MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Tue, Aug 19, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Stacy Garrity seeks to challenge PA Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reelection bid; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Gas demand at two of the top US LNG plants declines; Gas outflows to Mexico high on strong Permian production; Give up the green delusions, Albany — battery sites are too risky for New York; NATIONAL: LNG slump, cooler weather data snuff out rally in natural gas futures; Environmental groups sue over DOE report downplaying climate change; US DOE plans $1B funding to support critical minerals, materials production; U.S. natural gas storage levels remain above average through injection season; When energy policy turns hostile, communities pay; Wind turbines and solar panels ONLY generate electricity; ‘Drill, baby, drill’ is working; INTERNATIONAL: Oil rises as ceasefire hopes fade; Qatar to supply 40% of new global LNG by 2030 amid geopolitical tug-of-war; European gas hits 15-month low.
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION
Stacy Garrity seeks to challenge PA Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reelection bid
Associated Press/Marc Levy
Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania’s two-term state treasurer, announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro in the 2026 gubernatorial election, potentially pitting a lesser-known officeholder against a prominent national figure considered a 2028 presidential contender. Garrity, a 61-year-old former Army reservist and accountant from rural northern Pennsylvania, aims to strengthen the economy, create jobs, and make the state more affordable, aligning herself with Donald Trump and criticizing Shapiro’s policies on taxes, law enforcement, and energy. Shapiro, a 52-year-old former attorney general with a strong fundraising record and victories in three statewide races, has countered by accusing Garrity of prioritizing Trump’s approval over Pennsylvanians’ needs, particularly regarding Trump’s tax and spending policies. Despite a professional relationship, Garrity faces a formidable challenge against Shapiro, who enjoys widespread support and a significant financial advantage, while Republicans seek a strong candidate to bolster their 2026 ticket. [MDN: Shapiro “presidential contender”? What a joke! He’s a loser. He pretends to be moderate while he’s every bit as extreme a leftist as cackling Kamala, Lord Obama, and dementia Joe. He would be the exact wrong person to elect to the most important office in the land. He’s also a swamp-dweller. He’s a political insider (we’ve had enough of that). Meanwhile, Stacy Garrity came to politics late in life, after a lifetime of real-world experience. She’s the exact RIGHT person to elect as Governor of the Keystone State. We hope her candidacy takes off and that she’s the nominee. Shapiro is an enemy of the Marcellus industry. Garrity is a friend. That’s really all you need to know.]
OTHER U.S. REGIONS
Gas demand at two of the top US LNG plants declines
Reuters/Curtis Williams
Two of the United States’ largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants, Cheniere’s Sabine Pass in Texas and Sempra’s Cameron LNG in Louisiana, experienced steep declines in natural-gas demand on Monday, suggesting possible operational slowdowns, according to LSEG data. Sabine Pass, which typically uses up to 4.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd), dropped to 3.7 bcfd, while Cameron, normally processing 2 bcfd, fell to 1.3 bcfd. This combined downturn drove total daily U.S. gas demand to 14.7 bcfd—the lowest level in two months—and contributed to a roughly 1% decline in U.S. natural-gas futures, as the September NYMEX contract fell by 2 cents to $2.90 per million British thermal units. Neither Cheniere nor Sempra offered immediate comment on the decline. Both facilities are key pillars underpinning the U.S.’s position as the world’s leading LNG exporter since 2023. [MDN: This was one of the contributors to the NYMEX futures price staying below $3. Hopefully this was a spot of maintenance and the plants will resume their full appetites quickly.]
Gas outflows to Mexico high on strong Permian production
RBN Energy/John Abeln
Exports of natural gas from the Permian Basin directly to Mexico averaged 2.0 Bcf/d during the week ending August 18, which is in line with previous peak summer levels. After a very strong start to summer, outflows to Mexico fell in July and early August, but the past two weeks have been back at that peak level, as can be seen in the green line in the chart below. Depending on Mexican power demand, peak outflows could last into September before tapering off as the weather cools in the fall. Outflows have been aided by the robust Permian supply picture. Production averaged 21.8 Bcf/d over the past week. After remaining relatively flat for most of this year, production has climbed this summer. This climb has started to put downward pressure on Waha cash prices as takeaway capacity has filled. There is no new capacity due online until next year, which may limit supply growth in the short term. [MDN: The Permian is the #2 natural gas-producing play behind the Marcellus/Utica. And it continues to grow production (from associated gas production) while the M-U grows at a slower rate. However, Permian gas production may slow since new oil drilling is down. And M-U production is on track to grow again with regional data centers being built.]
