Latest news with #PresidentialExecutiveOrder
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Executive Order threatens urgently needed transmission and interconnection initiatives
This story was originally published on Utility Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter. A White House Executive Order claiming authority over federal agencies could delay two vital Federal Energy Regulatory Commission initiatives, former commissioners from both political parties agree. FERC Orders 1920/1920A, reforming transmission planning, and 2023/2023A, reforming interconnection rules, are crucial as the U.S. power system confronts spiking demand growth and increasing extreme weather events, former Republican and Democratic commissioners said. But a February 18 Presidential Executive Order, or EO, requires White House review of independent agency rulings, and court battles over its legality are likely, they also agree. How the EO is applied will determine if the congressionally established bipartisan commission is 'working for the public interest and not the private special interests,' President Trump-appointed Chair Mark Christie acknowledged in a February 21 press conference. 'This administration seems to be putting itself in the place of laws passed by Congress and precedents set by the courts establishing FERC independence,' said President George W. Bush-appointed former Commissioner Nora Mead Brownell. 'That's unhealthy, unwarranted, and unprecedented, and will lead to a great degree of uncertainty and some bad decisions.' The orders could lead to a more robust transmission system and streamlined interconnection of new generation to address the energy emergency declared Jan. 20 by the president — if implementation is not impeded by legal debates. Planning robust transmission Order 1920, issued in May, required regional transmission providers to periodically update transmission planning in anticipation of long term needs, FERC spokesperson Celeste Miller said. Key features include a requirement to consider multiple transmission benefits, allocation of costs to customers according to those benefits, and a bigger role for state stakeholders. The seven specified economic and reliability benefits enumerated in Order 1920 increase the potential value of regional transmission, a FERC staff presentation said. The key feature of Order 1920-A, a revised version of the original order, which took effect in January, was more state stakeholder participation, a FERC staff presentation said. Instead of the seven 1920-specified benefits, it required consideration of 'economic and reliability benefits,' and it sustained 1920's provision of incumbent transmission providers' right of first refusal, or ROFR, of proposed projects, the staff added. In states that allow ROFRs, 'utilities can avoid the competitive bidding process by developing transmission outside the regional planning process,' said former FERC Chair Richard Glick, who was appointed by President Trump and named chair by President Biden. The absence of a federal ROFR is a 'perverse incentive' that can undermine more robust regional planning, he added. The changes made by 1920-A give the states 'far more effective tools,' Chair Christie's concurrence said. It allows states 'sufficient flexibility and authority to protect their consumers from paying unfair or unnecessary costs' and 'should and must inform the compliance process,' he emphasized with italics. 'Orders 1920 and 2023 are two of the most important milestones in a long incremental process,' said President Clinton-appointed former FERC Chair James Hoecker. But 'the concern now is that the compliance filing approval process, which is where the rubber meets the road in regulation, may not be effective if FERC is not allowed to work independently of the administration,' he added. That debate may 'take crucial time away from initiating transmission planning and streamlined interconnections,' Hoecker said. And it is a particularly unnecessary effort to control 'a functioning independent agency with a thousand active cases that pays for itself through fees,' he added. States can protect incumbent utilities or support regional interests, 'but only FERC can guide the compliance process toward competitive bidding for regional projects,' said former Commissioner Brownell. 'Utilities and utility regulation need to go beyond protecting the incumbent against competition to protecting consumers as well,' she added. The Trump EO may similarly take vital time away from implementing the Order 2023 interconnection reforms, stakeholders said. Streamlined interconnection Generation awaiting transmission interconnection approval grew from 2,041 MW in 2023 to to 2,598 MW in 2024, a single year increase of 27%. Order 2023, which required compliance filings by May 16, 2024, addresses those worsening delays. The burdensome 'first-come, first-served' process of studying interconnection applications must shift to a more efficient 'cluster study process,' according to Order 2023, which FERC issued in July 2023. It also imposed penalties for transmission providers that fail to complete studies on time and stricter financial readiness, cost allocation, and site control rules for interconnection applicants. Transmission providers must now consider advanced transmission technologies, enable co-location of resources at a single interconnection point, and use more granular data, FERC's Explainer said. Order 2023-A , issued in May, adjusted deadlines, definitions of readiness for study and site control, and cost-sharing for system upgrades by generators at a single interconnection point, the 2023-A Explainer said. It also detailed penalties for queue withdrawal and guidelines for projects that could impact other projects, it added. Subsequently, both the PJM Interconnection's Reliability Resource Initiative and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator's Expedited Resource Adequacy Study controversially proposed interconnection 'queue jumping' for favored resources to address the current reliability 'emergency' resulting from electricity demand spikes, several commissioners said. Commissioner Judy Chang's dissent to the PJM plan's approval called it 'the worst of both worlds' by compromising 'open access principles with no guarantee it will resolve PJM's reliability issue.' The dissent demonstrated the great value of independent FERC debate in addressing the current 'emergency,' several former commissioners said. 