MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Aug 29, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Republicans speak out in opposition of New York’s incoming natural gas ban; Safety inspectors charged with faking gas pipeline checks throughout NYC, Westchester; NATIONAL: Oil climbs as peace talk prospects fade; Pressure heats up on the climate lawfare’s favorite group; Climate inquisition silenced a generation of scientists; School districts revert to diesel because Biden’s electric buses can’t be repaired; U.S. E&P earnings resume slide in Q2 2025 after promising start to year; INTERNATIONAL: Alberta to impose 2 percent levy on hardware at data centers; USA-sanctioned Russian LNG lands in China for 1st time; Europe gas markets escape hectic LNG summer storage race.

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

Republicans speak out in opposition of New York’s incoming natural gas ban
Binghamton (NY) WBNG-TV CBS/Daniel Curren
With New York set to ban fossil fuel equipment in new buildings starting in 2026, Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY23) and local officials are voicing opposition, warning the mandate will drive up housing costs and limit consumer choice. The law, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, will phase in restrictions on natural gas, with all new construction affected by 2029. Langworthy argues the policy is driven by political ideology rather than practicality and is pushing his Energy Choice Act to preserve access to various energy sources. Governor Kathy Hochul’s office dismissed his stance as fearmongering, blaming tariffs—not clean energy policy—for higher housing costs. [MDN: The effects of tariffs haven’t even begun yet, so you know with 100% certainty that Hochul is lying. Langworthy is attempting to pass what he calls the Energy Choice Act, which would prohibit any state, including NY, from banning hookups for natural gas. We hope it passes and Trump signs it into law.]

Safety inspectors charged with faking gas pipeline checks throughout NYC, Westchester
New York (NY) Gothamist/Giulia Heyward
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged Con Edison workers Liam Treibert and Michael Vasconcellos with falsifying hundreds of safety inspections on natural gas pipelines in New York City and Westchester County from 2016 to 2023, putting lives at risk. The indictment alleges they performed X-ray testing on a single weld and reused results for other connections, a practice called “radaring,” while submitting fraudulent paperwork to Con Edison, which paid for the inspections. Facing wire fraud charges carrying up to 20 years in prison, the men’s actions prompted Con Edison to enhance monitoring and address known weld irregularities to ensure pipeline safety. [MDN: If this is true, these two guys need to sit in prison a long time. Our industry can’t afford this kind of fraud, to say nothing of putting lives in danger.]

NATIONAL

Oil climbs as peace talk prospects fade
Bloomberg/Mia Gindis
Oil prices rose as fading prospects of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal reduced expectations of increased Russian crude supplies. West Texas Intermediate gained 0.7% to $64.60, and Brent for November advanced 0.8% to settle at $68.62 a barrel after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said talks between Presidents Zelensky and Putin were unlikely. Traders also awaited a statement from President Trump that could signal tougher sanctions on Moscow. Meanwhile, Ukraine ramped up drone strikes on Russian refineries, cutting exports, while the U.S. pressured India to curb purchases of Russian oil. Despite near-term gains, markets expect a surplus later this year as OPEC+ output rises, with muted trading ahead of Labor Day. [MDN: Slight ups and downs, but most of the time in the $60s range. Perfect. Although we wish the Russian war against Ukraine would stop.]

Pressure heats up on the climate lawfare’s favorite group
Energy in Depth – Climate & Environment/Mandi Risko
Twenty-three Republican state attorneys general sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the Trump administration to terminate federal grants to the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), criticizing its Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) for alleged climate “lawfare” tactics. The AGs accuse CJP of masquerading as neutral judicial education while in reality lobbying judges to promote a specific climate policy. Montana AG Austin Knudsen, who led the effort, condemned ELI’s “woke climate propaganda” framed as “objective and trusted” education. He argued that such material cannot be neutral when designed to sway courts toward one side in litigation. [MDN: We simply must defund the left. There is no reason why taxpayer money should continue to go to these NGOs. Additionally, their tax-exempt status needs to be revoked.]

Climate inquisition silenced a generation of scientists
CO2 Coalition/Vijay Jayaraj
This excellent column criticizes modern climate science for abandoning empirical observation in favor of predetermined political agendas, arguing that funding agencies and institutions enforce a manufactured consensus while silencing dissent. It highlights the cases of Dr. Judith Curry and Dr. Peter Ridd, both marginalized for questioning exaggerated claims about human-driven warming and environmental damage. The article argues that climate models consistently overpredict warming by downplaying natural influences, yet these flawed models drive costly “net zero” policies. A recent U.S. Department of Energy report coauthored by Curry challenges alarmist narratives, suggesting uncertainty about future warming and little evidence of worsening extreme weather. [MDN: Little by little, the truth is seeping out. The so-called “every legitimate scientist” believes in the global warming hoax (so-called “consensus”) is being exposed as a fraud. Just remember, science is not about consensus. Science is about provable (and repeatable) facts.]

