DOE continues climate clawback

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.

POLITICS

• U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the department will cancel $13 billion in unobligated ​“green new scam” funding, but doesn’t disclose which climate and clean energy programs it will target. (The Guardian, news release)

• After a staffing purge, the Energy Department doesn’t have enough lawyers left to carry out funding cancellations ordered by the White House, and will instead have to spend as much as $50 million on outside counsel. (Latitude Media)

FOSSIL FUELS

• The Trump administration is reportedly planning to keep using its emergency powers to prevent retiring fossil-fuel plants from shutting down, which it has already done twice. (Bloomberg)

• BP revises its prediction that global oil demand would peak this year, and now estimates it’ll grow until 2030 as energy-efficiency efforts stall. (The Guardian)

CLIMATE

• China and 120 other countries pledge to lower their greenhouse gas emissions at the United Nations climate summit, while the U.S. skips the event after President Donald Trump railed against climate action and the ​“green scam” in a speech. (New York Times)

• Fossil-fuel and auto industry groups have voiced support for rolling back the federal government’s endangerment finding, which establishes that greenhouse gases harm human health, but fear its revocation will also open them up to lawsuits. (E&E News)

GRID

• Total electricity generation and retail sales have increased this year over last, suggesting that power demand is starting to rise in line with projections. (Utility Dive)

• Average U.S. household electricity prices have risen 9.5% this year, with the biggest increases coming in Midwest states and New Jersey. (Inside Climate News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Slowing EV sales in the U.S. are leading European automakers to tamp down production, with Porsche among the companies announcing a pivot back to gasoline-powered and hybrid vehicles. (E&E News)