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US Government News

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

Energy Department Announces Up to $400 Million for Basic Research to Advance the Frontiers of Science
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy announced on October 1, 2026, an annual funding opportunity of up to $400 million for basic scientific research, aligned with President Trump’s Executive Order “Restoring Gold Standard Science.” This significant investment, aimed at strengthening America’s scientific and technological leadership across multiple disciplines, holds profound, albeit often indirect, implications for the mining industry. By fostering breakthroughs in areas such as advanced computing, materials science, and isotope research, this funding is poised to drive future innovations that will enhance operational efficiency, sustainability, and resource security within the global mining sector.

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The United States Energy Department Continues Execution of Strategic Reserve Release Commitments
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on September 29, 2026, a Request for Proposal for an exchange of up to 40 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). This action is part of the ongoing U.S. commitment to stabilize global oil markets and contribute to the 400-million-barrel release coordinated by the International Energy Agency. The exchange mechanism, which requires participating companies to return more oil than they borrow, simultaneously bolsters immediate supply and strengthens the SPR's long-term inventory without taxpayer expense.

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Energy Department Advances U.S. Energy Priorities at G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy, in collaboration with the White House National Energy Dominance Council and other key agencies, hosted the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston, Texas, from September 14-16, 2026. This pivotal event centered G20 discussions on ensuring affordable, reliable, and secure energy through the affirmation of hydrocarbons, nuclear power, and advanced technologies, resulting in consensus on crucial areas including energy access, supply chain security, and infrastructure development. The ministerial also saw significant private sector investment announcements, underscoring a strategic shift towards diversified and robust global energy frameworks with direct implications for the mining sector's role in providing essential raw materials.

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Trump Administration Mitigates Blackout Risks by Keeping Colorado Coal Plant Online
US Gov't

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order on September 25, 2026, mandating the continued operation of Craig Station Unit 1, a coal-fired power plant in Colorado, through December 25, 2026. This directive, citing critical grid reliability concerns in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Rocky Mountain region, underscores the Trump Administration's strategy to preserve coal-fired generation and mitigate blackout risks, a move with significant implications for the U.S. thermal coal mining sector.

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Energy Department Announces Speed to Power Investments Across 26 States to Lower Electricity Costs and Improve Grid Reliability
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on September 24, 2026, a significant $5.25 billion investment in 31 grid-improvement projects across 26 states under its Speed to Power (SPARK) initiative. This program aims to reconductor over 1,500 miles of transmission lines and deploy advanced grid technologies across nearly 21,000 miles, making more than 23 gigawatts of additional electricity capacity available. These efforts are projected to enhance grid reliability, lower electricity costs for approximately 100 million Americans, and hold profound implications for the energy-intensive mining sector.

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Energy Department Announces $99 Million for 21 Projects to Advance U.S. Geothermal Energy Development
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on September 21, 2026, over $99 million in funding for 21 projects aimed at advancing geothermal energy development across the United States. This significant investment will support field-scale tests of next-generation enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) technologies and crucial exploration drilling to identify and characterize promising geothermal resources, ultimately bolstering American energy security and reliability. The initiative underscores the shared technological and supply chain needs between the burgeoning geothermal sector and the established mining industry, presenting new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

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Trump Administration Moves to Keep Indiana Coal Plants Operating to Support Grid Reliability
US Gov't

<p></p> <p>The U.S. Department of Energy, under Secretary Chris Wright, issued emergency orders on September 19, 2026, compelling Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), CenterPoint Energy, and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to keep two Indiana coal-fired power plants operational. The R.M. Schahfer and F.B. Culley generating stations, originally slated for retirement at the end of 2025, have been deemed critical for maintaining grid reliability and preventing blackouts in the Midwest through December 18, 2026, particularly during periods of high demand and low intermittent renewable generation.</p> <p>

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Energy Secretary Secures Carolinas’ Grid Amidst Hot Weather Conditions
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order on September 18, 2026, authorizing Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC to dispatch specified and backup generation resources to avert blackouts in North and South Carolina amid hot weather conditions. This directive, effective through September 21, 2026, underscores growing concerns about grid stability and the adequacy of baseload power as intermittent renewable sources expand, directly impacting energy-intensive industries like mining. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright highlighted the vulnerability of the grid to "energy subtraction policies" and emphasized the administration's commitment to utilizing all available tools to ensure reliable electricity access for American families and businesses.

