Study Finds Economy, Jobs Most Important Policy Issue — Global Warming Least Important
Date Fri, Jan. 23, 2009 - 11:12am By Hamilton
A new study by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found that the economy and jobs top all other policy issues. Even more noteworthy was the study’s finding that global warming ranked last.
U.S. Senate Committee Proposes Ways to Regulate CO2 Under Clean Air Act
Date Mon, Jan. 19, 2009 - 12:27pm By Hamilton
Further illustrating that climate change regulation will likely come in some form at the federal level, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works released a majority staff report this month outlining ways for the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The report states that, as a result of […]
Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord Update
Date Fri, Jan. 16, 2009 - 12:40pm By Hamilton
The Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (Accord) held meetings this week in Indianapolis to continue its quest toward adopting a Midwest cap-and-trade policy, along with other climate change regulations. In November 2007, nine Midwestern governors and two Canadian premiers signed on to either participate or observe in the Accord. The states that have officially signed on […]
Energy Issues Ramping Up at the Federal Level
Date Wed, Jan. 14, 2009 - 6:38pm By Hamilton
President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee to head the Energy Department, Steven Chu, has previously said that coal is his “worst nightmare” and that the U.S. needs to find ways to “boost the cost of gasoline to the levels in Europe.” However, during his confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate yesterday, Dr. Chu backtracked a little from those […]
Congress May Delay Climate Change Legislation
Date Wed, Jan. 7, 2009 - 2:09pm By Hamilton
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) told reporters this week that while Congress has the votes to pass climate change legislation, it may have to wait. Pelosi said she has sufficient backing in the Democratic-controlled House to move a cap-and-trade bill, but will not force the issue: “I’m not sure this year, because I don’t know […]
Environmental and Climate Change News
Date Wed, Dec. 31, 2008 - 11:29am By Hamilton
Below are some news stories around the nation relating to climate change and the environment: California announced yesterday that it filed a lawsuit against the Bush Administration over changes it made to the Endangered Species Act. The new rules apply to federal agencies that approve projects on land owned or regulated by the federal government. Under the new […]
Federal Court Reinstates Clean Air Interstate Rule
Date Tue, Dec. 23, 2008 - 2:53pm By Hamilton
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today reversed its earlier decision that struck down the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), and reinstated the rule until the EPA drafts new regulations. In 2005 the EPA issued CAIR, which established an emissions trading program to control nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur dioxide […]
EPA Issues Policy Easing Emission Regulations for New Coal-Fired Power Plants
Date Tue, Dec. 23, 2008 - 12:39pm By Hamilton
EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson issued a memorandum late last week that set an agency-wide policy prohibiting controls on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from being included in air pollution permits for coal-fired power plants and other facilities. The memo was written in response to a decision by the Environmental Appeals Board – an EPA panel […]
EPA Designates 6 Wisconsin Counties as Nonattainment Areas Under the Clean Air Act
Date Mon, Dec. 22, 2008 - 4:46pm By Hamilton
The United States EPA Administrator, Stephen L. Johnson, today issued a letter to Gov. Jim Doyle outlining the agency’s decision to designate six Wisconsin counties as PM2.5 nonattainment areas. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for several types of air pollutants. One of those […]
The Hamilton Blog
Date Thu, Dec. 18, 2008 - 1:00am By Hamilton
Welcome to the Hamilton Blog, a new blog hosted by The Hamilton Consulting Group, a government relations firm in Madison, Wisconsin. The Hamilton Blog will provide up-to-date information regarding Wisconsin legislation, regulations, politics, legal cases, and news. Because policies that affect Wisconsin citizens do not just occur in Madison, the Hamilton Blog will also provide […]