E2 Morning Roundup: Texas refuses to issue climate permits, battle over EPA smog rules, Obama touts energy in 2011, LCV offers staff help to vulnerable Dems, and more

Analysis: Texas stands alone in dissing climate permitting

Texas is the only state that will not be ready to issue greenhouse-gas permits once landmark Environmental Protection Agency heat-trapping emission controls kick in early next year and will not allow EPA to do it for them, according to a new analysis.

Nearly every state is poised to issue permits when — or soon after — EPA starts its highly contentious restrictions of greenhouse-gas emissions from major polluters, according to the National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA).

All other states — except for Texas — will at least allow EPA to oversee that permitting for them temporarily if they are not able to do it themselves, according to NACAA.

Texas challenged EPA climate oversight

Texas this summer joined other court challenges to EPA’s “tailoring”
 rule — which was finalized in June and is intended to limit greenhouse
-gas limits to larger facilities.

EPA in August said changes were needed in permitting programs in 13 states to cover greenhouse-gas emissions, while other states must
 review their existing permitting authority and tell the agency if such 
emissions are not covered. The agency proposed a federal plan to implement a permitting program temporarily in those states needing time to revise their own 
plans and assume permitting oversight.

NACAA reviewed where things stand in programs in 14 states that do not yet have a proven permitting program to cover greenhouse-gas emissions. Programs in seven states indicated they will soon be able to do this themselves, and six programs indicated they will allow EPA to take over temporarily, the NACAA analysis found.

Obama names energy as 2011 priority

President Obama defended the policy platforms he adopted in his first two years on the job — namely pushing through broad healthcare overhaul — while acknowledging that energy is one job left unfinished.

"We have made a lot of progress over the last 18 months that from a historical perspective ranks up there with any legislative session we've seen in history," Obama said at the tail end of his appearance Wednesday on "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. "And we're going to have to continue to make some progress on things like energy, which didn't get done; on immigration reform, that did not get done."

He added, "And most importantly we've just got to do a lot of more work in generating the kind of jobs that ensure we've got a growing middle class ... because right now I think there are a lot of folks that are worried that if we don't make serious investments in education, in energy, in infrastructure, in research and development, that we're going to start falling behind."

Battle over smog rules escalates



The National Association of Manufacturers is briefing Capitol Hill staff Thursday about EPA’s plan to tighten ozone pollution standards — a proposal that industry groups call too strict and economically harmful.



The briefing is part of a stepped-up campaign against the standards, which are already in the crosshairs of Republicans that hope to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee if the GOP reclaims the House.



The American Petroleum Institute attacked the standards on a conference call with reporters Wednesday, and wants EPA to reconsider. But Howard Feldman, API’s head of regulatory and scientific affairs, acknowledged legislation to block the upcoming smog rules has low odds of passage.

A political delay?



EPA is expected to soon finalize rules it floated in January. Feldman suggested the Obama administration might be delaying their completion for political reasons. “It’s ... possible EPA wants to get on the other side of the elections,” he said on the call.



EPA plans to impose an ozone standard somewhere between 60 and 70 parts-per-billion (ppb).  A manufacturing industry study last month claimed the toughest option — 60 ppb — would create $1 trillion in annual attainment costs between 2020 and 2030 and result in more than 7 million lost jobs by 2020.



Greens fight back 



More than two dozen environmental and health groups are urging EPA to stand firm on the ozone proposal.



“It’s our air, but big polluters treat it like they own it. They dump millions of tons of dangerous pollution into our air, threatening the health of all Americans,” states an ad running this week in The Hill and Politico from the American Lung Association, the American Public Health Association, Earthjustice and others.



“Now they’re also dumping millions of dollars into a lobbying war against America’s clean air laws — even as millions suffer from asthma attacks and other health impacts, especially the young and the elderly,” it adds, urging EPA to “stand up for all Americans, including the most vulnerable.”



EPA said in January that the proposal would yield health benefits worth $13 billion to $100 billion annually by 2020, depending on how strictly the standard is set. The costs of the regulations would be $19 billion to $90 billion in 2020, according to an agency summary.

