For decades, nuclear waste was considered one of the biggest political liabilities in American energy policy. Now, Republican-led states are competing to host projects that could eventually bring more nuclear waste home. POLITICO's Nico Portuondo explains why states are embracing what was once politically untouchable and what it all says about the changing politics of nuclear power in America. Plus, Senate negotiators have pushed back their permitting reform deal deadline, and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will formally intervene in NextEra Energy's proposed $67 billion takeover of Dominion Energy.

Nico Portuondo is a congressional energy reporter for POLITICO’s E&E News.

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.

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California has long been viewed as America's climate leader, but its likely next governor, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Xavier Becerra, may be pulling back on its aggressive policies. POLITICO's Alex Nieves explains why Becerra is considering changes to California's climate approach, the political pressures behind that shift, and how it could affect governments and major industries around the world. Plus, Gov. Greg Abbott is hitting pause on new data centers in Texas, and President Donald Trump is expected to meet with mining executives on Friday.

Alex Nieves is the California transportation reporter at 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

Sen. Martin Heinrich, the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joins POLITICO Energy's Josh Siegel to discuss the rising cost of energy, permitting reform negotiations, climate policy and the growing power demands of AI data centers. Heinrich predicts midterm gains for Democrats from their messaging on the costs of Republicans' energy policies. He also exclusively previews legislation designed to prevent data centers from shifting infrastructure costs onto utility customers.

The Trump administration wants to revive idled refineries across the country to make more fuel, its latest push to address higher gasoline prices. White House officials are huddling with potential investors to restart defunct fuel factories, from the Virgin Islands to California. So how far along are discussions? And how close is any of this to becoming reality? POLITICO's James Bikales breaks down what’s happening and what comes next.

Nuclear fusion holds the promise of almost limitless, carbon-free energy -- but the technology has long been dismissed as always decades away. That may now be changing, though. Real money is pouring into the industry. Pilot projects are planned. An increasing number of lawmakers are warming to the idea. But fusion's supporters said they still need more help from Washington to scale. POLITICO's Joe Schatz lays out the hopes, the obstacles and the political asks of the budding U.S. nuclear fusion industry.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp only has a few months left in the statehouse before the Republican’s second term comes to an end, and he’s hoping to land a couple more big investments before he departs. Those would be on top of the major electric vehicle manufacturing plants that have sprouted up – and one of the biggest buildouts of data centers in the country. POLITICO’s Arianna Skibell talks to Kemp about his legacy changing shape of Georgia’s power economy.

Democrats are champing at the bit to conduct more oversight of the Trump administration’s close ties to the oil and gas sector if the regain power in Congress in November's midterms. What are they planning to home in on? And what are energy lobbyists doing to prepare? POLITICO's James Bikales breaks down what to expect if Democrats take hold of the committee gavels.

Why is the Colorado River at a breaking point? Part of the answer lies in years of drought, dwindling water supplies and a long fight among Western states over an operating plan for the river. POLITICO's Annie Snider explains why the Trump administration is stepping in to take a larger role in managing the Colorado River, what that means for the 40 million people who rely on it and why the next chapter in the West's water wars could be decided in Washington or in court.

Today, POLITICO Energy host Manuel Quiñones sits down for an extended interview with Tim Pawlenty, the new president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, former Minnesota governor and 2012 Republican presidential candidate. They discuss why the solar industry turned to a longtime Republican to lead it, Pawlenty's strategy and vision, the industry's biggest congressional policy priorities, and whether solar can thrive in President Donald Trump's Washington.

Manuel Quiñones is the congress editor 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

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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.

Follow POLITICO here:   

➤ X: https://x.com/politico/

➤ Instagram:  / politico     

➤ Facebook:  / politico  

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