U.S. Department of Energy

Tennessee explores a federal nuclear-energy program that could involve handling used nuclear fuel, with potential economic benefits including up to $50 billion in investment and 25,000 jobs. Governor Bill Lee stated the state has not yet identified potential sites due to unclear federal requirements, and Tennessee is one of five states selected to discuss hosting Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses.

Tennessee is among five states competing for a $50 billion nuclear energy campus that would create 25,000 jobs. Gov. Bill Lee expressed optimism about the state's chances but acknowledged uncertainty about nuclear waste storage. The project involves nuclear fuel production, reactor construction, and recycling, with Tennessee leveraging its historical role in nuclear research and production, including the Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge.

Georgia Power is expanding Plant Bowen with natural gas turbines and battery storage despite environmental concerns over air quality in the Atlanta region. The project, supported by a $26.5 billion federal loan, aims to add 1,500 megawatts of natural gas capacity and 500 megawatts of battery storage to meet growing energy demand, particularly from data centers.

The U.S. Department of Energy faces criticism for delays in finalizing oil deals with American companies in Venezuela, despite President Trump's January promise to rapidly rebuild the country's oil industry. No new petroleum agreements have been completed eight months later, with industry insiders and officials citing internal divisions within the administration and the oil sector as obstacles.

The U.S. Department of Energy is converting the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky into a $100 billion AI data center and gas power complex, funded by Brookfield Asset Management. The project includes 2 gigawatts of natural gas generation, 2.6 gigawatts of battery storage, and collaboration with NextEra Energy.

The U.S. Department of Energy plans to convert a Cold War-era uranium enrichment site in Kentucky into a $100 billion AI data center and gas power complex, funded by private equity.

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected five states as finalists to host Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. The initiative aims to advance nuclear innovation through dedicated hubs.

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected five states as finalists to host Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. These hubs aim to advance nuclear technology and innovation.

Tennessee is a finalist for a U.S. Department of Energy program to expand nuclear energy infrastructure, including facilities for the full nuclear fuel lifecycle. The state has a history of nuclear activity through the Tennessee Valley Authority and Oak Ridge, but concerns exist about radioactive waste transparency and long-term commitments to increased nuclear production.

Five states, including Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Idaho, have agreed to accept nuclear waste in exchange for federal support to develop nuclear energy and create jobs. The plan includes building storage sites and Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, potentially bringing $50 billion in investment and tax revenue, with Tennessee and Idaho highlighted for their nuclear research facilities.

Tennessee is one of five states selected to potentially host Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, which would accept nuclear waste in exchange for federal assistance to develop nuclear energy. The initiative could bring up to $50 billion in capital investment, $10 billion in state and local tax revenue, and create nearly 25,000 jobs.

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Louisiana as a potential site for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, alongside Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Idaho. Louisiana proposes three hubs for nuclear energy functions, including uranium enrichment in Baton Rouge, small modular reactors in Northwest Louisiana, and waste disposal via offshore salt domes in Port Fourchon.

The U.S. Department of Energy has identified five states to potentially accept nuclear waste, with the Trump administration exploring a deal for its disposal. The Energy Department signed memorandums of understanding as part of this initiative.

A Trump administration lawyer admitted in a court filing that federal grants were terminated based on political retribution against states that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. The Energy Department attorney acknowledged 284 terminated grants were targeted at states with Democratic-caucusing Senators, contradicting prior public statements by officials.

Nashville's MDHA Weatherization Assistance Program offers free energy efficiency upgrades like HVAC and insulation to income-qualifying homeowners. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, helped 90 Davidson County households in a recent year with $1.2 million in funding. Ann Doty, a participant, avoided debt by accessing the program instead of taking out a home equity loan.

The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order to the western grid operator to maintain power in 17 states amid ongoing hot weather conditions. The order aims to ensure electricity stability as demand rises due to high temperatures.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to eliminate the ALARA principle, a 50-year-old radiation safety standard requiring radiation exposure to be minimized. This change comes as President Donald Trump seeks to expand nuclear energy production. The NRC claims the shift to a 'graded approach' clarifies safety standards without lowering limits, while the Energy Department has already stopped using ALARA.

The U.S. Department of Energy terminated nearly 300 renewable energy grants in 2024, with legal filings stating decisions were based on whether recipients were in states that did not vote for President Donald Trump or had Democratic senators. The canceled projects totaled $8 billion, affecting 16 states with Democratic-led legislatures or governors, despite the department's initial claim that cancellations were due to economic viability.

Louisiana low-income students can now receive Pell Grants for short-term workforce training in fields like carpentry and HVAC. New U.S. tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% affect 60 countries, replacing Trump's expired tariffs. The U.S. Department of Energy authorized Argent LNG to export 25 million metric tons of LNG annually from Port Fourchon.

President Trump announced an expansion of his 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge' to ensure data centers and tech companies cover their utility costs, with 23 Republican governors and 200 stakeholders joining. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry highlighted Meta's agreement to fund infrastructure costs for a data center in his state. Experts noted the pledge is voluntary and lacks legal enforceability but praised the involvement of stakeholders and governors.

