Category: US Department of Energy

Source: US Department of Energy

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order to keep Americans across 17 states powered during the region’s energy emergency brought on by hot weather conditions. The order directs the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) to dispatch specified generation units and to order their operation as needed to maintain reliability. The order also authorizes SPP to direct backup generation resources to operate as a last resort before declaring an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) 3 or during an EEA 3. The order was issued pursuant to a request from SPP.

“The Trump Administration is tapping into an abundant supply of unused backup generation to maintain affordable, reliable, and secure power for hardworking American families and businesses,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The previous administration’s energy subtraction policies weakened the grid, leaving Americans more vulnerable during emergency events. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are reversing those failures and using every available tool to ensure Americans have continued access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power and cool their homes.”

DOE estimates more than 35 gigawatts (GW) of unused backup generation remain available nationwide.

On day one of his second term, President Trump declared a national energy emergency after the Biden administration’s energy subtraction agenda left behind a grid increasingly vulnerable to blackouts.

Power outages cost the American people $44 billion per year, according to data from DOE’s National Laboratories. This order mitigates the possibility of power outages in the region and highlights the commonsense policies of the Trump Administration to ensure Americans have access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity.

The order is effective on July 26, 2026, and shall expire at 11:59 PM CDT on August 3, 2026. 

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Source: US Department of Energy

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $65.5 million in federal funding for cost-shared research, development, and deployment projects to strengthen domestic oil and natural gas production, improve the efficiency and reliability of critical energy infrastructure, and convert underutilized resources into valuable products. The funding opportunity supports technologies that maximize the productivity of existing infrastructure, expand the capacity and performance of energy delivery systems, and strengthen the resilience of America’s oil and natural gas supply chain. 

The funding opportunity supports President Trump’s Executive Order, “Unleashing American Energy,” and advances the Trump Administration’s commitment to ensuring Americans have access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy through the responsible development of our nation’s abundant oil and natural gas supplies.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the Energy Department is making strategic investments to strengthen America’s oil and natural gas industry and reinforce the critical infrastructure that powers our economy,” said DOE Under Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit. “This funding opportunity will help American producers eliminate waste, improve efficiency, and deliver the affordable, reliable, and secure energy that powers our economy and strengthens our national security.”

America’s extensive oil and natural gas production and delivery system supplies energy for manufacturing, chemical production, electric power generation, residential consumers, and a growing energy export sector. DOE has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) seeking innovative proposals that address the following areas:

• Maximize the Value of Stranded and Underutilized Resources: Develop and validate technologies to transform oil, natural gas, and associated product streams—including those that would otherwise be stranded, flared, or limited by contaminants—into high-value, readily transportable products. Funded projects will progress from laboratory-scale validation of new catalysts, reactor systems, and separation processes to field-testing modular, decentralized gas conversion systems and sour gas processing facilities in active production basins.
• Enhance Supply Chain Durability and Infrastructure Reliability: Develop, validate, and field-test advanced materials, innovative equipment, and novel infrastructure components to prevent product losses and bolster domestic chemical supply chains. This includes improving facility-level equipment and transport infrastructure—such as compressors, valves, piping, storage tanks, coatings, and alloys—to maximize safe and efficient energy delivery.
• Optimize Operations Through Digitalization and Smart Test Sites: Accelerate the adoption of digital technologies, smart facility concepts, and advanced analytics to improve operational efficiency, safety, and reliability within the upstream and midstream oil and natural gas sector. Projects will utilize full-scale, field-based validation platforms and test sites to deploy continuous monitoring systems, artificial intelligence-supported digital twins, and infrastructure optimization systems that increase saleable hydrocarbons, reduce operating costs, and track the technical maturity of emerging technologies.

Today’s announcement builds on DOE’s recent $150 million funding opportunity, which focuses on enhancing recovery efficiency from unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, advancing hydraulic fracture characterization technologies, and developing innovative approaches for produced water management.

Read more details about this notice of funding opportunity here. The application deadline is September 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

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Source: US Department of Energy

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement, commonly known as a 123 agreement, alongside an accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement. Together, these two agreements lay the legal foundation for a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar partnership that advances several priority economic and strategic objectives, including nuclear nonproliferation.

The 123 agreement provides great access for American companies in the Saudi nuclear energy program, benefiting American industry, workers, and supply chains while helping to meet Saudi energy needs.

