Daily on Energy Sept. 11 practice

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SENATE KICKS UP CLIMATE STORM AMID A HURRICANE: Senate appropriators passed a State Department spending bill on Thursday that included an amendment that keeps the funds flowing to the United Nations climate agency.

The vote was led by Democrats, but with some Republicans joining in, amid constant talk by climate scientists and environmental groups of global-warming-driven hurricanes like Harvey and Irma, and the still-forming Jose.

It’s not clear how much the storms had to do with the appropriations committee’s close 16-14 vote to send $10 million to the U.N.’s Framework Convention on Climate Change. One thing is certain, it flies in the face of President Trump’s goal to pull out of the Paris climate change pact.

Usual Suspects: The Republicans that backed the climate vote included Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, as one might expect. But Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who also joined in, was a bit of a surprise. He isn’t typically known for his support of climate policies, although he is a big fan of nuclear power, a resource touted for its zero emissions.

Lone Democrat: The only Democrat that didn’t join the vote was Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. He faces a tough re-election race next year and doesn’t need to feed ammunition to his opponents in coal country by supporting a climate change amendment.

IRMA SHUTS DOWN NUKE PLANTS: As Irma looms on Florida, the state’s main power company said it is closing two nuclear plants, Turkey Point and St. Lucie.

Fuel Shortages: Florida is also grappling with fuel shortages, as at least 40 percent of gas stations in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale region have run out of fuel, according to GasBuddy.

EPA’S NEXT BIG HURRICANE WAIVER: The EPA extended its previous 38-state fuel emissions waiver another 11 days on Thursday due to Hurricane Irma. And depending what happens with Hurricane Jose, the waiver could be extended another 11 days after that.

The waiver eliminates the need for states to meet strict emission requirements for low-volatility gasoline in order to move fuel to market more quickly and reduce supply shortfalls caused by the storms.

HURRICANE HARVEY may have exacerbated fuel shortages in Florida.

“A shortage of gasoline and bottled water, always a headache in the days before hurricanes, grew more acute in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, as the production of Houston oil refineries shrank and fuel and water were diverted to Texas,” the New York Times reports.

MORE HARVEY FALLOUT: Seven first responders who claim to have suffered “serious bodily injuries” are suing Arkema after the company’s chemical plant in Crosby, Texas caught fire.

The vivid scene, as described by the plaintiffs:

“One by one, the police officers and first responders began to fall ill in the middle of the road,” according to the lawsuit. “The scene was nothing less than chaos. Police officers were doubled over vomiting, unable to breathe. Medical personnel, in their attempts to provide assistance to the officers, became overwhelmed and they too began to vomit and gasp for air.”

BACK ON THE CLIMATE-CHANGE STORM BEAT: National environmental groups continue playing up the fact these storms are only intensifying.

But they aren’t going as far as some may think. “No climate scientist would pin all the blame for any one hurricane or any one extreme weather event on climate change,” said Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, in a letter Thursday to supporters.

“But we do know this: climate change almost certainly made Harvey more devastating,” Suh added. How? “The Gulf of Mexico’s waters are at record warmth. And warmer waters and air fuel more powerful and destructive storms.”

PRUITT PERSISTS: The EPA administrator continues to downplay the impact of climate change on recent hurricanes.

“To have any kind of focus on the cause and effect of the storm; versus helping people, or actually facing the effect of the storm, is misplaced,” Pruitt told CNN Thursday….to discuss the cause and effect of these storms, there’s the… place (and time) to do that, it’s not now.”

HOLY JOSE`: Like a 1950s monster movie, one large monstrous freak breeds another. Son of Kong, meet the son of Irma and Harvey — meet Hurricane Jose. The latest in a seemingly non-stop chain of major storms reached Category 3 status on Thursday, following Category 5 Irma’s path of devastation through the Caribbean.

Extremely Dangerous: The National Hurricane Center called Jose a “major hurricane” on Thursday afternoon, as it reached a maximum sustained wind speed reached 120 mph. By 10 a.m. Friday it moved to “extremely dangerous” as its wind speed rose to 150 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane. Take a look at the storm tracker aircraft report, here.

Welcome to Daily on Energy, compiled by Washington Examiner Energy and Environment Writers John Siciliano (@JohnDSiciliano) and Josh Siegel @SiegelScribe). Email [email protected] for tips, suggestions, calendar items and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list.

Daily on Energy Sept. 11 practice

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