Florida Officials Banned From Using the Terms 'Climate Change' and 'Sustainability'

<> Florida Officials Banned From Using the Terms 'Climate Change' and 'Sustainability' - Florida DEP officials have been ordered not to use the term "climate change" or "global warming" in any official communications, emails or reports, according to former DEP employees, consultants, volunteers and records obtained by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.

Arctic sea ice extent may set a new lowest winter maximum

<> Arctic sea ice extent may set a new lowest winter maximum - Arctic sea ice extent continues to track well below average, but it is still unclear whether March will see an increase in ice, or establish a record low maximum. Arctic sea ice could set an ominous new record this year - The National Snow and Ice Data Center, in Boulder, Colo., is our top tracker of Arctic sea ice. The agency notes that last month saw the third-lowest ice extent ever recorded for February

Keystone XL Roll Call Vote On Overriding the Veto of S.1

<> Keystone XL Roll Call Vote On Overriding the Veto of S.1 – The Senate vote to override the President's veto of S.1, the Keystone XL Approval bill, failed by a vote of 62-37, with one not voting [67 votes were needed, 54 Republicans & 8 Democrats voted for the override] S. 1: Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act

Senate EPW: Oversight Hearing: Examining the President's budget request for U.S. EPA

<> Senate EPW: Oversight Hearing: Examining the President's budget request for U.S. EPA - Testimony and webcast of Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator Complete details about EPA's Proposed FY 2016 budget

EPA's Commitment to Scientific Integrity

<> Our Commitment to Scientific Integrity at EPA - Francesca Grifo, Ph.D., EPA's Scientific Integrity Officer, announced the release of EPA's Fiscal Year 2014 Scientific Integrity Annual Report. U.S. EPA's Scientific Integrity Annual Report—FY 2014

SAB Review of the EPA's draft Report on the Environment 2014

<> SAB Review of the EPA's draft Report on the Environment 2014 - The Science Advisory Board (SAB) was asked to review the draft ROE with particular attention to its adoption of a sustainability framework and new sustainability indicators, as well as the online format as a tool to communicate to scientists, policy makers and public audiences. Background, meetings & documents

Nebraska Injunctions halt Keystone XL for 12-18 months+

<> Injunctions halt KXL eminent domain proceedings in two Nebraska counties - Bold Nebraska reports that eminent domain and the Keystone XL pipeline are now halted in Nebraska for 12-18 months, attorneys estimate, until the Nebraska Supreme Court rules on the merits of this case. More details and information from Bold Nebraska More details and information from TransCanada

Clean Energy RD&D Investments Make Us Stronger

<> Clean Energy RD&D Investments Make Us Stronger - The American Energy Innovation Council (AEIC), a bipartisan collection of business leaders focused on creating economic growth through public and private investment in new energy technology, recently issued a report calling for a boost in investment in energy research, development, and deployment (RD&D). Restoring American Energy Innovation Leadership: Report Card, Challenges, and Opportunities AEIC's Letter to Members of Congress on Restoring American Energy Innovation Leadership

President Obama Veto Message On Keystone XL Bill & Reactions

<> President Obama Send Veto Message to the Senate: S. 1, Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act – "Through this bill, the United States Congress attempts to circumvent longstanding and proven processes for determining whether or not building and operating a cross-border pipeline serves the national interest. . ." Rep. Raúl Grijalva Statement On the KXL Veto - House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) "A National Embarrassment": Speaker Boehner on President Obama's Veto of Keystone Jobs Bill Boehner & McConnell in USA Today: "Pipeline Veto Purely Political" Pelosi Statement on President Obama's Veto of Keystone XL Pipeline Sen. Murkowski Statement on President Obama's Veto of the Keystone XL Pipeline Upton Responds to Keystone Veto Markey: Obama Keystone Veto Victory for Climate, Won't End Pipeline of Bad Policies from Republican Congress Sen. Inhofe Statement on the President's Veto of the Keystone XL Pipeline Senator Boxer's Statement on President Obama's Veto of the Keystone Pipeline Bill

<> Bold Nebraska Discusses Keystone XL Veto on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" - Bold Nebraska director Jane Kleeb appeared on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" on Tuesday, Feb. 24 to discuss President Obama's veto of the Keystone XL fast-track bill, and the call for him to reject the pipeline once and for all. Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline Veto - Right Decision at the Right Time U.S. Chamber's Energy Institute President and CEO Karen Harbert explains why EPA's analysis of the Keystone XL pipeline is off base U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue on President Obama's veto...

Climate Change Laws of the World

<> Climate Change Laws of the World - From the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law: Countries around the world are taking important domestic actions to help tackle the issue of climate change; here's a collection of the relevant laws and policies of various countries in an easily accessible database.

