POLITICO Energy

The Biden administration agreed Wednesday night to ease sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry after the Maduro government promised reforms allowing more competitive presidential elections next year. The policy shift has drawn Republican pushback and questions about the impact on global energy prices. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the deal’s energy ramifications for the United States and the...

The Biden administration’s push to put the World Bank in charge of an international fund that would require historically high-emitting wealthy countries to pay poorer countries for climate damages is threatening to shake up United Nations’ climate talks in November. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down why the US prefers the World Bank, the concerns from developing countries, and the broader negotia...

PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest grid operator, is proposing a new plan to reduce the risk of blackouts during extreme weather events. And while both fossil fuel and renewable power generators are on board, a potential cap on the imposition of penalties when blackouts do occur is raising questions. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the details of the plan, why it’s coming now, an...

The Biden administration is putting $7 billion dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law into several regional hubs across the country dedicated to making and using clean hydrogen. The young industry could be potential climate solution and economic driver, but questions remain about just how green the hydrogen will be and whether it will add pollution to already-disadvantaged communities. POL...

President Joe Biden is facing a complicated Iranian dilemma in light of Hamas’ attacks on Israel: clamp down on Tehran to cut off its money from oil exports and potentially provoke a spike in global energy prices. Manuel Quiñones, the congress editor of POLITICO’s E&E News, breaks down the complicated factors behind Biden’s decision and potential consequences. Plus, the Environmental Protection Ag...

Electric cooperatives across the country are jumping at the chance to get billions of dollars under a new federal program that aims to bring more clean energy to rural America – a sign that some utilities in those communities, which have been among biggest coal users, are viewing wind and solar power more favorably despite the conservative backlash. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down why c...

The war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas poses a major geopolitical risk for the world’s energy markets and could send global fuel prices soaring if the conflict expands across the Middle East. POLITICO’s Matt Daily breaks down how the war could impact global energy and the Biden administration. Plus, Washington’s top trade official conceded that the United States and European Union...

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and several conservative politicians in Europe are attacking the rise of electric vehicles and making it into an election issue. POLITICO’s James Bikales and Suzanne Lynch break down the politics of electric cars and why it’s an issue on both continents. Plus, the Biden administration unveiled new guidance aiming to help customers gain immediate access to federal...

In November, Republicans in Virginia have a shot at taking full control of the state legislature for the first time in a decade, and a GOP sweep could set the stage for a broader rollback of the state’s climate policies. POLITICO’s E&E news reporter Scott Waldman breaks down the climate stakes of the upcoming Virginia election, how it could set the tone for other state elections in 2024, and why i...

Three New England states reached an agreement Wednesday to coordinate on the development of offshore wind at a time when some companies are trying to renegotiate or even cancel their wind contracts along the Atlantic Coast. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down the details of this agreement, why it’s coming now, and the broader concerns within the offshore wind industry. Plus, a new government...

Democratic Senator Laphonza Butler of California is replacing the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and she’s a mostly unknown quantity to climate change and environmental advocates. POLITICO’s E&E News reporter Timothy Cama breaks down Butler’s limited track record on green issues, how environmentalists are reacting to her, and what this means for California as it aims to be the nation’s green leader....

Several Democratic governors are urging President Joe Biden to offer more subsidies through the Inflation Reduction Act to help vulnerable offshore wind projects across the Northeast – a sign that state leaders in the president’s party are willing to publicly push their clean energy woes onto the White House. POLITICO’s Ry Rivard breaks down the governors’ request, why they are going public, and w...

The Biden administration announced Friday that it is planning to hold the lowest number of auctions in the offshore lease program’s history over the next several years – a move that drew pushback from industry, environmental advocates, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the plan’s details and significance, along with the expected criticisms. Plus, Congres...

For 18 months, the Securities and Exchange Commission has been weighing how to finalize its climate risk disclosure rule. California may have just helped clear the path for the Wall Street regulator with its own landmark legislation. But it’s not clear whether the SEC will follow California's lead or go its own way. POLITICO’s Jordan Wolman breaks down how California’s legislation could impact the...

The Biden administration has been meeting with officials and companies in Africa to shore up the United States’ supply of the critical minerals needed for the clean energy transition while simultaneously diminishing China’s mining dominance in the region. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down why the administration is focusing on Africa along with the pushback from Republicans and advocates for U.S....

Ford Motor Company paused construction on a controversial $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan that’s been caught between the United Auto Workers’ ongoing strike, President Joe Biden’s historic visit to the picket lines, and the GOP’s anti-China rhetoric. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down how Ford’s announcement and Biden’s visit may impact the UAW strike negotiations and the...

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission could be short two members by the end of the year in part because of the looming government shutdown, but some FERC watchers say that could benefit the regulator as it tackles an ambitious portfolio of issues. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down how the potential government shutdown could reshape FERC and what a three-person commission can accomplish...

Regulators in charge of New York’s ambitious clean energy goals have recently grappled with a difficult pattern: companies developing green projects are requesting more public aid on top of the funding New York already agreed to provide. POLITICO’s Marie French explains why this is happening, along with the reaction from state regulators and ratepayer advocates. Plus, thousands of employees at Det...

The Republican party is divided over pipelines carrying carbon dioxide to disposal sites across the country – a key element of President Joe Biden’s plans to fight climate change. POLITICO’s E&E News reporter Mike Soraghan breaks down the internal tension within the party and how the fight has intensified in recent months. Plus, President Joe Biden is expanding the federal government’s use of the...

An effort to erase billions of dollars of debt owed by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, which runs the territory’s rickety power system, is facing pushback. POLITICO’s Gloria Gonzalez breaks down the details of the plan that could bring the utility out of bankruptcy, as well as the criticisms, and why restructuring the utility’s debt is so important to the island’s long-term grid stabilit...

An analysis by POLITICO’s E&E News and First Street revealed issues in the U.S. Green Building Council’s rating system that could spell flood danger for hundreds of structures. E&E News’s Corbin Hiar dissects the LEED certification gaps that are putting the newest generation of climate-friendly buildings in jeopardy. Plus, the EPA lost a lawsuit arguing that the agency wrongly approved a Colorado...

The Biden Administration has been working hard with the Big Three automakers — Ford, GM and Stellantis — to vastly expand the production of electric vehicles, even as it gave a cold shoulder to Tesla. But the UAW’s latest strike may force it to rethink that strategy. POLITICO’s James Bikales explains how this strike may force the White House to build some bridges with Tesla to keep its EV goals on...

Attacks on the U.S. power grid are surging to record levels, but the regulators and government officials in charge of the network’s safety are getting incomplete information about the scale of the threat, according to a POLITICO analysis of federal data and interviews with a dozen security, extremism and electricity experts. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down how utilities, government offi...

A growing number of red states are trying to limit the sales of electric vehicles through new taxes, fees, and laws. Those moves have infuriated EV advocates and created barriers to President Joe Biden’s efforts to decarbonize the transportation sector through widespread EV adoption. POLITICO’s E&E News reporter Adam Aton breaks down why red states are resisting EV adoption and the potential impac...

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is set to hear three legal challenges this week about rules that could strengthen or hinder President Joe Biden’s goal of aggressively boosting electric vehicles sales by 2050, a key part of his climate agenda. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the details of those cases and how they could upend Biden's EV adoption efforts. Plus, FERC staff is pushi...