MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Tue, Jan 20, 2026 [FREE ACCESS]

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: The grid is warning Pennsylvania; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Valero to cut 200+ jobs as California refinery closes; Pipeline construction reaches an 18-year high on natural gas demand; Michigan to study white hydrogen’s potential; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas slips ahead of long weekend; EIA inventory report weighs on futures despite cold forecast; How to add 300 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2050; Should data center companies learn from the fracking boom?; Top 6 American energy trends to watch in 2026; Trump sends a geothermal love letter to coal, oil, and natural gas; INTERNATIONAL: Crude settles higher after volatile week; Canada comes to grips with financial and energy needs.

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION

The grid is warning Pennsylvania
RealClearPennsylvania
Pennsylvania faces a severe energy crisis as the PJM Interconnection grid reports a large capacity shortfall, threatening power for millions of homes. This deficit, underscored by record auction prices, reflects a failure to build new generation infrastructure amidst rising demand and regulatory hurdles. Coterra’s Bill desRosiers argues that Pennsylvania must leverage its vast natural gas reserves to secure the grid’s future. The article promotes Senate Bill 1106, which utilizes tax credits to incentivize private investment in baseload power. By aligning public goals with private capital, Pennsylvania can ensure energy reliability and affordability while reclaiming its position as a strategic energy leader. [MDN: Our buddy Bill desRosiers is spot on with this article. Only if PA rapidly builds more gas-fired power can it deliver on the promise of Senator McCormick’s $92 billion of promised AI data center investments. The time is now! Don’t blow it, PA!!]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

Valero to cut 200+ jobs as California refinery closes
Bloomberg/Rigzone
Valero Energy Corp. is permanently closing its Benicia refinery, leading to the layoff of 237 non-union employees between March 15 and July 1. Representing the bulk of the facility’s staff, these job cuts follow a 2025 announcement that persisted despite unsuccessful intervention attempts by Governor Gavin Newsom and local officials. This closure contributes to California’s dwindling fuel supply and high gasoline prices as more refineries shutter or pivot to biofuels. However, Newsom noted that Valero will maintain its presence by importing fuel to the region, avoiding a complete exit and helping to stabilize the state’s energy needs. [MDN: This is directly due to the policies of Gov. Gruesome Newsom. Facilities closing, jobs eliminated, and less gasoline meaning not only are the jobs gone, but the price of gas is higher in the “Golden” State. Way to go, Gruesome! What a putz.]

Pipeline construction reaches an 18-year high on natural gas demand
Midland (TX) Reporter-Telegram
The United States is entering its most significant natural gas pipeline boom in nearly two decades, with a massive expansion projected for 2026. Approximately 12 projects across Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma will increase the region’s shipping capacity by 13%, adding roughly 18 billion cubic feet per day. This surge, the largest since 2008, is primarily driven by soaring global demand for liquefied natural gas exports destined for Europe and Asia. New infrastructure, such as Enbridge’s Rio Bravo and Energy Transfer’s Hugh Brinson pipelines, will provide critical relief for Permian Basin drillers currently facing negative prices due to pipeline congestion. [MDN: This is great for Texas and the southwest, but not so great for the M-U as it means more gas from down there will compete with our gas for LNG exports. American itself wins in the end.]

Michigan to study white hydrogen’s potential
RBN Energy
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has established the Michigan Geologic Hydrogen Exploration and Preparedness Initiative to evaluate the state’s potential for “white” or naturally occurring hydrogen. This initiative aims to decarbonize high-pollution sectors like manufacturing and maritime shipping. An executive order mandates a report by April 1 to assess infrastructure, regulatory readiness, and the feasibility of repurposing existing oil and gas wells. While a 2025 U.S. Geological Survey map identifies Michigan as a high-prospectivity region for these deposits, established extraction strategies are currently lacking. Michigan’s proactive approach seeks to leverage this clean energy resource to bolster its economic and environmental future. [MDN: Again we make this point…it doesn’t matter how the hydrogen is produced, it could come from magical sources like unicorn farts…the issue is, Where are the customers for it? If you don’t have people who want to buy and use it, it’s senseless to find new sources or ways of producing it!]

NATIONAL

U.S. natural gas slips ahead of long weekend
Wall Street Journal
U.S. natural gas futures for February delivery settled 0.8% lower at $3.103/mmBtu, marking a 2.1% loss for the week as the market headed into the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Despite colder weather forecasts for late January, prices failed to rally—a rare decoupling of weather trends and market performance that NatGasWeather.com attributes to significant inventory surpluses, robust production levels, and a recent pullback in LNG feedgas flows. [MDN: Bummer. Let’s hope the price doesn’t continue this downward trend. We NEED to keep it above $3.]

EIA inventory report weighs on futures despite cold forecast
FX Empire
Natural gas futures are facing downward pressure as high inventory levels continue to outweigh the impact of incoming cold weather. Despite forecasts predicting below-normal temperatures across the northern and eastern United States through late January, the market remains in a bearish “sell the rally” mode. Recent Energy Information Administration (EIA) data revealed that natural gas stockpiles are 3.4% above the five-year seasonal average, signaling a significant supply surplus. Prices recently settled near $3.10, with technical analysis suggesting a sustained downtrend unless a solid support base forms near the $3.00 level to absorb the ample supply. [MDN: An explanation for the slumping NYMEX futures price from gas trading experts at FX Empire.]

