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
751
A crucial case for pipelines
Years ago, a company built a natural gas pipeline in St. Louis to help meet an alleged increase in demand. Now, even though the pipeline has been up and running for two years, a federal court rejected its permit, saying regulators failed to follow their own rules in evaluating its necessity. Turns out, many companies use similar strategies to justify the need for their pipelines. Today, POLITICO’s Eric Wolff explains the ruling and how it can shape the future of pipeline projects.
6 min
752
Will companies be honest about climate risks?
The European Union and the US government are moving to ask companies to disclose the risks that climate change poses on their operations. And while most companies have agreed in principle to the idea of sharing their information, they’re asking the government that they not be held legally liable for what the disclosures reveal. Today, POLITICO’s Lorraine Woellert, on what kind of liability the companies are fearing, and whether the federal government will listen.
7 min
753
The dark side of solar panels
Solar panels are a fundamental tool for any country looking to clean up their energy industry. But countries across the globe say China is hiding a sinister secret behind the production of a key component of these panels. Today, POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino, on the Biden administration’s plan to continue boosting solar power at home without funding human right abuses overseas.
7 min
754
A splintered road towards climate policy?
As both parties continue to negotiate over a deal on infrastructure, the possibility that climate will have to be addressed separately is now looking more likely than ever. But could Democrats even find partisan agreement over what would have to be in a climate-alone package? Today, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna says that won’t be an easy task.
8 min
755
Where America and Europe’s climate roads diverge
Since Joe Biden took office, the US has been seen as an ally in the fight against climate change. But just a change at the helm doesn’t mean the American ship will fully line up with all of Europe’s climate plans. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman discusses how the president’s European trip reflected the differences.
9 min
756
Bye Keystone XL, hello Line 3
Earlier this month, environmentalists scored a major win they’d spent years fighting for: the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline. But while that project died, there is another pipeline that’s been carrying oil sands from Canada to the US for years: Enbridge’s Line 3. Line 3 has long needed critical maintenance to operate at full capacity, and blocking work on a replacement pipeline has become another key fight for environmentalists. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains the tensions around Line 3, and whether the Biden administration will step in to shut down the project.
8 min
757
The G-7’s big climate takeaways
Over the weekend, leaders of the largest developed economies gathered in Cornwall, England to discuss their plans to tackle some of the world’s biggest issues, including how best to fight climate change.Today, POLITICO’s Ryan Heath discusses how these leaders are aligned on many of the broad goals, but critical details about the future of the coal sector- and other climate issues remain elusive.
8 min
758
Progressives draw their climate red line
Two Joes are keeping faith that bipartisanship can deliver a deal on infrastructure: President Biden and Senator Joe Manchin. But amid mounting concerns from progressives a deal won’t include strong enough climate provisions, lawmakers are reminding the administration that their votes are also required for passage and they won’t rubber stamp just any deal. POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna explains the progressives’ warning shot.
8 min
759
Biden scraps Trump’s water rule
Last year, Trump’s EPA announced a controversial rule to define the scope of a new controversial water rule. And on Wednesday, the White House announced it would roll back the rule and begin the process of creating a new one. Today, POLITICO’s Annie Snider analyzes the chances of a new rule sticking around.
8 min
760
Gina McCarthy’s climate reality check
Biden wants his administration to be a transformative period in American climate policy — that much was clear in the original infrastructure bill. Now, after months of no progress in negotiations with Senate Republicans, the White House’s climate advisor says the bill could omit some climate proposals — though she says they’ll keep fighting for all of it. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman, on his interview with the National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and what could fall out of the infrastructure package.
7 min
761
Colonial Pipeline’s CEO in the congressional ho...
Just over a month ago, Russian hackers forced a weeklong shutdown of America’s most important pipeline. Yesterday, senators grilled Colonial Pipeline's CEO over Colonial’s cybersecurity measures and the decision to pay the multi-million dollar ransom. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre discusses the hearing's highlights of the hearing, and what it means for the government's role in protecting critical energy infrastructure in cyberspace.
8 min
762
Biden’s LNG mixed messages
In recent years, US companies have been able to export liquefied natural gas to eastern Europe and Asia thanks to government investment in international deals and export facilities. Now, President Joe Biden has to decide whether the gas is lean enough to be part of his administration’s international climate policy or if renewable energies should become the only way forward. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre on the ambiguous early signals from the administration.
7 min
763
Can cap and trade enter coal country?
