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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776
Colonial Pipeline makes its return
On Wednesday evening, Colonial Pipeline began to gradually restart after a nearly weeklong halt due to a cyber hack. But POLITICO’s Gloria Gonzalez says don't relax just yet: getting gas to the states affected is going to be take a little while longer.
8 min
777
Biden wades into political hot water
One of Obama’s priorities on the environment was creating a rule to determine which bodies of water were under federal protection. And one of Trump’s was to repel everything with his predecessor’s signature on it. Now, Joe Biden has an opportunity to write a water rule that could last beyond the next Republican president and survive court rulings, and POLITICO’s Annie Snider reports the administration is trying the most careful path to achieve this.
7 min
778
What's really behind the gas shortages
Last week, hackers launched a ransomware attack on one of the main fuel pipelines in America. This week, the ripple effects of the cyber-attack made it to the pump as drivers raced to hoard fuel. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre discusses the fuel shortages along the East coast, and when the government expects things to return to normal.
7 min
779
Can Biden save the Amazon?
Take a breath. Now another. Of all the oxygen you just inhaled, about 20% comes from the Amazon forest. As the planet’s green lung, protection of the Amazon forest is a priority for all environmentalists. But the Biden administration is involved in delicate diplomatic negotiations with Brazil’s president, who watches over most of the Amazon and believes keeping the Amazon intact is keeping his country from fully developing. POLITICO’s Zack Colman, on the challenges in cutting a climate bargain with the “Trump of the tropics.”
8 min
780
The biggest attack in US oil history
On Friday, the pipeline that feeds nearly half of the east coast’s fuel supply was put to a halt after the company that runs it fell victim to ransomware. And while the attack hasn’t affected fuel access in the country yet, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre says it exposes critical vulnerabilities in the American energy field on the cyberspace.
8 min
781
Biden's 30x30 plan
Yesterday, the Biden administration presented a 10-year plan that would set aside one-third of America’s land and waters for conservation. Democrats and scientists have touted this goal as a measure to slow mass extinction. But POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre reports on how on why details on Biden's plans to reach this goal are still scarce.
6 min
782
The oil dynasty vs. the oil giant
In the 1860s, John D. Rockefeller started his oil empire in Cleveland, Ohio. By his death in the 1930s, he’d built the largest fortune in American history by building a monopoly in the oil industry. But now, his living descendants are fighting Exxon Mobil, the largest remnant of Rockefeller’s Standard Oil, over what they call decades of deception by the company. Today, E&E News reporter Maxine Joselow explains the battle between the two sides of Rockefeller’s legacy.
12 min
783
Blending ethanol into Biden’s climate plan
The Biden administration is calling for spending tens of billions to help speed the adoption of electric vehicles and bring on the future of clean transportation. But farmers fear that shift away from liquid fuels and they say Biden’s ignoring home-grown biofuels. Now, they’re putting some of their considerable political power into making sure ethanol and other fuels get something from any upcoming infrastructure legislation. Today, POLITICO’s Ryan McCrimmon, on the administration’s plan to balance out the interests of farmers and the push for clean transportation.
7 min
784
Why Democrats are being picky on the CRA
Ask any Democrat on Capitol Hill about Trump’s regulations and they will almost certainly tell you they were far too weak. But since Dems hold both legislative arms, why not just undo these regulations unilaterally? According to POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna, doing so through the Congressional Review Act carries some untested legal risks.
9 min
785
Biden hides his climate math
On Earth Day, Joe Biden announced the US’ ambitious goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. But it seems like the calculations that guided the administration’s decision are a secret. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman, on why Congress and the private sector want to know the math behind the White House’s climate plan.
7 min
786
Newsom’s bumpy path to ban fracking in California
California Governor Gavin Newsom directed his administration last week to ban new fracking permits within three years in the state. The move comes after the state legislature, controlled by Democrats, voted against the ban – which Newsom himself said last year he didn't have the power to issue as governor. POLITICO’s Colby Bermel explains the ban and the motivations behind it.
7 min
787
Two energy cases before the Supreme Court
This week, the Supreme court heard arguments on two cases that could redefine pipeline construction and the amount of biofuels in America’s gasoline. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino and Alex Guillen followed along, and they explain the stakes in these cases.
