MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Dec 11, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas picks up ahead of storage data; Kinder Morgan expects to ride on LNG, power demand growth; Democrat lawmakers renew push to regulate natgas pipeline emissions; Exxon’s low carbon cuts mesh with Trump’s energy priorities; INTERNATIONAL: Crude rises after US seizes Venezuelan tanker; COP30 – 50,000 participants for what?; Hydrogen dreams meet reality as oil and gas groups abandon projects; Former UK Prime Minister says Europe ‘insanely jealous’ of US economy.

NATIONAL

U.S. natural gas picks up ahead of storage data
Wall Street Journal
U.S. natural gas futures recover ground after selling off the previous two days, settling modestly higher ahead of tomorrow’s weekly storage data. The EIA report is expected to show the first major inventory withdrawal of the season, reflecting unusually cold early December weather. Natural gas stocks are seen down by 173 Bcf to 3,750 Bcf, according to a WSJ survey of analysts, reducing the surplus over the 5-year average to 107 Bcf from 191 Bcf the previous week. Nymex natural gas settles up 0.5% at $4.595/mmBtu. [MDN: Less supply with more demand equals higher prices.]

Kinder Morgan expects to ride on LNG, power demand growth
Rigzone
Kinder Morgan Inc. forecasts strong 2026 growth, projecting adjusted earnings per share of $1.37 and $8.7 billion in EBITDA, representing increases of 8% and 4% respectively over 2025. Driven by surging demand in the liquefied natural gas and power sectors, the company plans to increase its annualized dividend to $1.19. CEO Kim Dang highlighted a record $9.3 billion project backlog, primarily in natural gas infrastructure, to support expected 20% demand growth by 2030. Additionally, favorable tax policies and a healthy balance sheet will support $3.4 billion in discretionary capital investments, reinforcing Kinder Morgan’s leadership in American energy infrastructure. [MDN: It’s a good time to be a gas pipeline company.]

Democrat lawmakers renew push to regulate natgas pipeline emissions
Pipeline Technology Journal
U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, alongside a coalition of lawmakers, introduced the FERC Greenhouse Gas and Environmental Justice Policy Act of 2025. This legislation mandates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to rigorously assess the impact of proposed natural gas pipelines on climate change and environmental justice communities. Seeking to codify a 2022 draft policy, the bill requires FERC to determine if environmental effects can be mitigated while ensuring energy reliability. Supported by environmental groups and fellow Democrats, the measure aims to protect vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by the climate crisis and fossil fuel infrastructure. [MDN: More posturing for the radical environmental base of the Democrat Party. This bill will no nowhere. More of the same from the Dems—they hate fossil energy and seek to destroy it any way they can.]

Exxon’s low carbon cuts mesh with Trump’s energy priorities
Forbes
The Trump administration’s revised National Security Strategy champions “Energy Dominance,” elevating fossil fuels and nuclear power while rejecting Net Zero ideologies to secure national interests. In a parallel move reflecting this policy and shifting market dynamics, ExxonMobil announced a five-year plan reducing low-carbon investments by one-third to prioritize profitable core oil and gas projects. This realignment addresses fading ESG trends and rising global demand driven by sectors like AI. As Washington adjusts policies to leverage American energy abundance, ExxonMobil’s pivot signals a broader industry trend, with peer companies likely to follow suit in prioritizing traditional energy production over green initiatives. [MDN: Exxon was already moving in this direction before Trump entered office for the second time. However, Trump is certainly providing support to Big Oil to return to its roots and give up the fantasy of unreliable renewables.]

INTERNATIONAL

Crude rises after US seizes Venezuelan tanker
Bloomberg
Oil futures rebounded, with WTI settling above $58, after US forces seized a sanctioned Venezuelan tanker. This escalation introduces short-term supply risks by complicating Venezuelan exports, though analysts expect any disruption to be limited as the administration aims to contain prices. Despite geopolitical tensions, including a separate Ukrainian attack on a Russian tanker, bearish oversupply factors persist. The US forecasts record domestic production of 13.6 million barrels daily, and recent data highlights surging fuel inventories. Meanwhile, India’s continued purchase of sanctioned Russian oil further eases fears of a global supply crunch. [MDN: WTI for January delivery gained 0.36% to settle at $58.46 a barrel. Brent for February settlement advanced 0.44% to settle at $62.21. Prices went up, a little. The Venezuelan tanker kerfuffle didn’t move prices all that much if you ask us.]

COP30 – 50,000 participants for what?
MasterResource
Robert Bradley Jr. characterizes the recent COP30 conference in Belém as a chaotic failure that highlighted the hypocrisy of the current climate agenda. The article cites criticisms from Adrian Hayes and others, noting that 50,000 delegates—including hundreds in private jets—gathered in a facility built by razing Amazon rainforests, sparking indigenous protests. Critics argue the “Net Zero” focus has drifted from true environmentalism toward profit-driven motives, ignoring immediate pollution issues. Despite some attendees claiming victory, the conference failed to secure binding fossil-fuel phase-outs or adequate funding, leading Bradley to conclude that climate alarmism is intellectually and politically retreating. [MDN: This is a great post that sums up the futility of COP30 and the climate alarmists.]

Hydrogen dreams meet reality as oil and gas groups abandon projects
Financial Times
Nearly 60 major low-carbon hydrogen projects were cancelled or paused this year by giants like BP and ExxonMobil, citing spiraling costs, policy uncertainty, and a lack of buyers. These setbacks affect 4.9 million tonnes of potential output, highlighting the difficulty of scaling clean hydrogen against cheaper fossil-fuel alternatives. Despite substantial public funding, infrastructure delays and political shifts—including reduced U.S. support—have stalled progress. While some view this as natural market maturation, the slowdown jeopardizes global net-zero goals, with the International Energy Agency predicting that only a quarter of the projects planned for 2030 will ultimately be constructed. [MDN: What have we been saying for well over a year now? That hydrogen energy is a great idea, but we don’t see any buyers lining up for it, demanding huge new supplies of hydrogen. No customers equals no reason to make it. And that is precisely what is happening. The whole hydrogen energy space is collapsing.]

Former UK Prime Minister says Europe ‘insanely jealous’ of US economy
Newsmax
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss appeared on Newsmax to urge European leaders to emulate President Donald Trump’s economic policies, arguing that the United States is significantly outpacing a stagnant Europe. Claiming that Europeans are “insanely jealous” of American economic performance, Truss noted that Britain is now poorer per capita than Mississippi. She specifically advocated for adopting Trump’s approach to energy dominance through expanded drilling and fracking, alongside significant tax cuts, to reverse falling living standards. Truss asserted that American leadership is currently shaping global debates on trade and foreign policy, while Europe lags behind. [MDN: Liz Truss is one of the few European leaders worth listening to. She’s perceptive that Europe could quickly reverse its malaise by drilling and fracking for oil and gas.]