POLITICO Energy

Congress is moving at full speed ahead of the Thanksgiving break. Today, the Senate Energy Committee will vote on the nominations of Dan Brouillette for Energy secretary, James Danly as FERC boardmember, and Katherine Macgregor for deputy Interior secretary, while the House Energy and Commerce committee holds a massive markup that includes a ban on asbestos and legislation on PFAS chemicals. Meanw...

Regulations for toxic chemicals known as PFAS are expected to come along with the National Defense Authorization Act. But since controversial issues like the border wall are keeping lawmakers from reaching a deal on the NDAA, some House members have launched a major push for regulations, and have a drafted a Hollywood star to their cause. Also, climate activists are taking over the office of the S...

Two Energy reporters dig in to find more about is Ryan Jackson, the EPA chief of staff accused of stonewalling investigations from the agency's watchdog. Also, Dan Brouillette is met by friendly faces at his Senate confirmation hearing. And, Twitter provides more details on its ban on political ads, which could impact messaging on climate change.  Find more on the show at politico.com/energy-podca...

Dan Brouillette heads to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee to begin his confirmation hearings, as he's set to take over from outgoing Secretary Rick Perry next month. Also, one of the Trump administration's most frequent rivals in the courts, California's attorney general Xavier Becerra, sits down for an exclusive interview with POLITICO. And, president Donald Trump confirms that A...

EPA officials are preparing to face questions from the House Science Committee after news broke earlier this week about the agency's new science transparency proposal. But that's not all that's happening on the Hill, as the first witnesses in the impeachment probe prepare their public testimonies. Also, the Bureau of Land Management starts a 30-day notice to its employees ahead of its move west. ...

The EPA is preparing to release an expansion into the science transparency proposal, which would force scientists to release more data used in their studies, including medical records, if they want the agency to consider their conclusions. Meanwhile, Ryan Jackson, the EPA's chief of staff, is facing multiple probes by the agency's inspector general. And, hundreds of activists are expected to flood...

Many important depositions in the impeachment probe were released last week, and Pro's Anthony Adragna and Ben Lefebvre have gone through them to understand how Secretary of Energy Rick Perry's name has come up. Meanwhile, his replacement in the cabinet will get his day in Congress later this week. Plus, Iran says it has found a huge oil field, and there are new reports about the Bureau of Land Ma...

Environmental justice has become an important issue on the 2020 presidential race, and historically ostracized groups are now playing a major role on the campaign trail. Pro's Zack Colman is following these groups, and how environmental justice is playing out on the campaign trail. Also, the E.P.A. inspector general fires back at the agency's leadership, as investigations pile up on the chief of s...

New data released by the E.P.A. shows people across the country are exposed to a cancer-causing chemical at rates a thousand times over what the agency considers acceptable. Still, the agency says there is no cause for alarm. Meanwhile, the agency's watchdog says a top official is refusing to cooperate with an investigation into whether he pressured an independent scientist to modify congressional...

A lawsuit involving water pollution in Hawaii has its first day in the Supreme Court, and the outcome may redefine regulations on pollution permits all across the U.S. POLITICO Pro's Annie Snider discusses the case. Also, Energy secretary Rick Perry's name comes up multiple times in the released depositions of the U.S. ambassador to the E.U., Gordon Sondland, and former special envoy to Ukraine, K...

President Trump's nominee for the Republican vacancy to FERC's board, James Danly, will be testifying before the Senate's Energy and Natural Resources committee, as his path to confirmation begins. But his nomination breaks with tradition of pairing nominations when there are vacancies from both parties. Pro's Gavin Bade discusses this controversy and Danly's nomination. Plus, depositions from the...

Starting today, the administration can begin paperwork to leave the Paris Climate Agreement, a process that could be completed as soon as November, 2020. Pro's Zack Colman discusses how starting the process affects foreign relations related to climate policy. Plus, the E.P.A. is expected to change the rules that govern a potentially toxic leftover from coal-fired power plants. And, more government...

A major U.S.-Canada pipeline has spilled almost 400,000 gallons of oil along wetlands in North Dakota, which may threaten permits for TC Energy's already controversial pipeline, Keystone XL. Also, reports that the administration's much-anticipated federal auto emissions rule will institute annual increases. And, as the deadline to avoid another government shutdown nears, the Senate has passed the...

