Permitting reform revived, an ​“embarrassment” for energy dominance, 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.

POLITICS

• Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Martin Heinrich say they’re ready to resume energy permitting reform negotiations, though Whitehouse cautions that Republicans will have to rein in ​“Trump administration mischief.” (statement, E&E News)

CLEAN ENERGY

• As much as 59 GW of clean energy projects face delays in coming online in the U.S. due to supply constraints, regulatory barriers, and interconnection backlogs, the American Clean Power Association estimates. (Bloomberg, report)

SOLAR

• New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows Texas has at last surpassed California to become the national leader in utility-scale solar installations, though California remains ahead for overall solar power due to small-scale installations. (Inside Climate News)

• California advocates say state policies are hampering community solar development and holding the state back from meeting its clean energy targets. (Los Angeles Times)

OIL & GAS

• A federal offshore oil and gas lease auction in Alaska’s Cook Inlet receives no bids, prompting advocates to proclaim it a ​“huge embarrassment” for the Trump administration’s energy dominance agenda. (New York Times)

DATA CENTERS

• A data center developer plans to buy and restart a former Maryland coal plant, though it is unclear what fuel the revived facility would use; the market monitor for grid operator PJM Interconnection objects to the plan over concerns the resource would be removed from the regional market. (E&E News, Utility Dive)

CLIMATE

• California and Washington state take steps toward linking their carbon cap-and-trade markets, saying it would decrease and stabilize decarbonization costs. (Washington State Standard, Politico)

• Minnesota Senate Democrats introduce legislation to create a climate superfund that charges large oil, gas, and coal companies for damages caused by greenhouse gas emissions. (Sahan Journal)

• Amazon, Google, and other corporations launch a $100 million effort to curb climate ​“superpollutants,” including methane and refrigerants. (Axios)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• A new report finds the Southeast EV sector saw $5.5 billion in investment canceled and 4,700 jobs lost in 2025, even as sales rose. (Southern Alliance for Clean Energy)