General Motors and Ford – two of the biggest electric vehicle producers – announced they would adopt Tesla’s charging technology for their electric vehicles in the coming years. That’s significant because the federal government earlier this year chose to require another EV charging technology rather than Tesla’s technology in its federally-funded chargers under the bipartisan infrastructure law. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down what these developments mean for the future of EV charging. Plus...
Jun 12, 2023•8 min•Ep. 916
This week, hazardous smoke spewing from hundreds of Canadian wildfires spread across much of Canada and the Northeast and Midwest United States. POLITICO’s Zi-Ann Lum breaks down the health risks of wildfire smoke exposure, the federal response from the U.S. and Canadian governments, and how climate change is playing a role in the situation. Plus, the U.S. and U.K. will start negotiating a critical minerals deal immediately to mitigate the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act. Zi-Ann Lum covers...
Jun 09, 2023•8 min•Ep. 915
The United Arab Emirates, one of the world’s wealthiest oil states and host of the upcoming UN climate talks in November, has tried to cast itself as an environmental leader through a wide-ranging public relations and lobbying campaign that began in 2019. But the UAE’s efforts and its host status are facing significant criticism from lawmakers and environmentalists in both the United States and Europe. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down why the UAE is trying to green its image and the pushback i...
Jun 08, 2023•9 min•Ep. 914
Across the country, medical professionals and Washington policymakers are pushing to decarbonize the American healthcare system, which is responsible for 8.5 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Joanne Kenen, a POLITICO Magazine contributing writer, breaks down the movement to green the healthcare system, how the Biden administration is playing a role, and whether the sector’s transformation is happening as quickly and deeply as needed. Plus, West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin advoca...
Jun 07, 2023•8 min•Ep. 913
Lawmakers included only modest changes to permitting as part of the debt ceiling deal. But the Supreme Court’s recent decision to sharply curb federal protections under the Clean Water Act could have a far bigger impact on the permitting process across the country. POLITICO’s Annie Snider reports. Plus, the Biden administration on Monday laid out a road map to scale up U.S. clean hydrogen production while driving down costs. Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro. Kelsey Tamborrino is...
Jun 06, 2023•9 min•Ep. 912
Southeast Asian nations are the latest foreign trading partners looking to access America’s coveted electric vehicle tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. But their campaign creates challenges for the Biden administration, which is looking to balance its efforts to deepen economic ties in the Indo-Pacific with its promise of a clean energy transition that will help revitalize American manufacturing. POLITICO’s Steven Overly breaks down the latest negotiations. Plus, the Interior Departm...
Jun 05, 2023•8 min•Ep. 911
Some Democrats are frustrated with the energy-related measures in the debt ceiling package, which must be signed into law by President Joe Biden by June 5 in order to avoid a government default. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down what’s bothering Democrats, why the White House is defending its debt ceiling deal, and what’s next in terms of energy permitting negotiations. Plus, a panel of grid experts warned senators Thursday that the U.S. power system is ill-prepared to combat the climate crisis...
Jun 02, 2023•9 min•Ep. 910
The New England Independent System Operator has asked federal regulators to approve a plan to help improve the region’s power reliability during the region’s cold winters by paying oil and gas producers to store extra fuel on site. But powerful officials and advocacy groups are pushing back, arguing that the plan’s steep cost isn’t justified. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the grid operator’s plan and the pushback it’s receiving. Plus, the Department of Justice is suing West Virginia...
Jun 01, 2023•7 min•Ep. 909
The tense negotiations between the White House and House Republicans over the debt ceiling offers some updates to environmental permitting rules that would benefit both oil and gas and clean energy projects — though many of the most contentious measures were left for Congress to haggle over.POLITICO’s Jo sh Siegel breaks it all down with Kelsey Tamborrino. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 31, 2023•10 min•Ep. 908
Today, POLITICO’s Josh Siegel chats with Pedro Pizarro, the president and chief executive officer of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison. Pizarro, who is also vice chair of the Edison Electric Institute, the industry's largest trade group, gives his take on federal policy issues impacting the nation’s power grid, the permitting reform push in Congress, and the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act. Pedro Pizarro is president and chief executive officer ...
