MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, Dec 1, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Hawaii’s return to gas puts energy reliability in the spotlight; NATIONAL: Trump issues EO to launch DOE-led Genesis Mission; Gunvor eyes investment in U.S. oil and gas; Many fighting climate change worry they are losing the information war; A few markers on the road to the demise of the climate apocalypse; America’s power grid will be able to withstand the $2.5T A.I. datacenter boom; Cummins X15N marks return of natural gas to class 8 trucking; INTERNATIONAL: Oil notches fourth monthly drop; OPEC+ holds oil output steady, agrees capacity mechanism; OPEC’s numbers are an exercise in artistic deception; Carney loses Quebec minister after energy deal; Europe’s drilling comeback challenges US energy pledges.

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

Hawaii’s return to gas puts energy reliability in the spotlight
OilPrice.com
Hawaii aims for 100% low-emission energy by 2045 but currently faces the nation’s highest electricity rates due to geographic isolation and reliance on imported oil. To address affordability and ensure reliable baseload power following coal plant closures, the current administration is pivoting to liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, recently signing a preliminary deal with Japan’s JERA. While critics argue this reliance on hydrocarbons undermines long-term decarbonization goals, the state prioritizes energy security and lower costs. Similar to Germany’s strategy, Hawaii views gas as a necessary bridge to stabilize the grid against the intermittency of renewable sources. [MDN: Another Democrat blue state hits the wall of reality and backs down from its lunatic strategy of ending the use of fossil fuels. Folks, it’s NEVER going to happen—not in our lifetimes.]

NATIONAL

Trump issues EO to launch DOE-led Genesis Mission
Rigzone
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order launching the Genesis Mission, a historic Department of Energy initiative led by Under Secretary Darío Gil. Mobilizing 17 National Laboratories and private industry, the mission aims to address American energy dominance, scientific discovery, and national security. By harnessing advanced AI, supercomputing, and quantum technologies, the project intends to double scientific productivity within a decade. Secretary Chris Wright compared the initiative’s ambition to the Manhattan Project, stating the mission will build a massive integrated platform to ensure U.S. global leadership in technology, modernize energy grids, and strengthen defense capabilities. [MDN: In normal times, everyone would applaud this. We don’t live in normal times. Trump could discover the cure for cancer, and the leftist nutjobs would refuse to take it due to their severe Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). They are mentally unbalanced. This new mission has all the earmarks of something great.]

Gunvor eyes investment in U.S. oil and gas
OilPrice.com
Swiss commodity trader Gunvor is exploring asset purchases in the U.S. oil and gas sector to improve relations with the Trump administration. This strategic shift follows Washington’s intervention against Gunvor’s $22 billion bid for Russian major Lukoil, during which President Trump labeled the firm a “Russian puppet.” Instead of direct acquisitions, Gunvor plans to finance expansion for U.S.-based independent companies, likely focusing on natural gas assets. The company recently backed a Texas firm’s bid for Eagle Ford assets and has publicly affirmed the U.S. market as a critical growth area for future investment. [MDN: Europe now wants a piece of U.S. shale action. Don’t tell the loony left.]

Many fighting climate change worry they are losing the information war
New York (NY) Times
Ten years after the Paris Agreement, climate advocates fear they are losing the information war as denial and disinformation surge globally. Despite earlier hopes that scientific consensus would drive decisive action, the oil, gas, and coal industries—supported by oil-rich nations like the United States—are successfully downplaying the dangers of fossil fuels. At the 2025 United Nations climate talks in Brazil, delegates expressed alarm that intensive lobbying and shifting political landscapes are undermining international efforts. Rather than fading, organized climate denial has returned with renewed force, threatening to stall the critical progress needed to combat dangerous global heating. [MDN: The left is still waging a propaganda war of misinformation. What the left calls “disinformation,” we call actual, real science. It is the left that is engaged in a disinformation war. People are seeing through it, and that fact drives them bonkers.]

A few markers on the road to the demise of the climate apocalypse
Manhattan Contrarian
Francis Menton argues the “climate apocalypse scare” is collapsing, evidenced by several recent markers. He points to the lack of media coverage and absence of key world leaders at the 2025 COP 30 conference in Brazil. Menton highlights the financial and organizational implosion of major environmental groups, noting the Sierra Club’s massive membership loss and 350.org’s suspension of operations. Furthermore, the International Energy Agency reversed its previous “peak oil” prediction, now acknowledging that oil demand will likely grow through 2050. Menton suggests these failures and a renewed industry focus on fossil fuels signal the movement’s decline. [MDN: Menton is correct, as usual, with his insights. The global warming mob is collapsing in on itself.]

America’s power grid will be able to withstand the $2.5T A.I. datacenter boom
Forbes
Tech giants plan to double AI-related power consumption by 2030, driving a $2.5 trillion investment in computing and energy infrastructure. Although grid limitations currently delay some projects, experts anticipate the U.S. will successfully meet this demand through rapid capital deployment. Companies are increasingly bypassing traditional utilities with “behind-the-meter” solutions, partnering with oil majors like Chevron to leverage abundant natural gas, which Goldman Sachs predicts will fuel 60% of new data center power. Alongside a nuclear renaissance and grid efficiency improvements, the immense financial resources of hyperscalers ensure they will secure the necessary energy to sustain AI development. [MDN: Chris Helman, author of this article, is correct. Data centers will need to build their own gas-fired power plants. That’s the only feasible solution.]

