Republicans go nuclear

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

• The U.S. House approves Republicans’ tax, energy, and border package that includes speedier phase outs of energy tax credits, new fees on EVs, and further cuts to climate grants, while preserving nuclear incentives and speeding environmental reviews and permitting. (E&E News)

• Republican Senate leader John Thune uses a sequence of procedural votes to avoid a direct conflict with the body’s parliamentarian, who had ruled that California’s vehicle emissions rules weren’t subject to the Congressional Review Act. (The Hill)

• The House approves a bill to roll back Biden-era air pollution control and reporting rules, sending it to President Trump for his likely signature. (The Hill)

RENEWABLES

• New York executes renewable energy certificate contracts for 26 wind, solar and hydroelectric projects totalling 2.57 GW in capacity, in response to the state energy authority’s solicitation. (RTO Insider, news release)

• The U.S. Energy Department will redirect $365 million slated for Puerto Rico solar projects to improving the island’s power grid, drawing criticism from advocates and political leaders who said solar would help boost power resiliency during storms. (Associated Press)

SOLAR

• Solar developers have dropped plans for dozens of utility-scale solar projects in PJM’s territory in recent years as the grid operator’s slow interconnection process continues. (E&E News)

WIND

• Community leaders in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park celebrate the reinstatement of Empire Wind, after they had spent years working to secure local jobs as part of the project. (Washington Post)

• Clean energy and consumer advocates say a bill advancing in the Texas Legislature would essentially ban offshore wind development, removing a potentially cheap and plentiful source of electricity. (S&P Global)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• The Toyota Rav4 will only be available as a plug-in hybrid starting with the 2026 model year, and unlike most hybrids will be able to access high-speed charging. (The Verge)

FOSSIL FUELS

• An analysis finds California’s 2024 Orphan Well Prevention Act has successfully reduced transfers of low-producing oil and gas wells and kept large operators from shifting cleanup costs to smaller companies. (news release)

HYDROGEN

• Hawaii Gas plans a pilot project to test Ayrton Energy’s system designed to transport hydrogen at room temperature, saying it could pave the way for statewide use of the fuel. (Fuel Cells Works)