POLITICO breaks down the stories and power players shaping energy politics and policy in the U.S. and around the world through original interviews, sharp reporting and expert analysis — all from the world’s largest energy policy newsroom.
On Wednesday, Britain’s Channel 4 released an explosive story where a lobbyist for Exxon disclosed what he called the company’s lobbying playbook. According to the lobbyist, the company’s public climate campaign is the opposite of what it pushes senators behind closed doors, and that’s just the beginning. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre discusses the company’s strategy, and how this revelation could shift the ongoing climate discussions.
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The GOP’s slow catchup to climate policy
Many imagine the Pacific northwest as a rainy, temperate part of the U.S., but a heatwave earlier this week sent parts of Washington and Oregon to record high temperatures — and may contribute to hundreds of deaths. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman has more on the connection between the heatwave and climate change, and how extreme weather in the region is underlining its Republican uneven messaging on climate policy.
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Jersey vs. the Pipeline
For years, the state of New Jersey and developers for the PennEast pipeline have engaged in a fight over the company’s use of eminent domain to seize portions of the state’s land. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court sided with the company in a case that challenged New Jersey's immunity to lawsuits. Today, POLITICO’s Alex Guillen and Ry Rivard, on why the highest court’s ruling still doesn’t guarantee that the pipeline will be built.
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GOP’s war against Biden’s BLM pick
The Bureau of Land Management never used to be a controversial selection, but Republican senators have gone all out against Tracy Stone-Manning, Biden’s pick, despite her decades of experience in federal and Montana roles. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre on a 30-year old controversy, and why the GOP is uniting against her.
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The alarming Western megadrought
For weeks, about a quarter of the states in the US have been suffering from droughts. Along the west, the dry conditions are creating water shortages and water access crises for cities, agriculture and fishing. And with the planet warming more and more, these droughts are set to get worse. Today, POLITICO’s Annie Snider, on the effects of this year’s droughts for millions in the US now and into the future.
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Getting EJ and reliability to coexist
In the wake of two historic failures in American energy access, Republicans and oil-friendly advocates argue the government needs to increase investment in fossil fuels, not cut back. Environmental justice advocates say that’s an old line from the pro-fossil fuel playbook that doesn't meet the current energy landscape or the climate challenge.
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A crucial case for pipelines
Years ago, a company built a natural gas pipeline in St. Louis to help meet an alleged increase in demand. Now, even though the pipeline has been up and running for two years, a federal court rejected its permit, saying regulators failed to follow their own rules in evaluating its necessity. Turns out, many companies use similar strategies to justify the need for their pipelines. Today, POLITICO’s Eric Wolff explains the ruling and how it can shape the future of pipeline projects.
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Will companies be honest about climate risks?
The European Union and the US government are moving to ask companies to disclose the risks that climate change poses on their operations. And while most companies have agreed in principle to the idea of sharing their information, they’re asking the government that they not be held legally liable for what the disclosures reveal. Today, POLITICO’s Lorraine Woellert, on what kind of liability the companies are fearing, and whether the federal government will listen.
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The dark side of solar panels
Solar panels are a fundamental tool for any country looking to clean up their energy industry. But countries across the globe say China is hiding a sinister secret behind the production of a key component of these panels. Today, POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino, on the Biden administration’s plan to continue boosting solar power at home without funding human right abuses overseas.
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A splintered road towards climate policy?
As both parties continue to negotiate over a deal on infrastructure, the possibility that climate will have to be addressed separately is now looking more likely than ever. But could Democrats even find partisan agreement over what would have to be in a climate-alone package? Today, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna says that won’t be an easy task.
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Where America and Europe’s climate roads diverge
Since Joe Biden took office, the US has been seen as an ally in the fight against climate change. But just a change at the helm doesn’t mean the American ship will fully line up with all of Europe’s climate plans. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman discusses how the president’s European trip reflected the differences.
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Bye Keystone XL, hello Line 3
Earlier this month, environmentalists scored a major win they’d spent years fighting for: the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline. But while that project died, there is another pipeline that’s been carrying oil sands from Canada to the US for years: Enbridge’s Line 3. Line 3 has long needed critical maintenance to operate at full capacity, and blocking work on a replacement pipeline has become another key fight for environmentalists. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains the tensions around Line 3, and whether the Biden administration will step in to shut down the project.
