Feds sue California over emissions rules, a potential Jones Act suspension, and more headlines

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.

EMISSIONS

• The Trump administration sues California over its tailpipe emissions rules, claiming the stronger-than-federal regulations are illegal and unenforceable. (Reuters)

IRAN

• An International Energy Agency report finds the ongoing war in Iran has triggered the largest disruption to the global oil market in history. (Politico)

• The White House is reportedly planning a 30-day suspension of the Jones Act to allow foreign tankers to move fuel between U.S. ports in an attempt to curb rising prices. (Bloomberg)

PERMITTING

• Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) warns that he will again pause negotiations on an energy permitting bill if the Trump administration appeals court rulings that allowed construction on five offshore wind projects to proceed after federal orders shut them down in December. (E&E News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Global EV registrations fell 11% from January to February, largely thanks to rollbacks of incentives for buyers. (Reuters)

SOLAR

• Solar installations in Nevada fell significantly last year after the Trump administration implemented policies favoring fossil fuels over clean energy. (Nevada Current)

AFFORDABILITY

• The Maryland state House approves a sweeping energy affordability bill that includes steep cuts to energy-efficiency programs, increased scrutiny of plans for new power lines, and payments to residents from the state’s clean energy fund. (Maryland Matters)

• As Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) and state lawmakers focus on reining in high energy costs, climate concerns are disappearing from policy conversations. (CommonWealth Beacon)

GRID

• The DOE offers $1.9 billion for projects that reconductor power lines and otherwise upgrade transmission capacity. (news release)

OHIO

• The defense rests in the bribery case of two former FirstEnergy executives who declined to testify on their own behalf, setting the stage for closing arguments and jury deliberations. (Signal Ohio)