FIRST LOOK(s)

Major Corporations Lie About Supporting Climate Action: A new analysis shows how many prominent U.S. companies that claim to support action to address the climate crisis are supporting business groups fighting to scuttle the landmark climate legislation being negotiated on Capitol Hill, The Guardian reports. Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Disney are among the major corporations either supporting or actively directing lobbying groups like the US Chamber of Commerce and Business Roundtable that are trying to kill the $3.5 trillion budget known as the Build Back Better Act (also known as the "reconciliation package"). “Major corporations love to tell us how committed they are to addressing the climate crisis and building a sustainable future," Kyle Herrig, president of watchdog group Accountable.US, which compiled the analysis, told The Guardian. "But behind closed doors, they are funding the very industry trade groups that are fighting tooth and nail to stop the biggest climate change bill ever." (The Guardian)

API & Koch Spend Big To Stymie Biden Climate, Social Agenda: Groups backed by the oil and gas industry and the Koch network are deluging American politics with millions of dollars to sink President Biden's domestic policy agenda, including major efforts to address the climate crisis. A new report from InfluenceMap reveals the American Petroleum Institute, and its front group Energy Citizens, spent more than $2 million on lobbying in the first half of 2021, and just since August 11, API's Facebook ads have been viewed at least 21 million times. That's in addition to the seven-figure TV ad campaign API is running against the reconciliation package currently hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone reports the Koch network is spending millions to undermine the Build Back Better Act. “These industry groups are pulling out all the stops — from advertising to public messaging — to oppose the reconciliation bill,” Kendra Haven, InfluenceMap’s U.S. program manager. “This level of strategic activity, particularly through targeted advertising campaigns, exposes the value of their positive-sounding, top-line statements on climate.” (API: New York Times $, E&E News, Axios; Koch network: Rolling Stone)

Utilities Raked In Bailouts, Cut Off Customers' Power, Gave CEOs Bonuses During Pandemic: Some of the nation's biggest utilities have shut off power to nearly 1 million customers during the pandemic, all while rolling in millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded bailouts. Six major utilities — NextEra, Duke, Southern Co., Dominion, Exelon, and DTE — account for 94% of all shut offs last year, according to a report by the Center for Biological Diversity and BailoutWatch, released Thursday. The utilities took advantage of loopholes in the CARES Act and Federal Reserve corporate debt buying programs. Of the 16 companies surveyed, nine pulled down a combined $1.25 billion in tax bailouts from the federal government and all but one could have covered all the costs of their customers unable to pay their utility bills. In multiple instances, last year’s utility CEO bonuses alone were greater than the costs of preventing shutoffs in the middle of the pandemic. (Earther, Mic)

ANALYSIS: Powerless in the pandemic: after bailouts, electric utilities chose profits over people (BailoutWatch) 

FED: Jay Powell faces rockier path to second Fed term after tough week (FT $), Fed's Powell pledges diversity focus in filling reserve bank openings (Reuters)

FOSSIL SUBSIDIES: EU lawmakers vote to prolong fossil fuel gas subsidies until 2027 (The Guardian) 

SHAREHOLDER RESOLUTIONS: Successful shareholder resolutions shatter annual record (E&E $)

ESG: Banks are really cashing in on ESG Bonds (Bloomberg), CalPERS, Carlyle lead global push on ESG reporting (Reuters)

OPINION: Banks may be our best hope in fighting climate change (Bloomberg, Paul J. Davies op-ed $)

INFRASTRUCTURE BILL(S): Sierra Club pushes Democrats to torpedo infrastructure deal, for now (Politico Pro $), it’s fight night on Capitol Hill (NY Mag, Daily Beast), despite setback, Democrats try to save Biden $3.5T plan (AP, The Guardian, New York Times $), Biden faces a reckoning on his agenda as top aides start to temper expectations (CNN, Reuters, CBS), Dem support erodes for bipartisan infrastructure bill (E&E News), 

