Benjamin Storrow
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I am a reporter @POLITICO, where I write the Surge newsletter. Proud alum of @EENewsUpdates, @CSTribune, @DailyHampGaz
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Articles by Benjamin Storrow
Sen. Whitehouse says wind attacks threaten permitting deal
The Justice Department on Tuesday night asked a federal court to reopen a fourth permit for an offshore wind project. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) speaking at a news conference last month to announce a Senate permitting bill. He is surrounded (from left) by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) | Francis Chung/POLITICO 10/21/2026 12:15 PM EDT Share Sen.
'This is how you blow up a permitting deal': Sen. Whitehouse slams Trump over offshore wind
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a lead Democratic negotiator on the Senate's permitting bill, said Wednesday that the Trump administration's targeting of offshore wind projects is jeopardizing the bipartisan deal to overhaul the country's approval process for major infrastructure projects. In a court filing late Tuesday evening, the Justice Department said it was seeking to reopen a permit for the New England Wind project off Massachusetts.
Giving power to the people
With help from Frederike Holewik in Germany, Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman in the U.S., Zia Weise in Belgium, Nicolas Camut in France, Mike Blanchfield in Canada, and Brian Dabbs in Singapore. Here comes the residential energy revolution. Data centers are dragging down Republicans ahead of midterm elections. The debate over energy affordability is threatening to derail the United States' biggest utility merger.
The data center slowdown is here
More than 150 data centers have been delayed or abandoned amid rising antagonism toward the industry. A French energy boss downplays the risk of low gas inventories, while Australia flirts with limiting exports. Prime Minister Mark Carney ‘s climate rollbacks put him in league with President Donald Trump , one analysis contends.
Cold politics are here
With help from Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman in the U.S., Ben Munster in Belgium, Josh Groeneveld in Germany, Nicolas Camut in France, Mike Blanchfield in Canada, and Brian Dabbs in Singapore. The global diesel debate hits a Trump ally in Maine. A UAE official tells Surge that AI can fix the water problems from data centers. U.S. emissions are high from coal plants that were ordered by the Trump administration to stay open.
US joins the global energy sprint (almost)
How a rare moment of political concession puts the U.S. in the global race for faster energy projects. Prime Minister Mark Carney spends big to keep Canadian oil out of President Donald Trump ‘s hands. Nuclear power is surpassed by renewables in America.
Electric boomerang: Trump boosts his least fave car
With help from Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman in the U.S., Charlie Cooper and Abby Wallace in the United Kingdom, Josh Groeneveld in Germany, Zia Weise in Belgium, Nicolas Camut in France, Mike Blanchfield in Canada, and Brian Dabbs in Singapore. President Donald Trump is accidentally helping EVs — the cars he dislikes. Trump is also helping gasoline cars, on purpose. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has a grid fix for rising electricity prices.
How AI could go off the rails
With help from Zia Weise in Belgium, Sara Schonhardt, Zack Colman and Corbin Hiar in the U.S., Nicolas Camut in France, Charlie Cooper in the United Kingdom, Mike Blanchfield in Canada, and Brian Dabbs in Singapore. A shortage of special train cars for moving super-heavy energy equipment could slow the AI boom. President Donald Trump finally sold some U.S. coal — to China. The Singapore sling on data centers — first ban them, then make them go green.
White House diesel tensions spill over at Climate Week
With help from Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman in the U.S., Johanna Sahlberg in Germany, Zia Weise in Belgium, Nicolas Camut in France, Charlie Cooper in the United Kingdom, Mike Blanchfield in Canada, and Brian Dabbs in Singapore. Energy Secretary Chris Wright campaigns against his boss's potential diesel export ban at Climate Week. The U.K.'s climate minister says nice things about data centers. See the sentence that PM Mark Carney removed from his speech at Climate Week.
This climate Boomer says Big Tech is the new Big Oil
With help from Zia Weise in Belgium, Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman in the U.S., Charlie Cooper in the United Kingdom, Nicolas Camut in France, Mike Blanchfield in Canada, and Brian Dabbs in Singapore. Congress' outspoken climate hawk, Sen. Ed Markey , shifts his messaging to focus on energy prices. The EU plans to grade data centers based on sustainability. Climate Week's evolving positions on AI, national security and roller coasters.
The G20's great gas divide
With help from Zia Weise in Belgium, Josh Groeneveld in Germany, Emile Marzolf, Alexandre Léchenet and Nicolas Camut in France, Mike Blanchfield in Canada, Brian Dabbs in Singapore, and Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman in the U.S. Energy divergence makes a scene at Trump's G20. The EU considers throwing its weight behind a global electrification target at the climate talks.
