FERC Chair Richard Glick recused himself from a major clean energy order this week, signaling he may be leaving his position at the regulatory agency. Former commissioners and agency officials have told POLITICO that the recusal could be driven by a desire to avoid conflicts of interest with potential future endeavors. Glick was renominated to FERC by President Joe Biden after his term expired in June, but has not received a Senate hearing amid opposition from Sen. Joe Manchin. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Catherine Morehouse discuss the recusal, the possibility of Manchin changing his mind and how other Democrats are reacting to a potential FERC split. Plus, a New Jersey town received the first grant from a new FEMA program to reduce flood risk.

Retiring Rep. Fred Upton has been a major player in the energy and climate space for years, previously chairing the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee and soon leaving behind a record of bipartisan legislation. The Michigan Republican sat down with POLITICO Energy‘s Josh Siegel to reflect on Upton’s 36-year tenure in the House, what he thinks about the current energy crisis and what a GOP-led House could do on energy policy.

Starting next year, Congress will need to pass the farm bill, a large funding bill renewed every five years that has a major impact on the agriculture industry and farmers' livelihoods. Democrats are fighting to make farming more climate-friendly - a proposition Republicans are likely to reject. A farming practice called regenerative agriculture might satisfy both parties’ interests. POLITICO’s Garrett Downs explains regenerative agriculture and its bipartisan appeal. Plus, the Treasury Department has unveiled labor guidance for companies seeking clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act.

While billions of new federal tax dollars are earmarked to help people leave climate vulnerable areas, a POLITICO investigation found that those programs often fail because of inconsistencies and bureaucracy. But Washington needs to create a solution soon since the impact of natural disasters on real estate, public infrastructure, and insurance is increasing. POLITICO’s Zack Colman discusses how the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma has tried to mitigate the risk and if the federal government is ready to confront how climate change is impacting housing. Plus, the Interior Department proposed a new rule aimed at reducing the venting and flaring of methane from oil and gas production on federal lands.

Puerto Rico’s fragile power system, which is still recovering from multiple hurricanes and years of electricity problems, faces important deadlines this week that could determine which entities are responsible for restoring the grid. POLITICO’S Gloria Gonzalez breaks down how the grid operator and Puerto Rico’s government are responding, and why the island’s power grid faces an uncertain future.

Beneath the northeastern Minnesota woods lie massive deposits of copper, nickel and cobalt that the Twin Metals company wants to mine. Mining those critical minerals would help the clean energy industry grow to meet the Biden administration’s climate change goals. But the administration has rejected plans to build the mine because of risks to the environmentally sensitive site – a decision that has drawn charges of hypocrisy from Republicans. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the politics behind the stalled Minnesota mining project. Plus, the Biden administration has approved an oil export terminal in the Gulf of Mexico over some local environmental and public health concerns.

Last week, California’s air quality regulation agency laid out steps for the state to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 that lean on clean energy, driving, carbon capture, and forestry. However, state officials have acknowledged that some of those goals are potentially unreachable, and environmental groups have argued that the plan isn't doing enough. POLITICO’s Camille von Kaenel breaks down the takeaways from California's new climate plan and what greens are asking for. Plus, EPA has floated a significant increase to the contested social cost of carbon.

The United Nations climate change conference, COP27, finished Sunday with a historic deal to create a global loss and damage fund. That new pool of money would be collected from richer nations that have historically contributed to climate change and distributed to countries that have already suffered irreversible climate damage. But, even though the agreement was considered a huge win, climate advocates still weren’t totally pleased since the final text also included a nod to natural gas. POLITICO Europe’s Karl Mathiesen breaks down his main takeaways from COP27, the details of this historic deal, and how climate advocates are reacting.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Thursday that a troubled oil refinery on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which shut down last year after raining oil droplets on the island's majority-Black residents, may take years to meet new permitting requirements to restart operations. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the backstory of the plant, what EPA says needs to be done before it can restart, and the Biden administration’s environmental justice concerns. Plus, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation says that the U.S. power grid faces 'unprecedented' reliability risks this winter.

At the climate change talks in Egypt on Wednesday, the European Union signaled openness to discussing the creation of a new loss and damage fund. The fund, which developing nations have been calling for, would create a new pool of money to disburse to poor countries that have suffered irreversible climate damage. After the EU’s new stance, the spotlight is now on the United States, which has been less clear on its position. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down the state of negotiations for the loss and damage fund and if the European Union’s new stance shifts the momentum. Plus, EPA’s watchdog has launched two probes into the Jackson water crisis. And, Ukraine has warned its allies that it may not be able to recover from more Russian attacks on the country’s energy systems.

If Republicans win a narrow majority in the House as expected, a select group of GOP lawmakers will wield significant power as committee chairs for the next two years. According to their own words, those House Republicans plan to conduct a lot of oversight of Democrats’ energy and climate spending, the Biden administration’s green policies, and the Cabinet officials implementing them. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down what House GOP committee chairs plan to do and the actual impact on the administration. Plus, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s newest regulator says the U.S. cannot ignore its nuclear waste problem as it looks to build new plants to help solve the climate crisis.

On Friday, President Joe Biden boasted how his administration has taken “unprecedented” climate actions at home and abroad during a speech at COP27 in Egypt. But officials from developing countries remain skeptical that the United States will be able to deliver on the president’s pledges, with Biden facing an unsettled political situation at home following last week’s midterm elections. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down the president’s climate message to the world, new actions he announced and what skeptics are saying. Plus, the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to sharply curb methane leaks from the oil and gas sector calls for more inspections and tightened restrictions to reduce flaring of the gas.

