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The EPA’s final rule setting national drinking water standards for PFAS should be vacated in its entirety, the 51�Թ��� and two allies said in an filed in federal court Monday.
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What’s going on: The 51�Թ���, the American Chemistry Council and U.S. chemical company Chemours asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to overturn the , announced in April, which requires that municipal water systems nationwide remove six types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from drinking water. Trade groups representing the water systems have also sued to overturn the rule. ��
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The grounds: The rule is unlawful and must be set aside for the following reasons:

• ​​​​The EPA used a deeply flawed cost-benefit analysis to justify the rule.
• The EPA conducted a woefully incomplete feasibility analysis that ignores whether the technology and facilities necessary for compliance actually exist.
• Critical parts of the rule exceed the agency’s statutory authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act and flout the act’s express procedural requirements.
• The EPA failed to consider reasonable alternatives or respond meaningfully to public comments that undercut its judgment.
• The agency “lacked sufficient data to regulate” HFPO-DA, one of the PFAS chemicals that falls under the rule.

Why it’s important: PFAS “are substances at the center of modern innovation and sustain many common technologies including semiconductors, telecommunications, defense systems, life-saving therapeutics and renewable energy sources,” according to the brief.

• The 51�Թ��� and its co-petitioners “support rational regulation of PFAS that allows manufacturers to continue supporting critical industries, while developing new chemistries and minimizing any potential environmental impacts. But that requires a measured and evidence-based approach that the [r]ule lacks.”

What’s next: Briefing in this case will continue through the spring, with oral argument to follow and a decision from the D.C. Circuit expected in late 2025.��

��The Interior Department is seeking to close hundreds of thousands of acres of land in Wyoming to traditional and renewable energy development, a plan that would cut crucial natural resource development off at the knees (, subscription).

What’s going on: Though the Bureau of Land Management’s plan, released Thursday, scales back from previous iterations the acreage recommended for conservation, it still considerably “throttles back how much of the federally administered area’s 3.6 million acres is in play for different forms of energy development.”

• The final announcement, part of the BLM’s proposed Resource Management Plan for the Rock Springs Field Office, is tantamount to “pushing Wyoming off an economic cliff with nothing more than a tattered parachute,” John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. “This plan isn’t designed to manage Wyoming’s natural resources. It is designed to suffocate them. … [It] directly jeopardizes Wyoming’s economy and our way of life.”

What it would do: If approved, the blueprint would replace its 27-year-old predecessor document and prohibit drilling on nearly 1.08 million acres—almost twice the number currently off-limits to new oil leases.

• It would “also [exclude] 494,350 acres from wind and solar power development and [close] 536,018 acres for geothermal power projects.”

Why it’s important: The plan could reduce economic activity in Wyoming’s oil and gas sector by some $907 million each year and cost the state nearly 3,000 jobs, according to estimates by several energy groups ().

The 51�Թ��� says: “This latest move by the Interior Department undermines U.S. energy security by needlessly restricting access to available domestic sources of critical natural resources as part of an all-of-the-above energy future,” said 51�Թ��� Director of Energy and Resources Policy Michael Davin. “We urge the agency to reexamine and revise its plan.”

When Emerson’s first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer Mike Train talks about his company, his enthusiasm shines through.

• “What we do to enable our customers is huge,” said Train. “We have an important role to play—and I get a lot of energy out of that.”

An aggressive push: The technology and engineering company, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, has been making big moves in sustainability over the past few years—beginning with a goal in 2018 to reduce some of its greenhouse gas intensity by 20% over 10 years.

• At the time, the goal was ambitious, and the company wasn’t quite sure how it would achieve it. But employees banded together and pulled it off.
• “We actually achieved the goal in 2022—six years early,” said Train. “But the act of putting out a goal and not knowing exactly how we’d solve for it … has been driving the culture of our company. Our employees are proud we put it out there, proud to have participated, and it’s activated thousands of people to get excited about what we’re doing.”

An inclusive approach: Since then, the company has applied a range of tactics. From “energy treasure hunts,” in which teams search for energy waste in facilities, to renewable energy procurement and collaborations with supply chain partners, Emerson is finding interesting and inclusive ways to make an impact.

• The company has gone from getting 3% of its power from renewables to getting to 49% from those sources. And it now has a commitment to use 100% renewable energy by 2030.
• Emerson is setting other big goals, too, from net-zero operations by 2030 to a zero-waste-to-landfill pledge, along with other water and biodiversity actions.

An effective framework: The company has a three-part approach to its sustainability practices.

• Greening Of Emerson involves the actions Emerson is taking to reduce its own footprint by minimizing waste and engaging its supply chain.
• Greening By Emerson involves the company’s activities to help a wide range of manufacturing customers improve their own sustainability, often through Emerson’s automation portfolio and expertise. This, according to Train, is where Emerson has its biggest opportunity for impact.
• Greening With Emerson refers to the company’s work with government and research organizations on policy and innovation, offering technical expertise and manufacturing perspective to help drive action.

