Ella Nilsen @ella_nilsen Twitter profile

Last Seen Profiles

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@Kojirotheking2

@CesiHhc

Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Scoop: DOE is announcing a massive investment in 4 direct air capture hubs. When built, each should be capable of removing over a million tons of CO2 per year (removing 1 million ton of CO2 is like taking ~200k gas cars off the road).

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Scoop: 200+ congressional staffers sent a letter to Pelosi & Schumer tonight, demanding they close the deal on a climate & clean energy package and warning that failure could doom younger generations.

More than 200 congressional staffers urge Pelosi and Schumer to act on climate or risk dooming...

For Democratic Congressional staffers – many of whom are young – passing massive investments in clean energy tax credits to deal with the climate crisis is especially urgent.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Big news for energy/climate twitter: Defense Production Act for heat pumps is happening, WH announces. Also will be covered under DPA: solar panel components, building insulation, electric transformers needed for the power grid, and equipment like electrolyzers and fuel cells.

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

New: Manchin tanks Democrats' chances of passing a climate plan through Congress. A very abrupt change from the last few days, per sources.

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

New: TX energy experts say wind & solar are keeping the power on & costs down during the record power surge and unusually early heat wave. "Texas is, by rhetoric, anti-renewables. But frankly, renewables are bailing us out," @MichaelEWebber said.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

WH makes it official: Biden will invoke Defense Production Act to support the production and processing of minerals including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and manganese -- used in EV batteries and large batteries used to store wind & solar energy.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

There’s so much CO2 in the atmosphere that the US both needs to decarbonize and to dramatically scale up direct air removal to the point of removing billions of tons of CO2 per year, per Rhodium’s John Larsen. “What you’re really building is an entire carbon removal industry.”

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Manchin seemed frustrated when he walked out of the Senate about 40 mins ago and told me, "we're in a holding pattern." Now seems relatively chipper as he returns to the Senate floor and says "We're ready to roll."

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Clean energy tax package, including EV tax credits and prevailing wage provisions, has been approved by Senate parliamentarian, per Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden. Nothing stripped out.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

1 year

Most of election Twitter has closed up shop, but the Arizona AG race is still a total nail-biter. I'm watching because Kris Mayes has been very outspoken on the Saudi-owned farms using rural AZ groundwater with no rules -- which I wrote about here.

Wells are running dry in drought-weary Southwest as foreign-owned farms guzzle water to feed cattle...

Around 80% of Arizona has no laws overseeing how much groundwater corporate megafarms are using, nor is there any way to track it.

www.cnn.com

The AZ - abc15 - Data Guru

@Garrett_Archer

1 year

Coconino has uploaded its final 396 ballots. It was a 60/40 split for the D slate. @krismayes net 96 on that one and now leads @AbrahamHamadeh by 236. Coconino is count complete.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Heat pump watch: John Kerry tells me "there's a lot of discussion going on right now about heat pumps specifically" as far as getting Europe off Russian gas. Plans still in flux but heat pumps are a "very real alternative" to burning fossil fuels.

John Kerry plans to stay in climate envoy role through late 2022, says climate action in Congress...

John Kerry, President Joe Biden’s Special Envoy for Climate, told CNN he plans to stay in his current role through at least the next major international climate summit in November.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Scoop: the HHS office tasked with combatting the health impacts of climate has been operating with no funding or permanent staff. "It would be as if 9/11 happened and we didn't create the Department of Homeland Security," one public health expert said.

The federal office focused on health impacts of climate crisis has no permanent staff or funding |...

President Joe Biden’s first sweeping executive orders on climate included launching an entirely new office within the Department of Health and Human Services with an important mandate: dealing with...

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Hurricane Ian storm surges already setting new records for highest water levels ever observed in multiple Southwest Florida locations including Ft. Myers and Naples. And there's still the threat of so much rain in addition.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Clearly an emotional day for Senate climate hawks. “I don’t know if it’s quite caught up with me yet," @MartinHeinrich tells me. "We thought we were going to get this done back in 2009, 2010 and obviously it took another 12 years. It's going to be transformative."

