WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY: Good afternoon and Happy Monday, readers. Another week is underway as we provide updates on the latest energy picks for the new Trump administration and a number of E&E events happening in the coming days. 

In today’s edition of Daily on Energy, Callie and Maydeen kick things off with a request from the White House to Congress on approving funding for hurricane relief and the latest on the UN’s ongoing climate change conference. We also take a look towards renewables as China has powered up what is thought to be the largest onshore wind turbine, while the oil and gas industry is pivoting away from clean energy sources. 

Keep reading to find out what clean energy rule the president is looking to finalize before leaving office, plus, what people are saying about Chris Wright being tapped for the Department of Energy. 

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.

WHITE HOUSE ASKS CONGRESS FOR $100B FOR HURRICANE RELIEF: The Biden White House is pressuring Congress to meet a new supplemental funding request to assist with disaster relief and recovery worth roughly $100 billion, following the devastation primarily brought on by Hurricane Helene and Milton. 

The details: President Joe Biden formally sent House Speaker Mike Johnson a letter Monday making the request.

The president’s request includes $40 billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund and an additional $2 billion to refill the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan assistance program. The request also includes funding for the following departments and agencies:

• Department of Agriculture — $24 billion
• Department of Housing and Urban Development — $12 billion
• Department of Transportation — $8 billion
• Environmental Protection Agency — $4 billion
• Department of Health and Human Services — $2 billion
• Department of Commerce — $2 billion
• Department of Education — $1 billion
• Department of Energy — $1 billion
• Army Corps of Engineers — $500 million
• Department of State — $300 million
• Department of Interior — $200 million
• Department of Labor — $200 million
• Legal Services Corporation — $100 million
• AmeriCorps — $100 million

Read More from the Examiner’s Christian Datoc here. 

GLOBAL WARMING 1.5 TARGET OUT OF REACH: Climate experts are warning that the internationally accepted goal to limit warming to 1.5 C is completely out of reach.

Stark warnings: As 2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record, several climate scientists and researchers are now saying it is no longer possible to meet the Paris Agreement’s target of staying under 1.5 C. Their warnings come as multiple research groups have estimated that 2024 will be at least 1.5C hotter than pre-industrial times, according to The Guardian. 

“The goal to avoid exceeding 1.5C is deader than a doornail. It’s almost impossible to avoid at this point because we’ve just waited too long to act,” Zeke Hausfather, climate research lead at Stripe, told The Guardian. “We are speeding past the 1.5C line an accelerating way and that will continue until global emissions stop climbing.”

Gavin Schmidt, a climate scientist with NASA, also told the outlet that he never believed the 1.5C goal was realistic, calling it a “pointless thing.” 

“I’m totally unsurprised, like almost all climate scientists, that we are shooting past it at a rapid clip,” Schmidt said. 

Some background: Under the Paris Agreement, participating countries agreed to lower greenhouse gas emissions worldwide in order to keep global warming levels below 2 C above pre-industrial levels, and even as low as 1.5 C. However, average global temperatures have exceeded this limit since as early as 2015, according to the United Nations. Though, the UN has insisted that breaches of the target does not mean the Paris Agreement has failed, as the goal refers to decades-long temperature goals.

COP29 – U.S.-UAE PARTNERSHIP SECURES $29.2B FOR CLIMATE-FRIENDLY FARMING: The U.S. and United Arab Emirates announced at COP29 that they have expanded funding for climate friendly farming efforts from $17 billion to $29.2 billion. 

In 2021, the U.S. and UAE created the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a five-year joint initiative to invest in climate-friendly agriculture and food systems. The funding increase consists of $16.7 billion investment from 56 government partners and $12.5 billion from non-government partners. 

This year’s funding exceeds previous efforts at COP28, which secured $17 billion in funding, and at COP27, which secured $8 billion in funding. According to the UN, the food system accounts for about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

“We recognize that investment in agricultural research and development has long been a driver of prosperity and resilience, and it has never been more important, as agriculture and food systems around the world face a range of unprecedented challenges,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

AIR POLLUTION IN INDIA HITS SEVERE LEVELS: Officials in India are tightening restrictions on construction activities and vehicle movement and implementing school closures in response to high levels of severe pollution in New Delhi. 

Air pollution levels in India’s capital passed 60 times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily maximum. Heavy smoke is covering high-rise buildings and monuments throughout the capital. The poor air quality is expected to continue into the week. 

As of this afternoon, New Delhi’s air quality index (AQI), which looks at the five major air pollutants to determine the air quality levels, increased to 728. Any level above 300 is considered hazardous. Breathing air of that quality is equivalent to smoking more than a pack of cigarettes a day, according to AQI.

A World Health Organization Director of Public Health, Environmental, and Social Determinants of Health, Maria Neira said on X that the pollution is a “compelling demonstration of the urgent need for intensified action against climate change and air pollution here at @COP29_AZ and @WHO,” commenting on a video of the pollution in India. 

OIL GIANTS SCALING BACK ON RENEWABLE ENERGY: BP, Shell, and Equinor are setting out to scale back their efforts to curb emissions and transition to renewable energy, Reuters reports. 

Reuters said the oil giants’ redirection efforts are due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and declining profits for renewable energy projects. In order to improve performance, BP plans to invest billions into new oil and gas developments in the U.S. Gulf Coast and the Middle East. A company source also told Reuters that BP has slowed down low-carbon operations. Shell has, too. 

