Appeals court sides with EPA in climate grant terminations fight

3 September 2025 at 00:08

The court said the claims must be brought before a special court that handles contract disputes involving the federal government.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has likened the Biden-era climate grants to "lighting taxpayer dollars on fire."

In windy Iowa, a GOP lawmaker faces a reckoning over Trump’s clean energy war

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Josh Siegel

2 September 2025 at 04:01

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks held her seat by a razor-thin margin in 2024, but could see her support erode because of her vote to end incentives for renewable energy.

Wind turbines stand near Pomeroy, Iowa, on July 5, 2025.

Even at Yosemite, 'the shadow of Donald Trump is over everything'

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Heather Richards

31 August 2025 at 19:00

Budget cuts left one of America's premier national parks with dozens of fewer staffers than last summer.

Laundry hangs to dry in a residential campground in Yosemite National Park in California on July 18.

Shrinking post-Katrina levees need $1B in upgrades

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Thomas Frank

31 August 2025 at 04:00

Twenty years out from the New Orleans disaster, the city's levee and flood wall system must be raised or the region could become ineligible for federal flood insurance.

An aerial view of the downtown skyline of New Orleans with rebuilt homes and vacant lots where homes once stood in the Lower Ninth Ward in the foreground Tuesday.

Judge dismisses EPA grant termination lawsuit

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Alex Guillén

30 August 2025 at 06:40

The ruling regarding environmental justice block grants could be reflected in other grant termination litigation, including over the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

A judge has ruled for the first time that EPA has the power to rescind the grants awarded by the Biden administration.

Katrina inspired a $3B wetlands rebuilding project. Louisiana just killed it.

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Miranda Willson

29 August 2025 at 22:02

A pillar of the state's coastal restoration plan is dead. Its backers say it would have offered the most effective, natural storm protection.

An Army Corps of Engineers construction crew performs work to reduce the flow of the Mississippi River at Neptune Pass, a new channel near the delta.

Trump's former FEMA chief opens up — and says administration is 'delaying' aid

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Thomas Frank

28 August 2025 at 06:09

Months after his firing, Cameron Hamilton contradicted the administration's claims of efficiency and suggested officials could be "lying" to the American people.

Cameron Hamilton, then-acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, testifying before Congress earlier this year.

FEMA staffers accuse Trump of weakening disaster programs

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Zack Colman

25 August 2025 at 23:13

The signatories said FEMA under President Donald Trump has strayed far from the disaster preparedness reforms designed to correct the agency's mistakes in responding to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

FEMA staffers publicly rebuked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FEMA leadership as the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches.

Trump Energy secretary: ‘We’re going to get blamed’ for rising power prices — but they’re Democrats’ fault

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Josh Siegel

20 August 2025 at 00:00

In an interview with POLITICO, Chris Wright insisted that the Trump administration’s efforts to stifle development of solar and wind power are not causing costs to spike.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, center, visits the Ames National Lab with some lawmakers in Ames, Iowa, on Friday.

Trump administration deepens crackdown on solar and wind tax credits

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Kelsey Tamborrino and James Bikales

16 August 2025 at 02:44

New Treasury Department guidance limiting eligibility for lucrative tax credits follows Trump’s executive order to “strictly enforce” restrictions on the incentives.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, June 27, 2025.

Sierra Club staff says boss’s ouster is ‘a relief’

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Robin Bravender

13 August 2025 at 02:41

Ben Jealous said he’s fighting the group’s “disheartening” decision to fire him.

Then-Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous speaks with a reporter at the group's offices in Washington on Oct. 26, 2023.

Sierra Club board fires leader Ben Jealous

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Robin Bravender

12 August 2025 at 09:08

Jealous oversaw several rounds of layoffs and sparred with staff during his two years as executive director.

Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous speaks with a reporter at the group's offices in Washington on Oct. 26, 2023.

Trump team pushes to oust No. 2 official at world energy body

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Brian Dabbs and Sara Schonhardt

10 August 2025 at 02:00

The administration and its Republican allies in Congress say the Paris-based International Energy Agency discourages fossil fuel investments around the world.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, left, has threatened to end U.S. support for the International Energy Agency, complaining about "nonsensical" projections that run afoul of President Donald Trump's championing of fossil fuels.

Trump team pushes for ouster of top IEA official

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Brian Dabbs and Sara Schonhardt

10 August 2025 at 02:00

The administration and its Republican allies in Congress say the International Energy Agency discourages fossil fuel investments around the world.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office on Aug. 6, 2025, in Washington.

GOP senators place holds on Trump Treasury nominees in renewable energy standoff

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Kelsey Tamborrino and Josh Siegel

5 August 2025 at 03:53

The actions follow an effort by a handful of Senate Republicans to meet with administration officials about the future of the tax credits for wind and solar projects.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who sits on the Senate Finance Committee, recently announced in the Congressional Record that he placed holds on the Treasury nominees.

