In the News
Alaska lawmakers seek allies to save ANWR drilling
by Emma Dumain
Alaska's Republican senators say they are actively exploring avenues to ensure the still-in-flux reconciliation bill does not restrict drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan are preparing to go on offense as House Democrats grow increasingly more vocal in their demands that the drilling prohibition, which was included in the House Natural Resources Committee's portion of the reconciliation package, remains in play amid negotiations with the … Continue Reading
September 23, 2021
Regional Coalition Looking to Take Over Potter Valley Project Hits Snag as FERC Denies Request for Extra Time
by Ryan Burns
Bad news arrived Thursday morning for the Two Basin Partnership, a regional coalition of agencies working to take over PG&E's license for the Potter Valley Project, a hydroelectric system that diverts tens of thousands of acre-feet of water each year from the Eel River into the headwaters of the Russian River. Earlier this month, the Two-Basin Partnership - which is comprised of California Trout, the County of Humboldt, the Mendocino County Inland Water & Power Commission, the Round … Continue Reading
September 23, 2021
Huffman introduces bill to abolish Space Force
by K.C. Meadows
Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) has introduced the No Militarization of Space Act, to abolish the Space Force which he calls costly and unnecessary. This comes as Congress moves to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual bill that authorizes funding for the Pentagon. "The long-standing neutrality of space has fostered a competitive, non-militarized age of exploration every nation and generation has valued since the first days of space travel. But since its … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Democrats fear climate impact of only passing bipartisan bill
by Adam Aton
President Biden this summer trumpeted his bipartisan infrastructure deal as a "historic" win for the climate. But the arrival of autumn finds Democrats in danger of a historic failure. The bipartisan infrastructure bill, which prescribes $550 billion in new spending, is in danger. So is a larger $3.5 trillion reconciliation package that contains a much more ambitious approach to climate change. Progressives for months have demanded that Congress pass both bills together. But a handful of … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Marin leaders intensify coal freight counteroffensive
by Will Houston
Marin County representatives are taking action this week to challenge a potential proposal to ship coal by rail through Marin and several northern California counties. A filing submitted last month to the nation's top rail regulator, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, aims to upend California's years long efforts to convert the mostly defunct 300-mile North Coast railroad between Marin and Humboldt counties into a trail network called the Great Redwood Trail. However, the recently formed … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Bill To Abolish U.S. Space Force Introduced By North Bay Rep. Jared Huffman
WASHINGTON (CBS SF/CNN) - A North Bay congressman has introduced a bill to abolish the U.S. Space Force, a day after the newest branch of the military unveiled new uniform prototypes. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced the No Militarization of Space Act as Congress moves to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual bill that authorizes funding for the Pentagon. Former President Donald Trump established the Space Force in 2019, creating the newest military … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Democratic support for carbon dioxide pipelines spurs backlash
by Ben Lefebvre
Democrats hoping to score their biggest-ever win on climate change in a pair of infrastructure bills are drawing pushback from environmental activists and some climate hawks on the Hill over an issue that usually unites them against oil companies: new pipelines. But rather than pipelines like Keystone XL, Dakota Access or Line 3, the new dispute is over proposed federal money to build infrastructure that would ship carbon dioxide from the industrial sites where the greenhouse gas is emitted … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Sonoma County elected leaders react to Koi Nation proposal for casino near Windsor
by Emma Murphy, Andrew Graham and Ethan Varian
The Koi Nation, a small Native American tribe in Sonoma County, unveiled Wednesday its ambitious proposal to build one of largest casino and resort complexes in Northern California near Windsor. While the proposal must clear a number of government hurdles before it becomes reality, the prospect of 2,500 slot and other gaming machines, a 200-room hotel, six restaurant and food service areas, a meeting center and spa appeared to catch a number of Sonoma County leaders off-guard. Here's a … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Koi Indian tribe unveils plans for $600 million casino resort in Sonoma County
by Paul Bomberger, Ethan Varian and Andrew Graham
The Koi Nation, a federally recognized tribe based in Sonoma County, unveiled plans Wednesday to turn a 68-acre vineyard southeast of Windsor into a $600 million casino resort, one of the largest of its kind in Northern California. The 90-member Pomo tribe intends to turn the land about a half-mile from Shiloh Ranch Regional Park into the Shiloh Resort & Casino. Pending necessary state and federal approvals, it's likely to take four years before the resort would be built and opened, … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Dems beat back amendments to transportation, water bill
by Arianna Skibell, Hannah Northey
After 15 hours of fierce debate, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted 37-29 along party lines to advance a sprawling and divisive $60 billion bill that would boost water infrastructure, transportation equity, climate resilience, transit and rail. The legislation is part of the Democrats' broad $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. Among other provisions, the bill would provide $10 billion for a program to enhance transit options and affordable housing. It would invest … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
In response to Western drought, a flood of legislation
by Joseph Morton
Las Vegas visitors can still snap selfies with the mermaids swimming among tropical fish in the Silverton Casino's massive aquarium and gaze at the colorful dancing water displays of the iconic Bellagio fountains - for now. But southern Nevada and much of the American West are struggling to cope with a worsening drought that has strained municipal water supplies, agricultural operations and wildlife populations. Tens of millions of Americans live in areas being punished by drought, from … Continue Reading
September 10, 2021
One-third of Biden’s Cabinet visited the Bay Area this summer. Why?
