"Democratic congressional leaders are insisting that any deal cut with President Trump on legislation to rebuild the nation’s ailing infrastructure include provisions intended to promote clean energy and combat climate change."

"When EPA begins a major review of air pollution standards this week, a researcher who has received funding from an industry group opposed to the rules will be leading the agency's panel."

"Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has resurrected a federally chartered board that advises the National Park Service with his own appointees, nearly a year after most of its former members resigned in frustration." ... "The new members are either all registered Republicans or have voted in GOP primaries."

"Former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has disclosed a single donor to his legal defense fund. Diane Hendricks of Beloit, Wis., gave $50,000 to Pruitt's fund, according to the last financial disclosure report filed by the ex-agency head, which EPA released today."

"During his first run for the Senate in 2010, Joe Manchin III, the Democrat from West Virginia, took aim — literally — at a climate change bill, shooting a bullet through it in a television ad. Now some Democrats are taking aim at Mr. Manchin, declaring him unfit to be the top Democrat on the committee that handles climate change."

"The Senate confirmed President Trump’s pick for a key energy agency Thursday over Democrats' objections that he is too biased for the job. The 50-49 vote along party lines means Bernard McNamee, a Republican and former high-ranking political official at the Energy Department under Trump, can take his spot on the five-person Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)."

"Environmentalists are already lining up to slam the Trump administration's definition of which waters are covered by the Clean Water Act, signaling a protracted battle over the proposal that's expected next week."

"Scientists say that post-fire logging makes future wildfires more likely, but Republicans with funding from the logging industry are trying to expand the practice."

"The Trump administration on Thursday published documents detailing its plan to roll back Obama-era protections for the vast habitat of the greater sage grouse, a chickenlike bird that roams across nearly 11 million acres in 10 oil-rich Western states."

"The Trump administration wants to remove a key barrier to constructing new coal-fired power plants in the U.S. -- but don’t expect any utilities to actually build them."