U.S. Developments and Energy Moves
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that he expects China to renew large soybean purchases for several years. He also anticipates that China will delay its new licensing rules for rare earths by a year and re-examine them after two days of trade talks in Malaysia.
South Carolina’s state-owned utility, Santee Cooper, seeks private help to revive a failed nuclear power project. The utility’s board approved six weeks of talks with Brookfield Asset Management. The project to build two reactors collapsed eight years ago after $9 billion in losses without producing a watt of electricity.
Despite a stop-work order imposed by the Trump Administration, Ørsted announced plans to resume building its U.S. offshore wind farm. A U.S. District Court judge granted the company a preliminary injunction to continue construction on Sept. 22, 2025. The decision followed a halt that had threatened hundreds of jobs and millions in coastal investment.
President Donald Trump also reversed a Biden-era pollution rule that targeted copper smelters. The rule, finalized in May 2024, had set stricter limits on lead, mercury, arsenic, benzene, and dioxins. Industry groups had called the measure too burdensome, while environmental advocates warned that the rollback could increase toxic emissions in mining states, including Arizona and New Mexico.
Global Impacts and Clean Energy Expansion
Europe Faces Supply and Tariff Pressure
European automakers already strained by U.S. tariffs and the transition to electric vehicles now face a new crisis. Their key semiconductor supplier, Chinese-owned Nexperia, faces a Dutch government takeover under a Cold War-era law. The move followed Beijing’s pushback, straining an already fragile global chip supply chain vital to EV production.
Fusion Power Gains New Investment
Italian oil major Eni S.p.A. invested $1 billion in Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ Arc facility near Richmond, Virginia. The project aims to prove fusion’s commercial viability within the decade. CFS says the plant will demonstrate a major milestone toward limitless clean power—an investment drawing attention from data centers across the region.
Africa and Asia Boost Nuclear and Water Security
South Africa’s state-owned Eskom announced plans to expand its nuclear generation program. The move aligns with national clean energy targets and follows approval from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment. The government framed the decision as essential for meeting future demand and stabilizing the power grid.
Meanwhile, India’s Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam in Gujarat reached 98% capacity this monsoon season. Officials say the dam’s record levels will secure drinking water, agriculture, and industrial growth across the region. The achievement comes as the nation celebrates Diwali, marking renewed optimism for sustainable development and energy resilience.
