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Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Divided US appeals court allows Biden-era biofuel rule to stand
June 20 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court declined to throw out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's renewable fuel standards for 2023 to 2025 on Friday, even as it concluded regulators failed to adequately assess the potential effect the rule would have on climate change and endangered species. A 2-1 panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit largely rejected, opens new tab challenges by environmental groups, refiners and a renewable fuel producer to fuel volume requirements that the EPA set in 2023 for corn ethanol and other biofuels during former Democratic President Joe Biden's tenure. The requirements increased the amount of biofuels that oil refiners must blend into the nation's fuel mix and set finalized biofuel blending volumes at 20.94 billion gallons in 2023, 21.54 billion gallons in 2024 and 22.33 billion gallons in 2025. The panel's majority found merit only in challenges filed by two environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity. They argued the EPA failed to adequately explain why it relied on an outdated study when addressing greenhouse gas emissions associated with crop-based biofuels and contended the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not adequately explain its conclusion that the rules would have no effect on endangered species. The panel's majority agreed, finding that the EPA's analysis of the effects of the rule on climate change under the Clean Air Act was arbitrary and that the Fish and Wildlife Service failed to explain why it concluded there would be "no effect" on habitats if land is converted to grow corn and soybeans. U.S. Circuit Judges Cornelia Pillard and Michelle Childs, both appointees of Democratic presidents, nonetheless declined to vacate the rule and instead sent it back to the EPA for further consideration, saying tossing it could be "highly disruptive." Maggie Coulter, a lawyer at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement called the ruling a "big win," saying the agencies would now need to fully assess the renewable fuels program's harms to protected species and habitat. The EPA did not respond to requests for comment. U.S. Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas, who Republican President Donald Trump appointed in his first term, dissented and said he would have set the rule aside, saying "the requirements are more deeply flawed than my colleagues recognize." He said the EPA considered only how much renewable fuel the industry could produce, without considering the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
No impact to Toronto's green standard under new Ontario law, city staff says
Buildings are shown on Adelaide Street, in downtown Toronto, on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tammy Hoy TORONTO — A newly released report from city staff says Toronto still has the authority to mandate new buildings meet certain climate and sustainability targets, despite concerns those powers could be undercut by a recent Ontario law. The report set to go before the city's executive committee today says there's 'no impact' to the city's ability to apply its green standard to new development under the recently passed Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act. Several environmental and industry groups have suggested the law may prevent municipalities from setting standards beyond what's already required in the provincial building code. Toronto's green standard is considered a key plank of the city's climate plan and is touted as a way to make new buildings more resilient to climate-fuelled extreme weather while cutting back on emissions. Among other things, it requires new builds to retain stormwater to prevent flooding during extreme rainfall and have enough tree canopy to help stave off extreme heat. It also requires buildings to meet annual emissions targets, pushing developers to consider low-carbon heating options such as heat pumps over natural gas, and install parking spots for bikes and electric vehicles. A spokesperson for Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack did not directly say whether the bill would impact Toronto's ability to enforce the standard, but she did say it was adding to building costs and slowing down construction. 'Our government is focused on what the economics support, setting the same rules for everyone to get shovels in the ground to build more homes faster,' Alexandra Sanita wrote in a statement. The Atmospheric Fund, a regional agency that supports climate solutions in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, has suggested green development standards may actually help accelerate development timelines by streamlining sustainability-related planning requirements into a single document with clear expectations. In a letter to the province, it pointed to data that suggested Toronto and Pickering, two municipalities with green standards, have both seen their approval timelines improve in recent years, although they remain above the national average. Bryan Purcell, a vice-president at The Atmospheric Fund who's worked closely on green standards, says he was 'somewhat surprised' but 'very encouraged' by how definitive the city's position was in the staff report. He says green standards are 'so core' to Toronto's climate objectives that 'we can't really afford to lose it.' But he said the bill had generated enough confusion to possibly stall efforts by municipalities interested in pursuing their own version of the standard. 'I think the biggest immediate impact is that I expect to see some slowdown in those cities that were on the path of developing their first green standards,' he said in an interview. The omnibus Bill 17 was rushed through the legislature and passed into law earlier this month before a public comment period closed and without further review by a legislative committee. Changes made under the new provincial law prevent municipalities from passing bylaws respecting the construction or demolition of buildings. Some law firms and regulatory bodies, including the Ontario Association of Architects, have said that change would appear to make green standards obsolete. Others have suggested the province may use the bill to limit what types of studies a city can require from a developer before approving a project. Toronto's green standard, for example, requires a developer to submit an energy modelling report that outlines how the building will keep greenhouse gas emissions in check. The OAA says green standards should not be lost, adding they help 'everyone understand energy consumption in buildings,' and position Ontario to achieve its climate targets. More than a dozen other Ontario municipalities have used Toronto as a model to come up with their own green standards. While Toronto, Halton Hills and Whitby are among those with mandatory standards, most are voluntary. The Residential Construction Council of Ontario, a vocal critic of the standard, has suggested it's adding to housing costs. RESCON sued Toronto over the standard last year in a case still before the courts. President Richard Lyall called the city staff report set to be discussed Tuesday 'delusional and unsubstantiated.' 'We're going to make our views known to the committee,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
E&E News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
‘Presidential exemption' for coal-fired plants faces lawsuit
Environmental groups are suing to overturn President Donald Trump's decision to give almost 70 coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption on compliance with strengthened EPA air toxics regulations on mercury and other pollutants. Trump's grounds for granting the mass exemptions via an April presidential proclamation were in effect a sham, Air Alliance Houston and 11 other advocacy organizations allege in the lawsuit filed late Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. 'The Exemption Proclamation is illegal and must be invalidated,' the suit says. Advertisement White House spokespeople did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment Friday morning.
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
JBS shares are expected to begin trading on the NYSE
Employees move into an entrance to the JBS meat processing plant in Greeley, Colo. on July 22, 2021 (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) Brazilian meat giant JBS expects its shares to begin trading Friday on the New York Stock Exchange. Trading in New York is a long-held goal for JBS, which was founded 72 years ago and is now one of the world's largest meat companies. Half of its annual revenue comes from the U.S., where it has more than 72,000 employees. JBS is America's top beef producer and its second-largest producer of poultry and pork. JBS's minority shareholders voted last month to approve the company's plan to list its shares both in Sao Paulo and New York, casting aside opposition from environmental groups, U.S. lawmakers and others who noted JBS' record of corruption, monopolistic behavior and environmental destruction. JBS said a dual listing would give it broader access to investors and more competitive interest rates, which would help it finance its growth. It has also said a U.S. listing would subject it to more oversight from regulators. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved JBS's planned listing last month. Still, the proposed listing has received significant pushback. Earlier this week, Mighty Earth, an environmental group, said it sent a letter to the NYSE board urging it to decline the listing. Mighty Earth contends that JBS is illegally profiting from deforested land in Brazil. Glass Lewis, an influential independent investor advisory firm, was also among those recommending that JBS's shareholders reject the planned listing. In its report, Glass Lewis said the recent return of brothers Joesley and Wesley Batista to the JBS board should concern investors. The brothers, who are the sons of JBS' founder, were briefly jailed in Brazil in 2017 on bribery and corruption charges. Glass Lewis also objected to the company's plan for dual share classes, which give the Batistas and other controlling shareholders more voting power. JBS said the outcome showed shareholders were confident in the benefits a dual listing would bring. Dee-ann Durbin, The Associated Press
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Willow Ridge Wind Project gets Alberta Utilities Commission approval
The Alberta Utilities Commission approved a wind project just south of Fort Macleod, but the approval hasn't come without opposition.