How to add 300 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2050
Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)
President Trump’s executive orders aim to spark a nuclear renaissance by adding 300 gigawatts of capacity, viewing nuclear energy as a superior alternative to wind and solar. While Westinghouse plans new AP1000 reactors, Canadian firm AtkinsRéalis is seeking U.S. licensing for its CANDU technology to help meet these ambitious goals. Unlike traditional designs, CANDU reactors use natural uranium, can be refueled during operation, and produce vital medical isotopes. Despite past regulatory hurdles and cost overruns, this cross-border collaboration and focus on large-scale reactors are presented as the primary pathway to doubling America’s energy capacity and achieving long-term energy reliability. [MDN: Maybe there is something worthwhile north of the border besides hockey. Who knew?! We’re all for expanding nuclear energy.]

Should data center companies learn from the fracking boom?
Time Magazine/AOL
To address growing community backlash over massive energy and water consumption, data center companies are adopting strategies from the fracking industry’s playbook. Microsoft’s Brad Smith recently proposed a “social contract” to build local trust, promising that data centers will pay higher electricity rates to shield residents from price hikes. Tech firms also plan to fund community infrastructure—such as schools, hospitals, and parks—while prioritizing local hiring. Advised by the American Petroleum Institute to avoid the negative reputation of hydraulic fracturing, the industry is shifting toward proactive engagement to prove their benefits outweigh the costs through long-term trust and tangible investments. [MDN: Smart move. It’s time to get ahead of anti-frackers-turned-anti-data-center lefties now, while we still can.]

Top 6 American energy trends to watch in 2026
Forbes
In 2026, U.S. energy policy is pivoting toward fossil fuels and nuclear power to bolster national security and support the booming AI sector. Expanding data centers are creating massive electricity demand, straining the grid and prompting regionalized governance. Private capital is increasingly funding small modular reactors to overcome regulatory hurdles and meet energy needs. Geopolitically, potential oil production increases from Venezuela and Iran may contain global prices. Ultimately, the administration is prioritizing domestic production and supply chain resiliency over climate-focused subsidies, treating energy infrastructure as a core strategic asset to maintain a competitive edge against China. [MDN: In other words, common sense is now the governing philosophy of the land under Trump. And it can’t happen soon enough.]

Trump sends a geothermal love letter to coal, oil, and natural gas
CleanTechnica
The Trump administration is championing geothermal energy as a reliable, 24/7 baseload power source, granting it special status alongside fossil fuels and nuclear energy. While traditional renewables like wind and solar are excluded from this preference, geothermal benefits from advanced drilling technologies borrowed from the oil and gas sector. Initiatives like the 13-state Geothermal Power Accelerator and expedited permitting for projects in Nevada highlight this support. Although intended to complement domestic energy, geothermal’s expansion into power generation and HVAC systems poses a long-term threat to coal, natural gas, and oil by offering a clean, constant alternative. [MDN: What the lefties of CleanTechnica get wrong is that geothermal doesn’t “threaten” oil and natural gas. It uses the VERY SAME drilling techniques used by the shale industry. It employs the same companies the shale industry uses. It’s complementary, not competitive. And it exposes the LIE that drilling (and fracking) are somehow environmentally damaging, because it the environment is damaged when drilling for O&G, why isn’t it damaged when the VERY SAME methods are used for geothermal?]

INTERNATIONAL

Crude settles higher after volatile week
Bloomberg/Rigzone
Oil prices stabilized near $60 a barrel following a volatile week, rebounding slightly after a sharp 4.6% plunge. While President Trump’s softened rhetoric toward Iran reduced immediate fears of supply disruptions, a continued U.S. military buildup in the Middle East maintains a lingering risk premium. Additional support came from export issues in Kazakhstan and the North Sea, even as low prices forced Continental Resources to halt drilling in North Dakota. As U.S.-Ukraine talks loom as a potential bearish factor, strategists warn that prolonged price suppression may discourage essential industry investment, threatening future production and economic stability. [MDN: WTI for February delivery rose 0.4% to settle at $59.44 a barrel in New York on Friday. Brent for March settlement added 0.6% to settle at $64.13 a barrel on Friday.]

Canada comes to grips with financial and energy needs
CO2 Coalition
The recent agreement between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for a new oil pipeline signals a shift from “decarbonization” fantasies toward economic reality. By suspending emissions caps and loosening regulations, the federal government acknowledges that Alberta’s energy sector is indispensable for national prosperity and public funding. This pivot prioritizes energy abundance over restrictive climate policies that threaten economic stability. Additionally, the author highlights how a warming climate has extended growing seasons, leading to record-breaking agricultural yields. Ultimately, the article argues that reliable energy and increased food production are more vital to Canada’s future than ideological climate goals. [MDN: This is one of the benefits of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). The Canadians don’t know what to do with a decisive leader like Trump, so they hate him. And their aversion has turned them around from being anti-fossil fuel to embracing fossil fuels again. They hate Trump more than they hate fossil fuels! Who knew?]