MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, Jul 14, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Pittsburgh summit to showcase intersection of energy, AI and policy; How Pennsylvania ranked on a national best-states-for-business list; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Renewable energy project cancellations spike in Texas; Chevron planning $5 billion blue hydrogen/ammonia plant in Texas; Kathy Hochul’s only slowing down the suffering from her green-energy lunacy; NATIONAL: U.S. hydrocarbon production supported by export growth in long-term projections; Trump’s energy chief bats away alarms from activists, news media about ending green power subsidies; Dems couldn’t save Biden’s energy programs — so they’ll try to make them a weapon against the GOP; INTERNATIONAL: Oil rises on looming US Russia sanction threats; Climate change is the No. 1 problem of no nation; Burn more oil and coal, save lives and never ever apologize; Who is the world’s biggest energy supplier?; Netherlands rations electricity to ease power grid stresses.
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION
Pittsburgh summit to showcase intersection of energy, AI and policy
Pittsburgh (PA) Business Times/Paul Gough
President Donald J. Trump will attend Sen. Dave McCormick’s inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University, joined by AI and energy CEOs, Trump administration officials, and representatives from trade associations and Wall Street. The summit aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in the AI revolution, leveraging its abundant natural gas from companies like EQT, next-generation nuclear energy from Westinghouse, and CMU’s top-tier talent. Pittsburgh’s tech sector, with recent unicorn startups like Gecko Robotics, Skild AI, and Abridge AI, underscores the region’s growing innovation ecosystem. The event is expected to yield job and development announcements, strengthen Pittsburgh’s case for federal investment, and foster partnerships to maintain U.S. leadership in AI. Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry, a key focus, is seen as a strategic asset for powering AI data centers, with recent investments like Microsoft’s Three Mile Island reactor restart and Amazon Web Services’ $20 billion data center commitment highlighting the state’s pivotal role. [MDN: We hope and trust natural gas will play a big role in this event. Time will tell. We will keep an eye on what happens this week at this event.]
How Pennsylvania ranked on a national best-states-for-business list
Pittsburgh (PA) Business Times/Paul Gough
In CNBC’s “America’s Top States for Business 2025,” Pennsylvania maintained its No. 17 ranking, unchanged from 2024 but down from 2023, while Ohio surged to No. 5, excelling in infrastructure and cost of doing business. North Carolina reclaimed the top spot, followed by Texas, Florida, and Virginia. Pennsylvania scored well in quality of life but lagged in workforce (37) and business friendliness (40). Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration has prioritized economic competitiveness by cutting permitting times, launching a $500 million site development program, and securing $25.2 billion in private investments, including Amazon’s $20 billion data center project and a potential $20 billion redevelopment of the Homer City power plant. Despite progress, challenges remain, particularly in workforce and regulatory areas. Regional leaders like Stefani Pashman and Luke Bernstein emphasized ongoing investments and bipartisan efforts to foster a business-friendly environment, with major projects signaling Pittsburgh’s emergence as a hub for industrial innovation. [MDN: PA continues to tax the bejesus out of businesses. Add to that government red tape, and businesses are voting with their feet. That’s the sad reality. Until it changes, PA will continue to lose the contest to draw new business, including drillers, to the state.]
OTHER U.S. REGIONS
Renewable energy project cancellations spike in Texas
Institute for Energy Research
In Texas, renewable energy and battery storage project cancellations have surged to levels unseen since the COVID-19 lockdowns, with four gigawatts of battery storage, 3.5 gigawatts of solar farms, and nearly two gigawatts of natural gas plants canceled in the past two months, according to an Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) data analysis. This spike is attributed to President Trump’s tariffs, particularly affecting battery storage projects reliant on Chinese imports, and uncertainty surrounding federal clean energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act. Despite Texas anticipating a 70% electricity demand increase by 2031 due to data centers and other large users, developers are hesitant, often leaving projects pending or canceling them. The cancellations, alongside challenges in securing gas turbines for natural gas plants, could lead to higher electricity prices due to the intermittency of wind and solar, necessitating costly backup power. Texas’s trend may foreshadow a national slowdown in renewable energy development. [MDN: Here’s the truth—unreliable solar and wind projects can’t survive without taxpayer subsidies (your tax money going to the pockets of investors). We say: Let them die!]
Chevron planning $5 billion blue hydrogen/ammonia plant in Texas
RBN Energy
Chevron is exploring a $5 billion blue hydrogen and ammonia facility in Port Arthur, Texas, as part of the state’s HyVelocity hydrogen hub, which spans the Texas coast and is centered in Houston. The project, dubbed Project Labrador, is in early planning stages, with Chevron engaging stakeholders and researching economic development and tax abatements. If construction starts by 2027, the project could qualify for the 45V tax credit, offering up to $3/kg for hydrogen producers based on lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, though blue hydrogen may only qualify for lower-tier credits. The facility could integrate with the nearby Bayou Bend carbon capture project, a collaboration with Equinor and Total Energies. While Chevron has not confirmed the site or timeline, funding for HyVelocity, which relies partly on natural gas with carbon capture, is considered relatively secure despite an ongoing Department of Energy review of hydrogen hub funding. [MDN: Why companies like Chevron continues to chase after hydrogen is a mystery to us. We can understand building an ammonia facility…but not hydrogen.]
