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FILE PHOTO: Coal moves on an overland belt from inside the newly opened Ramaco Resources Inc. Stonecoal Alma mine near Wylo, West Virginia, U.S., on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017.

Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images

A small coal miner headquartered in Kentucky could play an important role in helping the U.S. break its dependence on China for rare earth elements that are crucial for national defense.

Ramaco Resources unexpectedly discovered in 2023 that a Wyoming coal mine it purchased for $2 million is sitting on top of a major trove of rare earth elements. The Brook Mine outside Sheridan is estimated to contain as much as 1.7 million tons of rare earth oxides, according to an analysis this month by the mining consultant Weir International.

The discovery is potentially a major turn of fortunes for Ramaco, a relatively small company with a market cap of $571 million that mines coal in West Virginia and Virginia for steel production. It could also help wean the U.S. off imports from China, a key priority of the Trump administration.

The U.S. was almost entirely dependent on foreign countries for the roughly 10,000 metric tons of rare earths it consumed in 2023 with China representing 70% of the country’s imports, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Beijing imposed controls in April on exports of seven rare earth elements to the U.S retaliation for President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Those rare earths are critical for weapons like the F-35 warplane, which contains more than 900 pounds of them, according to the Defense Department.

The Brook Mine “has the potential to help address what is an acute national strategic supply shortfall of precisely the rare earths and critical minerals which we happen to possess,” CEO Randall Atkins told analysts on the company’s first-quarter earnings call Monday. “From a national security standpoint, we will never need to ship our ores to China or any other country for processing.”

Only one rare earth mining and processing facility is operational in the U.S. at Mountain Pass, California. Ramaco’s Brook Mine would be the first new rare earth facility in the U.S. in more than seven decades. The facility could produce an estimated 1,400 metric tons annually, Atkins said.

Ambitious timeline

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Ramaco stock performance

Ramaco’s stock has pulled back 11% this year as its metallurgical coal business is under pressure due to overproduction by China. The miner posted a loss of $9.5 million in the first quarter, compared with a profit of $2 million in the same-period in 2024. It generated revenue of around $666 million last year.

“They have solid liquidity, solid access to liquidity,” said Nick Giles, analyst at B. Riley Securities, one of three Wall Street firms that covers Ramaco. “I don’t think the weakness in the [metallurgical coal] markets is going to spoil the party here in rare earths,” he said.

Federal support

Ramaco is not looking for a joint venture with another company to help finance Brook Mine, Atkins said.

“We view this project as one that Ramaco is going to be able to finance on their own,” the CEO said. “There really aren’t any other third parties out there that are in the rare earth business in the United States that are really operating.”

Ramaco is interested in pursuing federal support for the project, Atkins said. The company is in contact with Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council about Brook Mine, the CEO said. Once the financial dimensions of the project are clear, Ramaco intends to look into potential federal financing, procurement or relationships with the Defense Department, he said.

Mountain Pass owner MP Materials, for example, received $35 million from the Pentagon in 2022 to build a facility to process rare earth elements. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said last month that the Trump administration is considering making an “equity investment in each of these companies that’s taking on China in critical minerals.” Burgum said China dumps minerals on the global market to depress prices and undercut U.S. companies.

“You’re competing against state capital because China is picking these strategically as areas that they want to invest in,” Burgum at a conference in Oklahoma City.

Ramaco plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Brook Mine in July. Senior officials from the federal government be attending, Atkins said.

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US wind growth picks up speed as power demand surges

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US wind growth picks up speed as power demand surges

After a sluggish stretch, US wind is heading into a pivotal moment, with a near-term rebound colliding with rising power demand, tariffs, and stubborn permitting bottlenecks.

US wind power: the next five years

The US is expected to add more than 7 gigawatts (GW) of new wind capacity in 2025, a 36% increase from this year, according to the latest US Wind Energy Monitor report from Wood Mackenzie and the American Clean Power Association (ACP).

That matters now because the US power grid is under mounting pressure, just as new generation has become harder to build. Electricity demand is rising for the first time in years, mainly driven by data centers and other large loads, while wind developers are navigating higher turbine costs, tariff uncertainty, and permitting delays. How quickly projects can move from the pipeline to completion over the next few years will shape whether wind can help keep the lights on and power prices in check.

Over the longer term, the outlook is steady but increasingly back‑loaded. The report still sees 46 GW of new wind capacity coming online between 2025 and 2029. What has changed is timing. More projects are now expected to reach completion in the middle of the decade, with 2026 and 2027 shaping up to be especially busy years at 10.7 GW and 12.7 GW, respectively, as projects move through the development pipeline.

