POLITICO Energy

The latest news in energy and environmental politics & policy — must-know stories and candid insights from POLITICO’s energy team and journalists across our newsroom. All in just five minutes each morning.

News
Politics
Business News
626
Why Tampa Bay is in the climate danger zone
As Hurricane Ian spins toward Tampa Bay, the Gulf Coast may serve as a warning about expansive development in areas at risk for climate-fueled destruction. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down why Tampa Bay is uniquely at risk of major destruction from Hurricane Ian and how the costs of climate disasters are accelerating. Plus, Senator Joe Manchin pulled his energy permitting legislation from a government spending bill on Tuesday after it looked like the measure wouldn’t pass.
8 min
627
Biden team urges clean energy sector to get to ...
Last week, several Biden administration officials traveled to a major clean energy conference to deliver a message to industry executives and international energy leaders: start using the money from the Inflation Reduction Act and help the White House deliver on its international climate commitments. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down that message, the questions that remain about the legislation and how the White House views its international climate standing. Plus, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is urging Senate Republicans to vote no on advancing Sen. Joe Manchin’s permitting reform legislation as part of a government funding package.
7 min
628
What Manchin’s permitting bill means for FERC
Sen. Joe Manchin's permitting bill unveiled last week significantly expands the powers of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, whose chairman he’s criticized in the past. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down how the bill elevates FERC’s authority while also helping Manchin’s own goals. Plus, the World Bank president says he will not resign after apologizing for his remarks on climate science.
8 min
629
Is asking customers to conserve power a long-te...
When heat waves hit California this month, grid operators asked customers to conserve power. And that strategy worked to prevent major blackouts. But experts say that solution is not sustainable in the long run. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the crucial questions facing grid operators on the demand side and how it could impact customers. Plus,
6 min
630
The latest climate win in the Senate
On Wednesday, the Senate voted to ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, delivering bipartisan climate action with industry support to reduce a potent greenhouse gas. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down why this measure received support from both sides of the aisle and how this move builds upon previous congressional action. Plus,
7 min
631
Who’s to blame for Puerto Rico’s latest power c...
On Sunday, Hurricane Fiona knocked out power for the 3 million residents in Puerto Rico. But the blackouts and grid problems are a recurring problem, and many residents are blaming their government and the company brought in to fix the power network. POLITICO’s Gloria Gonzalez breaks down the damage that Hurricane Fiona wrought to Puerto Rico’s power system, how the island is responding, and the impact on Puerto Rico’s ambitious renewable energy goals.
9 min
632
Will the Senate give FERC’s chair another shot?
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has an ambitious climate agenda led by the agency’s chairman, Richard Glick, who was renominated by President Joe Biden back in May. But the FERC chair still faces an uncertain future in the Senate. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains why Glick might be out as FERC chairman, his priorities if he does get another term, and how FERC’s murky leadership could derail U.S. climate goals.
8 min
633
House Dems’ latest Big Oil probes
Democrats tore into the fossil fuel industry and their representatives during a pair of House hearings on Wednesday and Thursday. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre and host Josh Siegel discuss what Democrats hoped to accomplish with these hearings, some of the main takeaways, and how fossil fuel companies, their representatives and Republicans responded.
9 min
634
What a railroad strike could mean for energy
For months, the Biden administration has been working to avoid a possible railroad work stoppage that could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars and disrupt the transportation of major energy commodities like coal and crude oil. POLITICO’s Tanya Snyder breaks down why this labor dispute is happening in the first place and how it could disrupt the domestic energy space.
7 min
635
Behind the White House’s IRA climate roll-out
On Tuesday, the Biden administration celebrated the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes $369 billion in clean energy and climate incentives. POLITICO’s Zack Colman takes us inside White House’s climate strategy and breaks down which team will implement the law’s provisions and Biden’s larger green agenda moving forward.
8 min
636
Why the largest offshore wind project in the U....
A Virginia utility company, Dominion Energy, has been seeking final approval to build the largest offshore wind farm in the United States during the last year. But the company is threatening to abandon the project since Virginia state regulators are trying to impose rules that ensure consumers wouldn't be responsible for higher-than-expected costs. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the dispute between the utility and state regulators, why this project is so unique, and how a possible compromise could impact offshore wind projects across the country.
