The GOP hunt for a new Solyndra is circling around an EPA program funding electric school buses, Jael writes.

Why it matters: EV school buses would cut carbon emissions. More importantly, climate advocates see them as a tool for winning the hearts of suburban America.

Driving the news: House E&C Republicans sent a letter to EPA last week requesting reams of fresh info about its Clean School Bus program, effectively widening an ongoing probe.

• The letter cited criticism from the agency's inspector general late last year over burdens that EV buses may place on local utilities.
• Republicans also stated that 46 school districts selected in the first round of funding under the program withdrew from getting money.
• They cited a recent EPA report to Congress that said some districts pulled out because local officials opposed the purchases.

Zoom in: Buddy Carter, E&C Environment Subcommittee chair, told Nick that committee Republicans are surveying the private sector to find out if it has had issues with the program.

• "We'll move on from there after we get input and do due diligence," he said.
• Carter noted that his own state is home to Blue Bird, a leading manufacturer of school buses — some of which are now electric.

Friction point: In a statement to Jael, Blue Bird said it told Carter's office it's "experienced very few, minor issues" with the EPA that are "not uncommon for an unprecedented program of this scale."

• "Blue Bird shared with Rep. Carter's office that we consider the EPA Clean School Bus Program to be a major milestone in the shift to zero-emission student transportation and healthier communities in the U.S."

Catch up quick: The Clean School Bus program was funded under the bipartisan infrastructure law.

• As Republicans love to note, the law provides for the EPA to fund both "zero-emission" buses and "clean" buses (which can include propane).

What they're saying: Jael asked EPA to make someone available to speak about the program. Instead, it sent a statement that it's "reviewing the report and continues to implement the program in a way that follows the law."

• "EPA will cooperate with the OIG on improving the program but has no additional information to share at this time."
• E&C ranking Democrat Frank Pallone said last September that "Republicans are deliberately misleading the public about this program in order to prop up their friends in the fossil fuel industry."

Congressional Western Caucus members met today with former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Nick scoops.

Why it matters: Wheeler recently moved to Holland & Hart to do government affairs work, and he could be a big voice in shaping Republican energy policy in a second Trump administration.

Inside the room: Western Caucus Chair Dan Newhouse told Nick they primarily discussed EPA's auto emissions standards.

• "He understands the issues really well and has the same policy priorities most of us do in the Western Caucus," Newhouse said. "In another Republican administration he could play a key role."

Our thought bubble: Newhouse himself is a low-key but important GOP voice on these issues on the Hill because the Western Caucus (with 101 members) is such a large cross-section of the party.

• He notably voted to impeach President Trump in 2021 (which could incur some wrath) but recently said he'd support the former president in 2024.

New Appropriations Chair Tom Cole hopes to get moving quickly on fiscal 2025 spending, but he's got a tough task ahead of him, Nick writes.

Why it matters: Cole is a D.C. institution whom Democrats widely respect. That could help calm the spending seas in committee, but chaos still reigns in the House.

Zoom in: Cole will have the spending caps from the debt ceiling deal as a guidepost, but House Republicans wrote their initial bills well below them last year.

• Appropriators now have extremely limited time to get each bill out of committee and onto the floor.
• Cole told reporters yesterday that leadership wants to move "quickly" on topline spending numbers, but he hasn't had those meetings yet with Speaker Mike Johnson.
• The Fiscal Responsibility Act "is subject to interpretation partly because of side deals, so that's not the same to me as getting a hard line. It gives me some guidance," he said.

What they're saying: "I'm glad that the majority party has chosen an experienced, level-headed individual to chair a very important committee," Rep. Marcy Kaptur told Nick.

• Kaptur, the ranking member on Energy-Water, said her biggest concern isn't Cole but rather the House chaos that could again prevent lawmakers from moving bills to the floor.
• "I'm hoping that he'll put a rigor in order back into the House, at least as far as the appropriations process is concerned," she said.

🃏 1. More committee shuffling: Rep. John James, the newest member of E&C, will serve on the Environment Subcommittee, the panel announced today.

• Rep. Greg Pence is also joining the Environment panel, while Rep. Rick Allen got a spot on the Energy Subcommittee.

💵 2. Financial science: House Science, Space and Technology Chair Frank Lucas announced a bid for the top spot on the Financial Services Committee.

• He'll compete for it with Reps. Andy Barr, Bill Huizenga and French Hill.

❌ 3. DOT's CRAzy: The Senate yesterday approved a Congressional Review Act resolution to strike down the Transportation Department's greenhouse gas reporting requirements for highways.

• Three Democrats — Joe Manchin, Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester — voted for it, but President Biden will inevitably veto.

🚘 4. Shake your tailpipe: The Senate is teeing up a vote in the next week or so on Mike Crapo's bill that would ban funding for EPA's latest tailpipe rules.

• It'll have a 60-vote threshold, and we could see some Democratic "yes" votes. But it's not going to survive the veto pen, either.
• Lawmakers may also move on CRA resolutions to block the emissions rules for cars and heavy trucks over the coming weeks.

📝 5. Teach me the way: Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Debbie Dingell are out with a new bill that would authorize a $50 million "Climate Change Education Program" at NOAA.