Trump's bond sell-off isn't helping energy prices — or data centers
With help from Mike Blanchfield in Canada, Brian Dabbs in Singapore, Charlie Cooper in the United Kingdom, Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman in the U.S., Zia Weise in Belgium, and Nicolas Camut in France. The hidden cost behind data centers hit a new high Monday. President Donald Trump helps natural gas with a move to roll back power plant climate rules. NextEra sweetens the pot for a megadeal at the center of the AI boom.
Texas has lessons for powering Europe
With help from Brian Dabbs in Singapore, Charlie Cooper in the United Kingdom, Corbin Hiar, Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman in the U.S., Zia Weise in Belgium, Mike Blanchfield in Canada, and Nicolas Camut in France. Texas knows how to handle skyrocketing power demand. Europe should listen. Virginia's lieutenant governor talks with Surge about voters' queasiness with data centers. Coal is on the rise, and clean energy investment is not.
The Norwegian gas plant that could safeguard Europe from Trump
Europe's newfound focus on energy security has sparked interest in ramping up gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf. Two platforms, part of the Johan Sverdrup oil field, stand in the North Sea west of the town of Stavanger, Norway. | Tom Little/AFP via Getty Images 09/05/2026 09:00 PM EDT STAVANGER, Norway — Europe was supposed to leave gas facilities like Kårstø behind. Instead, the giant processing plant is at the center of a wider continental shift. Emission reductions are out.
The Norwegian gas plant that could safeguard Europe from Trump
STAVANGER, Norway — Europe was supposed to leave gas facilities like Kårstø behind. Instead, the giant processing plant is at the center of a wider continental shift. Emission reductions are out. Energy security is in. Wars in Iran and Ukraine have upended Europe's climate and clean energy plans, leaving the continent scrambling to secure gas still needed to generate electricity, heat homes and power factories.
The Norwegian gas plant that could safeguard Europe from Trump
STAVANGER, Norway — Europe was supposed to leave gas facilities like Kårstø behind. Instead, the giant processing plant is at the center of a wider continental shift. Emission reductions are out. Energy security is in. Wars in Iran and Ukraine have upended Europe’s climate and clean energy plans, leaving the continent scrambling to secure gas still needed to generate electricity, heat homes and power factories.
The gas problem in Europe that Trump helped create
With help from Mike Blanchfield in Canada, Zia Weise in Belgium, Charlie Cooper and Abby Wallace in the United Kingdom, Nicolas Camut in France, Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman in the U.S., and Brian Dabbs in Singapore. Wars and President Donald Trump are delaying European efforts to gas up. Canada moves to limit data center power costs for consumers. A U.S. developer broke ground on a $1 billion power line for 1.5 million homes.
Is electricity dimming oil's political power?
Political fortunes across the globe once rose and fell with the price of gasoline. Increasingly, they are tied to the monthly electric bill. That new reality has political leaders across North America and Europe rushing to stave off spiking power prices with an urgency unimaginable even a year ago. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Andy Burnham eliminated a tax on electricity shortly after walking through the doors of 10 Downing Street.
Is electricity the new oil?
Watch out oil. Electricity is after your geopolitical crown. | Illustration by Claudine Hellmuth/POLITICO (iStock) With help from Mike Blanchfield in Canada, Zia Weise in Belgium, Charlie Cooper in the United Kingdom, Nicolas Camut in France, Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman in the U.S., and Brian Dabbs in Singapore. POWER TRIPPING, OIL SLIPPING: Political fortunes once rose and fell with the price of gasoline. Today, they're increasingly tied to the monthly electric bill.
Is electricity dimming oil's political power?
Surging power demand is turning electricity prices into a political flashpoint across the U.S. and Europe. Illustration by Claudine Hellmuth/POLITICO (iStock) 08/30/2026 10:00 PM EDT Political fortunes across the globe once rose and fell with the price of gasoline. Increasingly, they are tied to the monthly electric bill. That new reality has political leaders across North America and Europe rushing to stave off spiking power prices with an urgency unimaginable even a year ago.
Is electricity dimming oil’s political power?
Political fortunes across the globe once rose and fell with the price of gasoline. Increasingly, they are tied to the monthly electric bill. That new reality has political leaders across North America and Europe rushing to stave off spiking power prices with an urgency unimaginable even a year ago. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Andy Burnham eliminated a tax on electricity shortly after walking through the doors of 10 Downing Street.
How $600B of Biden’s clean energy funding escaped Trump’s cuts
President Donald Trump has spent more than 18 months demolishing Joe Biden’s expansive green agenda. Yet pieces of the former president’s would-be legacy stubbornly cling to life — along with roughly $600 billion in congressionally approved spending that has so far escaped Trump’s wrecking ball, a new POLITICO analysis has found.
