News from Novi: 10 Headlines that Stood Out to Us this Week
Issue 3 – Week of May 5th, 2025
1 - Trump administration plans to end Energy Star program for home appliances
On Monday, the EPA Office of Atmospheric Protection announced that the Energy Star program would be eliminated, and the Office would be dissolved. This program has been around since 1992, helping Americans transition to cleaner appliances – both saving them money as well as eliminating four billion metric tons of greenhouse gases.
NOVI TAKE: Administrator Zeldin said EPA would make it easier for Americans to heat their homes – isn’t that what an Energy Star appliance helps you do?
2 - GOP fight over state and local tax deduction slows Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’
The budget reconciliation efforts in Congress may be delayed longer if the House Republicans are not able to come to an agreement regarding the State and Local tax deduction, a redline issue for Republicans from New York, New Jersey, and California.
NOVI TAKE: The SALT tax fight may be the biggest obstacle to overcome in the reconciliation battle.
3 - Can hourly matching work for scope 2 emissions accounting?
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol has been working on potential revisions for its scope 2 market-based method. The new proposal would have a 24/7 hourly matching component in an attempt to improve accuracy, but if not designed carefully, it may have the opposite effect.
NOVI TAKE: Roger Ballentine’s piece underscores the complexity of the question and the importance of getting it right.
4 - Energy Policy Outcomes of the Trump Administration’s First 100 Days in Office
The Business Council for Sustainable Energy released a Issue Brief going over the Trump administration’s actions and outcomes related to energy Policy.
NOVI TAKE: With the overwhelming deluge of headlines, it is easy to be focused on one policy shift “tree” and miss the full strategy “forest.” This piece shows the disciplined themes that have run through all of the new administration’s actions.
5 - Hyperscalers are getting more interested in gas-plus-CCS
As hyperscalers are increasing the need for power generation, gas is gaining interest as a source of energy for data centers. But specifically the combination of gas generation and carbon capture technology. NET Power’s Texas plant that is planning on operations beginning in 2029.
NOVI TAKE: Here comes CCS for data centers!
6 - 17 Democratic-led states sue over Trump anti-wind moves
States jointly filed suit against Trump Administration’s multiple actions to stifle the offshore wind industry. The States are claiming that the Administration’s actions harm their ability to deliver reliable and affordable sources of energy to their constituents.
NOVI TAKE: No generation source has taken it on the chin more than offshore wind, and many of these states have identified it as their most reliable and abundant source of new generation. This lawsuit was inevitable.
7 - Trump proposes slashing DOE budget by $19.3B
The proposed White House budget would cut to DOE’s funding by 9.4%, with many cuts being proposed for deep reductions to the programs of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
NOVI TAKE: A President’s budget is only a proposal to Congress – which of these programs will find champions in Congress to protect them?
8 - Trump targets carbon removal project in speaker’s district
Trump’s budget proposal calls to cancel “Green New Scam funds committed to build unreliable renewable energy, removing carbon dioxide from the air”. This specifically will target Project Cypress in Speaker Johnson’s district, which is part of the Department of Energy’s Direct Air Capture program.
NOVI TAKE: Will Speaker Johnson be influenced by his constituents or his fealty to the new President?
9 - House panel unveils energy proposals that follow Trump’s vision
New proposals developed by the House Natural Resources Committee will fulfill the Trump’s promise to ‘drill, baby, drill’ as they allow for new oil and gas drilling leases.
NOVI TAKE: No surprises here, but this will only become law if the Congressional majorities can solve their larger Budget Reconciliation politics.
Secretary Wright testified to Congress on Tuesday about the Administration’s process for reviewing projects for funding, including those that have already been reviewed and approved. Wright notes that one criteria that they are looking at is if the project will align with the Administration’s agenda.
NOVI TAKE: Key question that will eventually be decided by the courts – is it Constitutional for the Executive Branch to ignore spending instructions from Congress if they feel they not aligned with their views?
11 - The new pope, Leo XIV, has spoken out about urgent need for climate change action - Fast Company
We know it's mother's day this Sunday, but with the historic election of Leo XIV, the first American-born Pope, we're taking this opportunity to consider the Holy Father's stance on climate and the environment. Pope Leo XIV has been outspoken about the urgent need for climate action.