Trump administration moves to repeal climate ‘holy grail’

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Alex Guillén

30 July 2025 at 01:18

The repeal of the finding on the dangers greenhouse gases pose to human health and welfare will face fierce legal challenges.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has proposed undoing the greenhouse gas endangerment finding, the legal basis for most of EPA's climate regulations.

Researchers quietly planned a test to dim sunlight. They wanted to ‘avoid scaring’ the public.

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Corbin Hiar

27 July 2025 at 19:00

Hundreds of documents show how researchers failed to notify officials in California about a test of technology to block the sun’s rays — while they planned a much huger sequel. 

The west coast of North America is one area the Marine Cloud Brightening Program has considered for a 3,900-square-mile solar geoengineering test. A boat is seen off the coast of Costa Rica.

NOAA places 2 veteran officials on leave

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Ben Johansen and Daniel Cusick

26 July 2025 at 03:15

It comes less than a week before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee takes up the confirmation of Neil Jacobs, the president's nominee to lead NOAA as its administrator.

Neil Jacobs served as NOAA’s acting administrator during President Donald Trump’s first term, where he found himself embroiled in the “Sharpiegate” scandal.

Trump switches off power line project financing amid AI scramble for new energy

Politico | Energy & Environment

By James Bikales and Kelsey Tamborrino

24 July 2025 at 07:00

The canceling of a federal loan guarantee for a major power grid project comes despite the White House pledge to expand the energy network to feed the voracious power appetite from new data centers.

The Trump administration announced it won't offer a loan guarantee to a major power transmission project that would feed electricity from wind power across the Midwest.

Trump’s latest plan to undo the ‘holy grail’ of climate rules: Never mind the science

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Zack Colman

24 July 2025 at 04:28

The administration’s approach, led by White House and Justice Department officials, would focus on a legal rather than a scientific rationale for repealing the so-called endangerment finding.

The Trump administration intends to challenge the foundation of federal climate rules by arguing law does not require agencies to limit greenhouse gases.

Steel plant in Vance’s hometown trades clean future for more coal

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Scott Waldman

24 July 2025 at 02:06

The Middletown, Ohio, plant was set to receive $500 million to make "green" steel. Then its CEO embraced President Donald Trump.

JD Vance, then the Republican nominee for vice president, speaks during a July 2024 rally in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio.

Trump administration cancels pending loan for massive power line project

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Kelsey Tamborrino and James Bikales

23 July 2025 at 23:04

The decision lands after Missouri GOP Sen. Josh Hawley said the administration would kill the financing at his urging.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaks during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Capitol Hill on June 18, 2025, in Washington.

Trump is transforming the GOP’s energy policies — and not all conservatives are happy

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Zack Colman

23 July 2025 at 00:00

Much like Joe Biden, President Donald Trump is wielding money and federal leverage to reshape the U.S. energy supply — but this time, it’s in support of fossil fuels.

President Donald Trump and Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) speak at last week's "Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Event" at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

'Final nail:' Trump administration memo could strike fatal blow to wind and solar power

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Zack Colman and Josh Siegel

18 July 2025 at 21:00

The department’s new policy requires Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s office to weigh in on virtually every permit for solar and wind projects with a nexus to Interior.

The Ivanpah Solar Generating Project was the first large-scale solar project on U.S. federal land. A new Interior Department policy requiring Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's personal approval for solar and wind projects could slow development across the country.

EPA moves ahead with reorganization, new buyouts

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Alex Guillén and Annie Snider

18 July 2025 at 00:44

The moves are the latest part of the Trump administration’s ambitious reorganization and workforce reduction plan.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is moving forward with reorganization plans after the Supreme Court said the Trump administration could continue such work.

Trump administration taking new steps to block wind and solar projects, undisclosed memo says

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Josh Siegel and Zack Colman

17 July 2025 at 08:20

The directive puts these renewable energy projects under heightened scrutiny at Interior in a move that could slow approvals and construction.

A new directive requires Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's office to directly review all wind and solar decisions on federal land.

Democrats sue Trump over canceled disaster grant program

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Thomas Frank

17 July 2025 at 03:09

State prosecutors want to restore $4.5 billion in canceled funding and to declare that FEMA's acting administrator is serving "unlawfully."

Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson (center) meets with emergency workers Saturday in Kerr County, Texas. A group of attorneys general is asking a court to declare that he holds the position "unlawfully."

DOGE told regulator to ‘rubber stamp’ nuclear

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Francisco "A.J." Camacho and Peter Behr

15 July 2025 at 01:33

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's historic role of assuring safety is changing as the White House shifts some responsibility to the Department of Energy.

David Wright, chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told senators the agency's regulatory independence would be preserved under his leadership.

Dems couldn’t save Biden’s energy programs — so they’ll try to make them a weapon against the GOP

Politico | Energy & Environment

By Zack Colman

14 July 2025 at 04:00

They are centering their 2026 energy pitch on kitchen table economics by contending Republican policies will cost people money.

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