How $600B of Biden’s clean energy funding escaped Trump’s cuts
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You
How $600B of Biden’s clean energy funding escaped Trump’s cuts
World News 1 day ago They fought for the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now they worry about losing their green cards NPR - Ximena Bustillo • 1d Hundreds of Afghans who fought alongside U.S. troops and supported the U.S. government in Afghanistan are now worried their green cards could be revoked.
How $600B of Biden’s clean energy funding escaped Trump’s cuts
President Donald Trump has spent more than 18 months demolishing Joe Biden's expansive green agenda. Yet pieces of the former president's would-be legacy stubbornly cling to life — along with roughly $600 billion in congressionally approved spending that has so far escaped Trump's wrecking ball, a new POLITICO analysis has found.
Data center politics shape Virginia scrutiny of NextEra-Dominion deal
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s decision to weigh in on NextEra Energy’s proposed $67 billion takeover of Dominion Energy shows how data centers are reshuffling the political map. The Virginia Democrat penned an op-ed in The Washington Post on Thursday, announcing her decision to formally intervene in regulatory proceedings and declaring herself “deeply skeptical” of what would be the largest utility merger in U.S. history. Data centers are at the center of the proposed tie-up.
Spanberger to intervene in Dominion-NextEra merger bid
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said Thursday she is “deeply skeptical” of the largest proposed utility merger in American history. In an op-ed published in The Washington Post, the Democratic governor said she will formally intervene as a party in the regulatory proceedings over NextEra Energy’s proposed $67 billion takeover of Dominion Energy.
ICYMI: How PJM’s Clean Energy Delays Are Costing Customers Amid Extreme Heat
New reporting from E&E News highlights how PJM’s continued slow-rolling of renewable energy projects is raising electricity prices for customers during the climate-driven extreme heat waves that have blanketed the country this summer. As a heat dome settled over the Mid-Atlantic last month, PJM prices spiked to $2,000 per megawatt-hour (MWh) near peak demand on July 2. Texas’s grid, ERCOT, saw just $29/MWh during a similar heatwave.
Extreme heat offers sneak peak of grid’s data center challenges
By Benjamin Storrow • Aug 05, 2026 A sizzling summer is breaking power consumption records across the country, offering a potential preview of the challenges facing America’s artificial intelligence boom in the era of climate change. Three grids — serving the mid-Atlantic, the Great Plains and Texas — have seen power demand surge to historical highs during extreme heat.
Extreme heat offers sneak peak of grid’s data center challenges
A sizzling summer is breaking power consumption records across the country, offering a potential preview of the challenges facing America’s artificial intelligence boom in the era of climate change. Three grids — serving the mid-Atlantic, the Great Plains and Texas — have seen power demand surge to historical highs during extreme heat. Prices soared last month in the PJM Interconnection, while last week, the Southwest Power Pool had to implement emergency measures across parts of the Great Plains.
Dominion touts data center boom as NextEra merger faces growing scrutiny
Power demand from data centers has surged, and the country’s largest offshore wind project has made significant steps forward, Dominion Energy executives told investors during a quarterly earnings call Friday. Hanging over the call was NextEra Energy’s plan to buy Dominion for $67 billion in what would constitute America’s largest ever utility merger.
NextEra aims to cash in on surging power demand from data centers
NextEra Energy is trying to position itself as the electricity source of choice for artificial intelligence. The power giant’s moves were on display Friday as company executives announced their quarterly earnings. NextEra said it had received approval from Iowa regulators to restart a shuttered nuclear power plant that will sell electricity to Google.
E&E News: NextEra aims to cash in on surging power demand from data centers
The power giant’s move to buy Dominion Energy reflects its plans to become the utility of choice at the epicenter of the AI boom. CLIMATEWIRE | NextEra Energy is trying to position itself as the electricity source of choice for artificial intelligence. The power giant’s moves were on display Friday as company executives announced their quarterly earnings. NextEra said it had received approval from Iowa regulators to restart a shuttered nuclear power plant that will sell electricity to Google.
Data centers drive gas demand — and help a turbine-maker
The artificial intelligence race is turning into a gas boom. Orders for new gas turbines doubled in the second quarter of the year, GE Vernova told investors Wednesday, prompting the Boston-based manufacturer to raise its revenue targets for the year. The results offered evidence of how the dash to develop AI is driving a surge of investment in physical infrastructure and transforming energy markets.
Data centers drive gas demand — and help a turbine-maker
The artificial intelligence race is turning into a gas boom. Orders for new gas turbines doubled in the second quarter of the year, GE Vernova told investors Wednesday, prompting the Boston-based manufacturer to raise its revenue targets for the year. The results offered evidence of how the dash to develop AI is driving a surge of investment in physical infrastructure and transforming energy markets.
E&E News: NextEra, Dominion say proposed merger is right fit for data center boom
The companies filed merger applications this week in three states. The union would create the nation’s largest power company. ENERGYWIRE | The shot clock has started ticking on the largest utility merger in U.S. history. NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy on Wednesday filed merger applications with regulators in Virginia, beginning a 180-day timer for regulators to scrutinize the deal.