'One of FERC's roles as an independent agency is to define an emergency,' said former Commissioner Brownell. A data center builder and a key community manufacturer might both want to interconnect generation, but both require careful FERC scrutiny 'because both may not be emergencies,' she said. The biggest threat of the EO is its potential impact on FERC's freedom to exercise that kind of independent scrutiny, the former commissioners said. The executive order Commissioners appointed by both Republican and Democratic Presidents said the implementation of Orders 1920 and 2023 could be delayed by the debate over the Trump EO's legality. Federal agencies must 'submit draft regulations for White House review — with no carve-out for so-called independent agencies,' the Executive Order asserts. And they must 'consult with the White House on their priorities and strategic plans, and the White House will set their performance standards,' it adds. But the executive branch doesn't have 'the expertise and knowledge' of the laws guiding FERC, like the Federal Power Act and the DOE Organization Act, said George W. Bush-appointed former FERC Chair Joseph Kelliher. They 'are unlikely to understand the issues' or 'review the flood of significant regulatory actions in a timely manner.' Former Chair Hoecker agreed. 'In my recent interactions with railroad and highway regulators about co-locating transmission in existing rights of way, it is clear how complicated building transmission seems' outside the energy sector, but 'FERC is a master at complex oversight and applying the law in a very constructive way.' Executive branch interpretations of FERC orders without knowledge of relevant laws would likely lead to time-consuming judicial reviews 'and the courts would tend to reaffirm the precedents,' Kelliher said. The EO's 'stated concern with accountability extends the president's power over independent agencies, but that was limited by the precedent set by the Humphrey's Executor decision,' he added. Unless that precedent is overturned, a president cannot ignore the Supreme Court, Kelliher said. The first independent agency, the Interstate Commerce Commission, was created by Congress in 1887 to ensure 'merit-based regulatory decisions instead of politically-based decisions,' and 'FERC is probably more disposed to merit-based decisions that reflect the litigated record than any other independent agency,' he added. The Trump EO would 'politicize decisions by regulatory agencies, and politically driven decisions will not tend to be merit based,' Kelliher said. The EO's potential to impede compliance filing reviews is a concern, said former FERC Chair Jon Wellinghoff, who was nominated by President George W. Bush and designated chair by President Obama. But, more importantly, the legal debate could impede 'the diligent, continuous monitoring of the FERC orders' implementations,' he stressed. The reviews are less concerning because the White House is unlikely to get into 'the details of transmission planning, interconnection, and demand side resources,' Wellinghoff said. The EO calls for independent agencies to submit proposed regulations for review, but 'as Chair Christie pointed out, major orders undergo some review already,' he added. To those points, Hoecker and Glick agreed. The EO will likely not impact FERC significantly, Wellinghoff continued. But 'there are elements within the administration who may, from a non-independent administrative political position, attempt to impose certain actions on FERC that would be contrary to the public interest,' he said. 'It is important for FERC to have independent commissioners acting in the public interest' because, more than politicians, 'they understand the intricacies of a very technical industry,' Wellinghoff said. All the former commissioners are concerned about time lost to legal questions. The debate over FERC's independence could delay 1920 and 2023 compliance filing approvals, said former Commissioner Brownell. 'And right now the U.S. economy urgently needs the changes that will be driven by implementation of those orders,' she added. Trump-nominated former Commissioner Allison Clements agreed. 'Any time wasted in legal or political reviews will further limit this country's effort to build a more reliable, affordable power system,' Clements said. 'The executive order is flatly and plainly illegal and it will not be upheld in the courts,' she added. 'The executive branch has every opportunity to influence public policy by working with Congress to pass laws,' Brownell said. 'And it can carefully vet commissioners before they are appointed and replace them if necessary,' she added. 'Congress needs to give FERC the authority it needs to be the adult in the room on issues like cost allocation and siting,' Brownell added. Otherwise, the EO 'will have a chilling effect on markets because investors will be unlikely to risk hundreds of billions of dollars on investments regulated by politically-influenced non-transparent decisions.' Recommended Reading White House claims authority over FERC, other independent agencies
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
USS Spruance departs San Diego for Texas-Mexico border
