Could Musk sway Trump on climate?
CLIMATE: While Tesla CEO Elon Musk describes himself as “super pro-climate” and has arguably softened Donald Trump’s tone on electric vehicles, there are mixed signals as to whether he can persuade the president-elect to abandon conspiracy theories on climate change. (New York Times)
ALSO:
- “The world has gotten tired of this routine”: Climate negotiators note the Paris Agreement survived Trump’s 2017 withdrawal, but reversing course again could sideline the U.S. from negotiations permanently. (Associated Press)
- New modeling suggests the economic impact of future warming-fueled disasters has been vastly underestimated. (The Guardian)
CLEAN ENERGY:
- U.S. climate advocates are encouraging state lawmakers to redouble their efforts to pass climate legislation in the coming years, similar to legislation that passed during Trump’s first term. (Canary Media)
- While clean energy stocks continued to slide on Wednesday, two solar companies saw gains this morning, as some analysts say the market has overreacted to the election results. (Utility Dive, Fortune)
- While opinions differ on the fate of the Inflation Reduction Act under Trump, a Republican analyst says it is a “false hope” to assume that benefits to conservative states will be enough to prevent Congress from repealing clean energy tax credits. (E&E News)
OVERSIGHT:
- California prepares to defend its climate and environmental laws against the incoming Trump administration’s likely challenges. (CalMatters)
- Experts say the Trump administration has limited options to shrink the size of the EPA, and that gutting the agency’s staff would actually undermine his own anti-regulatory agenda. (E&E News)
WIND: Offshore wind representatives urge Trump to consider the economic benefits the industry can offer, despite the president-elect’s vocal opposition to such developments. (New Bedford Light)
OIL & GAS:
- An analysis finds Trump’s proposed tariffs would reduce global oil demand by as much as 500,000 barrels per day and are “unlikely to spur additional growth” in U.S. production. (Rigzone)
- The Biden administration is working to complete a climate analysis of U.S. natural gas exports before the end of the year. (The Hill)
PIPELINES: Iowa carbon pipeline opponents say South Dakota voters’ rejection of a state pipeline siting law should send a message to other states where a developer continues to pursue a project. (Radio Iowa)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Colorado advocates say a recent increase in electric vehicle sales shows state and federal incentives are working as intended. (Colorado Sun)
DECARBONIZATION: Great Lakes ports serving Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago are poised to receive $200 million in federal grants in the coming months to decarbonize their infrastructure and shift to clean energy. (Energy News Network)
COMMENTARY: A journalist who spent six months selling solar panels to learn more about the industry says his customers saw solar as a “pathway to prosperity” that will continue to thrive even under a Trump administration. (Slate)
