WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Energy rolled out a trio of major actions last week, awarding new crude oil contracts to replenish the nation’s emergency stockpile, issuing fresh emergency authorities to stabilize Puerto Rico’s fragile grid, and launching hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to rebuild the country’s critical minerals supply chain.
The moves reflect President Donald J. Trump’s push to restore U.S. energy strength after years of depleted reserves, strained infrastructure, and heavy dependence on foreign suppliers.
DOE Awards Contracts to Refill Strategic Petroleum Reserve
On Nov. 12, the department announced contracts to acquire roughly one million barrels of crude oil for delivery to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve beginning in December and continuing into January. The shipments will go to the Bryan Mound site, one of four underground salt-dome facilities comprising the SPR.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the purchase marks another step in fulfilling Trump’s pledge to rebuild America’s emergency reserves, which were left at their lowest levels in decades after a 180-million-barrel drawdown in 2022.
“President Trump promised to protect America’s energy security by refilling and managing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve more responsibly,” Wright said. “These actions strengthen our energy security and reverse the costly and irresponsible energy policies of the last administration.”
The SPR currently holds just over 400 million barrels, far below its full 700-million-barrel capacity. DOE received 18 offers from six companies and selected bids that met all quality and pricing requirements.
Puerto Rico Grid Emergency Orders Renewed Amid Rising Demand
Also on Nov. 12, the department renewed two emergency orders to help Puerto Rico maintain generation capacity and reduce the risk of island-wide outages during peak demand and severe weather.
The orders allow the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority to operate key units needed to stabilize the grid while accelerating vegetation management along high-voltage transmission corridors — a persistent source of failures during storms.
“Modernizing Puerto Rico’s energy grid is essential to achieving long-term reliability and affordability,” Wright said.
The orders build on federal actions earlier this year that helped restore about 820 megawatts of baseload generation capacity. Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón said the emergency authorities have delivered “concrete benefits” and allowed the island to recover 1,200 megawatts in recent months.
The renewed directives take effect Nov. 13 and remain in place through Feb. 10, 2026.
$355 Million to Boost Domestic Mining and Critical-Minerals Production
Rounding out a sweeping week of announcements, the department on Nov. 14 unveiled $355 million in new funding opportunities to revive domestic mining, processing, and recovery of critical minerals — materials essential to energy production, defense systems, electric vehicles, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.
The first initiative offers up to $275 million for pilot-scale facilities capable of extracting valuable minerals from coal-based feedstocks or industrial waste streams. The second provides up to $80 million for “Mine of the Future” proving grounds, where next-generation mining technologies can undergo field testing.
“For too long, the United States has relied on foreign nations for the minerals and materials that power our economy,” Wright said. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are reversing that trend.”
Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Kyle Haustveit said the proving-ground effort will mark the department’s most significant mining-technology investment in nearly 40 years.
Both funding programs support Trump’s broader agenda to expand domestic mineral production and reduce reliance on global supply chains vulnerable to geopolitical disruption.
Applications for both opportunities are due Dec. 15.
As DOE juggles rebuilding the SPR, stabilizing territorial energy systems, and restarting the nation’s mining base, Wright said the department’s mission is clear: “We are restoring American energy independence and prioritizing resilience across every sector.”
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