Latest news with #SoniaAggarwal
Reuters
30-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Coal used to make steel gets break in Trump's tax bill
WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) - Coal used to make steel got a break in the latest version of President Donald Trump's tax bill, a subsidy that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars over 10 years for a fuel that is mostly exported to countries including China. In April, Trump signed executive orders that directed Chris Wright, the energy secretary and former fracking CEO, to determine whether metallurgical, or met, coal is a "critical mineral" which he did in May. In the latest version of Trump's so-called One Big Beautiful Bill that the Senate released over the weekend, met coal can claim an advanced manufacturing production tax credit, available for critical minerals, that would pay 2.5% of costs for the fuel. Sonia Aggarwal, CEO of Energy Innovation, a non-profit group, called allowing met coal to get the credit insane, as it could harm efforts to move to fuels that are less carbon-intensive. The subsidy would "send hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to China to subsidize dirty steel," Aggarwal said in a post on X. Robbie Orvis, a director of analysis at Energy Innovation, estimated that the credit could be worth $300 million to met coal producers sending coal to China over ten years and said the subsidy could help China compete with U.S.-made steel. Giving met coal the critical mineral classification, typically reserved for minerals needed for high-tech defense systems, could also set the table for Trump's use of emergency powers to raise production. Conor Bernstein, a spokesperson for the National Mining Association, said the bill supports U.S. jobs, manufacturing and the economy. "Providing incentives to spur steel-making coal production accomplishes each of those objectives." The Metallurgical Coal Producers Association of West Virginia did not immediately respond to requests for comment about how the tax credit would benefit producers. West Virginia, one of the top U.S. mining states, has suffered several met coal layoffs in recent months hitting hundreds of miners. In local media, Ben Beakes, the president of the West Virginia met coal association, has blamed the layoffs on inflation.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Teaser of Sonia Agarwal's investigative crime thriller 'Gift' released
The makers of director Pa Pandiyan's investigative crime thriller 'Gift', featuring actress Sonia Aggarwal in the lead, on Friday released the much-awaited teaser of the film, much to the delight of fans and film buffs. Sonia Aggarwal too shared the link of the teaser on her X handle and wrote, "Here's the #Gift Movie Teaser." The teaser establishes the fact that Sonia Aggarwal plays a police officer investigating a singularly intriguing rape case. The teaser begins with Sonia's character telling us that she has handled several criminal cases and successfully solved them. However, she then tells that there is this one case, the investigation of which continues to stay exactly at the same place where it started. The police officer says that she finds this case to be challenging. Suraj Venjaramoodu's 'Heaven' movie teaser out Sonia's character in the film believes that no matter how sharp the suspects are, the cops have to be ahead of them and must think 200 per cent more. The only fact that has been established is that it is a gang rape case. The cop is also aware that the criminals she is trying to track down may well be keeping tabs on what the police is doing. The teaser also shows Sonia Agarwal finally declaring that she has finally found some evidence in the case. The teaser ends with the police officer saying, "Wait and watch!" The film that has been directed by Pa Pandiyan features a host of actors including Birla Bose, Super Good Subramani, Crane Manohar, Sasi Laya and Rekha. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo On the technical front, the film has music by Amara CV and cinematography by Rajadurai. The film has two editors working on it -- David Ajay and Ganesh. The film, which has been produced by director Pa Pandian himself, has been co-produced by Vedivelu Kamalakannan.
Axios
13-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Think tank makes new argument for EPA's climate fund
A major EPA climate grant program in the Inflation Reduction Act would create tens of thousands of jobs and nearly $24 billion in additional wages over the next six years, new analysis first viewed by Axios finds. Why it matters: The study by Energy Innovation — a firm that backs strong CO2-cutting policies — lands as Capitol Hill Republicans look to end the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. And EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is already seeking to terminate most of it using existing authorities, alleging various abuses, but the efforts are tied up in court. The fund is the largest non-tax investment in the 2022 law. Driving the news: The study of $24 billion targeted for project finance notes that while the fund's main goal is embedded in its name, the program would have big economic spillovers. Energy Innovation — whose CEO, Sonia Aggarwal, is a former Biden White House climate aide — sees an average of 36,000 to 41,000 extra jobs annually compared to current policies. It also estimates $52 billion in consumer energy cost savings over 20 years and total investment in the U.S. economy of almost $65.5 billion. Catch up quick: Much of the fund, dubbed a "green bank," stakes nonprofits that will, in turn, seek to build and sustain a wide network of community finance institutions. They planned to provide low-cost loans and other aid, and it was designed to leverage private capital. Zeldin has called the program rife with conflicts and abuses, though a federal judge has called out EPA for failing to provide specific evidence.
