MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, Jul 28, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Enterprise loads first ethane cargo from Neches River terminal; NATIONAL: Cutting the threat of giant wildfires by axing harmful Clinton-era forest policies; The peak oil myth is back—and it’s still a myth; The climate change cult is encountering more resistance these days; INTERNATIONAL: Oil slips on stronger dollar, trade doubts; Net zero ‘sustainable’ trains unsustainable?; Climate is the biggest transfer of money from the poor to the rich since Sheriff of Nottingham; EU ‘far right’ wants 2040 climate target binned; BP to exit $36B Australian green hydrogen hub.

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

Enterprise loads first ethane cargo from Neches River terminal
RBN Energy/Kristen Holmquist
Enterprise’s new Neches River ethane terminal has begun loading its first export cargo onto the Navigator Eclipse, marking a significant expansion of its LPG/ethane export capabilities with a capacity of 120 Mb/d, complementing its existing Houston Ship Channel terminals at Enterprise Hydrocarbons Terminal (EHT) and Morgan’s Point. The terminal’s startup was on schedule, with a second phase, a flexible ethane/propane/butane terminal, slated for completion in late 2026. Meanwhile, other NGL export terminals are also expanding, including Energy Transfer’s Nederland terminal, which is adding a 250-Mb/d flexible terminal this year, and a smaller Targa expansion. Enterprise plans a 300-Mb/d expansion at EHT by late 2026, and ONEOK and MPLX are developing a new propane/butane terminal in Texas City for 2028. These developments should meet rising propane/butane export demands, but additional ethane terminal capacity may be needed if global petrochemical plants increasingly rely on U.S. ethane. [MDN: We doubt any M-U ethane or LPG was part of this export, but it’s theoretically possible.]

NATIONAL

Cutting the threat of giant wildfires by axing harmful Clinton-era forest policies
Committee For A Construction Tomorrow (CFACT)/Bonner Cohen
The Trump administration is repealing the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which banned logging and road construction on over 58 million acres of U.S. Forest Service lands to protect them. However, this prohibition has led to overgrown forests, increasing wildfire risks, with 28 million acres now at high or very high risk. The rule’s restrictions have hindered forest management, leaving dead trees and brush uncleared, creating tinderboxes that fuel intense wildfires. These fires, having burned over 8 million acres since 2001, threaten wildlife, communities, and infrastructure, while wildfire smoke causes respiratory issues. Repealing the rule aims to allow local forest management, reduce wildfire risks, and revive the timber industry in regions like the Pacific Northwest, hit hard by the rule. Despite environmentalists’ concerns about losing protections, the repeal seeks to address the rule’s failure to maintain healthy forests and mitigate the growing threats of wildfires and economic decline. [MDN: These kinds of idiotic policies are not only affecting the U.S., but Canada. Every summer (for the past four or five summers), we in NY have had to deal with Canadian wildfire smoke. Trump needs to tell our Canadian “friends” that if they won’t do something to battle these fires that are negatively affecting the health of Americans, he’ll step in and do something.]

The peak oil myth is back—and it’s still a myth
Hart Energy/Michael Warren
The article from Hart Energy debunks the recurring “peak oil” myth, which claims global oil production has reached or will soon reach its maximum, leading to inevitable decline. It argues that advancements in shale technology and experience continually expand recoverable oil reserves, turning previously inaccessible targets into viable ones. The piece highlights EOG Resources’ strategic shift, noting its reduced share in Texas oil production from 13% to 4% due to competitors’ consolidation in the Permian Basin, while EOG focuses on organic growth and avoids heavy M&A activity. Its recent $5.6 billion investment in the Utica shale, similar to its Eagle Ford operations, signals continued confidence in shale’s potential. The article dismisses peak oil fears by emphasizing that technological innovation and market adaptability consistently outpace pessimistic predictions, ensuring oil production remains robust despite claims of depletion. [MDN: Fantastic article debunking (yet again) the myth of “peak oil”—either peak demand or peak supply.]

The climate change cult is encountering more resistance these days
The Empowerment Alliance/Gary Abernathy
In his July 23, 2025, article for The Empowerment Alliance, Gary Abernathy argues that the “climate change cult” faces growing resistance as public skepticism rises. He highlights the devastating Texas floods, criticizing left-leaning groups like Climate Central for quickly blaming fossil fuels and global warming, despite historical evidence of natural climate variability. Abernathy notes that the New York Times reported the Energy Department hired three scientists—Steven E. Koonin, John Christy, and Roy Spencer—who challenge the consensus on manmade climate change, a move welcomed by those questioning the politicization of science. Citing CNN data, he points out that concern about climate change has dropped from 46% in 2020 to 40% today, attributing this to distrust in manipulated data. Abernathy critiques the reliability of scientific consensus, referencing retracted papers and biased expert opinions, and calls for a renewed scientific approach that embraces questioning to uncover truth about climate change. [MDN: More and more people are coming to the conclusion we came to years ago—that catastrophic global warming due to mankind burning fossil fuels is a gigantic hoax. Good to see folks finally wising up.]

