{"id":2251241,"date":"2024-05-23T12:56:10","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T16:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/daily-on-energy-democrats-versus-big-oil-granholm-spars-with-house-gop-and-norfolk-southern-settles\/"},"modified":"2024-05-23T13:02:32","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T17:02:32","slug":"daily-on-energy-democrats-versus-big-oil-granholm-spars-with-house-gop-and-norfolk-southern-settles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/daily-on-energy-democrats-versus-big-oil-granholm-spars-with-house-gop-and-norfolk-southern-settles\/","title":{"rendered":"Everyday Energy News: Democrats Clash with Big Oil, Granholm Debates House GOP, Norfolk Southern Resolves"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdaily-on-energy-democrats-versus-big-oil-granholm-spars-with-house-gop-and-norfolk-southern-settles%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2251241&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In today&#8217;s energy news, \u2062Democrats ramp up attacks on Big Oil, \u200daccusing executives of price collusion. Senate leaders call\u200d for DOJ investigation into alleged collusion to inflate \u2063energy costs.\u2062 Also,\u2062 Norfolk Southern \u200bsettles $310 million over a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-governor-asks-biden-for-east-palestine-disaster-declaration-150-days-after-train-derailment\/\" title=\"Ohio Governor requests disaster declaration from President Biden for East Palestine train derailment, 150 days later.\">devastating train derailment<\/a>. Meanwhile, Exxon wins the\u2064 right\u2062 to sue a climate activist investor. Lastly, tech giants\u2063 unite to purchase\u200b nature-based \u200ccarbon\u200d credits.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>DEMOCRATS STEP UP ATTACK ON BIG OIL:<\/strong> Democrats stepped up efforts this morning to pin blame for high gas prices on oil executives. <\/p>\n<p>At a press conference this morning outside the Capitol with other members and environmentalist groups, Majority Leader <strong>Chuck Schumer<\/strong> blasted oil executives as colluding to raise prices \u2013 noting the Federal Trade Commission allegations that former Pioneer Natural Resources founder <strong>Scott Sheffield <\/strong>coordinated with OPEC+ competitors on production. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cInstead of working to lower gas prices for Americans ahead of a busy Memorial Day weekend, Big Oil executives are huddling to find ways to keep prices high and their profits soaring,\u201d Schumer said. <\/p>\n<p>Schumer said that he will be sending a letter to the DOJ next week calling for the department to investigate and prosecute \u201ccollusion and price fixing\u201d that he says may have increased energy costs. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Democrats also went after oil company support for Trump: <\/strong>Schumer also criticized President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong>\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/05\/09\/trump-oil-industry-campaign-money\/\">reported<\/a> $1 billion request for campaign contributions from oil executives. <\/p>\n<p>Relatedly, this morning Senate Finance Committee Chairman <strong>Ron Wyden<\/strong> and Senate Budget Committee Chairman <strong>Sheldon Whitehouse<\/strong> also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.finance.senate.gov\/chairmans-news\/finance-budget-committees-launch-joint-investigation-into-donald-trumps-quid-pro-quo-offer-to-big-oil#:~:text=Washington%2C%20D.C.%20%E2%80%93%20Following%20reports%20that,and%20Senate%20Budget%20Committee%20Chairman\">announced<\/a> that their panels were launching a joint investigation into Trump and the oil companies \u201cconferring on how to trade campaign cash for policy changes.\u201d Their investigation adds to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3002820\/house-democrats-investigate-trump-dinner-oil-executives-quid-pro-quo-concerns\/\">one overseen<\/a> by House Oversight Committee Ranking Member <strong>Jamie Raskin. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Welcome to <\/em>Daily\u00a0on\u00a0Energy<em>,\u00a0written\u00a0by <\/em>Washington Examiner <em>Energy\u00a0and Environment writers <\/em><strong><em>Breanne\u00a0Deppisch<\/em><\/strong><em> (<\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/ivnhgrtmvvcwzcgvwbtmbwtqkmwrbnfnkpmkctbynbmzhm_amltysmsnmtmymhdbyk.html?a=Daily+on+Energy+042624+a&#038;b=04%2F26%2F2024&#038;c=WEX_Daily+on+Energy&#038;d=74818&#038;e=5e416aea0ec04794aefc1bf38e8732bcac2624a1a0facc3bb148508a175cb68c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>@breanne_dep<\/em><\/a><em>) and <\/em><strong><em>Nancy Vu<\/em><\/strong><em> (<\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/cpldhskcppmfqmhpfgkcgfkzrcfsgjnjrvcrmkgtjgcqdl_amltysmsnmtmymhdbyk.html?a=Daily+on+Energy+042624+a&#038;b=04%2F26%2F2024&#038;c=WEX_Daily+on+Energy&#038;d=74818&#038;e=5e416aea0ec04794aefc1bf38e8732bcac2624a1a0facc3bb148508a175cb68c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>@NancyVu99<\/em><\/a><em>). Email bdeppisch@washingtonexaminer dot com or nancy.