DoD Power Supply Contracts With Coal Plants
** The Trump administration plans an executive order directing the Department of Defense to enter into power supply contracts with coal plants.
Federal Funds: EV Chargers Must Be 100% U.S.-Made
** The Trump administration proposes rules that would require all electric vehicle chargers receiving federal funds to be 100% U.S.-made, a huge jump from the 55% threshold required today.
Natural Gas Utilities Add Customers At Record Pace
** The American Gas Association says natural gas utilities continue to add an average of more than one new residential customer every minute, with 189 million Americans and 5.8 million businesses relying on natural gas.
U.S. LNG Exports Hit Record 111 Million Tons In 2025
** The United States has cemented its position as the world’s leading exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) over the past couple of years, thanks to surging natural gas demand in Europe and Asia. U.S. LNG exports hit a record 111 million tons in 2025, surpassing 100 million metric tons for the first time, driven by high utilization and new capacity additions from projects like Plaquemines LNG.
NREL Renamed, Lays Off 134 Employees
** The National Renewable Energy Lab, renamed by the Trump administration to the National Lab of the Rockies, lays off 134 of its roughly 3,000 employees.
World
Ukraine Grid Damage After Intensified Russian Attacks
** A Ukrainian power plant sits in ruins after recently being pounded by Russian missiles. It is just one of the sites decimated by the most intense wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid of the four-year war.
Russia Pushes Back On Venezuela Oil Restrictions
** Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that new U.S. restrictions on the role of Russia and other countries in Venezuela’s oil business were blatant discrimination and the Kremlin said it would clarify the matter with Washington.
Venezuela To Host U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright
** Venezuela will host U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright this week, marking the highest-level U.S. visit focused on energy policy to the OPEC nation in nearly three decades as Washington conducts its first on-the-ground assessment of the oil industry it is proposing to rebuild.
Solar Imports Surge Across Africa, Led By China
** More people around the world are turning to solar power to keep their lights on. According to the New York Times, Africans across the continent have taken advantage of affordable, efficient solar technology from China. Solar imports from China rose 50% in the first 10 months of 2025, and much of that was to private citizens rather than municipalities and power companies.