Iran Deal, Critical Minerals, Oil Markets, Chamber Environment Summit

Friends,

Another great sports weekend. It started on Friday with the FIFA World Cup when the US came out blazing at SoFi Stadium enroute to a 4-1 over Paraguay. Then Saturday, the Knicks clinched their first NBA title since 1973 taking down the San Antonio Spurs. Finally on Sunday, Carolina shut out Vegas 3-0 to win Lord Stanley’s Cup with 37-year-old Jordan Staal winning the Conn Smyth MVP. And of course, last night was UFC fight night at the White House. Take a deep breath…

Sunday was also taken over by the news that a deal between the U.S. and Iran has apparently been forged. This deal seems a bit more certain that previous Trump-announced iterations, but uncertainties remain Iran’s nuclear program/enriched uranium, how much Iran will get in payments and what reopening Strait of Hormuz will look like. While the deal hadn’t been officially announced yet, I discussed this topic, their impacts on oil markets, as well as offshore wind and much more with Julie Mason on her SiriusXM Show on Friday afternoon.

After last night’s UFC event, the President headed to France for the G7 meeting where he will be tested on Iran, economic and other issues. FERC has its open meeting on Thursday where it is expected to release a plan to help accelerate the connection of data centers to U.S. power grids.

On Thursday, Supreme Court justices hold a closed-door conference to discuss whether to review a challenge to the 2020 AIM Act law phasing down HFC refrigerants. EPA, HVACR and appliance groups have urged the high court to reject the appeal.

In Washington, the House is in recess all week for the Juneteenth holiday while the Senate reconvenes Monday afternoon for the early part of the week. On Wednesday, Senate Homeland Security/Govt Affairs Committee hosts FEMA nominee Cameron Hamilton.

The most important event this Week is Wednesday’s US Chamber 2026 Environmental Innovation Summit on Wednesday at its headquarters in Washington, DC. Speakers and participants will focus on where the private sector is driving environmental innovation both domestically and globally, including in energy, the circular economy, agriculture, biodiversity, resilience, and more. NOAA’s Neil Jacobs and Air Liquide’s Joe Fawell will be among the speakers.

Finally, kudos to legendary Canadian rockers, Rush, who re-entered the rock scene this week with a revival tour six years after the death of king-of-all drummers Neal Peart. Fans wept, Geddy Lee couldn’t stop smiling and their new drummer, Anika Nilles, drew some of the loudest cheers in sold-out shows in LA. They arrive in DC in late October.

Finally, take a look at this Madam Policy interview on the future of critical minerals with Amanda Van Dyke, Author of The Mineral Imperative. My colleague Dee Martin and Van Dyke discuss why critical minerals have become a defining issue for the global economy, national security and industrial strategy. And speaking of critical mineral news, keep your eyes open for a major new announcement coming soon on US critical mineral refining and potential locations for the first US refining/processing project.

Call with questions.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“Five alarm fire is the term that we've used to describe the challenges that we've got. And for those of you who follow us, you know, we publish this map every year. But it's not really a prediction of outages, it's a risk assessment. So, it's sort of like going to your cardiologist. It's not saying you're going to have an outage tomorrow. It says you need to change your diet, and you need more exercise, and that sort of thing. But there's no question that the situation is chronic, and it's very, very difficult to solve because of this issue of time.”

Jim Robb, President and CEO of North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), during a panel at the GridIron event that focused on the urgency of updating the grid sooner, rather than later.

“European leaders are catching up and realizing that their clean energy goals did not take into account the competitiveness of the economy. Energy realism now becomes a common sense approach for the majority of European countries.”

Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said at the Atlantic Council Global Energy event.

ON THE PODCAST

Gevo CEO Highlight ND Project, CCS, SAF Issues in Agri-Pulse Podcast – In Agri-Pulse’s Open Mic podcast, Gevo CEO Paul Bloom talks with host Jeff Nalley about bringing innovation to the renewable fuel sector. Bloom says the company's primary focus is commercializing and scaling a proven alcohol to jet pathway to make aviation fuel. Gevo is engaged in technology, process, and intellectual property development targeted to large-scale deployment of renewable hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. Potential investors need increased certainty from government programs and tax incentives to allow the industry to flourish, he adds.

Reams Talks All-of-the-Above Energy on Solar Podcast – CRES head Heather Reams joined Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) Good Energy Podcast with hosts Colin Silver and Seth Miller to discuss the growing wave of conservative support for solar energy and what it means for the current policy landscape. The conversation addressed the importance of an all-of-the-above energy strategy, connecting the dots between affordability, permitting reform and America’s surging energy demand.

