Standard Lithium and Equinor's joint venture, SWA Lithium, has been selected for award negotiations by the U.S. Department of Energy, potentially securing up to $225 million for their lithium extraction project in South West Arkansas. The project, designed to produce battery-quality lithium carbonate using direct lithium extraction technology, aims to enhance domestic production of lithium in the U.S. by utilizing a more efficient method of lithium extraction. Additionally, Woodland Biofuels plans to invest $1.35 billion in a renewable natural gas plant and green hydrogen facility at the Port of South Louisiana, contributing to sustainable biofuel production and carbon reduction. Meanwhile, Shell is collaborating with Advanced Ionics to test water vapor electrolyzer technology for hydrogen production, with the aim of reducing costs and increasing sustainability in the renewable energy sector.