• MANCHINEMA: Manchin and Sinema: two key Democrats whose votes could decide the fate of Biden’s agenda. (New York Times $, The Root, New York Times, The Daily), Manchin: Natural gas 'has to be' part of clean energy program (The Hill, Politico Pro $), Manchin says he’ll support a $1.5 trillion social safety net bill, $2 trillion less than Biden’s sweeping plan. (New York Times $, Bloomberg $, Politico, CNN), Democrats pour cold water on Manchin's $1.5T price tag (The Hill), Sen. Murphy: Why Manchin’s counteroffer is ‘good news’ for negotiations (MSNBC, Politico Pro $), ‘He’s wrong’: Chris Hayes debunks Manchin case against $3.5T Biden plan (MSNBC), Joe Manchin says his spending, climate stance should be no surprise (Wall Street Journal $), Joe Manchin, who is holding up crucial climate change initiatives in Biden's reconciliation bill, collects $500,000 a year from coal stocks dividends: report (Business Insider), Arizona Democrats, activists eye potential primary challenge to Sinema over Biden agenda, filibuster (The Hill)
• ACTUAL SUBSTANCE: Democrats' clean electricity plan to require 85 GW of renewable energy additions a year: S&P (Utility Dive), How Dems’ clean electricity plan would change utilities (E&E News), here’s why some utilities support, and others are wary of, the federal clean energy proposal (InsideClimate News), utilities push to weaken Biden’s signature climate plan (E&E News), offshore wind advocates fret over Democrat tax incentive plan (Politico Pro $)

COP26: COP26 climate talks 'difficult' without promised finance, says UN fund head (Thomson Reuters Foundation), Draghi promised to speak up for climate funding at G20, activist says (Reuters), pressure grows to toughen global warming goal at upcoming climate talks (Politico Pro $)

RULE OF LAW: UN finds Steven Donziger’s house arrest violates international law, says it’s ‘appalled’ (Earther, The Hill), Donziger asks judge to heed U.N. experts' finding of 'arbitrary' detention (Reuters)

CARS: Adding up the hidden costs of ride-hailing (Bloomberg $), a teenager allegedly hit 6 bicyclists with his truck, sending 3 to the hospital. A biker says the driver was harassing them. (Washington Post $)

GREYS FERRY: How to tear down an oil refinery in the middle of Philadelphia (Bloomberg $)

DENIAL & DISINFORMATION: Alex Jones found liable in two Sandy Hook conspiracy theory lawsuits (Daily Beast, HuffPost, Rolling Stone, CNN, Salon, The Independent)

EPA: Al Roker talks to EPA administrator about extreme weather, ‘air inequality’ and more (Today Show)

DOI: Interior plans Gulf of Mexico oil lease sale in November after court order (Politico Pro $, The Hill, AP, Reuters), feds hatch notion of permits to kill migratory birds (E&E News), forest chief takes heat on Western wildfire response (E&E $), Haaland announces consultation with tribal leaders on boarding school investigation (The Hill)

LAWSUITS: Colorado court sends Trump-era oil lease sale back for agency review (Politico Pro $)

THE HILL: Congress averts shutdown, sends 9-week funding patch to Biden’s desk (Politico Pro $, E&E News)

HOUSE: In a personal turn, 3 lawmakers testify about their abortions (The 19th* News)

SENATE: Michael Bennet to propose wind manufacturing tax breaks (E&E $)

WHITE HOUSE: Top Biden aide discussed oil prices with Saudi officials (Reuters)

NOMINEES & CONFIRMATIONS: Senate confirms Tracy Stone-Manning as Bureau of Land Management director in party-line vote (Washington Post $, AP, New York Times $, E&E $, Montana Free Press), top EPA air appointee offloaded oil stocks (E&E News)