by Tal Kopan
The Cabinet has been crisscrossing the country, selling priorities such as investing in infrastructure, addressing climate change and combating the coronavirus pandemic. Along the way, members of Congress joined the roadshow, eager to show their constituents that they had the clout to bring a Cabinet member to their district and happy to have the chance to highlight their top policy priorities. Only one of the visits dovetailed with fundraising, a frequent draw for the Bay Area. California … Continue Reading
September 09, 2021
EPA Seeks to Protect Alaska’s Bristol Bay From Pebble Mine
by Stephen Lee
The EPA said Thursday it will seek to vacate a Trump-era decision that removed obstacles for the massive gold and copper Pebble Mine project to be built in southwestern Alaska. If a federal court agrees to remand and vacate the 2019 withdrawal notice, the Environmental Protection Agency's review process under the Clean Water Act would be restarted, and the agency would announce a schedule for "resuming a process to protect certain waters in the Bristol Bay watershed-including opportunities … Continue Reading
September 03, 2021
Budget bill in Congress could derail ANWR drilling
by Liz Ruskin
Democrats in the U.S. House want to use the budget process to reverse the 2017 law requiring oil lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The ANWR reversal is part of the budget reconciliation bill debated in the House Resources Committee Thursday. Budget reconciliation is a type of bill that can't be filibustered in the Senate, so in theory it could pass there without any Republican votes. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., said it's a fitting way to repeal the refuge leasing … Continue Reading
September 03, 2021
Dems to STB: ‘Thoughtfully, Thoroughly Consider Regulatory Action Impacts’
by William C. Vantuono
Thirty-nine Members of Congress, all Democrats, have sent a letter to the Surface Transportation Board urging it to "not take any action that would undermine the ability of railroads to make … investments now and into the future." The signatories, 18 of whom are members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee," said STB-which in recent months has been making numerous requests of railroads for information on service metrics and fielding numerous complaints from shipper … Continue Reading
September 03, 2021
North Coast lawmakers gearing up to battle coal export proposal tied to Humboldt
by Mary Callahan and Andrew Graham
North Coast lawmakers and environmental groups are bracing for a battle to block a secretive plan to restore an abandoned stretch of North Coast railroad for high-volume coal shipments from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming and Montana to Humboldt Bay for overseas export. A plan state Sen. Mike McGuire is calling the "toxic coal train" would allow transport of coal shipped through Utah and Nevada, west through Sacramento and Vallejo and through the North Bay along the SMART train tracks and … Continue Reading
September 02, 2021
GOP Targets Oil and Gas Fees, Civilian Corps Ahead of Markup
by Kellie Lunney
The House Natural Resources Committee begins work Thursday on the first portion of Democrats' $3.5 trillion economic and social spending plan, with Republicans set to offer a slew of amendments to a measure they say punishes fossil fuel companies at the expense of domestic energy security and production. The panel's $31 billion measure to boost climate resilience, drought relief, and conservation programs is just one plank in a legislative package that Democrats aim to pass in both chambers … Continue Reading
August 31, 2021
Nearly $7.5B to electrify federal fleet in Oversight panel bill
by CQ Roll Call Staff
The House Oversight and Reform Committee will take up a $7.5 billion package Thursday that's mainly intended to help the General Services Administration and U.S. Postal Service's vehicle fleet go green. The proposal is intended to be inserted into Democrats' massive $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, which will flesh out numerous domestic social policy initiatives from clean energy to health care. A memo from committee staff, posted online Monday along with a notice that the panel plans to … Continue Reading
August 25, 2021
Progressives eye halt to ANWR drilling in reconciliation bill
by Emma Dumain
Congressional Democrats and their environmentalist allies are increasingly confident they'll be able to stop drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the reconciliation process. According to several sources who spoke to E&E News this week, conversations were taking place at the highest levels of House and Senate leadership as lawmakers prepare to mark up portions of the $3.5 trillion infrastructure spending bill as early as next week (see related story). On the House side, the … Continue Reading
August 25, 2021
Lawmakers urge Biden and FEMA to declare drought disaster in West
by Rebecca Falconer
Reps. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and fellow Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) from Colorado are urging President Biden to declare a drought disaster in the West. Driving the news: The lawmakers wrote to Biden Wednesday, calling on his administration to support Western governors' Federal Emergency Management Agency drought disaster declaration request issued earlier this month, as they experience water cuts driven by rapidly depleting supplies. What they're saying: "There is little to no … Continue Reading