In Pennsylvania, fossil fuels were king even before US independence. First with coal, and then with natural gas, energy production has been a key driver of the state's economic growth. So, can the state’s governor succeed in getting Pennsylvania under a multi-state cap and trade system and curtail carbon emissions in the region? POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna and Marie French discuss the political fight over the move.
7 min
764
Why Sen. Ossoff is leaning on climate
Earlier this year, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock flipped both of Georgia’s Senate seats to give Democrats control of Congress. Now, Sen. Ossoff is breaking the mold of a Democratic senator in the south and making action on climate change a priority. Today, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna speaks with the senior Georgia senator.
11 min
765
ANWR drilling in Biden's hands
The Trump administration tucked a gift into the 2017 tax bill long sought by oil companies: a legal mandate for the federal government to allow oil production in part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But now, President Biden is stepping in, and POLITICO contributor Adam Federman reports that the administration is halting oil exploration at ANWR to take another look at the environmental risks.
7 min
766
New Mexico’s climate hawk
Summertime is bringing the heat on the negotiations for an infrastructure package. In recent weeks, the White House and Senate negotiators have worked tirelessly to get bipartisan agreement on an ambitious package. But in an exclusive interview with POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna, New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich says effective climate policy is worth going at it alone if Republicans won’t join.
8 min
767
Big oil’s climate reckoning
May 26th, 2021 could go down in the history books as a momentous day in the fight against climate change. In a matter of hours, one of the world’s biggest oil companies was ordered by a court to drastically slash its emissions, while shareholders at two of America’s biggest companies took major steps to force the companies to green their operations. By the end of Wednesday, we caught up with POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre to discuss the significance of these moves.
7 min
768
The paths to a deal on infrastructure
Big climate and resource investments continue to keep Democrats and Republicans from reaching a deal on infrastructure. Yesterday, the Senate Environment and Public Works committee brokered a compromise that Republicans say is the way in which infrastructure should be approached. But Anthony Adragna reports that Democrats fear that going at infrastructure in parts will derail most of their environmental plans.
8 min
769
Another disastrous summer looming
While the coronavirus pandemic was the dominant news story, 2020 was also the year with the most hurricanes and wildfires on record. And by the looks of it, 2021 is going to give 2020 a run for its money. Before the summer has even begun, the wildfire season has already kicked off in the US, and forecasters expect an above-average hurricane season. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman on the federal government’s plans to prepare for a summer of natural disasters and the challenges along the way.
8 min
770
The bottleneck holding green energy back
Renewable energy projects need permits to join the grid. But if the permit process takes too long (and it often does), the funders behind the project can back out, making the project unviable but with a permit still pending. POLITICO’s Eric Wolff explains why this bottleneck is slowing the growth of clean energy nationwide and why the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is out to fix it.
5 min
771
An epic update on infrastructure
In Biden’s America, every week seems to be infrastructure week. For weeks, Democrats on both the House and Senate have been working to get a package that keeps a focus on infrastructure. And this work has focused specially on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Peter DeFazio. Today, POLITICCO’s Sam Mintz has an update on the role of climate in the bills.
8 min
772
Unpacking the federal-state carbon pricing divide
Many of the country’s biggest states have set up various carbon pricing mechanisms to curb greenhouse gas emissions. And while most of these programs have succeeded at lowering emissions and making money in the process, the idea is still no closer to becoming federal policy a decade after the last attempt famously died on the Senate floor. Today, POLITICO’s Debra Kahn and Anthony Adragna explain why carbon pricing isn’t gaining momentum in Washington.
7 min
773
A capitulation on Nord Stream 2?
6 min
774
Could summer blackouts sink Gov. Newsom?
California summers aren’t just hot and sunny anymore. In recent years, prolonged power outages have also become a mid-year feature in the Golden state. But with his political life at stake, Governor Gavin Newsom can’t take any chances this summer if he wants to win at the polls this fall. Today, POLITICO’s Colby Bermel explains the risk that a season of blackouts would pose to Newsom’s ability to survive a recall.
8 min
775
Oil wins a legal battle, but the war goes on
On Monday, the Supreme Court handed big oil an important win in a case against Baltimore in one of the climate change lawsuits being brought by states and localities. But in its decision, the Court refused to completely side with oil companies, and the win only extends what’s already expected to be a legal war. Today, POLITICO’s Alex Guillen on how the ruling will impact other cases around the country.
8 min