Watt’s Happening aims to provide breaking news, sharp analysis, and thoughtful commentary from the cutting edge of the energy sector as this dynamic area of the world continues to expand and grow before our eyes.
Weekly Highlights:
IEA Director Meets With King and Prime Minister of Sweden
I’ve talked about the Swedish village that is being moved in response to the European Union’s need for critical minerals before. However, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol just met with Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf to host a series of talks on regional and global energy markets and security. Like all the countries in the European Union, Sweden is trying to move away from coal and oil and towards renewables, and it seems like nuclear power is the way to go.
Energy is Going to Play a Major Role in the Midterm Elections
Just like in the 2025 elections, it is very clear that energy will continue to play a role in electoral politics for the first time in a while. And this time, it’s not just the data centers that are to blame. President Trump’s policies regarding cutting back subsidies and rolling back regulations and green energy policies are now coming home to roost. It appears that the Democrats will use the same strategy they used in 2025: focus on affordability as their top priority and emphasize the potential for renewable energy to lower costs.
A New Path to Energy Dominance
Not very long ago, the Center for the National Interest hosted a symposium on energy dominance, much of which focused on nuclear power. However, there may be another path to energy dominance: solar power. After all, solar power is ever-present and free. At the same time, the battery problem is still in the process of being resolved.
Energy Emergency Declared in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine continues to rage on, and it’s beginning to take its toll on the Ukrainian people and infrastructure. Indeed, Russia continues to strike the energy infrastructure of the Kiev area, causing immense hardship during a bitterly cold winter. However, the Ukrainian military is not giving up, and the Ukrainian people aren’t either. However, how long can they keep it up?
Wind Power Triumphs in Court
While President Trump is doing all he can to shut down major offshore wind power projects, he has been dealt another defeat. A federal judge stated that work on a major offshore wind farm for Rhode Island and Connecticut can resume. However, the fight is not over and will likely continue into the near future.
About the Author: Toni Mikec
Toni Mikec is the managing editor for Energy World, a publication of the Center for the National Interest. Before that, he worked as a political consultant for Your Voter Guide in Sacramento and as a senior editor at Eagle Financial Publications in Washington, DC. He holds a B.A. in International Relations (summa cum laude) from the University of California, Davis and an M.A. in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Image: Shutterstock/Mistervlad
