White House proclaims National Energy Dominance Month, 2026

Trump announces Mesabi Metallics plans for $15B steel mill in Iowa

President Donald Trump announced on Sept. 28 that Minnesota steelmaker Mesabi Metallics plans to invest $15 billion in Iowa to build what would be the largest U.S. steel mill, adding 10 million tons of annual steel production capacity and 1,750 jobs, with steel production set to begin in 2030. The company, backed by India-based Essar Group, recently opened an iron ore mine in Minnesota that will supply pellets to the Iowa mill, and has agreed to spend an additional $3 billion to complete that mine in Nashwauk, Minnesota.

USTR requests comments on EU carbon border adjustment mechanism and proposals to expand coverage

USTR published a request for comments on the effect of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and proposals to expand its coverage on U.S. trade. The notice does not state a comment deadline, the products or HTS codes covered, or an effective date.

FMC questions Cosco on late payment of reparations to ag shipper

The Federal Maritime Commission questioned Cosco over a late payment of reparations to an agricultural shipper, according to JOC. The report does not state the amount owed, the case number or the date the payment was due.

pv magazine analysis: U.S. cell fab build-out quality matters more than technology choice

In a pv magazine USA analysis, Ryan Kennedy writes that counting announced c-Si cell capacity and focusing on the technology selected by the first U.S. cell fabs misses the key issue, which he says is building high-quality, performance-leading cell factories. The article forecasts quarterly U.S. c-Si cell production through Q4 2027, with upside and downside scenarios, from the new Solar Manufacturing USA Quarterly report, and notes the analysis follows the Solar Manufacturing USA 2026 event in Austin, Texas on 22-23 September.

FMC questions Cosco on non-payment of reparations to ag shipper

The Federal Maritime Commission questioned Cosco over its non-payment of reparations to an agricultural shipper, according to a JOC report. The material provides no further detail on the amount, the shipper, the case number or any deadline.

pv magazine USA commentary: U.S. project requirements are shaping sodium-ion battery specifications

In a pv magazine USA commentary, ESS Inc. Chief Commercial Officer Randy Selesky writes that domestic content thresholds, foreign-entity-of-concern restrictions and Executive Order 14421 are driving U.S. developers to trace cell origin, cathode and anode material sourcing, cell finishing and system integration locations, and corporate ownership across the supply chain. He says sodium-ion has a structural advantage because it avoids concentrated lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese supply chains, and that UL 9540A test data at the cell, module, unit and installation levels drives deflagration venting, suppression sizing, setbacks and fire service response plans.

pv magazine analysis forecasts U.S. module production through 2027 amid Section 232 cell-import uncertainty

In a pv magazine USA analysis, Ryan Kennedy presents the Solar Manufacturing USA Quarterly report's bottom-up forecast of domestic U.S. module production to the end of 2027, tracking capex and output for more than 40 companies. The analysis says the largest swing factor is imported solar cell volumes ahead of and after Section 232 at the start of December, and that 2026 volumes remain unknown. It adds that the forecast's downside would apply if project offtake falls short of production targets or buyers push back on cells under MIP conditions.

USTR seeks public comment on 2027 joint review of USMCA

USTR announced a public consultation process in advance of the 2027 joint review of the USMCA, and states that, as directed by Congress, it is seeking public comments on the operation of the agreement. USTR will also convene a public hearing, with the date and location to be published on ustr.gov. Comments are due January 12, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. EST, and requests to appear at the hearing and summaries of testimony must be received by the same deadline.

USTR announces U.S., Mexico and Argentina statement on forced labor in supply chains

USTR states that the Trade Ministers of the United States, Mexico and Argentina agreed to issue a statement on eliminating forced labor in global supply chains on the margins of the G20 Trade Ministerial. Ambassador Jamieson Greer said he applauds his colleagues from Mexico and Argentina and called on all countries to work toward eradicating forced labor from global supply chains. The announcement does not state any product, HTS code, rate or effective date.