E&E News: Google’s $3.5B solar project pushes US into new territory
The country’s largest solar project just broke ground. Is it a one-off, or a harbinger of things to come? CLIMATEWIRE | The largest solar and battery project in America broke ground this week, as Cypress Creek Renewables began construction of the Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas.
Google’s $3.5B solar project pushes US into new territory
The largest solar and battery project in America broke ground this week, as Cypress Creek Renewables began construction of the Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas. The project represents a bright spot for the U.S. solar industry at a moment of political turbulence in Washington, where President Donald Trump has sought to stymie renewable development by slashing clean energy tax credits and erecting new barriers to wind and solar projects on federal lands.
Data centers’ global power consumption jumps 17%
Big Data is experiencing a growth spurt. Global electricity consumption from data centers grew by 17 percent in 2025, reaching nearly 2 percent of global electricity consumption, according to a study released Wednesday by the International Data Center Authority.
Trump tried to kill renewables. They’re growing anyway.
Hold the obituary for renewables. U.S. wind and solar generation climbed 10 percent over the first half of 2026, overcoming President Donald Trump’s political attacks to surpass coal and nuclear in the country’s electricity mix. Coal generation was down 10 percent over the same period while natural gas generation was flat, according to a POLITICO review of federal energy data.
Extreme heat pushed electricity demand to near record levels
Scorching temperatures pushed electricity demand to near record levels as parts of the eastern U.S. endured temperatures in excess of 100 degrees during last week’s heat wave. Electricity demand hit its second-highest level ever Thursday evening in the power grid serving the mid-Atlantic region. Demand in the Midwest, meanwhile, crested at its highest level in at least 10 years last Tuesday.
Trump and AI spark a natural gas boom
To understand how much the American energy landscape has changed since President Donald Trump took office, look no further than the latest predictions from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. At the start of 2025, EIA predicted that 23 gigawatts of new gas plant capacity would be built between 2026 and 2030. The agency’s new forecast for that period: 66 GW. The sudden gas boom reflects not just Trump’s energy policy but the rise of artificial intelligence.
Internal docs show USDA reorganization aims to gut agency, unions say
A coalition of unions and other groups is renewing efforts to halt the Agriculture Department’s reorganization, citing previously undisclosed documents showing that USDA expects nearly a quarter of its employees to quit rather than relocate.
Data center boom collides with record heat, testing power grid
Extreme temperatures threaten to strain the grid as data centers are increasing energy demand. What could go wrong?
Data center boom collides with record heat, testing power grid
Data Center Alley is facing a climate test. Searing temperatures this week could push energy demand to record levels on the mid-Atlantic's electric grid, which fuels the country's data center boom in Virginia. To relieve some of the pressure, the Department of Energy granted permission Tuesday to the region's grid operator, PJM Interconnection, to potentially force data centers to use backup diesel generators.
'We are screwed': People near data centers dread heat wave pollution Original
Data Center Alley is facing a climate test. Searing temperatures this week could push energy demand to record levels on the mid-Atlantic's electric grid, which fuels the country's data center boom in Virginia. To relieve some of the pressure, the Department of Energy granted permission Tuesday to the region's grid operator, PJM Interconnection, to potentially force data centers to use backup diesel generators.
Extreme temperatures threaten to strain the grid as data centers are increasing energy demand. What could go wrong? Searing temperatures this week could push energy demand to record levels on the mid-Atlantic’s electric grid, which fuels the country’s data center boom in Virginia. To relieve some of the pressure, the Department of Energy granted permission Tuesday to the region’s grid operator, PJM Interconnection, to potentially force data centers to use backup diesel generators.
E&E News: A win for clean energy or fossil fuels? The Iran war could lead to both.
The conflict is pushing the world into a fractious energy future that could increase the tension between fossil fuels and clean power. The Iran war has often been portrayed as a winner-takes-all grudge match in the global contest between clean energy and fossil fuels. But history suggests that America and China could both emerge from the conflict in stronger positions — with more oil flowing from U.S. wells and new shiploads of Chinese EVs transiting the seas.
A win for clean energy or fossil fuels? The Iran war could lead to both.
Benjamin Storrow Thu, June 18, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC 9 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A win for clean energy or fossil fuels? The Iran war could lead to both. American gas guzzlers versus Chinese electric vehicles. Renewables versus oil and natural gas. The Iran war has often been portrayed as a winner-takes-all grudge match in the global contest between clean energy and fossil fuels.
A win for clean energy or fossil fuels? The Iran war could lead to both.
The conflict is pushing the world into a fractious energy future that could increase the tension between fossil fuels and clean power.
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