California is trying to implement sweeping climate change policies before a potential second Donald Trump presidency. But the state is running into a growing backlog of federal approvals that are in the hands of President Joe Biden’s EPA, potentially giving Trump an opportunity to weaken California's unique climate authority if he wins again in 2024. POLITICO’s Blanca Begert breaks down why California’s climate policies are on the clock at EPA. Plus, the oil industry is blasting the Biden administration’s decision to review whether it should consider climate impacts when assessing liquefied natural gas export projects. 

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Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. 
Blanca Begert is a California climate reporter for POLITICO. 
Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. 
Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. 
Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. 
Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

How an EPA backlog could thwart California’s climate agenda

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Wealthy nations belatedly met their goal of sending billions of dollars in climate aid to developing countries. And now, they’re gearing up again to negotiate the next amount of funding they are willing to give, which will likely be a tougher task because the cost of fighting climate change is set to skyrocket. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down how rich countries were late on delivering climate finance and why the price tag is going up. Plus, utilities and industry groups are cautioning EPA against adopting any rule for existing natural gas-fired power plants that would require building significant infrastructure or risk grid reliability. 

For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch

And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy

Zack Colman covers climate change for POLITICO. 
Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. 
Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. 
Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. 
Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. 
Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Why rich countries could struggle to come up with more climate cash

Scott Sheffield, the former CEO of one of America’s top oil companies, is firing back against allegations from the Federal Trade Commission that he colluded with OPEC and other oil companies to boost fuel prices. It’s the latest development in a saga that has thrown US oil companies into the political spotlight during the 2024 election season. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down how Sheffield is defending himself and why these allegations have become a political flashpoint. Plus, the Biden administration proposed initial guidance for technology-neutral tax credits expected to account for the bulk of greenhouse gas reductions under Democrats’ climate law.

For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch

And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy

Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. 
Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. 
Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. 
Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO.
Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. 
Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

How a former oil CEO accused of collusion is fighting back

The Biden administration recently announced that it planned to stop new lease sales at the nation’s leading coal mining basin – a major action that surprisingly received a collective shrug from Washington D.C. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén breaks down the muted reaction from fossil fuel backers in particular and what their response says about the coal industry’s decline. Plus, San Francisco will face off against the Biden administration in a Supreme Court fight over EPA's ability to set water pollution limits pegged to the health of nearby rivers, lakes and oceans.

For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch

And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy

Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO Pro. 
Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. 
Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. 
Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. 
Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. 
Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Biden just took a major step to end coal mining. Washington just shrugged.

POLITICO Energy host Catherine Morehouse talks today with Pablo Vegas, the president and chief executive officer of The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which runs the state’s power grid. They discuss how ERCOT is preparing Texas for extreme weather events and what he thinks about the partisan fighting over the system, which has become an increasingly divisive entity on Capitol Hill. 

For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch

And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy


Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO. 
Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. 
Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO. 
Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. 
Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Why the Texas grid CEO says the state is ready for the next power emergency

Congress must quickly decide if survivors of nuclear testing on American soil will continue to receive financial benefits related to healthcare and other costs under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which expires June 7. POLITICO’s Gloria Gonzalez breaks down the fight over this program and the consequences if it isn’t renewed. Plus, the Biden administration announced that Norfolk Southern will pay just over $500 million because of last year’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. 



For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch

And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy


Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. 
Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. 
Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO. 
Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. 
Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

How an EPA backlog could thwart California’s climate agenda

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