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/daily-on-energy-manchin-co-express-hope-for-permitting-reform-despite-schumers-dismissal\/\" title=\"Everyday Energy Update: Manchin &#038; Allies Optimistic about Reform Progress Despite Schumer's Opposition\">vu@washingtonexaminer dot<\/a> com for tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you\u2019d like to sign up, <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/kmvhtzbvmmpjfptmjrbvrjbqkvjzrdgdkwvkpbrldrvfhd_amltysmsnmtmymhdbyk.html?a=Daily+on+Energy+042624+a&#038;b=04%2F26%2F2024&#038;c=WEX_Daily+on+Energy&#038;d=74818&#038;e=5e416aea0ec04794aefc1bf38e8732bcac2624a1a0facc3bb148508a175cb68c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>click here<\/em><\/a><em>. If signing up doesn\u2019t work, shoot us an email, and we\u2019ll add you to our list. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>REPUBLICANS SPAR WITH GRANHOLM DURING HEATED OVERSIGHT HEARING: <\/strong>House Republicans grilled Energy Secretary <strong>Jennifer Granholm<\/strong> this morning over the Biden administration\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/hearing\/oversight-of-the-u-s-department-of-energy\/\">energy policies<\/a>\u2014taking aim at its LNG pause, its electric vehicle push, and its energy appliance standard updates during her appearance before the Oversight Committee.<\/p>\n<p>Granholm faced scathing criticism over the department\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2819642\/biden-administration-pauses-new-us-lng-exports-amid-mounting-political-pressure\/\">pause on new LNG <\/a>export terminals\u2014both from the committee\u2019s chairman, <strong>James Comer<\/strong>, and Rep. <strong>Clay Higgins,<\/strong> the Louisiana Republican whose district is home to the massive Calcasieu Pass 2 LNG export terminal (CP2), which was stalled as a direct result of the pause.<\/p>\n<p>Higgins repeatedly accused DOE of violating its statutory authority under the Natural Gas Act in pausing approvals to conduct an environmental assessment on LNG. The law allows DOE to pause activity to conduct such assessments if it can be determined the activity is outside the public interest\u2014a bar Higgins said the administration has not yet met. <\/p>\n<p>This pause, he said, is \u201cillegal\u201d and \u201cjeopardizes billions of dollars of interest, American jobs, American families, and a clean, reliable energy source that contributes to our national security, energy security, and world security by our allies.\u201d Other Republicans said the pause risk global energy security and drive allies into the hands of Russia and other adversaries.<\/p>\n<p>Granholm also faced questions over DOE\u2019s new energy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/2774468\/republicans-blast-doe-gas-stove-proposal-as-alarming-violation-of-law-2\/\">efficiency standards<\/a> for home appliances, including gas stoves, washing machines, and residential refrigerators, among others\u2014which Republicans argued yielded \u201cmeager, unquantified benefits\u201d compared to the \u201cmassive cost of the burdens imposed on American manufacturers and consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her responses\u2014that DOE\u2019s pause on LNG terminals would be lifted by early 2025, that the efficiency standards will save Americans $2 trillion in energy savings over time\u2014were largely interrupted by members of the committee. Watch it in full <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/release\/comer-opens-hearing-with-doe-secretary-jennifer-granholm\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NORFOLK SOUTHERN EAST PALESTINE SETTLEMENT: <\/strong>The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice reached a $310 million settlement with Norfolk Southern today over its disastrous train derailment last year in East Palestine, Ohio.<\/p>\n<p>As part of the settlement, Norfolk Southern agreed to spend an estimated $235 million for clean-up, $25 million for a 20-year community health program, $30 million for monitoring water quality, and $6 million for a \u201cwaterways remediation plan\u201d to prioritize addressing historical pollution.<\/p>\n<p>Along with the settlement, the company estimates that it will spend more than $1 billion to address the contamination and other harms caused by the East Palestine derailment. That total includes measures the company will take to improve rail safety, along with a yearslong effort to provide medical monitoring and mental health services for affected residents and environmental remediation.<\/p>\n<p>Under the agreement, which still needs court approval, the company would have to pay a $15 million civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. In a call with reporters, a Justice Department official noted that Norfolk Southern would not be expressing liability but called the settlement a \u201cvery positive step that holds Norfolk Southern accountable for the derailment.