Regulations Proposed For Exploratory Drilling Offshore Alaska

<> BSEE, BOEM Issue Proposed Regulations to Ensure Safe and Responsible Exploratory Drilling Offshore Alaska - BSEE and BOEM today released proposed regulations to ensure that future exploratory drilling activities on the U.S. Arctic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) are done safely and responsibly, subject to strong and proven operational standards. BSEE, BOEM to Discuss Efforts to Ensure Safe and Responsible Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling Operations in the Arctic - BSEE Director Brian Salerno and BOEM Director Abigail R. Hopper will hold a press conference call to discuss latest efforts to ensure future oil and gas exploratory activities on the U.S. Arctic Outer Continental Shelf  Sen. Murkowski Comments on Interior's Draft Arctic Regulations API: Arctic energy is critical to U.S. economy & national security Sierra Club: Obama Administration Releases New Guidelines for Arctic Ocean Drilling

Exelon: EPA's Carbon Rule For Existing Power Plants Can Be Implemented Reliably and On Time Using Existing Market Mechanisms

<> Exelon: EPA's Carbon Rule For Existing Power Plants Can Be Implemented Reliably and On Time Using Existing Market Mechanisms - The electric industry can achieve the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's goal to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants on schedule and at a minimal cost to consumers without harming grid reliability or compromising the efficiency of existing energy markets, according to Exelon testifying before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) at a technical conference to discuss EPA's proposed Clean Power Plan [Exelon is one of the largest competitive U.S. power generators, with approximately 32,500 megawatts of owned capacity] FERC Technical Conference on Environmental Regulations Background & Agenda

The 2015 Economic Report of the President

<> The 2015 Economic Report of the President - This morning, the Council of Economic Advisers released the 69th-annual Economic Report of the President, which reviews the United States' accelerating recovery and ways to further support middle-class families as the recovery continues -- Chapter 6 reviews the profound transformation of the U.S. energy sector;  the United States is producing more oil and natural gas and generating more electricity from renewables such as wind and solar. Economic Report of the President – 419 pages

Ohio Supreme Court Stops Local Drilling Bans

<> Ohio Supreme Court Stops Local Drilling Bans - In a narrow 4-3 decision, in the high profile case of State ex rel. Morrison v. Beck Energy Corp., the Ohio Supreme Court said that local drilling and zoning ordinances in Munroe Falls cannot be enforced because they conflict with the state law regulating oil and gas wells and operations. [links to Case summary, history, docket, decision, oral argument video, & all briefs]

The Most Ambitious Environmental Lawsuit Ever

<> The Most Ambitious Environmental Lawsuit Ever - A quixotic historian tries to hold oil and gas companies responsible for Louisiana's disappearing coast -- Each hour, Louisiana loses about a football field's worth of land. Oil And Gas Companies Won't Have To Pay For Damage Caused To Louisiana's Coast, Judge Rules Access the decision - Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority—East v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline et al More on the decision with extensive comments

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect and Restore the Great Lakes

Subscribers & Readers Note: WIMS will not be publishing on Monday, February 16, 2015, in observance of the Federal Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day) holiday.

<> Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect and Restore the Great Lakes - U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Mark Kirk (R-IL), and other members of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, introduced the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA) to authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million annually HOW Coalition Supports New Great Lakes Bill S.504 Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act

Nebraska Court Again Stops Keystone XL Pipeline

Subscribers Note: WIMS will not be publishing on Monday, February 16, 2015, in observance of the Federal Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day) holiday.

National / International News

<> Nebraska Court Again Stops Keystone XL Pipeline - A Holt County, Nebraska District Court judge halted TransCanada's attempt to use eminent domain to take their land for the Keystone XL export pipeline -- resolution could take another 12 months, or longer Judge grants temporary injunction to stop some Keystone XL condemnation cases - Landowners' attorney Dave Domina said he plans to take the new lawsuits back to the NE Supreme Court.

New Congress Approves Keystone XL Pipeline Bill

<> New Congress Keeps Promise to Approve Keystone Pipeline Jobs - House Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) statement after the House passed S. 1, legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline 270-152 (includes 29 Democrats). ". . .With hardworking, middle-class families still struggling to get by, that should give the president plenty of cause to reconsider his veto threat and sign this bill into law." [Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) was the lone Republican voting against the bill]. S.1: Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act – Legislative details S.1 Sponsor, Sen. Hoeven Statement on House Passage of the Keystone XL Approval Legislation - Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) Sen. Murkowski Applauds House Passage of Keystone XL Bill - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today applauded passage by the House of legislation approving construction of the Keystone XL pipeline Republican Briefing on Keystone XL Pipeline Bill House Passes Keystone Bill Despite Obama's Opposition President should follow Congress' lead on KXL Sierra Club Statement on Latest House KXL Vote White House Veto Statement On HR 3 Keystone XL Pipeline Act - HR3 is the House version of the Keystone approval; no specific statement on S.1

Proposed Climate Intervention Techniques Not Ready for Wide-Scale Deployment

<> Proposed Climate Intervention Techniques Not Ready for Wide-Scale Deployment - Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is still the most effective, least risky way to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change, concludes a two-volume report from a National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council committee that evaluated proposed techniques to either remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or increase the ability of Earth or clouds to reflect incoming sunlight Climate Intervention: Carbon Dioxide Removal and Reliable Sequestration Climate Intervention: Reflecting Sunlight to Cool Earth New Report on Geoengineering a "Significant Milestone" – SRMGI - Experts with the Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative (SRMGI) praised the underlying significance of the report. Climate engineering: it could be a money-making opportunity for business - The longer we take to tackle climate change, the more likely we our to need climate intervention technologies.

First Round of UN Climate Talks in 2015 Begin in Geneva

<> First Round of UN Climate Talks in 2015 Begin in Geneva - Countries began their next round of UN climate change talks on Sunday, in Geneva, where they will continue work to advance the draft text of a new, universal climate change agreement which they are due to conclude at the end of this year -- the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) is meeting from February 8 – 13. Geneva Climate Change Conference - February 2015 Efficiency at Day 2 of ADP2.8 - Day two of the UN climate change negotiations, or according to Kiribati the "most crucial meeting for humanity", in Geneva saw a greater sense of urgency.