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A guided-missile destroyer departed Naval Base San Diego over the weekend to support military operations at the Texas and Mexico border, according to a news release from the U.S. Navy. After spending five months in the Middle East and returning to the West Coast in December, USS Spruance left San Diego Saturday on its new deployment. Suspect in Cal Fire captain's death arrested in Baja California: Police According to the Navy, the Spruance will be accompanied by an embedded U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment, a team that typically serves in military combat operations, counter-piracy, alien migration interdictions and more. 'USS Spruance's deployment as part of U.S. Northern Command's southern border mission brings additional capability and expands the geography of unique military capabilities working with the Department of Homeland Security,' said Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander, U.S. Northern Command. 'With Spruance off the West Coast and USS Gravely in the Gulf of America, our maritime presence contributes to the all-domain, coordinated DOD (Department of Defense) response to the Presidential Executive Order and demonstrates our resolve to achieve operational control of the border,' he added in the Navy's statement. DOJ: 22 charged for role in drug trafficking organization linked to Beltran Leyva Cartel Previously, the Spruance served a five-month deployment to the Middle East as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. The group was sent to 'deter regional escalation, degrade Houthi capabilities, defend U.S. forces, and sailed alongside allies and partners to promote security, stability and prosperity,' the news release stated. It also helped provide security for commercial vessels to pass through international waterways like the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Guardian Metal Resources PLC Announces Presidential Executive Order-US Mineral Production
Presidential Executive Order - American Mineral Production LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / / March 24, 2025 / Guardian Metal Resources plc (LON:GMET)(OTCQX:GMTLF), a mineral exploration company focused on tungsten within Nevada, USA, is pleased to note the support outlined in the Executive Order signed on March 20, 2025, by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, titled "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production" (the "Executive Order" or "EO"). The landmark order demonstrates a renewed commitment to promoting domestic energy and natural resources, in line with Guardian Metal's ultimate mission of mining tungsten, a key metal essential for modern defence and civilian industries, on U.S. soil. A link to the Executive Order is provided below: Key sections from the Executive Order benefitting Guardian Metal: Fast-tracked permitting & streamlined approvals Federal agencies are now mandated to expedite the review and approval process for priority critical mineral projects. This has the potential to significantly reduce regulatory hurdles, benefitting projects that require federal permitting, including the Company's Pilot Mountain project. Priority status for critical minerals, including tungsten The EO directs agencies to prioritise U.S. production of minerals deemed critical under 30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(3), which includes tungsten. This reinforces the national strategic importance of our Nevada-based tungsten projects. Reduction in dependence on foreign imports With an explicit goal of strengthening U.S. mineral security, the EO aims to lessen reliance on China and other foreign suppliers. This aligns with Guardian Metal's mission to develop a secure, domestic supply of tungsten. Investment Incentives & Government Backing The EO allows for additional federal support, including potential financing through agencies like the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. This could unlock new funding opportunities for our Nevada based tungsten properties. National Security & Defense Considerations Given tungsten's critical role in defence and high-tech industries, the EO reinforces the need for secure, U.S.-based supply chains. This positions our projects as potential key contributors to American economic and defense priorities. Oliver Friesen, CEO of Guardian Metal, commented: "This executive order marks a pivotal moment for the U.S. mining industry. By accelerating permitting and prioritising domestic production, the administration has reaffirmed the strategic importance of critical minerals such as tungsten. Guardian Metal is well-positioned to contribute to this initiative, and we welcome policies that enhance supply chain security while fostering investment in domestic resources." Next Steps Guardian Metal will actively engage with all relevant government agencies to align with the directives outlined in the Executive Order. The Company is committed to leveraging this supportive policy framework to expedite the responsible development of its Nevada-based projects. The Company continues to advance technical studies and community engagement initiatives, ensuring it maintains the highest standards of environmental stewardship and social responsibility. These efforts position Guardian Metal to capitalise on this pivotal moment for domestic mining in the U.S. Forward Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions, competition for qualified staff, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties resulting from working in a new political jurisdiction, uncertainties regarding the results of exploration, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of prospecting rights, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of regulatory and other third party consents and approvals, uncertainties regarding the Company's or any third party's ability to execute and implement future plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. For further information visit or contact the following: Guardian Metal Resources plc Oliver Friesen (CEO) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7583 8304 Shard Capital Partners LLP Lead Broker Damon Heath/Erik Woolgar Tel: +44 (0) 20 7186 9000 This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ or visit SOURCE: Guardian Metal Resources PLC View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Fox News
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Navy deploys additional warship to curb illegal immigration, drug smuggling at the southern border