The two agreements also advance U.S. and regional security by upholding high standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation and strengthening the United States’ competitive edge in civil nuclear technology.

“These agreements reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening U.S.-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad,” said Secretary Wright. “Rest assured, these agreements uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation, while relying on the world’s best nuclear technology and scientists, designed right here in the United States. Thanks to President Trump, the American nuclear renaissance is underway and will deliver long-term benefits to the American and Saudi people.”

Under President Trump’s leadership, America is restoring its competitive edge in the global civil nuclear marketplace. This agreement builds on President Trump’s Executive Order, Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security, and specifically Section 8 on Promoting American Nuclear Exports, which supports an expansion of international partners for U.S. civil nuclear cooperation under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.

This partnership will:

• Expand American nuclear technology exports
• Create high-paying U.S. jobs and long-term economic growth
• Strengthen America’s energy and national security posture
• Reinforce global nonproliferation standards
• Deepen the strategic partnership between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The agreement will now be transmitted to Congress for review.

Source: US Department of Energy

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the first projects selected under the Genesis Mission Request for Applications (RFA) as part of President Trump’s historic Genesis Mission. The national portfolio of research teams will help develop and demonstrate AI-enabled scientific workflows designed to accelerate breakthroughs in energy, discovery science, and national security.

Designed to double America’s scientific productivity, the Genesis Mission brings together DOE’s world-class scientific capabilities, advanced AI, high-performance computing, and the nation’s leading researchers to transform how scientific discovery is conducted and strengthen American leadership in science and technology.

“America has no shortage of bold ideas or talented scientists, and the response to the Genesis Mission proves that,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The 278 projects selected today represent the very best of our nation’s scientific enterprise. The remarkable number of high-quality proposals we received demonstrates that America’s innovation pipeline is strong, and it points to even greater opportunities for future investment and continued expansion of the Genesis Mission portfolio.”

The Genesis Mission RFA generated the largest response to a funding opportunity in DOE history. Following a rigorous merit review process, the selected projects represent:

• 278 awards: 87 led by DOE and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) National Laboratories, 168 led by universities, 19 led by companies, and 4 led by nonprofit organizations.
• 342 participating institutions: 16 DOE and NNSA National Laboratories, 142 universities, 157 companies, 13 nonprofit organizations, and 14 other institutions.

These projects will address some of the nation’s most pressing energy, scientific, and engineering challenges, including in nuclear energy, critical mineral extraction, intelligent chip design, and commercial fusion energy. 

Among the selected projects, the largest is a three-year, $60 million investment in nuclear energy that will harness AI to help deliver nuclear facilities faster and safer while cutting operating costs to provide Americans with affordable, reliable, and secure energy.

“The extraordinary response to this Genesis Mission application process demonstrates that America’s scientific community is ready to reimagine how discovery happens,” said Under Secretary for Science Dr. Darío Gil. “Through the Genesis Mission, we are bringing together the nation’s leading researchers, institutions, and technology partners to build the next generation of scientific capability. We look forward to seeing these teams demonstrate new research workflows that accelerate discovery and reveal what is possible when AI and science advance together.”

With today’s selections, research teams will begin developing and demonstrating AI-enabled scientific workflows designed to accelerate scientific discovery across DOE’s mission areas. Awardees will gain access to the Genesis Mission Platform, including AI agent frameworks, advanced AI models and software made available through industry partners, and high-performance computing resources across DOE’s National Laboratories and partner facilities. Together, these capabilities will enable researchers to rapidly design, test, and refine new approaches to accelerate scientific discovery.

Read additional information about today’s announcement.  Learn more about the Genesis Mission.

Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that process

Source: US Department of Energy

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order to mitigate blackout risks and keep Americans powered during the region’s energy emergency brought on by hot weather conditions. The order directs the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) to dispatch specified units and to order their operation as needed to maintain reliability. The order also authorizes SPP to direct backup generation resources to operate as a last resort before declaring an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) 3 or during an EEA 3. The order was issued pursuant to a request from SPP.

“The Trump Administration is tapping into an abundant supply of unused backup generation to maintain affordable, reliable, and secure power for hardworking American families and businesses,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The previous administration’s energy subtraction policies weakened the grid, leaving Americans more vulnerable during emergency events. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are reversing those failures and using every available tool to ensure Americans have continued access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power and cool their homes.” 