CLIMATE DIPLOMACY: With Ted Cruz blocking US ambassadors, climate diplomacy suffers (Climate Home), poor country debt could worsen due to commodity prices, interest rates - Malpass (Reuters), Italy should double global climate contribution to around 1 bln euros/yr - minister (Reuters), rich nations must commit more than $100 bln in climate fight, says India (Reuters), the world wants Greenland’s minerals, but Greenlanders are wary (New York Times $)

CITIES AND STATES: Solar supply squeeze frustrates New Mexico's move away from coal (Reuters), to beat the heat, Phoenix paints its streets gray (E&E $), Bruce’s Beach can return to descendants of Black family in landmark move signed by Newsom (LA Times $, NBC, ABC)

FERC: Democratic FERC commissioners defend approach to pipeline assessments (Politico), FERC Chair Glick calls for tougher reviews of natural gas projects as commission staff reject EPA advice (Utility Dive), PJM's 'focused' MOPR takes effect, boosting renewables and nuclear as FERC commissioners deadlock (Utility Dive, Politico Pro $, E&E $)

IMPACTS: Belgians face up to demolition of homes ravaged by summer floods (Reuters), flood-prone Mumbai digs deep to turn climate change tide (Thomson Reuters Foundation), Thai shopkeepers defenceless against waist-high floodwaters (Reuters), climate change impacts Great Lakes coastline (CBS)

DROUGHT: As the climate bakes, Turkey faces a future without water (Yale Environment 360), California will consider mandatory water restrictions if dryness continues this winter (LA Times $, AP), megadrought' sparks concerns over Southwest sustainability, water supply (NBC)

WILDFIRES: ‘It’s like a war’: Greece battles increase in summer wildfires (The Guardian), why home protection is important in wildfires (AP explainer), Wyoming tops California for wildfire risk, report says (E&E $), you thought the U.S. fire season was bad. Russia’s is much worse. (Grist)

HURRICANES: Tropical Storm Victor joins category 4 Hurricane Sam in the Atlantic (Yale Climate Connections, Washington Post $), scientists drove a robotic surfboard into Hurricane Sam, and the waves were incredible (Washington Post $)

HURRICANE IDA: How Louisiana's Grand Isle is rebuilding after Hurricane Ida (ABC), Louisiana resident details struggle to recover after Hurricane Ida (ABC), Ida disaster food stamp application extended in Louisiana (AP), utility Entergy stymied transmission projects that might have prevented some New Orleans blackouts (Canary Media)

ORIGINAL AMAZON: Brazilian Amazon’s tipping point may already be here (Bloomberg $), fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest fell by half in September (The Hill)

CAFFEINE: Coffee bean price spike just a taste of what’s to come with climate change (The Guardian)

MIGRATION: Deportations of Haitians spark concerns over environmental refugees (The Hill)

RENEWABLES: GM expects renewable energy-powered U.S. sites by 2025, ahead of plan (Reuters, Washington Post $), N.C. offshore wind faces big challenges, even bigger opportunities, advocates say (Energy News Network), solar-power giants warn of delays amid supply-chain crunch (Bloomberg $), this startup wants to use cheap surplus clean energy to make high-temperature industrial heat (Canary Media), Vineyard Wind plans offshore wind port in Salem, Massachusetts (Bloomberg $)

BATTERIES: Iron battery breakthrough could eat lithium’s lunch (Bloomberg $), Lithium producer Albemarle to buy China's Tianyuan for $200 mln (Reuters)

GAS EXPLOSIONS: A major apartment fire reported in southeast Dallas following natural gas explosion (KRLD)

BUILDINGS: Cool your home by painting your roof: World's whitest paint on track to be sold to public (USA Today)

OIL & GAS: Big oil splits on oil’s future (Bloomberg $), Exxon parts with lobbyist recorded detailing anti-climate plans (Bloomberg $), Exxon rejected net zero pitch after proxy loss, Citi banker says (Bloomberg $)

PIPELINES: Embattled Line 3 pipeline to start up Friday: what to watch (E&E $), Land defenders vow to continue struggle as Enbridge announces oil will start flowing through Line 3 (Democracy Now)

