Parts Per Billion

Here's yet another complicated and confusing question about the transition to a post-greenhouse gas world: Is what's billed as low-carbon gasoline good or bad for the environment? That's the question lawmakers in several Democratic-led states are asking themselves, and no easy answers are appearing. New Mexico, New York, and Minnesota, to name a few, have debated new standards that would encourage the adoption of more climate-friendly auto fuels, either through blending with ethanol or with another type of biofuel. But in all of these states, these measures failed amid opposition from environmentalists, who say a new fuel standard would simply delay the abandonment of fossil fuels altogether. On today's Parts Per Billion, our biweekly environmental law podcast, we hear from reporter Zach Bright about why low-carbon fuel standards are struggling to gain traction at the state level, despite support from high-level Democrats. Bright also talks about the states that have managed to adopt their own standard, an

Some good news for ESG investors, and even better news for accountants: the Securities and Exchange Commission just unveiled a new proposal that would force public companies to disclose mountains of climate change information. The proposal goes far beyond requiring disclosure of the fossil fuels a company itself uses: It would also have companies report out the carbon footprint of their supply chains and even, in some cases, of the customers who use their products. On today’s On The Merits, our weekly legal news podcast, we hear from Bloomberg News sustainability editor Eric Roston about what’s in this SEC proposal and why, for so-called “green investors,” this has been a long time coming. We also hear from Bloomberg Tax’s Amanda Iacone about why these disclosure rules could be a boon for accountants. After all, someone has to audit all of those new corporate climate statements. Do you have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more abou

If you thought Russia's invasion of Ukraine hurt the oil market, wait until you hear what it's doing to uranium. Before last month's invasion, Russia and its allies supplied nuclear power plants in the U.S. with half of their uranium, and 100% of a special type of uranium needed for smaller, next generation power plants. That entire supply chain has obviously been thrown into question since then, and that has huge implications for not only the future of nuclear power but also for climate change. On today's episode of our environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, we hear from Bloomberg Law reporter Daniel Moore about the Biden administration's attempts to find a new source of uranium for the country's nuclear reactors and about whether a decline in nuclear power would mean a rise in fossil fuels. Do you have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/li

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in West Virginia v. EPA on Monday, a case that could result in the narrowing of the agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. But, to some surprise, a few of the court's conservative justices posed tough questions to the attorney arguing against the EPA, which may indicate they're open to siding with the agency in this case. On today's episode of Parts Per Billion, our weekly environmental podcast, we're joined by Bloomberg Law's Jennifer Hijazi to break down what happened at the high court on Monday. Jennifer explains why, even if the court doesn't end up siding with the EPA, the agency has likely avoided the potential worst-case scenario some had feared going into the argument. Do you have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electric vehicles, or EVs, represent one of the most promising climate change solutions. But is America ready? To get the country ready, President Biden and Democrats in Congress gave states more than $7 billion to install electric vehicle charging stations across the country. But, as Bloomberg Government’s Lillianna Byington found, an Eisenhower-era law means these charging stations can’t be built on highways, as many EV advocates had hoped. On today’s episode of our Parts Per Billion podcast, Lillianna explains why road-tripping EV drivers will have to get off of the highway to charge up. She also talks about some of the other obstacles EVs must overcome before overtaking their gas-powered predecessors. Do you have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Supreme Court said 15 years ago that the EPA has not only the authority but also the obligation to regulate greenhouse gasses. Now, in a case coming before the court later this month, that landmark ruling may get overturned. On today's episode of Parts Per Billion, our weekly environmental podcast, Bloomberg Law's Jennifer Hijazi explains the stakes of West Virginia v. EPA, which the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Feb. 28. She talks about the circuitous route the case took to get to the highest court in the land, and how it may end up overturning, or at least gutting, the famous Massachusetts v. EPA opinion from 2007. Do you have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year's infrastructure bill made a landmark $15 billion investment in lead pipe removal, and even more funding may be on the way to get this toxic metal out of the country's drinking water system. But, according to two Bloomberg Law reporters, this money may be much slower than expected in getting to the communities that need it. On today's episode of Parts Per Billion, our weekly environmental podcast, Bobby Magill and Paige Smith explain why Congress' funding allocation is a pivotal—but definitely not final—moment in the EPA's war on lead. For one, drinking water systems don't have a comprehensive inventory of where lead is still in use. And for another, it's far from clear whether the country has enough plumbers and pipefitters to actually achieve the goal of total lead pipe eradication. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener fo

Federal contractors are going to have to share more information about their greenhouse gas emissions with the public, under new General Services Administration reporting requirements the White House introduced earlier this month. However, this isn’t the only climate reporting rule these contractors will have to mind. The Securities and Exchange Commission is about to release its own reporting rules early next year, and no one seems to be sure where or whether the two rules will overlap. On today’s episode of Parts Per Billion, our weekly environmental news podcast, Bloomberg Law’s Andrew Ramonas explains how these dueling climate rules could open federal contractors up to serious legal liability—especially if these firms provide conflicting data to different federal agencies. Have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It used to be that taking an air quality sample required expensive, bulky equipment and teams of people to operate. Now devices that monitor air quality can be bought on Amazon and worn on your wrist. This is a gamechanger for so-called "fenceline communities," or areas that abut factories and other heavy emitters of air pollutants because it allows area residents to collect their own data. It's also a gamechanger for the companies responsible for those emissions, as this data could be admissible in court. On today's episode of our environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, Bloomberg Law reporter Jennifer Hijazi talks about how fenceline communities are collecting air quality data and how this data could change the way the Clean Air Act functions. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time is running out to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, and activists and scientists say global efforts like those seen at the recent COP26 meeting aren't moving nearly fast enough. Can a carbon tax or some other type of carbon pricing scheme use the power of market forces to speed up this process? And if so, are these options even politically or logistically viable? Those are the questions we ponder on today's episode of our podcast, Parts Per Billion. Sanjay Patnaik, director of the Brookings Institution’s Center on Regulations and Markets, speaks to Bloomberg Tax reporter David Hood about how a carbon tax might work in the U.S. And Frank Eich, an economist with U.K. consultancy CRU, speaks to reporter Michael Rapoport about whether carbon pricing could function across international borders. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.c

