The Biden administration finalized a new rule that calls for passenger vehicles to get more miles from each gallon of gasoline. But it’s yet another vehicle emission rule that was not as strict as the one the president originally proposed. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down why the administration backed off its original proposal and how it could hurt the president’s standing with climate activists. Plus, the Senate will vote on the three FERC nominees this week. For more news on energy and the ...
Jun 11, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1162
POLITICO’s Zack Colman sat down recently with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for a wide-ranging interview about the Inflation Reduction Act, competition with China, the power grid, manufacturing and more. The conversation comes at a critical time for Granholm and the Biden administration as they race to get billions of dollars out the door before the November election and the potential return of President Donald Trump. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, o...
Jun 10, 2024•26 min•Ep. 1161
POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel and reporter James Bikales discuss the biggest takeaways from this week’s POLITICO Energy Summit, where Biden administration officials, lawmakers, activists and business leaders debated the future of energy policy as the 2024 elections loom. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subsc...
Jun 07, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1160
In a live taping at the POLITICO Energy Summit yesterday, host Catherine Morehouse sits down for an extended conversation with Willie Phillips, the chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. They discuss the agency’s regulatory agenda, its latest landmark transmission rule, Phillips’ priorities moving forward, and what more is needed to meet America’s unique energy needs. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.poli...
Jun 06, 2024•19 min•Ep. 1159
All three of President Joe Biden’s nominees for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are officially advancing to the full Senate after the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved their nominations. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the nominees’ confirmation path moving forward and why some industry observers remain at the edge of their seats. Plus, the Senate confirmed Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Christopher Hanson to a second term. For more news on energy an...
Jun 05, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1158
China’s challenge to U.S. clean energy subsidies under the Inflation Reduction could upend the World Trade Organization by fundamentally changing rules around climate change and trade. POLITICO’s Doug Palmer breaks down the dispute and why it has global implications. Plus, two leading environmental groups are moving to drop their lawsuits challenging the SEC’s landmark climate corporate disclosure rule. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening news...
Jun 04, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1157
Former President Donald Trump still has strong support from the oil and gas industry even after his guilty verdict last week. But some industry executives are tired of his constant political drama, and are also growing more nervous about Democrats’ increasing attacks on their businesses. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down how the powerful oil and gas industry is viewing Trump and Biden after last week’s news. Plus, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is urging electric utilities to build new nuc...
Jun 03, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1156
Wealthy nations belatedly met their goal of sending billions of dollars in climate aid to developing countries. And now, they’re gearing up again to negotiate the next amount of funding they are willing to give, which will likely be a tougher task because the cost of fighting climate change is set to skyrocket. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down how rich countries were late on delivering climate finance and why the price tag is going up. Plus, utilities and industry groups are cautioning EPA aga...
May 31, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1155
Scott Sheffield, the former CEO of one of America’s top oil companies, is firing back against allegations from the Federal Trade Commission that he colluded with OPEC and other oil companies to boost fuel prices. It’s the latest development in a saga that has thrown US oil companies into the political spotlight during the 2024 election season. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down how Sheffield is defending himself and why these allegations have become a political flashpoint. Plus, the Biden admin...
May 30, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1154
The Biden administration recently announced that it planned to stop new lease sales at the nation’s leading coal mining basin – a major action that surprisingly received a collective shrug from Washington D.C. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the muted reaction from fossil fuel backers in particular and what their response says about the coal industry’s decline. Plus, San Francisco will face off against the Biden administration in a Supreme Court fight over EPA's ability to set water pollutio...
May 29, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1153
POLITICO Energy host Catherine Morehouse talks today with Pablo Vegas, the president and chief executive officer of The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which runs the state’s power grid. They discuss how ERCOT is preparing Texas for extreme weather events and what he thinks about the partisan fighting over the system, which has become an increasingly divisive entity on Capitol Hill. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https:...
May 28, 2024•19 min•Ep. 1152
Congress must quickly decide if survivors of nuclear testing on American soil will continue to receive financial benefits related to healthcare and other costs under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which expires June 7. POLITICO’s Gloria Gonzalez breaks down the fight over this program and the consequences if it isn’t renewed. Plus, the Biden administration announced that Norfolk Southern will pay just over $500 million because of last year’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Fo...
May 24, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1151
Big Oil is becoming increasingly enmeshed in election-year politics. Democrats announced new efforts yesterday to highlight what they argue are deceptive practices by oil companies, while presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump met with industry executives to solicit donations to his presidential campaign. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre and Josh Siegel break down the latest moves by Democrats and Trump’s meetings with oil executives. Plus, the Edison Electric Institute, one of the most i...
May 23, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1150
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia raised expectations Tuesday for a deal to update the nation’s permitting rules, saying he hopes to soon release the text of an agreement he aims to strike with Republican Sen. John Barrasso. But it’s not clear whether it will represent a breakthrough on the issue, which has drawn bipartisan interest but seen little progress over the last two years. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Catherine Morehouse discuss the latest in the negotiations and the remaining ...
May 22, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1149
A senior official at the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office recently said there’s a strong case for building traditional, large-scale nuclear plants, pointing to the completion of Georgia Power's Vogtle plant. That would be a major shift in sentiment for the nuclear energy industry, which has focused on deploying smaller-scale reactors for years. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down how the delayed and overbudget Vogtle reactors could actually open the door for new large nuclear plan...
May 21, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1148
POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel talks with Andrew Wheeler, Donald Trump's former Environmental Protection Agency chief, in today’s extended episode. They discuss what a second Trump administration would look like in terms of energy policy, why he thinks several of Biden’s climate rules aren’t likely to last, and if Wheeler is ready to take back his old job if his former boss wins the White House in November. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evenin...
