WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced updated operating directives for its National Laboratories, plants, and sites as part of a broader effort to modernize operations across DOE’s laboratory complex.  To advance President Trump’s commitment to Restoring Gold Standard Science, DOE is updating outdated and duplicative operating requirements to give its world-class scientific workforce more time to focus on critical science, energy, and national security missions. These reforms will improve efficiency, strengthen stewardship of taxpayer resources, and help DOE’s National Laboratories, plants, and sites operate with the speed, discipline, and agility their missions demand, while maintaining rigorous safety and security standards.  “America’s National Laboratories are among our nation’s greatest scientific assets and have powered generations of American discovery and innovation,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “President Trump has called on DOE to build on that legacy by restoring Gold Standard Science and unleashing the full potential of American ingenuity. By removing unnecessary barriers, we are giving our scientists, engineers, and technicians, more freedom to focus on the critical missions that matter most.” Working with laboratory leaders and subject matter experts, DOE reviewed a targeted set of directives governing day-to-day field operations. Its reforms build on more than three decades of recommendations from Congress, the Government Accountability Office, the National Academies, and other independent reviews that have identified unnecessary complexity in DOE’s directives framework.  DOE is acting on these longstanding recommendations while preserving strong oversight, accountability, and operational excellence—including strong protections for DOE workers, the public, the environment, and the Nation’s nuclear security enterprise.   DOE’s National Laboratories, plants, and sites carry out some of the nation’s most consequential scientific, engineering, and national security missions. Today’s action better aligns their operations with the pace and complexity of today’s missions, giving its scientific workforce more time to develop technologies, strengthen American

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will not move forward with designating the three proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs) previously selected in December 2024 to advance in the review process. “Extensive review, including public feedback and stakeholder input, made clear that the current designation process for these three proposed transmission corridors should not continue,” said Secretary Wright. “Transmission policy must serve the American people—not special interests or a climate-alarmist agenda that drives up costs, worsens reliability, and disregards the concerns of local communities. The Trump Administration is committed to strengthening America’s electric grid with common-sense policies that prioritize delivering affordable, reliable, and secure electricity to American families and businesses.” The previous administration touted the Lake Erie–Canada Corridor, the Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor, and the Tribal Energy Access Corridor, as a means to advance their Green New Scam agenda and “accelerate decarbonization.” As the process unfolded, the current designation framework proved ineffective in strengthening grid reliability and reducing electricity costs. In some communities, it also contributed to confusion and concern about the scope and intent of NIETC authority. Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Wright, DOE has already taken numerous steps to build new transmission infrastructure and modernize existing infrastructure, including: In October 2025, DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) closed a $1.6 billion loan guarantee to AEP Transmission to reconductor and rebuild nearly 5,000 miles of transmission lines across five states.  In February 2026, DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) closed $26.5 billion in loans to Southern Company subsidiaries Georgia power and Alabama Power to support generation and grid investments, including more than 1,300 miles of transmission and grid enhancement projects.  In March 2026, DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE) announced the $1.9 billion SPARK funding opportunity to

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The rig count in Canada fell by 3 units to 216 rigs working for the week ended Aug. 7, according to data from Baker Hughes. A 4-rig drop in oil-directed rigs in Canada was partially offset by a 2-unit gain in gas-directed rigs. There were 146 oil-directed rigs working in Canada this week, while those drilling for gas ended the week at 65 units working. The overall US drilling rig count was unchanged this week at 588 rigs working. That number is up 49 units from this time last year. In the US, 3 additional rigs were drilling for oil, bringing the total count to 454. That number is up 43 units from this time last year. The number of gas-directed rigs fell by 3 to 124 working for the week. This time last year, 123 rigs were drilling for gas in the US. There were 572 rigs drilling on US land this week, unchanged from last week and up 48 from the year-ago period. A 1-rig increase in offshore rigs offset a 1-unit decrease in rigs drilling in inland waters. There were 14 rigs drilling offshore and 2 in inland waters this week. Leading the major oil-and gas-producing states was Texas with a 2-unit gain to end the week with 275 rigs working. The count is up 32 units from this time in 2025. Pennsylvania and Wyoming each dropped a rig to bring the respective rig counts to 16 and 15 for the week.

Orlen SA has brought a 42.2-Mw solar photovoltaic (PV) farm online to supply renewable energy that will help to power operations at subsidiary Orlen Lietuva AB’s 10.4-million tonne/year refinery in Mažeikiai, Lithuania. Operable as of Aug. 11 and designed to generate about 45 gigawatt-hours (Gw-hr)/year of electricity, the Mažeikiai solar farm aims to reduce the refinery’s electricity procurement costs by about €4 million/year while supporting Orlen’s goal of increasing the share of renewables across its portfolio, the company said. Located on site across 60 hectares on the refinery’s grounds, the solar farm consists of about 68,000 bifacial photovoltaic modules. Each module is rated at 620 w, the bifacial design of the modules enabling the capture of sunlight on both sides to improve energy output during lower-light conditions on cloudy days, according to Orlen. The solar PV farm’s generation of about 45 Gw-hr of electricity will cover roughly 7% of the Mažeikiai manufacturing complex, where it will be dedicated to supplying power for day-to-day refinery operations, office buildings, and other critical infrastructure at the site. Completed at an overall investment of nearly €35 million, Orlen said the solar farm project received €2.5 million in support from the European Union’s Modernization Fund. Energy transition, efficiency Alongside strengthening the refinery’s energy security by providing an on-site source of reliable electricity, the new solar farm advances Orlen’s commitment to advancing regional energy transition initiatives. “This is an important step towards reducing the environmental impact of our operations and lowering the [Mažeikiai] refinery’s operating costs,” said Dariusz Zonenberg, Orlen Lietuva’s chief executive officer. “The project will increase the share of Orlen Lietuva’s electricity demand met by its own renewable generation, strengthening the company’s competitiveness and supporting the Orlen Group’s long-term strategy,” Zonenberg added. Orlen said the project supports its 2035 strategy to expand renewable energy

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) subsidiary ADNOC Gas PLC has let a contract to Tecnimont SPA—a subsidiary of Maire SPA—to provide a suite of services for the third phase of the operator’s broader multibillion-dollar, multiphased Rich Gas Development (RGD) project that aims to expand the company’s natural gas processing capacity to meet rising energy demand and secure the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) reliability as a global energy supplier. As part of the $4.3-billion contract officially revealed on Aug. 10 following intimations to the market in releases dated June 4 and May 20 that withheld the identity of the operator and project, Tecnimont will deliver engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for ADNOC Gas’ RGD Phase 3 expansion involving the addition of a fifth NGL fractionation unit at the Ruwais NGL complex in Abu Dhabi, Maire said. Alongside the NGL fractionation unit designed to separate various hydrocarbon components, as well as treatment and sweetening systems to remove impurities and ensure product quality, Maire confirmed Tecnimont’s scope of work also will cover EPC for a new regeneration gas treatment unit, a propane refrigeration system, ancillary systems, and associated storage installations of the RGD Phase 3 project. Scheduled for completion in 2030, the Phase 3 plant will have an output capacity of 23,000 tonnes/day, equivalent to about 8 million tonnes/year (tpy), according to the service provider. Confirmation of the Phase 3 contract award follows ADNOC Gas’ announcement earlier on Aug. 10 that it had taken final investment decision on both Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the RGD project, including the operator’s separate and concurrent award to Wison Engineering Ltd. for the project’s second phase. As part of the $3.9-billion RGD Phase 3 contract, Wison Engineering will deliver EPC services for a new 670-MMcfd natural gas processing train at the operator’s Habshan