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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Breaking down COP26
The COP26 climate conference finished up on Saturday with a deal that many countries described as imperfect and unsatisfying. Still, the conference was seen as a step forward in limiting global warming. POLITICO’s Zack Colman, who was at the conference for the last two weeks, breaks down the good and bad of that final deal. Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro and is the host of POLITICO Energy. Zack Colman is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Raghu Manavalan is the host-producer of the Playbook Daily Briefing and a senior editor for POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Intro Music: Spacedman by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Outro Music: Breakmaster Cylinder
8 min
802
BIF’s transmission powers to test federal-state...
The bipartisan infrastructure bill grants new transmission powers to federal regulators. While that will likely help the Biden administration’s clean energy strategy, it could also prove to be politically unpopular with state officials. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains. Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro and is the host of POLITICO Energy. Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Raghu Manavalan is the host-producer of the Playbook Daily Briefing and a senior editor for POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department.
7 min
803
The moment of truth for COP26
The U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow is entering its final days. The summit has produced numerous pledges, joint commitments, and agreements from attending countries to date. But the question remains: will countries act quickly and aggressively enough to stave off the worst effects of climate change? POLITICO’s Matt Daily explains what has been accomplished so far and what might be next.
8 min
804
The fight over California’s last nuclear power ...
California's last nuclear facility is approaching its scheduled retirement date in 2025. But a new report Tuesday from Stanford University researchers, backed by President Barack Obama’s first energy secretary, is raising questions about whether the retirement plan should be revised. POLITICO’s Colby Bermel explains.
8 min
805
How rising gas prices are fueling Biden’s critics
Gas prices are the highest in years as the economy recovers from the pandemic. Republicans are blaming President Joe Biden and his energy and climate policies. At the same time, the president is also receiving heat from environmentalists and Indigenous groups who are eager to shut down fossil fuel infrastructure. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the real reasons why gas prices are soaring and the political ramifications.
8 min
806
Sen. Markey talks BBB and the politics of clima...
POLITICO’s Annie Snider spoke with Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts to talk about the future of the reconciliation bill and how the politics of climate and energy have changed in the decade since he led the last major legislative effort to confront climate change.
13 min
807
Deforestation, finance pledges top COP26 highli...
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference has been underway in Glasgow since Sunday. So far, we’ve seen a series of new pledges to reduce deforestation and methane emissions and notable new financial commitments to try to achieve net-zero emissions goals. But how impactful are those moves? Reporting from the conference, POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains what’s being promised in public, but what’s really being said and done privately.
7 min
808
EPA tackles methane emissions
The Biden administration released new rules on Tuesday aimed at curbing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down what the new rules would do, where they fit into President Joe Biden’s climate goals, and how they might impact the politics of Democrats’ sweeping climate and social spending bill.
8 min
809
Maine voters to decide fate of controversial tr...
A proposed transmission line that would transport hydropower from Quebec into the New England grid has sparked a costly ballot initiative fight in Maine. Environmentalists find themselves in the unusual position of being aligned with natural gas plant operators in opposing a renewable energy project supported by local officials and the Biden administration. POLITICO’s Jordan Wolman explains what’s at stake in Maine today.
8 min
810
The latest climate top line
Reconciliation is set to include at least $500 billion in climate spending, the White House told lawmakers, making it one of the biggest priorities in the package. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino explains hat made the cut and the state of play on the Hill.
7 min
811
What to know heading into COP26
POLITICO’s Zack Colman previews what to expect at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, which start this weekend.
8 min
812
Biden looks for methane win before COP26
Democrats are racing to deliver a climate win to President Joe Biden before he leaves to the U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow next week. New regulations aimed at curbing methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas, could be the solution. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains.
7 min
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The transmission obstacle to Biden’s clean ener...
Fulfilling President Joe Biden's goal of reducing carbon emissions won’t just take a massive build out of more wind, solar and other renewable energy. It would also require longer, newer transmission lines to take renewable power from where it’s produced to where it’s needed. But utility companies such as Entergy hold a great deal of sway when it comes to planning those new lines, and they’re not always on board. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains.
