Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Under attack, ethanol industry clings to Donald Trump: ‘The president is on our side’
With their industry under increasing attack, ethanol leaders on Tuesday appealed directly to President Trump and cast him as an unwavering ally who will stand up for their interests in Washington, even as key administration officials examine regulatory changes that could hurt the biofuels sector. Published February 13, 2018
Ethanol mandate threatens jobs, could raise prices at pumps, oil refiners say
A renewed war over the federal ethanol mandate has cast a cloud over the biofuels industry as it gathers this week for its annual convention, with critics charging that the sector and its champions in Washington are slowly crushing oil refiners, which say they are struggling to comply with the law. Published February 12, 2018
Ted Cruz battles ethanol industry over national biofuels mandate
SAN ANTONIO | As ethanol leaders meet here in the heart of his home turf, Sen. Ted Cruz has emerged as Washington's leading critic of the industry, holding up federal nominees over his opposition to the national biofuels mandate, lambasting the sector in fiery Senate floor speeches, and leading a coalition of oil-friendly lawmakers to the Oval Office in hopes of weakening the Renewable Fuel Standard. Published February 12, 2018
Donald Trump’s solar panel tariffs aid wind power industry
Solar energy's loss could prove to be wind power's gain. Published February 8, 2018
California rejects Trump offshore oil drilling proposal
California on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration's massive offshore oil drilling proposal, vowing that "not a single drop" of new fuel will ever come ashore in the state. Published February 7, 2018
After Bears Ears, Grand Staircase cuts, Congress reasserts itself on national monuments
After years of presidents stretching their legal authority to create sprawling national monuments with little input from Congress, lawmakers on Tuesday formally reasserted themselves into the process and began debate on three separate bills to create or modify monuments. Published February 6, 2018
Donald Trump push for ‘beautiful, clean coal’ reignites old debate
President Trump's declaration last week that his administration is pushing "beautiful, clean coal" has reignited a debate about whether such a fuel truly exists, with environmentalists and other critics — even including some industry leaders — charging that "clean coal" often is a misnomer and little more than a political catchphrase. Published February 4, 2018
Kathleen Hartnett White nomination as Trump environmental adviser to be pulled
Amid strong opposition and doubts that she'd be able to clear the Republican-controlled Senate, the nomination of Kathleen Hartnett White to serve as President Trump's top environmental adviser was shelved late Saturday in an admission by the White House that their pick was unlikely to be confirmed. Published February 4, 2018
U.S. oil production hits highest level in nearly 50 years
Amid President Trump's vow to bring about American "energy dominance," U.S. crude oil production hit a five-decade high late last year and has nearly doubled over the past decade, continuing the country's steady ascent as one of the world's premier oil-and-gas hubs. Published February 1, 2018
Environmental groups sue to stop life-saving King Cove road in Alaska
A coalition of green groups on Wednesday sued the Trump administration over the proposed King Cove road in Alaska, seeking to derail the long-awaited project that would run directly through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. Published January 31, 2018
Scott Pruitt, EPA chief, in 2016: Trump’d ‘be more abusive to the Constitution than Barack Obama’
Scott Pruitt went to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to tout the administration's regulatory rollback, but the Environmental Protection Agency administrator's appearance before a key Senate panel was overshadowed by his past declaration that President Trump "would be more abusive to the Constitution than Barack Obama." Published January 30, 2018
After Trump tax cuts, ExxonMobil to invest $50 billion in U.S. business
One of the world's leading oil companies said Monday it will make new investments in the U.S. worth tens of billions of dollars as a result of the recent tax reform bill championed by President Trump and congressional Republicans. Published January 29, 2018
Governors want offshore oil drilling exemptions, too
By giving Florida a waiver from its massive offshore drilling proposal, the Trump administration has opened a door that virtually every East Coast state, including those led by Republicans, is now trying to rush through. Published January 28, 2018
EPA backtracks on Alaska’s Pebble Mine, says project could pose major risk to fisheries
In an abrupt reversal, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt on Friday evening said he was reversing course on a highly controversial Alaska mine project and argued the risk to key fisheries in the area could be too great. Published January 27, 2018
Automakers, environmentalists battle over CAFE standards
The Washington Auto Show this week is the backdrop for a high-stakes fight between environmentalists and the American auto industry, with each side pressing its case ahead of a key Trump administration decision on whether to relax national fuel economy standards. Published January 25, 2018
‘Doomsday Clock’ closer to Armageddon as scientists cite climate change, North Korea
The world is two minutes from total annihilation, scientists warned Thursday as they moved the ominous "Doomsday Clock" ahead to its most dangerous point since the 1950s. Published January 25, 2018
Energy Dept. launches $3M solar manufacturing competition
Two days after President Trump slapped a 30 percent tariff on foreign solar panels, Energy Secretary Rick Perry on Wednesday announced a $3 million grant competition to spur America's solar manufacturing sector. Published January 24, 2018
Trump officials green light road through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
The Trump administration's move this week to green light a highly controversial one-lane road through Alaska's Izembek National Wildlife Refuge signals a dramatic shift in approach from the Obama era, with the White House no longer bowing to pressure to conservationists, environmentalists, and liberal Democrats. Published January 23, 2018
TransCanada: Keystone XL pipeline construction will start next year
After a decade of uncertainty and near-constant battles with federal and state regulators, TransCanada said Thursday it plans to break ground on the Keystone XL oil pipeline next year, delivering a huge win for the energy industry and laying to rest rumors it was on the verge of walking away from the $8 billion project. Published January 18, 2018
Jack Gerard, nation’s top oil-and-gas lobbyist, to step down from American Petroleum Institute
Jack Gerard, the oil industry's top lobbyist in Washington who spent eight years clashing with the Obama administration over energy policy, announced Wednesday he'll step down this summer, creating a key opening for the sector at a time that it's poised for even greater growth under President Trump's fossil fuel-friendly approach. Published January 17, 2018