The Navy on Saturday announced another destroyer has been sent to the southern border to aid in the ongoing maritime efforts to curb illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Navy officials said the USS Spruance, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, departed Naval Base San Diego Saturday to support southern border operations. The goal of the mission is to restore territorial integrity at the U.S. southern border, according to a statement from the Navy. Spruance will enhance maritime efforts, support interagency collaboration and contribute to a coordinated and robust response to combating maritime-related terrorism, weapons proliferation, transnational crime, piracy, environmental destruction and illegal seaborne immigration, according to the statement. "USS Spruance's deployment as part of U.S. Northern Command's southern border mission brings additional capability and expands the geography of unique military capabilities working with the Department of Homeland Security," said Gen. Gregory Guillot, USNORTHCOM commander. He added that with Spruance off the West Coast and the USS Gravely, a recently deployed destroyer in the Gulf of America, the Navy's maritime presence "contributes to the all-domain, coordinated DOD response to the Presidential Executive Order and demonstrates our resolve to achieve operational control of the border." Coast Guard officials told Fox News Digital earlier this month that hundreds of migrant boat encounters were logged near the San Diego coast in the last 90 days, prompting the allocation of additional resources. Spruance will bring maritime capabilities to the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) in response to executive orders signed by President Donald Trump, a national emergency declaration and clarification of the military's role in protecting the territorial integrity of the U.S. The combatant command "continues to fill critical capabilities gaps in support of DHS and CBP," according to the statement. The destroyer will be accompanied by an embedded U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) created in 1982. Coast Guard LEDETs carry out a variety of maritime interdiction missions, including counter-piracy, military combat operations, alien migration interdiction, military force protection, counter-terrorism, homeland security and humanitarian response. Spruance returned to Naval Base San Diego Dec. 19, 2024, after a five-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG). The strike group was ordered to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to bolster U.S. military force posture in the Middle East, deter regional escalation, degrade Houthi capabilities, defend U.S. forces and sail alongside allies and partners to promote security, stability and prosperity, Navy officials said. "Assigned destroyers of the ABECSG, to include Spruance, were essential to providing a layer of defense to U.S. forces and ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels and partner nations transiting in international waterways like the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden," according to the statement.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Army reposts history of 442nd heroism
STAR-ADVERTISER FILE The Honor Guard of 442nd Regimental Combat Team outside Bruyeres, France, in November 1944. STAR-ADVERTISER FILE The Honor Guard of 442nd Regimental Combat Team outside Bruyeres, France, in November 1944. The Army on Saturday moved to dampen public outrage over removing online content about Asian American and Pacific Islander contributions to the military branch, including a descriptive history of the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Army officials reposted the material describing the 442nd as a news item highlighted on its homepage, , along with other Army news items that on Saturday included a feature story about Army Secretary Dan Driscoll visiting a base in Washington state, a feature photo showing a brigade of soldiers running on a Wheeler Army Airfield runway in Wahiawa, and a reminder that June 14 marks the Army's 250th birthday. In a statement Saturday, the Army said : 'The 442nd Regimental Combat team holds an honored place in Army History and we are pleased to republish an article that highlights the brave Soldiers who served in the 'Go-for-Broke' brigade.' Earlier this month, the Army eliminated a section of its website about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Army as part of a Defense Department 'digital content refresh ' targeting what the Trump administration deems to be 'woke ' or promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. 'In accordance with a Presidential Executive Order and guidance from the Secretary of Defense, the Army recently took down the Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Heritage webpage that featured content about the 442nd Infantry Regiment and Nisei Soldiers, ' the Army said in its statement. 'The Army is tirelessly working through content on that site and articles related to the 442nd Infantry Regiment and Nisei Soldiers will be republished to better align with current guidance. There are still many stories available on Army websites that celebrate the bravery of the 442nd Infantry regiment that were not impacted by the Heritage webpage. The Army remains committed to sharing the stories of our Soldiers, their units, and their sacrifice.' Other material removed from the website about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Army was not restored, including profiles of medal of honor recipients and other distinguished personnel, including Hawaii's Tulsi Gabbard, Eric Shinseki and the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Army officials previously insisted there is no intent to dishonor veterans and that they will continue to honor the legacy of the 442nd, a World War II unit made up of Japanese American servicemen who fought the Nazis in Europe and is among the most decorated combat units in American history. Roughly two-thirds of the unit was made up of soldiers from Hawaii, and many of the others enlisted from West Coast internment camps.