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/3014834\/norfolk-southern-to-pay-310-million-in-settlement-for-east-palestine-derailment\/\">Read more from Nancy here. <\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>JUDGE GREENLIGHTS EXXON CASE AGAINST CLIMATE ACTIVIST INVESTOR:<\/strong> Exxon Mobil will be allowed to proceed with its case against a climate change activist investor, thanks to a ruling yesterday from U.S. District Judge <strong>Mark Pittman<\/strong> for the Northern District of Texas, CNBC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2024\/05\/22\/judge-rules-exxon-can-sue-activist-shareholder-over-climate-proposal-.html\">reports<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>The background: <\/strong>Exxon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2872720\/exxon-mobil-presses-lawsuit-against-climate-activist-shareholders-continue\/\">sued to<\/a> stop activist investors, Boston-based Arjuna Capital and Netherlands-headquartered Follow This, from filing an emissions-related shareholder resolution \u2013 even after the groups withdrew the proposal. Exxon said clarity was needed regarding Securities and Exchanges Commission rules to prevent similar resolutions from being filed in the future. <\/p>\n<p>Exxon has taken flak for the move, with CalPERS <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-on-energy\/3010159\/daily-on-energy-what-to-watch-on-capitol-hill-this-week\/?utm_source=Daily%20on%20Energy%20052124_05\/21\/2024&#038;utm_medium=email&#038;utm_campaign=WEX_Daily%20on%20Energy&#038;rid=74818&#038;env=5e416aea0ec04794aefc1bf38e8732bcac2624a1a0facc3bb148508a175cb68c\">seeking last week<\/a> to have its board removed in response. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Yesterday\u2019s ruling: <\/strong>Pittman, who was appointed by <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong>, said that Exxon was acting reasonably, calling its suit a \u201crational response to entities categorically opposed to Big Oil.\u201d He denied Arjuna Capital\u2019s motion to dismiss the suit, but granted it for Follow This on the basis that it is not headquartered in the U.S. <\/p>\n<p><strong>TECH FIRMS FORM NATURE-BASED CARBON CREDIT PURCHASING GROUP: <\/strong>Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce have banded together to commit to buying 20 million tons of nature-based carbon removal credits \u2013 an amount equivalent to the 2030 carbon removal targets of California. <\/p>\n<p>Their group, Symbiosis, said in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.symbiosiscoalition.org\/perspectives\/launch-press-release\">a press release<\/a> that by joining to offer advance market commitments for carbon removal \u2013 that is, promises to buy credits before they\u2019re available, they will send a \u201cstrong demand signal and a willingness\u201d that the market will support such technologies. The group will initially focus on forest and mangrove restoration.<\/p>\n<p>A number of tech companies, including Meta and Alphabet, are already members of <a href=\"https:\/\/frontierclimate.com\/\">Frontier<\/a>, an advance market commitment to buy $1 billion-plus of carbon removal through 2030.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>NOAA ISSUES RECORD HURRICANE FORECAST: <\/strong>NOAA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hurricane-hilary-forms-could-bring-heavy-rain-to-southern-california\/\" title=\"Hurricane Hilary emerges, may bring downpours to SoCal.\">hurricane season forecast<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.noaa.gov\/news-release\/noaa-predicts-above-normal-2024-atlantic-hurricane-season\">released<\/a> this morning, predicts 17 to 25 total named storms, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxweather.com\/weather-news\/nhc-noaa-hurricane-outlook-2024\">surpasses<\/a> the 14-23 projected ahead of the 2010 season. <\/p>\n<p>Of those storms, eight to 13 are projected to become hurricanes, including four to seven major hurricanes. <\/p>\n<p>NOAA said there was an 85% chance of above-normal hurricane activity, thanks to \u201cnear-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, development of La Nina conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear, all of which tend to favor tropical storm formation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>RUNDOWN <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oilprice.com\/Alternative-Energy\/Nuclear-Power\/Chinas-Rapid-Nuclear-Expansion-Is-Threatening-US-Dominance-in-the-Sector.html\">Oil Price<\/a> China\u2019s Rapid Nuclear Expansion Is Threatening U.S. Dominance in the Sector<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/features\/2024-05-23\/from-panama-canal-to-the-strait-of-hormuz-6-vital-trade-choke-points-to-know?srnd=homepage-americas\">Bloomberg<\/a> The Six Choke Points That Can Upend Global Trade<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats intensified their assault on Big Oil, blaming oil executives for soaring gas prices. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, joined by colleagues and environmentalists outside the Capitol, accused oil executives of price collusion. The Federal Trade Commission is urged to intervene in the alleged price manipulation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2844,"featured_media":2251242,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/doe-default-0823-1060x600-1024x580.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2251241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/doe-default-0823-1060x600-1024x580.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2251241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2844"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2251241"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2251241\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2251242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2251241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2251241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2251241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}