POLITICO Energy

A year into his second term, President Donald Trump has moved aggressively to dismantle America’s offshore wind power industry — pulling permits, wiping out tax credits, and launching agency reviews that have rattled developers. Ben Storrow from POLITICO’s E&E News explains how those actions exposed deep internal divisions within the industry and are putting its business future in serious jeopardy...

How should Democrats talk about energy heading into the 2026 midterm elections? A new survey from a center-left group suggests they should pivot from their 2024 strategy under former President Joe Biden as voters remain anxious about the economy. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Kelsey Tamborrino break down the findings, along with how both parties are struggling to communicate around affordability and...

House Republicans are launching a two-week legislative sprint to update the nation’s permitting laws, aiming to speed up approval for new energy infrastructure projects. But President Donald Trump is creating a politically complicated path for House Republicans. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down what’s in the upcoming bills, how Trump is complicating the push, and whether Republicans can actually...

For the past decade, the U.S. power market was defined by predictability. But in 2025, that stability has broken down, creating an increasingly volatile system at a time when energy prices are rising nationwide. Ben Storrow from POLITICO’s E&E News explores why the U.S. power market is getting messier and why that matters for everyone. Plus, Florida's full congressional delegation is urging the Tr...

Nearly a year into Republican control of the federal government, the oil and gas industry is still waiting on its biggest policy priority: a major overhaul of the nation’s permitting process. While the industry remains generally optimistic about the Trump administration, time is running out for lawmakers to act. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and James Bikales discuss how the industry is still waiting on...

The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it’s relaxing the fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks — a move that will strike a blow against electric vehicle manufacturing and in turn former President Joe Biden’s climate legacy. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the details of the move and the impact on the auto industry and climate. Plus, the National Petroleum Council issue...

President Donald Trump is releasing billions of dollars in federal energy assistance as families across the country grapple with soaring utility bills and the start of the winter heating season. The move offers short-term relief but comes as Trump is also proposing to eliminate the very program that provides it. Brian Dabbs from POLITICO’s E&E news explains how the funding helps families now and w...

President Donald Trump is aggressively rolling back climate regulations in his second term with strong support from Republican lawmakers. But U.S. business groups and industries are worried that the rapid policy swings are creating uncertainty for their long-term planning and global competitiveness. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén explains the business and legal stakes of Trump’s climate deregulatory push...

The Trump administration is pushing for a major nuclear revival as part of its energy dominance agenda and as a way to help the United States win the AI race with China. But U.S. utility companies aren’t on board, hesitating to build new plants despite projections that electricity demand is expected to rapidly rise in the coming years. AJ Camacho from POLITICO’s E&E News explains why utilities are...

Meeting the rising energy demands of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and other emerging technologies is one of the big challenges facing the Trump administration. And Dario Gil, the undersecretary for science at the Energy Department, is one of the key officials searching for solutions. Today, POLITICO Tech host Steven Overly talks with Gil about the administration’s energy priorities,...

The Trump administration is putting a $1 billion dollar loan toward helping restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant. The move underscores the administration’s push for nuclear power as energy bills rise for Americans. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down why the Department of Energy is moving forward with the loan. Plus, the Trump administration launched an effort to roll back the Biden ad...

The U.S. void is big at this year’s United Nations Climate Conference, and China is showing that it's ready to fill the space. POLITICO’s Zack Colman is on the ground and explains the implications of China becoming the dominant force in global climate talks. Plus, environmental groups sued the Interior Department to block a planned oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico next month. Zack Colm...

California regulators have signaled they may block a Biden-era deal to retire the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in the Mojave Desert thanks to grid reliability concerns and regulatory uncertainty. POLITICO’s Noah Baustin joins the show to explain the politics behind the reversal and what the California Public Utilities Commission will do next.  Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLI...

Coastal communities in Louisiana are urging the Supreme Court to take their side in a lawsuit against Chevron and other large oil companies, who they say failed to obtain proper approvals for drilling activity. The state and two parishes are pressing the high court to rule that the dispute should stay in state court – a decision that could have implications for similar energy and climate lawsuits...

New York governor Kathy Hochul has strayed from a more environmentally conscious energy policy in favor of one that includes new oil pipelines and a gas-powered crypto mine in its purview. Environmental activists are dreading Hochul’s decision, yet business and labor interests are rejoicing over it. POLITICO’s Marie French dissects Hochul’s New York climate pivot and what it will mean for energy p...

The International Energy Agency is out with its 2025 World Energy Outlook report and has brought its Current Policy Scenario section back with it. In recent years, the GOP has complained about the omission of the Current Policy Scenario analyzing future energy trends based on enacted laws and measures. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down the report and why its predictions about a natural gas glut...

California governor Gavin Newsom is in Brazil for the United Nations’ COP30 climate summit, touting the Golden State’s climate initiatives — with no President Donald Trump in sight. POLITICO’s Debra Kahn digs into Newsom’s climate showcase and how he’s being received on the world stage. Plus, the Interior Department says National Environmental Policy Act does not apply to offshore federal oil and...

Gas prices have fallen since Donald Trump took office, but experts are debating how much credit President Donald Trump deserves – or if voters are even noticing. POLITICO’s James Bikales joins host Josh Siegel to explain how OPEC’s production moves, record U.S. output and Trump’s foreign policy choices have shaped the current energy landscape. They also discuss whether rising electricity costs, fu...

Rising power demand and AI data centers are causing electric rates to go up. And last week’s elections in Virginia, New Jersey and Georgia showed that voters are starting to notice. On this episode of POLITICO Energy, Josh Siegel and Kelsey Tamborrino break down how Democrats used energy affordability to help them win these key elections, and how Republicans are pivoting their message to close the...

As world leaders gather in Brazil for the COP30 climate conference, the U.S. is taking a very different approach under President Donald Trump. POLITICO’s Zack Colman joins host Josh Siegel to explain how the administration’s enthusiasm for fossil fuel exports is reshaping global climate diplomacy and challenging international climate agreements.   Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO and...

A major deadline is approaching in the high-stakes negotiations over how to share the rapidly shrinking Colorado River — a lifeline for 40 million people across the West. The seven states that depend on it still have not reached an agreement, and the Trump administration is taking an unexpectedly cautious role in the discussions. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down the latest deadline in America’s...

A new report from former Biiden administration staffers, shared first with POLITICO, takes a deep look at why President Joe Biden’s trillion-dollar clean energy agenda wasn’t more successful or durable. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down the main takeaways from the report and what it could mean for U.S. energy policy. Plus, a new report from the United Nations says that new national climate...

An under-the-radar election in Georgia today could show how rising electricity bills are shaping voter sentiment. Two seats on the state’s utility commission are up for grabs, testing whether voters back Republicans aligned with President Donald Trump’s energy agenda or turn to Democrats who are blaming the commission for high costs. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down this race and what it c...

President Donald Trump is trying to reassert the United States as a top exporter of nuclear technology after Russia and China’s bid to dominate the global market in recent decades. Francisco “AJ” Camacho from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down how the US is trying to gain ground and where the competition stands with China and Russia. Plus, the Trump administration will not send “high level representa...

President Donald Trump says China is showing interest in buying U.S. natural gas — specifically from a $44 billion export project in Alaska that’s barely made any progress for more than a decade. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down this potential US-China energy deal, what questions remain and why there’s already Republican skepticism on the Hill. James Bikales is a reporter for POLITICO.  Josh S...