Marathon to pay $27.5 million for failing to curb California plant pollution

By Laura Sanicola (Reuters) – Marathon Petroleum will pay a $27.5 million penalty and surrender emissions trading credits after the operator of the Martinez, California, plant violated a legal agreement requiring it to lower pollution levels, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Thursday. Tesoro Refining and Marketing failed to limit nitrous oxides emissions (NOx)…

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U.S. trade consultations on Mexico’s GMO corn rule ‘unacceptable violation’ of law – Mexican official

By Adriana Barrera MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Trade consultations requested by the United States on Mexico’s plan to limit the use of genetically modified corn are an “unacceptable violation” of Mexican law and feed the interests of seed “oligopolies,” a top Mexican official said on Thursday. The United States, Mexico’s main trading partner, requested the…

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US ethanol industry expands focus to lower-carbon aviation sector

By Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. ethanol industry is lobbying the Biden administration to ensure lower-carbon aviation fuel made from ethanol will qualify for subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act, arguing such provisions are crucial to meeting U.S. climate goals. The campaign reflects the ethanol industry’s desire to expand into aviation following…

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U.S. Sen. Manchin joins effort to repeal Biden solar tariff waiver

(Reuters) – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin on Wednesday threw his support behind a legislative effort to repeal President Joe Biden’s suspension of tariffs on solar panel imports from four Southeast Asian nations that are the industry’s primary suppliers. He is the first Democrat to co-sponsor a resolution introduced by Senator Rick Scott, a Republican, in…

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U.S. Senate votes to overturn heavy duty truck emissions rules

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate voted 50-49 to overturn Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules that aim to drastically cut smog- and soot-forming emissions from heavy-duty trucks but the White House said President Joe Biden would veto the measure. The bill, which was backed by Republicans and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, seeks to…

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U.S. targets Russia’s FSB, IRGC members over wrongful detention of Americans

By Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on Russia’s domestic security service FSB and the intelligence unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accusing them of being responsible or complicit in the wrongful detention of Americans overseas. The sanctions also targeted four senior commanders within IRGC’s IO,…

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U.S. West Coast races to reduce wildfire risk ahead of summer

By Matt McKnight (Reuters) – As wildfire season approaches, U.S. officials along the West Coast are working hard to mitigate risks with prescribed burns, while a widespread educational campaign is underway to create buffers around fire-prone homes. In Washington state, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Hillary Franz is working on reversing negative perceptions surrounding prescribed…

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DTE Energy beats profit estimates on lower costs, non-utility gains

(Reuters) – U.S. electric and gas utility firm DTE Energy Co beat estimates for first-quarter profit on Thursday, as lower costs and upbeat performance of a unit that develops energy projects partially offset a decline in demand for electricity and gas. Unfavourable weather including warmer-than-usual winter and storms in certain states were seen pressuring earnings…

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Canada oil sands leak heightens First Nations’ calls to clean up tailings

By Nia Williams (Reuters) – In early February, Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in northern Alberta started fielding calls from community members after the provincial regulator revealed toxic wastewater had been leaking for months from a tailings pond at Imperial Oil’s Kearl oil sands mine. Many in the community hunt and…

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