Give up the green delusions, Albany — battery sites are too risky for New York
New York (NY) Post/Lee Zeldin
In this opinion article, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin sharply criticizes New York State’s hurried expansion of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), arguing that political ambitions have placed public safety in peril. He warns of the substantial fire risks and toxic emissions from large-scale lithium-battery installations—particularly when sited near schools, homes, and waterways—highlighting past incidents in California where fires burned for weeks and released hazardous chemicals. Zeldin laments that Albany has sidelined local zoning and community input through legislation like the 2024 RAPID Act, granting state authorities permitting power over projects of 25 MW or more. He disputes the feasibility of Albany’s clean-energy targets, pointing out that current storage capacity falls far short. Rather than pursuing reckless, centrally mandated deployments, he urges adoption of the EPA’s new BESS safety toolkit, emphasizing science-based safeguards and empowering communities to demand accountability and protection. [MDN: Excellent column by Zeldin pointing out the folly of Albany Democrats’ investing taxpayer money in dangerous battery storage facilities sited near schools and homes.]
NATIONAL
LNG slump, cooler weather data snuff out rally in natural gas futures
NGI’s Daily Gas Price Index/Chris Newman
Nymex natural gas futures reversed early losses Monday but ultimately closed lower as weather forecasts doubled down on a cooler end to August. The September Nymex contract settled down 2.6 cents at $2.890/MMBtu on Monday, ending a three-day winning streak. NGI’s Spot Gas National Avg. fell 3.0 cents to $2.570, weighed down by milder air bringing relief from summer heat to eastern states. “Natural gas continues to drift lower with summer on the downswing,” Pinebrook Energy Advisors’ Andy Huenefeld, managing partner, said. August weather has been consistently warm “but not extreme, keeping cooling demand elevated and supporting stronger spot pricing across all regions,” Huenefeld said. “Even so, the forward curve remains under pressure as attention shifts to the anticipated late August cooldown.” [MDN: We just can’t seem to get the price back above, and stay above, $3/MMBtu. Bummer.]
Environmental groups sue over DOE report downplaying climate change
New York (NY) Times/Lisa Friedman
A lawsuit filed by the Environmental Defense Fund and the Union of Concerned Scientists in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts accuses the Trump administration’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency of violating the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 by secretly forming a Climate Working Group of climate change skeptics to downplay global warming. The group, allegedly arranged by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and cited by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, produced a report to justify repealing the 2009 endangerment finding, which establishes greenhouse gas emissions as a public health threat under the Clean Air Act. The lawsuit claims the agencies’ actions, involving skeptics like Steven E. Koonin and Judith Curry, bypassed transparency requirements for advisory committees. The environmental groups seek to block the EPA’s repeal plan, arguing it undermines the scientific consensus on fossil fuels’ role in climate change, with significant implications for public health and policy. [MDN: Why are Big Green groups that engage in political activities like this (and should not be tax-exempt, yet are), be allowed to “court shop” to bring a lawsuit in a Democrat-friendly court against the Trump administration? The sum total of this is that they are suing because an elected regime presumes to focus on real science and not fantasies about catastrophic global warming. It’s insanity personified. The so-called endangerment finding was a cooked-up piece of scientific trash concocted by extremists during the bad-old Obama years. It’s time to take out the scientific trash.]
US DOE plans $1B funding to support critical minerals, materials production
Rigzone/Jov Onsat
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plans to launch nearly $1 billion in funding opportunities to reduce reliance on foreign imports of critical minerals and materials, aligning with the “Unleashing American Energy” presidential order. The Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains will provide up to $500 million to expand processing, battery manufacturing, and recycling for materials such as lithium, nickel, graphite, copper, aluminum, and rare earth elements, requiring at least 50% cost-share from recipients. Additional initiatives include $50 million for the Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator program to advance rare-earth magnet processes, semiconductor materials, and lithium extraction technologies, as well as $250 million through the Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Office for industrial-scale projects recovering valuable byproducts. Another $135 million will support methods for refining rare earth elements from waste streams, requiring academic partners. Separately, ARPA-E will allocate $40 million under its RECOVER program to recover minerals from industrial wastewater, enhancing domestic supply security. [MDN: In general, we don’t like spending taxpayer money on what private businesses should spend their own money on. But it happens, and that’s the sucky system we operate under. Our thought was maybe the two lithium-from-frack-wastewater plants set up in Susquehanna County, PA, could grab some of this money and accelerate their businesses. And honestly, $1 billion spent to encourage more home-grown critical mineral production is a true drop-in-the-bucket compared to the trillions blown by President Autopen on unreliable renewables.]