COAL: Czech-Polish talks on coal mine dispute get stuck on length of any deal -minister (Reuters), electricity from Clive Palmer’s coal power station would cost four times current price, report says (The Guardian), Norway to close its last Arctic coal mine in 2023 (Reuters, The Hill)

NUKES: Climate plan may threaten first-of-a-kind U.S. reactor, utility warns (E&E $)

EVs: Unions and EVs: Can Dems really have both? (E&E News) electric vehicles projected to play big role in Vermont emission reductions (Energy News Network)

ACTIVISM: Our future, our decisions: young activists call for seat at climate table (Reuters), from novelist to climate crusader: how one woman is working to put a stop to natural gas (Washington Post $)

OFFSETS: Canadian firm seeks to make tree planting programs more accountable (The Hill), Wizz Air CEO knocks sustainable fuel, offsets as ‘greenwashing’ (Bloomberg $)

BUT MAKE IT FASHION: ‘Innately low-impact’: Chloé brings eco-chic to Paris fashion week (The Guardian)

FINANCE: How can I divest from fossil fuels? (Earther)

INTERNATIONAL: Indonesia's forests in danger as ban on new palm oil plantations expires (Thomson Reuters Foundation explainer), Asia could accelerate its transition to renewable energy, says power firm executive (CNBC)

• EUROPE: Britain’s ‘petrol panic’ could force car-reliant doctors to live in hotels (CNBC), France to block gas and electricity price rises until the spring (FT $), Poland joins calls for EU action on energy price spike (Reuters), TotalEnergies CEO says Europe gas crisis May last all winter (Bloomberg $), 'we are listening': Italy says leaders will heed young activists' climate calls (Reuters)
• CHINA: Why China’s power crunch is such a big deal (CNBC), China power crunch slams factories as coal lobby warns woes could stay until winter (Reuters), China can move faster toward clean energy — report (E&E $)

• Even fire-adapted giant sequoias can't withstand California's megafires (The Hill, Avery P. Hill, Christopher B. Field, and Noah S. Diffenbaugh op-ed)
• Can we harness the natural power of the ocean to fight climate change? (The Hill, Brad Ack and Peter de Menocal op-ed)
• Tribes deserve input on managing public lands (Santa Fe New Mexican, Brian Vallo op-ed)
• How alternative meats could help save the planet (CNN, Bruce Friedrich and Anand Gopal op-ed)
• Joe Biden’s rapid retreat on climate ambitions (FT, Edward Luce op-ed $)
• Politicians need to be more active when it comes to greenflation (FT, Gillian Tett op-ed $)
• We’re living through one of the most explosive extinction episodes ever (New York Times, Henry M. Paulson Jr. op-ed $)
• Goldman compliance analyst wasn’t compliant (Bloomberg, Matt Levine column $)
• Are we too burned out to defend Roe v. Wade? (New York Times, Michelle Goldberg column $)
• The climate crisis is destroying the human rights of those least responsible for it (The Guardian, Patrick Verkooijen and AK Abdul Momen op-ed)
• No country is an energy island (The Hill, Paul Sullivan op-ed)
• Joe Manchin’s intervention (Wall Street Journal, Editorial Board $)
• The Joe Manchin moment (Wall Street Journal, Kimberley Strassel op-ed $)

Anti-Vaxx, Anti-Mask, Pro-Insurrection Deniers Suddenly Very Worried About Environmental Violence When Pipelines, Not Democracy, Are Threatened

There’s a provocative book by Lund University ecology professor Andreas Malm suggesting that maybe environmentalists should reconsider their pacifism and start sabotaging fossil fuel infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, deniers are up in arms about it. The book, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, has been around a bit, but Fox et al. discovered a recent New Yorker and WNYC Studios podcast interviewing Malm, and now deniers are using it to claim that greens are getting violent. 

