POLITICO Energy

Alaska Republicans managed to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling in the 2017 tax law. But when the federal government tried to sell leases for oil production opened earlier this week, there was little interest. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre, on the massive flop, and whether it means the end for ANWR’s oil dreams. Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter for POLITICO and host of POLIT...

January 6th, 2021 is a day that will live in infamy: over the afternoon, supporters of outgoing president Donald Trump took over the Capitol building as a joint session was set to confirm Joe Biden’s win of the White House. The resulting riot left a woman dead and multiple injured. But on the same day, results out of Georgia handed Democrats both Senate seats, flipping the upper chamber, and givin...

The EPA relies on scientific studies to do its job. But recently, the agency has become weary of studies that don’t share as much of their data as the agency would like. So much so that yesterday, administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the long-awaited “transparency rule,” a rule that will force the EPA to give more weight to studies that disclose more data. Today, POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks d...

More than a decade ago, Joe Biden helped negotiate a historic stimulus package to help the American economy recover from the great recession. But the success of the economic recovery left billions of dollars in the federal government’s accounts without use, money that was meant to help green energy technologies. POLITICO’s Zack Colman, on how the incoming Biden administration could put this money...

This episode first aired on June 30th. According to the government’s floodplain, 8 million homes are prone to flooding in the next 100 years. But a new study released Monday suggests the number could be nearly double. POLITICO’s Zack Colman looks at why rising tides are raising the odds, and how it could impact some already vulnerable communities.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

This episode first aired on October 20th. Governments have spent decades telling the public of the importance of recycling and separating their waste. And a major ally in these efforts has been a little triangle made of curving arrows that is supposed to symbolize that a material can be recycled. But ultimately, recycling has failed to make a sizable impact on the plastic pollution across the worl...

This episode originally aired on July 10. Long gone are the days where we dreamed of flying cars and teleporting for the future. POLITICO Europe’s Aitor Hernandez-Morales reports European leaders’ vision include no cars and what they call smaller, happier living. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The technologies that protect us, move us and power our daily lives require mining minerals and metals in distant places. But access to these essential materials is increasingly under threat. Hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath talk with experts who are sounding the alarm.  Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations".Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations". Annie Rees is a producer for P...

Yesterday, we finally learned president-elect Joe Biden’s picks for Interior and EPA heads. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman, Ben Lefebvre, and Alex Guillen join Anthony Adragna to discuss how the incoming Biden administration is shaping to be the most climate-change focused administration yet. Ben Lefebvre covers energy for POLITICO.Zack Colman is an energy reporter for POLITICO.Alex Guillen covers...

Could Biden finish his cabinet before the new year? Adding to the nominations already announced, yesterday Pete Buttigieg was introduced as the president-elect’s pick for Transportation Department, and that was just the first of many nominees to be reported in a busy midweek. Today, Tyler Pager, Zack Colman, Sam Mintz, and Alex Guillen, on the incoming administration’s nominees for the Energy and...

If you think you’re bad at leaving things for the last minute, just look at Congress. Bipartisan lawmakers are working against the clock to get a government spending bill through before the end of the year. Today, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna reports on the many energy provisions that could ride along with the must-pass funding package.  Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter for POLITICO and host of...

European oil giants are promising to move away from fossil fuels and transition into green energy companies. But that’s not a pledge America’s giants are willing to make. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre, on Exxon Mobil’s latest climate pledge, and what the company hopes to gain from a less ambitious goal. Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter for POLITICO and host of POLITICO Energy. Ben Lefebvre covers e...

Throughout the Trump era, oil companies big and small embraced systemic deregulation that allowed them to increase revenue through higher pollution. But the administration’s scale-back of methane rules ended up hurting oil companies, who are now losing international deals because of their impact to the environment. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre, on why big fossil fuel companies are suggesting some new o...

What will it take to secure access to the critical minerals we need for the future — and can we solve one environmental challenge without creating a new one? Hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath talk to political leaders around the world about what they are doing to shore up access to critical minerals. Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations".Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations". A...

Joe Biden’s cabinet is taking shape. The president-elect has already announced his picks for theState, Health and Human Services, and Defense Departments -- even a special envoy for climate change. But the key energy and environment positions are still pending. POLITICO’s Zack Colman, Ben Lefebvre, and Anthony Adragna round up the top contenders for Energy, Interior, and the EPA. Anthony Adragna i...

Democrats have their eyes on the two runoff races in Georgia next January in order to set their agenda. But when it comes to climate policy, flipping the Senate will be crucial toward determining the scope of Democratic climate pushes. Today, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna, on how Democrats want to push for climate policy in the next Congress. Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter for POLITICO and hos...

There’s no doubt that President-elect Joe Biden’s EPA will restore many of the regulations set by the Obama administration and lead domestic climate change priorities. But as Mary Nichols gains traction as Biden's pick to lead the EPA, environmental justice groups are  concerned about her record on that issue. POLITICO’s Zack Colman and Debra Kahn, on the group's concerns about Nichols.  Anthony A...

Since the 2017 tax law, the Trump administration has had the power to open a part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil production. But it’s been the last month when the Interior Department has rushed to get the paperwork in places so companies can begin work. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre, on why regardless of the administration’s fierce pace, the path ahead for drilling in ANWR is dotted with...

As the fifth biggest American river, the Colorado river has served growing cities and a large portion of farmers along 7 states. But 20 consecutive years of drought have challenged the access to water and brought bitter discord between rural and urban communities. POLITICO’s Annie Snider spoke to one Colorado rancher who’s working on a solution centered around cooperation rather than conflict. Ant...

To understand how essential critical minerals are to our world, we turn to a case study: cobalt. This mineral is proving key to the future of green energy, defense and high tech manufacturing — not to mention electric vehicles. But cobalt has its challenges. Hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath look at China’s dominant role in global cobalt mining and the serious problems that can arise if other coun...

Joe Biden has made clear he wants his cabinet and White House team to make climate change a central part of their agenda. But the president-elect’s choice to lead the National Economic Council has drawn fire from some on the left for his work at investment giant BlackRock – even though he helped out climate change the radar there. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman on why Joe Biden’s climate-change con...

50 years and one day today, president Richard Nixon officially signed the EPA into existence. Since then, the agency has successfully combatted water pollution, reduced smog, and cleaned up contaminated mines. But the partisan fight over federal action against climate change has turned into a modern battle for the agency’s future, and what its mission should be. POLITICO’s Alex Guillen explains. A...

Natural disasters are growing stronger and more frequent from climate change. Every hurricane or wildfire can be a multi-billion dollar financial loss for the American economy. POLITICO’s Zack Colman reports that failure to price in the risk of natural disasters is creating a bubble in the housing market, one that could burst in the coming years. Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter for POLITICO...

For years, American natural gas benefitted from a federal government who pushed liquified natural gas exports through its diplomatic channels. But even before the presidential election, there were some new signs of resistance to American gas due to its emissions. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre, on how the incoming Biden administration could use this shift to push for stricter environmental regulat...

Since the beginning of his administration, Donald Trump embraced increasing American production of natural gas and commercializing it across the world. And the push to promote natural gas was so strong that it tensed up the US relations with many strategic allies. But in the weeks leading up to the 2020 election, some European countries started walking back on these natural gas deals, citing clima...