The latest National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision from the House that delays the phaseout of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The legislation allows the Defense Department to purchase the foam through 2026 and use it through 2028 with waivers.

The US Supreme Court's conservative majority signaled it is likely to back President Donald Trump's removal of Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter, positioning the court to weaken or overturn Humphrey's Executor, the 1935 precedent limiting presidential authority over independent agencies. Justices pressed the government on the implications for bodies such as the Federal Reserve, although several suggested the ruling could be narrowly tailored, while the liberal wing warned that dismantling the precedent could ripple across the administrative state.

Reducing emissions in the polyurethane value chain is a priority for Dow and it is working closely with downstream partners to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices that will, in turn, help customers curb Scope 3 emissions. "Since circularity is such a new animal to everybody, we see that value chains will be shifting quite tremendously over the next 10-15 years," said Dow's Marcel Moeller.

Over its first five years, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste has reported significant achievements, including the reduction of nearly 240,000 metric tons of unmanaged plastic and the mobilization of over $610 million in funding commitments. It is working toward Strategy 30, a new initiative that focuses on thematic programs and partnerships to address global recycling challenges and meet country-specific targets.

PPG Industries is focusing on complex coating markets such as automobiles, cargo ships and industrial equipment to stay ahead in the competitive coatings industry. The company's flagship research and development site in Allison Park, Pa., plays a crucial role in its strategy, emphasizing chemistry and materials science.

NextEra Energy and Alphabet's Google Cloud have announced an expanded partnership to build new large-scale US data center hubs paired with dedicated power generation. The utility expects to bring online at least 15 gigawatts of capacity for data centers by 2035, including gas-fired plants with carbon capture developed jointly with ExxonMobil.

US Lower 48 horizontal rig count will dip below 500 next year as macro pressures and sub-$60 per barrel oil curb oil-directed drilling, though efficiency gains have softened the production impact of fewer rigs, according to Wood Mackenzie. An expected slowdown in activity is expected to moderately lower drilling, completion and tariff costs, allowing most assets to meet capital needs even at $60 Brent. The consultancy also expects liquids production to fall year over year and natural gas-focused plays to expand amid growing demand from new LNG facilities and power markets.