POLITICO Energy

In the middle of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt founded the Civilian Conservation Corps, a group responsible for hiring hundreds of thousands of white men to develop trails and build infrastructure that is still standing today. Now, Democrats want to create a similar, but more divers, group to build a new Corps to help the economy recover from the pandemic and fight climate change at on...

Climate change is driving temperatures higher across the world, and making heatwaves in the country increasingly frequent. The record temperatures are a risk for millions during hot months, and in most of the country, workers have no legally enforced protections from heat stress. Now, the Biden administration has decided to step in. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman reports on the administration’s pla...

President Biden’s push for an electric future requires a dramatic surge in demand for minerals like copper and zinc. But in order to get these minerals within our borders, the administration may need to open protected lands for mining, and that means building a road to a remote site in Alaska that’s near the northernmost point of the mountain range that stretches to the American Rockies. Today, Ad...

This summer, one of Exxon’s top lobbyists broke the first rule of lobbying: don’t give away the game plan, especially to an undercover environmentalist. Since the dramatic interview aired on British TV, House Democrats have been investigating whether American oil giants’ have deployed a disinformation campaign casting doubt on the science on climate change and their climate commitments. Today, POL...

After marathon committee markups, the Democrats’ reconciliation package made it out of two huge committees unscathed: Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means. But what exactly made it through, and does it stand a chance in the Senate? POLITICO’s Alex Guillen and Kelsey Tamborrino report. Kelsey Tamborrino covers Energy for POLITICO.Alex Guillen covers the EPA and environmental issues for POLITICO.A...

American companies have spent months promoting their climate pledges and their environmental commitments. But now, with the reconciliation bill tagging on big tax hikes to climate proposals and possibly threatening to hurt bottom lines, they face the real test of whether they'll stand by their climate plans over how much they really back their climate plans is on. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman exp...

Last week, President Biden announced the nomination of Willie Phillips to the vacant seat at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If confirmed, Phillips’ vote could finally tip the scales at the commission in favor of the Democrats, and potentially help enact the president’s ambitious green agenda. But POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse reports that not all environmentalists believe Phillips was...

House Democrats outlined hundreds of billions of dollars in climate and energy initiatives for their portion of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, including a national clean electricity program and a national green bank, funding the replacement of lead water pipes and building out the country’s electric vehicle infrastructure. POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna reports.   Annie Snider covers...

President Joe Biden said on Thursday he would nominate Washington, D.C., utility regulator Willie Phillips to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse reports.   Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro.  Catherine Morehouse covers climate change for POLITICO.  Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.  Raghu Manavalan is the host-producer of the P...

The summer of 2021 is changing the way Canadians think about climate change, but both main parties are struggling to define their message — and uphold Canada's international commitments. POLITICO’s Zi-Ann Lum explains.   Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro.  Zi-Ann Lum covers Canadian federal politics and energy and environmental policy for POLITICO and POLITICO Pro Canada. Nirmal Mu...

Hurricane Ida has left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power. The damage and frustration across the state has put a spotlight on Louisiana's biggest utility company, Entergy. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains the problems that power grids like Entergy’s have in preparing for future disasters like Ida.    Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro.  Catherine More...

Hurricane Ida’s lashing of Louisiana is supercharging a fight in Washington over spending tens of billions of dollars to protect the U.S. from future storms. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains.  Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro.  Zack Colman covers climate change for POLITICO.  Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.  Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO’s audio...

With the Senate’s infrastructure bill waiting on the House floor and both parties ready to begin discussing a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, Democrats are hoping to get many of President Biden’s priorities across the finish line. And today, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna reports that includes a big part of the administration’s climate goals. Anthony Adragna is a Congress reporter for POL...

Scientists have known for a long time that climate change affects natural disasters. But now a new branch of science claims to be able to pinpoint how much responsibility climate change holds for specific events within weeks of the disasters taking place. Today, POLITICO’s Karl Mathiesen discusses how attribution science works, and how it can help prepare cities and countries in the face of a chan...

Presidential candidates follow certain traditions: eggs at a New Hampshire diner, ice cream on a hot summer day… and support for ethanol if they’recampaigning in Iowa. But once a candidate gets to the White House, a complicated reality will dawn on them: keeping both oil refiners and corn producers happy is an almost impossible task. Today, POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino, on how the Biden White Hous...

The president wants farmers to help fight climate change by joining carbon capture and sequestration programs. The problem? Most of the requirements for these programs are online, and thousands of farmers lack broadband access at their farms. Today, POLITICO’s Tatyana Monnay explores the internet barrier keeping farmers from helping fight climate change. Tatyana Monnay writes about agriculture for...

The House comes back into session today to deal with a packed agenda that includes both the massive Senate-passed infrastructure bill and an even bigger budget resolution. But the future of both bills is threatened by a standoff between House leadership, progressives and the White House who all want significant climate action and moderates who fear the price tag is just too big. Today, POLITICO’s...

Water management has been a hot potato issue in California for many, many years. But with massive wildfires burning through the state right as a mega-drought hits the West, the Biden administration and top state officials are scrambling to come up with solutions. Today, POLITICO’s Debra Kahn and Annie Snider explain the complicated dynamics at play, and why the Biden administration is not putting...

Some scientists looking for clean energy solutions have spent years researching the capabilities of hydrogen. Earlier this month, the Senate included funding for clean hydrogen technologies in hopes that it will be part of America’s net-zero emissions future. But is hydrogen actually net zero? Today, POLITICO’s Matthew Choi explains how complicated this question is. Matthew Choi is an energy repor...

When the executive director of the Sierra Club abruptly left late last week, many wondered what was going on behind the scenes at the storied environmental organization. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman has some answers, and they get at the core of Sierra Club founder John Muir’s racial legacy and memory. Zack Colman is an energy reporter for POLITICO.Kelsey Tamborrino covers Energy for POLITICO.Ragh...

The Colorado River is a critical water source for millions of people in both cities and farms across seven states and Mexico. But extremely dire temperatures in the last decades are now set to force some states to cut their use of the river for water access. Today, POLITICO’s Annie Snider explains the extreme conditions brought to the river by climate change, and the federal government’s extreme m...

Marijuana production is booming in the US as more states continue to move towards legalization or decriminalization. But cannabis production can take a lot of energy depending on where it’s grown. Today, POLITICO’s Natalie Fertig, on the environmental impact of cannabis, and how a federal legalization could help lower it. Kelsey Tamborrino covers Energy for POLITICO.Natalie Fertig covers cannabis...

The UN’s report on the state of climate change shook most of America’s politicians and leaders. But despite the dire warnings, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna and Ben Lefebvre report that most Republicans opted to deflect and punt on the question. Ben Lefebvre covers energy for POLITICO.Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter for POLITICO and host of POLITICO Energy. Carlos Prieto is a Politico podcast p...

Carbon capture and sequestration is a technology that can suck the carbon out of high-emitting facilities and bury it underground. Sounds like a great way to fight climate change, right? In reality, the technology is more complicated and far more controversial. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains why some climate-friendly senators are willing to deploy billions of dollars to make CCS happen ev...

As the Senate finally voted to pass the massive infrastructure bill, Democrats quickly moved on to their next big item: the details of the even bigger reconciliation package. The $3.5 trillion package is expected to jumpstart Congress’ fight against climate change, but it will take time to get all Democrats on board. POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna has the details. Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter...