Ella Nilsen
Ella Nilsen is a CNN climate reporter with a focus on climate-related policy from the White House, Congress, and agencies. She joined CNN from Vox where she covered the White House and the Biden administration's climate and infrastructure plan. Prior to Vox, she reported on Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump in the 2016 primary at the Concord Monitor.
Biography:
https://www.cnn.com/profiles/ella-nilsen
86%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
85%
Examples:
- But flooding the energy grid with more planet-warming fossil fuels won’t make power lines resilient to stronger storms.
- Some utilities are starting to replace wooden poles with stronger fiberglass materials; some are contemplating burying electrical lines underground, which is an expensive process.
- The problem is transmission lines can’t carry that power. You could have all the power in the world; if you can’t get it to where it’s needed, it’s not going to do anybody any good.
- We’ve got to make sure that 90-year-olds have power when it’s 105 degrees out – period. Anything less than 100% success is not okay.
Conflicts of Interest
92%
Examples:
- Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan told reporters. The rule is technology-neutral, meaning vehicle manufacturers can meet the standards how they choose: advanced internal combustion engine vehicles, hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
- Officials and environmental groups said the rule is a major step forward for public health and environmental justice in communities near major trucking corridors.
- White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi pointed to tax credits that can be used to defray the cost of buying clean commercial vehicles. The Biden administration has also made clean buses a major priority.
Contradictions
87%
Examples:
- Hydrogen fuel cell trucks are better for those reasons, but the technology is still relatively nascent compared to battery-electric models.
- Tesla played a central role in America’s plan to install half a million EV charging stations by the end of the decade.
- The Interior Department will block oil drilling on about 40% of the land in the NPR-A, which is home to protected animal species including polar bears and caribou.
- The new rules will cut 1 billion tons of planet-warming pollution by 2055.
Deceptions
79%
Examples:
- <12% of big freight trucks will be zero-emissions by 2030 according to EPA modeling.
- Many cleaner models are more expensive than diesel models.
- The new rules for heavy-duty vehicles bear many similarities to their counterparts for smaller cars and trucks
- vehicle manufacturers can meet the standards how they choose: advanced internal combustion engine vehicles, hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Recent Articles
Damaged Wind Turbine Blade Washes Ashore on Nantucket Island, Operations Suspended
Broke On: Tuesday, 16 July 2024A damaged GE Vernova turbine blade from Vineyard Wind's offshore wind development washed up on Nantucket Island, leading to a suspension of operations and debris collection by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Damaged Wind Turbine Blade Washes Ashore on Nantucket Island, Operations Suspended
Broke On: Tuesday, 16 July 2024A damaged GE Vernova turbine blade from Vineyard Wind's offshore wind development washed up on Nantucket Island, leading to a suspension of operations and debris collection by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Houston's Power Crisis in the Age of Extreme Weather: CenterPoint Energy's Rejected Grant and the Frustration of Residents
Broke On: Friday, 12 July 2024In July 2024, Houston, Texas faced a power crisis during Hurricane Beryl's landfall. The city's electrical infrastructure, particularly CenterPoint Energy's system serving industrial hubs and refineries, struggled to keep up with demand despite a rejected $100 million grant request for strengthening. Residents endured days without electricity amidst soaring temperatures and recovery from previous flooding events. Frustration ensued due to uneven power restoration and criticism towards Harris County's highest-ranking official. 
Elon Musk's Surprising Decision to Lay Off Tesla's Supercharger Team: Implications for EV Sales Growth and the Charging Industry
Broke On: Saturday, 04 May 2024Elon Musk's unexpected decision to lay off Tesla's Supercharger team has left the EV charging industry in flux, with potential consequences for both Tesla and non-Tesla manufacturers. The move comes as Tesla had received $7.5 billion in federal grants to expand its network by 2030, and several automakers had signed up to use Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS). Industry experts predict this pause in Supercharger buildout could hinder EV sales growth for all involved. 
President Biden Blocks Oil Drilling on 13 Million Acres in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve
Broke On: Friday, 19 April 2024President Biden's administration blocked oil drilling on over 13 million acres in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve, denying a permit for an industrial road and banning drilling on nearly half of the area. The decision safeguards caribou, polar bears, and other wildlife while protecting Alaska Native communities. This significant shift towards environmental protection faces opposition from industry and elected leaders in Alaska. 
Biden Administration Announces Strongest Pollution Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Impacting Communities and Kids
Broke On: Friday, 29 March 2024The Biden administration has announced new pollution standards for heavy-duty vehicles, including buses and commercial trucks. By 2030s EPA modeling predicts between 12-25% of the biggest freight trucks on the road will be zero-emissions vehicles. The rule is technology neutral, allowing manufacturers to meet regulatory timeline in various ways. Medium and heavy-duty trucks contribute about 20% of total transportation climate pollution but represent only 5% of overall vehicle fleet. Climate Change Impacts Escalating, Warn UN and US Reports
Broke On: Tuesday, 14 November 2023Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are causing the planet to warm at an alarming rate. Governments are planning to produce double the fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C. Climate change is disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, the elderly, and low-income communities. The climate crisis is changing children's health and development, with 43.1 million internal displacements of children linked to weather-related disasters over a six-year period. Climate shocks on the economy are happening more frequently, with a record number of extreme weather disasters costing at least $1 billion.
