IT’S WEDNESDAY! Welcome to Overnight Energy, The Hill's roundup of the latest energy and environment news. Please send tips and comments to Rebecca Beitsch at rbeitsch@thehill.com. Follow her on Twitter: @rebeccabeitsch. Reach Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com or follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin.
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KEY RACES: While the results of the presidential race remain unclear, several races have been decided that have been rooted in, and have major implications for energy and environment issues
In the Senate: While it’s also not totally clear which party will control the Senate yet, this chamber had several notable environment races. For one, the results for the Republican sponsors of the Great American Outdoors Act, a major conservation bill, were mixed. Sen. Steve Daines
Steven (Steve) David DainesGOP senator urges Biden to withdraw support for COVID vaccine patent waiver Overnight Energy: 5 takeaways from the Colonial Pipeline attack | Colonial aims to 'substantially' restore pipeline operations by end of week | Three questions about Biden's conservation goals House conservatives take aim at Schumer-led bipartisan China bill MORE (R-Mont.) managed to fend off a challenge from Montana Gov. Steve Bullock
Steve BullockDemocratic Kansas City, Mo., mayor eyes Senate run Overnight Energy: Climate Summit Day 2 — Biden says US will work with other countries on climate innovation Biden announces picks to lead oceans, lands agencies MORE (D). Sen. Cory Gardner
Cory GardnerBiden administration reverses Trump changes it says 'undermined' conservation program Gardner to lead new GOP super PAC ahead of midterms OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Court rules against fast-track of Trump EPA's 'secret science' rule | Bureau of Land Management exodus: Agency lost 87 percent of staff in Trump HQ relocation | GM commits to electric light duty fleet by 2035 MORE (R-Colo.) didn’t fare quite as well, losing his seat to ex-Gov. John Hickenlooper
John HickenlooperLobbying world DNC taps veteran campaign hands for communications staff Harris casts tiebreaking vote to advance Biden nominee MORE (D). Also notable was a victory for Sen. Joni Ernst
Joni Kay ErnstGraham warns about trying to 'drive' Trump from GOP: 'Half the people will leave' The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Senate braces for daylong brawl on elections bill Top female GOP senator compares Cheney ousting to 'cancel culture' MORE (R-Iowa), a vocal advocate for biofuels whose races was considered a “toss-up” by the Cook Political Report.
In the House: Democrats are poised to retain the House, albeit by a smaller margin as they lost several swing-district seats to Republicans .
Wins for the GOP:
- Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson
Collin Clark Peterson Progressives fight for leverage amid ever-slimming majority Six ways to visualize a divided America On The Trail: The political losers of 2020 MORE (D-Minn.) lost his seat to Republican Michelle Fischbach. - Democrat Kendra Horn
Kendra Suzanne HornWhy does Rep. Johnson oppose NASA's commercial human landing system? The US's investment in AI is lagging, we have a chance to double it What should Biden do with NASA and the Artemis Program? MORE (Okla.) lost her seat in the oil-heavy district to Republican Stephanie Bice. - South Carolina Rep. Joe Cunningham
Joseph CunninghamJoe Cunningham to enter race for South Carolina governor Republicans race for distance from 'America First Caucus' Lobbying world MORE (D), who campaigned on banning offshore drilling, lost to Republican Nancy Mace. - Republican Rep. Michael McCaul
Michael Thomas McCaulHouse lawmakers roll out bill to invest 0 million in state and local cybersecurity Asian American lawmakers say State's 'assignment restrictions' discriminate Senate Intelligence panel working on legislation around mandatory cyber breach notification MORE (Texas) fended off a challenge from Sunrise Movement-backed Mike Siegel. - Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick
Brian K. FitzpatrickAmerica's Jewish communities are under attack — Here are 3 things Congress can do Biden visits local Mexican restaurant to highlight relief program Police reform talks ramp up amid pressure from Biden, families MORE (Pa.), who supports a carbon tax and co-chairs the congressional PFAS Task Force, defeated Democratic challenger Christina Finello. - Freshman Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.), who criticized Biden for his comments about transitioning away from the fossil fuel industry, lost to Republican Yvette Herrell.
