Climate action drives a town’s revitalization

This roundup of U.S. energy news headlines is part of our Canary Media Daily newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

FOSSIL FUELS

• The International Energy Agency lowers its oil demand forecast in the face of trade tensions and increased production in some OPEC+ countries, saying ​“oil markets are in for a bumpy ride” this year and next. (IEA)

• Oil and gas leaders remain reluctant to criticize Trump despite sinking oil prices and rising tariffs that could soon hurt demand for their products. (Politico)

• The U.S. EPA grants pollution regulation exemptions to 47 power producers under President Trump’s coal-boosting executive orders. (E&E News)

• Trump’s push to increase LNG exports could mean higher fossil-gas prices in the U.S. (E&E News)

POLITICS

• The Trump administration is working to dismantle regulations across more than 400 federal agencies, and the U.S. EPA is among its most publicized targets. (New York Times)

• Opponents of looming U.S. Energy Department job cuts try to convince the Trump administration that workforce reductions will jeopardize his goals of expanding nuclear energy and fossil fuel and mineral production. (New York Times)

• DOE employees say the last few weeks have been ​“demoralizing” as the Trump administration pressured workers to take resignation offers, which have particularly gutted the Loan Programs Office. (Latitude Media)

• Supporters of Inflation Reduction Act tax credits note their benefits to American manufacturing and energy production as they’re targeted for gutting in congressional budget negotiations. (Floodlight)

OFFSHORE WIND

• A report from the Government Office of Accountability suggests offshore wind developers improve their engagement with the fishing industry and tribes, but finds no evidence that the industry will harm whales, like Republican Congress members who asked for the probe had hoped. (Heatmap, GAO)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Analysts expect electric heavy-duty trucks to keep gaining ground despite President Trump’s attacks, as the industry’s large global footprint means it’s more likely to follow European emissions regulations. (E&E News)

GRID

• The North American Electric Reliability Corp. files new cold weather preparedness and operation rules with federal regulators after its two previous proposals failed to win approval. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIFICATION

• Electric heat pumps can help customers save money over fossil fuel heating, but high electricity prices in California and other parts of the country can temper those savings. (Inside Climate News)

TRANSPORTATION

• The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection delays enforcement of Advanced Clean Trucks regulations, citing limited availability of trucks and uncertainty around federal incentives. (State House News Service)

CLIMATE

• The USDA cancels a $3 billion Biden-era program to boost climate-smart farming practices. (Reuters)

PIPELINES

• The Keystone pipeline operator restarts the pipeline less than a week after it ruptured and spilled thousands of barrels of crude oil in North Dakota. (E&E News)

COMMENTARY

• In the face of utilities’ misleading claims that community solar raises prices for ratepayers, consumers deserve full and true assessments of community solar’s grid and cost benefits, an energy consultant writes. (Utility Dive)