The New York Times reports that BP’s chief executive, Murray Auchincloss, told financial analysts on a recent conference call that the company “will be very, very returns-focused, making sure that the new businesses compete on a competitive level with the historic businesses for scarce capital.” 

Equinor has also launched a review of its low-carbon business. “The goal is to strengthen competitiveness and to compete effectively when the industry rebounds after the current down-cycle,” the company told Reuters.

WORLD’S LARGEST ONSHORE WIND TURBINE UP AND RUNNING: A massive 15-megawatt onshore wind turbine, thought to be the largest and highest capacity in the world, has officially been powered up in China. 

The details: On Sunday, Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Sany revealed that it turned on the powerful turbine — just one month after it was installed, according to Recharge News. It is now expected to undergo more than a year of tests to confirm reliability. 

The turbine reportedly has the largest single-unit capacity, 15 megawatts, of any onshore turbine. It also features blades that stretch nearly 430 feet — far longer than a football field. At this size, just one of these turbines is expected to power roughly 160,000 homes every year, the company has said. The turbine dwarfs that of other large onshore turbines made by Western companies — some of which have unveiled turbines with capacity only reaching around 7 megawatts. 

European expansion: Sany’s major milestone comes just months after the turbine manufacturer said it would be expanding production in Europe. The company confirmed to Reuters in September that it would start producing turbines in Europe by 2026 in either Germany or Spain.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT CHRIS WRIGHT FOR DOE: American Petroleum Institute head Mike Sommers praised the selection of Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright for energy secretary, saying that his “experience in the American energy sector gives him an important perspective that will inform his leadership of the Department of Energy.”

“We look forward to working with him once confirmed to bolster American geopolitical strength by lifting DOE’s pause on LNG export permits and ensuring the open access of American energy for our allies around the world,” Sommers added. 

Environmental Defense Fund Executive Director Amanda Leland stated that “any nominee, including Chris Wright, who ignores the stakes in this global clean energy race – or fails to recognize the urgent challenge of climate change – should concern all of us. If the Trump administration blocks investments in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies, it will jeopardize the health of communities across our country, destroy job opportunities, and make our nation less competitive.”

Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member Sen. John Barrasso said that “President Trump promised bold choices. Chris Wright delivers. He’s an energy innovator who laid the foundation for America’s fracking boom.” 

“After four years of America’s last energy policy, our country is desperate for a Secretary who understands how important American energy is to our economy and our national security. Mr. Wright will help ensure America remains committed to an all-of-the-above energy policy that puts American families first,” he added. 

Illinois, Rep. Sean Casten, a Democrat, told E&E News that “Chris Wright is a science-denying, self-serving, sanctimonious fracker who consistently puts the wants of energy producers over the needs of American energy consumers.”

“To put him in charge of the Department of Energy is to fulfill the dreams of every fossil fuel company who hopes to boost their profits by raising energy costs for Americans,” he said. 

Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, a Democrat, said on X that “Trump asked for a billion dollars and Big Oil CEO Harold Hamm asked for Chris Wright. As we fight for our clean energy future, they’re putting a fossil in charge.”

Read more from Maydeen here. 

ICMYI: JOE BIDEN AIMS TO FINALIZE CLEAN FUEL RULE BEFORE END OF TERM: The president is reportedly seeking to finalize his administration’s clean fuel tax credit rule before Donald Trump takes office in January, threatening several major environmental and climate focused regulations. 

The details: A senior White House official confirmed to Reuters on Sunday that Biden is looking to finalize the rule to provide tax credits for producing sustainable jet fuel and other clean fuels. The rule would go into effect in 2025. 

“I’m not going to make any announcements, except that we’re working very hard to finish the rule,” the official said. 

Some background: Throughout his campaign, Trump and his team vowed to roll back a number of Biden administration climate rules and projects, such as the pause of approvals for LNG exports, backing for offshore wind, and unspent funds from the Democratic-passed Inflation Reduction Act. The president-elect has also vowed to again prioritize oil and natural gas production, declaring “Drill, baby, drill” on repeat. 

A LOOK AHEAD:

Nov. 17-21 is the American Nuclear Society’s 2024 Winter Conference and Expo. 

Nov. 19 The House of Representatives takes up H.R. 1449, the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act.

Nov. 19 The Senate Energy Committee is set to mark up a wide range of energy legislation. 

Nov. 20 C3 Solutions is holding a breakfast discussion on energy and environmental policy in the next Congress featuring Senator-elect John Curtis and US Energy Association President and CEO Mark Menezes. 

Nov. 20 The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute is hosting a Symposium on Energy, Infrastructure, and Sustainability.

Nov. 20 The Senate Environment Committee is holding a hearing on the Safe Drinking Water Act. 

Nov. 21 Atlantic Council Global Energy Center is hosting a virtual fireside chat with Repsol CEO Josu Jon Imaz.

Nov. 21 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is holding its monthly meeting. FERC is expected to take up the many rehearing requests on its controversial 1920 order. 

Nov. 22 COP29 concludes.

RUNDOWN 

Carbon Brief  Q&A: The evolving science of ‘extreme weather attribution’

LA Times  Has nuclear power entered a new era of acceptance amid global warming?

The New York Times How Can I Green Up My Investments?

Wall St. Journal  Why Big Oil Doesn’t Mind Big Regulation