POLITICO Energy

Kelsey Tamborrino, a clean energy reporter for POLITICO, discusses a post-mortem by former Biden administration staffers on the administration's clean energy agenda. She highlights critical challenges in implementation, detailing the slow pace of project initiation and the lingering impact of Solyndra’s legacy on risk-averse decision-making. Kelsey also connects funding obligations to a lack of tangible community benefits and suggests learning from past administrations to bolster future clean energy strategies. A new UN report adds urgency, warning that current national plans won't significantly curb rising global temperatures.

In this discussion, Kelsey Tamborrino, a POLITICO reporter specializing in clean energy, delves into a crucial Georgia election impacting energy politics. She explores how rising electricity costs are influencing voter sentiment and whether Republicans or Democrats will emerge victorious in the Public Service Commission race. Kelsey highlights contrasting campaign messages: GOP focuses on reliability and rate freezes, while Democrats target rate hikes and push renewables. The implications for national energy affordability and the Trump administration's investments in rare earth companies are also examined.

Francisco "AJ" Camacho, a reporter for POLITICO's E&E News, dives into the Trump administration's efforts to reposition the U.S. as a leader in nuclear technology. He discusses why nuclear energy is central to U.S. policy, the factors that led to its decline against rivals like Russia and China, and how state support gives these nations an advantage. AJ also highlights the markers to watch for in determining if the U.S. is regaining market share, including new builds and the potential of small modular reactors.

POLITICO reporter James Bikales delves into President Trump's announcement about China's interest in U.S. natural gas, specifically focusing on a $44 billion LNG project in Alaska. He analyzes the project's decade-long stagnation and why it’s suddenly in the spotlight. Skepticism from Republicans emerges, raising questions about China's potential role as a buyer or investor. The discussion provides insight into U.S.-China energy dynamics and highlights the political implications of long-term contracts, making it a compelling listen.

Ben Storrow, a reporter for POLITICO’s E&E News, dives into the high-stakes meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi, focusing on their contrasting energy strategies. Storrow explores how Trump favors fossil fuel exports, while Xi pushes for renewable energy leadership. They discuss the implications of U.S. LNG and Chinese renewables on global markets, and how energy is used as leverage in trade talks. Additionally, he highlights Asia's critical role as energy demand surges, positioning it as a battleground for U.S.-China influence.

Sara Schonhardt, an international climate reporter for E&E News, dives into the challenges ahead of the UN climate conference in Brazil. With countries falling short of Paris Agreement targets, she highlights the impact of the U.S. withdrawal under Trump on global leadership. Rising energy demand and inflation further complicate negotiations, while a bipartisan group of governors urges Congress to reform permitting for energy projects. The stakes are high, making the road to COP30 more daunting than ever.

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 energy reporter and author of Morning Energy for POLITICO.  Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO and the host of POLITICO Energy. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy.  Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hannah Northey, a reporter for POLITICO's E&E News, dives into the U.S. strategy to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals. She discusses how Trump's administration is forging deals with Australia and African nations to bolster domestic supply. Northey highlights China's recent export restrictions, America's investment fund targeting $5 billion, and the challenges in shifting the mineral market dynamics. With FERC's new leadership, the discussion touches on the regulatory impacts on energy infrastructure as well.

Ben Lefebvre, Deputy Energy Editor at POLITICO, unpacks the Trump administration's controversial proposal to open the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for oil drilling. He discusses the anticipated bipartisan backlash, particularly for California Governor Gavin Newsom, who faces a political dilemma balancing energy needs with environmental concerns. Lefebvre also reveals insights into the industry's lukewarm interest in this move and highlights concurrent decisions to open Alaska's wilderness for drilling and mining, raising further environmental alarms.

Ben Lefebvre, deputy energy editor at POLITICO and expert in energy policy, discusses the strategic alliance between the Trump administration and Qatar against EU climate regulations. They argue that these laws could lead to higher energy prices, particularly in the liquefied natural gas sector. Lefebvre reveals how the LNG industry views the sustainability directive as costly and impractical. The conversation explores the implications of this pressure on Europe's climate policies and the broader U.S. strategy to dominate fossil fuel exports.