As we previewed yesterday, President Trump hosted members of the coal industry at the White House where he received an award from the Washington Coal Club, signed an executive order directing the Department of War to buy electricity from coal plants, and announced funding for coal plant upgrades.

Nickel prices are up again today after Indonesia ordered the world's largest nickel mine to cut output. It's a move aimed at tightening global supply and lifting prices.

Finally, on Capitol Hill, the House approved the "Securing America's Critical Minerals Supply Act," which defines all energy sector minerals that are vulnerable to supply chain disruptions as "critical energy resources," and directs DOE to study way to secure those supply chains. Also in the House, the House Natural Resources Committee approved an amended version of the "Critical Mineral Consistency Act," which is meant to align the USGS list of critical minerals with the Department of Energy's list.