Click for the latest from The Hill{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   The Big Story  House Democratic leader shakeup threatens to topple Scott House Agriculture ranking member David Scott (Ga.) could become the latest Democrat in the chamber to lose his committee leadership spot in the wake of the 2024 election. © Greg Nash for The Hill Facing dual challenges to his leadership from Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) in the 119th Congress, Scott could be the first Democratic leader in the chamber to outright lose a challenge if his bid to retain leadership fails. Judiciary ranking member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Natural Resources ranking member Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) both relinquished their posts this month.    Scott's potential loss could also tee up conflict with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which counts the Georgia Democrat as a member and has historically backed seniority as a determinant of leadership — although its members have recently signaled they could be open to challengers.  The two challengers to Scott, who has led the committee’s Democrats since 2021, are both considered moderates within the caucus but have disparate levels of experience. Costa, first elected in 2004, is the No. 2 Democrat on the panel in seniority, while Craig, elected in 2018, is the third least senior. Scott has been sidelined by health issues, missing two weeks of votes in November due to treatment for a back injury, a similar situation to that of Grijalva, who underwent cancer treatment earlier this year.  But while Grijalva ultimately decided to step back and in December endorsed Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) to take over as ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee after initially pledging to seek another term, Scott has vowed to continue vying to keep his position, saying last week that “it’s in God’s hands.”  Age is a notable elephant in the room amid the challenges — Scott, Nadler and Grijalva are all over 75 years old, and the leadership shuffle comes after an election season marked by panic over the fitness of President Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history, which eventually led him to abandon his reelection bid in July. Read more at TheHill.com.  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:  Biden doubles tariffs on Chinese solar panel components The Biden administration will double tariffs on certain solar panel components that are made in China, it announced Wednesday.  Full Story   US West governors adopt bipartisan resolutions on environment, energy, healthcare Governors from the U.S. West came together this week to adopt a set of bipartisan resolutions, with a goal of solidifying state and federal partnerships on environmental policies, as well as energy, healthcare and labor issues.  Full Story   Supreme Court declines to block Biden coal waste rule The Supreme Court has declined to halt a Biden administration rule that seeks to prevent  legacy toxic waste from now-shuttered coal plants from leaking out and contaminating nearby groundwater.   Full Story  In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Trump taps FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to chair agency President-elect Trump has tapped Andrew Ferguson, a commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as the next head of the independent agency. Full Story   What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: How the Amazon's 'Boiling River' foreshadows a warmer world (BBC)  OPEC Makes Deepest Cut Yet to 2024 World Oil Demand Forecast (Bloomberg) Biden officials nix price support to counter China’s mineral dominance (E&E News)  What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Mace, activist dispute handshake that resulted in arrest A disputed handshake is at the center of a Tuesday incident involving Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) that resulted in an Illinois man’s arrest, according to a police report and a witness who spoke to The Hill. Read more Schumer says Senate will vote on Social Security changes  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday he’s “doing everything” he can to try to pass legislation that would enact some Social Security before Congress ushers in a new class next month. Read more  You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 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