President Donald Trump could more closely align the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with his energy agenda by nominating a new agency commissioner to fill an open seat. POLITICO’s Cat Morehouse breaks down who Trump is rumored to be considering for the vacancy and how this new commissioner could make FERC more fossil-fuel oriented. Plus, the Interior Department on Friday asked for public comment on how to overhaul its rules, bringing its deregulatory efforts to the general populace. Catheri...
May 19, 2025•10 min
The National Weather Service is rushing to fill hundreds of positions throughout the country ahead of the looming hurricane season, prompting concerns that the federal government has too few experts to help prepare for weather disasters. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down the staffing challenges at the NWS and how the administration is responding. Plus, the Trump administration is probing more than $15 billion in project awards issued by the Energy Department under former President Joe Biden, la...
May 16, 2025•10 min
House Republicans aim to repeal and phase out major energy portions of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Democrats’ climate law, as part of President Donald Trump’s megabill. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and James Bikales break down what House Republicans are proposing, the potential impacts, reaction from the Senate and green groups, and the timeline for this legislation. Plus, the Trump administration said it intends to roll back first-ever limits set by the Biden administration on four toxic “foreve...
May 15, 2025•11 min
One of the largest offshore wind energy projects in the United States could be cancelled in the coming days unless the Trump administration lifts its stop-work order – potentially the first big casualty in President Donald Trump’s war against America’s offshore wind energy industry. Ben Storrow from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down why the company backing the project, Equinor, is considering cancelling it and what that would mean for the industry at large. Plus, Senate Republicans are pushing...
May 14, 2025•11 min
The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was fired recently and replaced by a Trump administration official with no disaster response experience — a leadership change that comes less than a month before hurricane season begins. Thomas Frank from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down FEMA’s leadership shakeup and what it means for disaster recovery efforts. Plus, it’s a big day for Republicans as they mark up major parts of their reconciliation package in the House Energy and Commerce an...
May 13, 2025•9 min
President Donald Trump’s energy ambitions are running into a familiar obstacle: OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down how OPEC’s actions will simultaneously help and hurt the president’s energy agenda and what to expect from his Middle East trip this week. Plus, fifteen attorneys general of Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit on Friday challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring an “energy emergency.” Ben Lefebvre is an oil and gas policy reporter fo...
May 12, 2025•9 min
When the House Natural Resources Committee approved its portion of Republicans’ reconciliation package earlier this week, it also pushed through a controversial, last-minute amendment that could threaten party support for the sweeping measure. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and James Bikales break down the behind-the-scenes of what happened and why it could upend Republicans’ reconciliation efforts. Plus, a dozen House Republicans in an 11th hour request are calling for colleagues to spare key clean ene...
May 09, 2025•11 min
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company has been spewing pollution into South Memphis without federal permits for several months, triggering public outcry and questions about the development of AI infrastructure across the country. Ariel Wittenberg from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down the controversy along with the climate, public health and tech implications. Plus, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he expects to finish evaluating whether to proceed with funding hundreds of large Biden-...
May 08, 2025•11 min
A coalition of nearly 20 Democratic states sued the Trump administration this week over its moves to block onshore and offshore wind energy projects. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down the details of the case, the impact on the industry and what’s next in this fight. Plus, the Senate on Tuesday approved a Congressional Review Act measure targeting a recent EPA update to pollution rules for rubber tire manufacturers. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy for POLITICO. Nirmal...
May 07, 2025•9 min
The Trump administration made two moves recently to sharply shrink EPA and potentially decimate some of the nation’s most critical environmental work. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down the administration’s latest efforts targeting EPA and the potential backlash. Plus, a coalition of nearly 20 Democratic attorneys general sued the Trump administration to overturn its executive order blocking federal approvals of wind energy projects. Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro. Josh Siege...
May 06, 2025•9 min
Congressional Republicans are struggling to agree on how deeply they should cut the clean energy tax incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act, and their internal battle is complicating the party’s effort to pass President Donald Trump’s main legislative priority: a mega budget reconciliation bill. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel, Kelsey Tamborrino and James Bikales break down what this internal squabble is really about, what might happen next and the stakes. Plus, listen to POLITICO’s energy takeaways f...
May 05, 2025•10 min
This week, the House voted to undo three federal waivers that let California set strict vehicle pollution standards, setting up a fight in the Senate that could restrict California’s nation-leading climate authority and the auto industry at large. POLITICO’s Alex Nieves breaks down why Republicans are targeting these waivers, the uncertain outcome in the Senate, and the potential implications on multiple states and the car industry. Plus, a coalition of nearly 40 House Republicans called for the...
May 02, 2025•10 min
The Trump administration is considering creating a sovereign risk insurance program for energy projects, along with a sovereign wealth fund. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the administration’s thinking on the topics, how it compares to other policies around the world, and the potential challenges ahead. Plus, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the nominations of two nominees for the Energy Department, as well as bipartisan legislation that aims to speed the developme...
May 01, 2025•9 min
The Trump administration has dismissed all of the scientists working on the newest version of the National Climate Assessment, the most important climate science report issued by the federal government. Scott Waldman from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down why these firings happened, how they might impact the report’s future and the Trump administration’s broader plans. Plus, Interior Department staff were told to upload their resumes by midday Tuesday to help officials determine which employee...
Apr 30, 2025•10 min
Republican lawmakers are considering making major changes to the clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act as part of their party-line budget reconciliation package. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel, James Bikales and Kelsey Tamborrino break down the three ways Republicans could modify the credits. Plus, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin laid out his plans for addressing the country's sprawling PFAS problem Monday, but remained silent on whether the agency will back the first-ever drinking water ...
