POLITICO Energy

The Trump administration wants to revive idled refineries across the country to make more fuel, its latest push to address higher gasoline prices. White House officials are huddling with potential investors to restart defunct fuel factories, from the Virgin Islands to California. So how far along are discussions? And how close is any of this to becoming reality? POLITICO's James Bikales breaks down what’s happening and what comes next.

Nuclear fusion holds the promise of almost limitless, carbon-free energy -- but the technology has long been dismissed as always decades away. That may now be changing, though. Real money is pouring into the industry. Pilot projects are planned. An increasing number of lawmakers are warming to the idea. But fusion's supporters said they still need more help from Washington to scale. POLITICO's Joe Schatz lays out the hopes, the obstacles and the political asks of the budding U.S. nuclear fusion industry.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp only has a few months left in the statehouse before the Republican’s second term comes to an end, and he’s hoping to land a couple more big investments before he departs. Those would be on top of the major electric vehicle manufacturing plants that have sprouted up – and one of the biggest buildouts of data centers in the country. POLITICO’s Arianna Skibell talks to Kemp about his legacy changing shape of Georgia’s power economy.

Democrats are champing at the bit to conduct more oversight of the Trump administration’s close ties to the oil and gas sector if the regain power in Congress in November's midterms. What are they planning to home in on? And what are energy lobbyists doing to prepare? POLITICO's James Bikales breaks down what to expect if Democrats take hold of the committee gavels.

Why is the Colorado River at a breaking point? Part of the answer lies in years of drought, dwindling water supplies and a long fight among Western states over an operating plan for the river. POLITICO's Annie Snider explains why the Trump administration is stepping in to take a larger role in managing the Colorado River, what that means for the 40 million people who rely on it and why the next chapter in the West's water wars could be decided in Washington or in court.