OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Crude export ban gets its first hearing

CRUDE OIL FOR EVERYONE: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing Thursday morning examining the pros and cons of repealing a decades-old ban on crude oil exports.

It should make for an interesting hearing, as Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) has hinted at legislation to move the process along if President Obama doesn’t seek executive action to lift the ban.

{mosads}Chairman of the committee Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has yet to take a stance and wants to be sure consumers won’t get the short end of the stick.

Check E2-Wire Thursday morning for a complete run-down on the history of the crude oil ban, and why lawmakers are raising the issue now.

ON TAP THURSDAY: Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy will take to MSNBC twice throughout the day to tout President Obama’s climate agenda.

Chuck Todd will interview McCarthy on his show “The Daily Rundown” at 9 a.m. EST, and later she will be on “All in With Chris Hayes” at 8 p.m. EST.

The administration is launching a renewed push to get information about its climate regulations to the public and rally support in Congress.

Speaking of McCarthy… The EPA chief will deliver the keynote address at the 14th National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy and the Environment on “Building Climate Solutions,” at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.

During her speech, McCarthy will announce an updated EPA tool for determining storm water runoff, among other things.

Rest of Thursday’s agenda …

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold an oversight hearing on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s efforts to aide Japan in its cleanup of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which contaminated groundwater surrounding the facility.

The panel will also review nuclear safety issues.

The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing examining catch limits for fishing and other provisions that would be reauthorized in the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Off Capitol Hill … The American Wind Energy Association will release its fourth quarter market report, reviewing how the wind industry fared in 2013 and what to expect in 2014.

AROUND THE WEB:

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the one of the worst droughts in California’s history could leave 17 communities and water districts without water in a matter of 100 days.

“These systems all are experiencing challenges meeting customer need, and those challenges are exacerbated by drought conditions,” Matt Conens, spokesman for the California Department of Public Health, said in an email to The Chronicle.

Bloomberg reports that water companies could benefit the most from regulation changes after the West Virginia chemical spill into the Elk River.

“We see the potential for swift, decisive industry and regulatory action in the U.S. water industry,” Michael Gaugler of Brean Capital wrote today in a note to clients, according to Bloomberg.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Check out the stories that ran on E2-Wire on Wednesday … 

– Arizona bill would nullify EPA regs
– Oil shipments blocking passenger trains
– House spending panel shuffles members
– Landrieu: ‘Certain there will have to be’ bill lifting crude export ban
– Obama quiet on Keystone, GOP not
– Rand Paul: Obama wants to ‘punish‘ oil and gas industry
– Natural gas big winner in Obama SOTU address

Please send tips and comments to Laura Barron-Lopez, laurab@digital-release.thehill.com.