West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair, won’t hold a hearing this year on the nomination of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Richard Glick. Glick can still serve until the end of the year, but Manchin’s decision could deal a potentially major blow to FERC, a regulatory body that’s crucial to President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down Manchin’s decision and its impact on FERC and Biden’s green goals. Plus, Trump Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, whose tenure was plagued with scandals, will represent Montana in Congress next year.

In order to pass new energy permitting rules, Republicans will need to consider whether to work with Democrats in the lame-duck Congress or push their own plan in the next term if they succeed in taking control of the House. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down the paths forward for permitting legislation and why Republicans may not seek a compromise. Plus, environmental groups are calling on Democrats to press ahead with ambitious climate policies after they outperformed expectations in the midterm elections.

Far right or populist leaders across the world have co-opted climate change and made it part of their culture wars. They say the ongoing energy crisis was exacerbated by international institutions and green policies being promoted at global climate conferences like COP27. That’s alarmed green advocates, who say populism poses a major threat to addressing global warming. POLITICO’s Matt Daily breaks down the far right’s message and who is buying into it. Plus, it’s still unclear after Tuesday’s midterm elections who will control both the House and Senate.

COP27, the 27th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, kicked off on Sunday, and the U.S. appears to be showing a new willingness to pay loss and damage to nations already suffering from the ravages of climate change. But the stance appears to be predicated on one big caveat: China should also contributes, since it’s the leading greenhouse gas emitter and is expected to be so for decades. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down why the U.S. is now willing to pay climate reparations and what climate vulnerable countries are demanding. Plus, it’s Election Day and here’s what to expect for energy policy if Republicans take the House back.

Consumers across the country are footing the bill for billions of dollars in transmission upgrades. And yet, many state regulators have little insight into how that money is actually being spent, particularly regarding local and small transmission projects. That’s leading FERC and utilities to clash about how much oversight there should be. POLITICO’S Catherine Morehouse breaks down why regulators are starting to pay more attention to how small power lines are built and the implications for U.S. consumers. Plus, Canada has teased two new clean technology tax credits in response to the Inflation Reduction Act.

COP27 kicks off Sunday in Egypt, where countries will dig into climate finance, reparations and impactful green commitments at the annual UN summit. POLITICO’s Zack Colman recaps where things stand after last year's climate conference and the major upcoming themes to expect in this year’s negotiations. Plus, a new report from the Government Accountability Office rebuked EPA and DOE over its small refiner biofuel exemptions.

New Jersey environmental regulators released a flood rule last week that shows the state is trying to balance construction interests and environmental concerns. It aims to beef up building standards to protect communities and better prepare for extreme weather. But it also includes an exemption for the state’s Department of Transportation, New Jersey’s largest builder. POLITICO’s Ry Rivard breaks down how construction and green interests are colliding in New Jersey. Plus, U.S. clean power growth slides to lowest level in three years, according to new data from the American Clean Power Association.

Republicans have blamed President Joe Biden for the jump in gasoline prices that have plagued drivers this year. But a POLITICO review of federal data shows that compared to the early months of the Trump administration, Biden’s Interior Department has approved new oil and gas wells at a far faster clip produced more crude oil over the same period. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down that data. Plus, Republican members on the Federal Elections Commission blocked it from sanctioning a Russian-funded Texas energy company for campaign donations to Louisiana lawmakers.

As the November midterm elections approach, Republicans are predicted to take back the House and potentially the Senate. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel discusses what House GOP lawmakers might prioritize in terms of energy policy and the broader limits the party faces. Plus, President Joe Biden urged Congress on Monday to hike taxes on oil and gas companies' record profits but did not endorse a specific proposal.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are rattled because of a recent energy trend: Chinese energy companies snapping up American natural gas exports, purchasing nearly half the cargoes that U.S. companies agreed to ship in the last year. And some of those companies are actually working against U.S. interests. POLITICO’s Gavin Bade breaks down why lawmakers are growing more concerned, what they are proposing to do, and how this trend could potentially fuel a new clash between the two global powers. Plus, the Interior Department is moving to cut Colorado River deliveries next year.

Biden administration officials are holding several meetings over next several days with European energy officials to discuss two major topics: how to keep energy flowing to Europe and how to ease growing tensions about the United States’ role as the continent’s leading gas supplier. While Europe has turned to the U.S. to help with its energy needs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the continent is wary of relying on U.S. supplies. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre discusses why these meetings are being held and what both the United States and Europe hope to accomplish. Plus, the International Energy Agency’s new landmark report says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marks a ‘turning point’ for global fossil fuel demand and could accelerate the world’s green transition.

Senate Democrats have privately urged SEC chairman Gary Gensler to consider additional feedback on a variety of regulations that are making Wall Street nervous. That includes the commission’s climate risk rule, which would require companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and be held accountable for their climate promises. POLITICO’s Declan Harty breaks down why moderate Democrats are pushing the commission to slow down and what might happen next with the climate risk disclosure rule. Plus, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said the company’s electric vehicles will qualify for full federal tax credits within three years.

A group of congressional Democrats is calling on JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo to stop working with the conservative State Financial Officers Foundation, which Democratic lawmakers say spreads misinformation about sustainable and green investing. POLITICO’s Jordan Wolman discusses why this issue is attracting attention from Democrats, how influential the foundation has been across the country and the response from banks as they navigate accusations about their ESG policies from Democrats and Republicans. Plus, Special Climate Envoy John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart have directly communicated in recent days but climate talks between the countries remain in “limbo.”