Trump taps fossil fuel champion for Interior post

OIL & GAS: President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, is expected to help ratchet up new oil, gas, and mineral production on federal lands, as well as offshore drilling. (Reuters)

ALSO:

• Experts predict Trump’s reelection will boost Texas fossil fuel companies but slow efforts to plug abandoned ​“zombie wells.” (Houston Chronicle)
• A new report suggests Louisiana is unlikely to see a significant economic boost from oil and gas, even if Trump approves construction of liquified natural gas export terminals along the Gulf Coast. (Floodlight)

POLITICS:

• More than half of Republicans support renewable energy and U.S. leadership on climate, and some are hoping to sell the incoming Trump administration on an ​“America First” approach to clean energy. (Grist)
• Clean energy is popular among Democrats and Republicans, but the level of support among the latter has fallen sharply over the last eight years, Pew Research Center polling shows. (Canary Media)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Analysts say Elon Musk, in his Trump administration ​“government efficiency” role, faces major conflicts of interest that could be exploited to damage Tesla’s competitors and enrich his own companies. (Politico)
• The near-term future of electric vehicle charging is likely to be slower, as federal funds for fast-charging stations dry up before the market is mature enough to support private development. (Heatmap)

ELECTRIFICATION: Voters’ rejection of natural gas taxes and bans in state and local elections don’t necessarily indicate a widespread backlash against electrification, climate advocates say. (Heatmap)

SOLAR: A study finds California’s 17,000 MW of rooftop solar capacity saved residents about $2.3 billion on their utility bills this year, casting doubt on ​“cost-shift” arguments used to support net-metering rate cuts. (Canary Media)

CLIMATE: Massachusetts lawmakers pass an ambitious, long-awaited climate bill that includes measures to cut back on the use of natural gas and speed up the process of siting and permitting renewable energy. (The Boston Globe)

WIND: Louisiana officials are surprised by two companies’ proposals to build wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico shortly after the Biden administration canceled an offshore wind auction for lack of interest. (Louisiana Illuminator)

GRID: State utility regulators call for continued federal funding of advanced transmission technologies to grow capacity, benefit ratepayers, meet growing demand and maintain reliability. (Utility Dive)

CARBON CAPTURE: Occidental Petroleum nears completion of a $1.3 billion direct air capture facility in the Permian Basin, which the oil and gas industry hopes will become a model for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. (Texas Monthly)

COMMENTARY:

• A clean energy journalist compiles a list of renewable energy projects that are most at risk of being canceled under Trump’s second presidency. (Heatmap, subscription)
• The Sierra Club’s executive director says it isn’t unwarranted to be worried about the clean energy transition, but market forces and state policies mean ​“we will not go backward.”(Sierra)