8 min
788
Inside Michael Regan’s mind
On Tuesday, POLITICO’s Alex Guillen and Annie Snider sat down with EPA administrator Michael Regan. The veteran public servant on environmental policy is now one of the government officials with most power to direct federal action on climate change and the environment — and he wants to get his agency back to crafting strong regulations.
7 min
789
How carbon pricing crept into corporate America
12 years ago, Democrats tried to implement a price on US carbon emissions as part of a complicated process that would try to lower America’s carbon footprint. But while this attempt failed, some American companies privately began internally considering the cost of their emissions. Today, POLITICO’s Lorraine Woellert, on how this shift could help the federal government fight climate change.
7 min
790
Why the world is skeptical of Biden’s climate vows
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice… After decades of flip-flopping, world leaders aren’t taking the American president’s word on climate at its value. With momentum on climate policy at the White House and Congress, Democrats have an opportunity to show the world the US is serious this time around. Today, POLITICO’s Ryan Heath, on how historic inaction is handicapping Biden’s work on climate leadership.
8 min
791
Biden to the world: We’re back, baby!
Joe Biden promised he would return America to a top leadership position on climate. At his own climate summit, President Biden announced the ambitious climate goal that the environmental world had been waiting for. But wait, there’s more! POLITICO’s Zack Colman, on all the news from the day-long climate meeting.
10 min
792
America’s green energy: batteries not included
A decade ago, China beat America in the race for dominance in solar energy technology. Now, China is lapping the US again, this time in another key component of the green energy transition: battery production. Today, POLITICO’s Gavin Bade and Eric Wolff explore Joe Biden’s plan to catch up, and the environmental challenges along the way.
9 min
793
Exxon’s plan for carbon capturing
Lowering emissions may not be enough to prevent the worst consequences of climate change. To meet the most ambitious climate goals, technologies that absorb the carbon from the atmosphere will need to be developed and rolled out en masse. And POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre reports that’s where Exxon wants to take action.
7 min
794
Coal Country: Biden’s Mission Impossible?
For more than a century, coal mines across the country’s heartland fueled a growing nation and created thousands of jobs. But as the energy world shifts to cleaner sources of power, helping the once-booming coal country adapt to a changing world is shaping up to be one of the Democrats’ biggest challenges. POLITICO’s Zack Colman, on how Democrats are threading the line between promoting the energy transition while looking after coal communities.
9 min
795
America’s big climate comeback
Since the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 many countries and big companies have ramped up their commitments to lower their emissions, while the U.S. under former President Donald Trump rejected the global effort. But no more: On Thursday — Earth Day —President Joe Bien convenes a virtual summit with dozens of world leaders, putting the U.S. back in the climate spotlight. Today, we preview the summit with POLITICO’s Zack Colman.
12 min
796
Why California’s fracking ban went bust
California is the country’s leader when it comes to climate policies. But not even Democrats could impose a ban on fracking despite holding all levels of power in California. Today, POLITICO’s Colby Bermel explains why.
12 min
797
C-suites to Biden: please catch up on climate
In the last decade, some of the largest American companies have taken on the challenge of lowering their emissions to net zero. But as these companies invest in green energies and carbon-capturing technologies, they are finding that the federal government’s inaction is keeping them from reaching their goals. Today, Lorraine Woellert, on what corporate America wants from Biden.
8 min
798
An early preview of the unconventional COP26 cl...
Officials in London, Glasgow and the U.N. climate headquarters in Bonn are trying to figure out how to salvage the 26th annual United Nations climate conference, known as COP26. The summit is supposed to be held in Glasgow in the first two weeks of November. But POLITICO’s Karl Mathiesen explains the challenges of hosting a global summit amid an unpredictable pandemic.
7 min
799
EPA’s water justice plan
The Biden administration's efforts to marry environmental justice and clean water access will depend a lot on Radhika Fox, who's currently laying the groundwork at EPA. POLITICO’s Annie Snider reports.
7 min
800
Is Biden building the grid of the future?
Most of the 21st century has seen a true revolution in the energy world: new, better technologies to create renewable energies, the rise of natural gas, and the advent of vehicles that run on electricity. But one sector that hasn’t seen an evolution is the way energy is transmitted across the country. In comes Biden’s plan to modernize the American power grid. Today, POLITICO’s Eric Wolff discusses the challenges that will come with expanding and renovating American power lines.
7 min