US Senate approves waterways infrastructure bill
The US Senate today unanimously approved a waterways infrastructure bill authorizing river navigation improvements, setting the stage for negotiations later in the year with the US House of Representatives, which has passed its own legislation.
This is "crucial bipartisan legislation to invest in our nation's water infrastructure, protect our communities and support good-paying jobs," said senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Carper introduced the biennial bill earlier this year.
The bill would authorize US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) projects focused on navigation, flood control and ecosystem restoration. In all, the Senate bill measure would authorize 83 feasibility studies and 13 new and modified projects.
The bill regularly draws bipartisan support because its projects and programs impact all 50 states. "By passing this legislation, the Senate took a significant step toward strengthening our water infrastructure, supporting our national economy, better protecting communities from flood risks, and helping the Corps carry out its mission now and in the future," senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia).
The House approved a companion but somewhat different bill on 22 July. Lawmakers now will have to hammer out difference between the two versions in a conference committee, unless one chamber opts to pass the other house's language.
But no action is expected before September at the earlier.
The Senate adjourned today for its August recess and is not expected to reconvene until 9 September. The House left town last week.
Passage of a final bill could be further complicated by election year politics.
Related news posts
Australia’s Queensland pledges state-owned retail fuel
Australia’s Queensland pledges state-owned retail fuel
Sydney, 6 August (Argus) — Australia's Queensland Labour party government has promised to open a chain of state-owned retail fuel outlets and cap day-to-day fuel increases, as part of its campaign in the lead-up to the 26 October state election. State-owned stations would charge a fair price for fuel and increase competition for Queensland motorists, premier Steven Miles said, adding that the fuel stations will be built in areas where competition was needed, operate on a cost-recovery basis, sell gasoline and diesel, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles. "Currently when you fuel up your car with petrol you're sending money offshore to big multinationals. Our publicly owned fuel stations won't be taking a profit," Miles said on 6 August. Miles also promised to legislate to limit gasoline price rises to once per day and to trial capping daily increases no more than 5A ¢/litre, with fuel outlets required to release price changes a day in advance, saying Queensland has the nation's least competitive gasoline market. The fuel retailing policy has been costed at A$36mn ($23.4mn), to be funded by borrowings in the government-owned corporations sector, Miles said. Queensland's retail gasoline sales were 47,000 b/d during January-May this year, according to Australian Petroleum Statistics, with diesel retail sales of 42,000 b/d over the same period. The state's capital Brisbane hosts the 109,000 b/d Lytton refinery, one of only two remaining in the country, which is operated by Australian refiner and retailer Ampol. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
China's EV charging points exceed 10mn: NEA
China's EV charging points exceed 10mn: NEA
Beijing, 6 August (Argus) — China's charging points for new energy vehicles (NEVs) rose above 10mn units as of the end of June, according to the country's National Energy Administration (NEA). The country had 10.244mn NEV charging points as of 30 June, up by 54pc from a year earlier. This comprised 3.122mn public charging points and 7.122mn private charging points. Total rated power of the public charging points is 110mn kW, which is enough to meet charging demand for 24mn NEVs, according to NEA data. NEVs charged 51.3bn kWh of power during January-June, rising by 40pc from a year earlier. The country has installed 27,200 charging points at expressway service areas in almost all its provinces. The government has also accelerated construction of charging infrastructure in rural areas to increase the use of NEVs in the countryside. The rapid development of charging infrastructure is expected to boost the country's NEV adoption. Limited charging availability, especially in smaller cities and rural areas, is one of the main reasons why many potential buyers have not opted to buy a NEV, according to industry participants. China accounted for 64.5pc of the world's NEV passenger car sales during January-June , according to industry data. The country aims to increase the share of NEVs in its total vehicle sales to 45pc by 2027, according to a plan issued by the government earlier this year. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Hurricane Debby halts traffic at southeast US ports
Hurricane Debby halts traffic at southeast US ports
Houston, 5 August (Argus) — Major ports in the southeast US are closed to vessel traffic as Hurricane Debby made landfall today as a category 1 storm in northern Florida. Seaport Manatee and the port of Tampa Bay in Florida closed waterways on 3 August, with Seaport Manatee issuing port condition Zulu — where gale force winds are anticipated within 12 hours and port operations are suspended. Port Tampa Bay closed its shipping lanes on 3 August. Combined DAP and MAP exports from the port of Tampa reached 245,000 metric tonnes (t) between January and May — comprising nearly 91pc of year-to-date offshore export volumes — according to US Census Bureau data. Nearly two-thirds of US ammonium phosphate production capacity is consolidated in central Florida with Mosaic, according to The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) data. The Port of Savannah, in Georgia, will close today at 3:00pm ET and will remain closed on Tuesday before reopening on Wednesday, according to the Georgia Ports Authority. No vessel activity will be allowed during the closure. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
California CARB ULSD prices hit multi-year lows
California CARB ULSD prices hit multi-year lows
Houston, 5 August (Argus) — Outright California CARB diesel prices are at nearly 31-month lows following a narrowing in Los Angeles differentials and the underlying Nymex ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) contract last week. Front-month outright prices in Los Angeles closed at $2.20/USG on 2 August, the lowest level since December 2021, after a 4pc downturn in the Nymex ULSD contract and a 2¢/USG weekly dip in differentials as August volume was heard traded lower. Overall ULSD liquidity remained muted in San Francisco, but Friday's Nymex loss pressured outright cash prices to $2.14/USG, also the lowest level since December 2021. California refiners had nearly doubled CARB diesel production in the week ended 26 July and averaged 193,000 b/d, according to latest data from the California Energy Commission (CEC) released on 1 August. The uptick fueled a 1.6pc increase in the state's total diesel inventory, to 2.9mn bl, despite a concurrent 38pc drop in output of other diesel fuels — a category including high-sulphr, non-California EPA and renewable diesel. By Jasmine Davis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Business intelligence reports
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more