The Trump administration is relaunching and rebranding the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office starting with a $1.6 billion loan guarantee to rebuild thousands of miles of electric transmission lines. The move comes after months of Republican criticism that had called the future of the office into question. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino breaks down how Trump is revamping the Loan Programs Office and why this announcement is notable. Plus, a new report from the World Meteorological Organization says that global carbon pollution hit a record high last year. 

Kelsey Tamborrino is a reporter covering clean energy for POLITICO.

Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO and the host of POLITICO Energy.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO. 

Ben Lefebvre is the deputy energy editor at POLITICO. 

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch

And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy

Our theme music is by Pran Bandi.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices