Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Michael Dourson, Trump’s pick for EPA chemical safety, withdraws
President Trump's highly controversial choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency's chemical safety office withdrew Wednesday night amid bipartisan opposition. Published December 13, 2017
Green group sends ‘endangered species condoms’ to Trump appointees
One of the nation's top environmental groups on Wednesday sent boxes of "endangered species condoms" to six top officials at the Department of Health and Human Services. Published December 13, 2017
Renewable energy industry’s growth dismissed by conservatives
It's become a national leader in wind-power generation, but in deep-red, oil-rich Texas, many conservatives still turn a skeptical eye toward renewable energy -- despite growth numbers that dwarf virtually every other sector of the economy. Published December 12, 2017
Climate summit: Emmanuel Macron trolls Donald Trump with ‘Make Our Planet Great Again’ awards
French President Emmanuel Macron borrowed from President Trump's famous political catchphrase as he doled out environmental research grants known as the "Make Our Planet Great Again" awards, a direct swipe at the administration for pulling out of the Paris climate accord. Published December 12, 2017
Trump doesn’t ‘fear the wrath of God,’ Gov. Jerry Brown says, blasting president on climate change
With parts of his state engulfed by historic wildfires, California Gov. Jerry Brown this weekend ripped into Donald Trump for his position on climate change, saying the president "doesn't fear the wrath of God." Published December 9, 2017
Trump’s monument cuts spark war between Republicans, Patagonia; House GOP leaders hint at boycott
Outdoor industry leader Patagonia has gone to war with the GOP over national monuments heading into the holiday shopping season, marking the latest instance of a high-profile company battling with the Republican Party and specifically President Trump. Published December 9, 2017
Rick Perry’s plan to subsidize coal plants hits roadblock; FERC chief seeks delay
Energy Secretary Rick Perry's highly controversial plan to subsidize coal and nuclear power plants hit a roadblock late Thursday when the newly installed chief of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said he wants to postpone a decision on the proposal until after the new year. Published December 8, 2017
Ryan Zinke under fire again for taxpayer-funded helicopter rides
Democrats pounced on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke again Friday after reports the former Montana congressman spent thousands of dollars in taxpayer money on helicopter flights, including traveling from Virginia to Washington to ride horses with Vice President Mike Pence. Published December 8, 2017
Interior Dept. overrules Congress, suspends methane rule Senate upheld earlier this year
The Trump administration on Thursday essentially overruled the will of the Senate, moving to delay a methane-emissions rule the chamber voted to uphold six months ago. Published December 7, 2017
Ted Cruz wants Donald Trump to end his support for ethanol industry
Sen. Ted Cruz will lead a delegation to the White House on Thursday to talk President Trump out of his rock-solid support for the ethanol industry, marking the latest chapter in an ongoing intraparty fight between Republicans over how the administration should handle biofuels. Published December 6, 2017
Donald Trump moves to ‘reverse federal overreach,’ cuts down Bears Ears, Grand Staircase monuments
President Trump's long-awaited decision Monday to pare down and carve up two highly controversial national monuments in Utah is expected to set off an unprecedented legal fight over the scope of an executive's power to cede control of federal lands. Published December 4, 2017
Donald Trump heads to Utah to reduce Grand Staircase, Bear Ears national monuments
With a single punch Monday, President Trump will deliver a blow to the legacies of two Democratic predecessors as he chops up controversial national monuments created by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Published December 3, 2017
Oil drilling in ANWR moves ahead as part of Senate tax bill
Republicans took a major step forward early Saturday in their decades-long fight to open a piece of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Published December 2, 2017
Ethanol industry claims victory as EPA hikes Renewable Fuel Standard volumes
After pushing back hard against the Environmental Protection Agency and appealing to President Trump to keep his campaign promise, the ethanol industry Thursday notched a major policy win by successfully fending off cuts to the federal biofuels mandate. Published November 30, 2017
Senate committee grills Barry Myers on ties to AccuWeather, support of 2005 bill
The weather — and the relationship between the government and private sector in gathering data and providing forecasts to the American public — took center stage Wednesday, as a Senate panel grilled President Trump's nominee to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Published November 29, 2017
Sheldon Whitehouse, Dem senator, compares Trump nominee Kathleen Hartnett White to a horse
A Democratic senator on Wednesday seemed to compare President Trump's nominee for a spot on the White House Council on Environmental Quality to a horse. Published November 29, 2017
Don Blankenship to run for West Virginia Senate seat: Report
Outspoken ex-convict and self-described "American political prisoner" Don Blankenship, who led Massey Energy Co. during the infamous 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine disaster that claimed the lives of 29 coal miners, will run for Senate as a Republican, according to media reports. Published November 29, 2017
EPA officials to visit Charleston, West Virginia
After years of dodging the region most impacted by its regulatory red tape, the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday will head to the heart of American coal country for the agency's only scheduled hearing on its rollback of the coal-crushing Clean Power Plan. Published November 27, 2017
Lisa Murkowski may sway ANWR vote in Senate
With a sweeping tax reform bill on the table, energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- which represents one of the most intense fights between energy advocates and environmentalists in recent history -- could be the key to success in what is expected to be a close vote. Published November 26, 2017
Scott Pruitt kicks out professors, researchers under federal grant money rule
Charles Werth was nearing the end of his first three-year term as an adviser to the Environmental Protection Agency, and had hopes of being kept on for another stint under President Trump. Published November 23, 2017