Axios

The Biden administration is seeking to harness artificial intelligence to help clear the growing backlog of renewable energy waiting to connect to the grid.

Why it matters: Nearly 2,600 gigawatts of active projects — almost all wind, solar, and batteries — were in U.S. grid interconnection queues at the end of 2023, up 27% from the end of 2022, according to a Lawrence Berkeley National Lab report.

Two big cogs in Donald Trump's plan to unwind Biden-era climate and energy policies have fallen into place.

Catch up quick: He tapped Russ Vought for another stint running the White House budget office and Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary.

The COP29 climate deal, agreed to Saturday evening in Baku, Azerbaijan, provides vital insights into the future of global climate cooperation.

Why it matters: The finance agreement pleased virtually no one but proved mulitlateralism, while ailing, is not dead.

Nations agreed to a new deal Saturday that has developed countries "taking the lead" in providing up to $300 billion per year by 2035 to help vulnerable ones withstand climate change impacts and decarbonize.

Why it matters: The pact, struck at the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, provides a boost from a prior goal of $100 billion per year by 2020, and allows for China and other developing nations to contribute.