Energy and Climate DebateEnergy issues continue to play a key role in policy debates – both in Washington and on the campaign trail.The House passed a motion, 261-152, May 17 to instruct the transportation reauthorization conferees to include the Keystone XL pipeline in the final bill. The House also passed, 245-169, a motion to instruct the conferees to include text of the Buy American legislation. Though it remains to be seen whether either provision or another House approved inclusion of language to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating coal ash as a hazardous waste will be included in the final agreements, conferees continue to negotiate the issues, with each side waiting for the other to blink.The House and Senate continue to examine fiscal year 2013 Defense Department authorization proposals. The House approved its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (HR 4320) May 18 on a vote of 299-110, including a controversial biofuels amendment … [Read more...] about Energy and Environmental Law Update – May 20, 2012
Chinese led emergency lights
Airline Passenger Threw ‘Good Luck’ Coins Into Plane Engine, Sued
Feb 26, 5:15 AM EST Newsletter Signup BusinessTechnologyWorldNationalMedia & CultureOpinionSportsLuxury World By Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan 02/26/19 AT 5:10 AM A Chinese airline said Friday it was suing a passenger for throwing coins into a plane engine, which resulted in the cancellation of the flight. The incident took place on a Lucky Air flight scheduled to fly from Anqing to Kunming on Feb.17.The passenger, identified by his surname Lu, tossed coins at the jetliner's engine for good luck, causing the flight to be grounded overnight.The incident came to light after the ground staff found two 1 yuan coins near the left engine of the plane during the preflight check. Upon questioning by the airline staff, Lu, who was traveling with his wife and one-year-old child, admitted to tossing the coins in hope of a safe journey. He was detained for seven days.As a safety precaution, the flight was grounded overnight and the engine was thoroughly checked. The remaining passengers flew to … [Read more...] about Airline Passenger Threw ‘Good Luck’ Coins Into Plane Engine, Sued
Energy and Environment Law Update – July 15, 2013
ENERGY AND CLIMATE DEBATE The House took the lead on energy issues last week. On Wednesday , the House approved H.R. 2609, the FY14 Energy and Water Appropriations bill; the package includes $30.4 billion in funding, including $24.6 billion for the Department of Energy. However, as the $34.8 billion Senate version allocates $28.2 billion for the Department of Energy, a conference is needed to reconcile the two bills. The next day, the House approved H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 201. A conference committee is also needed for this bill as there are many differences between the House and Senate versions, namely an energy title present in the Senate bill but lacking in the House version. More detailed discussions on the two bills are below. The Obama Administration focused on China last week, as the fifth round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue were held on … [Read more...] about Energy and Environment Law Update – July 15, 2013
Energy and Environmental Law Update – Week of June 24, 2013
ENERGY AND CLIMATE DEBATETen days after the Senate passed its version of the Farm Bill 66-27, the House defeated the $940 billion H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, on June 20. Next steps on the measure are uncertain, though there may still be time for passage later this summer. While major energy pushes failed last week, the Senate was able to advance 14 small bills relating to energy and public land, includingS. 26, the Bonneville Unite Clean Hydropower Facilitation Act; S. 244, a bill to modify Federal Permit Streamlining Pilot Project offices; and S. 276, a bill to extend the construction commencement deadline for the American Falls Reservoir hydroelectric project.With just a week left before the July 4th recess, the House will consider H.R. 2231, the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, and H.R. 1613, the Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act. The Senate is expected to … [Read more...] about Energy and Environmental Law Update – Week of June 24, 2013
Energy and Environment Law Update – July 29, 2013
ENERGY AND CLIMATE DEBATE In his June 25 climate change strategy announcement, President Obama stressed the importance of a strong economy and of U.S. leadership in global greenhouse gas reduction efforts. The administration continued pushing these two aspects of the strategy this past week. First, in his two speeches on Wednesday, President Obama explained that a strong economy is needed for climate action. The same day, Vice President Biden traveled to India where environmental issues were on the agenda. Following on Secretaries Kerry and Moniz’s recent trip, the Vice President said China, India, and the U.S.—the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases--should act to prevent climate change, such as limiting hydrofluorocarbons. The climate change strategy has been highlighted regularly basis by the administration and Democratic members of Congress. They may be responding to recent polls which have shown that as climate change … [Read more...] about Energy and Environment Law Update – July 29, 2013