Trump administration approves sustainable aviation fuel refinery loan
The energy department of President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that it had approved the disbursement to Calumet of a loan guaranteed which was finalized just days before his election. This loan guarantee is for the expansion of an aviation fuel refinery located in Montana. Montana Renewables' refinery in Great Falls, Montana, opened its doors in late 2022. It produces biofuels in the amount of 140 million gallons per year.
Sources say that three DOGE members have raised concerns about access to the US Energy Department.
Two sources confirmed on Friday that members of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency are now working at the U.S. Energy Department, where officials fear they may have access to personal files and information regarding federal grant disbursements. U.S. Energy Sec. Wright stated that the DOGE members did not have security clearances, and they were not looking into nuclear weapons secrets.
Wright to speak at conservative event in London
The organization announced on Thursday that Chris Wright, Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Energy Department will be speaking to a conservative think-tank in London, next month. Wright has advocated expanding fracking operations in previous meetings. Wright, whose confirmation by the Senate is expected on Friday, will not be attending the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship Conference in person…
Japan's JERA plans on expanding US LNG purchases in order to diversify the energy supply
JERA, Japan's largest LNG buyer, is planning to increase its purchases from the United States in order to diversify their supply and meet the demand growth spurred on by data centres and AI. U.S. president Donald Trump promised to unleash the U.S. industry of energy to boost production and threatened the EU if it did not purchase more gas. This could mean that JERA would have to compete against other buyers to get more U.S.
Senate Committee moves Trump's energy & interior nominees to the floor
The U.S. Senate Energy Committee approved Donald Trump's nominees for the U.S. Department of Interior and Energy. The U.S. Senate energy committee approved President Donald Trump's picks to lead the United States on Thursday.The panel approved former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as the U.S. Department of Interior's new director and for a national…
Trump lifts the freeze on LNG export permits
The U.S. President Donald Trump ordered on Monday that the U.S. resume processing applications for export permits for new liquefied gas (LNG). This is part of his effort to increase U.S. energy production and to dismantle climate policies from his predecessor. The Republican executive order was expected and reverses the pause that Joe Biden, former president, had put in place for permits to be issued for new projects in early 2024.
Energy Minister: South Korea may buy more US oil and natural gas
South Korea wants to import more U.S. gas and oil in order to diversify its energy sources, and maintain stable supplies in light of the tensions in the Middle East. He said that the government might need to increase its support for non-Middle East crude oil purchases. His comments coincide with the announcement that Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect who will take office on January 20…
Trump's Energy Department pick calls for increased LNG and nuclear energy
Chris Wright, the nominee of Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Energy Department told U.S. Senators during his confirmation hearing that his top priority was expanding domestic energy production, including liquefied gas and nuclear power. Wright, 60 believes that fossil fuels will end world poverty and is a bigger problem than the "distant threat" of climate change…
Trump's Energy Department pick calls for more LNG and Nuclear Power
Chris Wright, the nominee of Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Energy Department will tell U.S. Senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that his top priority is increasing domestic energy production, including liquefied gas and nuclear energy. Wright, 59 years old, believes that fossil fuels will end world poverty. This is a bigger problem than the "distant threat" of climate change…
Trump weighing executive order protecting gas stoves, sources say
Two sources familiar with Trump's plans say that the President-elect is considering an executive order to protect gas appliances, such as stoves and heaters, from federal and state regulators who are trying to phase out these appliances in homes and businesses. Republicans, including Trump have spent the past few years attacking local Democratic attempts…
US pressures EU to align LNG methane regulations
A letter obtained by showed that U.S. officials redoubled their efforts to convince EU counterparts that shipments of liquefied gas meeting current U.S. regulations on methane would automatically meet the new European standards for gas imports. On December 17, the administration of President Joe Biden sent a second email to Ditte J. Jorgensen (EU…
Biden Administration releases LNG export study and urges caution on new permits
Tuesday, the administration of U.S. president Joe Biden released the long-awaited report on the economic impacts and environmental effects of exports of liquefied gas. The results highlighted the need to be cautious when issuing new permits. Biden had in January halted the Department of Energy’s approvals of U.S. exports of LNG to large consumers in Asia and Europe, so that his government could conduct the review.
Biden's DoE LNG Export Study Tepid on New Permits
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden released a long-awaited study on the economic and environmental impacts of liquefied natural gas exports on Tuesday, saying the results underscored the need for a cautious approach to new permits.Biden in January had paused the Department of Energy's approvals of U.S. LNG exports to big consumers in Asia and Europe so that his administration could conduct the review…
Sources say that the US study is likely to refrain from concluding that LNG exports are not in the public interest.
Two industry sources familiar with the matter said that the administration of President Joe Biden will release a report on Tuesday regarding the export of liquefied gas. The study is not expected to conclude that the trade does not serve the public's interest. Biden halted in January the Department of Energy’s approvals of U.S. LNG imports to major consumers in Asia…
US Energy Department: Two LNG reviews must be waited for by regulator
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that it will not be able to finish its reviews of two proposed liquefied gas export terminals planned for Louisiana until an independent regulatory agency completes their environmental assessments of these projects. The Department of Energy said that it must wait until the Federal Energy Regulatory…
Trump Energy Pick writes ESG report praising oil and gas, while downplaying climate worries
According to a report that he wrote as the CEO of oilfield service company Liberty Energy, Donald Trump's nominee to head the Energy Department believes fossil fuels will end world poverty. He says this is a bigger problem than the "distant threat" of climate change. Chris Wright stated in a February report entitled "Bettering Human Lives" that the energy transformation has not yet begun…
US Closes $861 Million Loan Guarantee for Solar, Energy Storage in Puerto Rico
The U.S. Energy Department announced on Tuesday that it had closed a $861 million loan to finance the construction in Puerto Rico of two photovoltaic solar farms and two batteries storage systems. Puerto Rico, an American territory, was hit by hurricanes over the past few years. People in remote mountain communities were left without electricity for almost a year following Hurricane Maria in 2017.
US offers conditional loan of $1.56 billion for Indiana ammonia plant
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Monday that it has granted Wabash Valley Resources a conditional guarantee of up $1,56 billion for the construction of a low-emissions production facility of ammonia in Indiana. It said that the project would use petcoke as a waste product from oil refining to produce 500,000 tons of ammonia per year and store carbon dioxide permanently underground.
US mineral projects close down government loans in fear of Trump
U.S. battery and miner recyclers have been rushing to close billions-dollar government loans before January, out of fear that the former president Donald Trump, if elected, would block funding necessary to boost American production of vital minerals for energy transition. The falling prices of lithium, nickel, and other minerals this year, along with lower than expected EV sales have scared private financiers.
China will continue to implement low-carbon reforms according to the energy regulator
The energy regulator in China said that China would continue to phase out fossil fuels, and reform its electricity system. It issued a paper on Thursday listing achievements, but lacking new plans for China’s energy transition. Zhang Jianhua, the head of China's National Energy Administration, said that China will continue to reform its electric system…
