POLITICO Energy

Jared Polis, Colorado governor and former entrepreneur leading a state rich in energy, agriculture and outdoor recreation. He discusses rising energy prices and the Iran conflict's impact. He talks about utility bills, localizing climate as a bread-and-butter issue, wildfire insurance reforms, balancing oil production with decarbonization, and the need for dispatchable clean resources.

James Bikales, an oil and gas reporter covering commodities and production, and Ben Lefebvre, a deputy energy editor focused on oil markets and policy, unpack rising oil prices and Strait of Hormuz risks. They discuss short-term price spikes, supply and shipping vulnerabilities, and policy tools to manage fuel costs. The conversation highlights regional leverage and global market ripple effects.

Adam Aton, a POLITICO reporter who covers the politics of climate change, explains why many Democratic leaders are shifting to prioritize energy affordability. He discusses the political trade-offs, how federal dynamics reshaped state strategies, impacts on the clean energy industry, and whether this affordability-first pivot is temporary or permanent.

Kelsey Tamborrino, a clean energy reporter who tracks policy and industry shifts, and James Bikales, an oil and gas reporter focused on markets, walk through CERAWeek’s biggest storylines. They discuss Iran-driven market anxiety. They examine AI’s power demand and booming data centers. They unpack high-profile interviews and surprising conference moments like Venezuela and permitting tensions.

Lee Zeldin, former congressman and current EPA administrator steering a deregulatory, National Energy Dominance agenda. He discusses attending major energy forums, U.S. energy diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific, risks around the Strait of Hormuz, legal moves to roll back greenhouse gas authority, and plans for chemical safety and the Make America Healthy Again initiative.

Judy Chang, a Democratic FERC commissioner who oversees U.S. electricity transmission and reliability, joins to discuss grid strain and soaring power costs. She talks about the challenge of massive data center demand, how regulators balance regional planning with quick fixes, and the agency’s independence in high-stakes decisions.

Doug Burgum, U.S. Secretary of the Interior and former North Dakota governor, focused on energy policy and permitting reform. He discusses Iran and timelines for military objectives. He talks about high domestic fuel prices and short-term market fixes. He pushes for permitting reform to unlock investment and for rebuilding critical minerals supply chains to reduce dependence on China.

John Jovanovic, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank, explains a $12 billion plan to build a domestic stockpile of critical minerals. He discusses the public-private VaultCo structure, congressional oversight, and how the effort fits into wider supply-chain and geopolitical competition with China. The conversation also covers EXIM’s wider role in energy projects and regional investment strategies.

Francisco "A.J." Camacho, POLITICO E&E reporter who covers energy and regulatory policy, unpacks a major Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposal. He breaks down proposed radiation standard changes, how they trace back to ALARA’s history, the likely industry and congressional reactions, and the unresolved public health questions.

Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of S&P Global and chair of CERAWeek, is a noted energy analyst and author. He previews the CERAWeek gathering and the clash of geopolitics with markets. He highlights the surge in AI and data centers, LNG’s growing role, copper and mining challenges, and how Middle East tensions are reshaping global energy agendas.