President Trump expanded his 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge' to include 23 Republican governors and 200 stakeholders, aiming to prevent data centers from increasing utility costs for consumers. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry highlighted Meta's full funding of a data center project in his state, while experts noted the pledge remains voluntary and non-binding.

Two Caltech-led projects have received U.S. Department of Energy funding as part of the Genesis Mission to use AI in creating a new chemical refinery and studying microorganisms in real-world environments.

The US has signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could permit the kingdom to enrich uranium. The deal includes a 'peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement' and a 'bilateral safeguards agreement' signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi counterpart Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement allowing Saudi Arabia access to nuclear enrichment for a civilian nuclear power program, with the U.S. providing technology and expertise under nuclear safety and nonproliferation safeguards. The deal, aimed at advancing economic and strategic objectives, will be sent to Congress for review.

The Trump administration has allocated over $5 billion to an Energy Department-led AI research initiative called the Genesis Mission, aiming to redirect federal science funding toward AI-powered projects and individual researchers rather than traditional institutions like universities. The funding supports 278 projects across biomedical research, energy grid reliability, quantum computing, and nuclear energy, with the largest grant being $60 million for AI-driven nuclear energy advancements.

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta has taken a new position with the Trump administration as principal deputy under secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, appointed by President Donald Trump, while remaining in his state role until his term ends in December. An election to fill his upcoming vacancy on the Public Service Commission will be held in November.

The US Department of Energy is promoting increased propane exports to Africa as part of a strategy to replace harmful cooking fuels with cleaner alternatives. The Trump administration emphasizes trade over aid, framing propane as a commercial opportunity to address energy access while advancing US economic interests.

Experts suggest the likelihood of brownouts in the D.C. region due to extreme heat and data center demand is low, citing energy-saving programs by utility companies. Record peak electricity loads were observed during recent heatwaves, but no weather-related brownouts have occurred. Programs allow utilities to adjust customer power usage during peak times to prevent outages.

The US Department of Energy deleted about 6,000 pages related to energy conservation during a heatwave. The deletion followed Republican criticism of a New York City mayor's request to reduce grid strain by setting AC to 78 degrees, with some Republicans framing the request as socialism and an issue for women in menopause.

Doug Robison, a third-generation Texas oilman, transformed his organic farming company into Natura Resources, an advanced nuclear startup collaborating with Abilene Christian University to develop molten-salt reactors. The company plans to build its first test reactor by 2028 and a 100-megawatt commercial reactor by 2032, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy and partnerships with multiple universities.

Amazon and J.C. Penney are offering holiday gasoline promotions to reduce travel costs, while the U.S. Department of Energy proposes eliminating energy efficiency standards for appliances. U.S. factory orders declined 1.3% in May due to a drop in aircraft bookings, though other manufacturing sectors remained strong.

Experts recommend setting the thermostat a few degrees higher when away to balance energy efficiency and comfort, though turning off AC entirely can save energy in dry climates but risks mold in humid areas. Factors like climate, home insulation, and AC unit type influence optimal strategies.

PJM Interconnection received authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy to require data centers and large customers to use backup generators during a heatwave to prevent power outages. The emergency order, effective through July 3, allows temporary pollution limit exceedances for power generation and excludes critical facilities like hospitals and defense sites.

PJM Interconnection received authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy to require data centers and other large customers to use backup generators during a heatwave to prevent blackouts. The emergency order, signed by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, allows PJM to tap into backup power resources until July 3, excluding critical facilities like hospitals. The measure aims to address high energy demand amid extreme temperatures.

US energy secretary Chris Wright called concerns about data centers' environmental impact 'overblown' and urged support for their expansion. He emphasized their role in the AI economy and compared opposition tactics to past anti-fracking campaigns. A Gallup survey found 70% of Americans oppose local data center construction, but Wright argued their benefits outweigh drawbacks.

The U.S. Department of Energy's support is seen as crucial for the growth of zinc-based batteries as an alternative to lithium in energy storage. International Zinc Association officials highlighted this during a conversation with Utility Dive.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, housing the largest digital camera ever built, has begun a decade-long survey of the southern sky from a Chilean mountaintop. The project aims to map billions of stars and galaxies, study dark matter and dark energy, and capture repeated images to detect faint celestial objects.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, the largest digital camera ever built, has begun a decade-long survey of the universe from a Chilean mountaintop. It aims to map billions of stars and galaxies, study dark matter and dark energy, and capture repeated images of the southern sky to detect faint celestial objects.

PJM Interconnection warns of record electricity demand due to a heatwave affecting 13 states, including Maryland, with projected usage exceeding 166,000 megawatts. PJM seeks permission to require data centers to use backup generators during peak times, while utilities urge customers to reduce energy consumption. AI data centers are cited as a key driver of increased grid strain.

Australia's ambassador to the U.S., Greg Moriarty, met key U.S. officials at a World Cup match in Seattle to build relationships and discuss trade issues, including a new tariff on countries with slave labor in supply chains. Moriarty emphasized strengthening U.S.-Australia ties in the Indo-Pacific region and highlighted cultural connections through sports.