The Big Story 

Former President Trump used his speech to attack President Biden’s agenda, calling it a “Green New Scam” and indicating that he’d seek to redirect climate-related funding.

© Getty

“They’ve spent trillions of dollars on things having to do with the Green New Scam,” Trump said Thursday night in his speech formally accepting the Republican presidential nomination.

“And all of the trillions of dollars that are sitting there not yet spent, we will redirect that money for important projects like roads, bridges, dams and we will not allow it to be spent on meaningless Green New Scam ideas,” he added, apparently referring to the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Inflation Reduction Act, the Democrats’ 2022 climate, tax and health care bill, puts billions of dollars into renewable and other low-carbon energy sources, especially through tax credits.

During his speech, Trump also criticized Biden’s electric vehicle policies and said the leader of the United Auto Workers union should be “ashamed” and “fired” over the auto jobs that have gone abroad to countries like China.

In response, the union posted on X: “@realDonaldTrump is a scab and a billionaire and that’s who he represents. We know which side we’re on. Not his.”

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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Essential Reads 

How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

White House seeks end to government purchase of single-use plastic by 2035

Appeals court unanimously sides with Biden administration on updated power plant rules

Boebert floats her name for Interior secretary under Trump

In Other News 

Branch out with a different read on The Hill:

The winner in China’s panda diplomacy: the pandas themselves

WASHINGTON (AP) — China’s panda diplomacy may have one true winner: the pandas themselves. Decades after Beijing began working with zoos in the U.S. and Europe to protect the species, the number of giant pandas in the wild has risen to 1,900, up from about 1,100 in the 1980s, and they are no longer considered “at risk” of extinction but have been given the safer status of “vulnerable.”

On Our Radar 

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

 Monday

• The House Rules Committee is taking up House bills to fund the Energy and Interior Departments and EPA, meaning the legislation could get voted on later this week. 

Tuesday

• The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security will hold a hearing on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s budget request for fiscal 2025. 

• The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on 12 pieces of pending legislation.

• The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a hearing on three pieces of pending legislation.

• The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials will hold a hearing titled “Examining the State of Rail Safety in the Aftermath of the Derailment in East Palestine Ohio.” National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy is scheduled to testify.

Wednesday

• The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security will hold a hearing on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s budget request for fiscal 2025.

Thursday

• The Senate Appropriations Committee is marking up a Senate bill to fund the EPA and Interior Department for FY2025.
• The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding a hearing on legislation related to tribal forest protection and water rights claims.

What We’re Reading 

News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

• Did the Supreme Court’s Chevron decision automatically throw out EPA rules? (The Colorado Sun)
  
  

• Wind turbine blade 15 miles off Martha’s Vineyard breaks, pieces fall into ocean (The Cape Cod Times)

   

• Don’t be fooled by the late July hurricane lull (Axios)

What Others are Reading 

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Ocasio-Cortez: Democratic ‘elites’ who want Biden to drop out want Harris off ticket

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) took a swing at Democratic “elites” who are pushing for President Biden to stand down from the 2024 race, warning they are also “not interested” in seeing Vice President Harris atop the ticket. Read more

Biden decision on future expected in coming days, and Harris is considered heir apparent

Well-connected Democratic Party insiders say they expect President Biden to make a major announcement about his future soon after the Republican National Convention concludes in Milwaukee and that congressional leaders expect Vice President Harris will become their nominee for president if Biden drops his reelection bid. Read more