The Energy Information Administration said yesterday that U.S. power plants originally scheduled to be retired in 2026 could stay online longer, following last year, when electricity use and prices hit record levels across the U.S. In 2025, only 4.6 gigawatts of electric-generating capacity retired, which is the lowest since 2008, and half of what was scheduled to be retired. Concerns about power shortages were the rationale for keeping those plants online and, given that concerns have not gone away since, one would expect that trend to continue.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management yesterday proposed new regulations governing deep-sea mining. The revisions expedite production of minerals tied to national security, economic competitiveness and technology. The 60-day public comment period kicks off today, concluding on April 27.

And while most market watchers focused, with good reason, on gold, silver, and copper, there are other metals that are surging but gaining far less attention. Tungsten prices have climbed 500% over the past year, as the market faces a supply crunch with global inventories extremely low.