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Biden announcing he's invoking Defense Production Act for critical minerals: “We need to end our longterm reliance on China and other countries for imports to power the future.”

Biden wants to ramp up production of critical minerals. Here’s how it’s supposed to help consumers...

It’s a move the administration hopes will kickstart the electric vehicle and renewable energy supply chain.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Top WH climate official Gina McCarthy is set to leave her post in the coming weeks, after Dems passed major climate legislation. Worth noting she stayed on longer than expected, in part because of the climate bill.

Biden taps Clinton campaign manager Podesta to implement climate spending in landmark law | CNN...

Podesta served as a top climate adviser to former President Barack Obama and was integrally involved in the administration’s executive actions on climate and international negotiations that resulted...

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Manchin says climate talks aren't over. But several folks I'm talking to are deeply skeptical & done taking him at his word, especially since Dems are running out of time. John Podesta to me: “I think that string has run out. He killed this, and he has to own that."

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

In sweltering heat, TX set a new record for power demand on Sunday. But prices haven’t spiked. "Because the price of wind and sunlight hasn't doubled in the past year like other resources, they are acting as a hedge against high fuel prices.”

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Letter is anonymous, signed with staffers’ initials. Effort started Monday night and grew to over 200 signatures by Tuesday. “This rose up out of staffers' frustration.”

More than 200 congressional staffers urge Pelosi and Schumer to act on climate or risk dooming...

For Democratic Congressional staffers – many of whom are young – passing massive investments in clean energy tax credits to deal with the climate crisis is especially urgent.

www.cnn.com

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Lots of stuff in Manchin/Schumer deal: -EV tax credits -10-year consumer tax credits for heat pumps, solar panels -$60 billion in EJ funding -$60 billion in clean energy manufacturing -$27 billion for a national green bank -Methane fee

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

4 Dem senators are taking to the floor today to talk about the Commerce solar investigation, which US solar industry says is freezing the industry. Probe “threatens to create an unforced error in our commitment to protect our planet,” Sen Tom Carper says.

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Sunrise Movement co-founder @VarshPrakash on Manchin upending climate bill: “This is nothing short of a death sentence."

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Another climate win for Dems this morning from the Senate parliamentarian: EPW's methane fee and environmental justice funding will remain in reconciliation bill, per Chair Tom Carper.

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Very impressed with the climate folks who stayed up all night watching amendments, but the counterpoint I’d like to offer is that sleep is good.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

“I didn’t negotiate with Manchin, I have no idea,” Biden tells reporters in Saudi Arabia when asked if Manchin negotiated in good faith on climate bill. Well-known that WH was letting Schumer handle negotiations but still a bit startling to hear this directly from Biden.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

News: SCOTUS will allow Biden admin to keep using “social cost of carbon” metric that estimates the cost of climate change — dealing a blow to GOP states asking SCOTUS to overturn it. One-line order from SCOTUS; no noted dissents. w/ @Arianedevogue

Supreme Court allows Biden administration to continue counting the costs of planet-warming emissi...

The Supreme Court will allow the Biden administration to continue to use a metric that estimates the real-world cost of the climate crisis while legal challenges play out.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

5 months

Some really interesting new climate polling from CNN: 73% of US adults – including 50% of Republicans – say the federal government should develop its climate policies to cut US planet-warming pollution in half by the end of the decade. w/ @aedwardslevy

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

EV tax credits are IN the new deal between Schumer and Manchin, per 2 sources. $7500 tax credit for new EVs and $4000 for used EVs. Big turnaround for Manchin who was staunchly opposed.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Manchin is blasting Interior Sec. Deb Haaland and her deputy at a hearing this morning. “I am sorry to say it has become clear the pause has become a ban,” he says of the admin’s initial temporary pause on new oil & gas leases. (That pause is technically over).

