Last night the Senate unanimously passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The $2 trillion stimulus is likely to proceed quickly through the House and become law.
Senate negotiators reached a deal on a $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill early this morning. Although concessions were made regarding Leader McConnell’s $425 billion corporate slush fund, the oversight and guardrails remain insufficient.
Friends of the Earth released an analysis today addressing the ethical, environmental and financial implications of a bailout for the fracking industry, which could benefit to the tune of billions from proposed stimulus legislation in both the House and the Senate.
The Nuclear Energy Institute, the industry’s main lobbying arm, is reportedly requesting a 30 percent tax credit for existing reactors as part of coronavirus aid.This is the same demand that the nuclear made repeatedly last fall, well before the coronavirus.
A coalition of green groups including Friends of the Earth US, Greenpeace, and Stand.earth wrote a letter today to the U.S. House and Senate leadership opposing any bailout to the cruise industry during the coronavirus health crisis.
The National Mining Association, the lobbying arm of the coal industry, is reportedly seeking a wide-ranging federal bailout in the context of coronavirus aid. Based on a recently released letter the wish-list includes tax breaks, royalty relief, and the use of emergency powers to keep coal plants online.
The Department of Energy announced this morning a solicitation to purchase 30 million barrels of oil to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The Maryland General Assembly passed S.B. 300 today, making Maryland the fourth state to ban Dow’s brain-damaging pesticide.
Friends of the Earth released an analysis today raising legal, environmental, and logistical questions about Trump’s promise to “fill up” the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
This afternoon, during a speech declaring a state of national emergency, Trump announced new authority to purchase oil into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, promising to fill it “right up to the top.” This is a move to support oil industry profitability in a low-price environment.