MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Wed, Jun 18, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Elon Musk’s A.I. company faces lawsuit over gas-burning turbines; NATIONAL: The Senate can do this one thing to ensure U.S. energy dominance; The greatest oxymoron statement of all time is ‘renewable energy’; INTERNATIONAL: Trump threats push crude to 5-month high; Canada’s Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline has a new major buyer—China; Why the future of Canadian energy investments hangs in the balance; Spain’s impossible dream of ‘green’ electricity; ‘Climate grieving’ at UK Centre for Climate Psychology; G7 meets in a carbon-rich paradise to demand less carbon.
OTHER U.S. REGIONS
Elon Musk’s A.I. company faces lawsuit over gas-burning turbines
New York (NY) Times/Hiroko Tabuchi
The NAACP, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, has filed a notice of intent to sue Elon Musk’s xAI over air pollution from its Memphis supercomputer facility, located near predominantly Black neighborhoods. The facility, which powers the Grok chatbot, has allegedly been operating dozens of natural-gas turbines without proper permits, violating the Clean Air Act. These turbines emit pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde, exacerbating air quality in an area already facing high cancer risks and poor ozone levels. The NAACP argues this constitutes environmental injustice, while xAI claims its operations comply with laws and that the turbines are temporary, with plans for emission-reducing technology. The company highlights its economic contributions, including billions in investments and job creation. Critics, including local residents, demand transparency and stricter oversight, citing health concerns in a city ranked as an asthma capital. A decision on xAI’s permit application is pending. [MDN: Another shakedown attempt incoming by the National Association for the Advancement of (Liberal) Colored People. It’s disgusting. They accuse Musk’s operation of intentionally setting up power plants in places where poor, ignorant Black folk can’t fight back. It’s a LIE. What the NAACP is doing is, itself, racist and perpetuates stereotypes. Disgusting.]
NATIONAL
The Senate can do this one thing to ensure U.S. energy dominance
RealClearEnergy/Neil Chatterjee
The article argues that restoring key energy policies in the Senate’s version of the House reconciliation bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, is crucial for achieving U.S. energy abundance, lowering electricity prices, boosting the economy, and competing with China in the AI race. The Senate should reinstate the original Ways and Means Committee’s policies, including Foreign Entity of Concern standards to prevent foreign adversaries like China from accessing tax credits, energy tax credit transferability to provide cash flow for smaller firms to develop cleaner energy, support for solar leasing to reduce consumer costs and promote energy independence, and reasonable timelines for project construction to qualify for tax credits. The House’s last-minute changes raised FEOC standards too high, eliminated transferability for technologies like geothermal and nuclear, and imposed unworkable deadlines, undermining American companies and consumers. Restoring these policies will ensure affordable, abundant energy and economic benefits. [MDN: This article, written by former FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee, seeks to encourage the Senate to restore several measures that the House version of the Big Beautiful Bill removed. His proposals seem common sense and good to us.]
The greatest oxymoron statement of all time is ‘renewable energy’
America Out Loud News/Ronald Stein, Roger Caiazza
The article argues that the concept of “renewable energy” from wind and solar is an oxymoron, as these sources only generate electricity intermittently and rely heavily on government subsidies, not private investment, due to their lack of financial viability. It highlights that claims of cost-effectiveness ignore the high expenses of backup systems for when weather conditions are unfavorable. The piece emphasizes that over 80% of the global population, living on less than $10/day, cannot afford such subsidized systems, making the push for renewables a privilege of wealthy nations. It criticizes policymakers, particularly in California, for ignoring society’s reliance on over 6,000 fossil fuel-derived products and the fuels powering global transportation and infrastructure. The article asserts that wind and solar cannot replace fossil fuels, as they only produce electricity, not the materials or fuels essential for modern society, and their unreliability destabilizes energy grids, prompting resistance to such projects in wealthy nations. [MDN: Completely debunks the notion of “renewable” energy. There is no such thing. Every source of energy has its benefits and its problems. “Renewables” have MAJOR problems that the left refuses to discuss.]
INTERNATIONAL
Trump threats push crude to 5-month high
Bloomberg/Julia Fanzeres
Oil prices surged to a near five-month high, with West Texas Intermediate climbing 4.3% to close near $75 a barrel, driven by heightened tensions in the Middle East as President Donald Trump suggested potential U.S. involvement in Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran. Trump’s social media posts demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and warning of strikes against its leadership, coupled with his national security team meeting, fueled market speculation about crude supply disruptions. While Iran’s oil infrastructure remains intact, concerns focus on possible interference in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil flows. Increased market volatility, record producer hedging, and elevated options trading reflect investor fears of price spikes. Israel’s reported control over Iran’s airspace and damage to its missile and nuclear facilities further escalate worries about a broader conflict in a region producing a third of the world’s oil, prompting Morgan Stanley to raise its price forecasts. [MDN: Oil now firmly back in the $70s as the Israel/Iran war continues, and Trump discusses possibly involving the U.S. WTI for July delivery rose a big $3.07 to settle at $74.84 a barrel in New York. Brent for August settlement jumped $3.22 to settle at $76.45 a barrel. No doubt the thug dictators of OPEC+ are delighted that they will receive more money.]
