CERAWeek, the biggest annual energy conference in the world, kicks off today in Houston. Thousands of global industry leaders are expected to attend and discuss the future of energy and climate. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre chats with Daniel Yergin, conference co-chairman and Pulitzer Prize winning author, about the biggest energy themes, stories and questions heading into this year’s conference. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: http...
Mar 18, 2024•17 min•Ep. 1102
President Joe is on a mission to lock in a Democratic majority at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission -- and the first test comes next week as his three nominees face Senate committee confirmation hearings. It’s an election-year battle with massive stakes for Biden’s energy transition and the energy industry at large. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the upcoming FERC fight and how the clock is ticking. Plus, the first major offshore wind project in the United States has completed...
Mar 15, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1101
Today, POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel sits down with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a vocal climate hawk, who is warning that President Joe Biden’s climate record is 'insufficient' to win young voters – highlighting a tension point within the Democratic party about how far he should go in trying to curb the oil and gas industry. They discuss Biden’s pause on new natural gas exports, his climate agenda, permitting efforts, and complicated intra-party dynamics heading into the 2024 elections. For m...
Mar 14, 2024•19 min•Ep. 1100
California’s pursuit of offshore wind hasn’t suffered the same setbacks seen in some East Coast states, but potential hiccups are emerging. POLITICO’s Wes Veintecher breaks down the offshore wind snags out West and how it fits into broader concerns within the industry. Plus, the chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission painted an optimistic picture of the industry's future during the agency’s annual conference on Tuesday. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, ...
Mar 13, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1099
After years of setbacks and little policy progress, there’s new congressional legislation and rules from the Biden administration looking to reignite the nuclear power industry, which is an area of bipartisan interest. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the recent legislation supporting the nuclear industry. Plus, President Joe Biden signaled a continued focus on climate and environmental issues in his annual budget request to Capitol Hill on Monday. For more news on energy and the envir...
Mar 12, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1098
A little-known program under the Inflation Reduction Act is bringing climate planning to almost every state in the country, including in places where Republicans have shown little interest in decarbonization. Adam Aton from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down the details of the program. Plus, the United States just experienced the warmest winter on record according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our ...
Mar 11, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1097
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved a long-awaited rule that will require public companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks. Even though the commission weakened the regulation from its original proposal, it’s still historic and set to face litigation. POLITICO’s Jordan Wolman breaks down the significance and pushback to the rule. Plus, companies installed a record amount of clean energy power across the United States last year, breaking the previous rec...
Mar 08, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1096
Today, POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel sits down with President Joe Biden’s National Climate Adviser Ali Zaidi ahead of tonight’s State of the Union address. They discuss the president’s energy and climate record, what a second Biden administration would like to accomplish, the internal tension within the party on those policy issues, and more. 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 ...
Mar 07, 2024•20 min•Ep. 1095
The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to split up its upcoming power plant rule into two separate rulemakings came after the agency faced pushback from the White House. The move reflects months of simmering tension between EPA and the White House about rules central to President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down the internal administration tension and how it impacted the rollout of the rule. Plus, the Biden administration finalized regulations for direct cas...
Mar 06, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1094
John Kerry will be exiting his position as President Joe Biden’s top climate diplomat on Wednesday. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down Kerry’s climate legacy and previews what to expect from his replacement. Plus, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission unveiled a long-awaited proposal aimed at speeding up licensing for advanced reactors that are critical to creating a zero-emissions grid. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www....
Mar 05, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1093
In a surprise move, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it was separating and postponing a major piece of its power plant rule last week, and the decision is receiving mixed reaction from greens. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down EPA’s decision and the political and climate risks. Plus, EPA is strengthening its risk management requirements for oil refineries, chemical producers, agricultural distributors and thousands of other industrial sites. For more news on energy and the environ...
Mar 04, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1092
Utility bills have shot up by as much as 127 percent over the last decade in California, and the state’s ambitious climate goals and spending are partially to blame. That trend is putting political pressure on state lawmakers to take legislative action. POLITICO’s Wes Venteicher breaks down the high cost of California’s climate ambitions and why it’s concerning Democratic lawmakers in other states. Plus, the White House named three nominees to fill seats on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissi...
Mar 01, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1091
The Biden administration is pouring billions of dollars into seven regional hubs meant to jumpstart and grow the nascent clean hydrogen industry. But the leaders of the hubs are warning the Treasury Department's proposed clean hydrogen tax credit could undercut their projects and President Joe Biden’s climate goals. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down their concerns and the tightrope the Biden administration must navigate with the tax credit. Plus, the White House is close to nominating two...
Feb 29, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1090
The Biden administration is expected to finalize a new air regulation that’s pitting its environmental justice work, cancer prevention goals, and efforts to ensure the stability of the medical device industry against each other. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down how the administration is trying to balance its public health priorities and the pushback against the rule. Plus, EPA announced that the remaining $1 billion in Superfund money from the bipartisan infrastructure law will go toward work...
Feb 28, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1089
President Joe Biden’s decision to pause new exports of U.S. natural gas is making his allies nervous in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania heading into the 2024 election. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down why some Democrats are questioning the president’s strategy and the different energy dynamics at play in the state. Plus, West Virginia made another move as part of its ongoing attack on environmental, social and governance policies. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe...
