Trump and Musk’s messy breakup

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.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• The value of Tesla shares drops 14%, erasing $150 billion of the EV company’s value as CEO Elon Musk publicly spats with President Trump. (Associated Press)

• Musk and Trump’s split threatens to leave Tesla with few political allies, as Musk’s work with the administration has alienated Democrats who’d usually be supportive of EVs. (E&E News)

• As Musk condemns ​“mountains of disgusting pork” in the congressional budget, Trump alleges Musk only has problems with the bill because it aims to end an EV-boosting emissions rule and EV tax credits. (The Hill)

• Envision Automotive Energy Supply Co. announces it’s stopping construction of its South Carolina EV battery plant, saying it will ​“resume construction once circumstances stabilize.” (SC Daily Gazette)

• Georgia lawmakers debate how to respond if Congress repeals EV subsidies, which could slow the state’s rapid rise as an EV manufacturing hub. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

BUDGET BILL

• Academics and policy experts nearly all agree that a repeal of clean energy tax credits in the congressional budget bill will raise energy prices for the average U.S. household by hundreds of dollars by discouraging home efficiency upgrades and renewables development. (Grist)

• Environmental groups in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Virginia similarly warn the congressional budget bill could increase energy costs, decrease grid reliability, and undermine clean energy-related economic development projects. (WVUE, WPLN, WVIR)

• The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee omits a proposed annual EV fee from its portion of the budget bill, but still looks to eliminate a fuel efficiency rule and slash other climate programs. (E&E News)

RENEWABLES

• A Pew Research Center survey finds support for solar and wind power has dropped among both Democrats and Republicans over the past five years. (Floodlight)

COAL

• The Trump administration is ramping up efforts to preserve coal power with support from grid operators, despite its negative effects on power prices, public health, and the environment. (Inside Climate News)

OFFSHORE WIND

• A judge tells the coalition of states challenging the Trump administration’s moratorium on wind development that they need to present more evidence of specific harms the order has caused and the legal violations allegedly committed by federal agencies. (New Bedford Light)

CLIMATE

• A new AI-powered internal tool that aims to streamline U.S. EPA practices is highlighting the importance of climate action, contradicting the agency’s current direction. (E&E News)

• President Trump’s attacks on congestion pricing in Manhattan, attempts to stop Empire Wind, and assertive push for natural gas pipelines in New York could topple the state’s already precarious chances of reaching its ambitious climate goals. (E&E News)

GRID

• Analysts say requiring data center operators to secure new generation for their projects could help avoid overwhelming PJM’s grid and balance market conditions. (Utility Dive)

NEW FROM CANARY MEDIA

• Analysts say the Trump administration’s industrial decarbonization funding cuts will cost it the chance to produce cleaner and cheaper materials in the U.S., and will in turn cede jobs overseas, Alexander C. Kaufman reports.

• California curtailed 3,400 GWh of solar power last year, showing the state has the capacity to increase demand via electrification or could build out transmission lines to send that power elsewhere, Dan McCarthy reports.