Loading commodity prices...

US Government News

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

DOE and SBA Launch SBIC-E Initiative to Unleash Private Capital for American Innovation and Small Businesses
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have launched the Small Business Investment Company-Energy (SBIC-E) Initiative, a new strategic partnership designed to channel private capital into American small businesses critical to energy production, national security, and domestic manufacturing. Signed on August 24, 2026, this memorandum of agreement leverages the SBA's established SBIC Program to fund innovative technologies, with a significant focus on critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and advanced materials, offering a new avenue for growth within the mining sector.

Read Full Article →
Energy Department Announces $500 Million Award to Revitalize American Steelmaking
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $500 million award to Cleveland-Cliffs' Middletown Works facility in Ohio, bolstering a $1 billion investment to modernize domestic steel production. This strategic funding, highlighted by Vice President JD Vance and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, is set to protect 2,300 American jobs and fortify the nation's critical steel supply chain. The project pivots from an initial "green premium" focus to upgrading the existing coal-fired blast furnace, deploying AI for efficiency, and commercializing blast furnace gas, reflecting a pragmatic approach to strengthening American manufacturing.

Read Full Article →
Energy Secretary Keeps Critical Generation Available in Mid-Atlantic
US Gov't

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order directing PJM Interconnection and Constellation Energy Corporation to keep Units 3 and 4 of the Eddystone Generating Station in Pennsylvania operational from August 23, 2026, through November 20, 2026. This directive, overriding a planned May 31, 2025 shutdown, aims to prevent critical grid reliability issues and potential blackouts in the Mid-Atlantic, underscoring the ongoing national debate about maintaining baseload capacity amid energy transition efforts. The decision highlights the strategic importance of traditional power sources, including coal, natural gas, and nuclear, for ensuring grid stability during peak demand.

Read Full Article →
Energy Department Announces $500 Million to Secure America's Critical Mineral and Battery Supply Chains
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation has allocated $500 million across seven projects to bolster American critical mineral processing, battery manufacturing, and recycling capabilities. This initiative, part of President Trump's <em>Unleashing American Energy</em> agenda, aims to diminish reliance on foreign supply chains, strengthen national security, and solidify the nation's energy independence by expanding domestic capacity. The funding represents a significant step in re-shoring vital segments of the critical materials value chain.

Read Full Article →
Energy Secretary Acts to Protect Mid-Atlantic Grid
US Gov't

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order on August 19, 2026, enabling Talen Energy Corporation's Wagner Generating Station Unit 4 to continue operating in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This measure, requested by PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., aims to bolster grid reliability and prevent electricity shortfalls for 65 million Americans across the Mid-Atlantic region until November 17, 2026. The intervention underscores the critical importance of stable energy infrastructure for all industrial sectors, including mining, which relies heavily on uninterrupted power for its operations and contribution to the evolving energy landscape.

Read Full Article →
FACT SHEET: The Energy Department is Celebrating President Trump’s Great American Energy Comeback in Midland, Texas
US Gov't

The United States has achieved unprecedented levels of energy production, leading the world in both oil and natural gas output, with significant contributions from the Permian Basin. This surge, highlighted by Secretary Wright’s visit to Midland, Texas, on August 17, 2026, underscores the nation’s energy dominance, driving economic growth, job creation, and competitive energy prices across the country. The strategic reversal of the LNG export ban has further solidified the U.S. position as a global energy supplier, with exports projected to nearly double by the end of the decade.

Read Full Article →
Energy Secretary Announces Cancellation of Three Proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy, under Secretary Chris Wright, announced on August 12, 2026, the cancellation of three proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, citing concerns over reliability, costs, and community feedback. This decision marks a significant shift in national energy policy, moving away from previous "decarbonization" initiatives towards a focus on strengthening the existing grid for affordable and reliable electricity, backed by substantial investments in conventional transmission infrastructure. The implications for the mining sector are significant, particularly concerning energy costs, grid stability for operations, and demand for critical materials used in traditional grid upgrades.

Read Full Article →
Energy Secretary Keeps Coal-Fired Generation Operational in the Midwest
US Gov't

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order on August 14, 2026, directing the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) and Consumers Energy to keep the 1,420-megawatt J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant operational from August 17 to November 14, 2026. This decision, aimed at mitigating critical grid reliability issues and reducing energy costs in the Midwest, underscores the ongoing reliance on thermal coal generation amidst growing energy demand and premature plant retirements, with significant implications for the coal mining industry.