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That shift helps explain why installations lagged earlier this year. Wind additions in Q3 came in at 932 megawatts (MW), about 23% below forecasts. But activity is picking up fast. Developers have about 3.8 GW queued for Q4 2025 alone, which would account for 52% of the year’s total expected capacity. That kind of late-year rush is typical for wind projects, which tend to reach completion toward the end of the calendar year.

There are also signs of life on the manufacturing side. US turbine order intake rebounded in Q3 to pre–Trump’s big bill act levels, with more than 2 GW of firm commitments, the strongest quarter in the past nine months, and a 79% jump from the previous quarter. But you wouldn’t know it, because turbine makers are increasingly keeping project details close to their chests, and much of the qualifying “start-of-construction” activity is happening off-site through component manufacturing.

Looking further out, the report flags a noticeable slowdown toward the end of the decade. Capacity additions in 2029 are expected to drop sharply following project cancellations and inactive designations, largely due to permitting challenges and broader development constraints.

Power demand takes off

At the same time, the need for new power is growing fast.

After a decade of mostly flat electricity demand, US power demand is now expected to grow by around 3% per year through 2029, compared to just 0.7% over the previous decade. Data centers alone are expected to drive about 59 GW of the roughly 90 GW increase in peak demand. That kind of round-the-clock load makes more wind power a necessity.

“The US power market is facing mounting strain after a decade of flat demand, with utilities committing to 160 GW of large-load additions,” said Leila Garcia da Fonseca, Wood Mackenzie’s director of research. “This represents a significant opportunity for wind energy, which benefits from strengthened economic fundamentals and a compelling business case driven by its competitively low LCOE.”

But she also warned that higher turbine costs and policy uncertainty could slow down progress in the middle of the decade.

Onshore wind: Western states lead

Onshore wind continues to do the heavy lifting. The five-year onshore outlook remains unchanged at 39.8 GW of new capacity, and the 2025–2027 pipeline already has turbine orders in place for every project. More than 60% of that three-year capacity has either been commissioned or is already under construction.

Western states are leading the charge. Wyoming, New Mexico, and neighboring states are expected to account for about 34% of onshore activity over that period. Big projects are driving the numbers, including Pattern Energy’s 3.5 GW SunZia project in New Mexico, which is set to make the company the top wind installer in 2026, and Invenergy’s 998 MW Towner Energy Center in Colorado, the single largest project expected to come online in 2027.

Wind is also spreading into new territory. Arkansas recently brought its first utility-scale onshore wind farm online with Cordelio’s Crossover Wind (pictured).

Repowering older wind farms remains another bright spot. Wood Mackenzie expects 18 repowering projects to add about 2.5 GW of capacity over the next three years.

Offshore wind: progress, but pressure

Offshore wind is a different story. Wood Mackenzie expects offshore installations to slow in Q4 2025 due to harsh winter weather, pushing some capacity into 2026. Still, projects already under construction are making progress. Vineyard Wind connected 15 turbines in Q3 and delivered 200 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity over the first nine months of the year.

“US offshore wind shows diverging momentum,” Garcia da Fonseca said. “Projects under construction with commercial operation dates in 2026 continue to hit key milestones, but post-2027 developments face potential delays amid constrained wind turbine installation vessel capacity, driving delays and contract terminations.”

The offshore sector is also under growing financial strain – and let’s not forget political attack from the Trump administration – with delays and contract terminations weighing on late-decade projects.

Tariffs are making turbines more expensive

Tariffs remain one of the biggest wild cards for the US wind industry. Wood Mackenzie expects tariffs to push turbine costs higher in 2026 before easing in later years. Overall, US onshore wind capital spending is projected to rise by about 5% through 2029.

“US wind turbine pricing is experiencing unprecedented uncertainty as conflicting market and regulatory forces interact,” said Garcia da Fonseca. While domestic manufacturing capacity could eventually bring prices down, tariffs on raw materials and key components are expected to keep costs elevated in the near term.

Read more: Federal judge rules Trump’s offshore wind ban illegal


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Lucid (LCID) reassures investors on growth plans after its stock hits a new low

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Lucid (LCID) reassures investors on growth plans after its stock hits a new low

After Lucid Group’s (LCID) stock price reached a new all-time low this week, the company’s communication boss is out to set the record straight.

Lucid stock hits a new low as investors wait

Lucid is facing new headwinds in the US at a critical time as the EV maker looks to enter its next growth phase. It’s ramping up output of its first electric SUV, the Gravity, and is set to launch its midsize platform in late 2026.

Like all automakers, the company is facing new headwinds in the US under the Trump administration, but that isn’t stopping Lucid from continuing on its mission of “changing the world through innovation and efficiency.”

Lucid’s head of communications, Nick Twork, reassured investors on Thursday that while others are pulling back, the company is still plowing ahead.

