<p><strong>WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY:</strong> Good afternoon and happy Thursday, readers! This year’s DC Jazz Fest is taking place this week through Sunday, featuring dozens of jazz artists at the Wharf.</p>
<ul> <li>A bleary-eyed Callie is back in Washington after her trip to Venezuela with Energy Secretary <strong>Chris Wright</strong>. Below are details on discussions and comments from officials that occurred during the visit.</li> </ul>
<p><em>Welcome to</em> <em>Daily on Energy, written by</em> Washington Examiner <em>energy and environment writers</em> <strong><em>Callie Patteson</em></strong> <em>and</em> <strong><em>Maydeen Merino</em></strong>.</p>
<h2>CHRONICLES FROM CARACAS:</h2>
<p>Energy Secretary <strong>Chris Wright</strong> traveled to Caracas, Venezuela, for the signing of agreements with energy companies aimed at expanding oil production and improving the country’s electrical grid.</p>
<p><strong>The deal with the U.S. government was a focal point:</strong> While the trip emphasized agreements with private companies, there were numerous inquiries regarding President <strong>Donald Trump</strong>’s arrangement to secure 65 billion barrels of crude reserves.</p>
<p>The deal involves the U.S. government acquiring a 35% equity stake in North American Blue Energy Partners, a private oil and gas exploration company led by businessman <strong>Alejandro Betancourt</strong>.</p>
<p>Betancourt, who faces accusations of money laundering, was not present at the signing ceremony. However, Wright later indicated that Betancourt attended a high-level lunch meeting.</p>
<p>Following the lunch, Wright and acting president <strong>Delcy Rodriguez</strong> held a press conference at the Miraflores Palace, where they expressed support for Betancourt.</p>
<p>“In business, when you pick a partner, it’s not about who says the right thing,” Wright stated. “It’s who’s demonstrated their ability to deliver. NABEP has demonstrated a highly successful track record of producing large volumes of oil in Venezuela.”</p>
<p>Rodriguez criticized media coverage of Betancourt, stating, “Many times a person can be judged by the media before it gets to court.”</p>
<p>Betancourt has been described as a “Bolichico,” referring to businessmen who gained wealth through government contracts during the administrations of <strong>Hugo Chavez</strong> and <strong>Nicolas Maduro</strong>.</p>
<p>He has faced criticism for securing contracts without competitive bidding to build power plants during the Chavez era following a power crisis in the late 2000s.</p>
<p><strong>Rebuilding Venezuela’s electrical grid:</strong> One of the agreements signed was with GE Vernova, which plans to enhance the Venezuelan electrical grid, currently experiencing daily outages of up to eight hours.</p>
<p>Wright mentioned that there is a five-year plan to address these power outages, with efforts to repair and improve existing infrastructure within the next 12 months.</p>
<p>The Department of Energy reported that GE Vernova aims to add an additional gigawatt of power to the local grid in the first 24 months, with another five gigawatts planned over the following four years.</p>
<p><strong>Refilling U.S. crude reserves:</strong> On the return flight to Washington, Callie spoke with Wright about how increased imports of Venezuelan crude will be utilized in the U.S.</p>
<p>Trump has promoted the 65 million barrel reserve deal as a means to lower gasoline prices and replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). However, experts have noted that the SPR facilities are not designed to hold heavy Venezuelan crude.</p>
<p>Wright clarified that the facilities primarily accommodate “medium grade crudes.”</p>
<p>“We hold a little bit of the very light crude we produce from shale…and we want to keep some variety of crude in [the SPR], but it’ll be medium grades,” Wright explained. “It won’t be the ultra-heavy Venezuelan crude.”</p>
<p>Wright added that the crude would go directly to U.S. refineries, which would then sell the refined product to companies holding light and medium grades. This process would allow for a swap of heavy crude for barrels suitable for storage in the SPR.</p>
<p>Callie will provide more insights from her interview with Wright in the near future.</p>
<hr />
<h2>All the rest</h2>
<p><strong>VENEZUELA’S OPPOSITION LEADER QUESTIONS U.S. DEAL:</strong> <strong>Maria Corina Machado</strong>, the leader of the Venezuelan democratic opposition, expressed support for the Trump administration’s involvement in increasing crude oil production in Venezuela but raised questions about the recent deal.</p>
<p>In a video shared on social media, Machado referred to the U.S. as the “principal partner” needed for Venezuela’s development.</p>
<p>“It reflects the values our two countries share and it is something I have defended throughout my life,” she stated.</p>
<p>However, Machado emphasized the need for clarity regarding the deal with NABEP, stating, “We still do not know the true scope of this agreement.”</p>
<p>She did not criticize the Trump administration but directed her concerns towards Rodriguez, asserting that Venezuelan oil wealth “does not belong to an illegitimate regime.”</p>
<p>Machado is advocating for more transparent bidding processes moving forward.</p>
<p><strong>JUDGE BLOCKS EPA EFFORT TO SEND CALIFORNIA EMISSION WAIVERS TO CONGRESS FOR REPEAL:</strong> A judge in Washington blocked the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to repeal California’s emission standards waivers.</p>
<p><strong>Some background:</strong> The EPA reclassified three California emission rules waivers, making them subject to the Congressional Review Act. These waivers allowed California to set stringent emission standards for various vehicles and equipment.</p>
<p>The court stated that the EPA’s reclassification of prior waivers as “rules” is problematic.</p>
<p><strong>THUNE SAYS DATA CENTERS SHOULD BE ‘SELF-SUFFICIENT’:</strong> Senate Majority Leader <strong>John Thune</strong> stated that data centers should be responsible for their own energy needs.</p>
<p>“They ought to be able to take care of their own utilities, their own power,” he added.</p>
<p><strong>ICYMI – CONSERVATIONISTS ASK COURT TO REOPEN CASE AGAINST TRUMP’S NATIONAL MONUMENT REDUCTIONS:</strong> The Conservation Lands Foundation and co-plaintiffs have requested a federal court to reopen their lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s reduction of two national monuments in Utah.</p>
<p><strong>Some background:</strong> In 2017, the plaintiffs filed a case against the Trump administration for reducing the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.</p>
<p><strong>The argument:</strong> The conservationists argue that the Antiquities Act allows the president to create national monuments but not to reduce them.</p>
<p><strong>RUNDOWN</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/epa-data-centers-ai-public-comment-states-947eb927ae81162ad4cc3e828915c804">The Associated Press</a> EPA proposal could leave the public in the dark on data center plans</p>
<p><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/03/trump-equity-stakes-companies-democrats-01062675">Politico</a> Why Trump’s ‘golden shares’ are enticing progressives</p>
<p><a href="https://www.latitudemedia.com/news/catalyst-what-comes-after-the-data-center-backlash/">Latitude Media</a> What comes after the data center backlash?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/big-oils-new-playbook-how-bps-us-refinery-lockout-signals-shift-corporate-labor-2026-09-03/">Reuters</a> Big Oil’s new playbook: How BP’s US refinery lockout signals a shift in corporate labor battles</p>