POLITICO Energy

Each week, hosts Nirmal Mulaikal and Josh Siegel break down the stories and power players shaping energy politics and policy in the United States and around the world by featuring original interviews with key power players, alongside in-depth reporting and analysis from the largest energy policy newsroom in the world.

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901
Why the push to ban gas stoves is heating up
Democratic lawmakers across the country trying to tackle climate change have directed their attention to an item you might find in your home: natural gas burning stoves. But the movement is dividing the party and pushing Republicans to fire back with their own legislation. POLITICO’s Ry Rivard explains.
6 min
902
Watchdog finds former Trump Interior Secretary ...
According to a new report from the Interior Department’s internal watchdog released Wednesday, former Trump Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke violated ethics obligations in his land dealings with Halliburton’s then-chairman. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the report’s findings and how it could impact Zinke’s new congressional aspirations.
7 min
903
Why sea level rise poses a clear and present ri...
In a new federal report released Tuesday, sea levels along U.S. coasts will rise by as much as a foot in the next 30 years as climate change accelerates. That could lead to a “dramatic increase” in millions of Americans' exposure to flooding. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down the latest report’s findings and how it could impact Americans across the country.
6 min
904
Why Biden’s social cost of carbon is in legal t...
On Friday, a federal judge in Louisiana blocked the Biden administration’s social cost of carbon estimate, a metric used by the federal government to calculate the future economic impacts of present-day greenhouse gas reductions. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén explains the judge’s ruling and how it could impact Biden’s green agenda.
6 min
905
How global leaders are dropping the climate ball
A new POLITICO Morning Consult Global Sustainability Poll reveals that adults across the United States and the world have damning opinions about the performance of their political leaders when it comes to climate change. They also say China needs to step up to address climate change despite its status as a developing country. POLITICO’s Ryan Heath breaks down the poll’s findings.
6 min
906
The utility industry’s BBB clean energy pitch
Electric utility CEOs met with President Joe Biden on Wednesday to push Democrats to pass the clean energy tax incentives in the Build Back Better bill. The meeting represents the highest profile move yet for the sector and a significant shift in the utilities’ stance on clean energy adoption in recent years, POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse reports.
6 min
907
Where should climate lawsuits be heard?
On Tuesday, a federal appellate court said a climate change lawsuit brought by several Colorado localities against fossil fuel companies should be sent back to state court. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the ruling and how it could impact dozens of similar lawsuits across the country.
7 min
908
Will EPA strengthen its soot standard?
EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee released a draft review Friday that recommended Administrator Michael Regan tighten standards on fine particulate matter. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down that recommendation, along with the health, environmental and financial implications.
6 min
909
The new Dem push for a national electricity policy
Democrats on a new Congressional task force are pushing to implement a comprehensive U.S. electricity policy in order to support President Joe Biden’s clean energy goals.  But, Republicans aren’t likely to buy in to any overhaul of the current system that lets states take the lead. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains. 
5 min
910
Fed nominee Raskin rejects GOP climate risk cri...
Sarah Bloom Raskin, the nominee for top Wall Street cop at the Federal Reserve, during her Thursday confirmation hearing pushed back against Republican claims that she would encourage banks to steer financing away from fossil fuel companies. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down Raskin’s climate stances and how it could impact the future of the Federal Reserve.
6 min
911
Protecting Manchin’s coal business
As a state senator, governor and later a U.S. senator, Joe Manchin has taken several actions that have protected and benefited his family’s business, along with the fuel it depends on: coal. E&E News reporter Scott Waldman breaks down some of those decisions and the ethical questions they’ve raised.
8 min
912
How the Russia-Ukraine crisis is undermining Bi...
The threat of a Russian invasion into Ukraine is complicating President Joe Biden’s messaging about his clean energy agenda. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down the president’s strategy and why neither clean energy advocates nor oil and gas companies are pleased.
7 min
913
The future of offshore gas leases in the Gulf o...
Last week, a federal judge canceled one of the largest offshore oil and gas lease sales in U.S. history, arguing that the Trump administration’s Interior Department made a flawed analysis of the climate change impact of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. POLITICO’s Ben Lefevbre breaks down that ruling and how it could impact the future of offshore oil and gas lease sales in the region.
6 min
914
Empire State of cryptomining
Environmental advocates and New York state lawmakers are pushing for a three-year moratorium on permits for power plants that burn fossil fuels to mine Bitcoin. But, cryptomining advocates warn that if the state enacts this moratorium, it could miss out on many benefits from the technology. POLITICO’s Marie French explains.
7 min
915
The European energy crisis Biden hopes to avoid
What would happen if Russia, one of Europe’s biggest oil and gas suppliers, invades Ukraine? That’s the looming energy security question the Biden administration is hoping to answer by working with different countries and companies to find alternative fuel supplies. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre reports.
7 min
916
Breyer’s environmental legacy
The Supreme Court’s oldest member — Justice Stephen Breyer — is expected to retire at the end of this term. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down Breyer’s rulings on environmental cases throughout his time on the high court and who might replace him.
6 min
917
Baltimore vs. Big Oil: Round 2
On Tuesday, a panel of federal judges expressed skepticism about the legal arguments presented by oil companies to move a highly-watched climate lawsuit brought on by the city of Baltimore from a state court to the federal system. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the lawsuit and how it could impact similar climate liability suits across the country.
7 min
918
FERC’s shifting EJ focus
FERC’s Democratic majority is signaling that environmental justice should play a larger role in how the commission considers pipelines and other projects. But, that stance has received mixed feedback from Republicans, the natural gas industry, and environmental justice advocates. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains.
6 min
919
New WOTUS guidance causes confusion
New guidance released earlier this month by the Army Corps of Engineers is raising more questions than it answers when it comes to projects that potentially impact federally protected waters of the United States. POLITICO’S Alex Guillén breaks down the latest guidance and how it could impact hundreds of projects across the building, mining and agricultural sectors.
7 min
920
Biden’s new BBB climate path
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden threw his support behind breaking up his Build Back Better bill and expressed confidence his party can move forward on the stalled bill’s $550 billion in energy and environmental programs. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel discusses the reactions of Congressional Democrats.
7 min
921
The murky future of rooftop solar in California
Two of California’s climate regulators are at odds over the future of rooftop solar panels in the state. A recent proposal from the California Public Utilities Commission would slash solar incentives for homeowners. But, that plan would come into conflict with a state requirement that mandates that new homes install solar panels and that those panels remain within financial reach. POLITICO’s Colby Bermel breaks down the controversial proposal and its potential impact.
7 min
922
Saving BBB’s climate investment
The Build Back Better act is still stalled in the upper chamber. But, while the Senate tussles with voting rights, House Democrats are strategizing about changes to the legislation’s social spending policies that they hope will keep its major climate and clean energy investments in tact, even if that means breaking up the package. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel reports.
6 min
923
Producers question effort to boost low-methane ...
FERC is reviewing a proposal that aims to encourage natural gas producers to trade and transport responsibly sourced natural gas. But producers are worried it could create uneven standards and empower an unnecessary gatekeeper. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains.
5 min
924
White House exits trouble environmental justice...
President Joe Biden has put environmental justice at the top of his administration’s green agenda. But, after the resignations of two high-profile White House environmental officials who worked on the administration’s environmental justice goals, activists are concerned the president will fail to deliver on his promises. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains.
7 min
925
Newsom’s planned climate spending spree
On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed spending $22.5 billion over the next six years on climate-related programs across all state agencies, including $2 billion on clean energy initiatives. POLITICO’s Colby Bermel discusses how this funding could impact the state’s climate programs.
6 min