LCV deploys staff to help embattled Democrats

The League of Conservation Voters are deploying staff to help out 20 Democratic incumbents and challengers amid increasingly dire predictions for the party on Election Day. Those receiving LCV staff help include Democratic Reps. Allen Boyd (Fla.-2), Ed Perlmutter (Colo.-7), Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.-8), Gary Peters (Mich.-7), Gerry Connolly (Va.-11), John Adler (N.J.-3), John Hall (N.Y.-19), Loretta Sanchez (Calif.-47), Melissa Bean (Ill.-8), Mike McMahon (N.Y.-13), Ron Klein (Fla.-22), Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.-24) and Tim Bishop (N.Y.-1).

House Democratic candidates Ami Bera (Calif.-3), Bill Keating (Mass.-10), Colleen Hanabusa (Hawaii-1), Dan Seals (Ill.-10) and Joe Garcia (Fla.-25) will receive help, as well as Senate Democratic candidates Chris Coons in Delaware and Richard Blumenthal in Connecticut.

“These races were chosen because they are competitive races in which we have endorsed and where our help may make a difference,” an LCV spokeswoman said.

Perriello, Hurt target ethanol, EPA

Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) and his Republican opponent Robert Hurt in a debate Wednesday both offered ways to cut federal spending that would reduce federal energy and environmental oversight.

Hurt said he would reduce the power of EPA, later stating his position on clean air and water is that there “needs to be a balance in the context of protecting the needs of business and the needs of the environment,” according to Roanoke NBC affiliate WSLS.

Perriello retorted, “The irony of Senator Hurt’s approach is that it was a conservative on the Supreme Court that just handed regulation of carbon emissions back to the EPA.”

The vulnerable freshman Democratic representative reiterated a position he has stated in prior debates that he would cut subsidies for corn-based ethanol to reduce federal spending.

Perriello is a favorite among environmental groups for his unabashed support for last year’s House cap-and-trade bill. President Obama is also giving him some last-minute help and will campaign for him in Charlottesville, Va., Friday.

Fiorina returns home, readies for campaign trail

California Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina returned home Wednesday after two days in the hospital following an infection resulting from her treatment for breast cancer. Fiorina is set to return to the campaign trail Thursday as she seeks to defeat Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

Boxer received help Wednesday from first lady Michelle Obama — who headlined a private luncheon for Boxer. Obama and Jill Biden — wife of the vice president — publicly campaigned Tuesday for Boxer. President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden held fundraisers for Boxer recently, as well, further underscoring that Democrats are concerned about the competitiveness of the race. Recent polls have Boxer leading in the high single digits, while internal Republican polls have the race essentially even.

Poll shows offshore drilling support



A new Pew Research Center poll shows increased support in recent months for offshore oil-and-gas drilling.

“Currently, 51% of Americans favor allowing more offshore oil and gas drilling in U.S. waters while 41% are opposed. In June, during the Gulf of Mexico oil leak, there was more opposition (52%) than support (44%) for increased offshore drilling,” states a summary of the poll released Wednesday.

“Support for expanded offshore drilling is still lower than it was in February, before the Gulf oil leak, when the public backed more offshore drilling in U.S. waters by a two-to-one margin (63% favor, 31% oppose). From the fall of 2008 to early this year, opinion about offshore drilling had been fairly stable,” Pew notes.

On tap Thursday: Merkley, vets talk of oil dependence

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) joins retired military officials on a 1:15 p.m. conference call to talk about a report outlining security implications of U.S. oil dependence. The report — from Operation Free and the Truman National Security Project — will also praise EPA for issuing and proposing new fuel and greenhouse gas restrictions for cars, light trucks, SUVs and big heavy-duty trucks. Both groups generally back Democratic Party policies. 

On Tap Thursday Part 2: Natural gas outlook probed

Richard Newell — head of the Energy Information Administration, the independent research arm of the Energy Department — will discuss the 2011 outlook for natural gas at a noon event at the University Club hosted by the American Gas Association.

In case you missed E2 yesterday

Our Wednesday posts included:

Poll: Tea Party more skeptical on climate than Republicans overall

Study: California's Prop 26 undermines green, health laws

Poll: Belief in warming holding steady over past year, but below 2006-2008 levels

Al Gore: Tea Party making climate science a ‘political football’

Barton vows probe of White House policies in move for Energy gavel

FTC will require EnergyGuide labels on TVs starting in 2011

Graham: GOP should work with Obama on energy

Administration: No regrets pushing health reform before climate

Florida’s Democratic gov. hopeful attacks White House spill response

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