House GOP moves to block EPA climate rules on power plants. "Aiming at the heart of President Barack Obama's strategy for fighting climate change, the Republican-controlled House voted Thursday to block the administration's plan to limit carbon pollution from new power plants. The bill targets Obama's proposal for the Environmental Protection Agency to set the first national limits on heat-trapping carbon pollution from future power plants. It's part of the GOP's election-year strategy to fight back against what Republicans call a 'war on coal' by the Obama administration....A similar measure is pending in the Senate but faces a more difficult path." The Associated Press.
But the EPA administrator defended the rules. "Economic growth and reducing carbon pollution can go hand in hand, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy insisted Thursday....Looming new power plants will not 'put the brakes on business,' McCarthy told the crowd. But McCarthy said she still expected bad reviews -- from both environmentalists and business....Beyond the technical and legal challenges of writing the regulation within the scope of the Clean Air Act, McCarthy noted the difficulty acting on a major climate space amid huge economic concerns. But she stressed that climate action can yield economic dividends." Jennifer Dlouhy in the Houston Chronicle.
New report warns of 'cascading system failures' from climate change. From roads and bridges to power plants and gas pipelines, American infrastructure is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, according to a pair of government reports released Thursday. The reports are technical documents supporting the National Climate Assessment, a major review compiled by 13 government agencies that the U.S. Global Change Research Program is expected to release in April. Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory put together the reports, which warn that climate-fueled storms, flooding and droughts could cause 'cascading system failures' unless there are changes made to minimize those effects." Kate Sheppard in The Huffington Post.
Obama signs bill funding drought forecast program. "President Obama on Thursday signed a bipartisan bill reauthorizing a federal program that provides forecasts and support to communities vulnerable to drought....The legislation flew through Congress, earning a 356-21 vote in the House and passing via unanimous consent in the Senate. The bill will require the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to report to Congress on how the government can reduce problems stemming from drought more quickly, and it calls for the creation of an early warning system. The reauthorization comes as California continues to be plagued by a massive drought that has threatened crops and could result in wildfires." Justin Sink in The Hill.
Poll: Keystone XL pipeline project overwhelmingly favored by Americans.. Americans support the idea of constructing the Keystone XL oil pipeline between Canada and the United States by a nearly 3 to 1 margin, with 65 percent saying it should be approved and 22 percent opposed, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. The findings also show that the public thinks the massive project, which aims to ship 830,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta and the northern Great Plains to refineries on the Gulf Coast, will produce significant economic benefits....At the same time, nearly half of those interviewed -- 47 percent -- say they think Keystone will pose a significant risk to the environment. That so many Americans back the pipeline, even with environmental risks, highlights the quandary facing President Obama and his top aides as they weigh whether to approve the proposal." Juliet Eilperin and Scott Clement in The Washington Post.
ICYMI: Meet John Podesta, the man behind President Obama's new environmental push. "New White House counselor John Podesta is playing a central role in pushing the Obama administration to adopt a more aggressive posture on environmental policies this year, including rules that would provide greater protections for public lands, support for state and local efforts to cut carbon emissions and stricter oversight of mining near pristine waterways, according to a dozen administration officials and outside allies. The Democratic strategist's role at the White House, which includes steering climate and public lands policies, provides the clearest indication yet that President Obama and his top aides are increasingly focused on cementing a presidential legacy on the environment during his remaining time in office. That focus was on full display Tuesday in the administration's budget proposal." Juliet Eilperin in The Washington Post.
Dinosaurs interlude: Did dark matter kill the dinosaurs? Maybe.
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