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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Where farming emissions actually come from
It’s common knowledge that cow burps and pig farts are an important source of emissions in America. But is it true? Today, Alex Guillen explains where the thick of methane emissions related to farming actually come from, and what the federal government could do to curb them.
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The challenge of green, good paying jobs
American energy jobs pay considerably higher than the median job. But Kelsey Tamborrino reports that Joe Biden’s job plan faces challenges in selling new, renewable energy jobs that pay less than traditional energy work.
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Environmental regulations: how far is too far?
Joe Biden wants to be the president to change the course in the fight against climate change. But if he really wants to use the full power of the federal government, his EPA has to craft strong regulations that will pass legal muster. Today, Alex Guillen reports on the challenge of striking that balance.
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The sunset of a solar power original
Way before solar power took off in America, Tom Werner took the reins of a little known California company called SunPower. After nearly two decades, Werner is stepping down as CEO just as the rise of solar seems to have no boundaries. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino talks to Werner about what the industry wants from the Biden administration, and what he sees as the biggest roadblocks for American solar power.
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American EV batteries and a trade conflict
President Joe Biden wants Americans to start driving electric vehicles as soon as possible, and for these vehicles to be fully built by Americans. But in order to achieve this goal, the US will need to dramatically increase its production of batteries. Today, Gavin Bade explains how and an international trade dispute could hit the brakes on a long-awaited battery construction facility in Georgia.
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Supreme Court ends Florida-Georgia water war
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed Florida's lawsuit against Georgia over water use from the Chattahoochee, Flint and Apalachicola rivers. POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie explains.
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Climate activists say Biden’s infrastructure pl...
President Joe Biden's $2 trillion climate and infrastructure plan is too modest to address a global emergency, some environmental advocates say. POLITICO’s Zack Colman reports.