FUN OPINIONS

Critical Minerals Expert Highlights Critical Minerals Challenges – The newest episode of Madam Policy is focused on the future of critical minerals with Amanda Van Dyke, Author of The Mineral Imperative. My colleague Dee Martin discusses with Amanda Van Dyke why critical minerals have become a defining issue for the global economy, national security, and industrial strategy. Amanda breaks down what qualifies as a critical mineral, why supply chains are increasingly vulnerable, and why understanding mineral systems is essential for policymakers.

Blas: Oil Market Soft, But Uncertain – In his column, Bloomberg energy expert Javier Blas writes the oil market has remained soft, with prices below $100 a barrel, despite the war in Iran causing a massive oil shock. Several factors are contributing to the lower prices, including China's reduced oil imports, demand destruction and oil still leaving the Strait of Hormuz through bypass pipelines and tankers. Blas says the situation remains uncertain and could change quickly, with the ceasefire between the US and Iran fragile and the global oil market complex and influenced by many factors.

FROG BLOG

Cramer: China Builds While We Wait for Permits – In an opinion blog on Fox News Opinion, North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer writes for too long, the debate over permitting reform has been confined to the wonky world of Washington insiders — endless discussions about transmission lines, pipelines, lawsuits, and administrative procedures. The stakes are far higher than connecting a natural gas plant, wind farm or data center to the grid. The most important reason for permitting reform is to grow the U.S. defense industrial base at the speed, scale and cost efficiency needed to deter a major conflict with China, and to quickly prevail if deterrence fails.

National Security Costs of Inconsistent Energy Sanctions – In an opinion in the National Interest, R Street’s Philip Rossetti writes US energy policy is sending mixed signals, weakening sanctions, emboldening adversaries, and undermining the credibility needed to sustain long-term national security pressure campaigns. The national security lesson, as ever, is that protecting Americans relies upon achieving a set of conditions that minimize threats. To the extent that energy costs are in tension with those conditions, the prioritization of security should be paramount. When those priorities are instead inverted, we end up less secure as a result.

FUN FACTS

NatGas Growth Will Remain Strong: As new projects enter into service and demand increases, natural gas demand will continue to grow, especially among industrial and power sectors.

IN THE NEWS

Obernolte Introduces ReCement Act to Support Domestic Cement Manufacturing – Rep. Jay Obernolte introduced the Reforming Cement Manufacturing for Enhanced Material Efficiency and New Technology Act, or the ReCement Act, legislation to provide regulatory certainty for cement manufacturers seeking to responsibly reuse appropriate non-hazardous materials in the production process. Cement is essential to American infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water systems, housing, military construction, and energy projects. However, current law can create uncertainty for manufacturers seeking to reuse non-hazardous recovered materials or recovered resources as alternative fuels or ingredients, even when those materials can be safely and productively reused. Rep. Obernolte:

“Cement is the foundation of the infrastructure our country depends on, from highways and bridges to military construction, water systems, and energy projects. The ReCement Act provides commonsense regulatory certainty so manufacturers can safely reuse appropriate non-hazardous materials, reduce unnecessary waste, and strengthen American manufacturing without weakening environmental safeguards.”

Diane Tomb, ACA President and CEO praised Obernolte:

“The American Cement Association (ACA) appreciates Congressman Obernolte’s introduction of the ReCement Act, as it rightly brings the needs of an essential manufacturing industry to the forefront,” said By enabling cement producers to use more alternative fuels, this bill would: increase productivity while maintaining environmental protections; build on the cement workforce; foster energy independence and innovation; and reduce landfill disposal. Cement is the key ingredient in concrete, which is critical to national security, infrastructure, our economy, and America’s overall quality of life.”  

The ReCement Act amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to clarify that certain non-hazardous recovered materials and recovered resources should not be treated as solid waste when they are legitimately reused in cement or clinker manufacturing. The bill applies only to materials that would not be hazardous waste if discarded and requires qualifying materials to meet existing standards, including EPA’s legitimacy criteria where applicable.

CEBA Study Highlights Permitting Costs – A new study from National Economic Research Associates for the Corporate Energy Buyers Association says constraints on wind and solar power deployment — such as through permitting restrictions — over the next several years could increase household energy costs in the U.S. by around $11.6 billion a year on average from 2027 through 2033. The study, which looks at the impacts of placing permitting restrictions on wind and solar power nationwide, found that electricity price increases in a constrained environment would not necessarily be spread evenly across the country over the next few years. Texas’ ERCOT would see electricity prices increase by up to 22% and NYISO 11%.

