MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jul 11, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: New York has got to face reality – we need natural gas; NATIONAL: TC Energy is bolstering America’s energy dominance through critical investments; Geothermal energy may be poised for growth thanks to shale drilling advances; Why is every natural disaster being politicized?; How AI and technology are reshaping the oil and gas workforce; Drilling plummets under Trump despite ‘drill, baby, drill’ promise; INTERNATIONAL: Oil teeters as tariffs and output risks unbalance market; Chevron shifts from local to centralized hubs to cut costs; Fossil fuels show staying power as EU clean energy output dips.
OTHER U.S. REGIONS
New York has got to face reality – we need natural gas
Albany (NY) Times Union/Tom Reed
New York’s energy system faces significant challenges as outlined in the 2025 Power Trends report by the New York Independent System Operator, which highlights the strain on grid reliability due to retiring fossil-based generation and increasing energy demand. Governor Kathy Hochul has shifted toward an “all-of-the-above” energy policy, emphasizing reliability and affordability by supporting nuclear energy and exploring all options to bolster energy supply. However, the article stresses that natural gas must be part of this strategy, as renewables alone cannot meet current demands. The state faces a shortage of natural gas, exacerbated by stalled pipeline projects like Constitution and Northeast Supply Enhancement, despite abundant resources in nearby Pennsylvania and untapped reserves in New York. The article argues that approving these pipelines and investing in infrastructure is critical for energy reliability, economic growth, and supporting major investments like Micron’s chip facility. Hochul’s leadership on this issue could define her political future in the 2026 election. [MDN: Excellent letter to the editor from Tom Reed, former Congressman who represented the Southern Tier’s 23rd Congressional District from 2010 to 2022. We encourage you to click and read the full letter.]
NATIONAL
TC Energy is bolstering America’s energy dominance through critical investments
Washington (DC) Reporter
TC Energy, a Canadian company, is significantly contributing to the Trump administration’s push for American energy dominance by investing heavily in the U.S. energy sector, as outlined in an interview with TC Energy’s president and CEO, Francois Poirier. With over half of its $30 billion capital program focused on U.S. projects, TC Energy plans to allocate even more investment to the U.S. by the early 2030s, driven primarily by the tripling of liquid natural gas (LNG) exports expected in North America between 2024 and 2035, with the U.S. Gulf Coast as a key hub. Poirier highlighted the shift from coal to natural gas in the U.S., similar to trends in Canada, and noted TC Energy’s LNG pipeline as the first to operate after the lifting of a natural gas ban. Praising the Trump administration’s energy literacy and accessibility, Poirier emphasized their commitment to streamlining regulations and accelerating infrastructure development, enhancing U.S. energy security and economic growth. [MDN: TC Energy is a major owner of assets in the M-U region and beyond, assets that transport our molecules, including the Columbia Gas Transmission System and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline.]
Geothermal energy may be poised for growth thanks to shale drilling advances
RBN Energy/Jason Lindquist
Geothermal energy is gaining traction as a reliable, clean energy source, potentially meeting 15% of global electricity demand by 2050, thanks to advancements in shale drilling techniques like horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. These methods, honed in the oil and gas industry, allow access to deeper, hotter rock formations, making geothermal viable in regions without natural hot springs. The U.S., with its vast drilling expertise, is well-positioned to lead this sector, supported by bipartisan interest and significant investments, such as the $2 billion Fervo Energy project in Utah. Geothermal offers constant, weather-independent power, ideal for data centers and industrial needs. However, high initial costs, regulatory hurdles, and environmental concerns like seismic risks from fracking pose challenges. With continued innovation, cost reductions, and supportive policies, geothermal could become a cornerstone of the clean energy transition, leveraging America’s drilling prowess to tap into the Earth’s abundant heat. [MDN: This is nothing against geothermal, but we’ve pointed for years that geothermal uses the same drilling rigs and the same horizontal fracking technology as shale gas and oil. Yet the green lobby is silent about the “dangers” of drilling for geothermal (water table contamination, trucks, noise, emissions, etc.), because geothermal fits with their global warming narrative against fossil energy. The left are big, fat, hypocrites.]
Why is every natural disaster being politicized?
ZeroHedge/William Anderson
The article “Why Is Every Natural Disaster Being Politicized?” by William Anderson, published on ZeroHedge, explores the increasing politicization of natural disasters in the U.S., highlighting how both political sides exploit these events to advance their agendas. It cites inflammatory remarks from leftists, like Dr. Christina B. Propst, who mocked Texas flood victims for their political beliefs. The piece argues that the modern politicization stems from the integration of climate change into politics, with every weather event attributed to it, fostering a narrative that blames skeptics for disasters. Historical examples, like Bill Clinton’s accusations during Hurricane Andrew and Al Gore’s climate change implications in “An Inconvenient Truth,” illustrate this trend. The article suggests that this polarization, coupled with beliefs in state-driven solutions, has led to a toxic environment where disasters are weaponized, and dissenters are vilified, undermining rational discourse. [MDN: A good perspective. In essence, global warming hoaxery has so infected leftists’ brains that it’s driving them to make insane statements like Trump-hating Propst’s comment celebrating the drowning deaths of little girls at a Christian camp. This is really SICK STUFF.]