Marc Morano, who was encouraged by the January 6 insurection and felt conservatives needed to replicate it at statehouses across the country, and tweets regularly about his refusal to protect others by wearing a mask or getting the covid vaccine (even though the disease may cause restless anal syndrome, he tweeted he still won’t get vaccinated) is now very concerned about political violence. At Climate Depot, he made a post himself and posted a link to a Newsbusters piece calling the New Yorker interview with Malm “taxpayer-funded CRAZY”, as it was co-produced by WNYC Studios. 

The write-up closes with an extensive quote from Marc, in which he says of the interview asking IF environmentalists WOULD be justified to consider whether they SHOULD embrace more extreme measures they currently avoid, that the outlet interviewing an academic “appears to be joining the growing movement of green activists endorsing intimidation and coercion to achieve environmental and climate goals.” 

Malm’s point is that green groups are NOT engaging in these types of tactics, and Morano suggests that simply by talking to him, The New Yorker is “joining the growing movement.” Apparently, per Marc, the “era of COVID mandate coercion may be further radicalizing” activists jealous of COVID lockdowns, and “many environmental activists seem to be asking themselves why not use violence and threats of violence to achieve their ends.” 

Are they though? What growing movement? What groups, specifically, are asking themselves these questions about violence, Marc? 

For the best we can see as an answer, we turn to the Daily Wire, where “reporter and columnist” Ashe Schow has more on this obviously false narrative. Schow’s bylines can be seen anywhere ranging from the Koch-funded Heritage Foundation to Koch-funded Real Clear to Koch-funded Federalist, so it’s not exactly a surprise that she took a break from writing about the terrors of teaching about racism, defending a January 6 insurrectionist from false reports that his LEGO set of the Capitol was assembled, praising the censoring of books conservatives don’t like and another complaining about “cancel culture” to warn that “leftists [are] increasingly accepting of environmental terrorism.” 

How so? Well in addition to Malm’s book about how the environmental movement isn’t embracing violence, the single other example of “a shift in mainstream Leftist acceptance of and even advocacy for environmental terrorism in recent months” is that President Biden nominated Tracy Stone-Manning to lead the Bureau of Land Managment. 

Is Stone-Manning an eco-terrorist who has embraced violence? No! Quite the opposite, actually! 

Back in the early ‘90s, Stone-Manning’s associates protested logging by tree spiking, a briefly-used tactic to save forest from the timber industry by driving a metal rod into trees to damage the saw blades. Part of the reason for its brief use is that a sawmill worker did get gravely injured when his saw blade hit a nail, and the company blamed eco-terrorists. But it’s actually doubtful that the tree was spiked by an environmental group, as it wasn’t an old-growth tree, which was the priority, and no one had warned the company to stop it from getting cut in the first place, which was the whole point. And given the placement of the nail 10 feet up the trunk, it was likely spiked after it had been cut, which was the opposite of how activists who wanted to save the trees from being cut operate. As for other suspects, there was also a local weirdo in the area who was engaged in similarly-not-quite-green intimidation tactics like putting a skinned dog on a bulldozer and hanging a beheaded deer from a tree, according to Judi Bari’s 1994 book on the Timber Wars. 

Regardless, groups like Bari’s EarthFirst! stopped embracing tree spiking after the fall-out, and even that radical fringe of the environmental movement hasn’t engaged in it for decades. But that’s not even what Stone-Manning is accused of doing! 

Stone-Manning didn’t spike any trees. In fact, quite the opposite, she retyped and sent a letter warning that someone had spiked some trees. Later, Stone-Manning testified against those who did spike the trees, resulting in the actual tree-spikers getting convicted and serving time. 

But to deniers who scapegoat environmentalists to protect polluters, these two examples, decades apart, of environmentalists eschewing violence, are actually evidence they’re embracing it more now than ever.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to receive Hot News every morning!

Send updates or feedback to nkauffman@climatenexus.org
Submit events and other items for consideration for a First Look using this form
Some articles require logins or subscriptions ($)