MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, Nov 10, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Core Natural explores rare earth mineral mining potential at PA coal sites; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Rockefeller network claims credit for California’s plastic lawfare; NATIONAL: U.S. gas futures extend rally to three weeks; Three U.S. regions each produce more natural gas than most countries; Why U.S. natural gas prices could be headed higher in 2026; US set to produce record amounts of natural gas to meet surging export demand; Propane oversupply meets potential natural gas shortfall; INTERNATIONAL: Oil rises but logs second weekly loss; Oil market appears ‘torn’; Alarmists play long game at COP30; Europe’s LNG demand surge flips global gas market.
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION
Core Natural explores rare earth mineral mining potential at PA coal sites
Pittsburgh Business Times/Paul Gough
Core Natural Resources (CNR), recently formed by the merger of Consol Energy and Arch Resources, is investigating a promising new venture: mining rare earth elements (REMs) and critical minerals from its coal seams. Working with the University of Wyoming, CNR found higher-than-expected concentrations of these vital materials in mines across the U.S., including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the Powder River Basin. REMs and critical minerals, such as lithium and cobalt, are essential for high-tech products like batteries and magnets and are important for national security, with global supply currently dominated by China. CEO Jimmy Brock is “intrigued” by the discovery, but the company’s next step is to determine the feasibility of efficiently separating these elements from coal waste, a process they are currently exploring with subject-matter experts. [MDN: This is an exciting development. You know, the heck the thing is that the U.S. used to be #1 in the world in mining rare earth minerals (ahead of China), until wacko environmentalists shut it all down with lawsuits and publicity campaigns. Once again we’re looking to restart this important activity here at home. It would be wonderful if Core (formerly CONSOL Energy) led the way.]
OTHER U.S. REGIONS
Rockefeller network claims credit for California’s plastic lawfare
Energy in Depth – Climate & Environment/Kyle Kohli
The Rockefeller network orchestrated the California plastic recycling fraud lawsuit, following a playbook previously used in climate deception litigation. A year after the lawsuit was filed, Lee Wasserman, director of the Rockefeller Family Fund (RFF), publicly credited the group’s work, detailing how RFF, Beyond Plastics, and the RFF-funded Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) developed a report outlining alleged decades of deception by ExxonMobil regarding plastic pollution. Wasserman reportedly boasted that California Attorney General Bonta then relied heavily on this CCI report when filing his complaint. The piece asserts that this mirrors a previous strategy of funding research, driving the narrative, and handing a blueprint to a “sympathetic” attorney general, suggesting the lawsuit is part of a broader, long-running campaign to dismantle the oil industry and influence policy by bypassing voters. [MDN: Notice to the Trump administration…The RFF must have its tax-exempt status revoked immediately. It’s time to expose the corruption and (if warranted) prosecute those responsible for this deception and illegal activity in targeting our companies.]
NATIONAL
U.S. gas futures extend rally to three weeks
Wall Street Journal
U.S. natural gas futures rise for a third consecutive week as the market prepares for the first cold snap of the season that’s expected to raise demand in the coming days. “Storage levels remain comfortable and production steady, but early heating demand and strong LNG exports are keeping sentiment firm heading into mid-November,” says Andy Huenefeld of Pinebrook Energy Advisors. “The next few weeks of weather will likely set the tone for how much follow-through this rally has as the market transitions fully into withdrawal season.” Nymex natural gas settled down 1% at $4.315/mmBtu, up 4.6% on the week. [MDN: Simply amazing. We’re still well above $4 when a month ago we struggled to get above $3!]
Three U.S. regions each produce more natural gas than most countries
U.S. Energy Information Administration – Today in Energy
The United States maintained its position as the world’s largest natural gas producer in 2023, generating 104 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), a 75% lead over the second-largest producer, Russia. U.S. production has continued to increase, averaging 106 Bcf/d in the first half of 2025. Three major U.S. regions rank among the top global producers: Appalachia (33 Bcf/d in 2023, second globally), the Permian (21 Bcf/d in 2023, now up to 25 Bcf/d), and Haynesville (15 Bcf/d in 2023). This dominance highlights the scale and increasing output of the country’s domestic natural gas resources. [MDN: If you’ve read MDN for any length of time, you likely already know these facts. However, it’s nice to be reminded of it periodically—that the Marcellus/Utica is the #1 natural gas-producing region in the U.S.]
Why U.S. natural gas prices could be headed higher in 2026
Forbes/Robert Rapier
While oil prices struggle, natural gas has emerged as a stabilizing force and a standout in the global energy mix. U.S. dry-gas production and consumption are set for record highs, with prices forecast to rebound sharply to around $4.20/MMBtu by 2026, driven by expanding LNG exports and tightening supply. Natural gas is the cleanest major fossil fuel, making it a “crucial bridge” for the energy transition by flexibly backing up intermittent renewables. New, consistent demand from surging AI data centers and continued growth in global LNG trade are reinforcing its position as a foundation for both the digital economy and global commerce. Despite risks, its reliability, affordability, and growth potential make it indispensable. [MDN: Can we PLEASE stop repeating the tired, worn-out old lie that natgas is some sort of a bridge to a renewable nirvana future? It’s just not true!]
