MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Sep 19, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Rising electricity prices put New Jersey governor’s race in play; Gas bills in Massachusetts set to rise again this winter; NATIONAL: Oil drops as Trump says low prices will end RUS-UKR war; U.S. natural gas falls on above-estimate storage build; Lawmakers and industry push for action on SPEED Act at permitting hearing; Plaintiff counsel’s fingerprints on “independent” climate studies; Trump’s Interior Department moves to remove Biden’s conservation rule; US gasoline price projected to drop below $2.90 in 2026; AI runs on power, but power isn’t moving fast enough; INTERNATIONAL: EU will propose ban on Russian LNG by 2027, sources say; Exxon seeks Trump administration’s help in thwarting EU climate law.

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

Rising electricity prices put New Jersey governor’s race in play
Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow/Kevin Mooney
Rising electricity costs are making New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial race suddenly competitive. Democrats—incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy and gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill—are being blamed by Republicans for policies that the GOP says have driven up energy prices, including green mandates, closing coal and nuclear plants, and participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a tax on carbon. Sherrill has proposed freezing utility bills for her first year and hopes to distance herself from Murphy’s energy agenda, but Murphy has expressed skepticism that her plan is feasible. Voters are prioritizing affordability, with many citing soaring energy bills as one of their top concerns, and polls show the race is now essentially tied. [MDN: With a race this close, it’s vital that Republicans keep a close eye out to prevent cheating by the Dems.]

Gas bills in Massachusetts set to rise again this winter
Boston (MA) WCVB ABC/Ben Simmoneau
Massachusetts gas bills are likely to increase again this winter, according to recent proposals from utilities and analyses of their filings. National Grid is suggesting a modest drop in delivery rates (~8-9%) but, because the cost of gas itself is up about 13%, customers won’t see much relief overall. Eversource customers face steeper hikes—with delivery charges rising ~12% plus gas costs up 14-17%—which could mean bills climbing at least 13% compared to last winter. Regulators have not yet approved these proposals, and the final cost to consumers will still depend on how cold the winter is. [MDN: You can “thank” Mass. Gov. Maura Healey and her policies of opposing natural gas pipelines for the high prices. Be sure to send her a “thank you” card.]

NATIONAL

Oil drops as Trump says low prices will end RUS-UKR war
Bloomberg/Mia Gindis, Veena Ali-Khan
Oil prices slipped in volatile trading as U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a preference for low prices over sanctions to pressure Russia, saying cheaper crude would cut Moscow’s war funding. West Texas Intermediate fell 0.7% to $63.57, while Brent dropped 0.8% to $67.44. Markets weighed Trump’s stance against ongoing Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, which have pushed runs below 5 million barrels per day, the lowest since April 2022. Traders also monitored shifting U.S. stockpiles, Fed rate cuts, and OPEC+ supply increases. Analysts noted crude remains range-bound amid competing pressures of weak fundamentals, geopolitics, and expiring contracts. [MDN: Trump is using what he can to pressure thug dictator Putin. Oil companies will scream bloody murder if the price sinks into the $50s, but if that’s what it takes to end the war…]

U.S. natural gas falls on above-estimate storage build
Wall Street Journal
U.S. natural gas futures fell after the EIA reports an above-consensus 90 billion-cubic-foot increase in underground storage, extending the inventory surplus over the five-year average to more than 200 Bcf. Likely contributing to weakness was the loss of cooling degree days for the 5-15 day period, NatGasWeather.com says in a note. The market is “pretty much out of time for late summer heat to inflict damage,” the forecaster says, adding that starting in October, gains in demand for cooling are often offset by loss of heating demand. “Weather patterns will soon need to be cooler than normal to be considered bullish.” Nymex natural gas settled down 5.2% at $2.939/mmBtu. [MDN: Back under $3 again. Bummer.]

Lawmakers and industry push for action on SPEED Act at permitting hearing
Energy in Depth/Willa Shannon
Lawmakers and industry leaders were urging action on the SPEED Act during a recent House Natural Resources hearing, arguing that the U.S. permitting system—especially the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)—is outdated, costly, and causing project delays that hurt both economic development and grid reliability. The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), would impose deadlines for environmental reviews, limit litigation abuse, and offer more regulatory certainty. Support for reform spans both parties, with industry groups such as the American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce warning that the current system hinders the development of needed infrastructure. At the same time, proponents emphasize that efficiency and environmental protection can go hand in hand. [MDN: We need permitting reform, and we need it NOW. Let’s hope this bill can keep the momentum going.]

