In the news today…
Minerals:
- Politico reports the Biden administration’s climate change agenda has spurred a lobbying boom driven by mineral and battery companies seeking a share of billions in federal incentives.
- Washington Post reports the Biden administration’s plan to remake how Americans travel by forcing automakers to rapidly shift to predominantly electric vehicle sales would strike a major blow against global warming — but only if federal officials can successfully execute it.
- Mining.com reports the twilight of domestic American process engineering is the major impediment to a secure domestic supply of critical minerals, refined metals, alloys, fine chemicals and the manufactured items dependent on them.
- Politico Pro reports Americans can purchase 91 models of electric cars and trucks — but as of Tuesday, only 14 of them will qualify for federal tax breaks intended to persuade motorists to forsake their gas-guzzlers.
- Wall Street Journal reports metal markets seem to think copper is the new lithium. A lack of new mining activity has added to worries that there won’t be enough of the red metal for the energy transition, a popular topic at this week’s World Copper Conference in Santiago, Chile.
Permitting:
- Politico Pro reports the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a petition from two California water and electric utilities on Monday asking it to consider a case to curb states’ authority to delay federally-approved energy projects.
- Politico Pro reports House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pushed Democrats Monday to ease permitting rules to build energy projects faster as part of a series of policy changes Republicans are seeking in exchange for lifting the debt ceiling.
- E&E Greenwire reports House Speaker Kevin McCarthy directly linked Republican demands on energy, permitting and regulatory oversight to the broader debt ceiling negotiations during a speech Monday morning at the New York Stock Exchange.
- E&E Daily reports it’s only been a few months, but Rep. Bruce Westerman has made his mark on energy policy in the House. And he’s got his sights set on a lot more.
Mining:
- Portland Press Herald reports Maine legislators are taking on a contentious fight over the future of mining in the state, a long-running battle stoked by the discovery of a lithium deposit in western Maine estimated to be worth over $1 billion.
Energy:
- Washington Examiner reports on G7 decisions towards natural gas and coal.
Congress:
- E&E Climatewire reports Gov. Jim Justice (R) is expected to make a decision about challenging Democrat Joe Manchin for his Senate seat in the coming weeks, a move that would pit two politicians with deep connections to the coal industry against each other.