{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   The Big Story Biden's oil comment injects uncertainty into gas prices Oil prices increased this week after President Biden suggested Israel may target Iran's oil infrastructure in retaliation for a missile attack, raising the prospect of pain at the pump for U.S. consumers in the waning days of the presidential race. © Greg Nash, The Hill On Thursday, responding to a question about whether the U.S. would back Israel if it targets Iranian oil facilities, the president responded, “we’re discussing that,” but added, “there’s nothing going to happen today.” In the hours after the remarks, West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. oil benchmark, spiked 5.5 percent.  Biden was less ambiguous in discouraging an attack on Iranian oil at a White House briefing Friday, saying, “The Israelis have not concluded what they’re going to do in terms of a strike. That’s under discussion. If I were in their shoes I'd be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields." The Israeli bombardment of Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 attacks has had muted impacts on the oil market in the last year, especially compared to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which sent gas prices to all-time highs.   But Biden’s remarks come as the conflict in the region has escalated dramatically in recent months, including an Israeli incursion into Lebanon that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and a retaliatory strike by Iran this week.   If further Israeli actions do impact Iran's oil production, their effects could be felt in the global oil market — and Americans' wallets.  Iran produces about 4 million barrels of oil daily, making it the No. 7 producer of any nation worldwide. While the U.S. does not rely on imports from the nation, oil’s status as a global commodity means a shock to Iranian supply would still likely affect American consumers, said Andy Lipow, president of consulting firm Lipow Oil Associates, LLC. “The United States is connected to the global oil market, [and] if that market lost supplies of Iranian oil it affects the consumer because worldwide prices rise and the U.S. has become a major supplier to the world,” he said.  Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:  Supreme Court grants Biden administration request to hear nuclear fuel storage case The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to settle a dispute over the temporary storage of nuclear waste in West Texas that could upend decades of federal nuclear policy.  Full Story   Supreme Court declines to block Biden limits on methane, toxic pollution The Supreme Court on Friday declined to block Biden administration limits on planet-warming methane from oil and gas production and toxic pollution from coal plants.   Full Story   Why are there still so many blackouts after major storms?Millions of people were left in the dark after Hurricane Helene battered the southeastern U.S. last week; as of Friday morning, days after the storm abated, more than 700,000 were still without power.  Full Story   In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Scientists link ‘forever chemicals’ to poor sleep in young adults Exposure to certain types of “forever chemicals” may be disrupting the sleep quality of young adults — contributing not only to tiredness, but also to potential knock-on health effects, new research has found. Full Story   What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: Honeywell will fund cleanup of contaminated groundwater in San Fernando Valley, EPA says (The Los Angeles Times)  The Country’s Second-Largest Coal Plant May Get a Three-Year Reprieve From Retirement. Why? (Inside Climate News) Get used to more absurdly hot Octobers (Vox)  What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Pilot flying Helene rescue missions in NC threatened with arrest When Jordan Seidhom woke up Saturday morning, he saw a Facebook post that tens of thousands of people were commenting on and sharing. Read more White House bashes GOP ‘lies’ about FEMA funds The White House bashed Republicans on Friday for what it argues are lies about the Hurricane Helene federal response effort. Read more  You're all caught up. See you next week!  Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Energy and Environment newsletter Subscribe