MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Aug 28, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Governor Murphy’s green new deal exacerbates NJ energy crisis; NATIONAL: Oil settles higher as US inventories tighten; September natural gas futures find footing; Rockefeller-funded CCI driving new legal push against energy industry; NETL alloy development process supports U.S. exports of LNG; INTERNATIONAL: MSC Cruises’ first natural gas-fuelled ship loses power off coast of Italy; Global warming zealots keep the crusade going strong.

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

Governor Murphy’s green new deal exacerbates NJ energy crisis
RealClearEnergy/Gabriella Hoffman
New Jersey residents are facing sharply higher electricity bills, largely due to Governor Phil Murphy’s policies and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Efforts like delaying a 20% rate hike and offering a $100 Residential Universal Bill Credit provide minimal relief, while Murphy blames PJM Interconnection instead of taking responsibility. His Energy Master Plan, mandating a 100% transition to wind, solar, battery, and electric vehicles by 2035, has led to power plant closures, increased reliance on expensive out-of-state electricity, and higher costs without meaningful environmental gains. New Jersey now has the 12th highest electricity rates nationally, with critics urging small modular reactors and plan reforms to restore reliability. [MDN: Phil Murphy has been a disaster as Governor of New Jersey. It will take years to undo the mess he’s created.]

NATIONAL

Oil settles higher as US inventories tighten
Bloomberg/Mia Gindis, Alex Longley
Oil prices rose as tightening U.S. crude and fuel inventories eased supply glut fears, with WTI settling at $64.15 a barrel and Brent at $68.05. A U.S. report showed stockpiles at Cushing fell for the first time in eight weeks, while national inventories dropped 2.4 million barrels, exceeding expectations. Fuel supplies also contracted, signaling resilient demand despite trade tensions. However, tariffs and OPEC+’s output plans stoked concerns of a record glut next year. India pledged to maintain Russian oil purchases despite new U.S. tariffs, while Trump praised lower prices, predicting crude would soon fall below $60 a barrel. [MDN: Some countries, like India, learn the hard way. Trump’s new 50% tariff against India imports is warranted. While we’re at it, let’s slap a 100% tariff on U.S. companies using call centers in India! That would get their attention rather quickly when that business dries up.]

September natural gas futures find footing
NGI’s Daily Gas Price Index/Andrew Baker
Natural gas futures received an expiration day boost on Wednesday in the September contract’s final day at the front of the curve. September Nymex gas futures rolled off the board at $2.867/MMBtu, up 15.0 cents. The more heavily traded October contract gained 9.6 cents to $2.886 as it took over the prompt month position. NGI’s Spot Gas National Avg. rose 2.0 cents to $2.280. The August-September stretch is shaping up as among the coolest in recent memory, putting bearish pressure on an already amply supplied gas market. [MDN: At least the direction of the price is improving, heading a bit higher toward $3. Fingers crossed.]

Rockefeller-funded CCI driving new legal push against energy industry
Energy in Depth – Climate & Environment/Kyle Kohli
The Rockefeller-funded Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) is reportedly spearheading a bold, new legal strategy targeting the energy industry following recent judicial setbacks. Drawing from a plot detailed on EIDClimate.org, the article alleges CCI—backed by substantial Rockefeller Family Fund grants—is orchestrating lawsuits aimed at destabilizing oil firms. It highlights CCI’s ambition to expand litigation efforts, even in traditionally fossil fuel-dependent states, as part of a coordinated campaign to pressure energy companies into compliance or restructuring. This initiative, the piece contends, marks a renewed and aggressive “lawfare” phase in the climate movement. [MDN: When the heck are we going to get serious about ripping away the tax-exempt status of groups like CCI and the Rockefeller funds? We continue to bring a knife to a gun fight. We must aggressively go after the funders, NGOs, and law firms engaging in this cancerous activity.]

NETL alloy development process supports U.S. exports of LNG
National Energy Technology Laboratory
NETL researchers have developed a novel process to manufacture high-performance nickel-, cobalt-, and chromium-based alloys with superior strength and corrosion resistance, enabling safer transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other fuels at cryogenic temperatures. Published in Acta Materialia, the study outlines how techniques such as pre-straining, heat treatment, and molybdenum alloying improve deformation resistance and tailor properties for high-pressure, high-temperature environments. This breakthrough supports U.S. efforts to expand LNG exports by providing durable materials for storage tanks and infrastructure. NETL’s innovation aligns with federal policy shifts promoting domestic energy production and strengthens America’s energy security and global competitiveness. [MDN: This is the kind of government research we don’t mind having our taxpayer dollars fund.]

INTERNATIONAL

MSC Cruises’ first natural gas-fuelled ship loses power off coast of Italy
London (UK) Independent/Natalie Wilson
Thousands of passengers aboard the MSC World Europa were delayed in Italy after the cruise ship lost propulsion due to a technical issue off Ponza on August 25. The Italian Coast Guard assisted with tugboats, and despite the incident, onboard services remained functional through generators and conditions stayed calm. Carrying over 6,500 guests on a Mediterranean voyage, the LNG-fueled ship eventually reached Naples eight hours late before resuming its itinerary to Messina. Meanwhile, Havila Voyages announced plans for the first 12-day climate-neutral cruise this autumn, building on prior emission-free operations with expanded use of biogas and advanced battery technology. [MDN: An LNG-powered cruise ship loses power. Not the kind of headline a cruise company wants to see. Especially since customers (like us) plan to go on a cruise in 2026 on an MSC LNG-powered ship!]

Global warming zealots keep the crusade going strong
American Thinker/Jack Hellner
The article criticizes what it calls “climate fear-mongering,” arguing that media and think tanks exaggerate the economic and social impacts of climate change without presenting scientific evidence linking fossil fuels to floods or droughts. It highlights a July report from the Autonomy Institute warning of food price increases potentially pushing nearly a million UK households into poverty, but the author disputes this, noting that modest annual inflation of 0.87–1.25% over 25 years compounds to only 25–34%, which is manageable. The piece defends continued use of oil, natural gas, and coal, emphasizing their role in prosperity, feeding the world, and supporting life, while framing climate policies as unnecessary and economically harmful. [MDN: We have to continually fight back against the global warming nutters. Every day they spew lies and every day we must respond to those lies, exposing them as such.]