Who’s shaping the GOP’s 2024 energy strategy?

Presented by Clean Fuels Alliance America: Your guide to the political forces shaping the energy transformation

Jun 16, 2023 View in browser   By Arianna Skibell Presented by Neil Chatterjee, former chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, speaks in New York City. | Riccardo Savi/Getty Images for Concordia Summit An army of political nonprofits, think tanks and Trump alumni are drafting energy policy plans they hope can rocket a Republican into the White House and provide the template for dismantling President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. The likely results, writes Scott Waldman, include proposals to boost oil and natural gas production, federal limits on equity investment portfolios that exclude fossil fuels and other polluting industries, and the rollback of Biden’s tax breaks for clean energy. And that will probably be the case no matter who wins the GOP primary, Scott writes. “Compared to other areas where you see differences, particularly foreign policy and aid to Ukraine, where you see greater divisions, energy seems to be one area where Republicans are really coalescing,” Neil Chatterjee, who served as the nation’s top energy regulator under former President Donald Trump, told Scott. The goal, insiders said, is to ensure that any Republican entering the White House has a blueprint for how to swiftly dismantle Biden’s climate agenda, including rolling back the regulations and spending at the heart of federal efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Still, repealing climate provisions embedded in last year’s $369 billion climate law and the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law would require GOP control of Congress. A fast reversal on climate would contrast to Trump’s first few months in office, when the lack of personnel largely kneecapped efforts to roll back Obama-era rules. In addition to Chatterjee, the GOP energy influencers include people like Rick Perry, the former Texas governor who served as Trump’s Energy secretary. Perry now heads a division at the America First Policy Institute, which was founded in 2021 by Trump aides to promote the former president’s policy agenda. It has been nicknamed the “White House in waiting.” Also on the list is David Bernhardt, a former oil and gas lobbyist who increased energy production on federally protected land while serving as Trump’s second Interior secretary. Bernhardt is the chair of AFPI’s Center for American Freedom. Check out Scott's story for a full rundown of GOP influencers.   Thank goodness it's Friday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Arianna Skibell. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to askibell@eenews.net. Programming note: We’ll be off this Monday for Juneteenth but will be back in your inboxes Tuesday.   A message from Clean Fuels Alliance America: Clean Fuels Alliance America connects biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel producers with leaders in agriculture, energy, and transportation. As of 2021, the clean fuels industry delivered a total U.S. economic impact of $23.2 billion and supported 75,200 U.S. jobs throughout the economy that earned $3.6 billion in wages. The industry’s vision of producing 6 billion gallons per year would generate $61.6 billion in economic opportunity. Learn more at cleanfuels.org.   Listen to today’s POLITICO Energy podcast Today in POLITICO Energy’s podcast: Jordan Wolman breaks down why state legislatures are stalling on recycling bills and what this trend means for the nation’s ability to curb its growing waste problem.   A message from Clean Fuels Alliance America:   Power Centers Tesla CEO Elon Musk in his Tesla in Gruenheide, Germany. | Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images Musk takeover Elon Musk is taking over another industry — and it’s threatening the future of one of President Joe Biden’s most-watched climate policies, writes James Bikales. Surprise deals that Ford and General Motors have announced with Musk mean that two of the nation’s largest automakers will rely on Tesla’s charging technology for their electric vehicles, pushing the industry toward a de facto standard in the United States. But it's not the same standard that federal regulators endorsed in their guidelines for a $7.5 billion grant program. What counts as green? One of the nation’s largest renewable trade groups has revised its recommendations on how “green” hydrogen emissions should be counted under Biden's climate law, highlighting the challenge facing the administration as it prepares tax guidance that could determine the greenhouse gas footprint of the fuel, writes David Iaconangelo. The American Clean Power Association's revised plan made concessions to environmentalists on some issues but reignited disputes over others, while alienating nuclear and fuel cell advocates. Garret Graves reflects The clock ran out on the debt ceiling negotiations as Republicans came within striking distance of a long-sought goal of the oil and gas industry: restrictions on judicial review. In an interview with Kelsey Brugger, top Republican negotiator Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana reflected on how he almost secured limits on the length of time environmental groups and citizens have to challenge energy projects. In Other News Climate migration: While people usually stay local, climate change is causing them to move, according to a new study. Aging infrastructure: As New York’s gas infrastructure ages, some residents are left with leaking pipes or no gas at all.   LISTEN TO POLITICO'S ENERGY PODCAST: Check out our daily five-minute brief on the latest energy and environmental politics and policy news. Don't miss out on the must-know stories, candid insights, and analysis from POLITICO's energy team. Listen today.     Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. Protesters demonstrate over fossil fuels and other climate-related issues during COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, last year. | Sean Gallup/Getty Images The United Nations will require attendees of global climate talks in November to disclose where they work, following an uproar over the number of corporate energy officials who attended last year's conference in Egypt. The nation's top energy regulator urged power plant owners to take immediate steps to prevent power disruptions in bad weather, warning that past recommendations were not implemented fast enough. A legal battle over the Trump administration’s effort to build a road through a wildlife refuge in Alaska has ended without a ruling, clearing the way for the Biden administration to try again. That's it for today, folks. Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.       A message from Clean Fuels Alliance America: Clean Fuels Alliance America is connecting biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel producers with sustainable feedstock producers and other stakeholders. In 2022, U.S. production of biodiesel and renewable diesel grew by 500 million gallons. Since the start of 2023. U.S. production has increased by an additional 30%, using sustainably grown agricultural feedstocks like soybean and canola oils and meeting demand for low-carbon fuels that are needed now. Learn more about how the benefits keep growing at cleanfuels.org.     Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

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