DOE estimates more than 35 gigawatts (GW) of unused backup generation remains available nationwide.  

On day one of his second term, President Trump declared a national energy emergency after the Biden administration’s energy subtraction agenda left behind a grid increasingly vulnerable to blackouts.  

Power outages cost the American people $44 billion per year, according to data from DOE’s National Laboratories. This order mitigates the possibility of power outages in the region and highlights the common sense policies of the Trump Administration to ensure Americans have access to affordable, reliable, and secure power.

The order was effective upon issuance on July 20, 2026, and shall expire at 11:59 PM ET on July 21, 2026. 

Source: US Department of Energy

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework to accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, advanced sensors, and other emerging technologies across the nation’s mining sector.

The five-year agreement strengthens federal coordination to advance mining innovation while improving worker safety, increasing productivity, and supporting the secure domestic production of critical minerals. By combining DOE’s expertise in energy technologies and resource recovery with DOL’s longstanding leadership in mine safety, the partnership advances the Trump Administration’s commitment to strengthen critical mineral supply chains, support high-paying American jobs, and unleash American energy dominance

“America’s security and economic future depend on developing a strong domestic mining sector,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “By pairing the Energy Department’s technical expertise with the Labor Department’s leadership on mine safety, we can support American miners, secure domestic supply chains, and put cutting-edge technology to work for the people who power our nation.”

“Today’s agreement ensures that the Department of Labor and the Department of Energy will work side by side to prepare the mining workforce, advance mining technology, and support the safe production of the coal that powers America’s future,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “It is our commitment to you that this MOU will further President Trump’s promise to restore coal as a key driver of America’s energy supply chain and American coal will again be the envy of the world for generations to come.”

Under the agreement, DOE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) and Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) will collaborate closely with DOL’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to share non-proprietary data, research, and technical expertise that supports the deployment of next-generation mining technologies.

The partnership will focus on:

• Fostering Collaborative Research and Development: Conducting joint research, testing, and demonstration projects involving AI, automation, advanced sensors, and other technologies that improve mining operations. 
• Leveraging Federal Expertise: Working with multidisciplinary teams at DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory Coal Center of Excellence to accelerate technology development and deployment. 
• Improving Mine Safety: Applying advanced technologies to strengthen hazard detection, reduce mining accidents, and enhance emergency preparedness and response. 
• Facilitating Workforce Development: Identifying future workforce needs and supporting education and training opportunities that equip miners with the skills needed for increasingly technology-driven operations. 
• Enhancing Data Access and Digitization: Working with stakeholders to digitize legacy mining data and improve public datasets that support characterization of domestic mineral resources, including on federally managed lands. 

Read the full Memorandum of Understanding here.

Source: US Department of Energy

On Tuesday, July 21, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) leaders including Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, DOE Under Secretary Kyle Haustveit, and DOE Acting Assistant Secretary for the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office Curt Coccodrilli will join the National Coal Council (NCC) for its second meeting of 2026. Other federal leaders expected to participate include Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Deputy Executive Director of the National Energy Dominance Council Blake Deeley.

Originally established in 1984 and recently rechartered by the Department of Energy, the NCC provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on general policy matters relating to coal and the coal industry. The advisory process helps provide greater certainty for the industry by supporting stability, optimization, and long-term growth.

A key part of the day’s agenda will be the presentation, discussion, and possible approval of two subcommittee reports: Considerations for Maintaining and Growing the U.S. Coal Fleet and Opportunities to Expand U.S. Coal Export Options. Committee members are also expected to discuss new studies to undertake in the future. 

A Brief History of the National Coal Council

Several developments led to the creation of the NCC in 1984. At the time, there was growing recognition that coal needed a stronger voice in shaping national energy policy. For decades coal was widely viewed as the nation’s most abundant domestic fossil fuel and a critical source of reliable, affordable energy. The Reagan Administration also concluded that the coal industry should have an advisory body comparable to the one that had long served the petroleum industry.

The NCC was intentionally organized to complement the National Petroleum Council, which had long advised the Secretary of Energy on petroleum-related technical issues. The Council was established as a federally chartered advisory committee consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, ensuring that its work would be transparent and conducted in the public interest.

Throughout its history, the Council has positioned itself as providing evidence-based recommendations intended to support national energy security, affordable electricity, and the responsible use of America’s domestic coal resources. Its membership spans the entire coal value chain, including producers, electric utilities, engineers, academics, regulators, and transportation experts.