Kathy Hochul’s only slowing down the suffering from her green-energy lunacy
New York (NY) Post
Governor Kathy Hochul has acknowledged that New York’s ambitious climate goal of achieving 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040 is currently unattainable, citing the inability to meet the target without significantly increasing costs for ratepayers. Despite this admission, the state continues to rely heavily on carbon-based energy, with alternative energy efforts falling short of rising demand. Hochul’s concessions are minimal, as she continues to push costly offshore wind projects, restrict new natural gas pipelines, ban gas hookups for new homes, and raise costs for non-electric vehicles, all of which drive up electricity prices. Critics argue she is not truly slowing the green transition but merely admitting its impracticality to avoid political backlash ahead of her 2026 re-election. Hochul’s policies, including attracting energy-intensive industries like chip-makers and AI server farms, risk rolling blackouts and economic losses, while battery storage technology remains inadequate, and her actions may prioritize appeasing green activists over affordability, with little impact on global climate change. [MDN: Hochul is a complete disaster. We would be truly surprised if she wins reelection in 2026.]
NATIONAL
U.S. hydrocarbon production supported by export growth in long-term projections
U.S. Energy Information Administration – Today in Energy
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook 2025 (AEO2025) projects robust growth in U.S. crude oil and natural gas production through 2030, driven by increasing exports of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas (LNG), which remain economically competitive globally. Crude oil production is expected to rise from 13.2 million barrels per day in 2024 to about 14.0 million by 2027-2028, primarily due to Permian Basin output, peaking at 18.0 million in the early 2030s under high-price scenarios, but declining post-2030 due to reduced well productivity and domestic demand. Natural gas production is forecasted to increase from 38.4 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) in 2024 to 42.6-44.3 Tcf by the early 2030s, remaining stable through 2050. LNG exports are projected to double by 2040, supported by favorable U.S. prices, though rising Henry Hub prices from $2.88/MMBtu in 2025 to $4.80/MMBtu by 2050 may limit export growth as producers tap less economical resources. [MDN: The bottom line is that oil and gas extraction will continue to grow from now until at least 2050, contrary to the best efforts of lefties who seek to destroy it.]
Trump’s energy chief bats away alarms from activists, news media about ending green power subsidies
Washington (DC) Times
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has dismissed concerns from activists and media regarding the elimination of wind and solar subsidies in President Trump’s tax cut bill, according to a July 13, 2025, Washington Times article. Wright argues that the phase-out of these subsidies, part of a broader tax reform, will not derail the clean energy sector, emphasizing market-driven innovation and energy abundance over government handouts. He downplays doomsday predictions, asserting that the U.S. energy market is robust enough to thrive without federal support for renewables. Critics, including San Francisco-based Energy Innovation, warn that subsidy cuts could raise Minnesota household energy bills by $6 billion from 2025 to 2034. Wright counters that natural gas and other traditional energy sources, combined with emerging technologies, will ensure affordability and reliability, dismissing claims of an impending energy crisis as exaggerated fearmongering by those opposed to the administration’s deregulatory agenda. [MDN: Wright is right. We don’t need to subsidize unreliable renewables with OUR tax money! Let them make it, or not make it, on their own. That’s how it should be for all forms of energy.]
Dems couldn’t save Biden’s energy programs — so they’ll try to make them a weapon against the GOP
POLITICO/Zack Colman
Democrats are shifting their political strategy to criticize the GOP’s recent tax and spending law, signed by President Donald Trump, which eliminated Biden-era clean energy tax incentives for wind and solar power, arguing it will lead to higher electricity prices and power shortages. This approach aims to appeal to voters by focusing on pocketbook issues rather than climate change, targeting moderate Republicans who initially supported the incentives but voted for the bill. Democratic leaders like Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Kathy Castor, along with environmental groups like Clean Energy for America and Climate Power, are emphasizing that Republican policies will increase utility bills, especially as power demand rises due to AI data centers. Despite low oil prices and Republican skepticism, Democrats see an opportunity to tie rising power costs—up 9% since January—to the GOP’s actions, framing Republicans as responsible for future economic burdens. [MDN: Go right ahead Dems! When Americans see how the economy roars due to the One Big Beautiful Bill, the Democrat Party is over and done. They’ll need to rebrand as a different party. They are desperate and they are sleazy!]
