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US Government News

Official announcements from the Department of Energy and federal agencies on mining, critical minerals, and energy policy

Secretary Wright Arrives in Caracas to Further President Trump's Historic Energy Deal
US Gov't

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright arrived in Caracas on February 11, 2026, marking a pivotal moment for "President Trump’s historic U.S.-Venezuela Energy Deal." This high-level visit involves engagements with interim Venezuelan leadership, including interim President Delcy Rodriguez, local business leaders, and on-site assessments of the nation's oil fields, all aimed at restoring prosperity, safety, and security for Venezuela, the United States, and the broader Western Hemisphere. The initiative holds significant implications for global energy markets, geopolitical stability, and the interconnected mining industry, influencing everything from energy costs to regional investment climates.

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Energy Department Announces $175 Million to Modernize Coal Plants, Keeping Affordable Reliable Power Online for Americans
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $175 million across six projects aimed at modernizing and extending the operational life of coal-fired power plants serving rural and remote U.S. communities. This initiative, part of a broader $525 million effort, seeks to enhance grid reliability, secure affordable electricity, and preserve high-wage energy jobs, particularly in Appalachia, marking a significant policy shift to reinvigorate the domestic coal industry.

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Secretary Wright Delivers Remarks Alongside Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez
US Gov't

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced on February 11, 2026, a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Venezuela, signaling a renewed focus on commerce, peace, and prosperity through economic engagement. Following meetings with Interim President Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas, Secretary Wright detailed President Trump's agenda to dramatically increase Venezuelan oil, natural gas, and electricity production through an expedited licensing process. Crucially for the mining industry, Wright also highlighted Venezuela's "immense" natural resources in "mining, minerals," indicating a broader strategic intent to unlock the country's full resource potential and create substantial investment opportunities for U.S. and international firms.

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Energy Department Announces 26 Genesis Mission Science and Technology Challenges to Accelerate AI-Enabled American Innovation and Leadership
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on February 12, 2026, the launch of 26 pivotal science and technology challenges under its Genesis Mission, aimed at harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate innovation across energy, national security, and discovery science. This ambitious initiative, driven by Presidential Executive Orders, seeks to double the pace of U.S. research and development within a decade by integrating AI with world-class facilities and public-private partnerships, offering substantial implications for the mining industry's operational efficiency, resource discovery, and technological advancement.

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Energy Secretary Prevents Closure of Coal Plant That Provided Essential Power During Winter Storm
US Gov't

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has issued an emergency order to keep Consumers Energy's J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan, operational through May 18, 2026. This directive aims to mitigate critical grid reliability issues in the Midwestern region, following the plant's essential role in stabilizing the power supply during recent winter storms. The decision underscores growing concerns about the premature retirement of dispatchable generating assets and their impact on energy security amidst the ongoing energy transition.

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Energy Secretary Keeps Critical Generation Online in Mid-Atlantic
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has again intervened to prevent the shutdown of crucial natural gas and oil-fired generation units at the Eddystone Generating Station in Pennsylvania, issuing an emergency order on February 23, 2026. This directive, targeting Units 3 and 4, mandates PJM Interconnection and Constellation Energy Corporation to keep the units online from February 24, 2026, to May 24, 2026, citing persistent critical grid reliability concerns in the Mid-Atlantic region. The move underscores growing challenges in maintaining stable power supply amidst an evolving energy landscape, with significant implications for energy-intensive industries like mining.

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Energy Department Announces Largest Loan in Department History, Delivering Over $7 Billion in Electricity Cost Savings for Georgia and Alabama Customers
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a landmark $26.5 billion loan package, the largest in its history, to subsidiaries of Southern Company. This financing aims to add or upgrade over 16 gigawatts of firm, reliable power across Georgia and Alabama, delivering an estimated $7 billion in electricity cost savings for millions of customers. The monumental investment underscores a national priority for grid reliability and energy security, significantly impacting demand for essential mined commodities across the energy supply chain.

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Energy Department Announces $171.5 Million To Expand U.S. Geothermal Energy
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a significant $171.5 million funding opportunity to catalyze the expansion of next-generation geothermal energy across the nation. This investment aims to support critical field-scale tests for both electricity generation and advanced exploration drilling, thereby derisking promising geothermal prospects and encouraging private sector engagement to help achieve a potential 300 gigawatts of geothermal power by 2050. The initiative underscores a strategic push for domestic energy security, innovation, and economic growth under President Trump's "America First Energy Agenda."

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Energy Department Approves Export Expansion at Corpus Christi LNG
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy, under Secretary Chris Wright, has authorized a significant 12% expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from Cheniere Energy's Corpus Christi terminal, adding 0.47 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) dedicated to non-Free Trade Agreement countries. This approval, announced February 26, 2026, elevates Corpus Christi to the nation's second-largest LNG export project with a total capacity of 4.45 Bcf/d, further solidifying the United States' position as the world's leading LNG exporter and creating substantial demand for mining sector products.

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