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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Why rural communities, inner cities may struggl...
The Biden administration has secured billions of dollars in new federal funding to follow through on its climate and environmental justice promises, but some small and financially strapped communities may struggling to navigate the bureaucracy to get access to that funding. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains those challenges and how the White House is responding.
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EPA’s 2022 To-Do List
Last week, the Biden administration released its energy and conservation priorities for next year under its Unified Agenda. POLITICO’S Alex Guillén explains what the EPA plans for climate regulations in 2022.
Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro and is the host of POLITICO Energy.
Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO Pro.
Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the interim executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department.
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New York’s lofty climate plans
New York's Climate Action Council released an initial draft that outlines how the state can achieve its ambitious emissions reduction mandates through the electrification of buildings, transportation and other sectors. But it leaves major questions unanswered. POLITICO’s Marie French explains.
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Dems’ climate plans under the microscope
This week was big for Senate Democrats as move toward to passing their $1.7 trillion dollar social spending plan, which includes hundreds of billions of dollars in climate provisions. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino gives an update about Senate Democrats’ meetings with the Senate Parliamentarian and what climate provisions might change as negotiations continue.
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Mixed reviews for Biden’s biofuels plan
This week, the Environmental Protection Agency released its long-awaited biofuel blending proposals under the Renewable Fuel Standard. While the Biden administration tried to balance the powerful oil and corn industries, the plan received mixed reactions. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino explains.
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EV tax credit fight, and Tesla under fire
The European Union is lining up against the measure in the Build Back Better reconciliation bill that has drawn criticism from some its automakers, and urging the Senate to scrap the portion of an electric vehicle tax credit that would only benefit union-made EVs. Meanwhile, the SEC is now investigating Tesla for its solar panels. POLITICO’s Tanya Snyder reports.
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The secret French LNG connection
Last year, a French energy trader walked away from a U.S. natural gas deal under pressure from the French government, which was concerned about the U.S. gas industry’s environmental record. This year, that same company secretly completed an LNG deal with a Texas company. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains why this deal was so hush-hush.
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Defining eco-terrorism
After Andreas Malm spoke on a podcast episode produced by The New Yorker Radio Hour back in October, U.S. law enforcement officials homed in on Malm – a fringe environmental activist who has called for the sabotage of energy pipeline infrastructure. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down Malm’s story, explores the concept of eco-terrorism, and explains how the Biden administration is responding to those threats.
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Democrats rip NRC's latest decommissioning pitch
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed a rule last month to streamline the process for decommissioning nuclear power plants. But the proposal drew criticism from Democrats, who expressed concerns about the financial costs, safety issues, and the impact on state and local communities. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse reports.
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How Biden plans to avoid a carbon trade war wit...
There’s a potential carbon trade war brewing between the United States and the European Union. Earlier this year, the EU released a plan in which the bloc would tax imports from countries that lack aggressive carbon-reducing policies, including the United States. Now on Wednesday, we learned more about how the United States plans to respond. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains.
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Where will the US send its nuclear waste?
The Energy Department is looking for a place where it can temporarily and permanently store spent nuclear fuel from reactors. But previous attempts to solve the nuclear waste problem have been stymied by local and state opposition. POLITICO’S Kelsey Tamborrino explains.
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How climate migrants are changing American poli...
Experts say that the concept of climate migration — population shifts forced by destructive weather changes — is subtly impacting national politics. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains.
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Biden’s oil royalty hike
On Friday, the Interior Department recommended hiking the fees that companies pay for oil and gas produced on federal lands. It’s part of the Biden administration's long-awaited review of the process that determines how the country leases out public land for energy production. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre reports.
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Biden pulls the trigger on oil release
On Tuesday, the Biden Administration ordered 50 million barrels of oil to be released from America’s strategic reserve to help bring down fuel costs. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains the move and why it’s happening now.