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☆ US House committee votes to repeal Biden solar panel policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Solar panels are set up in the solar farm at the University of California, Merced, in Merced, California, U.S. August 17, 2022. Biden suspended tariffs last June as part of a key pillar of his clean energy policy. The resolution passed the House Ways and Means committee 26 to 13. "The Ways and Means Committee just took a hammer to business certainty and American energy independence," Solar Energy Industries Association President Abigail Ross Hopper said in a statement. Months later, Commerce issued a preliminary decision to extend existing tariffs on Chinese solar products to goods from those nations.

☆ Power firm SSE says backing renewables can help get Britain closer to energy self-reliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The chief executive of British power firm SSE says a rapid build-out of renewable projects can help the U.K. to secure its energy security and bring costs down for consumers. "Consumers everywhere across Europe have seen prices rise significantly," SSE CEO Alistair Phillips-Davies told CNBC's Arabile Gumede from the firm's Viking Wind Farm in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022 prompted a radical upheaval of Europe's energy supplies. U.K. Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps reaffirmed the government's plan to deliver greater energy independence last month, pledging to seek to power the country by switching to home-grown sources, including nuclear and renewables. Asked whether the U.K. possessed enough wind energy to power at least most of the U.K., SSE's Phillips-Davies replied, "I definitely think the U.K. has got a huge amount of natural resources.

☆ Europe’s rush to LNG could turn into ‘world’s most expensive and unnecessary insurance policy'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Golar Tundra project is a key part of Italy's plan to reduce its reliance on Russian gas following the invasion of Ukraine. Europe must carefully balance its gas and LNG systems, and avoid tipping the scale from reliability to redundancy. "This is the world's most expensive and unnecessary insurance policy," said Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, energy analyst for IEEFA Europe and author of the analysis. "Europe must carefully balance its gas and LNG systems, and avoid tipping the scale from reliability to redundancy. Boosting Europe's LNG infrastructure will not necessarily increase reliability — there's a tangible risk that assets could become stranded," Jaller-Makarewicz said.

☆ This could be Big Oil's last surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The era of Big Oil could end sooner than its massive profits suggest, analysts told Insider. But the worst-case scenario for the environment — that oil and gas companies reinvest all their extra money to keep growing — isn't happening, Logan said. The role of oil and gas companies in the energy transition is an ongoing debate, analysts told Insider. The UK company cited the need for an "orderly" energy transition. And while Big Oil's finances may begin to show some cracks over the next decade, he doesn't expect them to "suffer financially" for another 25 to 35 years.

☆ Manchin accuses the Biden administration of appeasing 'radical activists' on climate and pledges to block Interior Department nominee
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin says he will block one of President Biden's nominees and potentially others. Manchin says he'll judge nominees on whether they're "political partisans first or Americans first." He's taking issue with the administration's framing of a law he supported as an effort to address climate change. Manchin, of West Virginia, wrote in an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle, noting that energy leaders are gathered in the city for an annual conference. Biden has touted the bill's $370 billion devoted to tackling climate change as the most significant investment the US has made to fight climate change.

☆ South African cities scramble to keep the lights on
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Carien Du Plessis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Officials plan to procure up to 500 megawatts (MW) from private power companies by 2026 to provide roughly a third of the city's annual 1,500-1,800 megawatts (MW) electricity needs. [1/5] A woman tests LED lights on a solar panel at their factory called Ener-G-Africa, where they produce high-quality solar panels made by an all-women team, in Cape Town, South Africa, February 9, 2023. The neighbouring Ekurhuleni municipality has signed deals with 46 private power companies for 700 MW, according to its 2020/2021 annual report. Hill-Lewis said Cape Town also plans to change its energy policy to allow households and businesses that produce solar power to sell the excess to the city. In Cape Town, for those wanting to sell excess power to the city, a 12,000 rand feed-in meter is required.

☆ These are the best ETFs to play the boom in international stocks, Bank of America says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

International equities have outperformed their U.S. counterparts by more than 4%, but investors should choose carefully, said Jared Woodard, investment and ETF strategist at Bank of America, in a note to clients on Monday. "International dividends ( GCOW ), emerging markets ex-China ( EMXC ), and Canada ( FLCA ) should comprise long term international holdings," the note said. The global version is already off to a solid start in 2023, with a total return of about 6%. The fund, which has $3 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.25%, already has a total return of more than 5% in 2023. The Canada fund has a total return of more than 8% year to date.

☆ Bearish hedge fund manager Dan Niles names his top five trades for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Despite the January bounce , hedge fund manager Dan Niles sees more volatility ahead. Top picks for 2023 Amid the volatility, Niles has five top picks for investors. He said his Satori Fund well outperformed the S & P last year by making money, but did not disclose its exact performance. It continues to be one of the top trades this year for Niles, who called it his "favorite investment in 2023." Sitting on cash allows us the flexibility to reinvest if the S & P goes lower in 2023," Niles said.