McKinsey report finds fragmented trade raises U.S. solar and storage costs

McKinsey & Company's Global Energy Perspective 2026 finds that under its "Fragmented Energy Order" scenario, tariffs and trade restrictions raise U.S. clean-technology costs, with battery energy storage facing the largest premium among low-carbon assets at a 40% to 50% increase in capital expenditure, driven by cathode material tariffs, critical mineral bottlenecks and supply chain localization barriers. The report says broad duties on steel and aluminum add indirect capital costs to balance-of-system components, including aluminum frames, which it puts at roughly 14% of total solar panel production costs, and steel used in ground-mounted tracking and racking.

U.S. Commerce temporary final rule restricts polysilicon stockpiling ahead of Section 232 import adjustments

The U.S. Department of Commerce issued a temporary final rule restricting stockpiling of polysilicon and its derivatives ahead of Section 232 import adjustments taking effect on Dec. 4, 2026, covering imports during the transition period from Sept. 22 to Dec. 3. The rule followed trade data showing a sharp increase in polysilicon imports after the Section 232 measures were released in early August. One market participant said the rule could curb China-origin wafers, cells and modules entering through circumvention channels involving smaller traders and companies, with limited direct impact on global polysilicon demand.

Energy Vault tracks implementation of Trump executive order restricting foreign-made bulk power components

Energy Vault Chief Revenue Officer Marco Terruzzin told Utility Dive that the energy storage company is closely following implementation of President Donald Trump's recent executive order restricting the use of foreign-made bulk power components and is assessing its impacts on a project-by-project basis as it diversifies its supply chain. The company said last week it would acquire a 2.3-GW development portfolio from Goshe Energy Storage, including 350 MW of ready-to-build capacity that could come online in early 2028, and secured up to $40 million in credit from S2G Investments to back development, construction and operation of that portfolio.

A1 SolarStore report: U.S. solar hardware market tightens as buyers race tariff deadlines

The Q2 2026 A1 Solar Index report by distributor A1 SolarStore says U.S. solar hardware inventory rose close to historic highs as importers rushed to beat incoming tariff deadlines and federal tax credit milestones, with average daily listed inventory reaching 932,000 units (491 MW), up 126% from Q1.

Toyo announces $240 million in module supply agreements ahead of Texas factory ribbon cutting

Toyo Co., Ltd. announced binding module supply agreements with multiple U.S. offtakers worth approximately $240 million, with the modules to be manufactured at its Humble, Texas facility for utility-scale, commercial and industrial, community solar and data-center projects. The company will hold a ribbon cutting on Oct. 6 for the start of work on its 1.5 GW HJT solar cell plant and full-scale operation of its co-located 2 GW module assembly facility, an event that will include a speech by U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler.

OPIS reports China and U.S. TOPCon module prices hold ahead of Section 232 minimum import prices

OPIS's Global Solar Markets Report of Sept. 22 assessed the Chinese Module Marker for TOPCon modules below 645W from China unchanged at $0.108/W FOB China, and U.S. delivered duty paid prices for TOPCon modules 645W and below unchanged at $0.290/W, with Southeast Asian cargoes at $0.277/W and Indian cargoes at $0.332/W. Section 232 minimum import prices are set to take effect Dec. 4, and OPIS reports uncertainty over whether the proclamation's "first arm's-length sale" rule would subject U.S.-assembled modules using imported cells to the $0.38/W module MIP.

White House announces $15 billion Mesabi Metallics steel mill in Iowa

The White House announced that President Trump is backing a $15 billion Mesabi Metallics steel mill in Iowa, which will produce 7.5 million tons of steel per year in its first phase, rising to about ten million tons, using iron ore from the company's newly opened Minnesota mine. The release says the project will create 1,750 permanent Iowa jobs and support up to 6,000 construction jobs, and states that the administration reversed prior policies that had blocked mining projects, including the 2016 denial and 2022 cancellation of federal lease renewals for a northern Minnesota copper-nickel mine and a 20-year mining ban across 225,504 acres of the Superior National Forest.

White House cites Section 232 tariffs on wood products in North Carolina record release

A White House release states that President Trump imposed Section 232 tariffs on imported wood products, including 25% on upholstered wooden furniture, 25% on kitchen cabinets and vanities, and 10% on softwood timber and lumber. The release does not give an effective date, HTS or Chapter 99 codes, or the countries covered. The rest of the document covers crime statistics, tax provisions and announced investment figures for North Carolina.