Coal’s having a moment. It won’t last

Presented by The American Petroleum Institute (API): Your guide to the political forces shaping the energy transformation

Jul 18, 2022 View in browser   By Arianna Skibell Presented by The American Petroleum Institute (API) A coal-fired power plant in Germany stands near open-pit coal mines that feed it with coal. | Lukas Schulze/Getty Images Long-shuttered coal-fired power plants are awakening to a new reality in Europe, where they are once again considered a vital source of electricity. But the boost is temporary. Coal is one of the few short-term options available in Europe, which is scrambling to secure its energy supply as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has upended the market. Germany, Europe's largest economy, has authorized the reactivation of 16 dormant coal- and oil-fired power plants. The Netherlands has amended its laws to allow coal plants to run at full capacity through 2023, and France and Austria are also reopening coal-fired units. While the return to coal has alarmed climate hawks, a new study found that short-term reliance on coal as an emergency measure won't topple global goals for slashing heat-trapping pollution. Europe is also teeing up legislation that would compensate for the increase by cutting emissions 55 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels. Leaving steeper cuts for later years increases the risk they won't be realized, though, and some European leaders have lamented even a brief return to coal. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the move regrettable. But the real threat to climate action is Europe's new affection for natural gas. Europe is looking to shore up its gas reserves in time for winter, amid fears that its supply from Russia will be further curtailed. That could spur major new funding for gas-fired power plants, particularly after a recent vote by European lawmakers to label gas as "sustainable." Building out enduring natural gas infrastructure could lock in planet-warming emissions for years to come, threatening global climate targets. Already, the EU inked a deal with Azerbaijan to double natural gas imports by 2027. Europe's struggle to move away from fossil fuels comes as the region is experiencing record-breaking temperatures and vicious wildfires, which swept through Western Europe and the United Kingdom this weekend. Hundreds of people have already died in what may be one of the region's most extreme heat waves on record. Unless the world dramatically reduces its carbon emissions, such events will only become more frequent, scientists warn.   It's Monday— thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Arianna Skibell.  Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to askibell@eenews.net. Viral Front page news — Spain, Turkey, China and Greece are but a few of the counties experiencing massive heat waves and exacerbated wildfires. The extent of the devastation is reflected in newspaper front pages from around the world. Check out this Twitter thread from Simon Evans, deputy and policy editor at the climate science website Carbon Brief, to see a collection of them.   A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): Washington policymakers must confront the global mismatch between demand and supply that has driven higher fuel prices by supporting greater U.S. production. To address the growing crisis we face, Congress and the President must support American energy investment, create new access and prevent regulations from unnecessarily restricting energy growth. Read the American Petroleum Institute's 10-point plan for addressing the energy crisis.   Power Centers California is now in its third consecutive year of drought. | Mario Tama/Getty Images Colliding realities Climate change is altering life in the United States, from drying rivers and extreme heat to failed crops. But these realities have yet to provoke a serious response in Washington, writes Ben Storrow. The result is a collision of political and atmospheric reality. Read the story here. The Manchin show That lack of action is largely the result of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin's aversion to the climate spending bill Senate Democrats have been negotiating for two years. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday blasted Manchin for what he called "sabotaging" President Joe Biden's agenda, writes Kelly Hooper. Here's the full story. The fallout from Manchin's wobble could also have major consequences for Biden's public lands oil strategy, writes Heather Richards. Read the story here. 'Yawning gap' Nearly all U.S. utility leaders say curbing carbon emissions is a high or moderate priority, but only 38 percent are doing anything about it, writes Peter Behr. This "yawning gap" means leaders either don't know what to do or can't do anything because of a lack of capital or regulatory support. Read the story here. In Other News Injustice: How a conservative U.S. network undermined Indigenous energy rights in Canada. Hot, sleepless nights: Hotter nights don't just make it harder to fall asleep, they can disrupt your sleep cycles and leave you with low-quality rest. Today in POLITICO Energy's podcast: Josh Siegel and Kelsey Tamborrino discuss what Manchin's stance means and what Democrats, many of whom are angry with their colleague, can accomplish on energy and climate before the midterms. Question Corner The science, policy and politics driving the energy transition can feel miles away. But we're all affected on an individual and communal level — from hotter days and higher gas prices to home insurance rates and food supply. Want to know more? Send me your questions and I'll get you answers.   A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API):   Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. Biden prepares to exit Marine One after returning Saturday from a Middle East trip. | Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Biden's four-day visit to the Middle East yielded little on oil and emphasized that U.S. climate commitments look increasingly out of reach. Russia appears to be slowing energy exports to Europe, after its export monopoly declared force majeure on gas supplies. Zoning restrictions could jeopardize as much as 77 percent of potential wind development areas in Iowa, raising even more questions about how the U.S. will meet its climate goals. That's it for today, folks! Thanks for reading.   A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): In June, 28 organizations representing the natural gas and oil industry invited the administration to visit US operations and witness firsthand the benefits of producing here at home. Last week, the President visited Saudi Arabia. Given global realities, it is time for Washington to support the millions of men and women in the US natural gas and oil industry working tirelessly to help close the supply the gap. The US natural gas and oil supply chain and the government at all levels need to open a new era of working together to ensure that essential energy resources are unlocked; to encourage investment opportunities and accelerate infrastructure development; and to strengthen global energy security, affordability and reliability. Read More.     Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

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