A new bipartisan bill out this week has sparked GOP infighting about carbon adjustment fees, with each side using Donald Trump as part of their argument. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down what the bill does and doesn’t do, how Trump is influencing this fight, and why the issue could gain traction in Congress next year. Plus, the Biden administration has finalized a rule that would require projects receiving FEMA assistance after disasters to meet stricter standards when they are being construct...
Jul 11, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1178
Former Sen. Jim Inhofe, the longest-serving U.S. senator in Oklahoma history, died at the age of 89 on Tuesday. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Annie Snider discuss Inhofe's influential energy and climate record and how his legacy lives on in the Republican party. Plus, the House appropriations committee advanced funding packages Tuesday for EPA, the Interior Department, the Energy Department and federal water agencies. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free ...
Jul 10, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1177
California’s oil and gas regulator issued permits for new oil wells just before and right after a controversial state law took effect in late June – igniting a dispute between the agency and environmentalists. POLITICO’s Wes Venteicher breaks down the political and legal fallout over the regulator’s last-minute permitting. Plus, President Joe Biden isn’t planning to release many major energy and environmental regulations before the November election. For more news on energy and the environment, ...
Jul 09, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1176
The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Chevron doctrine will make it more difficult for future administrations from both parties to implement new regulations. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down why overturning Chevron has big implications for Democrats, Republicans and Congress. 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 news...
Jul 08, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1175
The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered another blow to the Biden administration’s efforts to protect the environment and public health, blocking EPA's “good neighbor’” rule that aimed to curb air pollution drifting across state lines. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the high court’s ruling and how it limits EPA’s regulatory authority. Plus, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved Venture Global's mammoth CP2 liquefied natural gas facility. For more news on energy and the environme...
Jun 28, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1174
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are squaring off tonight in their first debate of the 2024 election cycle, and we expect some sparring over energy policy. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre and Josh Siegel discuss what Trump might say and fact-check some of his most common energy claims. Plus, the Energy Department’s deputy secretary is defending the pace at which the agency is getting federal funding out the door under the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act. Fo...
Jun 27, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1173
The nation’s power system navigated the first major heatwave of the year relatively smoothly, but experts warn that there are still outage risks this summer. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down how the grid held up recently and if it can repeat that success as summer rolls on. Plus, the Chemical Safety Board released new recommendations in response to an incident at an Ohio refinery in 2022 that killed two people. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our...
Jun 26, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1172
On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that could limit how much federal agencies can regulate the upstream and downstream environmental impacts of new energy infrastructure projects. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the stakes of this new case and how the high court has scrutinized the federal government’s environmental authority in recent years. Plus, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released its bipartisan 2024 Water Resources Development Act on Monday. For...
Jun 25, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1171
Two separate recent reports on methane emissions show the U.S.’s current record is mixed. POLITICO’s James Bikales explains what these divergent sets of flaring data say about domestic energy production and what they mean for the Biden Administration’s climate goals. Plus, the Supreme Court strikes down a water-sharing deal among the states that share the Rio Grande River. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.co...
Jun 24, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1170
Artificial intelligence consumes a lot of energy. Exactly how much is hard to say, because AI companies keep much of that information hidden – a practice that some policymakers and activists are trying to change. On today's episode of Politico Energy, guest host Steven Overly called up Jesse Dodge to better understand the energy and climate cost behind generative AI. Dodge is a senior research scientist at the Allen Institute for AI in Seattle, who not only develops large language models, he als...
Jun 21, 2024•19 min•Ep. 1169
President Joe Biden released new rules this week that aim to create attractive jobs that leverage the lucrative clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. POLITICO’s Nick Niedzwiadek breaks down the details of rules, how they fit into Biden’s reelection campaign, and if they are vulnerable to Republican repeal in the future. Plus, Congress has approved sweeping bipartisan legislation to ease the production of new nuclear power reactors. For more news on energy and the environmen...
Jun 20, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1168
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), one of the party’s most outspoken climate change skeptics, is likely to lead the GOP in the powerful Energy and Natural Resources Committee next year. POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna and Josh Siegel discuss Lee’s policy positions and what he would mean for a second Biden or Trump presidency. Plus, a federal appeals court ruled that the state of Michigan may pursue its legal challenge to Enbridge’s controversial Line 5 pipeline in state court. For more news on energy and the...
Jun 18, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1167
POLITICO Energy host Alex Guillén sits down for an extended conversation with David Doniger, a prominent environmental lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council who argued a fateful case before the Supreme Court that established the Chevron deference doctrine. They discuss how a Supreme Court ruling expected in the coming weeks about that legal precedent could make it much more difficult for the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies to defend their regulations — part...
Jun 17, 2024•19 min•Ep. 1166
This week, the Senate confirmed Judy Chang, David Rosner and Lindsay See to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, bringing the agency to a full complement of five for the first time in a couple years. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the confirmation process for the new commissioners and how they join FERC at a pivotal moment. Plus, POLITICO got an inside look at presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign-style energy address during a day of meetings with congress...
Jun 14, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1165
California is expanding its legal assault against five major oil companies by not only seeking climate change damages, but also targeting company profits related to false advertising and unfair competition laws. POLITICO’s Wes Venteicher breaks down the amended legal effort and why it has massive implications for the accused oil companies. Plus, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he expects Republicans would try and repeal the Inflation Reduction Act if the GOP wins control of the White H...
Jun 13, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1164
President Joe Biden has made clean energy and infrastructure programs a major focus of his reelection campaign, but those ambitions are hitting a major headwind: his Buy America agenda. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down how these priorities are clashing and the potential consequences for the president’s reelection bid. Plus, EPA's Inspector General has found that the agency still isn't ready to swiftly alert the public about surges in lead contamination in drinking water. For more news on ene...
Jun 12, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1163
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
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
