The Big Story 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and top state Democrats announced Tuesday they would seek an extension of the state’s cap-and-trade emissions reduction program — countering Trump administration efforts to thwart such initiatives.

© Jeff Chiu, Associated Press file

Newsom — along with state Sen. Mike McGuire, the Senate president pro tempore, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas — made this decision following a recent federal executive order that called for the rollback of what President Trump described as local environmental “overreach.”

In last week’s order, Trump chided states for advancing “burdensome and ideologically motivated ‘climate change’ or energy policies that threaten American energy dominance.”

He claimed that the Golden State “punishes carbon use by adopting impossible caps on the amount of carbon businesses may use, all but forcing businesses to pay large sums to ‘trade’ carbon credits to meet California’s radical requirements.”

California’s cap-and-trade program — proposed and signed into law by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006 — seeks to hold carbon polluters accountable by charging them for excess carbon emissions.

However, the current program is set to expire in 2030 and, therefore, requires an extension from the Legislature.

Newsom argued in his proposed budget that extending the program already this year could help ensure greater market certainty, attract stable investments and cement California’s climate leadership.

Read more from Sharon Udasin at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin  — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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Join us for The Hill’s Energy & Environment Summit, where we’ll gather leaders in government, sustainability and global energy solutions to discuss how rapidly changing policies will impact the future of U.S. energy and environmental policy.

Key speakers include:

• Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
• Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) 
• Christine Todd Whitman, Former Administrator of the EPA

What We’re Reading 

News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

• Oil prices steady as market considers latest US tariff changes (Reuters)

   

• The scientists Trump needs (E&E News)

What Others are Reading 

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Judge orders Trump officials’ depositions, blasts inaction in Abrego Garcia case

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Buzz builds around Ocasio-Cortez’s future

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is helping draw massive crowds across the country as part of a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), fueling speculation about her future political ambitions. Read more