School districts revert to diesel because Biden’s electric buses can’t be repaired
Washington (DC) Free Beacon/Thomas Catenacci
The Biden administration awarded Canadian electric bus maker Lion Electric $159 million to build 435 buses under its $5 billion Clean School Bus program, but the company has since gone bankrupt, shuttered factories, laid off most staff, and stopped honoring warranties, leaving districts stranded. Many schools report buses plagued by safety and mechanical failures, high costs, and scarce repair options, forcing some to abandon electric models and return to cheaper diesel. Once valued at $4.7 billion, Lion was sold for just $6 million in bankruptcy proceedings, marking a major setback for Democrats’ green energy push and raising doubts about EV feasibility. [MDN: We’d like to know which Democrats lined their pockets with that $159 million—and the rest of the $5 billion in wasted money for this program. This is a perfect example of the Big Green Grift. We certainly hope DOGE is on the case.]

U.S. E&P earnings resume slide in Q2 2025 after promising start to year
RBN Energy/Nick Cacchione
After a brief rebound in Q1 2025—when average earnings surged 37% to $14.96 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe) thanks to strong crude ($75.74/bbl) and natural gas realizations—U.S. E&P companies saw a sharp earnings decline in Q2 2025 due to falling commodity prices (oil slipping to $62–$63/bbl and weakened gas realizations), macro headwinds, and heightened uncertainty; resulting in a 36% drop in pre-tax operating earnings to $9.48/boe, a 19% fall in operating cash flow to $21.74/boe, reduced realized prices (-14%), only a slight easing in expenses, and modest production gains. [MDN: Stock prices go up, then they go down. Right now, the stock price for E&Ps (drillers) is down again. Such is life.]

INTERNATIONAL

Alberta to impose 2 percent levy on hardware at data centers
Bloomberg/Robert Tuttle
Alberta will impose a 2% levy on computer hardware used in large data centers beginning Dec. 31, 2026, targeting facilities with loads of 75 megawatts or more. The levy will be offset against provincial corporate income taxes, preventing extra burden once operators become profitable. The province, attractive to data centers for its cheap natural gas, has seen over two dozen proposals totaling more than 12,000 megawatts. This measure follows Alberta’s June decision to cap new large-load connections at 1,200 megawatts until 2028, sparking opposition from some indigenous communities. Designated properties will also face provincial assessments and municipal taxation, with optional deferrals. [MDN: Very cool. The Canadian dunderheads will drive all of these projects south of the border into the U.S. Lefties never learn!]

USA-sanctioned Russian LNG lands in China for 1st time
Bloomberg/Stephen Stapczynski
A tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s US-sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 facility has docked at China’s Beihai terminal for the first time, signaling Moscow’s push to expand Asian fuel sales amid falling European demand. The Arctic Mulan’s arrival, ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s Beijing visit, tests Washington’s softened stance on Russian energy sanctions. Despite China’s declining LNG imports due to higher domestic supply and pipelines, the shipment highlights Russia’s aim to triple LNG exports by 2030. Analysts suggest the move is political rather than demand-driven, with future US reactions determining whether more sanctioned shipments follow. [MDN: One murdering thug dictator (Xi Jinping) buys LNG from another murdering thug dictator (Vladimir Putin). Film at 11.]

Europe gas markets escape hectic LNG summer storage race
Reuters/Ron Bousso
European gas markets are enjoying a notably calmer summer storage season than in prior years, thanks to weak Asian LNG demand—especially from China—freeing up supplies for Europe. As of late August 2025, European gas storage stands at 76% capacity (below last year’s 92%), but thanks to rising LNG imports—including a 22% jump in U.S. exports—storage is expected to hit the EU’s 90% target by October. Beyond 2025, global LNG capacity is set to surge, potentially creating a surplus of up to 200 bcm by 2030, which could lead to lower prices, production cuts in regions like the U.S., and more affordable, stable energy for Europe. [MDN: Our Euro weenie friends are getting a break because China is getting more gas from Russia and other sources, freeing up U.S. LNG to go to Europe.]