A big thing to watch now that the FTC placed a major condition on the Exxon-Pioneer deal: whether it reveals anything about how the regulators see other oil mergers.
State of play: The FTC forced Exxon to bar former Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield from the board, alleging "collusive" messages with OPEC+ members years ago aimed at limiting production.
The Biden administration is allowing graphite, a key battery metal, to be temporarily exempt from Inflation Reduction Act sourcing requirements.
Why it matters: The concession to industry should theoretically let more EVs qualify for the full consumer credit in the new climate law, though how many cars is TBD.
Janos Pasztor, a veteran climate scientist and diplomat, has joined a solar geoengineering firm as an independent consultant, he tells Axios.
Why it matters: The move is a sign of how quickly geoengineering, which refers to deliberately modifying the environment to temporarily slow or halt human-caused climate change, is being viewed as a viable option as global warming worsens.
Why it matters: Newly released House and Senate documents shed fresh light on companies' motivations for providing funding for external research programs — a practice long accepted and disclosed, but nonetheless opaque.
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