POLITICO Energy

The Biden administration is releasing a major new regulation aimed at slashing or capturing emissions from new and existing coal and natural gas plants. Republicans plan to use that regulation to attack vulnerable Democrats and President Joe Biden heading into the 2024 elections. Some Democrats counter that the GOP’s strategy will be out of step with voters, while others are distancing themselves from Biden’s climate policies. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down the complicated politics behind Biden’s new power plant rule. Plus, the White House said on Wednesday it wants permitting reform removed from negotiations with Republicans to raise the debt limit. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy.Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Brook Hayes edited this POLITICO energy podcast.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden administration is proposing to fight climate change by investing billions of dollars into carbon capture projects. However, some environmental justice groups are trying to stop these projects, and their resistance is gaining traction in communities across the country. POLITICO’s Allison Prang breaks down why Biden’s carbon capture plan is facing challenges. Plus, the Department of Energy starts the process to make it easier to build large power lines in the United States. Allison Prang covers sustainability for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Brook Hayes edited this POLITICO energy podcast.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) decides to run for reelection in 2024, he might be the most vulnerable Democratic senator in the country. West Virginia is a deep red state, and Manchin’s approval rating has plummeted according to a recent Morning Consult poll. But he hasn’t lost in West Virginia since the 1990s, and he’s long-benefited from distancing himself from national Democratic leaders and attacking party-line policies, including the Inflation Reduction Act. POLITICO’s Holly Otterbein breaks down the signals to Manchin’s eventual re-election decision. Plus, a panel of federal judges expressed skepticism about an effort by major oil companies to move a climate change lawsuit brought by the District of Columbia into federal court. Holly Otterbein is a national political reporter for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Brook Hayes edited this POLITICO energy podcast.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats and Republicans agree that the United States must end its dependence on China for clean energy components. But both parties say the other side isn’t tough enough on Beijing and their proposed strategies aren’t helping the US become the world's dominant clean energy economy. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino and Josh Siegel break down how the clean energy industry is responding to the partisan fight. Plus, the Department of Transportation is proposing a new rule cracking down on natural gas pipeline leaks. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy.Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Brook Hayes edited this POLITICO energy podcast.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York is set to become the first state in the country to ban natural gas and other fossil fuels in new buildings through legislation. Enacted on Tuesday, the ban will affect most new smaller buildings starting in 2026 and larger buildings in 2029. It's part of the state’s effort to switch to cleaner energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. Climate advocates applaud the legislation, but it could also spark pushback and challenges from fossil fuel interests and Republican lawmakers. POLITICO’s Marie French breaks down the impact of the ban. Also, key Senate Republicans introduced a pair of bills intended to speed up the approval process of fossil fuel and renewable energy projects. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Marie J. French covers energy and the environment for POLITICO New York. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Brook Hayes edited this POLITICO energy podcast.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senator Joe Manchin helped write and pass the Inflation Reduction Act last summer, but lately he’s been criticizing the Biden administration’s implementation of it, saying the White House has strayed from the purpose of the bill. Democrats are growing concerned about Manchin’s attacks and disagree that the Biden administration has diverged from the law’s intent. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel breaks down Manchin’s criticism and why he’s been particularly outspoken recently. Plus, the Senate voted Wednesday with bipartisan support to pass a resolution undoing President Biden’s two-year pause on solar import tariffs from four Southeast Asian countries. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy.Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Brook Hayes edited this POLITICO energy podcast.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case aimed at overturning a legal precedent that helps federal agencies defend environmental rules in courts. So-called “Chevron deference,” which conservatives have targeted for years, says courts should defer to a government agency interpretation when laws passed by Congress are ambiguous. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the legal principle, why the court is taking up this case now, and how it could impact the Biden administration’s climate initiatives. Plus, Sen.Joe Manchin is accusing the Biden administration of jeopardizing offshore oil and renewable energy development. 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.Brook Hayes edited this POLITICO energy podcast.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California state regulators approved new rules last week phasing out combustion engines in trucks, buses and trains in the coming years as the state shifts toward zero-emission vehicles. POLITICO’s Wes Venteicher breaks down the details of these new rules and potential implications for other states. Plus, the Supreme Court announced on Monday that next term it will hear a case on federal agencies authority to interpret ambiguous statutes. The outcome could have major implications for the Biden administration’s climate agenda. Wes Venteicher covers climate and energy energy news in California for POLITICO. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy.Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Brook Hayes edited this POLITICO energy podcast.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ethanol industry scored two major political victories last week: The Environmental Protection Agency said it would allow the sale of higher-ethanol gasoline this summer, and corn-state Republican lawmakers protected incentives for biofuels in the House GOP’s debt ceiling package. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down the ethanol industry’s wins and influence in D.C. Plus, the House delivered a rebuke to President Joe Biden on Friday by voting to rescind his solar tariff moratorium. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy.Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Brook Hayes edited this POLITICO energy podcast.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans aim to make the fossil fuel-centered energy package that passed last month in the House a core asset heading into the 2024 elections. However, new polling shared with POLITICO shows that the GOP’s message isn’t getting through to voters. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and Zack Colman discuss why fossil fuel policies are a central part of the GOP’s 2024 campaign strategy, despite difficulty translating energy issues into campaign trail slogans. Plus, Republican lawmakers are urging FERC to take concrete steps to improve the reliability of the power grid. Zack Colman covers climate change for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Brook Hayes edited this POLITICO energy podcast.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices