The leasing of public lands to drill for oil and gas may seem a labyrinthine topic. But it could be time to get wonky and, ahem, drill down on it, as the politics of 2020 bring the controversial practice to the fore. The latest Backgrounder helps get you up to speed on the story.
"Two Democratic senators are calling for another probe into the head of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) air office after comments from an old lobbying client were incorporated verbatim in an EPA memo."
"After historic floods devastated Midwestern agricultural states this spring, some fund managers are evaluating how climate change will affect the long-term value of companies that make or sell products ranging from tractors to fertilizer."
"China, known as the world's biggest polluter, has been taking dramatic steps to clean up and fight climate change. So why is it also building hundreds of coal-fired power plants in other countries?"
"The Securities & Exchange Commission has more Trump appointees now, and energy and utility companies see an ally as they try to stop investors' climate resolutions."
"New documents show the extent to which industry gave a lobbying boost to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler's nomination to lead the agency."
"Democratic congressional leaders emerged from a meeting at the White House on Tuesday and announced that President Trump had agreed to pursue a $2 trillion infrastructure plan to upgrade the nation’s highways, railroads, bridges and broadband."
"EPA ethics officials drafted multiple recusal statements for Bill Wehrum, the agency's air chief whose industry ties have attracted scrutiny."
"'Tipping elements' in the rapidly warming Arctic may add trillions of dollars to the long-term costs of climate change, a new study suggests."
Advertisement 
