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Energy & Environment
Energy & Environment
The Big Story
Inhofe, known for calling climate change a ‘hoax,’ dies
Former Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), who famously called climate change a “hoax” and led the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, has died at 89.
Inhofe’s family announced his passing Tuesday, saying the former legislator died after a sudden illness.
Inhofe is famous for denying climate science, describing it as a “hoax” in his 2012 book. Former President Trump has also notably used this language to refer to climate change, despite the scientific consensus that it is occurring and primarily being driven by the use of fossil fuels.
Inhofe threw a snowball on the Senate floor in 2015 to argue against the fact that the planet is heating up.
He led the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee between 2003 and 2007 and again from 2015 to 2017. In interim, when Democrats held a majority in the Senate, he served as the panel’s top Republican.
Inhofe was also a fierce opponent of environmental regulation and criticized the Environmental Protection Agency as an “activist organization.”
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
President Biden signed a bipartisan bill Tuesday aimed at bolstering the nation’s nuclear power in what supporters describe as a historic win for the sector.
Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah), the GOP nominee for retiring Sen. Mitt Romney’s (R) seat, introduced bipartisan legislation with Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) calling for a federal study of carbon intensity for common domestic imports, potentially paving the way for a carbon import tax.
The Washington Post has rolled out a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that will allow users to seek answers on environmental issues and climate change sourced from its coverage.
HOUSTON (AP) — Many of the millions left without power after Hurricane Beryl crashed into Texas, sweltered and grumbled Tuesday as the storm gutted access to air conditioning, food and water, and smothering heat and humidity draped over the nation’s fourth-largest city.
The House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Administrator Michael Regan is scheduled to testify.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on Shannon Estenoz’s nomination for the No.2 role at the Interior Department
What We’re Reading
News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
It’s a brutally hot summer in D.C., and there’s little sign of relief (The Washington Post)
Sea level rise wipes out an entire U.S. species (Axios)
America Finally Has an Answer to the Biggest Problem With EVs (The Atlantic)
President Biden is delivering an address Tuesday for the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during the organization’s summit in Washington. Read more
Florida Satanists are volunteering to fill school counselor roles after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a law allowing religious chaplains into public schools amid staffing shortages. Read more
