

POLITICO Energy
POLITICO
Each week, hosts Nirmal Mulaikal and Josh Siegel break down the stories and power players shaping energy politics and policy in the United States and around the world by featuring original interviews with key power players, alongside in-depth reporting and analysis from the largest energy policy newsroom in the world.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 13, 2022 • 10min
How a New Jersey city is stalling the state’s offshore wind rollout
Construction on New Jersey’s first offshore wind project is set to begin next year, with developers looking to install nearly 100 wind turbines 15 miles off the coast of Ocean City. But the city doesn’t like the plan, potentially derailing the ambitious climate and clean energy goals put forward by President Joe Biden and state Gov. Phil Murphy. POLITICO’s Ry Rivard breaks down the fight for offshore wind along New Jersey and how it could impact other local communities and clean energy projects across the country. Ry Rivard is an environmental reporter for POLITICO New Jersey.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.
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Jul 12, 2022 • 8min
Will Biden advance controversial Alaska oil project?
The Biden administration took a key step in approving the Willow oil project in Alaska. But, the White House is giving itself some wiggle room as it struggles to balance climate promises with the painfully high fuel prices driving inflation. POLITICO’S Ben Lefebvre explains. Ben Lefebvre 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.
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Jul 11, 2022 • 8min
SCOTUS tied EPA’s hands on climate regulation. Will FERC be next?
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is considering new rules that would allow it to take a harder look at new pipelines or liquefied natural gas projects. But not so fast! Critics, including one of the agency’s own commissioners, are now arguing that the Supreme Court’s recent EPA ruling could place limits on FERC too. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse reports.Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy.Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO.Kara Tabor is an audio producer 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.
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Jul 8, 2022 • 9min
Seven states have to divide the Colorado River. Fast.
The federal Bureau of Reclamation has given seven states an ultimatum: come up with a plan to drastically reduce your Colorado River water usage, or we will. The lives and livelihoods of millions of people depend on the river’s water, so ceding access will be no easy feat. Climate change and the current drought only complicate the problem. So how might the states’ compromise over water rights shake out? POLITICO’s Lara Korte reports.Lara Korte covers state politics and is a co-author of POLITICO California Playbook.Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy.Kara Tabor is an audio producer 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.
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Jul 7, 2022 • 10min
Why the “holy grail” of environmental justice may be out of reach
Residents of Northwest Indiana, many of whom are Black and Latino, live in one of the most polluted regions in America, suffering from poor health outcomes and low life expectancies. The Biden administration has promised that it will bring the radical change necessary to end the pollution that plagues America’s industrial cities. Politico Pro Energy reporter Annie Snider and E&E News reporter Sean Reilly spent months reporting on the plight of Americans forced to endure these living conditions. Today, Sean explains the challenges of the cumulative impact approach — the so-called “holy grail” — that the Biden administration is trying to implement to help ensure environmental justice is served.Sean Reilly covers air quality and science for E&E News.Annie Snider covers water issues for POLITICO Pro.Kara Tabor is an audio producer 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.
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Jul 6, 2022 • 9min
Biden’s frustrating offshore oil lease plan
Oil companies and climate activists have new fodder for disagreement with the release of the Biden administration’s proposed offshore oil and gas leasing plan. The Interior Department proposal could involve the sale of zero leases or 11 — a decision that puts details around future oil and gas production in limbo and has frustrated both environmentalists and fossil fuel supporters. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre reports.Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy.Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO.Kara Tabor is an audio producer 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.
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Jul 5, 2022 • 9min
Why greens are ready to bail on D.C.
After significant setbacks to President Joe Biden’s green agenda over the last 18 months and the Supreme Court’s major climate ruling against the EPA last Thursday, environmentalists and many of their Democratic allies are starting to shift their focus to state capitals as the places to press for action on climate change — going back to a strategy that they employed with some success during the Trump era. POLITICO’s Zack Colman reports. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Zack Colman covers climate change 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.
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Jul 1, 2022 • 11min
What the SCOTUS EPA ruling means for climate change
On Thursday, the Supreme Court delivered a major setback to President Joe Biden’s ambitious climate goals, ruling in a 6-3 decision that the Environmental Protection Agency does not have the broad authority to curb planet-warming pollution from power plants. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén explains how this ruling creates a significant obstacle to Biden’s hopes of addressing global warming and could raise questions about the authority of other federal agencies. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO Pro. 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.
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Jun 30, 2022 • 9min
Inside the California plastics deal
The plastics crisis has received attention from lawmakers in state capitals across the country. But, there's a fundamental split in many states between groups arguing that industry needs to be at the table and those who don't trust it to govern itself. That‘s triggered a political battle in California, where a ballot initiative to tax plastic, ban Styrofoam and set recycling targets has scared industry enough to get them to negotiate a compromise bill. POLITICO’s Debra Khan reports. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Debra Khan is the Deputy Sustainability Editor 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.
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Jun 29, 2022 • 8min
FERC wants to overhaul the U.S. power grid. But who will pay for it?
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has proposed an overhaul of the U.S. transmission system that could usher a new wave of green energy onto the U.S. power grid. Those plans would help the Biden administration reach its ambitious clean energy goals. But FERC has not yet addressed a significant question: Who should pay for the work? 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.
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