MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Tue, Dec 23, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: New York unheated EV school bus horror; Spanberger to name energy czar to address power demand, cost; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas settles lower in choppy trade; Dakota Access Pipeline – common sense energy vindicated; America’s energy economy – why natural gas and nuclear still matter; Climate faithful admit need for fossil fuels; The data center water crisis isn’t real; INTERNATIONAL: Crude settles higher as US tightens Venezuela blockade; The world’s population explosion demands new energy and electricity channels.

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

New York unheated EV school bus horror
Watts Up With That?
In New York, a fleet of electric school buses has sparked outrage after heating failures left students shivering in freezing temperatures during their morning commutes. Reports highlight that the battery-powered vehicles struggle to maintain cabin warmth in extreme cold, as the energy required for heating significantly depletes the driving range. This technological shortcoming forced drivers to choose between reaching destinations or keeping children warm. Parents and officials have labeled the situation a “horror,” criticizing the state’s aggressive mandate to transition to electric fleets without ensuring reliability. The incident underscores growing concerns regarding the practical limitations of EVs in harsh winter climates. [MDN: NY has a mandate that all new school buses purchased beginning in 2027 be electric. IT’S ASININE! Just come live here for a month in the winter. EV school buses are one of the stupidest ideas EVER. Unfortunately, the state is populated with stupid people who run it, and it’s not going to change. The state is doomed. Welcome (or goodbye) to New York.]

Spanberger to name energy czar to address power demand, cost
Newport News (VA) Virginian-Pilot
Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has announced the creation of a new “energy czar” position to tackle the state’s rising electricity demands and increasing utility costs. This strategic role, officially titled the Director of Energy Policy, will be tasked with coordinating state agencies to ensure Virginia maintains a reliable and affordable power grid. The initiative specifically targets the immense energy needs of the booming data center industry while balancing the transition toward cleaner energy sources. By centralizing energy oversight, Spanberger aims to protect consumers from surging rates and streamline infrastructure development to support the Commonwealth’s long-term economic growth and energy security. [MDN: Spanberger continues to hate natural gas and is against building new pipelines and gas-fired power plants. From the article: “However, I think when it comes to new natural gas infrastructure, that’s where we really need to be focused and sort of thinking carefully about the lifespan of those projects and whether indeed they are the most cost-effective solution,” she said. She stupidly remains fully committed to unreliable renewables. You can’t fix stupid. Virginia chose wrong.]

NATIONAL

U.S. natural gas settles lower in choppy trade
Wall Street Journal
U.S. natural gas futures slip in volatile trade, picking up from early lows after midday weather forecasts added some cold to the outlook that had already turned colder over the weekend. “The weather data is still bearish overall, just not nearly as impressively so for Dec. 29-31 and also for Jan. 1-4,” NatGasWeather.com says in a note. “We were expecting stronger cold shots into the northern U.S. during the first week of January, and now some of the data is starting to show it,” the forecaster adds. Nymex natural gas settles down 0.5% at $3.965/mmBtu. [MDN: It went down a couple of pennies. But we’re still within spitting distance of $4 gas, which is a Christmas present for all of us.]

Dakota Access Pipeline – common sense energy vindicated
Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)
After a decade of controversy, the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) has proven to be a vital asset for American energy independence and economic growth. Despite early protests and alarmist narratives regarding environmental risks, the pipeline has safely transported over 500,000 barrels daily since 2017. By shifting oil transport from rail to pipeline, DAPL has increased safety, lowered shipping costs, and generated nearly $800 million in tax revenue for North Dakota’s infrastructure and education. Ultimately, the project has transitioned from a focal point of activism to a model of reliability that bolsters national security and regional prosperity. [MDN: Time to make antis pay for their violence against this righteous project.]

America’s energy economy – why natural gas and nuclear still matter
RealClearEnergy
This article argues that natural gas and nuclear energy are indispensable pillars of the U.S. economy, contributing trillions to the GDP and supporting millions of high-wage jobs. Accounting for roughly 8% of the total economy, these sectors provide essential baseload power and critical feedstocks for manufacturing, agriculture, and consumer goods. The authors emphasize that while innovation is necessary, a realistic energy policy must leverage these existing strengths to ensure national reliability and affordability. Ultimately, treating these resources as strategic assets—rather than political talking points—is vital for maintaining American industrial competitiveness and long-term economic prosperity. [MDN: The Democrats and environmental left have demagogued natgas and nuclear for years. They should be held accountable (politically and, potentially, criminally) for their dangerous lies and smears. At a minimum, it’s time to kick them out of office.]

Climate faithful admit need for fossil fuels
CO2 Coalition
The article argues that climate activists and policymakers are increasingly acknowledging the indispensable role of fossil fuels despite their public commitment to a green energy transition. It highlights that the physical and economic realities of energy demand often clash with ambitious decarbonization goals, forcing a quiet admission that renewables currently lack the reliability and scale to power modern civilization. The piece suggests that this shift in rhetoric reflects a growing realization that “Net Zero” targets are impractical and potentially damaging. Ultimately, the author contends that fossil fuels remain essential for global prosperity and energy security, regardless of prevailing climate narratives. [MDN: Some climateers are admitting reason, others are not. Some continue their green grifting because they profit from it. Always, follow the money.]

The data center water crisis isn’t real
Pirate Wires
In this article, Andy Masley challenges the prevailing “AI water doomerism” by debunking claims that data centers are causing a water crisis. Using physics and detailed calculations, Masley argues that major media outlets often publish misleading or inaccurate statistics regarding the water consumption of AI technologies. He asserts that data centers do not consume excessive amounts of water and, in some instances, can actually improve local water access. By exposing errors in prominent books and reports, Masley’s research suggests that the environmental impact of AI is significantly exaggerated, countering widespread fears with data-driven analysis and technical context. [MDN: The paydirt quote from the article: “If the total power and water draw of US data centers triples by 2030, as projected, they’d require just 8% of the water consumed by American golf courses and about 1% of the water consumed by irrigated corn farming.”]

INTERNATIONAL

Crude settles higher as US tightens Venezuela blockade
Bloomberg
Oil prices rose on Monday, with West Texas Intermediate settling above $58 a barrel, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions as the US intensified its blockade of Venezuela. The US Coast Guard’s boarding of the Centuries tanker and the pursuit of another vessel signal an escalating campaign to squeeze Nicolas Maduro’s revenue. Additional supply risks emerged following Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian tankers and energy facilities. Despite these spikes, analysts suggest the gains may be temporary; a global oversupply and slowing demand continue to drive a long-term downward price trend, leaving major commodity advisers heavily short on oil. [MDN: WTI for February delivery rose 2.4% to settle at $58.01 a barrel. Brent for February settlement rose 2.7% to settle at $62.07 a barrel. Do you hear the panic in the voice of the reporters? “Oil is higher, but but but it’ll go lower, just you wait and see!” They’re trying to talk down the price of oil.]

The world’s population explosion demands new energy and electricity channels
America Out Loud News
The global population surge, set to reach 10 billion by 2050, creates an urgent need for massive energy expansion to alleviate “energy poverty” in developing nations. While Western policies often emphasize intermittent wind and solar power, the article argues these sources are insufficient and too expensive for the scale required. Instead, it advocates for a diverse energy mix, prioritizing reliable baseload power from fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Neglecting these proven sources risks global instability and keeps billions in poverty. Ultimately, the author contends that realistic energy strategies must prioritize abundance and reliability over idealistic mandates to sustain humanity’s future. [MDN: The environmental left is on a dangerous mission to exterminate future generations with unreliable renewables. Forget that. We need reliable fossil energy for the next 50-100 years.]