Continuing to Support the Future of Coal

As the NCC reconvenes on July 21, its members will continue the organization’s longstanding role of providing independent advice and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Energy. With its renewed focus on strengthening the domestic coal fleet, expanding export opportunities, and identifying future priorities, the meeting underscores the Council’s ongoing support for the Department of Energy and the Trump administration’s goal of ensuring that coal remains a cornerstone of the nation’s energy mix. Through its recommendations, the Council will help DOE continue to advance policies that promote energy reliability, affordability, economic growth, and the responsible use of America’s abundant coal resources.

The July 21 meeting will be held in person at The Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. and will also be accessible to the public via livestream. Register here. The Council’s first meeting of the year, held at the White House on January 15, is available to watch on YouTube.

Source: US Department of Energy

Source: US Department of Energy

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the newly appointed members of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB), an important component of DOE’s strategy to unleash American energy dominance and ensure continued U.S. leadership in scientific and technological innovation.

SEAB members are appointed for a two-year term and include leaders from research and education, exploration and production, energy financing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. The board meets quarterly to advise the Secretary on emerging issues related to DOE’s activities and to provide recommendations for improving the Department’s operations.

“It’s an honor to welcome these exceptional leaders to the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said. “Their diverse backgrounds and expertise will be invaluable as we work together to expand access to affordable, reliable, and secure American energy.”

The appointed members of the SEAB, whose terms expire in May 2028, are listed alphabetically below:

• John Addison, Former Executive, Vitol 
• Eimear P. Bonner, CFO, Chevron 
• Cody Campbell, Co-CEO, Double Eagle Holdings 
• Joseph W. Craft III, CEO, Alliance Resources Partners 
• Alex Cranberg, Chairman, Aspect Energy 
• Bill Fehrman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and CEO, American Electric Power 
• Jack Fusco, Chairman, President and CEO, Cheniere 
• Tag Greason, Co-CEO, QTS Data Centers 
• Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO, SC Johnson 
• Doug Kimmelman, Founder and Executive Chairman, Energy Capital Partners 
• Steve Koonin, Edward Teller Senior Fellow, Stanford University’s Hoover Institution 
• Maryann Mannen, Chairman, President and CEO, Marathon 
• Lucian Niemeyer, CEO, Building Cyber Security 
• Michael Polsky, Founder and Executive Chairman, Invenergy 
• Mike Rowe, CEO, mikeroweWORKS Foundation 
• J. Clay Sell, CEO, X-energy 
• George Solich, President and CEO, FourPoint Energy 
• Scott Strazik, President and CEO, GE Vernova 
• Vladimir Troy, VP of AI Infrastructure, NVIDIA 
• Wil VanLoh, Founder and CEO, Quantum Capital Group 

Source: US Department of Energy

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) today announced it has closed a loan up to $3.26 billion to AEP Texas to lower electricity costs and strengthen and modernize the Texas grid. Thanks to President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act, the investment will save more than one million Texas households and businesses approximately $685 million in electricity costs over the next 30 years, improve grid reliability, create thousands of jobs, and help ensure Americans have access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy.

“President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act is driving investments that strengthen America’s energy infrastructure while lowering costs for hardworking families,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “This investment will modernize Texas’ electric grid, support the energy needed for AI, advanced manufacturing, the Permian Basin, and help keep electricity costs down for Texans.” 

In accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order, Unleashing American Energy, the loan will finance approximately 100 transmission projects across Texas, including rebuilding or reconductoring existing transmission lines, and constructing new transmission infrastructure spanning roughly 2,800 miles. 

These projects will double the power-carrying capacity of upgraded transmission infrastructure, reduce power interruptions, and connect new sources of reliable baseload generation to the grid. By expanding transmission capacity, the projects will help meet rapidly growing electricity demand from data centers, advanced manufacturing, and oil and natural gas development in the Permian Basin. 

This loan marks the Trump Administration’s third concurrent conditional commitment and financial close, and the third utility financing completed through the Energy Dominance Financing Program.  

Under President Trump’s leadership, EDF is committed to financing American energy and manufacturing projects that meaningfully contribute to U.S. energy security, grid reliability, and lowering costs for all Americans. EDF empowers the private sector to invest in the future, win the AI race, strengthen American industry, and restore American Energy Dominance.