November 13, 2024

It seems like the past four years flew by, doesn’t it? I don’t think this is just me getting older. After three consecutive two-term presidencies, having three consecutive single-term ones feels odd — not to mention having the first non-consecutive two-term president since the late 19th century.

I imagine those of you in the energy and climate space feel like you’re on a roller coaster. The past four years were a complete reversal of the four before that. What will the next four be like? That’s what a few of our reporters wrote about this past week: 

• K Kaufmann wrote about the reaction from the clean energy industries to Donald Trump’s re-election as they brace for rollbacks and claw-backs of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration’s signature legislative achievement for addressing climate change. But it also won’t be the end of the U.S.’ clean energy transition, she reports. 

• James Downing focused on the election’s impact on FERC and the wholesale power markets that it oversees. He spoke with former commissioners and officials from the first Trump administration to find out what they expect. 

• And John Cropley focused on the financial side of the day after the election, which saw many clean energy stocks — besides Tesla’s — tank and the U.S. dollar’s value surge. 

One thing is for sure: U.S. efforts to reach net-zero emissions will once again be led by the states, as governors, mayors and other local officials pledged in Azerbaijan at COP29.  

And California, with the fourth largest economy in the world, will once again be in the spotlight. Gov. Gavin Newsom is convening a special session of the state’s legislature to consider additional funding for the state Department of Justice and other agencies, Elaine Goodman reports, while the California Energy Commission is providing nearly $38 million in research and development funds for the floating offshore wind industry, according to Ayla Burnett. 

Here’s what else we had this past week: 

• Duke Reports on Hurricanes’ Impact, SMR Plans in Q3 Earnings 

• NY Solar Summit Looks for Continued Momentum 

• Rhode Island Voters Approve Funding for OSW Port Infrastructure 

• SouthCoast Wind Nears Federal Approval with FEIS Release 

• Wash. Voters Resoundingly Reject Cap-and-Invest Repeal Attempt 

• White House Releases Plan to Triple US Nuclear Power by 2050
  

See you next week!