POLITICO Energy

The POLITICO newsroom breaks down the stories and power players shaping energy politics and policy in the United States and around the world by featuring original interviews, along with in-depth reporting and analysis from the largest energy policy newsroom in the world. 

News
Politics
Business News
1076
Biden taps D.C. utility regulator Phillips for ...
President Joe Biden said on Thursday he would nominate Washington, D.C., utility regulator Willie Phillips to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse reports.
9 min
1077
Canada burns and the election heats up
The summer of 2021 is changing the way Canadians think about climate change, but both main parties are struggling to define their message — and uphold Canada's international commitments. POLITICO’s Zi-Ann Lum explains.
9 min
1078
Louisiana’s power grid faces major questions po...
Hurricane Ida has left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power. The damage and frustration across the state has put a spotlight on Louisiana's biggest utility company, Entergy. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains the problems that power grids like Entergy’s have in preparing for future disasters like Ida.
9 min
1079
Ida churns up tension on infrastructure package
Hurricane Ida’s lashing of Louisiana is supercharging a fight in Washington over spending tens of billions of dollars to protect the U.S. from future storms. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains.
7 min
1080
Schumer’s big climate promise
With the Senate’s infrastructure bill waiting on the House floor and both parties ready to begin discussing a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, Democrats are hoping to get many of President Biden’s priorities across the finish line. And today, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna reports that includes a big part of the administration’s climate goals.
7 min
1081
Attributing disasters to climate change
Scientists have known for a long time that climate change affects natural disasters. But now a new branch of science claims to be able to pinpoint how much responsibility climate change holds for specific events within weeks of the disasters taking place. Today, POLITICO’s Karl Mathiesen discusses how attribution science works, and how it can help prepare cities and countries in the face of a changing climate.
10 min
1082
The Corn in Biden’s side
Presidential candidates follow certain traditions: eggs at a New Hampshire diner, ice cream on a hot summer day… and support for ethanol if they’re campaigning in Iowa. But once a candidate gets to the White House, a complicated reality will dawn on them: keeping both oil refiners and corn producers happy is an almost impossible task. Today, POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino, on how the Biden White House is trying to balance both interests and manage the Renewable Fuel Standard.
8 min
1083
Want farmers to fight climate change? Give them...
The president wants farmers to help fight climate change by joining carbon capture and sequestration programs. The problem? Most of the requirements for these programs are online, and thousands of farmers lack broadband access at their farms. Today, POLITICO’s Tatyana Monnay explores the internet barrier keeping farmers from helping fight climate change.
6 min
1084
Democratic infighting in the House
The House comes back into session today to deal with a packed agenda that includes both the massive Senate-passed infrastructure bill and an even bigger budget resolution. But the future of both bills is threatened by a standoff between House leadership, progressives and the White House who all want significant climate action and moderates who fear the price tag is just too big. Today, POLITICO’s Tanya Snyder explains the challenges ahead for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in getting her caucus in line.
7 min
1085
Wildfires + megadroughts = California’s water c...
Water management has been a hot potato issue in California for many, many years. But with massive wildfires burning through the state right as a mega-drought hits the West, the Biden administration and top state officials are scrambling to come up with solutions. Today, POLITICO’s Debra Kahn and Annie Snider explain the complicated dynamics at play, and why the Biden administration is not putting its water management plan into motion yet.
7 min
1086
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.
6 min
1087
Turmoil at the Sierra Club
When the executive director of the Sierra Club abruptly left late last week, many wondered what was going on behind the scenes at the storied environmental organization. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman has some answers, and they get at the core of Sierra Club founder John Muir’s racial legacy and memory.
7 min
1088
The Colorado River’s drastic water cutoffs
The Colorado River is a critical water source for millions of people in both cities and farms across seven states and Mexico. But extremely dire temperatures in the last decades are now set to force some states to cut their use of the river for water access. Today, POLITICO’s Annie Snider explains the extreme conditions brought to the river by climate change, and the federal government’s extreme measures to protect it.
