It's an exciting day here in Washington. The House returns to DC for a vote that could, finally, end the government shutdown.

And it's another day, another coal plant that's needed to keep the lights on. Earlier this week, Xcel Energy joined the Colorado Energy Office to file a petition asking state utility regulators to extend the lifespan of the Comanche 2 coal power plant, which is currently scheduled to cease operations by Dec. 31. The coalition wants to keep the plant online through 2026.

Finally, looking abroad, the International Energy Agency warned in its annual World Energy Outlook that China's control of the minerals supply chain creates "vulnerabilities" for the rest of the world. In its press release, the IEA said, quote, "A single country is the dominant refiner for 19 out of 20 energy-related strategic minerals, with an average market share of around 70 percent. Geographic concentration in refining has increased for nearly all key energy minerals since 2020, and particularly for nickel and cobalt." It called for "stronger action by governments" to boost mineral supply.