Energy/Environment

Alaska senators welcomed Sen. Ron Wyden’s (D-Ore.) visit to their state, which starts this weekend.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she would spend the weekend showing Wyden around her home state and discussing energy and public lands policies. The two lawmakers will attend a renewable energy fair on Sunday and will visit geothermal power operations, at Chena Hot Springs, near Fairbanks.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson visited a Vermont National Guard solar power installation Thursday.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) accompanied Jackson on the tour, touting the energy-efficient base as a model for others around the country. 

Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) asked the Environmental Protection Administration to investigate a possible link between pesticides and reductions in the honeybee population.

“The proverb ‘No bees, no honey, no work, no money’ may become all too true if we don’t investigate the impact of pesticides on our valuable honeybee population,” Markey said Wednesday. “Bees are vital to our nation’s economy and food security. I urge the EPA to look more closely at the impacts of these commonly used pesticides on the bee population, and I look forward to the agency’s response.”

Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said the federal court decision to strike down an Environmental Protection Agency rule that would have forced power plants to reduce soot and smog emissions that cross state lines was misguided and endangered people’s health.

“I urge the Obama administration to appeal this misguided decision by the courts so that Massachusetts and other states impacted by harmful emissions from old, polluting coal plants can clean up their air,” Markey said after the ruling was announced Tuesday.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sent a letter Thursday to the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission requesting that he closely monitor West Coast petroleum producers “to ensure that oil companies are not taking unfair advantage of the situation to jack up prices” on Oregon customers.

A fire last week at the Chevron Oil refinery in Richmond, Calif., has made gas prices spike by more than 20 cents per gallon in his home state.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) touted a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report as proof that his assertions about the coal industry are accurate.

Rockefeller requested the GAO report, which looked into changes happening in the electric power industry, particularly relating to coal. Rockefeller said the analysis confirmed what he’s been saying about the need for a cleaner coal industry that reduces its negative environmental effects.

Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said if the Republican presidential ticket wins in November, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would “take an ax to PBS.”

Markey’s comment Wednesday came in response to a Forbes magazine article wherein GOP presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney laid out his budget priorities, which included eliminating federal support for the Public Broadcasting Service.

A group of bipartisan lawmakers from Massachusetts wrote President Obama a letter Wednesday criticizing him for not doing enough to help New England fishermen during hard times.

Sens. Scott Brown (R) and John Kerry (D) and Reps. Barney Frank (D), William Keating (D) and John Tierney (D) asked Obama to declare a disaster for New England fishing communities that face a growing crisis due to federal fishing regulations. 

Members of West Virginia's congressional delegation called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday to reconsider its Thursday decision to deny aid to West Virginia residents affected by severe stores in June.

West Virginia sought federal disaster aid in July, after June storms killed three, damaged homes and other property, and left nearly two-thirds of the state's residents without power. FEMA rejected that request Thursday, which led members of the House and Senate from that state to call for a re-assessment.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Thursday called on Senate Democrats to reject language in a 2013 House spending bill that would prevent the Department of Energy from enforcing a 2007 law that sets federal efficiency standards for lightbulbs.

"I vigorously oppose this House provision because it would cost jobs, hurt investment, and prevent consumer savings in in New York and across the country and I urge you to ensure it is not included in any upcoming appropriations agreement," Gillibrand wrote to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Energy and Water Development subcommittee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).