Republican Bruce Westerman and Democrat Scott Peters are leading the effort to find common ground on an important, but highly elusive energy issue: permitting reform. And their effort comes as House Republicans have introduced an energy package that many Democrats are already dismissing. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down the lawmakers’ joint approach, the permitting priorities for Democrats and Republicans, and the reform effort’s chances. Plus, FERC approved a new supply chain cybersecurity st...
Mar 17, 2023•8 min•Ep. 855
On Wednesday, EPA issued a new sweeping plan to curb pollution from power plants and manufacturing facilities across 23 states. The measure is the latest in a series of EPA regulations aimed at cutting down pollution and toxic waste from coal-fired power plants, and it’s likely to further shrink the nation’s fleet of coal-fired power generation. However, the regulation might face resistance from industry because of cost compliance and grid concerns. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down EPA’s late...
Mar 16, 2023•8 min•Ep. 854
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed the first-ever federal limits for toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" that are found in the drinking water of 200 million Americans. If finalized, the rule would mark the first major upgrade in the safety of the nation's drinking water in the past three decades. However, getting it across the finish line is far from certain, and the new safety measures would cost American households hundreds of millions of dollars. POLITICO's Annie Snider breaks ...
Mar 15, 2023•9 min•Ep. 853
The Biden administration approved the long-debated Willow oil project in Alaska on Monday -- the latest concession by President Joe Biden to the oil and gas industry and Republican critics, and which came over the pleas to quash it from environmental groups and some nearby tribal communities. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the project’s details, how the administration is defending itself and the reaction from environmentalists. Plus, Volkswagen picks Ontario for the site of its first batter...
Mar 14, 2023•7 min•Ep. 852
There's still no conclusive answer to the six-month-old question of who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines, which sent geopolitical shockwaves around the world. POLITICO’s Charlie Cooper breaks down the prevailing theories and the global energy implications of each culprit. Plus, Senator Joe Manchin said he would not support President Joe Biden’s nominee to a top Interior Department position. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Charlie Cooper is the Chief UK correspondent at POLITICO ...
Mar 13, 2023•9 min•Ep. 851
President Joe Biden unveiled his $1.7 trillion budget and likely campaign blueprint on Thursday. While the government funding proposal likely has no chance of passing Congress as is, it marks both a campaign pitch and an opening shot at House Republicans who have demanded significant spending cuts. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Kelsey Tamborrino discuss Biden’s energy funding proposals and how it impacts his green goals. Plus, the Biden administration met with natural gas industry representatives a...
Mar 10, 2023•8 min•Ep. 850
The nation’s premier energy event, CERAWeek, is underway in Houston, and observers to this year’s conference are noting a tone shift from previous years. While demand for oil and gas remains robust, there are signs all around the conference that the traditional oil industry is changing, and it’s all about investing in new climate technologies. POLITICO’s Matt Daily breaks down the vibe shift within the oil industry on climate tech. Plus, the Interior Department expects its final five-year offsho...
Mar 09, 2023•7 min•Ep. 849
Plagued by delays and cost issues, the only nuclear power plant under construction in the U.S. is moving closer to startup. The two reactors being built by Southern Co’s Georgia Power are projected to produce emission-free electricity for half a million homes and businesses once complete. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the major development. Plus, the Biden administration’s EPA is at odds with the agency’s Inspector General over Trump-era changes to an assessment of PFAS. Josh Siegel...
Mar 08, 2023•6 min•Ep. 848
The House GOP is preparing a massive new energy bill. Speaker Kevin McCarthy is hopeful the bill will unite his sometimes fractured party, whose members touted many of the energy-related proposals on the campaign trail. But, passage of the bill will not be easy. The package includes both long-time ideological priorities, such as boosting drilling on federal lands, as well as an opening bid to ease permitting of energy projects, a policy area of bipartisan interest. But since the Republicans hold...
Mar 07, 2023•8 min•Ep. 847
President Joe Biden’s agenda to green the nation’s economy relies on a simple pitch: creating good-paying jobs for Americans. However, there is one big issue: there might not be enough American workers to fill them. The labor reality puts pressure on the Biden administration to tackle the nation’s immigration system, which has long been a target of GOP demands. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down what immigration policy challenges the Biden administration could face, the high stakes for his green...
