Green steel at a crossroads

This roundup of U.S. energy news headlines is part of our Canary Media Daily newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Ford announces an $8.5 billion writedown of its EV assets and a move away from production of large EVs, part of a bigger $19.5 billion restructuring that will see the automaker reinvest in plug-in and other hybrid cars, smaller EVs, and gas trucks and SUVs. (CNBC)

• Ford also cancels plans for a new electric truck, which it was going to build at the in-progress BlueOval EV manufacturing facility in Tennessee; the company will build gas trucks there instead. (Commercial Appeal)

• The EU is expected to weaken its landmark ban on new gas car sales that begins in 2035 after lobbying from Germany, Italy, and auto industry groups. (CNBC)

• A quarter of all global vehicle sales so far this year have been electric, largely thanks to growth in emerging markets. (Ember)

GRID

• Three Democratic U.S. senators send letters to Google, Microsoft, and other tech giants as the legislators investigate whether the rapid build-out of data centers is raising utility bills. (New York Times)

• Nearly every Group of 20 country is facing a rise in grid stress due to growing power demand from AI and electrification efforts. (Bloomberg)

PERMITTING

• A House committee advanced the SPEED Act, a GOP-led attempt at revamping energy permitting, but far-right Republicans threaten to sink the bill because it would block presidents from revoking energy-project permits. (E&E News)

• The need to accelerate transmission construction hangs over permitting negotiations, as debates over who benefits from and pays for lines turn controversial. (Latitude Media)

FEDERAL FUNDING

• Tribal nations look to loans and philanthropy to keep building planned clean energy projects after the Trump administration revokes the Solar for All program and other federal funding. (Utility Dive)

MINERALS

• Federal lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are working on a package of bills to grow U.S. critical mineral production. (E&E News)

• The Trump administration looks to make more mining deals with Chile, Canada, and other countries after the National Defense Authorization Act’s likely passage this week. (E&E News)