Canada’s Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline has a new major buyer—China
Institute for Energy Research
China has surpassed the United States as the top buyer of oil from Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline, which began its expanded operations on May 1, 2024, tripling its capacity to 890,000 barrels per day. This shift, driven by U.S. trade tensions and sanctions on Russian and Venezuelan oil, has led China to import 207,000 barrels daily, compared to the U.S.’s 173,000. The pipeline, connecting Alberta to the Pacific Coast, enables Canada to diversify its oil exports beyond the U.S., which previously took 90% of its 4 million barrels daily. Despite high tolls causing the pipeline to operate at 77% capacity in 2024, below the forecasted 83%, Trans Mountain is eyeing further expansion to add 200,000–300,000 barrels daily, primarily targeting Asian markets. This development enhances Canada’s energy security and reduces reliance on U.S. markets, while offering China a stable oil supply. [MDN: This would have been oil coming to the U.S. from our “friendly” (or not-so-friendly) neighbor to the north, if the feeble-minded Joe Biden had not canceled the Keystone XL Pipeline project. Now, Canada has jumped in bed with China. Not a good outcome. Thanks, Joementia.]
Why the future of Canadian energy investments hangs in the balance
Forbes/Daniel Markind
Canada’s energy investment future is uncertain due to a closely contested federal election requiring recounts, deepening national divisions over energy policy. The Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, retained power but faces challenges from western provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan, where energy wealth fuels resentment against eastern policies favoring Net Zero goals. Quebec’s opposition to oil and gas pipelines, coupled with unequal federal equalization payments, intensifies western separatist sentiments. This political instability deters foreign investment, as global investors hesitate amid unclear governance and potential constitutional crises involving First Nations treaties. The article highlights how Canada’s energy debates mirror global tensions, with unresolved issues risking economic stagnation and social unrest, similar to crises in Sri Lanka and Europe. Carney’s decisions on balancing environmental commitments with national unity will shape Canada’s energy sector and its global standing. [MDN: As Dan Markind points out in this article, Canada is in turmoil. The country may encounter its own version of a civil war, with the western provinces separating into their own country. Energy is one of the key issues. The idiot lib they elected as Prime Minister wants to end fossil energy in the country. That ain’t gonna happen. And now, it’s not even a sure thing he was elected! It has echoes of Joe Biden’s tainted victory in 2020. Yet you don’t hear any of this in the mainstream news.]
Spain’s impossible dream of ‘green’ electricity
Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)/Paul Driessen
Spain and Portugal’s pursuit of net-zero electricity through over 22,000 wind turbines and 38 gigawatts of solar panels, sprawling across 2,000,000 acres, has led to significant environmental and reliability issues. These renewable energy sources, while occasionally meeting 100% of Spain’s electricity demand, as seen on April 16, 2025, have caused habitat destruction, bird deaths, and reliance on polluting mining practices. The fragility of this system was exposed on April 28, 2025, when a malfunction at two Spanish solar plants triggered a massive blackout across the Iberian Peninsula, parts of France, and Belgium, disrupting transportation, hospitals, and daily life. This event, followed by another outage in the Canary Islands, highlights the instability of grids heavily dependent on intermittent renewables without sufficient conventional backup. The article warns that similar policies in the U.S. and globally risk frequent, preventable blackouts, threatening modern society’s reliance on stable electricity. [MDN: Renewable energy (solar, wind) is not only unreliable, but it also harms the environment. Yet mainstream media refuses to tell you the truth about the negatives of these harmful energy sources. Use your head. Research it on your own. Learn the truth, and ignore mainstream media’s lies.]
‘Climate grieving’ at UK Centre for Climate Psychology
Master Resource/Robert Bradley Jr.
The Centre for Climate Psychology (CCP) in the United Kingdom promotes a worldview that frames modern industrial living as a driver of climate catastrophe, urging psychological resilience amid perceived global crises. Describing itself as nurturing wisdom during upheaval, CCP’s mission, rooted in Deep Ecology, venerates Nature while portraying humanity as a destructive force. Its flagship book, Climate, Psychology and Change, critiques capitalism, colonialism, and Western psychology, advocating for a reimagined psychotherapy to address climate anxiety. CCP recently held a Grief Ritual Training, inspired by Francis Weller, preparing “climate-aware” individuals for a “Long Dark” era of ecological and societal decay. Critics argue CCP’s alarmist narrative ignores humanity’s role in enhancing climate livability through energy use, as emphasized by Alex Epstein, who asserts fossil fuels make a dangerous climate safer. CCP’s approach, likened to a religious refuge, risks fostering psychological dependency rather than practical solutions, potentially profiting from fear-driven psychotherapy. [MDN: This is truly amazing! An entire organization (the CCP) devoted to brainwashing as many people as possible that the earth is burning to cinder around us (when it isn’t), and fooling them into extremist views dependent on those who believe the same extremist views. Take two Xanax and call me in the morning. What the heck happened to the once-great UK?]
G7 meets in a carbon-rich paradise to demand less carbon
The Blaze/Frits Byron Soepyan
The article from Blaze Media critiques the G7 Summit held in Kananaskis, Alberta, where leaders focused on climate resilience, net-zero targets, and carbon capture, despite the region’s thriving ecosystem, which the author attributes to CO2. The piece argues that carbon capture, heavily promoted at the summit, is costly, reduces energy output by 11%, and lacks proven benefits, citing U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory data showing significant retrofit costs for gas-fired plants. It questions the narrative that CO2 drives global warming, highlighting natural factors like solar output and Earth’s orbit as more significant. The author, Frits Byron Soepyan of the CO2 Coalition, asserts that CO2 contributes to global greening, as per NASA, and criticizes the G7’s focus on expensive, potentially counterproductive measures like carbon capture, suggesting leaders reconsider their approach given the environmental and economic realities. [MDN: Excellent article pointing out the hypocrisy and lunacy of this continued emphasis on global warming. It’s time for the adults in the room to speak up.]