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EnergyPlatform.News(letter)

February 2, 2026

In this week’s edition of energy and environmental policy news across the states: AI boom drives demand, What an environmental powerhouse downfall could mean for conservative policy, Minnesota regulators allow biomass and garbage, At a glance: Michigan

Plus: Wayne Palmer, U.S. Department of Labor: A new era in mining safety

EnergyPlatform.News [[link removed]] AI boom drives demand for energy, copper and infrastructure [[link removed]] [[link removed]]

Tech giants, including Google and Meta, are fueling the next wave of artificial intelligence, and this time the spotlight is on energy, metals and rare-earth minerals.

Why it matters [[link removed]]

What the downfall of an environmental powerhouse could mean for conservative policy [[link removed]]

Over the past decade, some progressive movements have adopted rigid ideological positions that may be limiting their effectiveness on key issues. As a result, new opportunities for more pragmatic, market-based approaches to energy and environmental policy may be gaining traction.

Why it matters [[link removed]]

Minnesota regulators allow biomass and garbage incineration over protesters’ opposition [[link removed]]

After a contentious hearing interrupted by environmentalist protestors, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) ruled that electricity utilities that burn municipal waste or biomass could meet the Carbon-Free Standard under certain conditions. A state law passed in 2023 mandates utilities meet a 100% carbon-free electricity goal by 2040 and directs the PUC to oversee the process.

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At a glance: Michigan [[link removed]]

A snapshot of energy and environmental facts about the state of Michigan.

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Palmer: A new era in mining safety [[link removed]]

Being called to appear this early in my tenure as assistant secretary, I thought it would be helpful to share with you my initial vision for how I believe MSHA should fulfill its mission of preventing death, illness and injuries from mining and promoting safe and healthful workplaces for the nation’s miners.

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In case you missed it

With the launch of Artemis II next month, U.S. moves to establish lunar outpost with nuclear reactor [[link removed]]

Montana Supreme Court denies youth litigants’ effort to strike down emissions laws [[link removed]]

Fix the forests, protect the grid [[link removed]]

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