POLITICO Energy

Ever since Congress passed the Clean Water Act more than fifty years ago, the EPA, the White House and the Supreme Court have wrestled over what legally constitutes “Waters of the United States.” This past Friday, the Biden administration finalized a rule to expand protections from the Clean Water Act nationwide, but the Supreme Court’s decision in an upcoming case could complicate the situation. POLITICO’s Annie Snider reports.Kelsey Tamborrino is a clean energy reporter for POLITICO.Annie Snider is a water issues reporter for POLITICO Pro.Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO.Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People are shooting, sabotaging and vandalizing the nation’s power system at a pace unseen in at least a decade, according to DOE data analyzed by POLITICO. Pro’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down the alarming trend and how federal regulators are responding, especially as the Biden administration and Congress seek to expand the power grid to accommodate renewable energy and electric vehicles.  Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Geothermal energy — the technology that harnesses the heat beneath the Earth’s crust — is poised for growth due to an influx of federal funding, advances in technology, state incentives and interest from the Biden administration and the oil and gas sector. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down why geothermal energy is drawing fresh interest now and the different regulatory, financial and technological obstacles it still faces. Plus, the Senate passed a $1.7 trillion government funding bill on Thursday, sending the package to the House for approval today ahead of a midnight deadline.  Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy.Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, an influential New York panel adopted a road map of climate and clean energy measures designed tohelp the state meet its ambitious green goals. But several concerns remain about the implementation of New York’s plan. POLITICO’s Marie French breaks down the state’s new climate effort and unanswered questions. Plus, environmental groups are suing the Interior Department to stop the planned Cook Inlet oil lease sale.  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.Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s aggressive policies to transition off fossil fuels are posing a growing threat to the state’s oil industry – and a new tax on refining is the latest front in the battle. But the industry says it isn’t giving up without a fight. POLITICO’s Wes Venteicher breaks down why Newsom and the oil industry are on a major collision course. Plus, inside the energy and climate toplines in the $1.7 trillion year-end omnibus spending package released by senior lawmakers early Tuesday.  Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Wes Venteicher covers climate and energy energy news in California for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

European officials have been critical of the clean energy subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act. But that criticism has raised eyebrows in Washington, where officials say the law does exactly what Europe has long pressed the United States to do: get serious about fighting climate change. POLITICO’s Karl Mathiesen breaks down the European outrage over the IRA, America’s response, and how the legislation could actually influence European decarbonization policies. Plus, a new proposal from the Department of Energy aims to strengthen efficiency standards for lightbulbs.  Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Karl Mathiesen is the senior climate correspondent for POLITICO Europe. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oil and chemical companies are investing in chemical recycling, aided by favorable laws passed primarily by GOP-controlled state legislatures. These companies say the technology can help address the country’s plastics crisis by increasing recycling rates and reducing the amount of waste dumped into landfills and polluting the world’s waterways. But environmental groups argue that the pollutants released by the process could be dangerous enough to negate any potential benefits. POLITICO’s Jordan Wolman breaks down the pros and cons of chemical recycling. Plus, the Biden administration is set to start refilling Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Jordan Wolman is a sustainability reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Thursday, FERC Chair Richard Glick said he will depart the agency at the end of the year when the Senate adjourns. Glick’s long-anticipated exit will leave behind a 2-2 deadlock on the commission, which could delay progress on the agency’s ambitious transmission agenda and impact consideration of environmental justice and climate change factors in the permitting process. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse breaks down why Glick is leaving and how it impacts FERC. Plus, Senator Joe Manchin's permitting push suffered a final defeat in a Senate vote Thursday. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nine east coast states on Monday released a plan to create a fund that would compensate fishing interests for losses related to offshore wind development. These fishing interests are worried that the wind farms will hurt their profitability and create more competition. But some states like New York and New Jersey — along with the Biden administration — are hoping to use the clean energy generated from these wind farms as part of their ambitious plans to combat climate change. POLITICO’s Ry Rivard breaks down the plan and what’s at stake if it falls apart. Plus, California is poised to cut incentives for rooftop solar today. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Ry Rivard covers energy, the environment and transportation in New Jersey for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After decades of research, US scientists can now create a nuclear fusion reaction that produces more energy than the reaction requires. The breakthrough means that decades from now, nuclear fusion could become a source of clean, inexpensive energy that doesn’t create long-lived radioactive waste or worsen global warming. However, the technology still faces many obstacles to commercial use, namely money. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre and Josh Siegel break down what to know about DOE’s experiment and how lawmakers are reacting. Plus, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vows to vote on a permitting proposal as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices