MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, May 19, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Occidental, UAE’s ADNOC to explore JV to develop South Texas direct air capture hub; As the federal government abandons the climate fantasy, New York doubles down; NATIONAL: Natural gas retreats amid repeated substantial injections, EBW analyst says; DOE cuts off $89 million Harvard grant amid stand-off with Trump; Trump can end the World Bank’s climate hypocrisy; Mile high Marxist Bernie Sanders proves there is no climate emergency; Wasting away in wind-and-solarville; INTERNATIONAL: OPEC+ did not lift production to kill the oil price, SEB says; China fossil fuels production retreats from record levels.

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

Occidental, UAE’s ADNOC to explore JV to develop South Texas direct air capture hub
Seeking Alpha
Occidental Petroleum and its subsidiary 1PointFive have partnered with ADNOC to explore a joint venture for a direct air capture (DAC) facility in South Texas, capable of capturing 500,000 metric tons of CO2 annually, with ADNOC potentially investing up to $500 million. This agreement builds on a 2023 memorandum of understanding between Occidental and ADNOC to collaborate on carbon capture, utilization, and storage projects in the U.S. and UAE. The announcement aligns with Occidental’s progress on its STRATOS DAC facility in West Texas, set to begin operations in 2025, and a $650 million U.S. Department of Energy award for the South Texas DAC Hub. Additionally, Occidental and ADNOC signed a collaboration agreement to expand the Shah gas field’s production capacity in the UAE from 1.45 billion to 1.85 billion cubic feet per day and to deploy advanced technologies, with Occidental holding a 40% interest in the field until 2041. [MDN: What a gargantuan waste of time and money. Imagine a giant vacuum cleaner to pull CO2 (the stuff you breathe out with every breath) from the air. It’s STUPID.]

As the federal government abandons the climate fantasy, New York doubles down
Manhattan Contrarian
In the first 113 days of the second Trump administration, federal climate and energy policies have been dramatically reversed, dismantling Biden-era regulations and subsidies aimed at reducing hydrocarbon fuel use. The Department of Energy announced 47 regulatory rollbacks affecting appliances, while hundreds of grants for “green energy” and “climate justice” initiatives were rescinded by both the DOE and EPA. The EPA also began undoing the Endangerment Finding, a cornerstone of climate regulation. These changes have left blue states like New York, which anticipated federal support for their energy transitions, without financial backing. Despite this, New York persists with its climate agenda, enacting a 2025-26 budget with over $1 billion for decarbonization, including investments in building emissions reductions and electric transportation. Local leaders like Comptroller Brad Lander and climate activists remain defiant, pursuing aggressive emissions goals despite federal opposition, but lack a clear plan to meet mandates like the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act without federal support or offshore wind development. [MDN: It’s breathtaking to watch entire states like NY implode from the stupidity of our political leaders and the environmental left. NY is heading for bankruptcy, fast.]

NATIONAL

Natural gas retreats amid repeated substantial injections, EBW analyst says
Rigzone
According to an EBW Analytics Group report, natural gas prices are declining due to significant storage injections, with the EIA reporting a 110 billion cubic foot increase for the week ending May 9, 2025, bringing total working gas to 2,255 billion cubic feet—57 billion above the five-year average but 375 billion below last year. Analyst Eli Rubin notes that this third consecutive triple-digit injection, coupled with a 36.5¢ sell-off in the 2025 injection season strip, is dampening market enthusiasm despite earlier bullish sentiment following an April sell-off. Near-term cooling degree days are softening expectations for a hot summer, though late-season heating demand in the Upper Midwest may support spot demand. Subdued supply and maintenance at LNG facilities like Corpus Christi and Cameron add pressure, while the June natural gas contract tests lows at $3.454. Despite a promising long-term outlook, large injections may persist into June, challenging bullish market impulses. [MDN: Don’t get wrapped around the axle of daily ups and downs in the price. Look for the longer-term trend.]

DOE cuts off $89 million Harvard grant amid stand-off with Trump
Rigzone
Harvard University has lost an additional $89 million in federal funding from the Department of Energy (DOE), following accusations from the Trump administration of inaction against anti-Israeli bias and antisemitism on campus. This cut comes after a $2.2 billion freeze in multi-year grants and $60 million in contracts by the Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, alongside a $450 million termination of grants from eight government agencies. The DOE cited Harvard’s alleged race discrimination in admissions and student life, as well as its failure to address harassment of Jewish students, which has disrupted campus operations. A Harvard study acknowledged politicized instruction normalizing antisemitism, prompting the DOE to deem continued funding inconsistent with its mission, saving $7 million. Harvard President Alan Garber defended the university’s commitment to academic freedom, merit-based admissions, and combating discrimination, vowing to resist federal overreach through legal action while refining policies to ensure compliance and foster civil discourse. [MDN: Good! These anti Semitic, left-wing brainwashing institutions should NOT be using taxpayer money, period. Defund all of them!]

