We are kicking off Daily on Energy with Energy Secretary Chris Wright calling on European countries to join “Team Energy Freedom” and prioritize energy policy instead of climate initiatives. In other news, the Environmental Protection Agency has announced a number of agency actions it will take to combat perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or “forever chemicals.”
Meanwhile, Callie and Maydeen will be taking part in several events for DC Climate Week. Be sure to reach out if you are planning on attending this week’s events.
Welcome to Daily on Energy, written by Washington Examiner energy and environment writers Callie Patteson (@CalliePatteson) and Maydeen Merino (@MaydeenMerino). Email cpatteson@washingtonexaminer dot com or mmerino@washingtonexaminer dot com for tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email, and we’ll add you to our list.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION URGES EASTERN EUROPE TO BREAK AWAY FROM EU GREEN ENERGY GOALS: As the Trump administration has removed itself from international climate discussions, cabinet officials are now urging European countries to follow suit and join the U.S. in shifting focus away from climate change to energy dominance.
The details: Energy Secretary Chris Wright has called on central and eastern European countries to join “Team Energy Freedom” and prioritize securing reliable energy rather than net-zero goals. His remarks came during the Three Seas Business Forum in Warsaw, Poland, on Monday, where the U.S. also announced a strategic agreement to advance nuclear power development in Poland.
He accused western European nations, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, of depriving their citizens of consumer choice by imposing “top-down” energy mandates and climate policies as a part of their efforts to transition to carbon-free power solutions like renewables.
“But I can say that climate alarmism has clearly reduced energy freedom, and, hence, prosperity and national security across Western Europe,” Wright said. “Let me say that again. Climate alarmism has reduced freedom, prosperity, and national security.”
While Wright said climate change is a “real physical phenomenon,” he claimed it is not “even close to the world’s most urgent problem.” He insisted that nations focused on achieving net-zero by 2050 are working toward the wrong goal. Wright said that net-zero goals are not only unachievable, but also cause more damage to humans than they do mitigation to climate change.
“Central Europe faces a time for choosing. You all have a long history of choosing freedom and sovereignty for your citizens,” he said. “We warmly welcome you to join us on Team Energy Freedom and prosperity for citizens. President Trump’s agenda of prosperity at home and peace abroad is a team sport!”
EPA BEGINS TO TACKLE FOREVER CHEMICALS: Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a long list of agency actions to combat perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or “forever chemicals.”
What are PFAS? Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS are synthetic chemicals that can be found in an array of consumer products, including clothing, shampoo, electronics, and cleaning products. PFAS have been referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down in the environment, which has resulted in PFAS being found in water and soil.
EPA new actions: The EPA said today it would look at several ways to tackle PFAS pollution, including designating an agency lead to manage the PFAS efforts. It will also implement new testing strategies, update guidelines, identify and address information gaps, and ramp up the development of testing methods to improve detection and strategies to address PFAS.
Agency officials said they would seek to fulfill statutory obligations, such as addressing the significant compliance challenges and requests from Congress and drinking water systems related to national primary drinking water regulations for certain PFAS .
It would also consider adding PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory, as mandated by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. EPA officials said they would work with Congress to create a liability framework that operates on the polluter pays principle and protects passive receivers . The agency would also collaborate with states to assess risks from PFAS contamination.
Read more by Maydeen here.
IN OTHER EPA NEWS… The EPA also issued a nationwide emergency waiver allowing for the sale of E15 gasoline, which is a blend with 15% ethanol for the summer driving season.
“President Trump’s commitment to farmers and the Renewable Fuels Standard has been a cornerstone to his leadership. In my confirmation hearing, I pledged to establish certainty when it came to the sale of E15 year-round. Promises made, promises kept,” Zeldin said in a statement.
The action is aligned with Trump’s executive order directing the EPA to consider issuing emergency waivers to allow for year-round E15 sales. The action is meant to provide some cost relief at the pump during the summer driving season, the EPA said. The waiver will go into effect May 1 and will initially remain in place until May 20.
INAUGURAL DC CLIMATE WEEK KICKS OFF WITH CALL TO ACTION: The first annual DC climate week began this week, drawing thousands of attendees to the nation’s capital for discussions on climate innovation, technology, policy, advocacy, finance, economy, and more.
The conference kicked off Monday morning at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center (formerly the Newseum), with a surprise appearance from science educator Bill Nye.
Engaging in meaningful action and reform targeting climate change was the theme of the morning, with keynote speaker Sir Andrew Steer calling for activists to learn from the successes of the MAGA movement. Steer noted that its success was the result of strategic planning.
“It was like three decades of discipline, planning and a coordinated approach. We in the environmental movement are not very good at being disciplined or coordinated, but we certainly could be,” Steer said, saying the movement needs a “situation room.”
Nye echoed that call for strategic action, indicating there are lessons to be learned from movements and protests that have been held in Washington, D.C., throughout history, such as the Women’s March and the protests against the Vietnam War.
“What I would ask us is to consider developing a large-scale protest,” Nye said. “Climate change needs to be addressed on a large scale.”
SPAIN AND PORTUGAL SUFFER FROM MASSIVE POWER OUTAGE: A massive power outage hit most of Spain and Portugal on Monday, causing chaos in the two countries as the blackout trapped hundreds of people in elevators, halted subway and tram lines, cut phone service for locals and residents abroad, and shut down traffic lights.
The details: Power operators are currently racing to restore electricity services to tens of millions of customers at risk of being left without power come nightfall. The power outage hit just after midday across the entire Iberian Peninsula and in some parts of France, according to grid operator Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN).
Just before 8 p.m. CEST, the operator reportedly said that the blackout was caused by extreme temperature variations that caused a “rare atmospheric phenomenon,” according to the Telegraph. However, REN has since publicly denied that was the reason, telling the New York Times that the weather related news was “fake news.” Operators have estimated it could take as much as 10 hours to restore power in Spain, while Portugal might not see normal service resume for up to one week. The official cause is still under investigation.
The effect: Photos and videos shared with Daily on Energy show massive lines formed outside of grocery stores, with dozens of locals looking to purchase jugs of water for only one Euro (roughly $1.24). Some tourists have been left stranded, unable to gain access to their AirBnBs or other short-term rentals that utilize electric doors. City-owned bikeshares have become inoperable, as the majority of them run on electricity.
Effects of the blackout have also been felt outside of Portugal and Spain, as Daily on Energy has learned residents located outside of the two countries relying on Portuguese or Spanish mobile carriers have been unable to access their mobile data abroad.
JAPANESE POWER GENERATOR WEIGHING ALASKA AS LNG SUPPLIER: JERA, one of the largest utility providers in Japan, has confirmed it is considering buying liquefied natural gas from Alaska as it seeks to increase its U.S. imports.
The details: JERA executive Naohiro Maekawa confirmed during a briefing today that the company has its sights set on Alaska – a move that would be considered a major win for the Trump administration which has sought to unleash the state’s energy capabilities.
“From the perspective of energy security and supply stability… we would like to consider Alaska as one of the promising suppliers, among various other options,” Maekawa said, according to Reuters.
JERA currently handles upwards of 25 million metric tons of LNG each year, with nearly half of its supply coming from Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Roughly only 10% of its supply comes from the U.S. The company first signaled in January its intention to increase American imports.
A tariff deal? A potential purchase agreement may offer Japan some relief from the president’s sweeping tariffs set to go into effect in early July, which include rates of 24% on its exports to the U.S. and a 25% tariff on cars. The country is reportedly expected to hold negotiations with Washington this week.
EUROPEAN AIRLINES ARE ON TARGET TO PASS PRE-PANDEMIC EMISSIONS LEVELS: European airlines are on target to pass pre-pandemic emission levels this year, the Financial Times reports.
The FT said according to forecasts from environmental group Transport & Environment carbon dioxide emissions from European airlines are expected to reach 195.2 million metric tonnes, surpassing last year’s number of 187.6mn.
European airlines have vowed to reach net zero emissions by 2050, specifically through alternative fuels. But some European airlines have said that sustainable aviation fuel is costly and the supply is not sufficient. Last month, European airlines also urged the European Union to ease environmental regulations.
ICYMI – CHINA APPROVES 10 NEW NUCLEAR REACTORS: China’s state council voted to approve 10 new nuclear reactors on Sunday evening, putting the Asian country on the path to surpass the United States as the global leader in nuclear energy generation.
The details: The vote now marks the fourth year in a row that the country has supported building at least 10 new reactors, according to Bloomberg. At least 30 reactors are currently under construction in China, with the country expected to see its nuclear capacity reach roughly 65 gigawatts by the end of this year.
This is only expected to continue to grow, as the China Nuclear Association estimated in a report released yesterday that its capacity will balloon to 200 gigawatts by 2040. By comparison, the U.S. saw a total generating capacity of nearly 97 gigawatts in 2024.
Construction of the 10 new reactors is reportedly expected to cost around 200 billion yuan (roughly $27 billion). At least four are expected to be built at China General Nuclear Power Corp.’s Fangchenggang and Taishan power plants.
A LOOK AHEAD:
April 28 – May 2 is DC Climate Week.
April 28 – May 1 Oceantic is holding its International Partnering Forum, the largest offshore renewable energy conference in the Americas, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
April 28 – April 30 The Biogas Americas conference will be held in Denver, Colorado.
April 29 The Federalist Society is holding a webinar on how DOGE and the second Trump administration might have a lasting positive change on environmental law and regulations.
April 29 The House Natural Resources committee’s subcommittee on oversight and investigations is holding a hearing titled “Exploring the Potential of Deep-Sea Mining to Expand American Mineral Production.”
April 29 The House Energy and Commerce committee is holding a markup on six pieces of health-related legislation.
April 29 – 30 The Large Scale Solar USA summit will be held in Dallas, Texas.
April 29 – May 1 The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce holds its 4th annual energy summit in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
April 30 The Senate Energy Committee will be holding a hearing to consider a number of energy nominations, including Leslie Beyer for assistant Interior secretary for lands and minerals management, Andrew Travnick for assistant Interior secretary for water and science, Tristan Abbey for administrator of the Energy Information Agency, and Ted Garrish for assistant Energy secretary for nuclear energy.
April 30 The United States Energy Association is holding a virtual discussion on coal’s future role in the U.S. energy mix.
RUNDOWN
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