This bill amends the Clean Air Act to expand fuel options for retailers and support small refineries. It allows fuel blends containing 10-15% ethanol to meet vapor pressure requirements during high ozone seasons, replacing previous state-specific limits with a nationwide standard. Additionally, it enables small refineries to reclaim retired renewable fuel credits from 2016-2018 compliance years or apply them to future obligations under specific conditions. The changes directly affect fuel retailers selling ethanol-blended gasoline and small refineries participating in the renewable fuel program.
Clean Cloud Act of 2025 This bill establishes an emissions standard and fee system regarding the electricity used by data centers or cryptomining facilities that exceed a specified size. Additionally, the bill appropriates collected fees for various purposes, including to fund zero-carbon electricity generation, long-duration energy storage, and grants to lower residential electricity consumer costs. The bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Energy Information Administration to annually determine the greenhouse gas emission intensity of the total annual electricity consumed by (1) covered facilities from the electric grid, and (2) covered facilities from electricity generation assets located behind the power meter of the facilities. The EPA must determine and publish the greenhouse gas emissions intensities of the electric grid of each region to establish a baseline for the assessment of fees. Each calendar year from 2027 through 2034, the baseline for each region is reduced by 11% of the original baseline. For 2035 and after, the baseline is set to zero emissions. The EPA must assess a fee on (1) owners of any electric utility providing power to a covered facility that exceeds the baseline emissions in that region for that year, and (2) covered facilities with respect to the greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation assets located behind the power meter of the facility above the baseline of the region for that year. The electric utilities may not recoup the cost of the fee by raising rates or assessing fees on customers that are not covered facilities.
HRES 1017 is a non-binding congressional resolution recognizing that air pollution and extreme heat pose significant health risks to pregnant women and infants, particularly in Latino communities. It highlights that Latina mothers face higher exposure to pollution, double the risk of heat-related birth complications compared to White mothers, and systemic barriers like language gaps and healthcare inequities. The resolution expresses the House's support for specific actions, including bilingual public alerts, air quality monitoring in Latino neighborhoods, improved heat guidelines at health facilities, and community-based programs to reduce exposure. It does not create new laws but calls for equitable interventions and policy considerations to address these vulnerabilities.
This bill repeals federal waivers that allow California to set its own vehicle and engine emission standards under the Clean Air Act. It directly affects California's Air Resources Board (CARB), prohibiting the state from adopting or enforcing standards for nonroad engines (like construction equipment, farm vehicles, and locomotives) or new motor vehicles. Key provisions include removing federal authorization for California's vehicle standards (Section 177) and invalidating all existing waivers for state emission rules. The bill would eliminate California's ability to enforce its own emission requirements for these categories, shifting authority entirely to federal standards.
The Transportation Freedom Act would create a 200% tax deduction for wages paid to U.S. automobile manufacturing workers who meet specific requirements, including health care coverage and pension benefits. It repeals current emissions standards for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The bill establishes new standards for greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy that must be "technologically feasible and economically practicable," requiring consultation with manufacturers and other stakeholders. It also eliminates existing emissions waivers and creates a process for adjusting standards based on market conditions.
This bill amends the Clean Air Act to require renewable fuel components in fuel for ocean-going vessels, alongside existing requirements for home heating oil and jet fuel. It directly affects shipping companies operating ocean vessels by mandating renewable fuel content starting in the second calendar year after enactment. The key mechanism updates the definition in the Clean Air Act to explicitly include "fuel for ocean-going vessels" in the renewable fuel requirements. The Environmental Protection Agency must issue implementing regulations within one year of the bill's enactment and submit a report to Congress one year after those regulations are finalized.
This bill repeals the EPA's 2024 emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles and amends the Clean Air Act to prevent future regulations from mandating specific technologies or limiting new vehicle availability based on engine type. It directly affects the EPA's regulatory authority and vehicle manufacturers by blocking technology mandates and restrictions on engine types in new vehicles. Key provisions require the EPA to revise regulations within 24 months to align with these changes, ensuring no federal rules limit vehicle choices based on engine technology. The bill's title is misleading, as it does not address automobile retail sales or consumer choice at dealerships.
# Summary of Proposed Clean Air Act Amendments
This document proposes significant amendments to the Clean Air Act, creating a comprehensive framework for addressing greenhouse gas emissions while supporting affected workers and communities.
## Key Environmental Framework
- Establishes a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions through "emission allowances" (Title VII)
- Creates "covered entities" required to comply with emissions limits
- Implements an "International Reserve Allowance Program" for imported goods to prevent carbon leakage
- Sets up a "Negative Emissions Activities Fund" to support carbon sequestration projects
## Major Funding Mechanisms
1. **Worker and Community Assistance Fund** (Section 103) - Supports transition assistance for workers and communities affected by the clean energy transition
2. **Cleaner Air Community Fund** (Section 104) - Funds community-based programs to improve air quality and support environmental justice
3. **Negative Emissions Activities Fund** (Section 105) - Supports programs that remove carbon from the atmosphere
4. **Energy Innovation Fund** (Section 106) - Funds research and development for clean energy technologies
5. **Clean Energy Rebate Program** (Section 102) - Provides direct rebates to eligible households for clean energy investments
## Worker and Community Assistance Programs
- **Section 201-208** establishes a comprehensive program to support workers and communities affected by the transition to clean energy
- **Adversely affected workers** (those partially or totally separated from employment at impacted employers) receive:
- Wage adjustment assistance (up to 36 months)
- Health insurance continuation (80% premium coverage for 36 months)
- Educational benefits comparable to veterans' education programs
- Employment services and training
- **Adversely affected communities** (local governments facing significant tax revenue loss) receive:
- Annual payments to replace lost local revenues (90% in first two years, decreasing to 25% in years seven and eight)
- Grants for economic diversification planning
- Community-Based Transition Hubs to coordinate local assistance efforts
## Key Features
- **International Reserve Allowance Program** (Section 751-752) to ensure imported goods meet the same emissions standards as domestic products
- **Conforming amendments** to the Clean Air Act to integrate these new programs
- **Interagency coordination** through the Interagency Energy and Economic Transition Task Force
- **Stakeholder Advisory Committee** to provide input from affected communities and workers
- **Worker and Community Transition Report** to be submitted to Congress biennially
This legislation represents a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change while simultaneously creating a safety net for workers and communities impacted by the transition to a clean energy economy.
S 990, the Freedom to Haul Act of 2025, prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing or enforcing Phase 3 greenhouse gas emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles (finalized in April 2024). It amends the Clean Air Act to require that future emissions rules for vehicles cannot mandate specific technologies or limit the availability of new trucks based on engine type. This directly affects EPA regulatory authority and vehicle manufacturers, ensuring a broader range of new truck options remains available. The bill focuses on preventing regulatory restrictions on vehicle choice, not on emissions outcomes.
SJRES 122 is a joint resolution seeking to disapprove an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that approved Indiana's Regional Haze Plan for the second implementation period under federal air quality regulations. If passed, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preventing the EPA's approval of Indiana's haze reduction plan from being enforced. This follows a standard congressional disapproval process under federal law that allows Congress to halt agency rules within a specific timeframe. The resolution directly affects the EPA's ability to implement the approved plan in Indiana.