Trump can end the World Bank’s climate hypocrisy
Wall Street Journal
The article by Bjorn Lomborg criticizes wealthy Western nations and their development banks, particularly the World Bank, for pushing African countries toward renewable energy like solar and wind while relying heavily on fossil fuels themselves. It highlights the stark energy disparity, noting that 1.2 billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) consume less electricity than Florida’s 23 million, with access to just half a kilowatt-hour per day compared to 40 times more in rich nations. The World Bank’s shift to 45% climate-focused funding has limited fossil-fuel projects critical for reliable, affordable energy in Africa, where renewables alone can’t meet industrial or nighttime demands. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent advocates refocusing on poverty reduction and energy access, but the bank resists, swayed by European climate priorities. African leaders, frustrated, are launching the Africa Energy Bank to fund diverse energy projects. The article urges the U.S. to leverage its World Bank influence to prioritize poverty alleviation over climate goals, emphasizing Africa’s minimal 3.8% contribution to global emissions. [MDN: Arrogant Euro weenies and lefties in our own country seek to keep the African continent in abject poverty by denying them fossil fuels.]

Mile high Marxist Bernie Sanders proves there is no climate emergency
RealClearEnergy
In a scathing critique, the article exposes Senator Bernie Sanders’ hypocrisy on climate change, highlighting the stark contrast between his environmental rhetoric and personal behavior. While Sanders passionately advocates for sweeping government intervention to combat the “climate crisis” as a matter of justice, health, economics, and security, his recent “Fighting Oligarchy” tour relied on private jets, emitting 62.15 metric tons of carbon dioxide—equivalent to five years of an average American’s emissions or driving a gas-powered SUV 150,000 miles. Despite past criticism for similar extravagance during the 2020 primaries, Sanders remains unapologetic, dismissing concerns about his carbon footprint with a flippant remark about avoiding commercial flight delays. The article argues that Sanders’ actions, alongside other green movement elites, reveal a quest for control rather than genuine environmental concern, as they demand public sacrifice while indulging in luxury, thus undermining their doomsday narrative. [MDN: Bernie Sanders is a lying would-be dictator. Don’t fall for the claptrap he peddles.]

Wasting away in wind-and-solarville
RealClearInvestigations
The article “Wasting Away in Wind-and-Solarville” by James Varney, published on May 15, 2025, highlights the environmental and regulatory challenges of solar panel and wind turbine waste in the U.S. Despite being promoted as renewable and sustainable, the disposal of decommissioned equipment—500 million solar panels and 73,000 wind turbines—poses a growing problem, with much of the waste, including fiberglass, resins, and chemicals, ending up in landfills. The lack of clear plans for recycling or disposal, coupled with inadequate regulations, risks leaving taxpayers to cover decommissioning costs. Experts like Jason Isaac and Mark Mills criticize the wind and solar industries for prioritizing low costs over long-term waste management, noting that unlike highly regulated power companies, renewable projects often lack mandated funds for cleanup. While green advocates claim carbon reductions outweigh the waste issue, critics argue the industry downplays the environmental impact and lacks transparency about future challenges. [MDN: This is now a major problem and it’s just coming to light—that the toxic crap wind and solar are made from are ending up in landfills where they pollute everything. Where is the outrage by the environmental left? They are hypocritically silent.]

INTERNATIONAL

OPEC+ did not lift production to kill the oil price, SEB says
Rigzone
OPEC+ did not increase production by 400,000 barrels per day in May and June to trigger an oil price war, but to meet rising Middle East demand due to summer air conditioning and religious pilgrimages, according to Bjarne Schieldrop, SEB’s Chief Commodities Analyst. The group plans to raise output by 2.1 million barrels per day by December 2026, with monthly decisions allowing flexibility to adjust or cut production. The global oil market remains tight, with demand exceeding supply, though U.S. shale producers may need to reduce output to accommodate OPEC+’s planned increases. BMI analysts warn of potential oversupply risks as OPEC+ ramps up production, forecasting Brent crude at $68 per barrel in 2025, while BofA predicts prices below $60 per barrel in Q2-Q3 2025 due to supply-demand imbalances. OPEC+ announced a 411,000-barrel-per-day adjustment for June 2025, with flexibility to pause or reverse based on market conditions, and will review July levels on June 1. [MDN: Oh yeah, those murdering thug dictators at OPEC+ have snow white pure motives. They don’t want a price war. They’re just a great bunch of guys and love American shale. And, pigs can fly.]

China fossil fuels production retreats from record levels
Bloomberg/Rigzone
In April, China’s fossil fuel production dipped from March’s record highs but still showed year-on-year gains, driven by the government’s focus on energy security despite lower prices. Natural gas production increased by 8.1% to 21.5 billion cubic meters, crude oil rose 1.5% to 17.7 million tons, and coal output grew 3.8% to 389 million tons, though coal was down 51 million tons from March, providing some relief to miners facing four-year low prices. Crude oil processing dropped 1.4% due to seasonal refinery maintenance, while crude steel production stagnated, with potential cuts looming to address oversupply. Meanwhile, aluminum production surged 4.2%, reaching a daily record, as smelters capitalized on cheaper feedstock costs. These trends reflect China’s balancing act between maintaining robust energy and industrial output and managing market pressures and maintenance schedules. [MDN: A typically misleading headline from Bloomberg. China’s fossil fuel production DID rise, just not as fast. That’s the news here.]

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