U.S. natural gas storage levels remain above average through injection season
U.S. Energy Information Administration – Today in Energy
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook projects that working natural gas inventories will reach 3,872 billion cubic feet (Bcf) by the end of October 2025, about 2% higher than the five-year average for that period. Inventories grew rapidly from late April through early June, with seven consecutive weeks of net injections over 100 Bcf each—the longest streak since 2014. At the start of the injection season in late March, storage was 4% below average, but by August 8, it was 7% above the 2020–24 average, as production outpaced consumption. Although weekly net injections are expected to slow through October due to rising demand for power generation and liquefied natural gas exports, storage levels remain strong. The South Central, Midwest, and East regions drove recent gains, with South Central inventories forecasted to finish at their highest level since 2016, while other regions are expected to align closely with five-year averages. [MDN: Ending the injection season at 2% above the five-year average says to us, it’s average. That’s the news. We’re completely on track for an average injection season this year.]
When energy policy turns hostile, communities pay
Energy in Depth/Taryn Brown
Burdensome state-level energy policies are driving up consumer costs despite federal efforts under the Trump administration to reduce regulatory constraints and boost America’s energy potential. The article cites S&P Global’s RRA State Evaluation to show how hostile regulatory environments toward natural gas, exemplified by Connecticut, result in stalled infrastructure investments and increased utility bills. In Connecticut, a hefty Public Benefits Charge—about $58.70 monthly per household—funds renewable subsidies and energy-efficiency programs regardless of cost-effectiveness, and aggressive renewable portfolio standards exacerbate financial burdens, with mandates projected to cost ratepayers $1.5 billion by 2030. Contrastingly, states like Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wisconsin, Utah, and Nebraska—favoring pragmatic, infrastructure-first policies and a diversified energy mix—enjoy lower costs, modernized systems, and more reliable energy. The article concludes that real energy affordability and reliability stem from balanced, cooperative policymaking that recognizes natural gas as an asset, not a liability. [MDN: Democrat-controlled states insist on forcing their citizens to use unreliable renewable energy and phase out fossil energy. They have sentenced their residents to high costs and blackouts. When will voters in those states wise up and kick them out of office?! You get the government you deserve.]
Wind turbines and solar panels ONLY generate electricity
America Out Loud News/Ronald Stein, Yoshihiro?Muronaka
The article argues that modern civilization’s prosperity—access to countless products, reliable transportation, and global connectivity—is rooted in fossil fuels, which have enabled over 2 centuries of hydrocarbon advancements, providing more than 6,000 products and fueling the rise of 8 billion people worldwide via innovations such as cars, ships, aircraft, and medical supplies. It emphasizes that wind turbines and solar panels “only generate electricity” and cannot create the materials, fuels, or infrastructure (like EVs, phones, computers, and transportation systems) that rely on petrochemicals. Policymakers pursuing “Net Zero” or decarbonization are criticized for overlooking this dependency, as electricity generation and all its technologies are built from oil-based components. Without alternatives to fossil fuels that can replicate the broad supply chain—from components to transport to consumer products—the shift away from hydrocarbons could imperil basic standards of living, reversing centuries of progress and risking global hardship. [MDN: Again and again, Ron Stein and others have made this very simple-to-understand point: Without fossil fuels, we go back to pre-industrial civilization with rampant disease, early deaths, and mass casualties across the globe. What doesn’t the left get about the truth that oil and natural gas provide more than just fuel to make cars go and fuel to heat your homes? The very components that make up solar farms and wind mills come from fossil fuels! Without fossil fuels, you could literally not manufacture wind and solar devices to generate electricity. Are lefties really so stupid they don’t understand that?]