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Nothing explicit on DPA being used to manufacture heat pumps from the WH today -- but they note "The President is also reviewing potential further uses of DPA – in addition to minerals and materials – to secure safer, cleaner, and more resilient energy for America."

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

11 months

Climate protesters disrupted Manchin’s Semafor Q&A today on permitting and Mountain Valley pipeline. Speaking now in the back room, Manchin said “what these people did today helps me tremendously in my state” politically.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Biden admin has announced the first major step to pay farmers, cities and Native tribes in the Southwest for significant, voluntary Colorado River cuts. Focus is on paying water users in AZ, CA, NV between $330-400 per acre-feet to leave water in Lake Mead.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

In rural Arizona, where groundwater use is unregulated, Saudi and UAE companies have been farming alfalfa for years, to ship to a giant dairy operation & other livestock overseas. Rural AZ communities say the water is disappearing beneath their feet.

Wells are running dry in drought-weary Southwest as foreign-owned farms guzzle water to feed cattle...

Around 80% of Arizona has no laws overseeing how much groundwater corporate megafarms are using, nor is there any way to track it.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

. @SenJackyRosen spoke earlier (solar is a big employer in NV), saying “people’s livelihoods are in jeopardy” and Commerce probe is “reversing” progress towards clean energy.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Schumer says motion to proceed vote on Dems tax and climate bill will be Saturday afternoon. This as Manchin and Sinema were huddling together on the floor. This vote opens up 20hrs of debate. Then vote-a-rama (aka Senate all-nighter), then final vote at some point.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

I hear clapping inside the chamber, so it sounds like this thing just got passed.

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Scoop: Enviro lawyers just sued @Interior to try to stop the admin's largest onshore oil and gas lease sale in Wyoming, on about 120k acres of land. It's the second lawsuit in a week to challenge the administration on its drilling plans.

First on CNN: Environmental groups sue Biden administration over climate and wildlife impact of...

As President Joe Biden’s administration prepares to hold its first onshore oil and gas drilling lease sales, environmental groups have filed a new lawsuit to attempt to stop the largest of these...

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

. @SecGranholm and @alizaidi46 are doing an event on Biden’s solar and clean energy announcements at a solar array in Maryland today. I walked down a dirt road to get here.

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

SCOOP: DOE to issue new gas-fired furnace standard. New rule would achieve a 95% efficiency standard, essentially phasing out less-efficient “non-condensing” furnaces. It would be the first significant update to these standards since the 90s.

New federal rule aims to phase out residential furnaces that waste natural gas | CNN Politics

The furnace rule would be the country’s first significant update to standards since the 1990s.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

US wind energy hit a major milestone last week: wind power was the second-highest source of electricity for the first time since @EIAgov began gathering the data. We dove into the numbers more. h/t to @bstorrow for first noting!

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

New: details on the efforts inside the admin/WH to help “stop the bleeding” of the solar industry post-Commerce probe. Klain, Richetti, NEC, WH climate involved in the run-up to yesterday’s DPA/tariff announcement, per sources.

Clean energy industry and climate activists see glimmer of hope in new Biden action after months of...

Months of intense lobbying from the solar and clean energy industry culminated on Monday in the Biden White House taking their biggest action on climate in recent months.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Manchin to Paris: Sen. Joe Manchin attended @IEA ministerial meeting on "a people-centered and just energy transition" in Paris today alongside Sec. Granholm. Manchin talked about some of the energy tax credits/provisions he wants to see, like 48C & advanced nuclear.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

As @SenTinaSmith was presiding over the Senate today, her phone kept ringing off the hook. It was Schumer. "I knew it was Chuck; I did the complete no-no and answered the phone," Smith told me. "He said '40% emissions reductions by 2030, this is a big F-ing deal!'"

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Re-upping this one: Far from the coasts, wind energy is thriving on the vast plains of Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska. Long devoted to oil and gas, Western Oklahoma is now home to one of the largest wind farms in the world.

