Axios

The White House nearly held a public debate over climate change until the idea was shut down by chief of staff John Kelly, the New York Times reports. EPA administrator Scott Pruitt reportedly championed the idea to the administration, and even gained the interest of President Trump — but it was abandoned after aides determined it was politically risky.

Why it matters: The Trump administration's denial of climate has long been controversial, and a national debate regarding its effects could have triggered a major shift in strategy. [Go deeper: Tackling climate change when Trump won't talk about it.]

HOUSTON — President Trump’s steel tariffs could add a half billion dollars to a proposed natural-gas export terminal project in Alaska, GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said at an energy conference Friday.

Why it matters: Trump touted the proposal during a trip last year to China, which would receive the fuel and has expressed intention in investing in the project. This project offers a clear picture of Trump’s conflicting agendas: America’s energy dominance around the world on one hand and protectionist trade measures on the other.

HOUSTON -- The gulf over climate change between executives of the world’s biggest energy companies and President Trump was on stark display here at a major energy conference in America’s oil capital.

Why it matters: The drivers compelling companies to invest in lower-carbon technologies, such as falling renewable-energy prices and investor pressure, are moving forward regardless of President Trump’s regulatory rollbacks and dismissal of climate change as an issue.

Oil companies of many stripes have gone out of their way to talk about climate change at CERAWeek, the big oil industry conference in Houston — reflecting a significant shift in the industry.

Why it matters: Years ago the struggle between climate change activists and oil companies was around the underlying science and getting companies to accept the role that fossil fuels play and that action is necessary. Now the call throughout the oil and gas sector is to become part of the solution.