The Driller

🌍🔥 The Future of Clean Energy Starts Here! 🔥🌍 In the latest episode of The Driller Newscast, host Brock Yordy dives deep with John Ciovacco, president of Aztech Geothermal and co-chair of the 2025 NY-GEO Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. Get the inside scoop on: 🔹 Earth Day drilling demos with BOCES students 🔹 Keynotes from top regulators in NY & MA 🔹 A must-hear panel on IRA tax credits & geothermal policy Discover how New York is leading the charge in clean heating & cooling—and why this event is a can’t-miss for anyone in the geothermal space. 🌱💡 🎧 Listen now and get inspired: https://lnkd.in/g3jCBH_b #Geothermal #CleanEnergy #NYGEO2025 #Sustainability #TheDrillerNewscast

U.S. Mineral Independence: Urgent Need or Strategic Overreach? This week, Liberty Star Minerals Chairman Pete O’Heeron took to Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to boost domestic critical mineral production — vital for EVs, clean energy, and defense. 🗣 “We can’t rely on foreign nations for the materials that power our economy and protect our nation,” he said after meetings with top Congressional offices. Liberty Star’s Hay Mountain Project in AZ is part of the solution — but questions remain: ✅ Can we scale fast enough? ❌ What about environmental and community impacts? The debate is heating up — and so is the demand for answers. #CriticalMinerals #USMining #CleanEnergy #NationalSecurity #MineralPolicy #EnergyTransition https://lnkd.in/gycDVagE

⚖️ Tension is rising over new PFAS testing rules in Michigan — and it’s putting a pause on key dredging projects across the state’s harbors. EGLE, Michigan’s environmental agency, now requires testing for PFAS in dredged sediment, citing serious public health risks. But without clear guidelines on what levels are acceptable or how to dispose of contaminated material, dredging has stalled — including in Grand Haven, with 17+ other sites possibly next. Federal officials, local leaders, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are worried about the economic fallout: fewer dredging projects, disrupted shipping routes, and rising costs for businesses. Still, others argue this is a necessary step to protect long-term public and environmental health from “forever chemicals.” EGLE says it’s committed to finding a workable path forward with federal partners. https://lnkd.in/g8uKWPYv #PFAS #GreatLakes #MichiganPolicy #Dredging #EnvironmentalRegulations #ShippingImpact

🏔️ #Colorado continues its geothermal push: “Geothermal energy—the heat beneath our feet—is a clean energy option that will help save Coloradans money and protect our state for future generations,” said Governor Jared #Polis. “I am thrilled to announce this $14.4 million investment to advance #geothermal energy across our state.” Read all about it here: https://lnkd.in/g2T3RX4N

🚨 EPA nominee Jessica Kramer pledges faster rules, stable staffing & state-led water policy. But when pressed on her vague promise of a “stable pendulum,” she stayed silent. PFAS rules, funding speed, and workforce issues all on her radar. "Listening sessions" coming soon. 💧👀 #EPA #WaterPolicy #PFAS #CleanWater https://lnkd.in/gMuqadwp

📢 Policy Alert: The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced a major shift in national energy strategy—rolling out new policies aimed at boosting domestic energy production and reviving the coal industry. This includes reopening federal lands to coal leasing, easing regulatory oversight, and offering royalty relief to operators. The move positions coal as a renewed pillar of U.S. energy policy, with far-reaching implications for energy security, rural economies, and the future of federal resource management. #EnergyPolicy #CoalIndustry #EnergySecurity #PublicLands #MiningUpdates #USInterior #DomesticEnergy https://lnkd.in/dTYc33ev

🚱 The EPA might weaken PFAS limits — toxic “forever chemicals” tied to cancer and heart disease. Right now, the cap is 4 ppt. That could change this week, risking water safety for millions. Clean water isn’t a luxury. It’s a right. #PFAS #EPA #SafeWater https://lnkd.in/gkv8kquN

🚰 The U.S. Conference of Mayors is urging the #EPA to delay new drinking water regulations, citing soaring costs and #President Trump’s 2025 Regulatory Freeze order. Concerns include: 💸 $100B+ cost to replace lead pipes (LCRI) ⚠️ Strict #PFAS limits based on “detection levels” 🧪 Lack of scientific review + risk of Superfund liability for cities Local leaders say these rules could hurt water affordability without clear health benefits. 📢 Should these rules be delayed or pushed forward? https://lnkd.in/gwj6xiK7

💧 Flint’s lessons are not just history—they’re a warning. Nearly 10 years after the Flint Water Crisis, former EPA coordinator Anthony Ross is expanding a national training program to help prevent future drinking water disasters. Through Environmental & Public Health International (EPHI), Ross is turning real-world lessons into action—equipping water professionals with tools to protect public health and avoid systemic failures. 🛠️ Training includes: ✅ Flint case studies ✅ Crisis recovery strategies ✅ Regulatory gap analysis Supported by leading global water organizations, EPHI is helping build a safer, more resilient future—one community at a time. #WaterSafety #Infrastructure #PublicHealth #FlintWaterCrisis #EnvironmentalJustice #EPHI #WaterProfessionals #DrinkingWater https://lnkd.in/ggmA4cmy

🚨 Idaho Copper's CuMo Project Gets Federal Green Light The U.S. Forest Service has approved exploration drilling for the CuMo Project in Boise County, marking a key step for one of North America's largest undeveloped copper-molybdenum deposits. 👉 Supporters say it's a win for domestic critical minerals. ⚠️ Critics warn of risks to the Boise River watershed. Exploration only—for now. Mining would require years of review and public input. #Mining #Copper #CriticalMinerals #Idaho #Environment #CuMoProject #USFS #CleanEnergy #NaturalResources https://lnkd.in/gXHe3SDt