US set to produce record amounts of natural gas to meet surging export demand
Reuters/Scott Disavino
U.S. energy firms achieved record natural gas production in the third quarter to meet surging domestic and export demand, primarily driven by power-hungry data centers and a boom in LNG exports. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that both supply and demand will hit new peaks in 2025 and 2026. Dry gas production is projected to climb from 103.2 bcfd in 2024 to 107.4 bcfd by 2026, while total consumption is expected to rise from 111.5 bcfd to 117.7 bcfd in the same period. Major producers like Expand Energy and EQT, operating in key shale formations, are increasing output while noting improved capital efficiency, reflecting the industry’s response to robust market conditions. [MDN: We’re hitting new production and new consumption records for natural gas. That’s the news coming from this article.]
Propane oversupply meets potential natural gas shortfall
RBN Energy/Rusty Braziel
Propane is becoming heavily oversupplied due to astronomical U.S. production growth, largely from the Permian Basin’s gassier crude output, pushing prices downward. While most of this surplus is exported (about 70%), record-high domestic inventories are building as domestic retail demand, which is highly sensitive to weather, has plateaued. Simultaneously, surging demand for natural gas from LNG exports and gas-fired power generation (especially for new AI data centers) is driving its price higher. This is narrowing the price spread between propane and natural gas on a Btu-equivalent basis. This new, more favorable relative pricing for propane creates a positive, competitive shift, though sustained growth in domestic retail consumption will still largely depend on how propane fares against electricity and the increasing adoption of heat pumps. [MDN: Just a reminder that propane is an NGL that comes as a byproduct of either natural gas or oil drilling. Companies don’t drill for propane specifically.]
INTERNATIONAL
Oil rises but logs second weekly loss
Bloomberg/A. Longley, M. Gindis, W. Kubzansky
Oil closed higher Friday, with West Texas Intermediate settling near $60, but still marked a second weekly loss as the market balanced sanctions on Russian output against looming oversupply. US curbs prompted Gunvor Group to withdraw a bid for Lukoil assets, though a potential exemption for Hungary briefly eased shortage fears. Senior figures warn that the sanctions are impacting the market, particularly for diesel, but this happens against a backdrop of anticipated record oversupply into 2026, according to the IEA. While US crude production remains robust and inventories fell in October, the expected slowdown in Chinese stockpiling could remove a key price support. Traders are now awaiting crucial supply-demand reports. [MDN: WTI for December delivery rose 0.54% to settle at $59.75 a barrel. Brent for January climbed 0.39% to settle at $63.63 a barrel. [MDN: Pretty much back to the $60s, even for WTI.]
Oil market appears ‘torn’
Rigzone/Andreas Exarheas
Standard Chartered Bank’s Emily Ashford describes the oil market as “torn,” grappling with the media narrative of an impending supply glut versus unpredictable U.S. policy and evolving trade war implications. The bank’s SCORPIO machine learning model forecasts Brent crude to settle at $66.56 per barrel next Monday [today], a $1.67 increase. Despite the forecast, Standard Chartered’s core view is that market sentiment is “overwhelmingly negative,” expecting near-term weakness from perceived oversupply and global demand indicators. They anticipate that subsequent low prices will eventually curb U.S. shale output, leading to supportive market tightness in the medium term, projecting Brent averages of $68.50 in 2025 and $63.50 in 2026. Separately, J.P. Morgan analysts noted a weekly decrease in open interest value across energy markets, primarily driven by outflows in natural gas, though partially offset by inflows in crude oil and refined products. [MDN: The bottom line appears to be oil in the $60s, not only for 2025, but also for 2026.]
Alarmists play long game at COP30
Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)/David Wojick
Despite a perceived stall in climate alarmism due to political and economic factors, diplomats at COP30 are busy negotiating the future, focusing on long-term policy and finance. Major discussions revolve around money issues, including mechanisms like global taxes, the delayed $100 billion annual payment from developed to developing nations, and creating a roadmap for a future target of $1.3 trillion. While new emission reduction targets lack ambition, a significant long-term development is the formal launch of the small, $250 million Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). This fund is pivotal because its initial call for project funding requests will force negotiators to define what qualifies as climate loss or damage and which countries are eligible for compensation—questions that will shape future climate finance. The popular idea that COP30 is a dead end is incorrect, as the focus is simply shifting to future-oriented “busy-work.” [MDN: We must be vigilant in defeating (and keeping defeated) the money-grubbers who use “climate” as their excuse for a worldwide tax. They can go (expletive deleted) themselves. U.S. taxpayers will not contribute one cent to this madness.]
Europe’s LNG demand surge flips global gas market
OilPrice.com/Irina Slav
Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand has undergone a significant shift this year, with Asia’s imports weakening by over 14 million tons in the first ten months, driven partly by reduced purchases from China. Conversely, Europe’s imports have substantially surged by 16.75 million tons, effectively offsetting Asia’s decline, despite the EU’s plans to reduce hydrocarbon consumption. This spike in European demand is reportedly pricing out price-sensitive Asian importers. The emerging European LNG market faces headwinds, however, as major exporters like Exxon and Qatar threaten to quit the EU over new corporate sustainability legislation. While some analysts predict a future glut and a long-term demand drop in Europe due to renewables, the article concludes that unpredictable weather and potentially cheaper LNG will likely ensure a continued strong global reliance on natural gas. [MDN: Europe will have to change its onerous regulations that it’s trying to impose on the U.S. and the world. That’s a given. The question is one of timing.]