☆ Biden's IRA has left Europe blind-sided. And playing catchup could lead to 2 big mistakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"U.S. legislation doesn't pass overnight," Emre Peker, director at the consultancy group Eurasia, told CNBC, adding that the EU could have acted faster. Luisa Santos, deputy director at BusinessEurope, a group of business federations, told CNBC that "it is still a bit early to say who will invest where." watch nowBelgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo told CNBC that more state aid "is not a good answer." Several other experts have also raised concerns about easing state aid rules. Slow to respondIn addition to challenges with state aid relaxation, timing is also a risk.

Companies U.S. Department of Energy FollowNEW YORK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday will announce over $100 million in funding to expand U.S. biofuels production, as the Biden administration works to cut greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and meet climate goals, the department told Reuters. The department plans to award $118 million to 17 projects designed to accelerate the production of biofuels, which can be made from biomass including agricultural waste, soybean oil and animal fats. The DOE's funding includes awards to universities and private companies ranging from $500,000 to $80 million for various pre-pilot, pilot and demonstration projects, the department said. About 16.8 billion gallons of biofuels were consumed in the United States in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The Biden administration has said biofuels will be needed to lower emissions, including in the aircraft industry with lower-carbon sustainable aviation fuel.

☆ Oliver Stone's new film puts nuclear energy in the spotlight. These stocks are ready to hop on the trend
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

In his latest documentary "Nuclear Now," Stone argues for the use of nuclear energy as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. "We had the solution [nuclear power] … and the environmental movement, to be honest, just derailed it. For investors, the film adds to growing interest in nuclear power as a fossil fuel alternative beyond renewables. These funds invest in a variety of stocks tied to nuclear power throughout the value chain. Other global nuclear energy ETFs such as Sprott Uranium Miners (URNM) and the VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy (NLR) have gained more than 13% and 4% in 2023, respectively.

People communicate with each other at the Congress Center for the World Economic Forum WEF Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 15, 2023. DAVOS, Switzerland – U.S. lawmakers quietly took part in a private ritzy lunch atop the World Economic Forum on Monday featuring dozens of influential business leaders, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Chris Coons, D-Del., Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz. and a few members of the House of Representatives, these people explained. Coons, Manchin, Sinema and Kemp are among the U.S.-based officials scheduled to participate in panel sessions at this year's conference. These private events on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum often serve as meet-and-greets between CEOs, billionaires and government officials.

Like most European countries, Portugal is accelerating its shift to renewables to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels whose prices have surged since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He expected Europe's accelerating push for renewable energies to help streamline the licensing of hybrid projects and shorten their implementation times from up to six years now. It is already building four other parks in Iberia and plans to bring online 1.6 GW of hybrid capacity there this decade. EDPR has an installed capacity of 3.4 GW in Iberia alone and 14.3 GW globally. Reporting by Sergio Goncalves and Miguel Pereira, editing by Andrei Khalip and David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Energy independence is so important to Americans right now, says Sunrun CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEnergy independence is so important to Americans right now, says Sunrun CEOSunrun CEO Mary Powell sits down with CNBC's Brian Sullivan at the Goldman Sachs Global Energy and Clean Tech conference in Miami Beach to discuss the importance of energy independence as well as the impact rising rates have on the solar business.

It absolutely is,” said former Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, home to the rebels. It foreshadows more divisions in the narrow House majority, which will have to compromise with a Democratic-controlled Senate and President Joe Biden to keep the government functioning and avert economic crises. 2 GOP Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana pleaded with colleagues to support McCarthy so the House could begin to advance conservative goals like bolstering border security and energy independence. But we can’t start fixing those problems until we elect Kevin McCarthy as our next speaker,” he said on the floor. “This is going to be everyday in the House Republican majority,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said on Twitter.

☆ These are Dan Niles top 5 picks for 2023, when he expects the market to fall another 20%
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hedge fund manager Dan Niles is preparing for the potential of another steep decline for stocks in 2023 with a top picks list that leans defensive. Niles said on CNBC's " Squawk on the Street " Tuesday that he expects the S & P 500 to fall to 3,000, which is more than 20% below where the index finished 2022. Another area that Satori Fund is focused on is health care. There were also two individual stocks on Niles' list. Niles said that he believes in the Instagram parent's cost-cutting plans, making its cheap multiple – relative to other internet stocks – attractive.

☆ Republican U.S. House to open in turmoil as McCarthy fights for gavel
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

After four years as the Republican minority leader, McCarthy now needs at least 218 votes to succeed Democrat Nancy Pelosi as speaker. House Republicans are expected to meet face-to-face behind closed doors on Tuesday morning, ahead of the speaker election. While Republicans have won back the House, Democrats still hold the White House and Senate. 'TAKES TWO TO TANGO'The record number of voting rounds to elect a House speaker is 133 over a two-month period in the 1850s. The hardline Republican House Freedom Caucus is demanding rule changes that would enhance the group's influence.