Apr 29, 2025•12 min
Lawyers for the Trump administration knew they faced significant legal risks when they froze $20 billion in Biden-era climate grants, according to internal government emails exclusively obtained by POLITICO. Alex Guillén breaks down how the administration had internal legal qualms about its public push to regain control of the already-distributed funding. Plus, POLITICO scooped that former FERC Commissioner Willie Phillips was asked to step down from the agency last week by the White House. Alex...
Apr 28, 2025•13 min
Billions of dollars in clean energy investments funded by the private sector have been pulled back under President Donald Trump, according to a new report out this week from a national clean energy business group. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down the takeaways from the report and how the impact is mostly felt in Republican districts and states. Plus, unexpected shutdowns of large data centers and crypto mining facilities pose a risk to the reliability of the wider grid system, according ...
Apr 18, 2025•9 min
This week, President Donald Trump suffered two legal defeats that could disrupt his goal of stopping or repealing climate and infrastructure spending approved by Congress during the Biden administration. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the judges’ rulings and the next phase of this legal fight. Plus, the Army Corps of Engineers is granting fast-tracked permitting for the Line 5 oil and fuel pipeline project. Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO Pro. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host ...
Apr 17, 2025•8 min
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin has emerged as one of the most outspoken and visible champions for President Donald Trump – and MAGA world is taking notice. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Hannah Northey trace how Zeldin rose from a pro-climate Republican to one of Trump’s most public disruptors. Plus, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday against environmental groups who alleged that permits the Energy Department gave the Alaska LNG project violated federal environmental law. Josh Siegel is an energy r...
Apr 16, 2025•11 min
The oil industry was a big supporter of President Donald Trump in the campaign, but now his economic policies are threatening their profits andcould hit U.S. production. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down how Trump is testing the oil industry’s patience. Plus, the Government Accountability Office found in a new report that the federal agencies charged with overseeing U.S. offshore wind development have not taken enough steps to ensure there are resources in place for effective oversight and eng...
Apr 15, 2025•8 min
President Donald Trump’s early moves have sparked fears that the United States will suffer a brain drain of scientists, researchers and scientific programs. Experts are warning that if there is a brain drain, that could hurt America’s reputation as a beacon of scientific inquiry — it could even impact the US economy. POLITICO's Zack Colman breaks down what Trump is doing and the potential impacts. Plus, POLITICO reported Friday that more than 5 percent of the staff at the Interior Department’s B...
Apr 14, 2025•9 min
Four Senate Republicans are joining a growing number of GOP House lawmakers publicly expressing their support for keeping the clean energy tax credits in Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel, who obtained the letter with those lawmakers’ position, breaks down why there’s a growing number of Republicans defending the IRA’s green incentives and how this could set up an intra-party fight over President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda. Plus, President Trump’s pick to lead the In...
Apr 11, 2025•10 min
President Donald Trump signed four executive orders earlier this week aimed at reviving America’s ailing coal industry. POLITICO’s Cat Morehouse breaks down how Trump is trying to save the coal industry and the potential impacts on America's energy sector. Plus, the Trump administration is canceling funding for the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the entity that produces the federal government’s signature climate change study. Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Alex Gui...
Apr 10, 2025•10 min
President Donald Trump’s new suite of tariffs, along with his threats to repeal clean energy tax credits, could undermine efforts to build power generation in the United States and his own policy promises. POLITICO’s Cat Morehouse breaks down why Trump’s tariff and tax policies could derail efforts to boost US power supply. Plus, President Trump signed four executive orders on Tuesday aimed at reviving America’s ailing coal industry. Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Josh S...
Apr 09, 2025•9 min
The economic outlook for the oil and gas industry has darkened because of President Donald Trump’s new tariffs. But so far, there’s been no public outcry from people within the industry – at least for now. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down why that’s the case, what people are really saying behind the scenes and how there may be more pain to come for the industry. Plus, EPA has approved Occidental Petroleum’s applications to inject carbon dioxide at its carbon capture project in Texas. Ben Lefe...
Apr 08, 2025•8 min
President Donald Trump’s new sweeping tariffs could hurt U.S solar energy developers while industries that import critical minerals appear to be spared – at least for now. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino and James Bikales break down how Trump’s tariffs may impact the US solar industry and the critical mineral industry, which are both key to America’s renewable energy future. Plus, the Senate Parliamentarian has told lawmakers she does not believe EPA waivers that allow California to set nation-lead...
Apr 07, 2025•10 min
The Trump administration is exempting a number of energy-related items from its sweeping list of tariffs on imports. Still, energy markets crumbled on Thursday in response to the president’s tariff announcement with the long-term outlook for the sector remaining unclear. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the short-term and long-term impact of President Trump’s tariffs on the energy sector. Plus, a company that received a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee under the Biden administratio...
Apr 04, 2025•8 min
The Trump administration hit a legal roadblock this week in its attempt to revoke billions of dollars in congressionally approved climate funding as part of Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the latest in the courtroom saga and what this means for the Trump administration’s broader attack on congressionally approved climate funding. Plus, Senate Republicans on Wednesday unveiled their new budget blueprint as they race to take the next step toward enacting Pr...
Apr 03, 2025•8 min
As the chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) is tasked with creating legislation to help solve President Donald Trump’s “energy emergency” and unleash his energy dominance agenda – even if he and the president have some differences when it comes to energy policy. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down why Westerman is such a key figure to the Trump administration’s energy agenda. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host an...
Apr 02, 2025•11 min
The electric utility that owns Puerto Rico’s power grid is facing significant financial troubles, which is threatening to drive up the power bills for the millions of American citizens who are already dealing with the territory’s shaky energy system. POLITICO’s Gloria Gonzalez breaks down Puerto Rico’s short-term and long-term energy problems and how they affect every aspect of life for the territory’s residents. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. Annie Rees is the m...
Apr 01, 2025•16 min