How AI and technology are reshaping the oil and gas workforce
Forbes/Matt Randolph
The oil and gas industry is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from the traditional image of gritty “roughneck” workers to a technology-driven landscape dominated by artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced systems. Efficiency gains have drastically reduced operational timelines, cutting the need for manual labor and displacing workers, with Oklahoma losing nearly a third of its oil and gas workforce since 2019 despite industry prosperity. AI-powered predictive maintenance minimizes human error, saving companies millions annually by preventing equipment failures, while robotics, drones, and autonomous drilling systems reduce the need for human oversight. This shift demands a new breed of workers—AI specialists, data scientists, and robotics engineers—replacing traditional roles that required no formal education. AI and augmented reality training, including digital twins, are reskilling workers to meet these demands, addressing a looming workforce crisis as 40% of skilled workers are expected to retire by 2030. These advancements enhance safety by reducing exposure to hazardous conditions, with companies like Shell reporting significant reductions in equipment failures and downtime, creating a safer, more stable industry. [MDN: An interesting perspective on the role of AI and technology in our space.]
Drilling plummets under Trump despite ‘drill, baby, drill’ promise
Newsweek/Jasmine Laws
Despite President Donald Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” promise and declaration of a “national energy emergency” to boost domestic oil and gas production, U.S. drilling activity has significantly declined, with the rig count dropping to 539 on July 3, 2025, a four-year low, according to Baker Hughes. This 47-rig decrease from the previous year undermines Trump’s push for fossil fuel expansion, driven by his “Big Beautiful Bill” that ends federal support for renewables and streamlines fossil fuel projects. However, market forces like falling oil prices, investor demands for returns, and technological advancements allowing more oil extraction with fewer rigs are behind the slump. The Energy Information Administration projects U.S. oil production will still hit a record 13.4 million barrels per day in 2025, but low rig counts could limit rapid production increases if demand spikes or supply disruptions occur, highlighting a disconnect between Trump’s rhetoric and industry realities. [MDN: Yes, rig counts are declining, but production is increasing, meaning our technology and techniques are improving. Here’s the funny thing that dawns on us…the very same lefties who hate Trump’s guts (and by extension, any of us who voted for him) should be celebrating Trump because their goal of less drilling is happening! Yet they won’t give him credit for anything, even something they earnestly desire that’s happening under Trump. Most of them are too dumb to realize the contradiction—they’re on auto-hate.]
INTERNATIONAL
Oil teeters as tariffs and output risks unbalance market
Bloomberg/Mia Gindis, Jack Wittels
Oil futures plummeted as fears of a global trade war and potential OPEC+ production hike pauses signaled weakening energy demand. West Texas Intermediate fell below $67 a barrel after reports that OPEC+ might halt output increases from October, prompted by new U.S. tariffs, including a 50% rate on Brazil, a key oil supplier. The escalating tariff war, led by President Trump, has overshadowed prior trade agreements, raising concerns about global economic growth. Despite OPEC+’s recent decision to boost output in August, analysts predict global oil demand growth will slow to under 1 million barrels daily in late 2025 and 2026 due to trade tensions. Market indicators like narrowing WTI timespreads reflect fading confidence in physical market strength. Additionally, ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have failed to lift oil prices, as investors remain cautious amid geopolitical uncertainties, with WTI and Brent settling at $66.57 and $68.64, respectively. [MDN: These prices, while decried by the lefties of Bloomberg, are PERFECT. We love it in the $60s. Trump’s tariffs are working. That’s the dirty little secret Big Media doesn’t want you to know.]
Chevron shifts from local to centralized hubs to cut costs
Bloomberg/Kevin Crowley, Nathan Risser
Chevron Corp. is undergoing a major restructuring to centralize operations, aiming to cut costs by $2-3 billion by 2026 and improve efficiency amid low oil prices and investor demands for higher returns. The company is consolidating its offshore assets into a single division covering the US Gulf, Nigeria, Angola, and the Eastern Mediterranean, while unifying shale operations in Texas, Colorado, and Argentina. Centralized service centers in Manila and Buenos Aires will handle finance, HR, and IT, with engineering hubs in Houston and Bengaluru, India. This shift reduces business units in the upstream division from 18-20 to three to five, standardizing processes and accelerating technology adoption, including AI to optimize refining operations. The changes align with a 20% workforce reduction (9,000 employees) by 2026 and follow similar moves by Exxon Mobil and Shell. Chevron aims to maintain local strengths while streamlining decision-making to stay competitive. [MDN: We’re all for efficiency, but hate to see 9K people fired.]
Fossil fuels show staying power as EU clean energy output dips
Reuters/Gavin Maguire
In the first half of 2025, EU utilities increased natural gas and coal-fired power plant output, reversing two years of declining fossil fuel use and boosting power sector emissions by 9% to 297 million metric tons of CO2, according to think tank Ember. This surge, the largest since 2017, was driven by a 9% drop in wind farm output to 225 TWh and reduced hydro dam production due to weather-related declines, forcing reliance on fossil fuels. Gas-fired generation rose 19% to a three-year high, while coal output increased by 2%. Despite record solar output of 179 TWh, surpassing hydro, the EU’s clean energy transition faced setbacks. The article highlights the challenge of weather-dependent clean energy and suggests fossil fuels will remain integral to EU power systems, potentially leading to 600 million tons of CO2 emissions in 2025 if trends continue. [MDN: How many times do we have to point it out? Reliable fossil fuels work, unreliable renewables don’t. It’s really that simple.]