An amendment filed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to the Energy-Water title of the House's second fiscal 2021 spending package has struck a nerve with the nation's pipeline industry.
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Stuart Varney: Oil crash threatens US position as global energy leader. Fox Business host Stuart Varney reacts to the crash in oil prices amid COVID-19 and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's deleted. Ocasio-Cortez on April 20 reacted gleefully at news that the price of oil had dropped below $0, saying that such a milestone would mean the United States was ripe for a mass transition to green energy. The comments appeared to suggest that Ocasio-Cortez was unaware of the job losses that would accompany the drop in price, or simply didn't care. Nov 02, 2020 Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Monday denounced the 'audacity' of oil giant Shell after it waded into the global discussion about the climate crisis by asking members of the public what they would do to reduce carbon emissions. 📊 What are you willing to change to help reduce emissions? #EnergyDebate — Shell (@Shell) November 2, 2020 Coming from the world's third-largest company, which knew as early as 1988 that its extraction of oil and gas was linked to the heating of the planet, the question was seen by Ocasio-Cortez and other critics as a gross deflection of Shell's own responsibility.
The amendment, submitted and made available for the public through the House Rules Committee website late last week, would add a policy rider to prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from using any of its $7.35 billion allocation to issue oil and gas pipeline permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America warned yesterday that should the proposal move forward, it could put a stop to pipeline construction across the country, with potentially devastating effects to associated infrastructure needed to bolster manufacturing, heating and power production.
For Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive lawmakers, that is most likely the point, as they look to further undercut fossil fuel deployment to combat climate change. Ocasio-Cortez's office did not return an email for comment on her amendment yesterday.
C.J. Osman, INGAA's vice president of operations, safety and integrity, said in an interview with E&E News that the amendment could mean drastic problems for the pipeline industry, should it be made in order.
'This amendment is pretty concerning for our industry,' Osman said. 'It seems to amount to a ban to most new energy pipeline projects.'
Osman added, 'From our perspective, that would be incredibly disruptive both to American consumers' energy affordability and their access to energy.'
The Rules Committee will meet later today to consider the amendment, along with hundreds of others to the seven-bill spending minibus pending before the House floor this week (E&E Daily, July 27).
'Very concerned'
The amendment would prevent any permitting 'for the discharge of dredged or fill material resulting from an activity to construct a pipeline for the transportation of oil or gas.'
The implications from such language could be far reaching, INGAA said, but ultimately, it could gut the Army Corps' ability to oversee its Section 404 responsibilities while still putting the onus on the industry to meet those requirements under the Clean Water Act.
The amendment could prevent the Army Corps from retooling its Nationwide Permit 12 program, which enables a more streamlined approach to approving pipeline construction pathways across multiple water and stream barriers.
A federal judge struck down the program in April, throwing the pipeline industry into chaos and stalling multiple projects (Energywire, April 27).
The Ocasio-Cortez amendment could also mean new and existing construction could not occur in fiscal 2021, putting in jeopardy upgrades to existing pipelines and deployment of new natural gas lines.
That could mean a reduction in energy affordability, grid reliability and construction jobs across the country — in Republican and Democratic districts.
'We believe that members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum should be very concerned about this because there are impacts to communities across the country, and we have heard, frankly, from representatives, both Democrats and Republicans, that they have concerns with this legislation,' Osman said.
'This is one of those things that has the potential to have broad impacts across the country — red, blue, purple, whatever you may be,' he added.
Green New Deal alternative
Ocasio-Cortez has been adamant about her opposition to deploying additional fossil fuel infrastructure. She has opted instead for her Green New Deal to overhaul the economy with massive federal investment to transition to a climate-friendly future.
That has included a keen focus on pipelines. She fought against a Trump administration proposal to limit pipeline protests as part of reauthorizing the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Ocasio-Cortez protested the Dakota Access pipeline project.