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The G-7’s big climate takeaways
Over the weekend, leaders of the largest developed economies gathered in Cornwall, England to discuss their plans to tackle some of the world’s biggest issues, including how best to fight climate change.Today, POLITICO’s Ryan Heath discusses how these leaders are aligned on many of the broad goals, but critical details about the future of the coal sector- and other climate issues remain elusive.
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Progressives draw their climate red line
Two Joes are keeping faith that bipartisanship can deliver a deal on infrastructure: President Biden and Senator Joe Manchin. But amid mounting concerns from progressives a deal won’t include strong enough climate provisions, lawmakers are reminding the administration that their votes are also required for passage and they won’t rubber stamp just any deal. POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna explains the progressives’ warning shot.
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Biden scraps Trump’s water rule
Last year, Trump’s EPA announced a controversial rule to define the scope of a new controversial water rule. And on Wednesday, the White House announced it would roll back the rule and begin the process of creating a new one. Today, POLITICO’s Annie Snider analyzes the chances of a new rule sticking around.
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Gina McCarthy’s climate reality check
Biden wants his administration to be a transformative period in American climate policy — that much was clear in the original infrastructure bill. Now, after months of no progress in negotiations with Senate Republicans, the White House’s climate advisor says the bill could omit some climate proposals — though she says they’ll keep fighting for all of it. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman, on his interview with the National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and what could fall out of the infrastructure package.
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Colonial Pipeline’s CEO in the congressional ho...
Just over a month ago, Russian hackers forced a weeklong shutdown of America’s most important pipeline. Yesterday, senators grilled Colonial Pipeline's CEO over Colonial’s cybersecurity measures and the decision to pay the multi-million dollar ransom. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre discusses the hearing's highlights of the hearing, and what it means for the government's role in protecting critical energy infrastructure in cyberspace.
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Biden’s LNG mixed messages
In recent years, US companies have been able to export liquefied natural gas to eastern Europe and Asia thanks to government investment in international deals and export facilities. Now, President Joe Biden has to decide whether the gas is lean enough to be part of his administration’s international climate policy or if renewable energies should become the only way forward. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre on the ambiguous early signals from the administration.
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Biden’s honeymoon with progressives is up
Last year, Joe Biden had to expand and make bolder his climate change agenda to get the support of environmental activists. Now, as the administration continues to search for bipartisan agreement on infrastructure, a big green group is bringing the heat to ensure climate action isn’t left behind.
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Can cap and trade enter coal country?
In Pennsylvania, fossil fuels were king even before US independence. First with coal, and then with natural gas, energy production has been a key driver of the state's economic growth. So, can the state’s governor succeed in getting Pennsylvania under a multi-state cap and trade system and curtail carbon emissions in the region? POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna and Marie French discuss the political fight over the move.
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Why Sen. Ossoff is leaning on climate
Earlier this year, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock flipped both of Georgia’s Senate seats to give Democrats control of Congress. Now, Sen. Ossoff is breaking the mold of a Democratic senator in the south and making action on climate change a priority. Today, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna speaks with the senior Georgia senator.
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ANWR drilling in Biden's hands
The Trump administration tucked a gift into the 2017 tax bill long sought by oil companies: a legal mandate for the federal government to allow oil production in part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But now, President Biden is stepping in, and POLITICO contributor Adam Federman reports that the administration is halting oil exploration at ANWR to take another look at the environmental risks.
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New Mexico’s climate hawk
Summertime is bringing the heat on the negotiations for an infrastructure package. In recent weeks, the White House and Senate negotiators have worked tirelessly to get bipartisan agreement on an ambitious package. But in an exclusive interview with POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna, New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich says effective climate policy is worth going at it alone if Republicans won’t join.
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Big oil’s climate reckoning
May 26th, 2021 could go down in the history books as a momentous day in the fight against climate change. In a matter of hours, one of the world’s biggest oil companies was ordered by a court to drastically slash its emissions, while shareholders at two of America’s biggest companies took major steps to force the companies to green their operations. By the end of Wednesday, we caught up with POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre to discuss the significance of these moves.
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The paths to a deal on infrastructure
Big climate and resource investments continue to keep Democrats and Republicans from reaching a deal on infrastructure. Yesterday, the Senate Environment and Public Works committee brokered a compromise that Republicans say is the way in which infrastructure should be approached. But Anthony Adragna reports that Democrats fear that going at infrastructure in parts will derail most of their environmental plans.