A group effort: Train has seen the company coalesce around these goals—from the sustainability team he works with every day (“they bring a lot of energy and passion to what we’re doing”) to the rest of the company’s 74,000-person workforce.

• “The fun part of sustainability is everyone is learning it together,” Train continued. “You’re allowed and encouraged to borrow ideas from each other, so the collaborative part of sustainability is an awful lot of fun.”

Washington, D.C. – The 51�Թ��� announced that Chris Phalen, most recently a senior policy advisor to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), is joining the 51�Թ��� as vice president of domestic policy:

“As the 51�Թ��� continues to be at the forefront of energy policy debates before Congress and federal agencies, Chris’ depth of experience and record of accomplishments will help us further stand out and influence outcomes in support of an all-of-the-above energy policy,” said 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons. “Manufacturers are facing a political war on energy. Permitting reform, securing critical mineral supply chains and regulatory barriers slowing the clean energy transition are just some of the defining issues impacting our industry’s ability to create well-paying jobs, as well as our nation’s energy security. Chris will help us steer policymakers in the right direction.”

Sen. Sinema has been a key figure in negotiating solutions to manufacturing priorities, and as her advisor, Phalen was a leader in negotiating and implementing critical energy policies and in writing the permitting reform provisions in the Fiscal Responsibility Act and key sections of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including all provisions on energy and mining. Phalen brings a record of active engagement with key agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. Phalen previously worked for leading energy companies, including Chevron and the Rio Tinto Group.

Timmons added, “Manufacturers are leading the global effort to fight climate change and develop the technologies needed to achieve climate goals. With Chris’ keen insight into these important policy discussions, the 51�Թ��� will become an even more effective voice for the 13 million people who make things in America.”

Phalen will report to 51�Թ��� Managing Vice President of Policy Chris Netram and work closely with 51�Թ��� Executive Vice President Erin Streeter. His policy portfolio will include sustainability, climate, permitting reform, labor, transportation and infrastructure, and he will work alongside 51�Թ��� Vice President of Domestic Policy Charles Crain and 51�Թ��� Vice President of International Policy Andrea Durkin.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.89 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51�Թ��� or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit��

The 51�Թ��� is pressing the U.S. Senate to support a bill that would promote clean nuclear energy development.

What it does: The legislation, called the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act, offers a number of components to accelerate the development and commercialization of advanced nuclear reactor technologies. It includes:

• Permitting and approval reform to make it easier for reactor projects to locate on brownfield sites, land that is underused or has been abandoned because of industrial waste;
• “Early licensing work” provisions to help deploy reactors more quickly at national security infrastructure sites;
• A series of awards to encourage companies to develop advanced-reactor technology; and
• Hiring support for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is understaffed to deal with the level of applications for new reactors.

Where it stands: The legislation was reported out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee with a bipartisan vote of 16–3, and companion legislation was passed in the House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 365–36. Now, the 51�Թ��� is pushing the Senate to pass the bill.

Why it matters: “Nuclear-generated power is an important part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy, which is necessary to meet the power needs of a growing manufacturing sector,” said 51�Թ��� Managing Vice President of Policy Chris Netram. “The ADVANCE Act would accelerate the development and commercialization of advanced nuclear reactor technologies through reforms to the existing licensing and permitting systems.”

Our action: The 51�Թ��� is Congress to support the bill ahead of the Senate’s vote, detailing its benefits in a letter to senators.

The last word: “Manufacturers create jobs that support families, and develop and deploy innovative technologies that make our environment cleaner,” said Netram. “Increasing our nation’s energy supply, including the growth of nuclear power, will support manufacturing investments and jobs across America.”

Federal tax credits that have long been available for solar and wind energy projects may soon also be available for other renewables initiatives, such as nuclear fission and fusion (, subscription).

What’s going on: On Wednesday, “[t]he Treasury Department announced its guidance for Clean Electricity Production Credits and Clean Electricity Investment Credits, created under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, that will be available in 2025 as the previously available wind and solar production and investment tax credits sunset.”

• The Biden administration’s proposal identifies several technologies that will be eligible for the credits, including nuclear fission and fusion, marine and hydrokinetic energy, hydropower and geothermal.
• Public comments on the proposal will be accepted through Aug. 2, and a public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12 and 13 (, subscription).

The 51�Թ��� says: “Expanded eligibility for these tax credits is a key to getting more industries involved,” said 51�Թ��� Director of Energy and Resources Policy Michael Davin.

Russia’s missile attack on Ukraine last Saturday hit vital energy infrastructure, underscoring the need for the Biden administration to lift its more than three-month-old ban on U.S. liquefied natural gas export permits.

What’s going on: “The [missile] attack targeted ‘the power grid and the gas transit system, particularly the gas infrastructure that ensures the security of deliveries to the EU,’” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said (, subscription).

• “Russia has intensified its assaults against Ukrainian power stations in recent weeks, and its missiles are now also hitting gas storage facilities that were used by some EU companies last winter to prevent energy shortages.”
• The strikes also hit four thermal plants in Ukraine and injured a worker.

