Politico deputy energy editor in DC. Former WSJ Houston, ICIS Tokyo and lifelong Detroiter.
Washington DC-ish
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Today seems the last day to get any spaghetti on the wall re: alternatives to some sort of diesel export ban.
Latest idea making the rounds: tell states to expand distribution of "dyed," tax-exempt diesel used for off-road vehicles.
w/ @meredithllee
politico.com/news/2026/09/25…
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Ben Lefebvre retweeted
Scoop: Trump officials are weighing alternatives to imposing a ban on diesel exports to bring prices for the fuel down from record highs — including passing the issue down to the state level
Among the evolving set of options under consideration by Trump officials are measures to boost distribution of “dyed diesel,” a red-colored diesel used in agriculture and for other off-road vehicles that is exempt from state and federal taxes.
The White House would also encourage more states to temporarily eliminate their state-level excise taxes on diesel ahead of the midterms. Some GOP guvs have already done so.
No decisions have been made. But internal talks are ongoing and idea is for a diesel plan announcement by early next week.
W/ @bjlefebvre
politi.co/4yYWsC4 via @politico
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Wright in Penn. says he's telling refiners re: diesel:
"Reduce a little bit your exports overseas...Put some more diesel into the United States. Let's grow our diesel inventories. Let's push prices down."
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Story here, will be heading to Politico main site soon:
subscriber.politicopro.com/a…
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Diesel export fight strains GOP ties with Big Oil dlvr.it/TVcyDy
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Ben Lefebvre retweeted
New w/ @rachel_shin_:
President Donald Trump is facing growing calls from his Republican allies in farm states to restrict exports of diesel as prices soar — a move staunchly opposed by the U.S. oil and gas producers who have traditionally backed him.
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‘Not too much they can do about it’: Frustrated White House faces spiking oil prices dlvr.it/TVTYzb
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Not saying the Axios report re: Venezuela isn't true, but keep in mind:
1) The US taking ownership stakes doesn't mean anyone would be drilling it anytime soon,
2) The 90 million b/d estimate is...a tad...optimistic, shall we say...
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Ben Lefebvre retweeted
NEW: A White House official spent months helping Sable Offshore restart its CA oil operation — even posing in Sable-branded gear.
Less than 3 months later, she left the WH to lead Sable’s DC office.
w/ @ianmaxstevenson @scottpwaldman for @politico
politico.com/news/2026/08/21…
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More details in tomorrow's Politico Morning Energy.
Update: Hunt Oil Company confirms it signed an agreement with PDVSA in Houston today.
Hunt is "proud to be one of the first American companies to sign an agreement with PDVSA to help expand Venezuela’s oil and gas production," it says.
Other companies have yet to confirm.
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Ben Lefebvre retweeted
Update: Hunt Oil Company confirms it signed an agreement with PDVSA in Houston today.
Hunt is "proud to be one of the first American companies to sign an agreement with PDVSA to help expand Venezuela’s oil and gas production," it says.
Other companies have yet to confirm.
SCOOP: Several independent U.S. oil producers are expected to sign production contracts with Venezuela’s state-run PdVSA on Tuesday.
A signing ceremony is set for tonight in Houston, according to 3 people familiar with the plans.
w/ @bjlefebvre
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Sounds like pens are starting to hit paper in Houston right about now.
politico.com/news/2026/08/18…
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Ben Lefebvre retweeted
SCOOP: Several independent U.S. oil producers are expected to sign production contracts with Venezuela’s state-run PdVSA on Tuesday.
A signing ceremony is set for tonight in Houston, according to 3 people familiar with the plans.
w/ @bjlefebvre
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Tangent to *all this* going on in Iran: Oil companies are giving Veneuzlea another look as the Middle East looks to be uh preoccupied for a while. W/ @jamepdx James Bikales:
politico.com/news/2026/06/15…
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