Welcome to our third issue of Currents 2025. Again, thank you for reading!
Power Plays and Fueling Tension: Trade War Ripples Through North American Energy Markets -
President Trump's pursuit of U.S. energy dominance,...more
3/21/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Carbon Emissions ,
China ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Data Centers ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Power Plants ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Technology Sector ,
Trade Relations
Welcome to the Tenth Issue of Currents 2024, our energy e-newsletter.
Natural Gas is Not Going Away -
While net-zero remains a dream for many, the electricity market is providing a wake-up call for anyone believing...more
10/18/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Charging Stations ,
Clean Air Act ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Microsoft ,
Natural Gas ,
North Carolina ,
Nuclear Power ,
Offshore Wind ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Grid ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Utilities Sector ,
Wind Farm
Record U.S. Oil Production and the Potential Impacts -
Domestic oil production in the U.S. reached a new record in November 2023, hitting 13.31 million barrels per day, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information...more
3/21/2024
/ China ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
What is the Hydrogen Hubbub?
Hydrogen is seen by many as the fuel of the future, a substance that can provide heat through combustion, or electrical power from fuel cells, emitting only water in the process. Its potential...more
8/17/2023
/ China ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Exports ,
FERC ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Power Plants ,
Steel Industry ,
Transmission Grid
Domestic Nuclear Power Advancement: Barriers to Entry and the Need for a National Strategy -
As previously reported on this site, nuclear generation development has taken hold as a potential promise for a long-term,...more
7/20/2023
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Clean Power Plan ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Green Infrastructure ,
Italy ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Natural Gas ,
Norway ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
Solar Energy
Balancing Reliability, Affordability, and Renewability in the Energy Transition -
Throughout the United States and globally there is an undisputed trend towards renewable energy as much of the world seeks to decarbonize in...more
An Uncertain Future for Nuclear Generation -
As countries and companies around the world set goals for renewable energy targets, there is constant uncertainty as to the best path for reaching these goals. While wind and...more
5/11/2023
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Chevron Deference ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Green Energy ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
NOAA ,
Real Estate Development ,
Renewable Energy
The Cost of "Electrification"
“Electrification” has become a ubiquitous term these days, although depending on who you ask, it might have different meanings. However defined, a critical component of electrification as a...more
4/25/2023
/ Biomass ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Exports ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Natural Gas ,
North Carolina ,
Nuclear Power ,
Plant Closures ,
Power Grid ,
Power Plants ,
Price Transparency ,
Renewable Energy ,
Renewable Fuel ,
Russia ,
Small Business ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
Texas ,
Ukraine ,
Utilities Sector ,
Virginia ,
Washington ,
Wind Power
Biden Races to Meet 2035 Climate Goal -
“He didn’t provide new details of how the U.S. electric grid could be carbon-free by 2035, a top goal for the administration.”
Why this is important: The Biden administration...more
3/10/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
China ,
Electricity ,
Energy Commissions ,
Energy Sector ,
Natural Gas ,
New Legislation ,
Power Grid ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
Solar Energy
Report Claims ESG-focused US Shale Producers Perform Better Over Time -
“'It is clear that ESG performance impacts investor appetite, even though ESG scores have not been the lead indicator of stock growth during the...more
Cap and Trade Gets a Big Win in Pennsylvania. Will It Last?
"Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced that his administration had finalized a regulation to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade...more
Gas Gap in Europe Drives U.S. LNG Exports to Record High -
"About half of the record U.S. LNG volumes shipped last month went to Europe, up from 37% earlier in 2021."
Why this is important: The onset of a challenging...more
1/14/2022
/ Coal Industry ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Exports ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas
FERC Warned Renewables Planning Can Strand Grid Assets -
"But at a FERC technical conference, others highlighted a potential risk for overbuilding and the cost it could incur for consumers."
Why this is important: It's...more
12/2/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
FERC ,
Natural Gas ,
NERC ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy
German Regulator Puts Brake on Nord Stream 2 in Fresh Blow to Gas Pipeline -
"First flows through the pipeline look very unlikely in the first half of 2022, he added."
Why this is important: It is estimated that Russia...more
11/18/2021
/ Coal Industry ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Russia Chooses Not to Raise Natural Gas Supplies to Europe Despite Putin’s Pledge to Help -
"Highly anticipated auction results showed Russia’s state gas giant Gazprom had not booked additional gas transit capacity for...more
11/4/2021
/ Abandoned Property ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal ,
Coal Mines ,
Energy Sector ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Coal Power to Increase for First Time Since 2014, US Says -
"The amount of electricity produced by coal plants is expected to tick up 22% in 2021, reversing coal’s six-year downward trend."
Why this is important: For...more
10/21/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy
Ford Building Massive Electric Vehicle and Battery Plants with $11.4 Billion Investment
"Automaker says production hubs will bring 11,000 jobs to Tennessee and Kentucky."
Why this is important: Ford Motor Company and...more
China Risks Winter Energy Crunch -
"China is at risk of the same energy-crunch chaos seen in Europe, with a state-run newspaper warning that coal-fired power plants will struggle to keep the lights on this winter."...more
9/23/2021
/ China ,
Coal ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Coking Coal ,
Cybersecurity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Natural Gas ,
NPDES ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Utilities Sector
How a Colorado Coal Plant Could Become a Massive Battery for Renewable Energy -
"If the idea works, it could be a case study for other communities trying to preserve jobs and property taxes as the world shifts to cleaner...more
9/9/2021
/ Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Coking Coal ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tesla
Gas Stations Run Dry as Pipeline Races to Recover From Hacking -
"Gas stations along the U.S. East Coast are beginning to run out of fuel as North America’s biggest petroleum pipeline races to recover from a paralyzing...more
5/14/2021
/ Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal Mines ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
CPUC ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
FERC ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Shot Heard Across Texas: San Antonio Gets a Temporary Restraining Order Against ERCOT -
"CPS Energy, the municipal electric utility serving San Antonio and the surrounding area, has won the first skirmish against the...more
5/12/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Renewable Energy
WV Legislature Adopts Compromise Amendment to Natural Gas Property Tax Bill -
"HB 2581 would provide a revised methodology to value oil and natural gas properties by the State Tax Commissioner in response to a West...more
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 11 of Currents. As we begin a new month. I'll remind everyone that we are continually looking to write about different topics...
In Shift, Oil Industry Group Backs Federal Price on Carbon -...more
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Floats Natural Gas Tax to Pay for $3 Billion Pandemic Recovery Plan -
"Long a proponent of an extraction tax, Wolf said it could pay for improvements to workforce training and support, remove...more
Renewables to Dominate New U.S. Power Capacity in 2021 -
"Renewable energy, mostly solar and wind, are set to account for more than two-thirds of the new electricity generation capacity that the United States will...more