Click for the latest from The Hill{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   The Big Story  Carter leaves influential energy, environmental legacyFormer President Carter, who died Sunday at age 100, left a history of pioneering energy and environmental policy.© Kirsty Wigglesworth, Associated Press file In his single term in the Oval Office, Carter took a range of actions on issues that remained influential long after his presidency ended, from imposing new wilderness protections to creating the federal Department of Energy during the recurring energy crises of the 1970s.  Carter formally created the department in August 1977, seven months into his presidency, when he signed the Department of Energy Organization Act. The law consolidated a number of existing agencies under the umbrella of the new federal department.   The reorganization was largely in response to the 1973 oil crisis, during which the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) imposed an embargo against nations that had backed Israel during the Yom Kippur War the same month.  Amid national anxiety around energy supply, Carter was also an early champion of energy efficiency and specifically the use of renewable energy to achieve American energy independence. One of his most visible efforts was the installation of 32 solar panels on the roof of the White House in 1979. The installation came two years after the establishment of tax credits for homeowners installing solar-powered water heaters.  In his remarks marking their installation, he expressed concerns that remain relevant in 2024 about American dependence on foreign imports for energy and called for the U.S. to derive 20 percent of its energy from solar by the year 2000. “Solar energy will not pollute our air or water. We will not run short of it. No one can ever embargo the Sun or interrupt its delivery to us,” Carter said.  Despite his emphasis on renewable energy, Carter was also a major booster of the domestic coal industry. He was elected by a Democratic coalition that included Southern and Appalachian mine workers that are today solidly Republican, and he touted coal as a resource that would make the U.S. less reliant on oil from the Middle East. Read more at TheHill.com.  Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.  PROGRAMMING NOTE: This newsletter will not publish tomorrow, New Year's Day. We Will be back Thursday. Happy New Year!  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:   New California regulation requires insurance companies to offer coverage in high-risk areasCalifornia insurers will be required to sell coverage in wildfire-prone regions that have seen an insurer exodus in recent years, state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced Monday.  Full Story  Outage leaves most of Puerto Rico without power on New Year’s EveMore than 1 million Puerto Ricans are without power on New Year’s Eve as a blackout hit nearly all of the island early Tuesday morning.  Full Story  Northern lights could be seen in continental US on New Year’s EveThe solar system is putting on its own New Year’s Eve show, with the northern lights potentially visible as far south as Oregon and Illinois on Dec. 31.  Full Story   In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: 5 wins for the climate in 2024 Although 2024 — the warmest year on record — has been a fairly dark year when it comes to climate change, there have been several notable bright spots that may give the planet a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Full Story   What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: Climate progress screeched to a halt this year. One country had its foot on the brake. (CNN) Congestion Pricing Plan Faulted by Judge Over New Jersey Impacts (Bloomberg)3M, Mohawk hid chemical dangers that led to health crisis, county says (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)   What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: FBI: Largest homemade explosives cache in agency history found in Virginia The FBI arrested a Virginia man it says had the largest stockpile of explosives recovered in the agency’s history.  Read more Chip Roy on Johnson: ‘I don’t believe he has the votes’ Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said Tuesday that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) does not have the votes to keep the gavel and that he remains undecided on whether he can support the Louisiana Republican in the Friday floor vote, despite President-elect Trump endorsing Johnson. Read more  Opinions in The Hill  Op-ed related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: Methane leaks are supercharging the climate crisis — here’s what we must do, now   You're all caught up. See you Thursday!  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