
POLITICO Energy
The latest news in energy and environmental politics & policy — must-know stories and candid insights from POLITICO’s energy team and journalists across our newsroom. All in just five minutes each morning.
Latest episodes

Jun 10, 2024 • 26min
Energy Secretary Granholm on China, IRA and the power grid
POLITICO’s Zack Colman sat down recently with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for a wide-ranging interview about the Inflation Reduction Act, competition with China, the power grid, manufacturing and more. The conversation comes at a critical time for Granholm and the Biden administration as they race to get billions of dollars out the door before the November election and the potential return of President Donald Trump. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switchAnd for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Zack Colman covers climate change for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
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Jun 7, 2024 • 10min
What to know from this week’s POLITICO Energy summit
POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel and reporter James Bikales discuss the biggest takeaways from this week’s POLITICO Energy Summit, where Biden administration officials, lawmakers, activists and business leaders debated the future of energy policy as the 2024 elections loom. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switchAnd for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy James Bikales is the host of Morning Energy and a reporter for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
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Jun 6, 2024 • 19min
One-on-one with FERC chair Willie Phillips
In a live taping at the POLITICO Energy Summit yesterday, host Catherine Morehouse sits down for an extended conversation with Willie Phillips, the chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. They discuss the agency’s regulatory agenda, its latest landmark transmission rule, Phillips’ priorities moving forward, and what more is needed to meet America’s unique energy needs. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switchAnd for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
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Jun 5, 2024 • 9min
Can the Senate confirm FERC nominees before the agency loses quorum?
All three of President Joe Biden’s nominees for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are officially advancing to the full Senate after the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved their nominations. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the nominees’ confirmation path moving forward and why some industry observers remain at the edge of their seats. Plus, the Senate confirmed Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Christopher Hanson to a second term. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switchAnd for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
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Jun 4, 2024 • 8min
How a US-China clean energy dispute could transform the WTO
China’s challenge to U.S. clean energy subsidies under the Inflation Reduction could upend the World Trade Organization by fundamentally changing rules around climate change and trade. POLITICO’s Doug Palmer breaks down the dispute and why it has global implications. Plus, two leading environmental groups are moving to drop their lawsuits challenging the SEC’s landmark climate corporate disclosure rule. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switchAnd for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Doug Palmer is a senior trade reporter for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
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Jun 3, 2024 • 8min
Why the oil industry is doubling down on Trump after last week’s verdict
Former President Donald Trump still has strong support from the oil and gas industry even after his guilty verdict last week. But some industry executives are tired of his constant political drama, and are also growing more nervous about Democrats’ increasing attacks on their businesses. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down how the powerful oil and gas industry is viewing Trump and Biden after last week’s news. Plus, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is urging electric utilities to build new nuclear power reactors. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switchAnd for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
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May 31, 2024 • 9min
Why rich countries could struggle to come up with more climate cash
Wealthy nations belatedly met their goal of sending billions of dollars in climate aid to developing countries. And now, they’re gearing up again to negotiate the next amount of funding they are willing to give, which will likely be a tougher task because the cost of fighting climate change is set to skyrocket. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down how rich countries were late on delivering climate finance and why the price tag is going up. Plus, utilities and industry groups are cautioning EPA against adopting any rule for existing natural gas-fired power plants that would require building significant infrastructure or risk grid reliability. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switchAnd for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Zack Colman covers climate change for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
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May 30, 2024 • 7min
How a former oil CEO accused of collusion is fighting back
Scott Sheffield, the former CEO of one of America’s top oil companies, is firing back against allegations from the Federal Trade Commission that he colluded with OPEC and other oil companies to boost fuel prices. It’s the latest development in a saga that has thrown US oil companies into the political spotlight during the 2024 election season. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down how Sheffield is defending himself and why these allegations have become a political flashpoint. Plus, the Biden administration proposed initial guidance for technology-neutral tax credits expected to account for the bulk of greenhouse gas reductions under Democrats’ climate law. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switchAnd for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO.Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
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May 29, 2024 • 10min
Biden just took a major step to end coal mining. Washington just shrugged.
The Biden administration recently announced that it planned to stop new lease sales at the nation’s leading coal mining basin – a major action that surprisingly received a collective shrug from Washington D.C. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the muted reaction from fossil fuel backers in particular and what their response says about the coal industry’s decline. Plus, San Francisco will face off against the Biden administration in a Supreme Court fight over EPA's ability to set water pollution limits pegged to the health of nearby rivers, lakes and oceans. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switchAnd for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO Pro. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
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May 28, 2024 • 19min
Why the Texas grid CEO says the state is ready for the next power emergency
POLITICO Energy host Catherine Morehouse talks today with Pablo Vegas, the president and chief executive officer of The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which runs the state’s power grid. They discuss how ERCOT is preparing Texas for extreme weather events and what he thinks about the partisan fighting over the system, which has become an increasingly divisive entity on Capitol Hill. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switchAnd for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.
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