"After conducting extensive evaluations of different advanced small modular reactor technologies, Energy Northwest determined that the Xe-100 was the best fit for its future resource needs. 'The evaluation process found X-energy’s technology possessed the right operational, safety, maintenance, and licensing attributes to meet the northwest region’s current and future need for firm, dispatchable carbon-free energy,' the company said in an e-mail."

Dr. Barbara Kolm writes in The Daily Signal about Germany’s irrational energy policy. “If the government wanted to truly help the environment, however, it would look to free enterprise to find solutions and use those resources that are abundantly available—for example, hydropower in the Alpine regions or the rivers.” Read the full article here. online...

"By snapping up Denbury, Exxon will inherit 1,300 miles of pipelines used to move carbon dioxide from smokestacks to underground reservoirs, a prized asset as building new infrastructure to transport CO2 has often been met with local opposition. Denbury owns more than 900 miles of pipelines on the Gulf Coast running near the region’s manufacturing hubs."

Jason Plautz of E&E News reports on Wyoming’s leadership in renewable energy. “The onshore wind project supported by the TransWest line is projected to be the largest project of its kind in the country. The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy project, under construction near Rawlins, will host about 600 turbines on 1,500 acres of...

"But the lure for OCI and others of making ammonia with a smaller carbon footprint is a business with potential beyond the farm. That includes production of fuel for coal-burning Asian utilities and for ships, both uncertain but potentially lucrative commercial possibilities."

Katherine Blunt and Jennifer Hiller of The Wall Street Journal report on utility companies’ efforts to shore up the power grid. “Duke in June announced plans to sell about 3,400 megawatts of wind, solar and battery projects to Brookfield Renewable for $2.8 billion. Brian Savoy, Duke’s chief financial officer, said the sale would help the company...

"EDF Energy’s current fleet of operating AGR plants includes the two-unit Hartlepool in Durham, the co-located two-unit Heysham 1 and two-unit Heysham 2 in Lancashire, and the two-unit Torness in East Lothian. This March, EDF Energy announced that it intends to keep the Hartlepool and Heysham 1 stations in operation to March 2026—two years past their previously scheduled 2024 retirement dates. The estimated March 2028 closure dates for Heysham 2 and Torness remain unchanged."

"Mineral-related initiatives are coming in droves. China’s dominance, says Australia’s resources minister, Madeleine King, is a 'strategic challenge.' On June 20th her government unveiled a critical-minerals strategy to address it. Australia is the biggest producer of lithium, the third-biggest producer of cobalt and fourth-biggest of rare earths—yet a processing minnow. It aims to become, by 2030, 'a globally significant' producer of processed critical minerals. It can 'play its part in making sure we build secure supply chains', says Ms King."

"Occidental in March announced it had leased 55,000 acres for carbon sequestration in three Texas counties, including Chambers, where Dugat’s ranch is located—part of at least 287,000 acres it has secured for the purpose across Texas and Louisiana. Chevron and two partners said the same month that they had leased 100,000 acres to store carbon in Chambers and neighboring Jefferson counties alone—more than a 10th of the counties’ total land area."

"Baker Hughes, which is more equipment-focused than its peers, therefore seems to have a head start: Orders in its new energy business were substantial enough to be noted on earnings calls. It booked more than $400 million of orders in the segment last year and said it is on track to exceed that amount this year."