Category Archives: environment

Greenhouse Gases – EPA Final Rule for Oil and Gas Sector

Posted on 6 May 2024 by Ken Zino

“As we implement the historic climate programs under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is applying the latest tools, cutting edge technology, and expertise to track and measure methane emissions from the oil and gas industry,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, a combination of strong standards, good monitoring and reporting, and historic investments to cut methane pollution will ensure the U.S. leads in the global transition to a clean energy economy,” Regan said. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Audi Electric Mountain Bike

Posted on 6 May 2024 by Ken Zino

Audi of America said this morning that it will increase its range of e-mobility products with the launch of a limited-edition enduro-style electric pedal assist mountain bike – dubbed eMTB – powered by Fantic. It becomes available through Audi Genuine Accessories by the summer of 2024. The Audi eMTB has livery said to be inspired by the design of Audi’s electrified Dakar Rally-winning RS Q e-tron race car. Audi eMTB at ~$9795 comes from a deal with Italian motorcycle and e-bike manufacturer Fantic based upon its XEF 1.9 Factory enduro e-bike. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Makes Automatic Emergency Braking Mandatory

Posted on 30 April 2024 by Ken Zino

“The new vehicle safety standards we finalized today will save hundreds of lives and prevent tens of thousands of injuries every year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is not only making historic investments in transportation, but it’s also ushering in a new era of safer travel by ensuring new cars and light trucks are equipped with automatic emergency braking, making our roads safer for drivers and pedestrians alike.” Continue reading →

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EPA Finalizes Pollution Reduction Standards for Power Plants

Posted on 25 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a series of final rules to reduce pollution from fossil-fuel-fired power plants, which have been and likely will continue to be the subject of litigation paid for by special interest money. The rules under separate authorities including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, will significantly reduce climate, air, water, and land pollution from the power sector as they go forward. During 2024 the United States is forecast to build more new electric generation capacity than it has for two decades. About  96% of that will be clean, according to the current Administration. Continue reading →

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Death of the Diesel – EPA Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grants

Posted on 24 April 2024 by Ken Zino

In the United States, the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. It is also a prominent source of health-harming pollution. Most of the vehicles eligible for replacement are powered by internal combustion engines that pre-date recent EPA emission standards. These vehicles emit harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, fine particulate matter, and greenhouse gases. Continue reading →

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Sudden Power Loss Recall – Bronco Sport, Maverick Trucks

Posted on 22 April 2024 by Ken Zino

“An insufficient calibration strategy for detecting sudden battery degradations during a drive cycle can lead to (a) a vehicle that is unable to restart after an auto start/stop event or (b) experience a stall while coming to a stop at low speed. Either may be accompanied by a loss of 12-volt accessories, including hazard lights,” Ford said in the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which the Federal safety agency made public today. NHTSA prompted the recall. Continue reading →

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Earth Day – Solar Grants from The Inflation Reduction Act

Posted on 22 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced 60 entities will receive $7 billion in awards through the Solar for All grant competition to deliver residential solar projects to over 900,000 households nationwide. The grant competition is funded by President Biden’s … Continue reading →

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April 20 – aka 420 – Marijuana Impaired Driving is Illegal

Posted on 20 April 2024 by Ken Zino

Today being 420 for stoners,* AutoInformed says don’t believe that marijuana won’t affect your driving. Driving impaired by any substance—alcohol or other drugs, whether legal or illegal—is against the law in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Continue reading →

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EPA Grants Emergency Fuel Waiver for Ethanol

Posted on 19 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 gasoline – gasoline blended with 15% ethanol – to be sold during the summer driving season. This allows Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations to sell the fuel that otherwise would be banned for the summer. Estimates show that on average, E15 is about $0.25 a gallon cheaper than E10. Continue reading →

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US Justice Department Expands Carjacking Task Forces

Posted on 18 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The Justice Department today announced that 11 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have now established a carjacking task force to concentrate resources on the public safety threat. This latest move builds on the early efforts and best practices learned from carjacking task forces in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Columbia, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Middle District of Florida where available data show that carjacking rates are now falling. Continue reading →

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GM Energy Offers Electric Vehicle-to-Home Charging

Posted on 18 April 2024 by Ken Zino

“GM Energy is committed to making the transition to an all-electric lifestyle an even more compelling option by simplifying all aspects of personal energy management,” said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM Energy. “With the introduction of these new offerings, it has never been easier for our customers to access the expanded benefits of a holistic EV ecosystem, helping to mitigate the impacts of power outages and having the ability to offset certain energy costs over time.” Continue reading →

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Ford Again Recalls Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs for Fires

Posted on 15 April 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling more than 420,00 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 Escape vehicles because of engine fires. Affected SUVs are equipped with 1.5-liter engines where a fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment, Ford said in the required filing that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made public this morning. This is an expansion of a previous fire recall since the original remedy was inadequate on what was then called the Dragon engine. Continue reading →

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Honda EV Hub in Ohio is Retooling

Posted on 12 April 2024 by Ken Zino

Non-unionized Toyota Motor, Honda and Hyundai, among other manufacturers in the US, have been increasing wages in an attempt to stop what appears to be impending successful UAW organizing efforts at plants owned by off-shore automakers following the UAW Detroit Three contract sweep last October. Continue reading →

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EPA – U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase in 2022

Posted on 11 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released its latest annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks (GHG Inventory),* which presents an overview of annual greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2022. Net U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 5,489 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2022, a 1.3% increase in emissions from 2021. EPA said the increase is mostly due to higher energy use in 2022, reflecting the continued recovery in economic activity following the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Crucially, emissions have declined 17% overall since 2005. Continue reading →

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SEC Gets Final Judgment Against Volkswagen on Dieselgate

Posted on 5 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The final judgment orders VWGOAF to pay $34.35 million in disgorgement and $14.4 million in prejudgment interest. Following the entry of the final judgment, the SEC dismissed its outstanding claims against VWGOAF’s ultimate parent company, Volkswagen AG, and Volkswagen AG’s former CEO, Martin Winterkorn. The Court had previously dismissed the SEC’s claims against VW Credit, Inc. on 20 August 2020. These actions have resolved the SEC’s case against Volkswagen in its entirety. Continue reading →

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