‘The sound of money’: Wind energy is booming in deep-red Republican states | CNN Politics

Wind turbines don’t just dot the landscape in Oklahoma; they dominate it.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

News: Granholm says Biden admin “working on a few things” to help solar industry while Commerce probe plays out. Doesn’t want to pressure Commerce but there is also “deep concern about how long this takes,” so “the admin is looking at other options.”

Energy Secretary says administration is working on relief for solar industry amid tariff investig...

More than 300 solar projects in the US had already been delayed or canceled as of late April due to a Commerce Department investigation.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

In the past week, Joe Manchin went zip-lining with Brian Deese in WV & had dinner with John Kerry in Paris. Manchin's engaging with admin officials about what he could support in a new bill, but the timeline is unclear. w/ @FoxReports

Manchin engaging with Biden administration on new climate and economic bill but timeline unclear |...

Manchin and the Biden administration are having conversations about several items that could be included in a climate and economic plan.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

NEWS: Biden may invoke the Defense Production Act as soon as this week to spur domestic production of critical minerals needed to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles and long-term storage, per source familiar. (Confirming @bpolitics ).

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

For all of the many, many ups and downs with reconciliation, by far the biggest chunk of spending in the final Manchin/Schumer deal is on climate/energy. Nearly $370 billion in there for it.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Was intending to get a nice long sleep in before this weekend on the Hill. So naturally, went to bed at midnight and woke up at 6 am after fitful dreams about the Byrd bath. 🐦🛁

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

SCOTUS ruling wasn't worst-case scenario for EPA, but's still a big blow for the climate. Here's why: "To avoid the worst impacts of climate change we need to do a lot more and move a lot faster. That's why today's ruling is such a setback."

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

And a little scoop -- 6 climate groups are readying for the midterms with an arsenal of $100 million: the first coordinated spending of its kind. They're also watching Congress: "That task gets a lot easier if we have a transformative climate bill."

First on CNN: Climate groups join for first-of-its-kind, $100 million push to mobilize midterm...

In an attempt to mobilize voters around the climate crisis, six climate advocacy groups are readying for the midterms with an arsenal of $100 million – the first coordinated spending of its kind.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Sen. Wyden, whose committee had jurisdiction over clean energy tax credits, says “nearly all issues in the climate and energy space had been resolved.” “This is our last chance to prevent the most catastrophic—and costly—effects of climate change.”

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Lmao we're gonna all have to do this morning of SCOTUS homepage refreshing hell one more day.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Another day of frantic refreshing for naught; we won't get WV v EPA SCOTUS decision today.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Scoop: First look at Biden's proposed climate/clean energy parts of his FY23 budget. DOE would get $48.2 billion, EPA $11.9 billion & DOI $17.6 billion – big bumps from the Trump-era funding levels each agency started with when Biden came into office.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

WH announcing $700 million in new EV charging investments from private companies today, which they say will increase domestic capacity to manufacture more than 250,000 EV chargers each year. This is on top of the ⚡️ investments in the infrastructure law.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

New Schumer statement, says bill vote happening next week: “I expect that the remaining work with the parliamentarian will be completed in the coming days and the Senate will vote on this transformative legislation next week.”

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

I went out to one of the newest and biggest wind farms in the country this week, in Oklahoma. First of all: Oklahoma wind in the spring is no joke. You have to hold on tight to car doors when opening them & have permanently windswept hair.

'The sound of money': Wind energy is booming in deep-red Republican states

Wind turbines don't just dot the landscape in Oklahoma; they dominate it.

amp.cnn.com

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Important to note this HHS climate office has a broad mandate to tackle crises that are happening right now: dealing with extreme heat, health impacts of wildfire smoke, hospital access during extreme storms. And they have no funding from Congress.

The federal office focused on health impacts of climate crisis has no permanent staff or funding |...

President Joe Biden’s first sweeping executive orders on climate included launching an entirely new office within the Department of Health and Human Services with an important mandate: dealing with...