NRC Grants Renewal of Georgia Nuclear Plant – On Friday, NRC approved a license renewal for the Hatch Nuclear Plant in Georgia. The approval authorizes continued operation of the facility for an additional 20 years by extending the operating license for Plant Hatch Unit 1 through 2054 and Unit 2 through 2058 – up to 80 years of operation for each reactor. The units were originally licensed to operate in the mid-1970s, with the NRC approving a previous 20-year license extension in 2002. Georgia Power says Plant Hatch, which marked 50 years of safe, reliable operation last year, is Georgia's first nuclear power plant and is co-owned by Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, operates the plant on behalf of the co-owners. In 1975, the year Hatch Unit 1 entered service, Georgia's population was around 5 million people and, today, that number has more than doubled with more than 11 million people now calling Georgia home. Plant Hatch has helped meet the electrical needs of that growth year after year, with its opening also marking a pivotal moment for Georgia Power's commitment to developing a diverse, cleaner generation mix to serve customers. Nuclear energy from both Plants Hatch and Vogtle provide nearly 30% of Georgia Power's overall energy production last year.

‌Global Offshore Wind Growing Significantly – A new report from the Global Wind Energy Council says global offshore wind capacity is set to quadruple over the next decade to reach ​420 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2035. Around 92 GW of offshore wind was installed by ​the end of 2025, enough to power ​around 100 million homes. More than 327 GW of ⁠new offshore wind capacity is forecast to be ​added in the next decade, taking global offshore ​wind capacity to 420 GW by the end of 2035, the report said. More than 50 GW of offshore wind projects ​are currently under construction around the world. Annual ​installations are expected to double this year, triple by 2031 ‌and ⁠surpass 50 GW per year by 2035. China accounts for 52% of the global offshore wind market, having overtaken Britain in 2021. Germany, the Netherlands and ​Taiwan are ​also among ⁠the top five countries for offshore wind installations.

Energy Secretary Keeps Coal-Fired Power Generation Alive in the Northwest – Also, Friday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order to keep coal generation online at the TransAlta Centralia plant. The order allows Unit 2 of the Centralia Generating Station in Centralia, Washington to remain available to operate. Centralia Unit 2 was scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025 and convert to natural gas. The Order mandates that Centralia remain available for operation, for 90 days, until September 13, 2026. Once in effect, TransAlta says will continue to comply with the Order and to work with DOE and Washington state government on the matter.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

ACORE Looks at Power in New England – The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) holds a virtual discussion today at noon on energy affordability in New England focused on transmission and renewables. ACORE's Macro Grid Initiative and RENEW Northeast for a presentation of new communications tools for advancing transmission and clean energy investment in New England, followed by a panel discussion featuring regulators, researchers, and regional advocates about how affordability messaging is landing on the ground.

Rosner to Join Pew Forum – The Pew Charitable Trusts tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. will release its new distributed energy resource policy playbook and a conversation on the future of America’s energy system. The event includes a Fireside Chat with POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino interviewing FERC Commissioner David Rosner.

Chamber Environment Summit Set – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will host its 2026 Environmental Innovation Summit on Wednesday at its headquarters in Washington, DC. Speakers and participants will focus on where the private sector is driving environmental innovation both domestically and globally, including in energy, the circular economy, agriculture, biodiversity, resilience, and more. NOAA’s Neil Jacobs and Air Liquide’s Joe Fawell will be among the speakers.

FEMA Nominee Heads to Senate Hearing – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. looking at the nomination of Cameron Hamilton to be administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, among other nominees.

Forum Looks ta Ethanol Emergency Response – On Wednesday at Noon, Transcaer and the Renewable Fuels Association hold a virtual discussion on ethanol emergency response situations.

Renewable Tracker to Launch – REN21 holds its virtual RBE (Renewables-Based Economy) Tracker Launch event on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. The tracker assesses progress across energy systems, economy, society, governance, and the environment, showing how renewables shape jobs, finance, industrial development, and sector integration.

AEI Forum Looks at Nuclear Issues – The American Enterprise Institute holds a forum on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. on how the US will unleash commercial nuclear power.  The event will dissect the economic, regulatory, and political tensions that keep the US lagging behind when it comes to nuclear energy. Speakers include Jess Gehin of the Idaho National Laboratory, Duke Energy VP of new Nuclear Generation Chris Nolan and AEI’s Roger Pielke Jr.