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“We know it’s been a challenging period for our long-term holders,” Twork said, adding, “We are focused on execution and being transparent.” Twork reaffirmed investors that Lucid has “a strong liquidity runway,” including a $2 billion PIF credit facility, and another $2 billion in refinanced convertible notes that now mature in 2030/31.

While other automakers are scaling back EV plans, including Ford most recently, “we’re building through it and ramping,” Lucid’s communications boss said.

After a magnet shortage and other supply chain constraints hampered Gravity production early on, Lucid now expects the electric SUV to make up the majority of production and deliveries in the fourth quarter.

Speaking at the 53rd Annual Nasdaq Investor Conference last week, Lucid’s interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, said the company “is on track” to hit its guidance of producing 18,000 vehicles this year. That’s at the lower end of its initial 20,000 to 18,000 target, but Winterhoff said output is picking up and Lucid now has “weeks where we are producing 1,000 vehicles” in a single week.”

Lucid-stock-Q3-earnings
Lucid Q3 2025 production and deliveries (Source: Lucid Group)

Hitting that 18,000 target won’t be easy. Through the third quarter, Lucid produced 9,966 EVs, meaning it will need to build over 8,000 more in Q4. That’s more than double the 3,891 it made in the third quarter.

Lucid had about $4.2 billion in liquidity at the end of Q3, but after agreeing with PIF to increase the delayed draw term loan credit facility (DDTL), the company said total liquidity would have been around $5.5 billion.

Lucid-Q3-2025-earnings
Lucid Q3 2025 earnings (Source: Lucid Group)

The capital is enough to fund it through the first half of 2027, Lucid said. Later next year, Lucid will begin production of its midsize platform, which will underpin at least three new vehicles priced around $50,000.

Lucid’s first midsize model will be an electric crossover SUV, followed by a more rugged version inspired by the Gravity X concept. The third is rumoured to be a midsize sedan that will compete with the Tesla Model 3.

During a fireside chat at the UBS Global Industrials and Transportation Conference earlier this month, Lucid’s CFO, Taoufiq Boussaid, said the midsize EVs will be positioned in “the heart of the market,” starting at around $50,000.

Lucid-LCID-stock-investors
Lucid (LCID) stock price in 2025 compared to Rivian (RIVN) and Tesla (TSLA) Source: TradingView

While Rivian (RIVN) and Tesla (TSLA) shares are trading up by over 50% and 27%, respectively, since the beginning of 2025, Lucid’s stock price has fallen by over 60%. Earlier this week, Lucid’s stock touched an all-time low of $11.09 per share.

Twork said Lucid will share more information about its growth plans during its Capital Market Day in the first quarter.

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Jeep is offering up to $16,750 cash back on select 2025 Wagoneer S

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Jeep is offering up to ,750 cash back on select 2025 Wagoneer S

Like a 90s “gifted” kid that was supposed to be a lot of things, the electric Jeep Wagoneer S was supposed to be sporty, luxurious, and appeal to a whole new Jeep buyer. Despite being a decent vehicle, it never really found its place — but now that Jeep is offering nearly $17,000 off select models, it might be time to give the go-fast Wagoneer S a second look.

Whether we’re talking about Mercedes-Benz, Cerberus, Fiat, or even Enzo Ferrari, there have been no shortage of corporate outsiders have labeled Jeep as a potentially premium brand that could, “if managed properly,” command luxury-level prices all over the globe. That hasn’t happened, and Stellantis is just the latest in a long line of companies to sink massive capital into the brand only to realize that people will not, in fact, spend Mercedes money on a Jeep.

“Stellantis bet big on electric versions of iconic American brands like Jeep and Dodge, but consumers aren’t buying the premise,” wrote CDG’s Marcus Amick, back in June. “(Stellantis’ dealer body) is now stuck with expensive EVs that need huge discounts to move, eating into already thin margins while competitors focus on [more] profitable gas-powered vehicles.”

To get its prices back in line with the market’s expectations, Jeep is slashing prices with lots of cash on the hood. That includes a hefty $15,250 incentive on select Wagoneer S trims listed as a “2025 National EV Credit Select Inventory Retail Bonus Cash” offer by Greenville Chrysler in Greenville, Texas — which seems like it would be stackable with $1,500 in National Stellantis Loyalty Retail Bonus Cash as well, for a total of $16,750 in incentives before any additional dealer discounts come into play.

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All of which is to say: if you’ve found yourself drawn to the Jeep Wagoneer S, but couldn’t quite stomach the $70,000+ window stickers, you might want to check in with your local Jeep dealer and see how you feel about it at a JCPenneys-like 30% off!

Original content from Electrek.


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