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

NEWS: Feds says Lake Mead will likely drop another 12 ft by the fall — far below what outlooks predicted. In September 23, officials suggest Mead will be *26 ft lower* than current level: 19% of the lake’s full capacity. by @angelafritz , @rachjuramirez

Lake Mead water level running well below predictions, could drop another 12 feet by fall | CNN

Federal officials have a sobering forecast for the Colorado River Basin: Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir which serves millions of people in the Southwest, will likely drop another 12 feet...

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Schumer tells reporters he’s wearing his lucky blue suit today. “I had a feeling.” “To do small things with 50 votes is rough. To pass such major legislation…wow. I give such credit to my caucus.”

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Manchin said he felt good as he left the chamber, called IRA a "good balanced bill." “I think we’ll all benefit from it; the country will,” he told me. “We have energy security, that’s what we were looking for. And we have the ability to invest in the energy of the future.”

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

@cflav @JulieATate Manchin has made millions on inefficient waste coal called gob, mixed with rock & clay. That inefficiency means West Virginia ratepayers pay more for their electricity, which keeps going up as the state refuses to transition off of coal-fired power.

West Virginia’s reliance on coal is getting more expensive, and Joe Manchin’s constituents are...

During the winter months in West Virginia, Felisha Chase pays more for her electricity than she does for her home.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

WH climate adviser Ali Zaidi on Biden invoking Defense Production Act on clean energy: “We’re putting ourselves on a wartime footing because the climate crisis demands that” and fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demands it.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Senate floor, 11:30am: Booker tells Warnock they need a blessing; Shaheen, Klobuchar and Tina Smith are huddled & laughing at what appears to be a very amusing story; two staffers with global warming stripe ties are sitting off to the side watching the proceedings.

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Granholm talking about inflation with higher electricity costs: “We can break our dependence on these volatile fossil fuels with clean energy sources. Solar is 40% cheaper than natural gas even with battery storage attached.”

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Schumer's statement says the new reconciliation agreement with Manchin will reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030. Still waiting to see the numbers on how they get there, but would be a big deal for combatting climate change, and Biden's climate goals.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

A federal judge just axed Trump's 2019 rollbacks to the Endangered Species Act, restoring the landmark law. It's a big win for advocates who say the Biden admin was moving too slowly to review and revise the Trump changes.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Big car news: CA regulators unanimously vote to ban new gas vehicle sales by 2035. And other states are following: so far, officials in NY, Washington, Oregon & Rhode Island say they're planning to follow CA's lead.

California votes to ban new gas car sales by 2035 | CNN

California air regulators voted Thursday to approve stringent rules that would ban the sale of new gasoline cars by 2035 and set interim targets to phase the cars out.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

An acre-foot of water is difficult to visualize, but it's about 326,000 gallons -- or about half an olympic sized swimming pool worth of water. A top federal water official said states need to cut 2-4 million acre-feet of water by next year just to stabilize the CO river system.

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Got some questions from readers about what exactly the $4 billion in drought resilience money will do. Answer is it's funding states will dole out to farmers, communities, businesses, tribes who voluntarily conserve their water use or work to restore the CO River Basin.

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Dems are cautiously optimistic to see Manchin back at the table on a reconciliation/tax bill. A new potential roadblock: Manchin now wants to include $ for more fossil fuel infrastructure in the US, in addition to clean energy. w/ @FoxReports

Democrats see hope for a clean energy bill, but Manchin is adding a new hurdle: More funding for...

Exactly how much money Manchin wants to dedicate to fossil fuels – versus investments in clean energy – is so far unclear.

www.cnn.com

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Have been back online post-vacation for 2 days and would like to go back to these good rocks instead, please.

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Late to tweeting it, but this @JStein_WaPo / @tylerpager deep dive into the mind-boggling dissolution of BBB negotiations between Biden and Manchin is extremely good & still very relevant.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

1 year

News: The Biden administration has announced the first-ever US offshore wind energy lease sale off the Gulf of Mexico, an area long dominated by oil and gas production.