May 20, 2024•25 min•Ep. 1147
The Biden administration announced several actions on Thursday to support U.S solar manufacturers, which could ultimately help create domestic jobs but also threaten America’s clean energy growth. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down the moves and why solar imports continue to be a complicated political and policy issue for the president. Plus, the Interior Department proposed ending new federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming and Montana, the nation's biggest coal field. F...
May 17, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1146
California Republicans are breaking with conservatives in other parts of the country who have echoed former President Donald Trump’s attacks on electric vehicles. POLITICO’s Alex Nieves breaks down why Trump and California Republicans diverge on EVs and what that means for auto manufacturers and policymakers. Plus, Trump will travel to Houston next week for a luncheon with about two dozen energy industry executives to talk about fundraising for his reelection campaign. For more news on energy an...
May 16, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1145
The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it will raise tariffs on electric vehicles, clean energy technologies, computer chips and metals imported from China – an escalation in the U.S. trade war with Beijing that has major energy implications. POLITICO’s Gavin Bade breaks down how the administration’s move will impact different energy industries and the politics behind the decision. Plus, a coalition of red states and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association have asked a feder...
May 15, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1144
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released highly-anticipated rules on Monday that aim to make it easier to build new interstate power lines and set criteria to figure out who should pay for them. The rules are critical to President Joe Biden’s clean energy agenda, but have been a contentious topic at FERC and on Capitol Hill. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the details of these historic rules and the reaction from the Hill and industry. Plus, President Joe Biden plans to quadr...
May 14, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1143
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is expected to issue a new rule today that’s critical to America’s energy future: who will pay for badly-needed power lines? POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the importance of this rule to President Joe Biden’s clean energy transition and why the issue has bedeviled lawmakers and presidential administrations for years. Plus, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) plans to support a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Biden administration’s ...
May 13, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1142
The U.S. oil industry is preparing for the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House by writing up executive orders and other policy paperwork that the former president could sign on day one. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down why this effort by the oil industry is a bit unusual and what they are preparing to do. Plus, 25 Republican-controlled states are suing the Biden administration to try and kill EPA’s controversial power plant rule. For more news on energy and the environment, sub...
May 10, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1141
America’s new top climate diplomat John Podesta and his equally fresh Chinese counterpart are meeting in Washington this week, marking the beginning of a more challenging era in US-China climate relations. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down this new dynamics expected as the two climate envoys meet face to face. Plus, the Department of Energy is taking a major step toward giving federal regulators new authority to override states when they decide to delay or block construction of new power lines....
May 09, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1140
President Joe Biden is betting that $1.6 trillion in spending and tax breaks embodied in his climate, infrastructure, chips and pandemic-relief laws can transform America. But a new monthslong POLITICO analysis found that a large portion of the money is still unspent, and the clock is ticking as the 2024 presidential election looms. POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel chats with colleagues Jessie Blaeser and Ben Storrow to understand the reporting behind this project and what’s at stake for Biden’s...
May 08, 2024•17 min•Ep. 1139
The Federal Trade Commission is alleging in a new complaint that the head of one of the top oil producers in the United States tried to collude with OPEC to boost oil prices. The allegations could help Democrats try and turn the tables on Republicans who have been campaigning on high energy prices for months. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the allegations and why they could give Democrats a new election weapon. Plus, for the first time, the European Commission has proposed sanctions on Russ...
May 07, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1138
President Joe Biden’s ambitious new drinking water rules for toxic forever chemicals could produce significant public health benefits. But they could also spur more sales of public water systems to private companies — a controversial move that could saddle local communities with higher costs. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down how Biden’s PFAS push may privatize water and what that means for consumers. Plus, the Biden administration released new rules that grant automakers some flexibility on h...
May 06, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1137
The Federal Trade Commission is allowing ExxonMobil to buy Pioneer Natural Resources, the biggest crude producer in the Permian Basin, on the condition that Pioneer’s founder does not serve on Exxon’s board because of his alleged contact with OPEC. POLITICO’s Matt Daily breaks down the significance of these allegations and how it raises questions about Big Oil. Plus, the Biden administration announced the next $3 billion tranche of funding to help remove lead pipes from drinking water systems. F...
May 03, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1136
The Biden administration is expected to release a final EV tax credit rule tomorrow that gives automakers a temporary grace period to keep buying graphite, a key battery component, from Chinese companies. The anticipated regulation highlights the difficult balancing act for President Joe Biden as he looks to achieve his EV adoption goals and counter China. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down the impact of this rule and the broader political dynamics. Plus, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th ...
May 02, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1135
The Biden administration released new permitting rules this week that aim to speed up the building of energy infrastructure while also giving communities more input. But the regulations are already facing pushback and larger permitting priorities remain unaddressed by Congress. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down how big of an impact Biden’s permitting regulations could have and the issues that remain. Plus, the Interior Department is taking another step toward auctioning offshore wind leases off...
May 01, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1134
Global leaders met in Ottawa, Canada, this past week for U.N. talks aimed at significantly curtailing the world’s plastic pollution. POLITICO’s Jordan Wolman sat down with California Democrat Rep. Jared Huffman on the sidelines of the Ottawa talks to discuss the importance of reaching an ambitious deal, the deep domestic divisions and tricky global dynamics complicating the negotiations and why he isn't on board with the Biden administration's approach. For more news on energy and the environmen...
Apr 30, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1133
