NIF scientists readily acknowledge that the facility was not designed with commercial fusion energy in mind—and many researchers doubt that laser-driven fusion will be the approach that ultimately yields fusion energy.

The programs, funded with $3.7 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help accelerate private-sector investment, spur advancements in monitoring and reporting practices for carbon management technologies, and provide grants to state and local governments to procure and use products developed from captured carbon emissions.

Brent rose $1.33, or 1.7%, to $79.32 per barrel, WTI gained $1.15, or 1.6%, to $74.32.

Export loadings of Russian crude averaged 3.02 million b/d in the week ending Dec. 11, little changed from the week before and in line with the November average of 3.07 million b/d

Despite Russia slashing gas deliveries this year, Europe has averted a severe shortage and started the winter with brimming gas storage tanks

Countries led by Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark are calling for a cautious approach, while a group including Belgium, Italy, Greece and Poland is pushing for a more aggressive tool to contain gas prices.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Loan Programs Office (LPO), today announced the closing of a $2.5 billion loan to Ultium Cells LLC to help finance the construction of new lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Tennessee, and Michigan.

NNL said it has been working on this endeavor since 2009, when its researchers first discovered that americium-241, an alternative to Pu-238, is produced during the radioactive decay of used fuel from nuclear reactors and that it emits power for more than 400 years.

Brent were down 38 cents, or 0.4%, at $75.72 a barrel, WTI was at $70.76 a barrel, down 26 cents, or 0.3%.

The Arctic weather is the first real test of Europe’s resiliency this season as it faces a historic energy crisis, with Russia curbing gas supplies to the region.