INTERNATIONAL
Oil rises on looming US Russia sanction threats
Bloomberg/Mia Gindis, Catherine Cartier
Oil prices surged nearly 3%, with West Texas Intermediate settling above $68 a barrel, driven by anticipated U.S. sanctions aimed at curbing Russian energy exports. President Donald Trump announced a forthcoming “major statement” on Russia, following his criticism of Vladimir Putin, while a bipartisan sanctions bill, backed by at least 85 senators, proposes 500% tariffs on China and India for purchasing Russian energy. Commerzbank AG suggests these sanctions could tighten global oil supply, supporting prices despite increased OPEC+ production. Saudi Arabia briefly exceeded its OPEC+ quota in June amid Persian Gulf tensions, with its energy minister citing regional risks and strong local demand. Meanwhile, Trump’s proposed 35% tariff on some Canadian goods spares US-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade, and a 10% tariff on energy-related imports is expected to persist. OPEC+ is considering pausing further production hikes, as global oil demand growth slows to 700,000 barrels daily in 2025, per the IEA. [MDN: WTI for August delivery rose 2.8% to settle at $68.45 a barrel in New York. Brent for September settlement advanced 2.5% to $70.36 a barrel. Barely a blip on the screen. Bloomberg always makes a big deal out of these tiny ups and downs. It’s a nothingburger. Prices are still fine.]
Climate change is the No. 1 problem of no nation
Statistica/Katharina Buchholz
Despite new global high-temperature records being set frequently, climate change remains a lower priority for many, according to a Statista Consumer Insights survey across 21 nations. No country ranked climate change as the top issue, with Switzerland and China placing it fifth and sixth, respectively, though only 29% and 24% of their populations rated it as severe. Italy led with 39% recognizing climate change as a major problem, despite ranking it seventh, while China and Japan had the lowest recognition. Developing nations like Mexico and South Africa showed similar concern levels (29-30%) to developed countries, despite facing other pressing issues. The United States stood out among developed nations, with only 28% viewing climate change as a significant issue, ranking it tenth. This suggests that competing concerns often overshadow climate change globally, even as its impacts intensify. [MDN: As much as global leftists push the false narrative that Mom Earth is toasting, most people (vast majority) aren’t being brainwashed. That’s good news!]
Burn more oil and coal, save lives and never ever apologize
JoanneNova.com
A recent, rapidly produced study claimed that extreme heat killed 2,305 people across 12 European cities during a 10-day period from June 23 to July 2, 2025, attributing two-thirds of these deaths to fossil fuels and climate change, despite lacking peer review or real-time data. The analysis, likely based on past mortality estimates, ignores the common post-heatwave “rebound” effect, where deaths drop after spiking, as heat often hastens deaths already imminent. Such studies, often rushed for media impact, fail to account for longer-term trends, like the fact that cold weather kills far more people—up to 20 times more than heat, according to large-scale studies. In Europe, fossil fuels and infrastructure like air conditioning save millions of lives yearly, particularly in winter, while global warming may prevent 166,000 deaths annually. Jo Nova argues this “junk science” prioritizes alarmist narratives over rigorous analysis, misleading the public about climate impacts. [MDN: Excellent post pointing out that man-made climate change probably killed no one, but fossil fuels made life possible for 500 million people in Europe all year round. That’s the truth the left never tells.]
Who is the world’s biggest energy supplier?
Rigzone/Andreas Exarheas
The Energy Institute’s 2024 statistical review of world energy identifies China as the world’s leading energy supplier, contributing 158.88 exajoules, or 26.8% of global energy supply, with a 2.4% year-on-year increase and a decade-long average annual growth of 3.1%. China’s energy mix included 32.27 exajoules from oil, 92.16 from coal, and 13.90 from renewables. The U.S., the second-largest supplier, provided 91.83 exajoules (15.5% of global supply), with a slight 0.4% annual increase but a 0.1% average yearly decline from 2014-2024. India ranked third, supplying 38.76 exajoules, up 4.3% from 2023, with coal dominating at 22.97 exajoules. Global energy supply reached 592.22 exajoules, up 1.78% from 2023, with renewables growing fastest at 7.6%. All energy sources saw increased demand, a phenomenon last observed in 2006, with oil remaining the dominant source at 34% of total demand. [MDN: Energy supplier doesn’t mean energy exporter (the U.S. is #1 in that category). It means energy producer and consumer. It stands to reason that China, which is now #2 (just behind India) in world population (over 1.4 billion in both countries) produces and consumes more electricity than the U.S., with 347 million people.]
Netherlands rations electricity to ease power grid stresses
Financial Times
The Netherlands is facing severe electricity grid congestion, with over 11,900 businesses, public buildings, and thousands of households waiting for connections, a situation exacerbated by the country’s rapid electrification to meet EU decarbonization goals. This bottleneck, described as a warning for other European nations, is stalling economic growth, with new connections in some areas delayed until the mid-2030s. The closure of the Groningen gas field in 2023 and a shift to solar power, with 2.6 million homes now equipped, have outpaced grid upgrades, requiring an estimated €200 billion in investments by 2040. High electricity costs, expected to rise 4.3-4.7% annually until 2034, and a shortage of 28,000 technicians further complicate the issue. Solutions like flexible tariffs, energy hubs, and campaigns to shift usage to off-peak hours are being implemented, but local leaders fear prolonged delays could deter investment, as seen in regions like Brainport. [MDN: This is the dystopian future of other European countries, and the U.S., if they pursue unreliable renewables. It’s a cautionary tale.]