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The court said the claims must be brought before a special court that handles contract disputes involving the federal government.
Clean school bus transition gets clogged up
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Democrats are blaming Republican-backed rollbacks of clean energy programs for rising electricity costs as they craft a midterm campaign strategy around energy prices.
In short:
- Democratic lawmakers and aligned advocacy groups are accusing President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” of gutting renewable energy incentives and driving up electricity prices for American households.
- Messaging efforts emphasize that clean energy is not only environmentally beneficial but also cheaper and faster to deploy, a message Democrats hope will resonate in the 2026 midterms, especially with swing voters.
- Energy prices have climbed faster than inflation, with Democrats citing utility data and industry studies to argue that states with more renewables have fared better than those that rely heavily on fossil fuels.
Key quote:
“The big ugly bill is going to mean a lot of big ugly energy bills arriving in the mail for Americans around the country.”
— Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
Why this matters:
Electricity prices are becoming a political flashpoint, but beyond partisanship, the debate reveals deeper questions about the U.S. energy system. Wind and solar have become the cheapest sources of new electricity in much of the country, yet the cost of building new infrastructure and managing power demand is rising. As the U.S. adds data centers and electrifies more sectors, demand for power is growing fast, and fossil fuel reliance can lock in price volatility. Renewable energy often delivers price stability, but its association with climate politics has made it a harder sell in some districts. Meanwhile, consumers are left paying higher utility bills, with the reasons why often obscured by misinformation and partisan spin.
Related: Democrats shift strategy to blame Republicans for rising energy bills and power shortages
Oil and gas companies have lobbied Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to roll back key Trudeau-era climate policies ahead of an expected update to Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan.
In short:
- In meetings and lobbying disclosures from May and June, oil and gas firms targeted regulations on clean fuels, electricity, methane, carbon pricing, and the proposed emissions cap, all core elements of Canada’s 2022 climate plan.
- Companies including Enbridge, Suncor, Shell, and Imperial Oil lobbied Carney’s ministers, often citing competitiveness and U.S. tariffs under President Trump’s administration as reasons to weaken federal climate regulations.
- The Carney government says it will update the climate plan by year’s end, citing economic changes and global pressures, but has not detailed which policies might be changed or retained.
Key quote:
“These are long-standing demands from these various industries: ‘Get rid of these things, we don’t want to be a part of this.’”
— Alex Cool-Fergus, national policy manager at Climate Action Network Canada
Why this matters:
Canada’s oil and gas sector is its largest source of industrial emissions, and lobbying efforts to dismantle or delay climate rules come as the country grapples with worsening climate impacts. Canada is warming at twice the global average — faster in its North — and 2024’s extreme heat and wildfire seasons bore the mark of human-driven climate change, according to government scientists. The 2022 climate plan aimed to cut emissions and reach net-zero by 2050, but ongoing pressure from the fossil fuel industry threatens to derail or dilute those commitments.
Related: Canada’s new prime minister backs fossil fuels while promising Indigenous partnerships
The Trump administration’s 50% tariff on Indian imports has sharply reduced the U.S. market for Indian solar panels, threatening the growth of India's expanding clean energy manufacturing sector.
In short:
- India recently announced it had increased solar manufacturing capacity 50-fold over the past decade, producing enough panels to generate 100 gigawatts of electricity.
- The U.S., previously India's largest buyer of solar panels, imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods this week, making those exports financially unviable.
- India now faces uncertainty over whether its domestic market can absorb the surplus, as it tries to scale up rooftop solar and reduce dependence on Chinese components.
Why this matters:
India is betting heavily on solar power to meet its energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but its reliance on global trade leaves it vulnerable to shifting geopolitics. As it tries to compete with China in clean energy manufacturing, protectionist policies like U.S. tariffs threaten to stall momentum. The sudden loss of the American market may push Indian solar firms to slash production or abandon expansion plans. And because most Indian solar panel makers still depend on imports from China for key parts like silicon wafers, the country's push for energy independence remains precarious.
Read more: Solar is no longer alternative energy—it's the new default
A national conservative group backed by oil money is spending heavily to weaken Vermont’s climate policies, challenging the state’s efforts to curb fossil fuel use.
Austyn Gaffney reports for Grist in partnership with VTDigger.
In short:
- Americans for Prosperity, funded by the Koch family, is pushing to overturn Vermont’s climate laws through digital campaigns, mailers, and public events, targeting measures like the Affordable Heat Act and the Global Warming Solutions Act.
- The group’s New England director, Ross Connolly, said their mission is to counter “radical” progressive policies and promote deregulation, despite none of the group's key organizers living in Vermont.
- Vermont has become a strategic testing ground for this approach, with Americans for Prosperity expanding its influence through local lobbying efforts and events while also settling a $3,000 fine for a campaign finance violation.
Key quote:
“The goal of the Affordable Heat Act is to help insulate Vermonters from fossil-fuel price swings, and to make it easier and more affordable for them to transition – if they want to – to more sustainable energy sources.”
— Jill Krowinski, Vermont House Speaker
Why this matters:
Vermont is on the front lines of a broader national strategy by fossil fuel interests to derail state-level climate action. The state's efforts to shift away from heating oil and toward electric heat pumps reflect a larger movement to cut carbon emissions from residential energy use. But this transition threatens the profits of entrenched oil interests, which are now using dark money groups to fight back. Americans for Prosperity, created and funded by Koch Industries, has long played a leading role in denying climate science and obstructing environmental regulation. Its entry into Vermont politics signals an intensification of these tactics in even the most progressive states.
Related: Vermont climate goals face setbacks as federal support disappears
Hayden, Colorado, a small former coal town, is building a geothermal heating and cooling network for its new business park, aiming to attract companies while cutting energy costs.
Phil McKenna and Jake Bolster report for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- The town is drilling 1,000-foot-deep boreholes to tap steady underground temperatures, reducing reliance on fossil fuels for heating and cooling.
- State grants and tax incentives are making the project financially feasible, with plans to expand the system as the business district grows.
- Officials see geothermal as a way to relieve stress on the electricity grid and support broader energy efficiency goals in Colorado and nationwide.
Key quote:
“We’re creating the infrastructure to attract employers, support local jobs, and give our community reliable, cost-effective heating and cooling for decades to come.”
— Mathew Mendisco, Hayden town manager
Why this matters:
By replacing fossil fuels with geothermal, Hayden could lower local energy costs, reduce emissions, and strengthen community resilience against extreme weather. As the geothermal network expands alongside the business district, officials are looking at a double payoff: easing pressure on the local grid and nudging Colorado closer to broader energy efficiency goals. For residents, it’s a reminder that energy transitions can be tangible, local, and, maybe most importantly, good for both wallets and the planet.
Read more: Labor and environmental groups can both win in the clean energy transition. Here’s how.
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