Oil companies and climate activists have new fodder for disagreement with the release of the Biden administration’s proposed offshore oil and gas leasing plan. The Interior Department proposal could involve the sale of zero leases or 11 — a decision that puts details around future oil and gas production in limbo and has frustrated both environmentalists and fossil fuel supporters. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre reports.

After significant setbacks to President Joe Biden’s green agenda over the last 18 months and the Supreme Court’s major climate ruling against the EPA last Thursday, environmentalists and many of their Democratic allies are starting to shift their focus to state capitals as the places to press for action on climate change — going back to a strategy that they employed with some success during the Trump era. POLITICO’s Zack Colman reports.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court delivered a major setback to President Joe Biden’s ambitious climate goals, ruling in a 6-3 decision that the Environmental Protection Agency does not have the broad authority to curb planet-warming pollution from power plants. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén explains how this ruling creates a significant obstacle to Biden’s hopes of addressing global warming and could raise questions about the authority of other federal agencies.

The plastics crisis has received attention from lawmakers in state capitals across the country. But, there's a fundamental split in many states between groups arguing that industry needs to be at the table and those who don't trust it to govern itself. That‘s triggered a political battle in California, where a ballot initiative to tax plastic, ban Styrofoam and set recycling targets has scared industry enough to get them to negotiate a compromise bill. POLITICO’s Debra Khan reports.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has proposed an overhaul of the U.S. transmission system that could usher a new wave of green energy onto the U.S. power grid. Those plans would help the Biden administration reach its ambitious clean energy goals. But FERC has not yet addressed a significant question: Who should pay for the work?

The sentencing of Ngụy Thị Khanh, Vietnam’s highest-profile environmental voice, to two years in prison has sparked questions about whether Western governments should help pay for the country’s commitment to ditching coal. And it highlights how human rights issues and geopolitical concerns are dividing Western officials as they pivot toward trying to broker climate deals with polluting countries around the world. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains.

Since the start of the war, Russian forces have committed hundreds of environmental crimes against Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s environment minister. POLITICO’s Louise Guillot breaks down the environmental cost of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how Ukraine wants to make Russia pay for those damages.

This month, POLITICO Europe’s Karl Mathiesen spoke to Patricia Espinosa, who is leaving her job next month after six years as the U.N.’s climate chief. Today, Mathiesen breaks down Espinosa’s views on the climate impact of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, who Espinosa’s successor might be, and the role of the United Nations in fighting climate change.

Senator Joe Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have been privately huddling for weeks on a party-line bill that would include incentives for the clean energy sector. But POLITICO has learned that Manchin isn’t keen on supporting a direct pay provision in the reconciliation package. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Kelsey Tamborrino explain how that could impact President Joe Biden’s clean energy goals.

In recent years, environmental groups have changed course to not only protect the natural environment but also to embrace social justice causes. That’s raised concerns among some long-time advocates who fear the strategy is pulling away from the original message of the movement and could have a major political cost. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains.

FERC Chairman Richard Glick blasted a Wall Street Journal editorial, accusing him of having improper talks with White House officials and allowing the Biden administration to improperly influence the commission’s now rescinded gas pipeline policy statement. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the allegations against Glick, how the White House and the FERC chairman are responding, and the policy statement at the center of this controversy.

On Tuesday, domestic solar manufacturers left a meeting with the White House accusing the Biden administration of failing to address their concerns over its recent move to try to stimulate U.S. manufacturing. Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down that meeting, new solar legislation exclusively shared with POLITICO, and initiatives the sector hopes could be included in a potential reconciliation package.

Natural gas prices plummeted in the United States but surged higher in Europe, after a major liquefied natural gas exporter in Texas said its plant will be offline through much of the remainder of the year. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains what happened in the natural gas markets this week and what this means for the United States as an LNG exporter.

Rich countries are establishing new agreements, known as Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), in which they would spend billions of dollars to help emerging economies transition away from coal and natural gas. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down how these agreements can help cut greenhouse gas emissions and why they face major challenges.

The average U.S. price of regular-grade gasoline topped $5 dollars a gallon this weekend. But Americans are still hitting the road in droves, complicating President Joe Biden’s efforts to bring down fuel prices and subdue inflation. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains why consumer demand for gas is high and what the Biden administration can do to reduce the price at the pump.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling this month reining in the Biden administration’s efforts to cut greenhouse gases. But, that case could also offer the conservative justices an opportunity to undermine federal regulations on a host of issues, from drug pricing and financial regulations to net neutrality.

An explosion at a key liquefied natural gas export facility in Texas could have a significant impact on European energy, as the Biden administration seeks to send more LNG to Europe to offset its Russian energy dependence. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre reports.

Last week, Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s governor, was in Washington meeting with Biden administration officials to address some of the island’s pressing infrastructure needs. POLITICO’s Gloria Gonzalez breaks down some of his main asks and how Pierluisi hopes to strengthen Puerto Rico’s power grid.

The White House’s Climate Policy Office, which President Joe Biden established to help meet his clean energy and environmental justice goals, is facing criticisms from nine Democrats inside and outside the administration who spoke to POLITICO’S Zack Colman.

President Joe Biden took action intended to increase domestic manufacturing of solar panels, including implementing a 24-month pause on new import tariffs on solar power equipment. POLITICO's Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down those moves and how Biden is balancing his manufacturing and clean energy goals.

Senate Republicans are planning to abandon bipartisan talks with centrist Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on long-shot energy and climate legislation unless something dramatically changes. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel explains why GOP senators are frustrated and what that means for Democrats’ reconciliation hopes moving forward.

House Republicans released a policy framework on Thursday that would address energy, environment and climate issues if the party captures the House in the 2022 midterm elections. But the plan has come under fire for not setting a specific emissions reduction target or proposing policies that would reduce fossil fuel use. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down the details of the GOP plan and what it’s missing.

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, an independent agency, has been torn apart amid partisan battles and allegations of financial wrongdoing. POLITICO’s Matthew Choi breaks down some of the controversies and a new allegation that one of the commissioners may have violated ethics rules.

Ever-increasing extreme weather events and surging gas prices could jeopardize grid reliability in large portions of the country this summer, particularly in Texas, the West and the Midwest. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down how energy regulators are responding and what it means for President Joe Biden’s transition to clean energy.

The Gulf of Mexico, a prime base of the U.S. oil and gas industry, is preparing to dip its toe into wind power. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino explains why the Biden administration is reviewing 30 million acres of Gulf waters near Texas and Louisiana for potential wind turbines.