The EPA will this afternoon release a draft rule to repeal the endangerment finding, the finding that is the basis for the EPA's rules regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The draft rule will be released jointly with the proposed reversal of tailpipe emissions rules for light-, medium- and heavy-duty cars and trucks. While today's announcement focuses on the auto industry, there are implications for regulations on power plants and gas wells, so a wide range of industries will be watching this afternoon's announcement. If you haven't noticed, it's hot outside. And with that heat, several grids across the country have already surpassed their anticipated maximum summer demand levels. PJM Interconnection, a grid operator that moves electricity across 13 states and the District of Columbia, and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator have issued warnings several times this week. And the Electric Reliability Council of Texas expects demand to approach record levels. So far, each grid has been able to keep the lights on but it's a stark reminder of the importance of reliable, dispatchable power that can ramp up when needed. And in the latest trade deal, the European Commission has agreed to buy $750 billion in American energy products, among other commitments, in return for securing a 15% percent tariff on most E.U. goods sold in the U.S. As analysts dig into the deal, some are questioning whether U.S. companies can ramp up production quickly enough to export that much. That's your mining minute for this morning, highlighting some of the mining-related matters that are on our minds here in Washington and beyond. Follow us on the National Mining Association's channels, as well as on Minerals Make Life and Count on Coal, for more on the latest news and policies impacting mining.