☆ Biden’s Back Door Tesla Subsidy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tesla ’s stock market value has plunged by some $850 billion this year amid investor worries over Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover and slumping demand for its electric vehicles. But lo, the Biden Administration is coming to Mr. Musk’s aid with a new plan to use the renewable fuel program in a way that subsidizes Teslas and other already subsidized EVs. Congress’s ethanol mandate offers a case study in the political difficulty of weaning industries off government support—and how regulators can revamp programs to serve new political ends. Politicians of both parties rallied around the renewable fuel standard (RFS) in 2005 as a way to boost U.S. energy independence and reduce CO2 emissions. It has done the opposite.

☆ U.S. Treasury says consumer leases can qualify for EV tax credits
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The announcement is a win for South Korea and some automakers that earlier this month sought approval to use the commercial electric vehicle tax credit to boost consumer EV access. The $430 billion U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed in August ended $7,500 consumer tax credits for purchases of electric vehicles assembled outside North America, angering South Korea, the European Union, Japan and others. Treasury said it was using "longstanding tax principles" to determine consumer leasing could qualify for the EV tax credit. The commercial credit does not, however, have the sourcing restrictions of the consumer credit. That law lifts the 200,000-vehicle per manufacturer cap that had made Tesla (TSLA.O) and General Motors (GM.N) ineligible for EV tax credits starting Jan. 1.

☆ The renewed 'Made in America' wave is going to make stuff like clothing and electronics more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It's in response to the supply chains disruptions companies have faced in recent years. The headaches US corporations have faced are leading more of them to bring their supply chains closer to home and more under their control. Just under half (46%) said they were adjusting supply chains, and around a third (32%) said they were onshoring their workforce. But if more companies shift their supply chains closer to home, this could slowly begin to change. If reshoring companies have to raise wages to attract workers, they may decide to raise prices even further to protect their margins.

☆ U.S. senator Manchin says Treasury should limit commercial EV tax credit use
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat who chairs the chamber's energy panel, asked the Treasury Department on Tuesday not to allow a commercial electric vehicle tax credit to be used for consumer leasing, rental cars or ridesharing vehicle sales, rejecting a broad interpretation of the credit. Reuters first reported last week the push by South Korea and some automakers that asked the Treasury Department to allow use of the commercial electric vehicle tax credit to boost consumer EV access as well as for the purchase of ride share and rental car vehicles. The $430 billion U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed in August ended $7,500 consumer tax credits for electric vehicles assembled outside North America, angering South Korea, the European Union, Japan and others. The commercial credit known as "45W" does not, however, have the sourcing restrictions of the consumer credit called "30D." Hyundai (005380.KS) and Kia (000270.KS) want the U.S. Treasury to allow people leasing EVs to benefit from commercial credits and to qualify for up to a $4,000 tax credit for used EVs if they buy vehicles when leases expire.

☆ Automakers, South Korea urge U.S. to tap commercial EV tax credit
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rivian Automotive (RIVN.O), Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and Kia Corp (000270.KS) among others want the administration to let consumer vehicle leasing qualify for the commercial EV tax credit that could reduce monthly lease payments. South Korea also asked Treasury not to impose any budget restrictions on commercial vehicle tax credits through 2025. The commercial credit does not have the same sourcing or pricing restrictions but has an "incremental cost" eligibility test that might prove complex. Some automakers want Treasury to make it easier to ensure most commercial light-duty vehicles qualify for $7,500 tax credits. Tesla (TSLA.O)said commercial credits "should apply exclusively for commercial end-users" and the consumer tax credit "should apply exclusively for individual end-users."

☆ Europe’s Energy Risks Go Beyond Gas
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

In terawatt hours of energy per month Gas Coal 80 80 60 60 2022 40 40 20 20 Previous years since 2015 Jan. Dec. Jan. Dec. In terawatt hours of energy per month Wind Solar 60 60 40 40 2022 20 20 Previous years since 2015 Jan. Dec. Jan. Dec. In terawatt hours of energy per month Gas Coal 80 80 60 60 2022 40 40 20 20 Previous years since 2015 Jan. Dec. Jan. Dec. In terawatt hours of energy per month Wind Solar 60 60 40 40 2022 20 20 Jan. Dec. Jan. Dec. In terawatt hours of energy per month Gas Coal 80 60 2022 40 20 Previous years since 2015 Jan. Dec. Jan. Dec.

☆ UK raises its windfall tax on energy companies and bets on nuclear power
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

It is also investing in nuclear power for the first time in decades. Together, these measures will raise £14 billion ($16.5 billion) next year and more than £55 billion ($65 billion) between 2022 and 2028. “I have no objection to windfall taxes if they are genuinely about windfall profits caused by unexpected increases in energy prices,” Hunt said in parliament on Thursday. The UK's Sizewell B nuclear power station, which is operated by France's EDF. Chris Radburn/AFP/Getty ImagesAs well as hiking energy taxes, Hunt affirmed a £700 million ($824 million) investment into Sizewell C, a nuclear power station operated by France’s EDF in the east of England.

☆ The House will aggressively try to return the U.S. to energy independence, says Gary Cohn
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe House will aggressively try to return the U.S. to energy independence, says Gary CohnGary Cohn, vice chairman at IBM and former National Economic Council director, and former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton join CNBC's 'Squawk Box' to discuss the midterm election results, crypto, and more.

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