Today, POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel sits down for an extended conversation with Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas, arguably one of the most powerful lawmakers in the state. They discuss Gov. Abigail Spanberger's recent comments on the show, Virginia's first-in-the-nation approach to taxing data centers' energy use, and what the debate in the data center capital of the world could mean for how states across the country regulate these energy-hungry projects. They also discuss the proposed NextEra-Dominion merger — the largest utility merger in U.S. history — and the FBI investigation involving Lucas' office.

Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO and the host of POLITICO Energy.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Yi-Jo Shen is a freelance video producer for POLITICO.

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO.

Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO.

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram.

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Why are AI data centers getting built so quickly? Part of the answer lies in a Supreme Court decision from 2023. POLITICO's Miranda Willson explains how that ruling — and actions by the Trump administration — have made it easier for many data centers to move through the federal permitting process, and why that has left some communities with fewer opportunities to weigh in on projects being built in their backyards. Plus, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is enacting the nation’s first state-level moratorium on large-scale data center construction, and electric and gas utilities across the country have requested a total of $18.6 billion in rate increases since the start of this year.

Miranda Wilson covers water and environment for POLITICO.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Yi-Jo Shen is a freelance video producer for POLITICO.

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO.

Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO.

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram.

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

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Today, POLITICO Energy host Zack Colman sits down for an extended interview with Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York. They discuss whether New York can meet its climate goals while keeping energy affordable, the future of nuclear power and offshore wind in the state, and how New York is responding to President Donald Trump's legal and policy attacks on clean energy.

Zack Colman covers climate change for POLITICO. 

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Yi-Jo Shen is a freelance video producer for POLITICO.

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO.

Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO.

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram.

Follow POLITICO here:   

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For more reporting 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

President Donald Trump said this week that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran is effectively over. What does that mean for the world's energy markets and, by extension, consumers' wallets? Could renewed tensions reshape the political landscape with the midterm elections approaching? POLITICO's James Bikales breaks down the economic and political consequences of the latest escalation. Plus, the Energy Department announced this week that it finalized a $3 billion loan to help support Texas’ power grid, and Meta announced that it is investing $10 billion to construct its first data center in Canada.

James Bikales is an oil and gas reporter for POLITICO. 

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Yi-Jo Shen is a freelance video producer for POLITICO.

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO.

Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO.

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram.

Follow POLITICO here:   

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For more reporting 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

Experts are warning that federal job cuts imposed by President Donald Trump are starting to have an effect on weather forecasts, raising worries about that communities could be unprepared for extreme conditions. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down why some meteorologists are concerned, the response from the Trump administration, and what it could mean for communities across the country. Plus, scorching temperatures pushed electricity demand to near record levels last week, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission unveiled a proposal to streamline environmental reviews.

Zack Colman covers climate change for POLITICO. 

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Yi-Jo Shen is a freelance video producer for POLITICO.

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO.

Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO.

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram.

Follow POLITICO here:   

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For more reporting 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

Today, POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel sits down for an extended interview with Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia. They discuss the state's first-of-its-kind data center energy tax, her affordability agenda and the Democratic party's energy and climate messaging ahead of the midterm elections.

Josh Siegel is a congressional energy reporter for POLITICO. 

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Yi-Jo Shen is a freelance video producer for POLITICO.

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO.

Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO.

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram.

Follow POLITICO here:   

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For more reporting 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

The United States and Europe are both suffering through dangerous heat waves this summer, but their political leaders are telling very different stories about why and what to do about it. POLITICO’s Chelsea Harvey breaks down how dangerous these heat waves are, the role climate change is playing and why U.S. and E.U. leaders are responding so differently to the same problem. Plus, the World Bank is ditching its commitment to steer 45 percent of its spending toward projects with climate benefits, and the Interior Department announced another agreement to terminate an existing offshore wind lease on the East Coast.

Chelsea Harvey covers climate science for POLITICO.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Yi-Jo Shen is a freelance video producer for POLITICO.

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO.

Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO.

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram.

Follow POLITICO here:   

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For more reporting 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

 Today, POLITICO Energy host Manuel Quiñones sits down for an extended interview with Loren Blackford, executive director of the Sierra Club, one of the nation's leading environmental advocacy organizations. They discuss the group’s standing, the challenges facing the environmental movement under President Donald Trump, and the group's strategy heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Yi-Jo Shen is a freelance video producer for POLITICO.

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO.

Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO.

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram.

Follow POLITICO here:   

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For more reporting 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

The oil industry received some welcome news this week as the United States and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire, raising hopes for greater certainty around shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. But President Donald Trump also directed the Justice Department to investigate major oil companies over alleged price gouging. POLITICO's James Bikales breaks down how the Trump–Big Oil alliance is getting more complicated. Plus, a powerful House Democrat called for Congress to impose a nationwide data center moratorium, and the Trump administration said it would provide $17.5 billion in loans to help speed the construction of up to 10 new large nuclear reactors.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Yi-Jo Shen is a freelance video producer for POLITICO.

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO.

Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO.

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram.

Follow POLITICO here:   

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For more reporting 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

Today, POLITICO Energy reporter Kelsey Tamborrino sits down for an exclusive interview with Laura Swett, the chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, after the agency released a new strategy recently for managing the growing demand data centers are placing on America’s power grid. They discuss why FERC rejected a one-size-fits-all national rule and what this historic decision means for the data center boom and every day Americans.

Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy for POLITICO.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. 

KJ Cline is the video producer for POLITICO Energy.

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO.

Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO.

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram.

Follow POLITICO here:   

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For more reporting 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