Cummins X15N marks return of natural gas to class 8 trucking
Commercial Carrier Journal
Natural gas has reemerged as a serious contender in heavy-duty trucking, driven by Cummins’ 2025 launch of the X15N 15-liter engine. While the fuel source struggled post-2010 due to underpowered engines and was later overshadowed by battery-electric hype, EV production delays have renewed interest in gas. The X15N reportedly resolves earlier performance issues, offering a competitive alternative to diesel. Despite persistent challenges like higher upfront costs, infrastructure requirements, and complex fueling systems, natural gas provides significant emission reductions and domestic energy security, securing its position as a strong option in the transitioning freight industry. [MDN: No more talk of big rigs running on batteries (what a DUMB idea). Natgas is back and fleet rigs have a new choice with the X15N.]

INTERNATIONAL

Oil notches fourth monthly drop
Bloomberg
Oil posted its fourth consecutive monthly loss as West Texas Intermediate settled below $59 a barrel, driven by expectations of a global glut and potential geopolitical de-escalation. Prices dipped late in the session following reports of a call between President Trump and Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, alongside indications of potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine that could eventually release sanctioned supplies. Amid a disruptive CME trading outage, traders looked ahead to Sunday’s virtual OPEC+ meeting, where the cartel is expected to pause output increases until early 2026. US oil is down 18% this year as non-OPEC production rises. [MDN: We’re still not panicking over the ever-so-gradual sinking of the oil price. We’re still close to the $60s for WTI, and Brent is still in the $60s. WTI for January delivery fell 0.2% to settle at $58.55 a barrel on Friday, while Brent for February edged down 0.8% to settle at $62.38 a barrel.]

OPEC+ holds oil output steady, agrees capacity mechanism
Reuters
OPEC+ has agreed to maintain current oil output levels through the first quarter of 2026, prioritizing market stability over market share amid fears of a supply glut. With Brent crude down 15% this year, the group is keeping over 3 million barrels per day of cuts in place, representing approximately 3% of global demand. This decision coincides with uncertain supply dynamics tied to potential U.S.-brokered peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine. Additionally, the group approved a mechanism to assess member production capacities throughout 2026, which will help establish output baselines and quotas for 2027. [MDN: This is the brave face put on by OPEC+. Now we’ll see if its members will obey the quotas. History suggests they won’t.]

OPEC’s numbers are an exercise in artistic deception
Bloomberg
Facing a looming 2026 oil price crash, OPEC+ confronts a severe credibility crisis reminiscent of the 1980s. The cartel is plagued by members cheating on quotas and exploiting loopholes to exclude non-crude liquids from official counts. Current mechanisms to address overproduction have failed, as nations ignore compensation promises. To regain market control, the article argues OPEC+ must abandon obfuscation for total transparency, accurate data reporting, and strict adherence to realistic, unified quotas. While falling prices will likely necessitate output cuts, the group’s immediate priority must be restoring trust through honesty and expedited production audits. [MDN: An excellent and honest review of OPEC members’ lying through the years.]

Carney loses Quebec minister after energy deal
Bloomberg
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faced his first major cabinet rift as Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault resigned over a new oil pipeline agreement with Alberta. Guilbeault, a former Greenpeace activist, criticized the deal for lacking Indigenous consultation and posing significant environmental risks. He further condemned the government’s dismantling of previous climate policies, such as the oil and gas emissions cap. The controversial pact pledges federal support for a West Coast pipeline in exchange for Alberta raising industrial carbon prices. Guilbeault’s resignation signals potential political instability in Quebec, a crucial electoral stronghold where the former activist remains highly influential. [MDN: We find it amusing (and gratifying) to see leftist dolts like Mark Carney flail about when governing actually hits reality. He was anti-fossil fuel when he began his reign, and now he’s finding out the U.S. is not going to prop up his failing country anymore with our lax import policies (not more screwing the U.S.), so he’s turning to a natural resource Canada has in abundance for revenue: oil. And his leftist buddies are enraged when he backpedals. It’s fun to watch!]

Europe’s drilling comeback challenges US energy pledges
Reuters
European countries are reversing strict opposition to new oil and gas drilling, prioritizing energy security following the 2022 price shocks. Nations including Greece, Italy, and Britain are reviving domestic exploration to reduce reliance on costly imports, particularly from the U.S. and Russia. Although the region remains committed to 2050 carbon neutrality through renewable expansion, governments now view domestic natural gas as a critical transitional resource. This strategic shift aims to stabilize energy supplies and lower costs while balancing immediate needs with long-term climate goals. [MDN: The Euro weenies are finally waking up! Who knew? Although, the UK is still lagging behind the others with their idiotic policies to block fracking and new drilling in the North Sea (and on land). Watch for that to change, too.]