Forum Looks at Supply Chain Traceability – On Thursday at 9:30 a.m., the Stimson Center holds a conversation exploring the technologies and standards shaping the future of secure global trade. The forum will focus on enforcing, accelerating and advancing global trade through supply chain traceability.

FERC Open Meeting Set – FERC holds its Open Meeting on Thursday at Thursday at 10:00 a.m. and it expected to release its plan to help accelerate the connection of data centers to U.S. power grids.

Forum Look sat US Nuclear Security – The Hudson Institute holds a discussion on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. focused on deterring Russia and China on nuclear issues. Senior Fellow and Keystone Defense Initiative Director Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs hosts National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Brandon Williams for a discussion on the administration's priorities in strengthening the US nuclear enterprise.

Juneteenth Holiday – Friday June 19th

IN THE FUTURE

London Climate Action Week – London Climate week will be held on June 20th to June 28th in London, England.

SEIA Holds Finance, Tax Seminar in NYC – On June 23rd and 24th, the Solar Energy Industries Association holds its annual Finance, Tax, and Buyers Seminar in New York, NY.

Reuters Global Energy Event Set for NYC – Reuters Global Energy Forum 2026 is Set for June 23rd and -24th in New York City. The event focuses on uniting for a resilient energy future. Speakers include Exelon CEO Calvin Butler.

NRC Chair Headlines Nuclear Forum – United Coalition Advanced Nuclear Power (UCAN) is hosting a virtual forum on Wednesday, June 24th at 10:30 a.m. focused on NRC efforts to streamline permitting while ensuring safety. The virtual forum will feature opening remarks by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (TN), followed by a moderated discussion with NRC chair Ho Nieh and Mr. ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell. The webinar will examine how NRC can support America’s growing energy demands by modernizing and accelerating its permitting processes while upholding the highest standards of nuclear safety. Speakers will outline current regulatory bottlenecks, opportunities for process reform, and the role of advanced reactor technologies in strengthening grid reliability and national security. The session will highlight practical pathways for reducing delays, improving predictability for developers, and ensuring that safety, innovation, and U.S. energy leadership advance together.

Congressional Renewable Expo Set – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses are holding the 29th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum (EXPO 2026) on Wednesday June 24th. Leading experts will showcase technologies and solutions that create jobs, lower utility bills for households and businesses, build resilience, protect our national security, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Speakers include Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.), Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and more.

Heatmap to Review Data Center Challenges – On Wednesday June 24th at 2:00 p.m., Heatmap and Orennia hold a conversation on the evolving data center landscape, including where projects are moving forward, where opposition is emerging, and how sentiment, permitting risk, and power market dynamics are influencing siting and investment decisions. The discussion will explore the latest trends in data center demand, behind-the-meter opportunities, and the signals energy stakeholders should be watching as the sector continues to evolve.

Fireside Chat Focuses on Climate Vulnerability – On Friday June 26th at 9:30 a.m., the Center for Global Development holds a fireside discussion with the International Rescue Committee's David Miliband to consider the implications of new research on the climate vulnerability of fragile and conflict affects states relative to other country groups and whether climate finance is reaching those most in need. The conversation will consider what these findings mean for international funding priorities in today's geopolitical landscape.

IEA Energy Efficiency Event Set for Montreal – The IEA Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency is set for Monday June 29th and Tuesday Jun 30th in Montreal. It is the leading international forum for advancing energy efficiency. Each year, it brings together ministers, CEOs, and senior leaders from government, finance, and business sectors across the globe. Canada and the IEA will co-host the 11th edition with over 600 participants for two days of high-level panels, roundtables and meetings to drive progress forward.

JULY 4th – Saturday, 250th US Birthday Celebration

BCSE Talks Data Center Growth – On Wednesday July 15th at 9:00 a.m., the Business Council for Sustainable Energy's American Energy Abundance Alliance, Fordwell Strategies and Tuli Public Affairs hold an interactive discussion examining the scale and pace of data center growth and the significant energy needs accompanying that expansion. This event will bring together leaders from across the energy sector and the data center industry, to focus on how partnerships can help meet rising demand while advancing reliability, affordability, and sustainability goals.

FERC Technical Conference Set – FERC holds its technical conference focused on actionable reforms to PJM’s stakeholder process and governance will be held on July 23rd.  The conference will look to identify and evaluate reforms to improve PJM’s ability to address operational and market needs in a timely and efficient manner.

CEN Sets Energy Summit for Boston – Conservative Energy Network at the third annual National Conservative Energy Summit on August 3rd to 5th in Boston, MA. This event gathers local, state, and federal policymakers, industry leaders, and grassroots advocates from across the country to explore the future of energy policy in America.