Nuclear Fuel-Cycle Push: The U.S. DOE named Tennessee (Oak Ridge Corridor/Roane County) one of five finalists for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, alongside Utah, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Idaho—aiming to pull in up to $50B in investment and create tens of thousands of jobs. Russia/Iran Energy Sanctions: A bipartisan Senate deal would let President Trump hit top Russian energy buyers with tariffs up to 100% (and up to 500% for some goods) while tightening Iran-related energy penalties—while a separate push targets “shadow fleet” loopholes. Middle East Energy Tensions: Israel’s defense minister said Israel wants to strike Iran’s energy infrastructure, but the U.S. is blocking it over escalation and oil-market risks. Grid Reliability & Heat: The DOE issued an emergency order for 17 states to use unused backup power during summer heat, underscoring reliability concerns as wind/solar intermittency is debated. Data Centers & Power Costs: Mocean Energy unveiled “Blue Core,” an offshore AI data-center concept designed to generate its own power using wave energy, offshore solar, and batteries to cut energy costs and grid delays. Clean Energy Funding: Massachusetts awarded $23M in clean-energy grants to colleges and state facilities, including heat-pump and campus decarbonization upgrades. Local Power Politics (Philippines): Senate energy chair Erwin Tulfo filed bills to exempt system loss charges from VAT and repeal energy taxes—while consumer groups say it doesn’t fully fix broader affordability problems. Oil Market Drift: Global crude prices slipped, with WTI around $81 and Brent below $87, easing near-term pressure on energy markets. Libya Power Crisis: Protesters stormed Libya’s Mellitah oil-and-gas complex, closing gas lines that feed power plants and raising blackout fears.