Mar 06, 2023•7 min•Ep. 846
Republican-led states are embracing chemical recycling, a high-temperature plastic melting process that’s criticized by environmentalists. The GOP approach is allowing them to financially benefit off Democrat-led states that recycle more plastic waste. POLITICO’s Jordan Wolman breaks down the red-blue divide over recycling. Plus, Holtec International is pursuing a separate DOE lifeline to restart its Michigan nuclear facility. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Jordan Wolman is a su...
Mar 03, 2023•9 min•Ep. 845
Rep. Garret Graves proposed legislation on Tuesday to overhaul the rules for environment reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act for energy infrastructure. The pitch would form the backbone of a larger legislative energy package that House Republicans are planning to introduce in March. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down the GOP permitting reform efforts, and why they will (once again) face an uphill legislative battle. Plus, EPA says it will propose allowing year-round sales of gaso...
Mar 02, 2023•8 min•Ep. 844
Community groups in North Carolina are suing EPA Administrator Michael Regan for failing to require sufficient testing of PFAS chemicals contaminating water, air, and blood. The lawsuit poses a significant test for Regan, who grew up in North Carolina and has promised to hold polluters accountable in marginalized communities. Annie Snider breaks down the lawsuit, EPA's response, and what this means for Regan's environmental justice promises. Plus, an EPA watchdog slammed the agency’s wood heater...
Mar 01, 2023•9 min•Ep. 843
The initial rollout of a low-income tax credit program under the Inflation Reduction Act has some solar developers concerned it will be difficult to expand solar power into low-income communities - a Biden administration environmental justice priority. But community solar advocates are rejecting those concerns and applauding the Treasury Department’s approach. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino explains the divide in the solar sector. Plus, the Department of Energy is offering a conditional $375 milli...
Feb 28, 2023•9 min•Ep. 842
The National Transportation Safety Board put out an initial report last week about what caused the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that has triggered a massive cleanup. POLITICO’s Tanya Snyder breaks down the report, why this train derailment has caused partisan finger pointing, and how the Department of Transportation might be scrutinized moving forward. Plus, the Department of Energy is exploring a plan to offer a government endorsement for natural gas that meets a minimum standard f...
Feb 27, 2023•7 min•Ep. 841
When Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, Moscow thought it could intimidate Kyiv’s European allies through energy blackmail. But that strategy has actually backfired because of America’s growing energy role in Europe’s economy and the changing global energy landscape. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down how the energy world has changed since Russia invaded Ukraine. Plus, President Joe Biden nominated former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to head the World Bank. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for PO...
Feb 24, 2023•8 min•Ep. 840
The Biden administration’s ambitious green transition is facing a labor crunch despite the incentives included in Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. So far, clean energy companies have announced 100,000 clean energy job openings since the law was passed, but the construction and manufacturing sectors are already short hundreds of thousands of workers. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down why the green transition has a labor problem and how industry is responding. Plus, the Interior Department pro...
Feb 23, 2023•8 min•Ep. 839
The Biden administration has a new opportunity to reshape the World Bank after David Malpass announced he would step down as president last week. President Joe Biden is expected to name a president who will push the World Bank to focus more on climate change and other global challenges. However, the administration’s path to installing the bank’s next leader won’t be as easy as it has been in the past. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down Biden’s window to redefine the World Bank. Plus, EPA orders ...
Feb 22, 2023•9 min•Ep. 838
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, announced a suite of executive orders and regulatory actions last week that raised the bar much higher for the state’s climate ambitions, including the most aggressive clean energy target of any large state and a ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. POLITICO’s Ry Rivard breaks down the suite of New Jersey’s climate ambitions – and whether they are feasible. Plus, EPA reinstated an Obama-era regulation that significantly curbed mercury emi...
Feb 21, 2023•7 min•Ep. 837
Government regulators and industry officials are debating how to secure the nation’s power grid against physical attacks, which have surged to a decade-high peak. Those discussions come as Democrats and climate change advocates press to expand the use of electricity and shift the nation’s energy consumption to renewables. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the different strategies and factors officials are considering. Plus, EPA administrator Michael Regan promises results after the Norf...