7 min
814
The opportunities and challenges of offshore wind
Offshore wind is President Biden’s clearest shot at getting a new energy source off the ground and helping it blossom in a way to delivery on his climate promises. But making the industry grow presents big challenges. Today, POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino explains the challenges for the administration in helping bring this renewable industry to maturity.
7 min
815
A tobacco-sized hearing for Big Oil
America’s biggest oil companies knew about greenhouse effect and their industry’s impact on the environment for years before the science was widely known. But what they did once they had this information is now up for questioning before the House Oversight Committee. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre, on what House Democrats want to find out, and the impact it could have on the oil industry’s political influence.
8 min
816
Big Oil’s Alaska troubles
On Wednesday the Biden administration decided to no longer defend a massive oil project that would have ramped up production in Alaska. And while the Biden administration is making the headlines for its continuing fight against oil developments in the state, the reality shows that oil companies are also losing interest in producing oil in the last frontier. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains the administration’s decision around the Willow project.
6 min
817
The cost of the clean transition
Switching where we get our energy from is going to have implications in the global economy and multiple industries. But today, POLITICO’s Lorraine Woellert is joining to discuss how it will affect most Americans’ bottom line in the short and long run.
7 min
818
The green recovery that wasn’t
When the pandemic first paralyzed the world’s economy, many leaders vowed to make the stimulus spending that would return their countries to financial health as environmentally friendly as possible. But as the world’s economies move closer to their pre-pandemic state, it’s increasingly looking like the path forward still includes all the emissions from the pre-coronavirus world. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains why the early recovery measures worldwide failed to promote climate policies.
7 min
819
Aiming to curb forever chemicals, once and for all
PFAS chemicals are just about everywhere, and whenever they get somewhere, they stay forever. Now, the administration wants to deal with the contamination of these hazardous chemicals straight from the source. Today, POLITICO’s Annie Snider discusses the administration’s plan, and why action on these chemicals has taken so long.
8 min
820
The Disaster Governors
When disaster strikes, governors are the first line of action to manage response and get resources available to the victims. And as their role as disaster managers becomes an increasingly important part of the job, many are also making disaster mitigation a priority to minimize the future impact of climate change in their communities. Today, POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan explores how some governors in the Northeast are reshaping their duties.
7 min
821
The Davos crowd takes over COP26
The world’s environmental community has been waiting for Glasgow for more than a year, after the pandemic frustrated their plans last year. But as the UN and nation leaders work to propel climate action, the financial community is planning to seize the opportunity to rub elbows and participate in climate talks that will directly impact their operations in the near and long term future. Today, POLITICO Europe’s senior climate correspondent Karl Mathiesen explains how the expanding guest list of the rich and famous attending COP26 could affect the perception of these crucial climate negotiations.
9 min
822
Will cap and trade enter coal country?
Pennsylvania is one of the largest energy producers in the country, which also makes it one of the highest-emitting states. And as the state’s Democratic governor moves to join a cap-and-trade program, he is facing resistance from state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and a core Democratic constituency. Today, POLITICO’s Jordan Wolman explains the tension.
8 min
823
Climate hawks play hard ball
Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema’s play to shrink the Democrats’ reconciliation package has worked. But in trying to find a compromise that will keep the president’s agenda and get the votes, the White House and Democratic leadership are finding that progressives and environmentalists are also ready to use their voting leverage to get a bold deal on climate change. Today, POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino explains where the talks stand.
8 min
824
The battle for the EPA’s top Windy City post
If you’re looking for drama in the federal government, the EPA’s regional offices aren’t usually the place to go. But in recent months, a senior Democratic senator has been pushing to get a long-time ally and seasoned water official from Chicago over the EPA administrator’s own recommendation for the Midwest office. POLITICO’s Alex Guillen explain and Shia Kapos what’s at the heart of this dispute.
7 min
825
Changing the NEPA rules, yet again
Former President Donald Trump restricted the ability of federal agencies to consider all climate impacts during permitting reviews conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act to narrow the scope of the reviews and speed up the process. Now, President Joe Biden is moving to change NEPA regulations to consider climate change and carbon emissions. But POLITICO’s Zack Colman reports the administration is walking a fine line in expanding the scope of these reviews without threatening the pace at which ambitious infrastructure and green energy developments move forward.
7 min