to phase out gas-powered cars.
Expand Expanding CloseWhy Trump’s rollback of the US’ most vital environmental law is bad for all of us
On January 9, Donald Trump announced there would be an overhaul of the US’ landmark environmental law, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Today, he finalized a rollback of the NEPA.
This drastically limits the ability of citizens and communities to learn about and give input on major infrastructure projects that could threaten public health and the environment.
Trump limits states’ rights to protect their waterways
The Trump administration has eliminated states’ and tribes’ rights to halt projects that risk hurting their water quality by rolling back a section of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
EPA refutes Musk’s claim that it botched Model S range testing
Tesla CEO Elon Musk earlier this week claimed that the “Long Range Plus” version of the Model S was robbed of achieving a 400-mile range rating by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During the Q1 earnings call, Musk said that the EPA left the car’s door open and the key inside when stopping during range testing, resulting in the car losing 2% of battery capacity. The EPA now refutes Musk’s claim.
EPA kills mercury pollution rule, putting pregnant women, minorities at risk
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is not “appropriate and necessary” to regulate emissions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants.
The EPA refuses to tighten air quality standards despite the pandemic
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced yesterday that it will not work to lower levels of particulate matter, thus not further reducing air pollution, despite the recommendations of its own scientists to do so.
Federal court declares EPA’s harmful rollback of greenhouse-gas rule illegal
On February 29, Electrek reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had finalized a rule that eliminated leak prevention and repair requirements for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the heat-trapping pollutants used in commercial and industrial refrigeration.
Yesterday, a federal court struck down the EPA’s rollback of the greenhouse-gas-leak prevention rule. The court said that the Trump administration did not follow proper procedure.
Senators ask EPA why it’s allowing pollution as coronavirus attacks lungs
As Electrek reported on March 27, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a suspension of the enforcement of environmental rules, saying it “will generally not seek stipulated or other penalties for noncompliance with such obligations” during the coronavirus outbreak. There is no end date for this policy.
The coronavirus attacks lungs, often causing pneumonia, and severely impedes the ability of those with more severe cases to breathe. Air pollution also harms lungs. So now, the senators from Massachusetts want explanations for the EPA’s decision.
Hey, EPA head Andrew Wheeler: you’re an idiot and a liar — op-ed
Andrew Wheeler, head of the Environmental “Protection” Agency (EPA), argued today that his administration’s rollback of auto efficiency standards “sets realistic standards, will reduce pollution, and save lives.”
The problem is, he’s objectively wrong on all three counts. And in his statement, he also proved that he doesn’t even know the name of the regulation he’s attempting to undermine.
EPA suspends environmental law enforcement, citing coronavirus
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a suspension of the enforcement of environmental rules on Thursday, saying it “will generally not seek stipulated or other penalties for noncompliance with such obligations” during the coronavirus outbreak.
Fox to guard a new henhouse? Chemical exec who joined EPA tapped as CPSC head
Donald Trump has nominated Nancy B. Beck to head up the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent federal agency responsible for — as the title says — consumer product safety.
For more than five years, Beck was a senior director at the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the chemical industry’s main lobbying group. She then joined the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in May 2017 as deputy assistant administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention and was promoted to principal deputy assistant administrator in December 2018.
EPA head couldn’t care less that Trump wants to cut his agency’s budget
EPA head Andrew Wheeler defended the budget cuts last Thursday in front of lawmakers on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
A fossil-fuel, ICE-car champion is tipped to be the EPA’s next chief of staff
Mandy Gunasekara, the self-proclaimed “chief architect of the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord,” is tipped to replace Ryan Jackson, the EPA’s chief of staff, who will step down on February 21. (Michael Molina will be acting chief of staff.) Jackson is to become the top lobbyist for the National Mining Association (yes, really).
EGEB: Local areas are buying electricity in bulk for residents
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- More towns and cities are buying electricity in bulk — it’s called community choice aggregation.
- Startup Notpla makes edible, biodegradable pods for beverages and sauces that replace plastic.
- Fossil-fuel advocate Mandy Gunasekara is tipped to become the next EPA chief of staff.