The endangerment finding’s fate looms, major NREL layoffs, and more headlines

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.

FEDERAL ACTION

• The U.S. EPA’s forthcoming move to repeal the endangerment finding, which requires it to regulate greenhouse gases, will likely end in a Supreme Court case that conservative activists hope will deliver a ​“total victory” against climate regulation in America. (New York Times, New York Times)

• The National Renewable Energy Lab, renamed by the Trump administration to the National Lab of the Rockies, lays off 134 of its roughly 3,000 employees. (The Hill)

FOSSIL FUELS

• The Tennessee Valley Authority’s mostly Trump-nominated board says it wants to continue operating two coal-fired power plants in Tennessee past their planned closure dates of no later than 2035, while also opening new gas-fired units at both locations. (Associated Press)

• One of the coal plants targeted by the TVA board for continued operation had been marked for closure in 2027 and is the site of the biggest industrial spill in U.S. history due to a coal ash disaster in 2008. (WATE)

• The U.S. EPA extends the deadline for coal-fired power plants to clean up inactive coal ash ponds and landfills by nearly three years, to 2032, and also delays groundwater monitoring requirements until 2031. (Utility Dive)

• The Trump administration will issue an executive order today directing the Department of Defense to enter into power supply contracts with coal plants, while separately awarding funding to upgrade and recommission five coal plants across the country. (Inside Climate News)

AFFORDABILITY

• New Jersey regulators order four major electric utilities to explore ways to relieve grid congestion using distributed resources as part of Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s plan to develop virtual power plants and lower electricity bills. (Utility Dive)

• Virginia lawmakers introduce legislation to decrease power costs from Dominion Energy’s residential customers by 3.25% while creating a new rate class that will increase bills for data centers by 15%. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia Mercury)

NUCLEAR

• U.S. Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) introduce federal legislation aimed at expediting new commercial nuclear reactor development and investment by minimizing cost overruns. (news release)

• Missing documentation for some of the repair work related to the restart of Holtec’s Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan could further delay the plan. (MLive)

• Fusion energy startup Inertia Enterprises raises a $450 million Series A funding round to pursue its ambitious plan to begin building a commercial power plant by 2030. (Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

• The Trump administration proposes rules that would require all electric vehicle chargers receiving federal funds to be 100% U.S.-made, a huge jump from the 55% threshold required today. (The Hill)

OFFSHORE WIND

• Danish energy giant Ørsted reports $500 million in profits for 2025, despite a loss of $10 million because of the work stoppage on Revolution Wind ordered by the Trump administration in December. (Rhode Island Current)