POLITICO Energy

Recent Episodes

1. Dems make their energy affordability pitch

   Sep 18, 2026

   Amelia Davidson, a Congress reporter at Politico, discusses House Democrats' newly released "Thriving Economy Project," a 250+ page policy menu with over 800 proposals aimed at reducing emissions and lowering energy costs should they regain control of Congress. The episode covers Democrats' deliberate focus on affordability and bipartisan appeal over explicit climate messaging, and examines Republican struggles to advance energy cost relief legislation, particularly the stalled Ratepayer Protection Act addressing data center energy consumption.

2. What’s next for power plant climate rules

   Sep 16, 2026

   Alex Guillén, POLITICO's EPA and energy reporter, breaks down the Trump administration's sweeping new power plant emissions rules, which not only rescind Biden-era carbon standards but propose blocking future administrations from regulating power sector emissions at all. Guillén discusses the dual rulemaking, its potential impact on coal and natural gas generation, and the likely path to Supreme Court litigation that could fundamentally reshape EPA's authority under the Clean Air Act.

3. General Motors wants its cars to help power your home

   Sep 14, 2026

   Aseem Kapur, Chief Revenue Officer of GM Energy, discusses General Motors' vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology, which allows electric vehicles to provide backup power to homes and eventually feed energy back to the grid. GM has deployed over 250,000 bidirectionally enabled EVs capable of this technology and is partnering with utilities like PG&E and DTE to validate and scale the capability. The conversation covers the current state of V2G readiness, utility hesitation, policy headwinds from subsidy cuts and tariffs, and GM's commitment to making EVs affordable and integral to America's energy future.

4. Energy prices are closing in on the GOP’s midterm chances

   Sep 11, 2026

   Ben Lefebvre, deputy energy editor at POLITICO, discusses how rising energy prices—driven partly by Middle East conflict—are affecting consumers, the broader economy, and Republican midterm prospects. The conversation covers which states face the greatest political impact (Maine, Iowa, Kansas), what limited options the Trump administration has to lower prices before the 2026 midterms, and the outlook for energy costs over the next 3–6 months.

5. How solar power is winning over Georgia Republicans

   Sep 9, 2026

   Zack Colman, climate change reporter for POLITICO, discusses his recent visit to a Q Cells solar manufacturing facility in Cartersville, Georgia—the first vertically integrated solar panel factory in the U.S. He explores why local Republican communities are embracing solar power despite national GOP opposition, driven primarily by job creation and economic benefits rather than environmental concerns. The episode examines the disconnect between Washington Republican leadership and grassroots Republican support for solar, and considers whether factory-based economic incentives can sustainably move solar beyond the culture wars.

6. Trump picked a fight with Washington. Its AG is pushing back.

   Sep 4, 2026

   Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown discusses his legal challenges to Trump administration energy policies, including efforts to freeze onshore wind energy reviews and extend the Centralia coal plant beyond its planned retirement. Brown explains how state attorneys general are becoming increasingly important players in energy and climate policy, and describes Washington's approach to protecting clean energy development and consumer utility rates. The conversation covers the preliminary injunction in the DOD wind case, litigation over the coal plant emergency orders, and the unique power of AGs to act quickly to block federal actions that harm their states.

7. How Big Ag is losing its grip on Iowa’s governor race

   Sep 2, 2026

   Environment reporter Ellie Borst discusses Iowa's 2024 governor's race and the shifting political landscape around agricultural industry influence. Both Republican nominee Zach Lane and Democratic state auditor Rob Sand are challenging Big Ag's traditional dominance in Iowa politics, driven partly by rising public health concerns over farm pollution, high cancer rates, and contaminated drinking water. The race serves as a potential litmus test for how anti-chemical populist messaging and the MAHA movement resonate with Midwestern voters in a battleground agricultural state.

8. EQT CEO Toby Rice on the future of natural gas in the age of AI

   Aug 31, 2026

   Toby Rice, president and CEO of EQT, discusses the natural gas industry's pivotal role in powering artificial intelligence and data centers, which he projects will require 10-18 BCF/day of additional production. Rice addresses political backlash against data centers, argues that natural gas can meet demand without raising consumer electricity bills, and emphasizes that permitting reform remains essential to building the infrastructure needed to connect supply and demand. He also discusses the industry's bipartisan approach and what a potential Democratic-controlled Congress could mean for energy policy.

9. Inside the energy fight shaking up the Texas governor race

   Aug 21, 2026

   Shelby Webb, POLITICO's Texas-based energy reporter, discusses the rural backlash against data centers and transmission lines reshaping the Texas governor's race. Rural voters, traditionally a core Republican base, are increasingly angry over infrastructure encroachment on their land and communities, forcing Governor Greg Abbott to pause data center approvals and call for new restrictions after months of welcoming the AI industry. Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa is capitalizing on this discontent with campaign messaging targeting rural counties, while Abbott's inaction on transmission line regulation continues to fuel voter frustration. Webb explains why this energy policy shift could significantly impact one of Abbott's tightest reelection races in recent history.

10. Biden’s energy legacy is proving hard to kill

    Aug 19, 2026

    Jessie Blaeser, senior data journalist at POLITICO, discusses findings from a comprehensive analysis of President Biden's climate and clean energy legacy under the Trump administration. Despite Trump's campaign promise to dismantle Biden's nearly $2 trillion energy agenda, Blaeser's reporting reveals that hundreds of billions in green spending remain intact, with only about 6% of appropriated dollars directly impacted. The conversation covers what Trump successfully rolled back, why certain Biden-era funding has survived legal and structural barriers, and how political uncertainty ahead of the midterms is reshaping the energy industry's relationship with Washington.