MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jan 23, 2026 [FREE ACCESS]

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Boston Partners increases stake in Range Resources Corp; Facts over fear with shale gas waste management; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Glenfarne says Texas LNG capacity fully committed; CT Green Bank sues bankrupt PosiGen for $22 million in loans; NATIONAL: EIA forecasts near-term U.S. crude oil production will remain near 2025 record; Solar capacity increases, but firm power drops to 2004 levels; INTERNATIONAL: Oil slides on rising supply, peace hopes; Halliburton exports its oil gear as fracking goes global; South Korea’s developing net zero debacle.

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION

Boston Partners increases stake in Range Resources Corp
GuruFocus
On December 31, 2025, Boston Partners closed the year by boosting its stake in Range Resources Corp, adding 1,389,732 shares at $35.26 each. This 11.76% increase brings their total holdings to over 13.2 million shares, representing 0.48% of their $75 billion portfolio. The current ratio of Boston Partners’ holdings in Range Resources Corp stands at 5.57%. Known for its disciplined value-equity focus, the firm utilized its signature blend of fundamental and quantitative research to double down on this Marcellus Shale operator. This move highlights Boston Partners’ commitment to finding valuation gems, proving that even with a flat management structure, they aren’t afraid to lean into energy sector momentum. [MDN: This is beginning to be a sizable stake—5.6%. We are happy as long as Boston Partners remains a silent investor and doesn’t turn activist.]

Facts over fear with shale gas waste management
Marcellus Shale Coalition
The article by the Marcellus Shale Coalition emphasizes that Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry adheres to stringent regulations to protect public health and the environment. Addressing concerns regarding radioactivity and waste, the piece highlights that over 90% of produced water is recycled. It references Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection studies confirming there is little potential for radiation exposure to workers or the public from shale operations. The coalition critiques activist-driven narratives, arguing they ignore scientific data. Ultimately, the industry remains committed to transparent, science-based waste management practices that ensure operational safety and environmental stewardship. [MDN: The left uses quick-hit lies, repeating them constantly, to fleece the general public about “radioactive” shale wastewater. We must respond just as constantly to set the record straight and expose the lies. This piece does a great job.]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

Glenfarne says Texas LNG capacity fully committed
Rigzone
Glenfarne Group LLC has finalized the marketing phase for its Texas LNG project by signing a 20-year, one million metric tons per annum supply agreement with RWE Supply & Trading. This deal completes the project’s capacity requirements alongside previous contracts with EQT, Macquarie, and Gunvor. Located in the Port of Brownsville, the terminal utilizes low-emission electric drive motors and integrated greenhouse gas monitoring. With marketing concluded, Glenfarne is now prioritizing financing to reach a final investment decision in early 2026. The Department of Energy-approved facility will consist of two liquefaction trains constructed by Kiewit. [MDN: Good progress on this facility, which will (one day) use at least some M-U molecules.]

CT Green Bank sues bankrupt PosiGen for $22 million in loans
Inside Investigator
The Connecticut Green Bank (CGB) is suing PosiGen and Brookfield Asset Partners to recover $22.2 million in outstanding loans following PosiGen’s recent bankruptcy. CGB alleges that Brookfield engineered a default to strip assets and prioritize its own debt, leaving the quasi-public agency with little recourse. The situation is further complicated by potential ethical scrutiny regarding former CGB director Ben Healey, who joined PosiGen shortly before several multi-million dollar loans were approved. While CGB defends its ethical compliance and financial practices, private solar developers continue to criticize the agency for competing with private industry and mismanaging funds. [MDN: Green grifters defrauding banks and the government. Typical. Unreliable renewables can’t exist apart from heavy subsidies and special loans.]

NATIONAL

EIA forecasts near-term U.S. crude oil production will remain near 2025 record
U.S. Energy Information Administration – Today in Energy
The January 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook predicts U.S. crude oil production will hold steady at 13.6 million b/d this year before sliding to 13.3 million b/d in 2027. This marks the first annual decline since 2021, primarily triggered by West Texas Intermediate prices plummeting toward $50/b—well below Permian Basin breakeven costs. While Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico may see record-breaking growth from new projects, these gains won’t fully counteract the drilling slowdown in the Lower 48. Essentially, the era of record-smashing output is hitting a price-driven speed bump. [MDN: We always find these forecasts laughable. So many things can happen globally between now and 2027 to change the course of oil production. We suppose a prediction is better than no prediction, even if it’s destined to be wrong.]

Solar capacity increases, but firm power drops to 2004 levels
Institute for Energy Research
In 2025, U.S. solar capacity surged by 25 gigawatts, yet reliable “firm capacity” from natural gas, nuclear, and coal plummeted to levels last seen in 2004. While intermittent wind and solar resources expanded through subsidies and mandates, they often fail to generate power during peak demand, threatening overall grid reliability. This shift toward an expensive dual power system, combined with skyrocketing demand from AI data centers and increased electrification, contributed to a 27% increase in electricity prices during the Biden administration. Consequently, states like Virginia are implementing new rate structures for large-scale consumers to protect residential homeowners from escalating costs. [MDN: Danger, Will Robinson! We’re heading into the danger zone. Unreliable renewables will create blackouts. We need more dispatchable (natgas, coal, nuke) energy and less unreliable renewables.]

INTERNATIONAL

Oil slides on rising supply, peace hopes
Bloomberg/Rigzone
The WTI oil price dropped 2.1%, driven by swelling US inventories and optimism surrounding Russia-Ukraine peace talks that could eventually ease sanctions. Supply pressures mounted as Kazakh pipeline repairs neared completion, Venezuelan exports returned, and India continued purchasing Russian crude. Although the International Energy Agency marginally increased its demand growth forecasts, it maintained a surplus outlook for the year. Market strategists note that while geopolitical tensions have cooled, prices may find a floor due to upcoming cold weather and unresolved supply risks. Ultimately, the market remains weighed down by a significant global supply glut. [MDN: WTI for March delivery fell 2.1% to settle at $59.36 a barrel. Brent for March settlement fell 1.8% to settle at $64.06.]

Halliburton exports its oil gear as fracking goes global
Bloomberg
Halliburton Co. is shifting idled fracking equipment from the United States to international markets as the domestic shale boom slows. With U.S. drilling activity declining since 2022 due to lower spending and falling prices, the company is targeting growth in Latin America, particularly Brazil, Argentina, and Guyana. CEO Jeff Miller emphasized that while domestic producers now require advanced technology to extract oil from maturing fields, global expansion remains a priority. This strategy includes a potential return to Venezuela following recent political shifts, allowing Halliburton to capitalize on international unconventional business as North American demand plateaus. [MDN: This is unfortunate. We understand it, but wish there was more drilling here at home.]

South Korea’s developing net zero debacle
CO2 Coalition
South Korea is pivoting from fossil fuels to renewables, aiming to slash coal and LNG power generation to 20% by 2038. Critic Vijay Jayaraj labels this shift “national masochism,” arguing that intermittent energy sources like wind and solar threaten the stability of the country’s industrial core, including semiconductors and steel. Drawing parallels to economic decline in the U.K. and Germany, the author warns that relying on “unproven” hydrogen technologies will trigger deindustrialization. While nuclear power provides a reliable alternative, Jayaraj contends it cannot be deployed fast enough to prevent the economic ruin caused by abandoning fossil fuels. [MDN: South Korea is one of (maybe THE) largest shipbuilding countries in the world. It also manufactures a lot of other products. That’s all now in danger due to this suicidal net zero quest.]