Policy riders on appropriations bills are not without precedent in the House. Both parties use them to attempt to rein in perceived executive branch overreach or to ensure implementation of certain policy in a certain way.
House Republicans spent the majority of the 2010s using policy riders to lash out against Obama administration climate regulations. Democrats have done the same under the Trump administration related to his regulatory rollback agenda.
And Ocasio-Cortez's amendment would not be the only rider targeting Army Corps operations. The bill already includes a rider to prevent any funding from going to the border wall construction and another provision limiting the ability to move its Civil Works program to an additional federal agency, among others.
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Net Worth
With a Republican Senate, those policy riders are expected to be absent from any spending legislation enacted into law.
Stuart Varney: Oil crash threatens US position as global energy leader
Fox Business host Stuart Varney reacts to the crash in oil prices amid COVID-19 and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's deleted tweet cheering the plunge.
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Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro did not hold back Tuesday in his reaction to what he called Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 'absolutely asinine' tweet after U.S. oil prices turned negative on Monday for the first time in history.
'The oil prices dumped in historic fashion .. so AOC immediately tweets out a couple of absolutely asinine things because she is a moron,' the 'Ben Shapiro Show' host said.
'I'm not gonna sugarcoat this,' Shapiro went on. 'Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez has the IQ of a Kumquat. Maybe a loquat on the upper end. She is just an idiot.'
Ocasio Cortez Gas Mask Pic
Slots definition plane game. 'You absolutely love to see it,' Ocasio-Cortez's since-deleted tweet read in response to a post which stated: 'Oil prices now at ‘negative values.''
'This along with record low interest rates means it's the right time for a worker-led, mass investment in green infrastructure to save our planet. *cough*,' she continued.
'I'm not sure why she's coughing,' Shapiro mocked in response. 'I hope that all is well with AOC's health, but to celebrate 'You'd actually love to see' the collapse of the oil industry that supports tens of thousands of American jobs? Really? That's good?' he asked.
Ocasio-Cortez has pushed to radically restructure the U.S. economy with what progressives call a 'Green New Deal,' which could cost as much as $93 trillion, according to a study co-authored by the former director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
'This is sort of like saying..you can walk into a supermarket and just pick up bags of chocolate..have you ever thought of a better time to buy kale?'
'Very concerned'
The amendment would prevent any permitting 'for the discharge of dredged or fill material resulting from an activity to construct a pipeline for the transportation of oil or gas.'
The implications from such language could be far reaching, INGAA said, but ultimately, it could gut the Army Corps' ability to oversee its Section 404 responsibilities while still putting the onus on the industry to meet those requirements under the Clean Water Act.
The amendment could prevent the Army Corps from retooling its Nationwide Permit 12 program, which enables a more streamlined approach to approving pipeline construction pathways across multiple water and stream barriers.
A federal judge struck down the program in April, throwing the pipeline industry into chaos and stalling multiple projects (Energywire, April 27).
The Ocasio-Cortez amendment could also mean new and existing construction could not occur in fiscal 2021, putting in jeopardy upgrades to existing pipelines and deployment of new natural gas lines.
That could mean a reduction in energy affordability, grid reliability and construction jobs across the country — in Republican and Democratic districts.
'We believe that members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum should be very concerned about this because there are impacts to communities across the country, and we have heard, frankly, from representatives, both Democrats and Republicans, that they have concerns with this legislation,' Osman said.
'This is one of those things that has the potential to have broad impacts across the country — red, blue, purple, whatever you may be,' he added.
Green New Deal alternative
Ocasio-Cortez has been adamant about her opposition to deploying additional fossil fuel infrastructure. She has opted instead for her Green New Deal to overhaul the economy with massive federal investment to transition to a climate-friendly future.
That has included a keen focus on pipelines. She fought against a Trump administration proposal to limit pipeline protests as part of reauthorizing the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Ocasio-Cortez protested the Dakota Access pipeline project.
Policy riders on appropriations bills are not without precedent in the House. Both parties use them to attempt to rein in perceived executive branch overreach or to ensure implementation of certain policy in a certain way.
