The Driller

📢 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

🚨 EPA Nominee Backs State-Led Water Oversight 🚨 Jessica Kramer, nominee for EPA’s Office of Water, told the Senate she supports cooperative federalism—letting states lead on programs like the UIC Well Program. 💧 She also called PFAS progress “incremental” and pledged to cut red tape without weakening standards. ⚖️🧪 📺 Full hearing recap: https://lnkd.in/gGH8_zUx #EPA #WaterPolicy #PFAS #CleanWater #EnvironmentalProtection #InfrastructureLaw

🎧 In Episode 146 of The Driller Newscast, host Brock Yordy sits down with NY-GEO Executive Director Christine Hoffer to preview the 2024 #NYGEO Conference. From field demos to future-shaping discussions, this is a must-listen for anyone in the #DrillingIndustry, #CleanEnergy, and #GeothermalDrilling space. 🎙️ 👉 Listen now and stay ahead of the curve. https://lnkd.in/gAJJYCYy #DrillLife #GroundSourceHeatPumps #GeothermalEnergy #SustainableDrilling #DrillersUnite #EnergyTransition #FutureOfDrilling

🔥⛰️ From ground-source heat pumps to grid-ready #geothermal, Colorado is cooking up a sustainable future. One standout? Pueblo, Colorado is getting $270K to bring #netzero fire stations to neighborhoods 🚒 These stations will slash emissions, cut response times, AND save #taxpayers $28K a year. That’s a hot win for #climate and community—and a rare moment where your tax dollars aren’t just disappearing into a mysterious #government vortex. 🌀💸 The Driller's editor dug into the project—no hard hat required. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/g8WpW6rH

🚨 #SCOTUS to EPA: Set Clear Pollution Limits 🚨 In a major March 2025 ruling, the Supreme Court said the EPA can’t hold water treatment facilities liable for pollution unless it clearly defines the pollutant limits in their permits. Read all about it: https://lnkd.in/dufGPZeK

It’s not just a job—it’s a test of resilience, grit, and raw experience. From -20°F winters in Colorado to the roaring steam fields of Northern California, drillers face some of the toughest conditions on Earth. We sat down with two seasoned pros—Michael LeTourneau and Tad Thornton—to get the real stories behind the rigs. They opened up about: 🔧 The wildest jobs they’ve tackled ⚙️ How tech is changing the game 💪 What it really takes to make it in drilling today "Technology makes it safer and faster," says Thornton, "but when stuff hits the fan, you fix it—not the computer." https://lnkd.in/g4QrxVwr