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Congressional Republicans who support policies to combat global warming plan to lean into their message even if former President Donald Trump brings attacks on climate science back to the White House, write Emma Dumain and Timothy Cama.

Republicans have expanded the Conservative Climate Caucus to become the second-largest member organization in the House GOP Conference, with 82 members. They also crafted an energy platform under former House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy that steered away from climate denialism — though his subsequent ouster as speaker left them without a crucial ally.

“We’re not dependent on a standard-bearer outside of the House,” said Republican Rep. John Curtis of Utah, the chair and founder of the climate caucus who is now running for Senate.

“I don’t think it’s a surprise to anybody that charting the course as a Republican to talk about climate has never been easy,” he continued, “and so if there are headwinds, we’ll keep pushing forward.”

On the campaign trail, Trump has continued to call climate change a “hoax” and promises his return to office would undo President Joe Biden’s environmental policies. That could mean efforts to slow or stop the rollout of federal spending on clean energy projects through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the infrastructure law of 2021. And it could affect billions of dollars in pledges that private companies have made to open U.S.-based factories for electric car batteries, wind turbines and other technology that Trump regularly disparages. The bulk of those planned investments are in Republican-leaning states in the South and Rust Belt regions of the Midwest.

Yet, even as Trump and inside-the-Beltway conservative groups plot a path to reversing Biden’s climate policies — and federal climate action writ large — some Republicans who take a more moderate approach believe they can find alignment with Trump.

GOP messaging on climate and energy focuses on what they call innovation as opposed to regulating energy companies and divesting from fossil fuels. Some conservatives are optimistic that Trump’s rhetoric on energy and climate doesn’t tell us everything about what his White House would do.

“I think we’re aligned,” said House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). “Good energy policy is good climate policy. And when America is energy independent, when America’s producing and when America’s innovating on energy solutions, that’s helping the climate.”

For example, Republicans say Trump could loosen the Biden administration’s guidelines on the IRA’s hydrogen tax credits. A tougher stand against China could encourage even more domestic clean energy manufacturing. And if Trump unlocked protected federal lands for more oil and gas drilling, that could also open more federal spaces for renewable energy projects.

That may leave climate-minded conservatives with something to cheer.

It’s Friday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO’s Power Switch. I’m your host, Rebekah Alvey. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to [email protected].

Today in POLITICO Energy’s podcast: Environmental activists are publicly and privately pressuring President Joe Biden to wage a stronger fight against climate change. POLITICO’s Zack Colman breaks down how green groups are testing the president as the 2024 contest heats up.

Power Centers

Manchin: So much for ‘Mr. President.’
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) officially closed the door to a presidential run Friday, writes Burgess Everett. After announcing he would not seek reelection for his Senate seat, Manchin flirted with the idea of a centrist, third-party run and even recently floated Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah as a potential running mate.

The possibility shook Democrats who worried Manchin’s run would boost former President Donald Trump in a race against Biden. In announcing he would not run for president, Manchin took a swipe at Washington politics.

“I am convinced you can’t fix it from Washington. And I’ve tried for 14 years,” Manchin said at an event at West Virginia University. “This will be the least productive, most destructive Congress that we’ve ever had.”

Turbulence ahead
The offshore wind industry has a new, uncertain look in 2024.

Paused and canceled plans for offshore wind projects could make it difficult for Biden to meet a goal of powering 10 million homes with ocean winds by 2030. Inflation, supply-chain hiccups and rising interest rates have played a role in developers bailing on projects or even jumping from the offshore wind industry altogether, writes Benjamin Storrow.

New developers may be able to fill gaps in the industry but remain cautious due to the cancellations. There are other lingering concerns, like the potential return of Trump to the White House and the presence of an unstable seabed mineral at project sites.

Back to business
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved two projects to boost natural gas exports at a time when oil and gas backers and greens are at odds over the issue, writes Zach Bright. It was the panel’s first meeting since the Biden administration announced the Department of Energy would hit pause on new liquefied natural gas export projects.

FERC approved the 500-mile Saguaro Connector natural gas pipeline from Texas to an LNG export terminal along Mexico’s coast. FERC also approved a three-year extension to complete the Driftwood pipeline and LNG terminal in Louisiana. Notably absent from the meeting was the pending Calcasieu Pass 2 LNG export project in Louisiana, which has attracted opposition from climate groups concerned about the impact of natural gas on global carbon emissions.

In Other News

Teamwork makes the dream work: Ford CEO Jim Farley said he is worried about competition from China’s electric vehicle market and is willing to work with rivals for a cheaper battery.

Small steps: Commuters entering the turnstiles of a Paris metro station last summer powered a two-day trial project that generated a small amount of electricity.

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The path to Biden’s reelection may rely on emphasizing how the Inflation Reduction Act and other policies help the economy rather than the environment, new polling from the policy think tank Third Way suggests.

Lawmakers are battling over legislation in Pennsylvania and Virginia that would determine whether the states are in or out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The brawls will keep the states on the sidelines as members of the Northeast’s regional cap-and-trade program shape the future of RGGI.

A federal judge sided with green groups in overturning a Trump administration decision to give Florida authority over the federal wetlands permitting program. The judge found that in 2020, EPA and the Fish and Wildlife Service failed to analyze how transferring the program to the state would affect endangered or threatened species there.

That’s it for today, folks. Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!

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