Major green group launches sun-blocking research

Presented by Chevron: Your guide to the political forces shaping the energy transformation

Jun 12, 2024 View in browser   By Arianna Skibell Presented by Chevron Some climate researchers are studying whether sunlight can be safely deflected from the Earth. | Marco Ugarte/AP One of the nation’s most influential environmental groups plans to study the contentious concept of blocking the sun’s rays to cool the planet. The move marks a significant mainstream endorsement of a once-fringe (and still-risky) field of research, writes Corbin Hiar. Yet the Environmental Defense Fund is staying curiously mum on the details of its solar radiation management research project, including the size of the new program and the full list of organizations underwriting it. Corbin’s many requests for comment went unanswered or redirected. Theoretically, solar geoengineering involves various methods of deflecting the sun’s rays, such as spraying reflective particles into the stratosphere or brightening clouds to reflect sunlight away from Earth. Proponents of the last-ditch climate solution, including some top climate scientists, say such efforts could stave off the worst of global warming long enough for humanity to reduce atmospheric pollution to safe levels. But other scientists and environmentalists argue that shooting particles into the air is too dangerous to even study. The approach doesn’t address the world’s addiction to fossil fuels and could have dire unintended consequences for the ozone layer and weather patterns, they argue. In a statement to The New York Times, EDF Associate Chief Scientist Lisa Dilling said the group remains steadfast in its support for research — not deployment — of solar radiation management. But even studying the approach has proved challenging in recent years. California’s Alameda City Council voted last week to block an experiment aimed at making clouds more reflective in the Bay Area. That’s the second time in recent months such a project has been shelved amid community opposition. Earlier this year, EDF gathered scientists, environmentalists and donors to help establish best practices for philanthropic-funded studies of solar geoengineering. Dilling told Corbin at the time that the group would release a report on the meeting, including participants’ names. But on Tuesday — after weeks of saying the report was forthcoming — EDF said it would not publish the meeting recap. “We don’t typically post for the public our workshop reports,” spokesperson Anne Marie Borrego told Corbin in an email. She said Dilling, who joined the group last August, was “fairly new at EDF and she didn’t know that when she told you it would be released to the public.”   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: Energy demand is projected to reach record highs and continue to rise in the future. Chevron is responding to that growing need while innovating to help do so responsibly. All to help us provide energy that’s affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner.   Listen to today’s POLITICO Energy podcast Today in POLITICO Energy’s podcast: James Bikales breaks down how President Joe Biden's Buy America agenda is undermining his prized clean energy and infrastructure programs.   A message from Chevron:   Power Centers (From left) President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. | AP Biden's mad dash to beat the clock Biden’s regulators hustled to complete sweeping new energy and environmental rules in recent months in hopes that they’ll stick even if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House, write Kevin Bogardus and Robin Bravender. The regulations include everything from a high-stakes power plant rule on climate pollution to a policy governing conservation of public lands. Feds give out $1B in instant EV rebates The Biden administration said Wednesday that it has doled out more than $1 billion to buyers of electric vehicles since launching point-of-sale rebates in January, writes David Ferris. But analysts said the numbers are less impressive than they may seem. The rebate went to only a fourth of the more than 600,000 EV purchases so far this year, said Alan Baum, an independent auto analyst in Detroit. Mountain Valley pipeline gets green light The nation's top energy regulator granted approval to start operation of the Mountain Valley pipeline, the final hurdle for the contentious natural gas project that has draw sharp opposition from environmental activists, writes Catherine Morehouse. The approval marks the end of a lengthy regulatory and legal battle over the pipeline that dates back to its first application in 2015. In Other News Political meddling: Why scientists fear a second Trump term, and what they are doing about it. Wine. Olive oil. Coffee. Cocoa. Oh, my! Climate change is coming for the finer things in life.   THE GOLD STANDARD OF DEFENSE POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries, like defense, equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists. Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other. Our defense reporting team—including Lara Seligman, Joe Gould, Paul McCleary, Connor O’Brien and Lee Hudson—is embedded with the market-moving legislative committees and agencies in Washington and across states, delivering unparalleled coverage of defense policy and the defense industry. We bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY.     Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. People take part in a climate march in Nairobi, Kenya, last year. | Suleiman Mbatiah/AFP via Getty Images Frustration spilled over during international climate talks Tuesday as a U.S. negotiator expressed dismay at efforts by developing nations to ratchet up climate aid from wealthy nations. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday he expected Republicans would make good on a pledge from presumptive GOP nominee Trump to try to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act. The “clean” hydrogen industry’s patience for long-awaited Biden administration guidance to receive tax credits is running thin. That's it for today, folks! Thanks for reading.   JOIN US ON 6/13 FOR A TALK ON THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE: As Congress and the White House work to strengthen health care affordability and access, innovative technologies and treatments are increasingly important for patient health and lower costs. What barriers are appearing as new tech emerges? Is the Medicare payment process keeping up with new technologies and procedures? Join us on June 13 as POLITICO convenes a panel of lawmakers, officials and experts to discuss what policy solutions could expand access to innovative therapies and tech. REGISTER HERE.       A message from Chevron: Oil and gas are still an important part of the global energy system. To help responsibly address growing needs, Chevron is stepping up. Our Gulf of Mexico facilities are some of the world’s lowest carbon intensity operations, and our technological advances enable us to reach previously unviable oil and gas reserves there. In the Permian Basin, we’re harnessing new drilling and completion technologies to increase the amount of oil we recover. We expect to reach 1 million barrels of oil-equivalent there per day by 2025. Providing energy that’s affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner. That’s energy in progress.     Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

To change your alert settings, please log in at https://login.politico.com/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com/settings This email was sent to rouf@idiot.cloudns.cc by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service