No images? Click here [link removed]

EnergyPlatform.News(letter)

July 14, 2025

In this week’s edition of energy and environmental policy news across the states: Rare earth minerals: The peril and promise of coal ash; U.S. cuts emissions, but global CO2 hits record levels; Electric vehicle sales hit rough road; Big Tech sees big potential in geothermal energy, At a glance: South Carolina

Plus: Andryszak: The status quo regulatory regime must go

EnergyPlatform.News [[link removed]] Rare earth minerals: The peril and promise of coal ash [[link removed]]

A recent study led by researchers at the University of Texas estimates the coal ash stored around the United States contains 11 million tons of rare earth elements worth approximately $8.4 billion.

Why it matters [[link removed]]

U.S. cuts emissions, but global CO2 hits record levels [[link removed]]

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii reached a new record: a monthly average above 430 parts per million.

This is the highest level recorded since systematic measurements began in 1958 and reflects the continued global rise in greenhouse gas accumulation, even as U.S. carbon emissions have declined for years.

Why it matters [[link removed]]

Electric vehicle sales hit rough road [[link removed]] [[link removed]]

Hybrid vehicle sales increased in the United States over the first quarter of 2025 while fully electric vehicle sales fell slightly, according to an Energy Information Administration breakdown of sales estimates by Wards Intelligence.

And while generous subsidies for electric vehicles are poised to expire at the end of the third quarter under recently approved federal legislation, consumer demand for EVs, hybrids and even new, efficient gas-powered vehicles are posing increasing challenges for policymakers.

Why it matters [[link removed]]

Big Tech sees big potential in geothermal energy [[link removed]]

Facebook parent company Meta has signed a new agreement in New Mexico to develop 150 megawatts of geothermal power, another shot-in-the-arm for a growing technology that benefits from Big Tech’s embrace.

Read more [[link removed]]

At a glance: South Carolina [[link removed]]

A snapshot of energy and environmental facts about the state of South Carolina.

Read more [[link removed]]

Andryszak: The status quo regulatory regime must go [[link removed]]

U.S. electricity demand is projected to continue growing due to electrification, re-shoring of manufacturing and an expansion of AI and data centers. Estimates vary for how many additional gigawatts (GW) of power generation capacity will be needed, but the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) recent Annual Energy Outlook projected that by 2050 American electricity net generation will rise by more than 45 percent.

Learn more [[link removed]]

In case you missed it

NASA climate research lab draws attention as spending slashed [[link removed]]

States take the lead on expediting electric transmission [[link removed]]

Albers: Achieving energy independence is a national imperative [[link removed]]

We’re adding news and commentary from

more states each week. EnergyPlatform.News/states [[link removed]] Support EnergyPlatform.News

by contributing to our nonprofit news operation. Make a donation today [[link removed]]

Policy Platform Inc.

1390 Chain Bridge Road, #515, McLean, VA 22101

This newsletter is brought to you by PolicyPlatform.News

Preferences [link removed] | Unsubscribe [link removed]