Biden administration announces first-ever wind energy lease sale in Gulf of Mexico | CNN Politics

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced the first-ever US offshore wind energy lease sale for the waters in the Gulf of Mexico, an area long dominated by oil and gas production.

www.cnn.com

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

Sinema's tax demands getting lots of attention, but she's also asking for $5 billion for drought aide for Western states. Michael Bennet also said he "cannot vote for a bill unless it improves the condition of the Colorado River."

Sinema’s support for the tax and climate bill could hinge on drought funding for the Southwest |...

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona is asking for $5 billion to help the Southwest deal with its multi-year drought, Democratic senators tell CNN.

www.cnn.com

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@ella_nilsen

2 years

For years, a massive Saudi dairy has pumped Arizona groundwater to farm alfalfa, which it ships back to the Middle East. “We are literally exporting our economy overseas. There’s no Saudi Arabian milk coming back to Southern California or Arizona.”

Wells are running dry in drought-weary Southwest as foreign-owned farms guzzle water to feed cattle...

Around 80% of Arizona has no laws overseeing how much groundwater corporate megafarms are using, nor is there any way to track it.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Senate floor, 2:30pm: critical mass of senators sitting down at their desks, which *could* be a sign this is coming to a close soon; Jack Reed is reading Amy Klobuchar's "Antitrust" book; VP Harris just arrived. Some chatter about missed flights.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

1 year

New: Counties in Kevin McCarthy’s Congressional district have spent more time than any other part of the country under exceptional drought (the worst category) over the last decade. Entire small communities had wells dry up last year.

Faucets in McCarthy’s district are running dry after years of drought. Constituents want him to do...

Shortly after Benjamin Cuevas and his family moved into their new home three years ago in Tooleville, California, he realized something was horribly wrong.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Essential @angelafritz and @rachjuramirez reporting on the link between climate change and intensifying hurricanes: Warming oceans "lay the groundwork for tropical storms to explode at breakneck pace."

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

New: Sinema is not the only senator asking leadership to add drought funding to IRA, per source familiar. A coalition of several Western lawmakers who represent states in the Colorado River basin are in talks with Democratic leadership for more drought $

Sinema’s support for the tax and climate bill could hinge on drought funding for the Southwest |...

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona is asking for $5 billion to help the Southwest deal with its multi-year drought, Democratic senators tell CNN.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Some progressive Dems are ready to compromise with Manchin on fossil fuel $ in exchange for clean energy $. "If we have to have an increase of short-term production for massive investments in climate...that is in my view worth doing," Ro Khanna said.

Democrats see hope for a clean energy bill, but Manchin is adding a new hurdle: More funding for...

Exactly how much money Manchin wants to dedicate to fossil fuels – versus investments in clean energy – is so far unclear.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

After Las Vegas, NM officials finished battling the massive wildfire earlier this month, they raced to protect their water supply from being contaminated by the burnt, unstable soil the fire left behind. It's yet another devastating impact.

Disaster upon disaster: Wildfires are contaminating the West’s depleting water with ashy sludge |...

When it rains after a wildfire, thousands of tons of charred sediment will flow into rivers and reservoirs used for drinking water.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Turns out, getting your Twitter hacked is both unnerving and embarrassing. But I am back now, even though my old tweets did not survive.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Am at the point in reporting a story where I am dreaming about it every night, and thus have to conceal the bags under my eyes every morning.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Megafires aren't just burning down homes, trees and wildlife in the West. They’re also threatening precious watersheds, as burned & unstable soil erodes into rivers and lakes. “It's literally like tasting dirt.”

Disaster upon disaster: Wildfires are contaminating the West’s depleting water with ashy sludge |...

When it rains after a wildfire, thousands of tons of charred sediment will flow into rivers and reservoirs used for drinking water.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Interior sets the date for first-ever offshore wind lease sale on the West coast: Dec. 6 for a 373,000 acre area off the coast of northern/central CA. Interior says area could produce over 4.5 GW ⚡️ 💡 when developed -- enough to power 1.5 million homes.