INTERNATIONAL

Oil slips on stronger dollar, trade doubts
Bloomberg/Mia Gindis
Oil prices declined as the US dollar strengthened and optimism for imminent trade deals with key partners faded ahead of a crucial deadline. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped over 1% to around $65 per barrel after President Trump expressed only a 50-50 chance of reaching a trade agreement with Europe, dampening earlier optimism from European diplomats. High US tariff rates, reportedly at a century-long peak, raised concerns about reduced energy demand. Additionally, Trump’s decision to retain Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell bolstered the dollar, making dollar-priced commodities like oil less appealing. Crude prices have been stagnant this month but are down for the year, pressured by increased OPEC+ supply and fears of an oversupply. Venezuela received a production boost from a US decision allowing Chevron to resume operations. Analysts from Macquarie Group predict a gradual decline in oil prices this fall due to rising stockpiles and softening market conditions. [MDN: The price goes up, then it goes down, then it goes up again, then down….but it stays within a pretty narrow range in the $60s. WTI for September delivery fell 1.3% to settle at $65.16 a barrel. Brent for September settlement slipped 1.1% to $68.44 a barrel.]

Net zero ‘sustainable’ trains unsustainable?
National Review/Andrew Stuttaford
The article from National Review critiques Britain’s pursuit of net-zero emissions, focusing on the unsustainable nature of supposedly sustainable trains. It highlights the case of LNER’s Azuma trains, which were intended to be eco-friendly but have faced significant operational challenges. The trains, built by Hitachi, suffer from frequent breakdowns, high maintenance costs, and inefficiencies, such as requiring diesel-powered repairs despite being electric. The piece argues that this exemplifies the broader issues with net-zero policies, which prioritize environmental goals over practicality, leading to unreliable and costly infrastructure. It points out that Britain’s rush to meet net-zero targets has resulted in poorly planned projects that fail to deliver promised benefits, burdening taxpayers and commuters. The article suggests that this serves as a cautionary tale for other nations, illustrating how the push for sustainability can lead to impractical and economically burdensome outcomes when ideological goals outpace realistic implementation. [MDN: The Brits and their electric trains are a great cautionary tale for other countries—something to avoid.]

Climate is the biggest transfer of money from the poor to the rich since Sheriff of Nottingham
Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)/Joanne Nova
Matt Ridley delivers a sharp critique of the UK’s wind power initiatives, arguing that the £25 billion annually spent on wind turbines reduces global CO2 emissions by a mere 0.0002%, or two hundredths of one percent, an effort he deems futile and economically disastrous. He calculates that achieving net zero globally at this rate would cost £100 trillion yearly, equivalent to the world’s entire economic output. Ridley highlights the regressive nature of these policies, likening them to a wealth transfer from the poor to the rich, with landowners earning substantial subsidies, such as £150,000 per wind turbine annually. He cites the State of the Climate Report, which notes milder winters, more rain, and minimal sea level rise, questioning the urgency of climate measures. Ridley references studies suggesting that even with significant warming, global GDP loss by 2100 would be minimal, while future generations would still be vastly wealthier, rendering current sacrifices questionable. [MDN: Yet another example of the extremist position taken by the Brits, how they’ve lost their collective minds.]

EU ‘far right’ wants 2040 climate target binned
Bloomberg/John Ainger
The European Union’s proposed 90% emissions reduction target by 2040 faces opposition from the far-right Patriots for Europe group, led by Czech lawmaker Ondrej Knotek, who argues it would devastate energy-intensive industries and lacks realistic grounding, labeling it an ideological experiment. Knotek, representing a coalition including Hungary’s Fidesz and France’s Rassemblement National, has called for the rejection of this binding climate goal in a parliamentary report, initiating negotiations on the European Commission’s proposal aimed at achieving climate neutrality by 2050. While the EU parliament and member states must align on the proposal, other political groups, including socialists, greens, liberals, and the center-right European People’s Party, have agreed to an accelerated timetable to counter the far-right’s influence, aiming for a deal by early October. The target is critical for the EU’s updated climate plan submission to the UN’s COP30 summit in Brazil, amid rising political focus on protecting European industry. [MDN: Anyone trying to save Europe from energy suicide is called “far right” by the extreme leftists at Bloomberg. Europe truly is on a precipice, and it teeters, ready to fall off into oblivion over its obsession with man-made global warming catastrophic thinking. It’s sad to watch.]

BP to exit $36B Australian green hydrogen hub
Bloomberg/William Mathis, Keira Wright
BP Plc is withdrawing from its role as operator and equity holder in the Australian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH), a major green hydrogen project in Western Australia, as the company shifts its focus back to profitable fossil fuels. This decision marks another setback for green hydrogen, a fuel once seen as a cornerstone of Big Oil’s energy transition but hindered by high production costs. The AREH, estimated at $36 billion, aims to develop 26 gigawatts of solar and wind capacity across 6,500 square kilometers in the Pilbara region to support green iron production. BP’s exit follows a broader industry trend, with companies like Fortescue Ltd. and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. also abandoning hydrogen projects due to unachieved cost reductions and lack of buyer commitment. The AREH project company, supported by InterContinental Energy, will take over operations, emphasizing the hub’s potential to decarbonize the region despite BP’s departure. [MDN: Somebody at BP finally wised up. The company is in business to make money, not dither around with unprofitable and foolish experiments like “green” hydrogen.]