May 30, 2023•11 min•Ep. 907
The Supreme Court issued a ruling Thursday that significantly constrained the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate wetlands under the Clean Water Act. The decision is a major blow to the Biden administration’s efforts to protect millions of acres of wetlands while delivering a victory to multiple powerful industries, including mining, oil and gas and homebuilding. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down the details of the ruling. Plus, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra...
May 26, 2023•8 min•Ep. 906
House Republicans once again attacked the Biden administration yesterday for trying to regulate gas stoves, portraying proposed efficiency standards from the Energy Department as federal overreach. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down why the GOP is reigniting the gas stove culture wars, the Biden administration’s insistence it is not banning the appliances, and the policy debate. Plus, the Energy Department unveiled a new initiative aimed at accelerating the development of low-carbon fuels for s...
May 25, 2023•8 min•Ep. 905
The Biden administration announced on Monday it is dropping plans to give a $200 million dollar federal grant to Microvast, a Texas-based battery company whose connections to China had drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers. It’s the latest example of how the rivalry between Washington and Beijing is complicating President Joe Biden’s clean energy agenda. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino discusses DOE’s decision and how the situation highlights broader challenges the Biden administration must nav...
May 24, 2023•7 min•Ep. 904
California, Arizona and Nevada released a plan on Monday to significantly reduce their water use from the drought-stricken Colorado River over the next three years. It’s a historic moment for the seven western states and 40 million Americans that depend on the river, which has seen its flows diminished by 20 percent over the past two decades. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down the details of the tentative deal and remaining concerns for the states. Plus, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) announced Monda...
May 23, 2023•7 min•Ep. 903
For months now, European Union officials have pressed the Biden administration for a trade deal that would give EU automakers access to a larger chunk of the electric vehicle tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act. But reaching that agreement is taking longer than expected, and talks could drag into the summer. POLITICO’s Steven Overly breaks down the sticking points in negotiations and why the White House is under immense pressure from Congress to broker a favorable agreement. Plus, a bipar...
May 22, 2023•9 min•Ep. 902
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is hoping his state will be the nation’s leading producer of offshore wind energy by 2040. But his ambitious plans are facing criticisms for two big reasons: questions remain about how the state’s wind projects will be financed and the opposition stirred up by unfounded claims that those projects are linked to several whale deaths along the coast. POLITICO’s Ry Rivard breaks down if New Jersey’s offshore wind plans are still on track and how they are important to the ...
May 19, 2023•10 min•Ep. 901
Congress has directed about $14 billion dollars to repair Puerto Rico’s troubled energy grid, but disagreements over how to spend those funds could slow the effort to stave off power disruptions as the territory seeks to create a 100 percent clean power grid by 2050. POLITICO’s Gloria Gonzalez breaks down solar advocates’ concerns and how fights over funding could affect the island. Plus, a new EPA proposal could force the utility sector to better control and clean up inactive coal ash ponds loc...
May 18, 2023•8 min•Ep. 900
Congress is injecting $12 billion in subsidies into carbon capture technology and storage, setting the stage for massive private investment to battle climate change in the coming years. But a new POLITICO investigation found that federal and state authorities aren’t prepared to regulate the carbon capture industry. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre lays out the concerns around Biden’s carbon capture initiative and how it could challenge the administration’s environmental justice pledges. Plus, as part of ...
May 17, 2023•9 min•Ep. 898
President Joe Biden is trying to usher in an era of new economic order that moves past old models of free trade and reliance on markets. Instead, he’s trying to push a "worker-centered" trade policy, raise wages around the world and bolster environmental standards. So far though, the Biden administration has struggled to define its vision in less abstract terms, let alone implement it. POLITICO’s Gavin Bade breaks down why Biden is trying to reshape the global economic system and what it could m...
May 16, 2023•9 min•Ep. 897
U.S power companies are warning that President Joe Biden’s new power plant rule could hurt the reliability of the nation’s grid at a time when outages are on the rise. But former regulators and EPA backers say industry’s concerns are overblown. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the potential impact of Biden’s rule on the nation’s power network. Plus, the Biden administration unveiled its latest guidance for companies to earn additional “bonus” credits under the Inflation Reduction Act b...