8 min
637
Biden’s big geothermal bet
Last week, the Department of Energy launched a plan to significantly cut the costs of new geothermal technology in an effort to expand the commercial adoption of the green power source. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino explains why geothermal energy resources have been largely untapped, how the Biden administration plans to expand its use, and which communities will most benefit from it.
7 min
638
Fed will begin climate-focused stress test in 2023
On Wednesday, Federal Reserve regulatory czar Michael Barr announced that next year, the central bank will launch a pilot exercise that assesses how climate change might affect the nation’s financial system. POLITICO’s Victoria Guida breaks down the Fed’s plan and how it fits into the Biden administration’s climate agenda.
8 min
639
Biden revamps climate team with familiar faces
The Biden administration has revamped its climate team, promoting Ali Zaidi to national climate adviser after Gina McCarthy announced that she is leaving her post at the end of next week. John Podesta, a former climate adviser in the Obama administration, will also join as the senior adviser for clean energy innovation and implementation. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down Biden’s new climate team and why these moves come at a critical time for the Biden administration’s climate strategy.
8 min
640
Biden’s growing natural gas price problem
As both winter and the November midterm elections approach, the Biden administration faces another politically ill-timed headache from the energy markets: rising natural gas prices. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains why prices are rising, how they will impact consumers, and the response from the Biden administration and Congress.
6 min
641
Why clean vs green is the next permitting battl...
Democratic leaders made a political compromise with Senator Joe Manchin to get his support for the Inflation Reduction Act: pass the bill now and the party will vote on separate legislation that would speed federal infrastructure permits for both clean energy and fossil fuels. But that bill is dividing Democratic lawmakers, clean energy groups and green activists. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down why Democrats and their allies are so divided over permitting and the timeline the party is working with to pass that legislation.
9 min
642
Inside the California gas car ban
On Thursday, California voted to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. That ban could pave the way for other states to adopt the requirement, overhauling the nation’s auto industry and market. POLITICO’s Camille von Kaenel breaks down the ban, how it could impact the rest of the country, and how automakers are adjusting.
7 min
643
The Inflation Reduction Act climate provision t...
Tucked deep inside the Inflation Reduction Act is a provision that some legal experts are claiming expands the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. But other commentators say that’s not quite so, and that the law did little to address the Supreme Court’s June ruling limiting the EPA’s climate authority over power plants. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down what this climate provision could mean for the EPA’s authority and legal challenges to regulations going forward.
8 min
644
Why private oil and gas drillers are leaving ANWR
: Two private companies recently backed out of drilling leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, leaving the state of Alaska as the only remaining lease holder in the protected wilderness area. Contributing reporter Adam Federman explains why Alaska is the sole entity still holding rights to drilling acreage and how the Biden administration has discouraged future drilling in ANWR.
8 min
645
US, China enter a new clean energy race
The Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by President Joe Biden may mark the start of a new clean energy arms race between the U.S. and China — a dream of climate advocates for decades. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains.
7 min
646
Why environmental justice advocates are unhappy...
After President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law last week, most Democratic allies were celebrating — with the notable exception of advocates for low-income and minority communities. They say that once again the needs of those environmental justice communities have been sacrificed for political compromise. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains why these advocates are unhappy with the law and what their priorities are moving forward.
9 min
647
Why green energy incentives aren’t just for big...
There are billions of dollars in clean energy tax incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act that President Joe Biden signed into law on Tuesday – and for the first time they will be accessible to cities, nonprofits, public power utilities and rural electric cooperatives that are usually excluded from using tax credits for clean energy. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains why green energy incentives aren’t just for big utilities anymore and what this means for electricity providers across the country.
8 min
648
The Colorado River water crisis is getting much...
Seven Western states are facing a massive water and power crisis as soon as next year as water levels are plummet at Lake Powell, one of two main reservoirs on the Colorado River, due to drought and overuse. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down the urgency of the crisis and what states and the federal government are doing to combat it.
9 min
649
Why red state governors hate Biden's climate pa...
Despite protests from Republican governors over the Inflation Reduction Act, climate funding is set to deliver major financial incentives to red states to boost clean energy projects. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains the benefits their states could receive and criticisms from GOP leaders.
8 min
650
Why progressives will fight Manchin’s permittin...
Now that the Inflation Reduction Act is set to be signed into law by President Joe Biden, progressives and moderates in the Democratic party may clash about a secondary agreement struck by Senator Joe Manchin and democratic leadership to pass permitting reform legislation. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino explains.
6 min