House Republicans spent the majority of the 2010s using policy riders to lash out against Obama administration climate regulations. Democrats have done the same under the Trump administration related to his regulatory rollback agenda.
And Ocasio-Cortez's amendment would not be the only rider targeting Army Corps operations. The bill already includes a rider to prevent any funding from going to the border wall construction and another provision limiting the ability to move its Civil Works program to an additional federal agency, among others.
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Net Worth
With a Republican Senate, those policy riders are expected to be absent from any spending legislation enacted into law.
Stuart Varney: Oil crash threatens US position as global energy leader
Fox Business host Stuart Varney reacts to the crash in oil prices amid COVID-19 and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's deleted tweet cheering the plunge.
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro did not hold back Tuesday in his reaction to what he called Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 'absolutely asinine' tweet after U.S. oil prices turned negative on Monday for the first time in history.
'The oil prices dumped in historic fashion .. so AOC immediately tweets out a couple of absolutely asinine things because she is a moron,' the 'Ben Shapiro Show' host said.
'I'm not gonna sugarcoat this,' Shapiro went on. 'Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez has the IQ of a Kumquat. Maybe a loquat on the upper end. She is just an idiot.'
Ocasio Cortez Gas Mask Pic
Slots definition plane game. 'You absolutely love to see it,' Ocasio-Cortez's since-deleted tweet read in response to a post which stated: 'Oil prices now at ‘negative values.''
'This along with record low interest rates means it's the right time for a worker-led, mass investment in green infrastructure to save our planet. *cough*,' she continued.
'I'm not sure why she's coughing,' Shapiro mocked in response. 'I hope that all is well with AOC's health, but to celebrate 'You'd actually love to see' the collapse of the oil industry that supports tens of thousands of American jobs? Really? That's good?' he asked.
Ocasio-Cortez has pushed to radically restructure the U.S. economy with what progressives call a 'Green New Deal,' which could cost as much as $93 trillion, according to a study co-authored by the former director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
'This is sort of like saying..you can walk into a supermarket and just pick up bags of chocolate..have you ever thought of a better time to buy kale?'
After receiving backlash for her initial tweet, the Democratic 'Squad' member attempted to clarify her remarks and promote her green energy initiative in a new tweet that prompted Shapiro to ask 'What the actual eff is she talking about?'
'Now is the time to create millions of good jobs building out the infrastructure and clean energy necessary to save our planet for future generations. For our economy, our planet, and our future, we need a #GreenNewDeal,' Ocasio-Cortez wrote.
'Fossil fuels are in long-term structural decline. This along w/ low interest rates means it‘s the right time to create millions of jobs transitioning to renewable and clean energy,' she added. 'A key opportunity.'
'What in the actual eff is she talking about? Shapiro responded. 'They're paying you to take oil and she's like, 'This is a great time to invest in windmills.'
'Was she dropped on her head as a small child? When the price of oil is zero, that is a horrible time to invest in windmills and green energy,' the fired up commentator went on.
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'This is sort of like saying, 'Did you see there's a glut in the market of chocolate right now? The price is zero. you can walk into a supermarket and just pick up bags of chocolate. Have you ever thought of a better time to buy kale?'
Shapiro further questioned Ocasio-Cortez's logic, which he believes represents her 'confirmation bias' to push her progressive agendas as the country tries to navigate the economic impact of the coronavirus.
'What? Now's a great time to fill up your car, now's a horrible time to invest in expensive alternatives. Does she not understand..?'
Ocasio Cortez Oil Tweet
He concluded, 'Are you buying an energy-efficient vehicle for more money when the price of oil is zero? She's a full-scale idiot .. but again this is confirmation bias at work. She is just confirming her priors .. and it does make you suspicious that people are not being honest about broad-scale public policies.'
Ocasio Cortez Gas
Fox News' Talia Kaplan contributed to this report.