Read Full Article →
Energy Department Modernizes National Laboratory Operations to Strengthen America’s Scientific, Energy, and National Security Missions
US Gov't

On August 13, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a significant modernization of its National Laboratories' operating directives, aiming to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and enhance efficiency. This initiative, part of President Trump's "Restoring Gold Standard Science" commitment, seeks to empower scientific personnel to focus on critical energy, national security, and innovation missions. For the mining industry, this streamlining effort signals potentially accelerated demand for critical minerals required by advanced energy and defense technologies, while also hinting at a broader governmental philosophy towards regulatory efficiency that could impact permitting processes.

Read Full Article →
Energy Secretary Continues Progress to Strengthen Energy Reliability in Puerto Rico
US Gov't

<p><br />The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has renewed critical emergency orders for Puerto Rico, authorizing the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to maintain essential generation capacity and intensify vegetation management. Effective August 10, 2026, through November 7, 2026, these measures are designed to bolster the island’s electric grid against rising demand and the ongoing hurricane season, building upon previous interventions that have restored nearly 1,600 megawatts of generation capacity and significantly increased federal vegetation clearing projects. This sustained federal commitment underscores the vital importance of reliable energy infrastructure for industrial stability and economic development, offering key insights for the mining sector regarding infrastructure investment and material demand.</p> <p>

Read Full Article →
DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing Closes Loan to Strengthen Puerto Rico’s Grid, Delivering Hundreds of Millions in Electricity Cost Savings
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) has closed a $489.4 million loan to Amanecer Puerto Rico LLC, a subsidiary of Pattern Energy, aimed at significantly bolstering Puerto Rico's electric grid. This strategic investment, announced on August 5, 2026, is projected to save Puerto Rican consumers and businesses approximately $312.5 million in electricity costs over the next 25 years while enhancing grid reliability through 220 megawatts of American-manufactured battery storage systems and a future pathway for natural gas generation. The initiative underscores a broader commitment to strengthening domestic supply chains, supporting American manufacturing, and ensuring energy security, with notable implications for the critical minerals sector.

Read Full Article →
Energy Department Launches $100 Million Initiative to Build America’s Critical Minerals Workforce, Strengthen Domestic Supply Chains
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the $100 million Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT) initiative, aimed at bolstering America's critical minerals workforce and securing domestic supply chains. Announced on August 7, 2026, by the DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, this program seeks to double the number of graduates in mining and related fields within two years and address a projected need for 6,000 new mining engineers over the next decade. PROSPECT represents a significant federal investment in education and training to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries for essential materials.

Read Full Article →
United States to Host International Atomic Energy Agency Launch for New Maritime Nuclear Initiative
US Gov't

The United States is set to host the ministerial launch of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) new ATLAS initiative in Washington, D.C., on August 26–27, 2026. This landmark event will establish an international framework for the safe and secure deployment of nuclear technologies in the maritime sector, addressing legal and regulatory complexities for advanced applications like floating nuclear power plants and civil nuclear-powered ships. The initiative holds significant implications for the mining industry, particularly regarding future demand for uranium and other critical minerals essential for advanced nuclear reactor development.

Read Full Article →
Energy Secretary Keeps Guam Power On
US Gov't

<p><strong></strong></p> <p>U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order to the Guam Power Authority (GPA), authorizing the operation of specific generation units to prevent blackouts and ensure grid stability on the island through early November 2026. This critical intervention, prompted by the unexpected offline status of the Ukudu steam turbine for emergency repairs, underscores the inherent vulnerabilities of isolated island grids and highlights the broader implications of energy reliability for industrial sectors, including the global mining industry, which relies heavily on consistent and affordable power for operations.</p> <p><strong>

Read Full Article →
Energy Department Announces Partnership to Expand Reliable, Affordable Energy Access and Power America’s AI Future in Western Kentucky
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a landmark $100 billion private-sector partnership to transform its Paducah Site in Western Kentucky into a massive data center campus powered by new energy infrastructure. Led by Brookfield and NextEra Energy, the project will include 2 gigawatts of natural gas generation and 2.6 gigawatts of battery storage to support a 1.8-gigawatt AI/HPC campus, signaling a significant demand surge for essential mined materials and energy resources. Expected to create 8,000 construction and 600 permanent jobs, this initiative highlights the growing interconnectedness between advanced technology, robust energy supply, and the crucial role of the mining industry in securing the raw materials for both.

Read Full Article →