House GOP divided on energy spending

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Apr 26, 2023 View in browser   By Arianna Skibell Presented by Chevron House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Turns out House Republicans are not entirely united on axing all the energy subsidies in President Joe Biden’s climate law. GOP lawmakers voted this afternoon to approve a bill to raise the nation’s debt ceiling in return for a host of concessions from Democrats. But the vote came only after House Republican leaders spent the wee hours of the morning tweaking the bill to satisfy dozens of lawmakers threatening to defect. A chunk of the opposition stemmed from provisions that would have cut subsidies for biofuel plants prized by Iowa’s delegation. GOP leaders agreed not to touch those measures, or money for carbon capture projects that could benefit fossil fuel companies, instead choosing to slash other Inflation Reduction Act tax credits. The party’s conservative wing also demanded more work requirements for people who receive food stamps. The revised bill would cut $1 billion in grants for state and local governments to improve buildings’ energy efficiency. Another $5 billion for programs to reduce air and planet-warming pollution would also get axed, write Emma Dumain and Kelsey Brugger. While no Republican lawmakers voted in favor of Biden’s $369 billion climate law last year, analyses of the resulting energy investments so far have found that red districts stand to benefit the most. GOP districts are home to about two-thirds of the $150 billion in green investments that companies have announced since the Inflation Reduction Act became law in August. “When it comes to the green energy, I look at South Carolina: We have a lot of solar,” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who voiced discomfort with the debt ceiling bill, told reporters for POLITICO’s E&E News. “We have solar farms; we have residential, commercial solar. So how is this going to impact energy prices?” But she ultimately supported the bill. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has downplayed internal party discord, arguing the debt ceiling bill is a first attempt to get Biden and Senate Democrats to the negotiating table. The White House has said it will veto any proposal that cuts climate spending. “We want to sit down. We want to work together,” McCarthy said. “And that’s exactly what this bill does.”   It's Wednesday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Arianna Skibell. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to askibell@eenews.net.   A message from Chevron: We’re working to help lower the lifecycle carbon emissions of transportation fuels. Find out how Chevron’s renewable diesel can help fuel the way to a lower carbon future.   Listen to today’s POLITICO Energy podcast Today in POLITICO Energy’s podcast: Alex Guillén breaks down what we know about two highly anticipated new Biden administration rules to target the greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. the next pandemic Peter Sands, the head of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. | Sajjad Hussain/Getty Images The next pandemic could be caused by climate change fueling the spread of an already existent disease, as opposed to a new one, according to Peter Sands, head of the Global Fund, one of the world's largest funders of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria programs. In an interview with POLITICO's Ashleigh Furlong, Sands said climate change’s effect on existing deadly diseases isn’t a theoretical future scenario — it’s already happening. For example, climate-fueled flooding in Pakistan last year that killed 1,700 people also caused cases of malaria to surge. The deaths from the disease far exceeded the deaths caused directly by the flooding. And with extreme weather on the rise, Europe might also be at risk. “We may well see malaria coming back,” Sands said.   A message from Chevron:   Power Centers Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Capitol Hill in 2021. | Francis Chung/E&E News What's up with Manchin? West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin has been ramping up his criticism of Biden and Democrats in recent weeks, just as his potential reelection campaign approaches, writes Timothy Cama. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair, who hasn’t ruled out running for president himself, has been a political thorn in Democrats' side since joining the Senate in 2010. But his broadsides against the president and other members of his party are starting to get more personal and frequent. Farewell, Chevy Bolt The end of the road for General Motors' Chevrolet Bolt comes at the beginning of a new era for electric vehicles, writes David Ferris. While distinctly affordable, vehicles like the tiny, wedge-shaped Bolt are less popular than SUVs and trucks among consumers and producers. The $26,500 electric vehicle was also prone to battery fires and malfunction. Biden's big climate bet Biden’s newest bid to cut the nation’s climate pollution relies on a series of big bets, write Alex Guillén and Zack Colman. Biden is betting that technology to capture climate pollution will become widespread and effective; that a new rule to cut that pollution will withstand legal scrutiny; and that he will win reelection in 2024. In Other News POLITICO illustration/Photos by Getty Images, iStock Keeping tabs: Did Biden keep his campaign promises from 2020? Here’s POLITICO's report card. Solar supremacy: China is dominating the U.S. solar market as lawmakers are tussling over clean-energy tariffs.   GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat.     Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. Solar panels face the sky. | Elise Amendola/AP Photo The world’s biggest renewable energy developer is doubling a solar goal at its flagship Florida utility while continuing to move ahead on green hydrogen projects. The American Lung Association’s 2023 report says 17.6 million fewer people in the U.S. are breathing unhealthy air compared with the association’s report from last year. An international business coalition has announced one of the largest carbon dioxide removal purchases in history, signaling growing corporate support for the emerging climate industry. That's it for today, folks! Thanks for reading.   A message from Chevron: Renewable fuels can help lower lifecycle carbon emissions in industries around the world. At Chevron, we’re working to bring more renewable fuels to vehicles, today. Our renewable diesel can fuel trucks, trains, heavy-duty vehicles, and more, without requiring new equipment or infrastructure. The fuel—which is made with bio feedstock—has lower carbon intensity than regular diesel. It’s just one of the ways Chevron is committed to increasing our renewable fuel production, and fueling a lower carbon world. Find out more about our renewable diesel.     LISTEN TO POLITICO'S ENERGY PODCAST: Check out our daily five-minute brief on the latest energy and environmental politics and policy news. Don't miss out on the must-know stories, candid insights, and analysis from POLITICO's energy team. Listen today.       Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

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