** U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered his Cabinet secretaries to look into the country’s reliance on rare earths in his latest bid to end China’s dominance of the industry. The move could lead to tariffs, quotas or other possible import restrictions, according to an executive order released on Wednesday.
** Exxon, the largest oil company in the West, strengthened its grip on Guyana’s oil riches on Wednesday as it received government approval for a third oil-drilling project, set to produce crude by 2024.
** A former coal magnate who fought mining health rules has reportedly filed for federal black lung benefits. Robert Murray ran the biggest private coal company in the US for decades and rejected regulations designed to prevent workers from getting the disease.
** Duke Energy will build its first floating solar array at a U.S. Army base in North Carolina — and the largest ever announced in the Southeast.
** Texas is emerging as a solar power capital, with San Antonio’s CPS Energy helping to lead the expansion of solar capacity in the state.
** An Arkansas city cuts the ribbon on its second solar project and celebrates its status as the state’s first 100% solar-powered city.
** General Motors signs a power purchase agreement for a 180 MW solar project to be built in Arkansas.
** Missouri-based Arch Resources is considering divesting from thermal coal used in power plants and focusing on metallurgical coal used in steelmaking after a judge’s ruling blocked a joint venture with Peabody Energy.
** An estimated 42,000 gallons of produced water leaks from a pipeline in western North Dakota.
** The Dubai-based construction company that helped build the world’s tallest building and other engineering marvels in the United Arab Emirates announced Thursday it would enter liquidation, the final step in a long collapse from the country’s economic crisis a decade ago hastened by the coronavirus pandemic.
** U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, calls wind and solar “silly solutions” to climate change and says nuclear power is a better answer.