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.

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Empire State of cryptomining
Environmental advocates and New York state lawmakers are pushing for a three-year moratorium on permits for power plants that burn fossil fuels to mine Bitcoin. But, cryptomining advocates warn that if the state enacts this moratorium, it could miss out on many benefits from the technology. POLITICO’s Marie French explains.
7 min
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The European energy crisis Biden hopes to avoid
What would happen if Russia, one of Europe’s biggest oil and gas suppliers, invades Ukraine? That’s the looming energy security question the Biden administration is hoping to answer by working with different countries and companies to find alternative fuel supplies. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre reports.
7 min
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Breyer’s environmental legacy
The Supreme Court’s oldest member — Justice Stephen Breyer — is expected to retire at the end of this term. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down Breyer’s rulings on environmental cases throughout his time on the high court and who might replace him.
6 min
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Baltimore vs. Big Oil: Round 2
On Tuesday, a panel of federal judges expressed skepticism about the legal arguments presented by oil companies to move a highly-watched climate lawsuit brought on by the city of Baltimore from a state court to the federal system. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the lawsuit and how it could impact similar climate liability suits across the country.
7 min
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FERC’s shifting EJ focus
FERC’s Democratic majority is signaling that environmental justice should play a larger role in how the commission considers pipelines and other projects. But, that stance has received mixed feedback from Republicans, the natural gas industry, and environmental justice advocates. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains.
6 min
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New WOTUS guidance causes confusion
New guidance released earlier this month by the Army Corps of Engineers is raising more questions than it answers when it comes to projects that potentially impact federally protected waters of the United States. POLITICO’S Alex Guillén breaks down the latest guidance and how it could impact hundreds of projects across the building, mining and agricultural sectors.
7 min
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Biden’s new BBB climate path
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden threw his support behind breaking up his Build Back Better bill and expressed confidence his party can move forward on the stalled bill’s $550 billion in energy and environmental programs. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel discusses the reactions of Congressional Democrats.
7 min
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The murky future of rooftop solar in California
Two of California’s climate regulators are at odds over the future of rooftop solar panels in the state. A recent proposal from the California Public Utilities Commission would slash solar incentives for homeowners. But, that plan would come into conflict with a state requirement that mandates that new homes install solar panels and that those panels remain within financial reach. POLITICO’s Colby Bermel breaks down the controversial proposal and its potential impact.
7 min
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Saving BBB’s climate investment
The Build Back Better act is still stalled in the upper chamber. But, while the Senate tussles with voting rights, House Democrats are strategizing about changes to the legislation’s social spending policies that they hope will keep its major climate and clean energy investments in tact, even if that means breaking up the package. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel reports.
6 min
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Producers question effort to boost low-methane ...
FERC is reviewing a proposal that aims to encourage natural gas producers to trade and transport responsibly sourced natural gas. But producers are worried it could create uneven standards and empower an unnecessary gatekeeper. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains.
5 min
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White House exits trouble environmental justice...
President Joe Biden has put environmental justice at the top of his administration’s green agenda. But, after the resignations of two high-profile White House environmental officials who worked on the administration’s environmental justice goals, activists are concerned the president will fail to deliver on his promises. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains.
7 min
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Newsom’s planned climate spending spree
On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed spending $22.5 billion over the next six years on climate-related programs across all state agencies, including $2 billion on clean energy initiatives. POLITICO’s Colby Bermel discusses how this funding could impact the state’s climate programs.
6 min
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Supreme Court’s ethanol gut punch
On Monday, the Supreme Court delivered a blow to the biofuels industry in its long-running fight to allow the year-round sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino explains the justices’ decision and how it will impact refiners and the ethanol industry moving forward.
7 min
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BBB’s limbo: a torturous wait for geothermal en...
In the Build Back Better bill, there are billions of dollars that would support a key but relatively unused renewable energy source: geothermal energy. The bill could make the energy source a major contributor to President Joe Biden’s ambitious climate goals, according to supporters. But that’s only if the broader debate over the package doesn’t derail it. POLITICO’s Jonathan Custodio explains.
6 min
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Hochul’s green energy vision for New York
This week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the state’s latest commitments to renewable energy, including increasing offshore wind and barring fossil fuels in new building construction by 2027. POLITICO’s Marie French explains.
6 min
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Why Germany is rejecting the EU’s nuclear push
Over the weekend, the European Commission recently came out with a proposal that labels some gas and nuclear power plants as green investments. Today, POLITICO EU politics reporter Hans von der Burchard explains why Germany is against the proposal and whether that proposal can survive without German support.
7 min
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Manchin open to ‘realistic’ climate provisions
On Tuesday, Sen. Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat who has held up his party from passing their Build Back Better bill, told reporters he was largely on board with the legislation’s climate provisions. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino explains what Manchin’s comments mean moving forward.
5 min
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New year, same BBB fight
Democrats were unable to pass President Joe Biden’s $1.7 trillion social spending package before Christmas. As Congress enters 2022 with midterm elections looming, POLITICO’s Matthew Choi breaks down what Democrats are hoping to do with the package this year.
5 min
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The Puerto Rican grid experiment
Puerto Rico’s power grid, which has been devastated by natural disasters and mismanagement, could be revamped using emergency funding from the U.S. federal government. But, as POLITICO’s Gloria Gonzalez explains, clean energy advocates and opponents are divided on how to do that.
6 min
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From the archives: Humanity’s code red
It’s probably too late for 1.5. On Monday, the UN’s top climate panel released a milestone report on the status of climate change, and according to scientists, it’s very unlikely the world will meet the most ambitious target of limiting global climate change rising 1.5 degrees Celsius. But POLITICO’s Zack Colman says things could still get much worse if bold action isn’t taken.
8 min
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From the archives: Is clean hydrogen an illusion?
Some scientists looking for clean energy solutions have spent years researching the capabilities of hydrogen. Earlier this month, the Senate included funding for clean hydrogen technologies in hopes that it will be part of America’s net-zero emissions future. But is hydrogen actually net zero? Today, POLITICO’s Matthew Choi explains how complicated this question is.
6 min
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From the archives: Inside Exxon’s lobbying play...
Earlier this year, Britain’s Channel 4 released an explosive story where a lobbyist for Exxon disclosed what he called the company’s lobbying playbook. According to the lobbyist, the company’s public climate campaign is the opposite of what it pushes senators behind closed doors, and that’s just the beginning. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre discusses the company’s strategy, and how this revelation could shift the ongoing climate discussions.
6 min
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From the archives: The alarming Western megadro...
Earlier this summer, about a quarter of the states in the US have been suffering from droughts. Along the west, the dry conditions are creating water shortages and water access crises for cities, agriculture and fishing. And with the planet warming more and more, these droughts are set to get worse. Today, POLITICO’s Annie Snider, on the effects of this year’s droughts for millions in the US now and into the future.
7 min
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Biden’s plan to tackle lead pipes
On Thursday, the Biden administration unveiled a new mandate to remove all lead pipes from the nation’s drinking water systems. The move also comes as the EPA faced a Thursday deadline for deciding how to approach a 2020 drinking water rule put forward by the Trump administration. POLITICO’s Annie Snider explains.
7 min
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Will New England’s power luck run out?
While New England has avoided a Texas-style power grid disaster in the past, the region’s grid operator recently said it’s vulnerable to potential fuel constraints this winter. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains why the region’s power system could be in trouble and the solutions officials are examining.
6 min