The 26th annual summit of the UN's climate change arm just wrapped up in Glasgow, Scotland, but it's unclear whether what came out of the event will be nearly enough to stave off the worst consequences of climate change. Bobby Magill was in Glasgow covering COP26 for Bloomberg Law and he joins our podcast, Parts Per Billion, to walk us through how to interpret the pact that was reached last week. He also talks about how covering this year's COP was unique—not only because it was the first to take place during the Biden administration, but also because pandemic restrictions made it tricky for some developing countries to participate. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Biden Administration just released a road map for how it's going to deal with the problem of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals." The plan calls for establishing new standards for these chemicals in water and soil, but it's less clear on where the money will come from to achieve these standards. On today's episode of our weekly environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, Bloomberg Law's Pat Rizzuto talks about what's in the PFAS road map and why federal officials are still struggling to get a handle on how much it will cost to solve this emerging environmental problem. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Later this month we'll see the kickoff of COP26, the 26th meeting of the UN's main climate change arm. Not only is this the first of these annual meetings to take place during the Biden administration, but it's also one in which the nations of the world are expected to lay out exactly how committed they are to achieving the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement. On this week's episode of our environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, we hear from Bloomberg News' Jess Shankleman, who'll be attending the conference in Glasgow, Scotland. She'll go over the stakes for this year's conference, who's expected to be attending, and whether this UN process is moving too slowly to have a meaningful effect on climate change. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attorneys and environmental activists have been trying for years to prove that Exxon Mobil Corp. and other fossil fuel companies knew about—and covered up—the fact that their products cause climate change. Now, it appears that members of Congress are joining the effort. On this episode of Parts Per Billion, our weekly environmental podcast, Bloomberg Law reporter Jennifer Hijazi talks about the documents top Democrats in Congress are demanding from the fossil fuel industry ahead of an important hearing next month and about where this all could eventually lead. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York's new governor, Kathy Hochul (D), just took a major step toward an all-electric future by signing a bill that would ban the sale of gas-powered cars in her state by 2035. On this episode of our weekly environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, we talk with Bloomberg Law's New York correspondent, Keshia Clukey, about why Hochul signed this bill so quickly after taking office. Keshia also talks about how lawmakers are hoping their neighbors enact similar laws so that New Yorkers aren't tempted to shop for cars across state lines. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Gulf Coast region is crucial for the energy industry, with a huge portion of the country's oil refining and petrochemical manufacturing clustered there. And now it's reeling after a direct hit from Hurricane Ida. On this episode of our environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, we talk to two Bloomberg News energy reporters about how the region is handling this. Kevin Crowley talks about the risks now faced by the Gulf Coast's petroleum industry, while Josh Saul fills us in on the slow and painstaking effort to bring the region's power grid back online. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Senate-passed infrastructure bill aims to revive nineties-era taxes on chemical companies and importers to pay for cleaning up some of the nation’s most contaminated sites. While the bill still needs to clear the House, the chemicals industry claims the Superfund tax provisions are unfair because they impact a small subset of the industrial sectors that contributed to pollution. But advocates say the return of the “polluters pay” doctrine is a step in the right direction to clean up toxic sites. On this week’s episode of Parts Per Billion, corporate tax reporter David Hood talks to Steve Jawetz, a principal at the environmental law firm Beveridge and Diamond PC, who argues the tax is unfairly targeted. David also talks to Danielle Melgar, an advocate with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s “Zero Out Toxics” program, about how this tax is a victory for environmental groups. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more ab

ESG investing has quickly grown into an important institution on Wall Street. But what types of rules govern whether an investment can tout itself as good for the environment, social justice, or corporate governance? It may surprise you, but there aren't that many. On today's episode of our weekly podcast, Parts Per Billion, we hear from Bloomberg Law reporter Andrew Ramonas about why this is the case and about the efforts underway in both the public and private sectors to establish a stronger set of rules over who gets to don the ESG halo. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extreme heat waves are breaking out all across the country, and some environmental activists are questioning whether this unprecedented summer is making the EPA's air pollution regulations obsolete. On today's episode of our environmental podcast, Parts Per Billion, Bloomberg Law's Jennifer Hijazi explains how high heat can both trigger more pollutant emissions and also intensify the pollution already in the air. And she explains why the EPA's cap-and-trade system for managing these pollutants is having trouble keeping up. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shortly after taking office, President Joe Biden gave his federal agencies numerous climate-related tasks to complete within the first few months of his presidency—like making a plan to buy more electric vehicles or stand up a youth-led climate corps. By and large, the agencies have accomplished few if any of these tasks so far. On today's episode of our weekly podcast, Parts Per Billion, Bloomberg Law White House reporter Courtney Rozen talks about why the executive branch is missing all of these climate deadlines and about why this does not necessarily spell doom for Biden's larger, long-term climate goals. Have feedback on this episode of Parts Per Billion? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.