Articles tagged with "US-Department-of-Energy"
New Coal-Killing Geothermal Energy Anomalies Found In US
The article highlights a significant shift in the US energy landscape, where geothermal energy is emerging as a formidable competitor to coal, natural gas, wind, and solar power. Historically limited to a few Western states, geothermal energy is now expanding due to advances in drilling technology and innovative approaches like those developed by the startup Zanskar. Zanskar employs custom-built artificial intelligence (AI) to identify previously unknown geothermal fields more efficiently and economically, reducing drilling costs and failure rates. This AI-driven method enables the company to tap into geothermal resources closer to the surface, making geothermal power more scalable and cost-effective. Zanskar recently secured $115 million in Series C funding led by Spring Lane Capital, with participation from previous investors such as Obvious Ventures and Lowercarbon Capital. This funding will support the company’s expansion across multiple Western US locations, aiming to deliver clean geothermal energy on a gigawatt scale before 2030—well ahead of typical timelines for coal, gas, or nuclear projects. The US
energygeothermal-energyrenewable-energyAI-in-energydrilling-technologyUS-Department-of-Energyclean-technologyTrump Sends A Geothermal Energy Love Letter To Fossil Fuels
The article discusses the Trump administration’s nuanced stance on energy policy, highlighting its support for geothermal energy alongside continued backing of fossil fuels. While President Trump reportedly sought support from fossil fuel executives, his administration also granted special status to domestic energy sources capable of providing reliable, 24/7 power, including fossil fuels, nuclear, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal energy. Notably, wind and solar were excluded from this preferential treatment. Geothermal energy, traditionally limited by geographic constraints in the Western US, is now expanding due to advances in underground mapping and drilling technologies, supported by initiatives from the US Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Office launched a 13-state collaboration called the Geothermal Power Accelerator to promote geothermal development through statewide goal-setting, resource mapping, and policy improvements aimed at reducing costs and regulatory hurdles. Nevada is already advancing projects under expedited federal permitting, with companies like Ormat developing multiple geothermal sites and integrating solar arrays. Additionally, Fervo Energy, an advanced
energygeothermal-energyrenewable-energyUS-Department-of-Energyfossil-fuelsenergy-policyclean-energyUK Flow Battery To Be Tested In US
The article discusses the growing interest and support for flow battery technology in the US as part of a broader shift in federal energy policy favoring energy storage over new wind and solar installations. While lithium-ion batteries have dominated energy storage for renewables, flow batteries—using two chemically tuned liquids—offer a promising alternative for long-duration, scalable, and economical energy storage. Despite the technology’s long history dating back to the late 19th century, practical and cost-effective large-scale deployment has been elusive until recent advances. Pumped storage remains the dominant long-duration storage method in the US, but its geographic and environmental limitations have spurred interest in alternatives like flow batteries. A key development highlighted is the US Department of Energy’s engagement with UK-based Invinity Energy Storage Systems, a vanadium flow battery innovator, to test their technology under the “Mistral” project. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is hosting one of Invinity’s batteries at its new Grid Storage Launchpad
energy-storageflow-batteryrenewable-energyvanadium-batteryInvinity-Energy-StorageUS-Department-of-Energyenergy-technologyUS DOE to Loan West Virginia Utilities $1.44B to Extend Life of 6 High-Cost Coal Plants - CleanTechnica
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has approved a $1.44 billion loan to West Virginia utility companies to refurbish six coal-fired power plants, extending their operational lives by up to 20 years. This funding, part of a broader initiative that includes expanding fossil fuel infrastructure with new and upgraded gas plants, will ultimately be paid for by West Virginia residents through increased electric bills over decades. The refurbishment aims to sustain coal power despite its declining competitiveness and significant public health impacts. Critics, including the West Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club, argue that these investments are short-sighted and financially burdensome for ratepayers, as many of the coal plants operate less than half the time due to competition from cheaper energy sources. The Sierra Club highlights the health consequences of coal plants, which currently cause hundreds of hospital visits and dozens of deaths annually within West Virginia, as well as hundreds of deaths in neighboring states. They advocate for a transition to cleaner, safer, and more cost-effective energy
energycoal-power-plantsUS-Department-of-Energyutility-loansfossil-fuelsenergy-policyclean-energy-transitionFactcheck: Trump’s Climate Report Includes More than 100 False or Misleading Claims - CleanTechnica
A fact-check by Carbon Brief reveals that a 140-page climate report commissioned by the Trump administration and published by the US Department of Energy in July 2025 contains over 100 false or misleading claims. The report, intended to justify rolling back US climate regulations, was compiled in just two months by five researchers handpicked by the administration, many of whom lack climate science credentials. Key misleading assertions include the claim that CO2-induced warming may be less economically damaging than commonly believed and that aggressive emissions mitigation policies could cause more harm than good. Experts have criticized the report for factual errors, misrepresentation of research, poor citations, and selective use of data. The report aims to undermine the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which legally supports federal greenhouse gas emissions regulations by recognizing six greenhouse gases as harmful contributors to climate change. The US Environmental Protection Agency indicated that the new report’s “updated studies and information” would challenge the assumptions underlying that finding. Carbon Brief’s extensive review involved consulting many climate scientists
energyclimate-changeemissions-regulationUS-Department-of-Energygreenhouse-gasesenvironmental-policyclimate-scienceUS taps 11 nuclear reactor projects to speed up clean energy goals
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 11 advanced nuclear reactor projects to participate in President Trump’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, aiming to accelerate the development, testing, and licensing of advanced reactors by July 4, 2026. This initiative seeks to streamline the construction and operation of at least three test reactors outside national laboratories, supporting the goal of making the U.S. a global leader in nuclear energy while ensuring a steady supply of clean energy to American homes and businesses. The selected companies, including Aalo Atomics, Oklo, Terrestrial Energy, and others, will bear all costs related to their reactors’ lifecycle but will benefit from faster regulatory pathways and improved access to private funding. Among the highlighted projects is Terrestrial Energy’s TETRA, which utilizes Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) technology to deliver 822 MWth/390 MWe, promising efficient and low-cost electricity generation. Oklo, backed by OpenAI founder Sam Altman, is
energynuclear-energyadvanced-reactorsclean-energyUS-Department-of-Energymodular-reactorsnuclear-power-plantsUS Not Ready To Give Up On Energy Storage -- UYet
The US energy storage sector has experienced significant growth alongside the expanding wind and solar industries since the early 2000s. Despite recent shifts in White House energy policy and partisan opposition to renewables, the US Department of Energy (DOE) continues to invest in next-generation energy storage technologies, recently releasing $15 million in funding for advanced storage projects. Energy storage is increasingly recognized as energy source-agnostic, benefiting not only renewables but also fossil fuel-based grid power. This broader appeal is driven in part by the data center industry's demand for reliable, resilient, and cost-saving energy solutions, including onsite storage that can replace traditional backup generators and reduce peak utility costs. A notable example of innovation in this space is Quino Energy, a US startup developing organic flow batteries using quinones instead of traditional vanadium. This approach allows deployment in existing oil storage tanks without corrosion, significantly lowering hardware costs. Quino recently secured $10 million from the California Energy Commission and an additional $5 million from the DOE
energy-storagerenewable-energyflow-batterycleantechUS-Department-of-Energygrid-improvementsenergy-fundingBonanza Of Gas Killing Geothermal Energy Discovered In US
geothermal-energyrenewable-energyenhanced-geothermal-systemsenergy-generationUS-Department-of-EnergyNevada-geothermalfossil-fuels