‘Drill, baby, drill’ is working
Creators Syndicate/Stephen Moore
The column argues that the idea of a renewable energy “transition” was always unrealistic, as the U.S. still derives about 80% of its energy from fossil fuels, and that share is now rising under President Donald Trump. U.S. oil production is forecast to hit record highs in 2025, while natural gas output also continues to expand, thanks to America’s abundant, cheap, and reliable supply. The column contends that domestic energy reserves, worth an estimated $50 trillion, could nearly pay off the national debt and should not be left untapped. It credits fracking and horizontal drilling for transforming the U.S. into an energy superpower over the past 15 years, with production increasing even during Joe Biden’s presidency, though constrained by his environmental regulations. Trump’s policies, by contrast, are framed as delivering both record energy production and lower prices at the pump while bolstering national security by undercutting adversaries like Russia and Iran. [MDN: While the Dem left gleefully proclaims there’s less drilling now than before Trump took office (blaming Trump and announcing “drill, baby, drill” isn’t happening), the numbers say otherwise. You know, drillers get better at what they do. It takes less wells, less drilling to produce MORE oil and gas than it did just a year or two ago. And as Moore points out, we are consistently hitting new highs for oil and gas production—thanks to the miracle of shale energy. Moore is right: Drill, baby, drill is working.]
INTERNATIONAL
Oil rises as ceasefire hopes fade
Bloomberg/Christopher Charleston
Oil prices rose on renewed uncertainty over a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire after President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, where Zelensky emphasized diplomacy but cast doubt on a quick resolution. West Texas Intermediate gained 1% to close at $63.42 a barrel, while Brent crude climbed 1.1% to $66.60. Traders remain cautious, as years of fluctuating ceasefire hopes and sanction threats have kept risk appetite muted. Despite temporary gains, oil futures are down more than 10% this year amid Trump’s trade policies and OPEC+’s plans to boost supply. Trump, who recently met Vladimir Putin in Alaska, suggested Ukraine may need to cede territory, but also faced pressure from European leaders and NATO allies showing support for Kyiv. While he threatened tough new sanctions on Russia and nations buying its crude, Trump has so far only imposed tariffs on India, while holding off on escalating levies against China despite its Russian oil purchases. [MDN: The price is still in great territory in our opinion. These back-benchers criticize Trump all the time. He’s trying to end a war. So what if he treats India (supposedly a democracy) differently than China (our #1 enemy in the world)? Trump is a master negotiator. Give him time and trust the process.]
Qatar to supply 40% of new global LNG by 2030 amid geopolitical tug-of-war
OilPrice.com/Simon Watkins
Qatar is embarking on one of the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion programs globally, aiming to surge its production from 77 million metric tonnes per year (mtpy) today to 110 mtpy by end-2026, 126 mtpy by end-2027, and 142 mtpy by end-2030—thereby accounting for some 40% of all new global LNG supply by 2030. LNG has become a critical emergency energy source following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, due to its flexibility and rapid deployability. Geopolitically, Qatar has carefully navigated its position between East and West—initially forging long-term LNG contracts with China (e.g., in 2021, deals with Sinopec and Guangdong Energy) before expanding agreements with Germany, the U.S., and other European allies. This strategic balancing act highlights Qatar’s growing centrality in the global energy landscape as major powers vie for its increasingly dominant LNG role. [MDN: Keep an eye on the thug dictatorship of Qatar. It’s a major competitor to the U.S. for dominance in LNG exports.]
European gas hits 15-month low
RBN Energy/Kristen Holmquist
Dutch TTF prices have fallen below $10/MMBtu for the first time since late May 2024. Prices, which have been trending down since early August, hit a new low amid the bearish sentiment in the market, especially in Asia. Asian demand is weaker due to higher LNG inventories in China, less demand for power for air conditioning due to a cool spell, and ample LNG supplies in the region. Despite the downward trend, TTF prices are expected to stabilize in the coming month as increased competition for cargoes from outside the region and higher cooling demand are likely to be offset by ample pipeline supply and higher renewable generation. As summer gives way to fall, the market can be expected to tighten somewhat; however, increasing production from the U.S. may have a downward impact on prices, especially in the face of high storage levels. There is still a risk to prices for natural gas should tariffs with the U.S. and/or its trading partners change in the coming months. [MDN: If the Euro weenies actually ended all Russian LNG (and natural gas) imports, the price situation would certainly change. They refuse to end their dependence on Putin’s gas.]