POLITICO Energy

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to reclaim more than $20 billion in climate grants awarded under the Biden administration. The ruling is a setback for the Trump administration, which is moving to dismantle President Joe Biden’s clean energy agenda. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down the ruling’s impact on Trump’s EPA and the grantee recipients, along with what’s next in this saga. Plus, the Trump administration conditionally approved a liquefied natural gas export authorization for Venture Global’s long-stalled CP2 project in Louisiana.Zack Colman covers climate change for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO.Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for 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-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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Developers, grid experts and clean energy advocates are pushing the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress to quickly get behind a buildout of new transmission infrastructure in order to meet America’s rising electricity demand. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the urgent need for transmission in the US, the Trump administration’s plans to address this issue, and how the Supreme Court might play a role. Plus, the Trump EPA is planning a sweeping removal of its scientists as part of a reorganization that will eliminate the agency’s existing science office, according to House Democrats.Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO.Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for 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-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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oil and gas executives have been big backers of President Donald Trump and his energy dominance agenda. But the trade fights Trump has triggered are set to drive up costs for oil and gas companies. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre, who was at CERAWeek last week, breaks down how the oil industry is feeling about Trump behind closed doors. Plus, the Trump administration said it would disburse nearly $57 million to help restart a shuttered nuclear plant that secured financing under the Biden administration.Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO.Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for 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-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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Waldman, a White House reporter for E&E News focused on climate change, dives into the Department of Defense's controversial decision to halt climate initiatives. He discusses how this move could potentially jeopardize military readiness and strategic objectives. Waldman highlights the intricate link between climate efforts and national security, cautioning against the long-term repercussions of budget cuts on the military's operational effectiveness. The conversation sheds light on the evolving political landscape regarding climate science within federal agencies.

Critical minerals are becoming a hot topic in Washington, bridging gaps between Republicans and Democrats. There's a renewed push to lessen U.S. reliance on China for these essential materials. Legislative efforts are underway, with recent hearings exploring domestic production boosts. However, political challenges loom, especially regarding environmental protections and mining royalties. The progress on EPA nominations is also crucial, affecting future climate regulations. It's an exciting time for energy, as both sides work towards common goals.

In this installment, Alex Guillén, an energy reporter for POLITICO Pro, discusses the recent sweeping changes by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. He details the end of environmental justice initiatives and the termination of $20 billion in climate grants. Alex examines the major deregulatory push aimed at revising regulations on greenhouse gases, highlighting the anticipated legal challenges from environmental advocates. The conversation dives into the broader implications for environmental policy and advocacy amid political pushback.

Despite Trump administration officials touting their moves to boost oil and gas, the head of one of America’s largest utilities said renewable projects remain more attractive because of a shortage of natural gas turbines. POLITICO Energy Editor Matt Daily breaks down the somewhat contradictory messages coming out of CERAWeek, if there’s anything Trump can do to solve this problem and what this means for America’s energy outlook. Plus, former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Chris Hanson emphasized the importance of the agency’s independence following a recent executive order from President Donald Trump.Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO.Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for 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-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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twenty-one House Republicans are pushing their party to preserve some of the clean energy tax credits in the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, and they’re warning that they could oppose the GOP’s multi trillion-dollar tax-cut package if those credits are repealed. POLITICO’s Josh Siegel and James Bikales discuss why some Republicans are defending those IRA incentives and how it complicates President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. Plus, the Energy Department on Monday issued a permit extension for the proposed Delfin liquefied natural gas export project.James Bikales is a reporter for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO.Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for 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-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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CERAWeek, the biggest annual energy conference in the world, kicks off today in Houston, Texas where thousands of energy executives, leaders, lobbyists and Trump administration officials will gather to discuss the state of the industry. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down how the industry is feeling publicly and privately about the Trump administration so far and what to expect from the conference. Plus, EPA will end a novel enforcement lawsuit brought against a chemical plant in Louisiana that was a centerpiece of the Biden administration’s environmental justice agenda.Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO.Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for 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-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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By law, Puerto Rico has committed to getting 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. But that mandated effort is being threatened by Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón, a fossil fuel advocate and ally of President Donald Trump’s. POLITICO deputy energy editor Gloria Gonzalez breaks down how Puerto Rico’s new governor is putting the territory’s clean energy transition in doubt. Plus, the Trump administration canceled 21 grants for work on low-carbon construction materials this week.Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO.Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for 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-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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices