Embrace it or watch it fade away

In the realm of energy policy, the United States has been witnessing a series of significant developments.

New York has put a halt to its plans for the development of transmission lines for offshore wind power, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has expedited permits for a new Tennessee coal mine, disregarding industry bankruptcies, as reported by Grist.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that the state will challenge the Trump administration's "illegal" decision to revoke $4 billion in federal funding for the state's high-speed rail project, also according to Reuters. In contrast, a coal-fired power plant in Pennsylvania will undergo a $3.2 billion overhaul to reopen as a natural gas plant, as per CBS News.

In solar energy news, four rooftop solar arrays installed at a low-income housing development in Massachusetts will generate about $35,000 in savings each year for the nonprofit that owns the complex, PV Magazine reports. However, Maine has delayed its first offshore wind procurement due to ongoing industry slowdown and opposition, as reported by Maine Public.

In the realm of legislation, Sen. Josh Hawley has secured a commitment from the Energy Secretary to cancel a $4.9 billion federal loan for the Grain Belt Express transmission line, as reported by the New York Times. The GOP megalaw has extended a clean-fuel tax credit that can be used by producers of sustainable aviation fuel until 2029, as reported by the Capital Journal.

U.S. solar panel manufacturers have filed petitions seeking steep new duties on cells and panels imported from Laos, Indonesia, and India, as reported by E&E News. LanzaJet, on the other hand, plans to open the first-ever factory that makes sustainable aviation fuel from ethanol before the end of the year, according to Bloomberg.

In regulatory news, President Donald Trump appointed David Rosner as a member and chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Trump also appointed David LaCerte, a Project 2025 contributor and current Office of Personnel Management staffer, to fill a vacant seat on the FERC.

The Commerce Department has proposed a 93.5% tariff on Chinese graphite, a key ingredient in EV batteries, as reported by the New York Times. Chevron's acquisition of Hess has received approval from U.S. regulators following a legal battle with Exxon, as reported by Axios.

Some congressional Republicans have raised concerns about a $1 billion provision in President Trump's budget law aimed at boosting fossil fuel production, as reported by E&E News. President Donald Trump has also allowed coal plants and other polluting industrial facilities to bypass Biden-era environmental regulations, as reported by Bloomberg.

In the face of these developments, the energy landscape in the U.S. continues to evolve, with a mix of renewable and fossil fuel projects, regulatory changes, and legislative efforts shaping the future of the industry.