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Energy Secretary Secures Mid-Atlantic Grid Due to Anticipated Stressed System Conditions
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order on September 17, 2026, directing PJM Interconnection to stabilize the Mid-Atlantic power grid and prevent blackouts amidst forecasted hot weather and planned transmission outages. This temporary measure, in effect through September 18, 2026, highlights growing concerns over grid reliability, particularly the impact of intermittent renewable energy sources and the premature retirement of reliable power generation, posing significant operational and economic risks for power-intensive industries like mining.

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U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright Delivers U.S. National Statement at the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria
US Gov't

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright recently delivered a pivotal address at the 70th IAEA General Conference in Vienna, outlining an ambitious "American nuclear renaissance." This initiative, spearheaded by President Trump, aims to add 300 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity by 2050 through streamlined regulations, advanced reactor deployment, and AI-driven innovation. The U.S. reaffirms its commitment to global nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation, with significant implications for the international uranium mining and nuclear fuel cycle sectors.

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Energy Secretary Keeps Northwest Coal Generating Plant Online
US Gov't

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order to prevent the scheduled shutdown of Unit 2 at TransAlta Centralia Generation, LLC’s coal-fired power plant in Washington State. This directive, effective from September 13 to December 11, 2026, aims to avert critical grid reliability issues in the Northwestern U.S. and underscores the Trump Administration's commitment to prioritizing energy reliability and reversing previous policies that led to premature power generation retirements, offering a notable, albeit temporary, reprieve for the thermal coal sector.

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DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation Announces $73 Million to Advance Domestic Mining Technology
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation has announced $73 million in funding for four pioneering projects under its Mine of the Future initiative. These projects, located across six states, will establish crucial domestic testing grounds for advanced mining technologies, aiming to bolster America's critical minerals supply chains, enhance operational safety and productivity, and accelerate the commercialization of next-generation mining solutions. This strategic investment underscores the nation's commitment to rebuilding its mining industry and reducing reliance on foreign adversaries for essential materials.

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Energy Department Closes $1.9 Billion Loan to Restart Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing has finalized a loan of up to $1.9 billion to NextEra Energy, earmarked for the restart of the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Linn County, Iowa. This significant investment aims to bring Iowa’s sole nuclear power plant back online, adding 615 megawatts of baseload power to the grid and signaling a strategic move to bolster America’s nuclear industrial base and energy security, which could profoundly impact the demand for critical mining commodities like uranium.

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President Trump’s Energy Dominance Agenda is Delivering for American Energy Workers
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy's 2026 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) reveals significant job growth across critical energy sectors, including a notable rebound in coal and nuclear power workforces, bolstering President Trump's Energy Dominance agenda. The report, released on September 3, 2026, highlights a median energy-sector salary of $63,000, 24% higher than the national average, and points to rising demand for skilled labor, presenting both opportunities and challenges for the broader mining industry supplying these sectors.

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Energy Secretary Secures Carolinas’ Grid Ahead of Holiday Weekend
US Gov't

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order on September 3, 2026, granting Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, temporary authority to stabilize the electrical grid in the Carolinas, mitigating blackout risks amidst hot weather and ensuring power reliability through September 8, 2026. This directive, issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, underscores critical vulnerabilities in national energy infrastructure and highlights the ongoing debate surrounding energy policy and its profound implications for energy-intensive industries such as mining. The incident provides a timely case study on the imperative of grid resilience and reliable power supply for continuous industrial operations.

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