7 min
1089
Weed’s inconvenient truth
Marijuana production is booming in the US as more states continue to move towards legalization or decriminalization. But cannabis production can take a lot of energy depending on where it’s grown. Today, POLITICO’s Natalie Fertig, on the environmental impact of cannabis, and how a federal legalization could help lower it.
7 min
1090
A hot planet still freezes the GOP
The UN’s report on the state of climate change shook most of America’s politicians and leaders. But despite the dire warnings, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna and Ben Lefebvre report that most Republicans opted to deflect and punt on the question.
8 min
1091
The case for (and against) carbon capture
Carbon capture and sequestration is a technology that can suck the carbon out of high-emitting facilities and bury it underground. Sounds like a great way to fight climate change, right? In reality, the technology is more complicated and far more controversial. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains why some climate-friendly senators are willing to deploy billions of dollars to make CCS happen even though some environmental groups oppose it.
8 min
1092
Reconciling the green details
As the Senate finally voted to pass the massive infrastructure bill, Democrats quickly moved on to their next big item: the details of the even bigger reconciliation package. The $3.5 trillion package is expected to jumpstart Congress’ fight against climate change, but it will take time to get all Democrats on board. POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna has the details.
8 min
1093
Humanity’s code red
Bummer alert: 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.
8 min
1094
OSHA's struggle to protect workers from climate...
Some jobs are riskier than others. But in an era where temperature records are constantly broken, heat-related risks are on the rise. Yet despite the worsening hazards, relief from life-threatening heat still largely relies on the good will of employers, with few protections guaranteed by the government. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman and E&E News’ Ariel Wittenberg explain the increased risks, and why it’s so hard for OSHA to take action.
9 min
1095
Reconciliation: more money, more fights
While senators vote on amendments for the massive infrastructure bill, many groups are already eyeing the fight over what makes it into the upcoming reconciliation bill. And on that front, conservationists are fighting to ensure that natural resources and climate preparedness programs get the funding they believe is necessary. Today, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna has details on the fight already shaping up.
7 min
1096
The 'car guy' president wants Americans to go e...
If there’s one thing Joe Biden loves more than ice cream, it may be his vintage Corvette Stingray. But the long-time ally of the auto industry during his time in the Senate now wants to become the president behind the wheel during America’s shift to electric vehicles. Today, POLITICO’s Alex Guillen explains the president’s lane change, and the road ahead for the White House’s push for electric vehicles.
8 min
1097
The lead problem Biden can’t fix
In the White House’s original infrastructure proposal, the administration had set out a $45 billion plan to remove all lead pipes and provide clean, safe water to all Americans. And while the bipartisan infrastructure bill making its way through the Senate offers substantial funding for this initiative, the ambitions fall short of what the Biden administration had promised. Today, POLITICO’s Annie Snider explains just how short
7 min
1098
Alright folks, here’s the (infrastructure) deal
Late on Sunday, the Senate finally released the text of the big infrastructure bill, a historic and bipartisan $1.2 trillion package. Today, POLITICO’s Sam Mintz walks along the path to getting this deal, and the path ahead. Plus, POLITICO’s Zack Colman, Ben Lefebvre, and Kelsey Tamborrino have the key takeaways on energy and the environment.
7 min
1099
The man who put climate on the UN’s agenda
Many people tried to get the United Nations to take action on the fight against climate change, but Secretary General Ban Ki-moon got the organization to actually put its diplomatic muscle behind the issue. Today, POLITICO’s Lorraine Woellert talks to the former UN chief about the agency’s climate action during his tenure, and the areas where the world needs to act now.
7 min
1100
A BIF deal
This week, the Senate finally released some details on the infrastructure bill that is expected to come through over the next few weeks. And, while the package doesn’t address climate change as aggressively as the reconciliation bill is expected to, the bipartisan bill does have big plans for water, carbon capture programs, and helping communities transition into the clean energy economy. POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna has more
7 min