Biden moves one step closer to making giant Pacific Ocean wind turbines a reality | CNN Politics

The Department of Interior on Tuesday announced it will hold a lease sale for wind energy off the coast of Central and Northern California, bringing the Biden administration’s dream of a massive West...

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

1 year

The informal group of Western senators first convened by @SenatorHick last year is becoming the new Colorado River caucus. Talks still early but some already have an eye on passing more $ for drought relief & water conservation.

Senators form bipartisan Colorado River caucus as tensions rise in West over water crisis | CNN...

As the Colorado River sinks further into crisis, senators from seven states are formalizing a group to examine how Washington can help ease the pain.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Manchin supporting the climate and energy bill comes right as West Virginia and neighboring KY are getting hammered with intense rain & flooding today. WV Gov just declared a state of emergency in 6 counties due to significant flooding, per a press release.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

“We have proof of the case now bc [the hurricane] came right over us. We have water, electricity, internet — we may be the only people in SW FL who are that fortunate.” A 100% solar community got its first big test with Ian. Great story from @rachjuramirez

This 100% solar community endured Hurricane Ian with no loss of power and minimal damage | CNN

Climate resiliency was built into the fabric of Babcock Ranch with stronger storms in mind, and Hurricane Ian was a major test.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Caught up with @SecGranholm after her trip to WV today. “If we’re going to be energy independent, we have to transition to clean energy,” she said. On whether Manchin is supportive of clean energy transition/tax package: “I think he’s very receptive to it."

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Senate floor at 9:30am: Schumer sighing loudly, Bernie stifling a yawn behind his mask, lots of senators on their iPads. Schatz showing Leahy (who’s in a wheelchair decked out with Batman stickers) something his phone. Reporters asking senators how much longer this is going.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

$4 billion for drought mitigation/water conservation is in the updated IRA bill text, "with priority given to the Colorado River Basin and other basins experiencing comparable levels of long-term drought."

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Schumer’s expected to brief Senate Dems today on reconciliation updates and his negotiations with Manchin, Sen. Carper says. Schumer will brief virtually at caucus lunch (he’s out for a positive Covid test).

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

To limit warming to 1.5 degrees, or even 2 degrees, the world's energy systems must rapidly decarbonize, IPCC authors say. Even continuing to operate existing fossil fuel infrastructure puts the world off track for staying under 1.5 degrees.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Schumer says that he, Manchin & others continue conversations "about the best way to ensure responsible permitting reform is passed before the end of the year." Senate R's including Cornyn & Capito seem interested in passing something, potentially attached to NDAA.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

The $4 billion in drought relief clinched at the last minute as part of reconciliation will pay Western farmers, tribes and communities for steeper, voluntary water cuts. It’s part of a last-ditch effort to stabilize Mead & Powell.

There’s $4B for West drought relief in the climate bill. Here’s how it could be used | CNN Politics

With this funding, states could pay farmers not to farm and pay residents to dig up their lawns in favor of xeriscaping.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Some more details on Biden’s solar/clean energy announcement today. Will invoke Defense Production Act to “rapidly expand” domestic clean energy tech, per source. WH trying to walk a fine line of salvaging solar industry & not interfering in Commerce probe

Biden announces new executive actions to spur domestic solar, clean energy development | CNN...

President Joe Biden to authorized the Defense Production Act to spur US manufacturing of several forms of clean energy, the White House announced Monday.

www.cnn.com

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

2 years

Just heard another loud yawn on CSPAN. Also forever impressed with the Senate clerks that stay up all night and can still speed-read all these people's names.

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Ella Nilsen

@ella_nilsen

1 year

Over the past week, TikTok users have galvanized around trying to stop the Willow oil drilling project in Alaska, sending over 1 million letters to the Biden admin. I wrote about the #StopWillow surge.

#StopWillow is taking TikTok by storm. Can it actually work? | CNN

TikToks with anti-Willow Project hashtags like #StopWillow have amassed close to 50 million views in the last week, and on Friday, Willow was on the site’s top-10 trending list, behind celebrities...

www.cnn.com

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