President Donald Trump last week signed a measure that could help support the domestic critical mineral recycling sector. The measure grants the Commerce Department the ability to impose export bans on e-waste products that have critical minerals, which could be anything from an old battery or magnets to smartphones or laptops. 

The U.S. exports nearly 30,000 metric tons of e-waste every year to other countries, with Malaysia being the primary importer. 

Some domestic recyclers have struggled to stay afloat, with Li-Cycle and Ascend Elements in the past year filing for bankruptcy. 

However, other recyclers are moving forward with projects. 

Cyclic Materials, a rare earth recycling company, is building a commercial recycling facility in Mesa, Arizona, which is expected to process nearly 25,000 tonnes of end-of-life components containing rare earth permanent magnets per year. The company is also building facilities in South Carolina and Canada. 

Cyclic Materials CEO Ahmad Ghahreman wrote on a social media post last week that the order is an “important moment for the rare earth industry.” He added that recycling is an “expeditious solution” to securing the domestic supply of rare earths and critical minerals. 

Ghahreman spoke with Maydeen last week and noted that the “missing piece” in the mining industry is the recycling of critical minerals and rare earths. He said, “recycling could potentially be a second supply chain additive and additional to the mining supply chain.” 

He noted that the U.S. has the largest overground deposit of end-of-life products containing rare earths or magnets. 

“By simply tapping into that market, end-of-life products, [and] recycling that we are unlocking and actually creating a whole new supply chain for access for these critical metals,” Ghahreman said. 

Something to watch: Meanwhile, Reuters reported earlier today that the president will be attending a State Department roundtable on Friday with top mining executives. The Department of Energy will also reportedly be hosting an event on Friday that will focus on how to prop up the critical mineral workforce. 

All the rest

KEY SENATE NEGOTIATORS CONFIDENT PERMITTING CAN GET DONE, EVEN IF A DEAL ISN’T STRUCK BEFORE RECESS: We’re just a couple days away from the Senate breaking for August recess and, guess what? We still don’t have a deal on permitting reform. 

But, top negotiators in the upper chamber are saying “don’t worry,” and are even confident that they will still be able to get meaningful legislation passed in this Congress if they fail to strike an agreement before going back to their districts. 

“I don’t think it’s too late,” Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich said in the latest Politico Energy podcast episode, released today. “What’s most important is we land on something that has broad enough support in both caucuses. Congress is working really hard to try and land this. The White House is not helping that process in any way, shape or form.”

Permitting negotiators are aiming to release legislative text to their respective caucuses before the August recess, though Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse recently admitted to Politico that “it may not happen.” 

“It’s fine if it doesn’t, but it’s a worthy goal,” he said. 

OIL FALLS BACK DOWN: We’ve seen this playbook before – the U.S. suspended its plans to strike Iran over the weekend, causing oil prices to plummet once the markets opened today. 

“We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to,” President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday. 

He said any deal would include the total and complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.” 

“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” Trump said. 

While Iran has not yet confirmed it is resuming talks with the U.S., oil prices tumbled throughout today. By around 2:30 p.m. EDT, Brent crude dipped by 5.12% and was selling at $83.43 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate was also down 5.78% and priced at $79.65 a barrel. 

INTERIOR MOVES TO RELAX OBAMA RULE FOR ARCTIC DRILLING: The Trump administration has taken another step to incentivize oil and gas drilling in Alaska and the Arctic, proposing to scale back rules imposed under the Obama administration. 

Earlier today, the Department of the Interior claimed that the Obama administration’s Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule created “a burdensome regulatory framework” for drilling on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf. The agency is proposing revising parts of the framework, specifically provisions related to blowout preventers, oil spill response plans, crane operations on artificial islands, and other safety equipment. 

“The proposed rule is designed to provide operators with clearer, more flexible compliance options while preserving federal authority to review, approve, condition or require additional safeguards for proposed Arctic Outer Continental Shelf activities,” Interior said. 

It would also remove a planning requirement for Arctic drilling that requires each operator to develop an “integrated operations plan” that is submitted to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management at least 90 days in advance of filing a separate exploration plan.  

The proposed rule does not approve any lease sales, exploration plans, permits, or drilling activity. 

GOOGLE BACKS NEW SOLAR PROJECT IN OKLAHOMA: Big Tech is still embracing renewable energy to power its artificial intelligence advancements, as shown by Google agreeing to purchase power from a new solar project in Oklahoma for 15 years. 

As part of the power purchase agreement, announced this morning, Google has agreed to purchase the total output generated by a 155 megawatt solar project in McCurtain County. For comparison, one megawatt can typically produce enough electricity to power 400 to 900 homes.

The solar project is expected to become operational in 2028 and will help power Google’s operations in the Southwest Power Pool market. It is expected to create up to 250 jobs and $1.4 million in state and local tax revenue. 

CUBA’S ELECTRIC GRID COLLAPSED: Cuba’s electric grid collapsed yesterday, placing nearly 10 million people without power and marking yet another nationwide blackout. 

The island has faced rolling blackouts throughout the year because of the U.S. fuel blockade, including three in July. The last update from Cuba’s electric grid was that two units at the gas-fired Energas Boca de Jaruco plant began to provide some power.  

ICYMI – DEMOCRATS DEMAND INFO ON TRUMP CRITICAL MINERAL DEALS: Senate Democrats last week sent a letter to the Trump administration demanding information on its deals with critical mineral companies. 

Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Adam Schiff, and Elizabeth Warren asked the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, Interior, and the Export-Import Bank to preserve records related to the deals with 14 companies. 

The New York Times previously reported that the government has provided or is considering providing the 14 companies with nearly $8.9 billion. 

The senators have also asked for more information regarding the $620 million loan to build a magnet facility. 

A LOOK AHEAD

Aug. 3 – 5 The National Conservative Energy Summit is taking place in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Aug. 4 Energy Secretary Chris Wright is visiting the Port of Brownsville in Brownsville, Texas. 

Aug. 4 The Center for Strategic and International Studies is hosting a webinar titled “Navigating the Strait of Hormuz Energy Crisis.” 

Aug. 4 Resources for the Future is holding a webinar titled “How Can Communities Better Prepare for Fossil Power Plant Closure?”

Aug. 5 – 7 The Federal Utility Partnership Working Group Seminar, managed by the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program, is being held in Washington D.C.

Aug. 5 The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers is holding its Big Country Energy Forum in Abilene, Texas. 

Aug. 6  Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee holds a hearing to mark up the Farm Bill. 

Aug. 6 – 8 The 38th Annual Texas Environmental Superconference is being held in Austin, Texas.

RUNDOWN 

Washington Examiner Here’s how homeowners can lower their electricity bills

Deseret News Inside America’s last great wilderness as oil drilling appears on the horizon in the Arctic refuge

Politico How a conspiracy-fueled campaign could turn Republicans against weather modification

High Country News Deb Haaland’s vision for New Mexico comes from tradition