A Russian natural gas pipeline has received approval to go through Denmark's territory and reach Germany, despite efforts by the U.S. to keep the project from moving along. Now, with a closing window of opportunity, Congress is considering what it can do to keep the pipeline from completion. Also, the E.U. is considering a carbon tax on products that cross its borders. And, the House takes a vote...

Tuesday's testimony by Army Lt. Colonel  Alexander Vindman to House Democrats puts Energy Secretary Rick Perry in the room as top administration officials discussed a possible investigation into Joe Biden by Ukraine. POLITICO Pro's Ben Lefebvre discusses what we know of Perry's involvement in the scandal that sparked the impeachment inquiry. Plus, despite Trump's promises on the campaign trail, co...

House Democrats on the Oversight Committee start going through the Trump administration's decision to roll back automobile fuel economy standards. Also, as Californians deal with massive wildfires and a 2-day planned blackout, many are turning to state leaders for a better solution to fire prevention, forcing local governments to consider options in regulating, and possibly restructuring, the bigg...

The E.P.A.’s decision to repeal the Water of The United States rule without introducing a replacement is forcing agencies to use a decades-old regulation. POLITICO Pro’s environmental reporter Annie Snider discusses the administration’s decision and the lawsuits that it is already facing. Also, Energy Secretary Rick Perry defends the president’s call with the leader of Ukraine that sparked the imp...

POLITICO Pro’s energy editor Matt Daily discuss what president Donald Trump meant when he said some troops would have to stay in northwest Syria to “secure oil fields.” Also, Massachusetts attorney general announces the state is suing Exxon for downplaying potential liability resulting from climate change. And, New York city looks to the Great White North for energy. Find more on the show at polit...

The E.P.A.'s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee begins a 2-day meeting to discuss the agency's science behind the particulate matter standard, but absent in the talks will be a large number of scientists that administrator Andrew Wheeler dismissed last year. Plus, an investigation into whether a Ukrainian natural gas oligarch funneled money into president Trump's campaign through Rudy Giulian...

President Donald Trump will be at the Shale Insight natural gas conference today, where he's expected to formally announce the U.S. will start filing the paperwork to leave the Paris Climate Agreement at the earliest possible date. Also, the Supreme Court opens a door for potential state lawsuits related to climate change. Plus, California environmental policy reporter Debra Kahn discusses the adm...

A modern field of research could reshape the way blame for climate change is distributed, And how culprits are penalized. Pro's Zack Colman explains attribution science, and how it can reshape the fight over climate change policy. Plus, POLITICO's Gavin Bade had a first seat in Kentucky, as a coal magnate presses FERC on grid resilience. Find more on the show at politico.com/energy-podcast.   Lear...

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is looking to push forward several spending bills this week, including some that would set funding levels for the Energy department and the E.P.A. Pro's Gavin Bade is in Kentucky covering an unusual summit on energy. Plus, a look into tensions between FERC's board members. Find more on the show at politico.com/energy-podcast. Learn more about your ad choices....

Secretary Rick Perry, one of the longest-serving members of Trump's cabinet, has announced he will leave the administration by the end of the year. The announcement comes a day before a deadline from House Democrats who are seeking documents related to Perry's role in U.S.-Ukraine relations. Pro's Ben Lefebvre discusses whether Perry's departure puts him closer to a testimony before Congress. Plus...

POLITICO's Annie Snider has unveiled that David Dunlap, E.P.A's research chief,  kept on communicating with officials at the agency about a health assessment of formaldehyde, despite saying he would voluntarily recuse himself given his previous employer. Plus, Congressional Energy reporter Anthony Adragna asks senators whether Rick Perry should comply with the House's subpoena for documents relate...

The EPA's proposed supplemental blending rule for the Renewable Fuel Standards fails to raise the ethanol requirements on fuel production, despite the president's suggestion last week. Pro's Eric Wolff discusses the details of the supplemental blending rule. Plus, the administration considers allowing logging to reach the last frontier. Find more on the show at politico.com/energy-podcast. Learn m...