May 15, 2023•8 min•Ep. 896
The Environmental Protection Agency proposed its latest rule to impose stricter limits on fossil fuel power plants. The Biden administration says the draft regulation will reduce the effects of climate change and provide better-paying jobs, but the rule will likely face major challenges from GOP-led states and questions from utilities who say the power sector isn’t ready for the proposed changes. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the details of the new rule. Plus, the Senate on Thursday narrow...
May 12, 2023•9 min•Ep. 895
The Biden administration is releasing a major new regulation aimed at slashing or capturing emissions from new and existing coal and natural gas plants. Republicans plan to use that regulation to attack vulnerable Democrats and President Joe Biden heading into the 2024 elections. Some Democrats counter that the GOP’s strategy will be out of step with voters, while others are distancing themselves from Biden’s climate policies. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down the complicated politics behind Bi...
May 11, 2023•9 min•Ep. 894
The Biden administration is proposing to fight climate change by investing billions of dollars into carbon capture projects. However, some environmental justice groups are trying to stop these projects, and their resistance is gaining traction in communities across the country. POLITICO’s Allison Prang breaks down why Biden’s carbon capture plan is facing challenges. Plus, the Department of Energy starts the process to make it easier to build large power lines in the United States. Allison Prang...
May 10, 2023•7 min•Ep. 893
If Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) decides to run for reelection in 2024, he might be the most vulnerable Democratic senator in the country. West Virginia is a deep red state, and Manchin’s approval rating has plummeted according to a recent Morning Consult poll. But he hasn’t lost in West Virginia since the 1990s, and he’s long-benefited from distancing himself from national Democratic leaders and attacking party-line policies, including the Inflation Reduction Act. POLITICO’s Holly Otterbein brea...
May 09, 2023•7 min•Ep. 892
Democrats and Republicans agree that the United States must end its dependence on China for clean energy components. But both parties say the other side isn’t tough enough on Beijing and their proposed strategies aren’t helping the US become the world's dominant clean energy economy. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino and Josh Siegel break down how the clean energy industry is responding to the partisan fight. Plus, the Department of Transportation is proposing a new rule cracking down on natural gas ...
May 08, 2023•9 min•Ep. 891
New York is set to become the first state in the country to ban natural gas and other fossil fuels in new buildings through legislation. Enacted on Tuesday, the ban will affect most new smaller buildings starting in 2026 and larger buildings in 2029. It's part of the state’s effort to switch to cleaner energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. Climate advocates applaud the legislation, but it could also spark pushback and challenges from fossil fuel interests and Republican lawmakers. POLITICO...
May 05, 2023•7 min•Ep. 890
Senator Joe Manchin helped write and pass the Inflation Reduction Act last summer, but lately he’s been criticizing the Biden administration’s implementation of it, saying the White House has strayed from the purpose of the bill. Democrats are growing concerned about Manchin’s attacks and disagree that the Biden administration has diverged from the law’s intent. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down Manchin’s criticism and why he’s been particularly outspoken recently. Plus, the Senate voted Wednes...
May 04, 2023•8 min•Ep. 889
On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case aimed at overturning a legal precedent that helps federal agencies defend environmental rules in courts. So-called “Chevron deference,” which conservatives have targeted for years, says courts should defer to a government agency interpretation when laws passed by Congress are ambiguous. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the legal principle, why the court is taking up this case now, and how it could impact the Biden administration’s climate ini...
May 03, 2023•8 min•Ep. 888
California state regulators approved new rules last week phasing out combustion engines in trucks, buses and trains in the coming years as the state shifts toward zero-emission vehicles. POLITICO’s Wes Venteicher breaks down the details of these new rules and potential implications for other states. Plus, the Supreme Court announced on Monday that next term it will hear a case on federal agencies authority to interpret ambiguous statutes. The outcome could have major implications for the Biden a...
May 02, 2023•7 min•Ep. 887
The ethanol industry scored two major political victories last week: The Environmental Protection Agency said it would allow the sale of higher-ethanol gasoline this summer, and corn-state Republican lawmakers protected incentives for biofuels in the House GOP’s debt ceiling package. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down the ethanol industry’s wins and influence in D.C. Plus, the House delivered a rebuke to President Joe Biden on Friday by voting to rescind his solar tariff moratorium. Kelsey...
May 01, 2023•8 min•Ep. 886