Feb 17, 2023•6 min•Ep. 836
On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced an agreement with Tesla that would open portions of its EV charging network to other carmakers’ electric vehicles. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down how the deal got done and why the White House hopes a more expansive network of EV charging stations will support its green tech goals. Plus, World Bank chief David Malpass announced he is leaving in June, months after a fumbling interview in which he seemed to cast doubt on climate change science....
Feb 16, 2023•7 min•Ep. 835
On Tuesday, the Biden administration unveiled details of the new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which will distribute $27 billion dollars in grants to meet the needs of low-income and minority communities that often face the worst effects of pollution. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down the fund’s details and how it targets a Biden campaign promise. Plus, EU officials met with executives from US and European LNG companies to help European member countries meet their natural gas needs. Josh Siege...
Feb 15, 2023•8 min•Ep. 834
Republicans are expressing concerns that President Biden’s climate policies could end up benefiting companies tied to China. The incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are pushing America away from fossil fuels too quickly, they argue, which means using China’s clean energy supply chain. Democrats counter that those laws are aimed at building up the U.S. manufacturing base to ease the country’s dependence on China’s sector. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Kels...
Feb 14, 2023•8 min•Ep. 833
The state of Nevada wants to develop an electric vehicle ecosystem — from mining critical minerals to the actual manufacturing of the vehicles. And that vision is something the Biden administration is heavily investing in. E&E News reporter David Ferris breaks down Nevada’s vision and why the Biden administration is supporting it. Plus, EPA is delivering another $1 billion in Superfund spending from the bipartisan infrastructure law. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. David Ferr...
Feb 13, 2023•6 min•Ep. 832
The Biden administration is hitting the road to tout the Inflation Reduction Act ahead of a potential reelection campaign. But according to polls, the law remains relatively unknown to most Americans. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down how the Biden administration plans to increase awareness. Plus, the Energy Department is granting a $2 billion loan for electric vehicle battery materials. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Zack Colman covers climate change for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulai...
Feb 10, 2023•8 min•Ep. 831
Chinese state-owned companies are investing billions of dollars near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil transitways. Some Western interests fear that China’s buildup could lay the groundwork for a future military presence in the region. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down why China’s commercial investment in the Middle East is causing national security worries for the U.S. Plus, a California lawmaker is restarting an effort to expand the state’s participation in the western reg...
Feb 09, 2023•7 min•Ep. 830
Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler is reportedly considering scaling back the historic 'climate risk disclosure' rule, which would require large companies to disclose the carbon emissions from their supply chain. POLITICO’s Declan Harty breaks down the potential legal backlash if the rule is approved as is, why the SEC might soften the rule, and how environmental advocates might react if the regulation is scaled back. Plus, the International Energy Agency says growth in renewa...
Feb 08, 2023•7 min•Ep. 829
Last week, the seven Western states that rely on the Colorado River failed to find consensus on a water conservation plan, leading to a potential intervention by the Biden administration to avoid a water and power catastrophe. POLITICO’s Annie Snider unpacks the tricky politics of the water dispute and how it may mirror future political battles over adapting to climate change. Plus, racially-motivated extremists have been charged for plotting an attack on Baltimore's power grid. Josh Siegel is a...
Feb 07, 2023•8 min•Ep. 828
The European Commission unveiled the Green Deal Industrial Plan last week in hopes of countering America’s Inflation Reduction Act amid fears the IRA could drive business across the Atlantic to the United States. However, the plan from the European Commission already faces major criticisms, including that Europe might be waging a subsidy race it can’t win. POLITICO Europe’s Sam Stolton breaks down Europe’s plan. Plus, the Treasury Department settles on a standard for EV tax credits that automake...
Feb 06, 2023•9 min•Ep. 827
The federal government is investing billions of dollars into developing the carbon management sector. The US hopes to become a global leader in the tech that could become critical to fighting climate change rather than playing catch up like it did with wind and solar. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down how the US is trying to win the carbon management race. Plus, the Energy Department says no taxpayer funding has been provided to companies for battery production operations in China. Josh Siegel ...
Feb 03, 2023•9 min•Ep. 826
