At SmartBrief and Future B2B, we keep our fingers on the pulse of the trends and market forces shaping the industries we cover, and the leaders, organizations and businesses that are making a difference. Examining the stories our audiences find most valuable helps us better understand the trends that matter -- and enables us to more effectively serve our professional readers and clients.
Here is some of what our audience of industry decision-makers found most valuable last month.
Top stories from April
Trump order aimed at streamlining environmental permits (BCI 4/24)
Tariff uncertainty stalls some clean energy projects (BCI 4/24)
Many US chemicals exempted from latest tariffs (ACC 4/4)
US grid-scale energy storage surges with battery advances (BCI 4/24)
Zeldin signals decision on PFAS may be coming soon (ACC 4/22)
Top trend
Mixed bag on tariffs: The US energy sector is navigating a complex tariff landscape that isn't affecting all subsectors uniformly. Renewable energy companies, such as France’s Engie, are slowing US projects due to uncertainty over tariffs on imported materials like solar panels and batteries, which complicates pricing and investment decisions. Conversely, traditional energy firms like Chevron report minimal impact from tariffs, citing domestic sourcing and exemptions, while continuing to invest in domestic production. Overall, the sector faces challenges from increased costs and supply chain disruptions, particularly in clean energy, leading to a cautious outlook on future investments.
Additional trends
Deregulation continues: The Trump White House is looking to expedite energy infrastructure projects by streamlining federal reviews, shortening legal challenges and expanding categorical exclusions for low-impact activities, benefiting both renewable and fossil fuel sectors. However, the Trump administration's recent rollback of EPA regulations on certain PFAS chemicals, like delaying compliance deadlines and rescinding limits on newer variants, has raised concerns about public health protections and environmental oversight. There seems to be tension between accelerating energy development and maintaining stringent environmental safeguards.
