Today’s headlines: TerraPower’s nuclear approval, what’s in Trump’s ratepayer protection pledge, and more

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.

NUCLEAR

• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issues a construction permit to Bill Gates-backed TerraPower, marking a major step for the company’s plan to build an advanced reactor in Wyoming. (New York Times)

DATA CENTERS

• A handful of tech executives sign an unenforceable White House pledge that urges them to provide their own power for data centers and take other steps to avoid heaping data center costs onto residential utility customers. (Politico)

FOSSIL FUELS

• TransAlta’s CEO says it likely won’t run its Centralia, Washington, coal plant because the state is flush with hydropower, even though the Trump administration ordered the plant to keep operating past its planned retirement date. (Utility Dive)

• Fossil fuel companies tell investors that the Trump administration’s teardown of emissions rules is making it hard for them to prepare for standards that are sure to return in future administrations. (Wall Street Journal)

MINING

• Global lithium demand could exceed 13 million tons by 2050, Wood Mackenzie projects, with supply shortages arising in the next few years if investment doesn’t scale up. (Mining.com)

EFFICIENCY

• The U.S. EPA will hand oversight of the Energy Star program to the DOE, with more plans for the transition to come. (E&E News)

POLITICS

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) says Democrats will soon unveil legislation to tackle rising energy prices. (E&E News)

EMISSIONS

• China releases a plan to cut its carbon emissions 17% from 2026 to 2030, and to replace tons of coal power generation with renewable energy. (Reuters)