Wins for the Dems:
- Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio
Peter Anthony DeFazioHillicon Valley: Global cybersecurity leaders say they feel unprepared for attack | Senate Commerce Committee advances Biden's FTC nominee Lina Khan | Senate panel approves bill that would invest billions in tech Top Democrat: FCC actions are a 'potential setback' to autonomous vehicles Biden's infrastructure plan builds a stronger foundation for seniors MORE (D-Ore.) held onto his seat, fending off a challenge from Republican Alek Skarlatos. - Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas) held onto her seat despite a challenge from Republican Wesley Hunt.
Around the states:
- Republican Jim Wright beat out Democrat Chrysta Castañeda for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas in the state.
More of The Hill’s full coverage of the presidential contest here, the Senate races here and the House here.
UNITED STATES, PARTY OF ONE: The U.S. has officially left the Paris climate accord.
The withdrawal, set in motion by a letter from President Trump
Donald TrumpWarren says Republican party 'eating itself and it is discovering that the meal is poisonous' More than 75 Asian, LGBTQ groups oppose anti-Asian crime bill McConnell says he's 'great admirer' of Liz Cheney but mum on her removal MORE exactly one year ago, caps a long-promised move from the president and leaves the U.S. as the only country in the world to withdraw from the landmark climate agreement.
Trump campaigned on leaving the accord and announced that he was doing so far before the parameters of the agreement allowed.
“The Paris Climate Accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries, leaving American workers — who I love — and taxpayers to absorb the cost in terms of lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories and vastly diminished economic production,” Trump said at a speech in the Rose Garden in June 2017.
The move was celebrated by many in Republican circles, even as Democrats and environmentalists lament the implications the U.S. exit will have for the climate and the American economy.
“The decision to exit the Paris Agreement leaves the United States globally isolated in its defiance of scientific realities, and causes real harm to people, the planet and the economy. However, the nearly 200 other nations of the world will continue moving full steam ahead toward realizing the goals of the agreement,” the Union of Concerned Scientists said in a statement.
“The United States is the second largest emitter of carbon emissions from fossil fuels annually and the largest source of cumulative emissions to date," it continued. "It’s well past time for our nation to pivot away from being part of the problem and toward contributing to a leading share of the solutions.”
Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, however, said the deal “would have disadvantaged the U.S. economy and compromised American competitiveness.”
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden
Joe BidenBiden says Beau's assessment of first 100 days would be 'Be who you are' Biden: McCarthy's support of Cheney ouster is 'above my pay grade' Conservative group sues over prioritization of women, minorities for restaurant aid MORE has pledged to rejoin the Paris agreement on Day 1 in office if elected, a move that would leave the U.S. out of the deal for a little more than three months.
“I will bring us back into the Paris Agreement. I will put us back in the business of leading the world on climate change. And I will challenge everyone to up the ante on their climate commitments,” Biden said in a September speech on climate change as wildfires ravaged California.
Biden has already laid out some goals in his own climate plan. The electricity sector would go to net-zero emissions by 2035 — a timeline ahead of many of the efforts already underway in climate-conscious states.
More broadly, he said he is committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, a plan that would require mostly transitioning away from fossil fuels while promoting carbon capture technology that could store excess pollution.
Read more about the exit here.
OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY:
Plastic bags banned in N.J. as governor signs new law, NJ.com reports
Columbus voters approve green-energy aggregation plan, The Columbus Dispatch reports
Denver voters approve taxes for homeless, environment, The Denver Post reports
ICYMI: Stories from Wednesday…
Hurricane Eta makes landfall in Nicaragua as Category 4 storm
US officially exits Paris climate accord
Giant iceberg floating toward island in the Atlantic Ocean, could endanger wildlife
