Reliving EV history

POLITICS

• The U.S. Energy Department reinstates employees fired last month after a judge directed the Trump administration to rescind its layoffs at the DOE and other departments. (E&E News)

• The DOE will also resume payments to efforts the Trump administration labeled ​“DEI,” including funding for stakeholder engagement and workforce development. (Latitude Media)

• The Defense Department searches for climate-related studies to cancel, though doing so would only save about $30 million. (E&E News)

FEDERAL FUNDING

• Farmers and environmental groups sue the Trump administration over its pause on disbursal of funding for a rural clean energy and efficiency program. (The Hill)

OVERSIGHT

• The U.S. EPA directs environmental enforcement officers to steer away from pursuing criminal or civil cases against energy companies. (The Hill)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Mercedes-Benz debuts an electric version of its most affordable sedan, with a hybrid version to follow. (The Verge)

EFFICIENCY:

• As Republicans look to roll back a water heater efficiency standard, a U.S. company says it would give foreign competitors a competitive advantage. (E&E News)

OFFSHORE WIND

• Workers complete construction of a $223 million offshore wind equipment hub in Virginia, where Dominion Energy will work on its planned 2.6 GW offshore wind farm. (WHRO)

PIPELINES

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and President Trump plan to meet today to discuss the development of a natural gas pipeline the state blocked in 2020, but Trump is already threatening to override the state’s authority to push the project through. (The Hill, Newsweek)

EMISSIONS

• Greenhouse gas emissions fell by 3.6% in the U.K. last year, reaching their lowest levels since 1872, while Germany’s emissions dropped 3.4% to put the country on track to meet its 2030 climate goals. (Carbon Brief, Reuters)