Feb 27, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1088
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and Virginia are fighting over whether their states should participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative just as the program itself attempts to hammer out what its next iteration will look like. POLITICO’s Jordan Wolman breaks down what the fights in Pennsylvania and Virginia say about the challenge of expanding RGGI to fossil fuel reliant states. Plus, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued its final approval for Equinor's Empire Wind project — teeing up ...
Feb 26, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1087
The Biden administration's push for an electric vehicle transition is facing economic and political challenges, particularly in the crucial swing state of Michigan. And now, Biden’s regulators are expected to scale back a rule that was intended to spur that transition. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down why Biden’s EV transition is stalling and the administration’s planned response. Plus, the Energy Department plans to provide roughly $710 million for a pair of electric vehicle battery supply ch...
Feb 23, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1086
The Biden administration is planning to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to install solar power in Puerto Rico on thousands of homes — an ambitious effort to improve the territory’s fragile power grid. But the program is facing political pushback from Republican lawmakers and some practical concerns from Puerto Rican residents. POLITICO’s Gloria Gonzalez breaks down the skepticism and how the administration is defending its solar program. Plus, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm firmly said...
Feb 22, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1085
World governments have made little progress in setting up a historic new fund that would distribute millions of dollars in financial assistance to the nations most impacted by climate change. Sara Schonhardt from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down why wealthy countries are fighting over the fund and how that could impede progress for vulnerable nations and future international climate talks. Plus, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is predicting that the Biden administration will increase the av...
Feb 21, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1084
Today, POLITICO’s Josh Siegel sits down with GOP Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who is retiring from Congress and running for governor of North Dakota. They discuss the Inflation Reduction Act, permitting negotiations, and President Joe Biden’s LNG pause, along with why Republicans are leaving Congress and Armstrong’s energy ambitions as his state’s potential next governor. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-...
Feb 20, 2024•16 min•Ep. 1083
Environmental activists are publicly and privately pressuring President Joe Biden to wage a stronger fight against climate change, which is putting him in a tough position as the 2024 presidential campaign heats up. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down how green groups are testing the president. Plus, the House delivered a bipartisan rebuke against Biden’s controversial decision to pause new natural gas permits. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free eveni...
Feb 16, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1082
Today, POLITICO’s Josh Siegel chats with GOP Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, who is one of the leaders of House Republicans’ legislative attacks on the Biden administration’s pause of new LNG export permits. Duncan, who is retiring at the end of this term, is also the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s energy, climate, and grid security subcommittee. They discuss the Republican criticisms of the pause, his retirement, and the larger exodus of GOP members from the influential ...
Feb 15, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1081
The Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits has Republicans concerned about international climate efforts and Democrats taking an America-first stance — a reversal of traditional partisan arguments from both parties about fossil fuels. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down why there’s flipped political rhetoric around LNG exports. Plus, new research previewed exclusively by POLITICO says the Chinese region of Xinjiang continues to subject members of the Uyghur ethnic group to forced lab...
Feb 14, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1080
The United States has spent decades removing pollution from its air, but the impacts of climate change could erase that progress and expose millions of Americans to poor air quality, according to a new report released by climate risk group First Street Foundation. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down who will be impacted by worsening air quality. Plus, a federal judge questioned why FERC is declining to assess the significance of greenhouse gas emissions generated by new fossil fuel facilities. Fo...
Feb 13, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1079
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is poised to lose its biggest climate advocate this year, which could potentially derail President Joe Biden’s clean energy agenda. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the personnel announcements at FERC and the impact on the White House. Plus, General Electric plans to scrap plans for a massive new offshore wind turbine, dealing a setback to a trio of New York projects. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our fr...
Feb 12, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1078
The Biden administration released an ambitious rule Wednesday that it argues will save thousands of lives by cracking down on particular matter, which are tiny particles in the air that have negative health impacts. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the regulation’s potential environmental and public health benefits along with the pushback from industry and Republicans. Plus, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), a frequent critic of the Biden administrati...
Feb 09, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1077
On POLITICO Energy, Eric Beightel, the top Biden administration official in charge of coordinating federal infrastructure approvals across agencies, tells host Josh Siegel how he is “somewhat terrified” that a second Trump presidency would be “catastrophic” for the Biden administration’s clean energy goals. They also discuss why Democrats and Republicans remain far apart on permitting reform and what the administration can accomplish even if Congress doesn’t act. For more news on energy and the ...
Feb 08, 2024•18 min•Ep. 1076
Democratic lawmakers in five states are pushing utilities to disclose how they vote on critical grid issues at PJM Interconnection, a 13-state regional power market. They say more transparency could help states’ clean energy goals and potentially bring down prices for consumers, but utilities say their process is justified. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down why lawmakers are looking for change and whether it’s politically viable. Plus, the European Union announced it aims to slash green...
Feb 07, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1075
US-China climate relations are in a transitional period as the countries install new top climate diplomats. California officials say they’re ready to step up if geopolitical disputes send ties spiraling again. POLITICO’s Blanca Begert breaks down how California aims to help. Plus, the Environmental Protection Agency says it’s moving toward issuing its first draft permit for a project that involves using the world’s oceans to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. For more news on energy and ...
Feb 06, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1074
Two months ago, nearly 200 countries agreed to “transition away” from fossil fuels at the United Nations Climate Summit in Dubai. But many have wavered on their pledge and made major new investments in fossil fuels. Sara Schonhardt from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down how countries aren’t living up to their COP28 pledges and the concern from the United Nations. Plus, a court in the United Kingdom has thrown out a public order charge against youth climate activist Greta Thunberg. For more new...
Feb 05, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1073