Why it’s important: “With Russia targeting energy supplies in Europe, it is critical that we lift the ban on LNG exports so the United States can fill any unexpected gaps,” said 51�Թ��� Director of Energy and Resources Policy Michael Davin. “Lifting the moratorium is a national and energy security issue.”

What Americans want: People in the U.S. overwhelmingly support natural gas exports, a recent found, with 87% of respondents saying the U.S. should continue to export the energy source.

Washington, D.C. – Following the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new regulations on greenhouse gas emissions standards for certain power plants, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement:

“Manufacturers appreciate the EPA removing existing gas plants from its new regulation, following manufacturers’ warnings about the initial proposal. However, the rest of the rule causes serious concern because Congress and the president have not enacted permitting reform—making it impossible to achieve the EPA’s highly aspirational mandates. We call on Congress to get serious by enacting significant and meaningful permitting reform this year. That is essential to ramping up the use of renewables, carbon capture, hydrogen and nuclear, for example, to meet future demand.

“The final rule threatens grid reliability because of the unrealistic timeline for power plants to adopt technologies within the next 10 years that have yet to even be proven at scale. Our nation should be doing everything possible to make sure our families, businesses and manufacturers have a modern, strong and reliable electrical grid, especially at a time when global turmoil threatens our energy security. This new rule does the opposite, creating a threat to our national and economic security that literally could leave Americans in the dark and factories offline. In short, the EPA is rolling the dice with Americans’ electricity and therefore with President Biden’s manufacturing legacy.

“Our industry has made transformational investments in these technologies and clean energy solutions, and we are leading the way in their deployment. The EPA should be partnering with us—not undermining this progress. We will continue to press the administration to achieve a more balanced regulatory framework to help reach our climate goals.”

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.89 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51�Թ��� or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit��

The Biden administration has placed new restrictions on traditional energy exploration and production in large portions of Alaska’s Arctic (, subscription).

What’s going on: A rule handed down last Friday by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management puts “[n]ew limits on fossil fuel production in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska,” a 22.8 million–acre site that holds large reserves of oil and natural gas.

• The rule limits future oil-and-gas leases and industrial development and “codifies a ban on new leasing across a further 10.6 million acres of the reserve, about 40% of its total area,” according to the agency.
• The regulation also rules out construction of a road proposed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to allow miners to reach mining sites in Alaska’s north-central region.

Why it’s problematic: The move—which the administration said is intended to protect wildlife habitats and “honor the culture [and] history” of Alaska Natives—erodes U.S. energy security and independence while financially harming local indigenous people.

• “The final rule ‘will hurt the very residents the federal government purports to help by rolling back years of progress, impoverishing our communities, and imperiling our Iñupiaq culture,’ Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat President Nagruk Harcharek said.”
• The NPR-A contains approximately 8.7 billion barrels of oil and 25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas resources, according to the .

The last word: “The rich resources of the Arctic should be part of a responsible, all-of-the-above approach to U.S. energy security and independence,” said 51�Թ��� Director of Energy and Resources Policy Michael Davin. “This rule is a step backward on the path to achieving a sustainable energy future.”

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm called the Biden administration’s recent moratorium on liquefied natural gas export permits “a pause for a study” at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing Tuesday, according to (subscription).

Committee Chairman Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) questioned several recent energy-related moves by the Biden administration.

What’s going on: “It is a pause for a study. You don’t need to hype it out beyond what it is,” Granholm told the committee on Tuesday. “It is a pause to get data.”

• The administration has received bipartisan criticism for the freeze of LNG export permits since announcing the move in January. 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons the pause “undercut[s] President Biden’s own stated goals” and “weakens our country while giving Russia an upper hand.”

An examination of prices: Granholm told the committee the pause “was needed to examine prices and market demand since the last time a study was conducted.”

• She said the study will take into account foreign nations’ emissions “that may be linked to the absence of U.S. natural gas shipments.”

45V guidance: Sen. Manchin asked Granholm about proposed guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act’s first tax credit, known as the 45V. In a from the committee, Sen. Manchin said the proposed guidance, “if implemented … would jeopardize the viability of the industry before it even has a chance to get off the ground.”

• Sen. Manchin mentioned a recent letter to the administration from all seven “hydrogen hubs”—locations designated late last year by the administration to scale up the nation’s clean hydrogen production—saying the centers would “no longer be economically viable” without revision to the 45V proposed guidance.
• “Do you think we should heed the warning of [the Department of Energy]’s own seven hubs, and do you have any insight into what might be changed?” he asked.
• Granholm responded that the administration has “gotten over 30,000 responses, and they are working through those responses.”
• She added, according to POLITICO Pro, “The bottom line is clearly we want the hubs to succeed.”

Our take: “No matter what you call it, the administration’s pause on LNG export permits runs counter to the wishes of the American people and the interests of the United States and our allies,” said 51�Թ��� Director of Energy and Resources Policy Michael Davin.

• “According to a recent , 87% of Americans believe the U.S. should continue to export natural gas. The administration should listen.”