Plaintiff counsel’s fingerprints on “independent” climate studies
Energy in Depth – Climate & Environment/Mandi Risko
Chevron’s latest filing in Multnomah County’s climate lawsuit accuses plaintiffs’ counsel Roger Worthington and the Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) of secretly shaping evidence presented in court. The motion alleges Worthington failed to disclose his role in crafting climate attribution studies, including a Dartmouth paper funded in part by CJP, while continuing to represent the county for financial gain despite claiming otherwise. Chevron argues these ties undermine claims of neutrality, revealing coordinated efforts between activists, academics, and lawyers to manufacture litigation-friendly science. It asks the court to disregard the allegedly tainted studies and probe broader judicial influence. [MDN: It’s so angering. All of this climate lawfare nonsense is about MONEY. These sleazy lawyers are corrupt in the extreme. And now, they’re being called out for their corruption and money-grubbing abuses.]

Trump’s Interior Department moves to remove Biden’s conservation rule
Institute for Energy Research
The article reports that the Trump administration is proposing to rescind a 2024 Biden-era rule known as the Conservation and Landscape Health rule, which allowed tribes, states, and conservation districts to lease federal land for conservation uses, but excluding other uses. The Interior Department argues that this rule violates the Federal Land Policy and Management Act’s mandate for “multiple use and sustained yield,” because it prioritizes conservation to the exclusion of energy, mining, grazing, and recreation. Critics contend that the rule reduced revenue for both states and the federal government, expanded protections via Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs), and limited public and economic opportunities. [MDN: It’s going to take four years to undo all of the damage done by Biden’s four years. This is yet another example of that.]

US gasoline price projected to drop below $2.90 in 2026
Rigzone/Andreas Exarheas
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) September 9 short-term energy outlook projects U.S. regular gasoline prices will average $3.10 per gallon in 2025, down from $3.31 in 2024, and fall below $2.90 per gallon in 2026, with the West Coast remaining the highest-priced region. Quarterly estimates show prices declining from $3.14 in Q3 2025 to $2.84 in Q4 2026. Recent data show prices around $3.19 per gallon, with the Gulf Coast lowest at $2.77 and the West Coast highest at $4.27. AAA and GasBuddy note seasonal demand drops and expect further declines, assuming a quiet hurricane season. [MDN: Let’s hope it drops below $3. Remember, natural gas above $3, gasoline below $3. That’s the magic line.]

AI runs on power, but power isn’t moving fast enough
RealClearEnergy/Christian Bonilla
Artificial intelligence is rapidly expanding, but America’s power grid struggles to meet its energy demands. While leaders like Trump and Musk warn of insufficient electricity, the U.S. has ample energy resources; the real issue is delivering power to AI data centers efficiently. Building new data centers near existing energy sources, such as natural gas fields, with on-site generation and standardized designs can accelerate deployment, avoiding delays from transmission expansion. Surveys show most developers favor this approach, yet coordination between energy producers and data center operators remains a hurdle. Solving this logistical challenge is crucial for America to lead in AI innovation and reap its societal benefits. [MDN: Yes, build those data centers in shale energy regions, like the M-U! That’s the solution here.]

INTERNATIONAL

EU will propose ban on Russian LNG by 2027, sources say
Reuters/Lili Bayer, John Irish, Julia Payne
The European Commission plans to propose banning Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports by January 1, 2027, a year earlier than initially scheduled, as part of its 19th sanctions package against Moscow, according to EU sources. The package, set to be presented on Friday, will also target Russia’s shadow tanker fleet, cryptocurrency, banks in Russia and Central Asia, Chinese refineries, and customs loopholes used to import dual-use goods for military purposes. The accelerated LNG ban became a priority following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s call with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pushed Europe to cut Russian energy ties sooner. [MDN: As we always say with respect to Europe weaning itself from Russian energy—we’ll believe it when we see it. And not until.]

Exxon seeks Trump administration’s help in thwarting EU climate law
Seeking Alpha/Carl Surran
Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods urged European leaders to repeal the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, calling its potential fines of up to 5% of global revenue “bone-crushing” and the “worst piece of legislation” he has seen. The law, adopted last year, requires companies to address human rights and environmental issues in their supply chains, with enforcement potentially allowing activists or NGOs to challenge compliance. Woods argued that proposed EU amendments are insufficient, claimed the directive harms Europe’s competitiveness, and noted Exxon has gradually exited 19 European operations due to regulatory burdens, discussing these concerns with U.S. officials including former President Trump. [MDN: Europe is driving companies like Exxon out of their countries. We’re not kidding when we say Europe is rapidly descending into Third World Country status.]