POLITICO Energy

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are holding face-to-face for the first time since Trump returned to office, with energy expected to be a top-tier issue. Ben Storrow from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down the stakes of this high-tension meeting, the two countries’ contrasting energy strategies and the stakes for the global energy landscape. Plus, the Senate Environment an...

With just two weeks until the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil, a new UN report shows countries are falling far short of their Paris Agreement pledges. Rising energy demand, inflation, and political divisions are adding even more pressure to the talks — especially as U.S. climate leadership wanes under President Donald Trump. Sara Schonhardt from POLITICO’s E&E News unpacks what’s at stake h...

The Trump administration is pressing the newly whole Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to speed up how quickly data centers can connect to the U.S. power grid. POLITICO’s Isa Domínguez breaks down the ambitious DOE proposal, the reaction from FERC watchers, and what to expect next. Plus, Exxon Mobil is suing California over its first-in-the-nation climate disclosure laws. Isa Domínguez is an en...

President Donald Trump is ramping up efforts to boost America’s supply of critical minerals by striking a deal with Australia, pitching potential partnerships with African leaders, and launching a multibillion-dollar investment fund to develop new sources. The push comes as Washington tries to loosen its reliance on China, which still dominates the global supply of critical minerals and recently f...

The Trump administration is preparing to propose opening up federal waters in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for new oil drilling — a move that’s expected to spark strong backlash from governors in coastal states across party lines and could specifically put California Governor Gavin Newsom in a tough political position. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down this potential proposal, the politi...

The Trump administration and the government of Qatar are warning the European Union to roll back a major corporate climate regulation — or risk higher energy prices. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down why Washington and Doha are teaming up to target this specific law and how Trump is once again using energy as a political weapon against Europe. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO and t...

A powerful typhoon recently devastated the Native Alaskan village of Kipnuk — months after the Trump administration canceled a $20 million EPA grant meant to protect it from flooding. Now, Kipnuk and dozens of other towns are fighting that decision in court. Jean Chemnick from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down what happened in Kipnuk, why the grants were pulled, and what’s at stake for federal clima...

The ongoing government shutdown has sent uneven shock waves through federal climate and energy agencies, leaving operations frozen, offices short-staffed and priorities in limbo. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the shutdown’s impact on those agencies and how it compares to previous shutdowns. Plus, the United States and Australia announced an agreement on Monday to jointly invest in the mining...

POLITICO is exclusively reporting that Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s relationship with the White House is strained because of a series of political missteps and policy disputes, according to 10 people familiar with the dynamic. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down why there’s tension and if Wright’s job is in jeopardy. Plus, the Trump administration is preparing to allow oil and gas leasing across...

The Trump administration is relaunching and rebranding the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office starting with a $1.6 billion loan guarantee to rebuild thousands of miles of electric transmission lines. The move comes after months of Republican criticism that had called the future of the office into question. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down how Trump is revamping the Loan Programs Offi...

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finally has a full slate of commissioners for the first time in six months, and the agency faces a packed agenda. POLITICO’s Isa Domínguez breaks down what’s ahead for the commission, how the White House is influencing its agenda, and why these decisions matter for consumers and the tech industry alike. Plus, President Donald Trump’s trade war just cost Can...

The Trump administration has dealt another blow to renewable energy. Last week, the Bureau of Land Management sent back to the drawing board the country’s biggest proposed solar project, known as the Esmerelda Seven in Nevada. But even though President Donald Trump’s administration was behind the move, not all Republicans are taking it lightly, especially as energy demand is set to surge to feed t...

President Donald Trump is giving energy companies something they’ve wanted for years: a quicker timeline for oil and gas drilling permit approvals. According to a new analysis by POLITICO, Trump’s Bureau of Land Management has issued 4,483 applications for permits to drill on federal and Native American land — more than double the number approved during the first year of his first term.  POLITICO’...

America’s oil industry is hitting record highs, but the boom may not last as production surges, demand stagnates and storage tanks around the world fill up. That slowdown could deliver a political double-edged sword for President Donald Trump: cheaper fuel for consumers, but trouble for his biggest ally. Ben Storrow from POLITICO’s E&E News explains why America’s oil producers are bracing for a bu...

Artificial intelligence’s growing thirst for power is putting New York’s energy and climate goals under pressure by straining the state’s power system, driving up costs and threatening its ambitious clean energy targets. POLITICO’s Marie French breaks down how New York is trying to balance AI growth with its environmental goals and what this story means for other states facing similar challenges....

The Trump administration is warning of looming power shortages just as electricity prices rise in the country. But it’s also moving to cancel $8 billion in clean energy funding meant to boost power generation and modernize the grid. POLITICO’s James Bikales, Kelsey Tamborrino and Josh Siegel discuss what these cuts could mean for the country’s energy supply, electricity prices, and how both partie...

A new POLITICO analysis shows states that embrace renewable energy are more likely to save money for consumers compared to those relying on fossil fuels or nuclear power. It’s a finding that undermines one of the Trump administration’s main justifications for its aggressive rollback of federal clean energy policies. POLITICO’s Catherine Allen and Matt Daily break down what the data shows and the p...

The Trump administration has canceled funding for nearly half of the federally backed megaprojects designed to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — a major blow to the U.S. direct air capture industry that had flourished under former President Joe Biden. Corbin Hiar from POLITICO’s E&E News breaks down how these cuts could reshape the future of U.S. carbon removal, why the projects matter for...

President Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on clean energy, cutting $8 billion in funding in states that didn’t vote for him in last year’s election – but some GOP districts will take some collateral damage. The decision comes amid a heated partisan blame game over the ongoing government shutdown and builds on Trump’s broader rollback of clean energy policies. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino un...

The Trump administration is making a new move to secure America’s critical minerals: taking an ownership stake in a Nevada lithium mine alongside its developer. The deal is designed to boost U.S. supplies of lithium, a key component of electric vehicles and renewable energy. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down the details and implications of this unusual agreement. Plus, roughly 60 percent of Ene...

Even though the Trump administration and Republicans have scaled back federal support for electric vehicles, more than 40 red and blue states across the country are moving ahead with  plans to tap into billions in federal funding to build fast-charging EV networks. POLITICO’s James Bikales breaks down why states are racing to expand EV infrastructure despite mixed signals from Washington and what...

The Trump administration announced its latest major push this week to revive the U.S. coal industry including new funding, land leases and looser regulatory rules. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the details and impact of the move for the industry, along with what it means for rising electricity prices. Plus, the Energy Department has added “climate change,” “green” and “decarbonization” to it...

The Trump administration is considering using weapons-grade plutonium to help fuel a new wave of nuclear reactors. But these plans are already concerning Democratic lawmakers and some Department of Energy officials, who worry that allowing commercial nuclear producers to have the material could pose defense and safety issues. POLITICO’s Zack Colman cracks open the details of how this nuclear fuel...

President Donald Trump hasn’t been a big fan of renewable energy. And on the international stage, he’s used some unusual diplomacy to get his point across. These two themes collided earlier this week in New York City, where heads of state gathered for the UN General Assembly. In a nearly hour-long speech, Trump eviscerated his peers for falling for what he called the “the green energy scam.” Meanw...

EPA’s power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions might get switched off sooner than expected. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin intends to sign off next week on the final policy and legal justifications for repealing the so-called endangerment finding and Biden-era climate rules for cars and trucks, according to a scoop from E&E’s Jean Chemnick. But Zeldin and the EPA may come to regret this accelerate...