MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Wed, Sep 3, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Ten counties in the Permian Basin account for 93% of U.S. oil production growth since 2020; NATIONAL: WTI posts biggest gain since July; Hexagon receives wave of orders for natgas heavy-duty trucks; Where will USA oil production come from in 2025?; The challenges of achieving a 100% renewable electricity system in the U.S.; When Washington gets out of the way – energy workers deliver results; Failures of the renewables transition era are insults to taxpayers; Big Tech is overloading the grid – nuclear, natgas, and coal can save it; INTERNATIONAL: Rich nations have a cleaner better environment; Indian oil minister denies country is profiteering from Russian imports; The climate activist case for continued drilling for fossil fuels; Ontarians leery as province proposes legislation to allow underground CO2 storage; OPEC+ in process of retaking market share.
OTHER U.S. REGIONS
Ten counties in the Permian Basin account for 93% of U.S. oil production growth since 2020
U.S. Energy Information Administration – Today in Energy
Between 2020 and 2024, U.S. crude oil and lease condensate production rose by 1.9 million barrels per day (b/d), with 93% of this growth concentrated in just 10 counties within the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. Lea and Eddy counties in New Mexico accounted for 52% of the increase, while Martin and Midland counties in Texas contributed 21%. Six other Texas counties added 19%. By 2024, these 10 counties produced 4.8 million b/d, or 37% of U.S. output. The Bone Spring, Spraberry, and Wolfcamp formations drove this surge, underscoring the Permian Basin’s dominance in U.S. oil growth. [MDN: The other six counties adding 19% of the growth (in Texas) were: Andrews, Glasscock, Howard, Loving, Reagan, and Ward.]
NATIONAL
WTI posts biggest gain since July
Bloomberg/Mia Gindis, Alex Longley
Oil prices rose sharply, with West Texas Intermediate climbing 2.5% to $65.59 a barrel, the biggest gain since late July, supported by technical buying and tightening supply. Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries have cut Moscow’s crude runs to their lowest since May 2022, while U.S. stockpiles at Cushing remain low. Geopolitical risks — from the Russia-Ukraine war to U.S. naval deployments off Venezuela — fueled a geopolitical premium, though traders caution the rally may reverse. Despite lingering bearish sentiment and OPEC+’s expected decision to keep output steady, near-term bullish factors have shifted market sentiment from negative to more neutral. [MDN: Back to the mid-$60s for WTI. Big whup. Brent for November settlement gained 1.5% to $69.14 a barrel, also in the $60s. Still sittin’ pretty.]
Hexagon receives wave of orders for natgas heavy-duty trucks
Hexagon Agility
Hexagon Agility, a subsidiary of Hexagon Composites ASA and a global leader in natural gas fuel systems, announced on September 2, 2025, that it has secured a new wave of orders totaling USD 4.2 million for installations in North American heavy-duty trucks utilizing Cummins’ X15N natural-gas engine. The orders come from over ten prominent U.S. and Canadian Class 8 fleets across industries including logistics, food & beverage, oil & gas, and construction. With the Cummins X15N’s diesellike performance, extended range, and the growing CNG/RNG fueling infrastructure, market adoption of natural-gas trucks is gaining momentum. [MDN: Electric for big rigs is dead. Long live natural gas!]
Where will USA oil production come from in 2025?
Rigzone/Andreas Exarheas
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) August Short-Term Energy Outlook projects total U.S. crude oil production, including lease condensate, to average 13.41 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025, up from 13.21 million bpd in 2024. The Lower 48 states, excluding the Gulf of America, will contribute 11.15 million bpd, led by the Permian Basin at 6.53 million bpd, followed by the Bakken (1.18), Eagle Ford (1.13), Appalachia (0.19), Haynesville (0.03), and other areas (2.09). Gulf of America output is forecast at 1.83 million bpd, and Alaska at 0.43. Quarterly production is expected to rise gradually through year-end. [MDN: Even the M-U contributes a little bit to our national oil production numbers. Heartwarming to see.]
The challenges of achieving a 100% renewable electricity system in the U.S.
Joule/Science Direct
The study published in the science journal Joule, “The challenges of achieving a 100% renewable electricity system in the United States,” examines the technical and economic barriers to fully renewable power grids. It highlights two core challenges: (1) the balance challenge—economically maintaining supply-demand equilibrium across daily and seasonal cycles, which becomes costly due to mismatches in renewable output and demand; and (2) the inverter challenge—ensuring grid reliability with inverter-based resources like solar and wind, which lack traditional inertia and fault response of synchronous generators. While no fundamental technical barriers exist, achieving 100% renewable electricity will require advances in storage, grid design, inverter technologies, market structures, and supportive policies. [MDN: Even the left’s own (honest) researchers admit it’s impossible to achieve a 100% renewable electricity grid in the U.S. This study says so.]
When Washington gets out of the way – energy workers deliver results
RealClearEnergy/Larry Behrens
In “When Washington Gets Out of the Way – Energy Workers Deliver Results,” Larry Behrens celebrates record U.S. energy production and lower gasoline prices, attributing them to reduced federal interference under the “America First Energy” policy. He notes that on Labor Day 2025, gas averaged $3.15 per gallon—the lowest since 2020—crediting energy workers empowered by supportive administration policies. U.S. oil output has reached nearly 13.5 million barrels per day, making America the global production leader, while natural gas liquids production supports economic growth, millions of jobs, and household energy affordability. [MDN: Good column making a great point. When the government gets out of the energy business and let’s the free market work, prices come down, AND the environment gets better.]
Failures of the renewables transition era are insults to taxpayers
America Out Loud News/Ronald Stein
In this excellent column, Ron Stein argues that despite the push for renewable energy, wind turbines and solar panels merely generate electricity and fail to replace fossil fuels across vital manufacturing processes. Fossil-derived products—including plastics for insulation, wiring, and electronics—remain essential, while computers, agricultural fertilizer, and infrastructure still depend heavily on oil and natural gas. The piece highlights that synthetic fertilizers, produced via the Haber-Bosch process, support roughly half of global food production and have significantly boosted yields, suggesting that the renewables-only narrative overlooks the broader industrial reliance on fossil fuel inputs—a scenario the author deems irresponsible to taxpayers. [MDN: Stein points out that fossil fuels keep the world alive. We can’t live without fossil fuels. The drive to eliminate fossil fuels is dangerously stupid.]
Big Tech is overloading the grid – nuclear, natgas, and coal can save it
Washington Examiner/James Taylor (Heartland Institute)
America’s electric grid faces a looming crisis as soaring electricity demand from AI, data centers, and industry threatens widespread blackouts unless reliable baseload power is expanded. Reports from the Clean Grid Initiative and U.S. Department of Energy warn demand will rise 15.8% by 2029, with outages potentially reaching 800 hours annually if coal plant closures continue. The Heartland Institute’s scorecard ranks natural gas, nuclear, hydro, and coal as the most affordable and reliable options, while wind and solar lag far behind in cost, reliability, and environmental impact. Critics argue activist opposition to coal and nuclear leaves America dangerously dependent on inadequate renewables. [MDN: Excellent column stating the obvious facts that natgas (and nukes, and coal) are the solution to the power needs of AI data centers.]
INTERNATIONAL
Rich nations have a cleaner better environment
JoNova
The article argues that economic prosperity is strongly linked to environmental protection, challenging the UN’s claim that wealthy nations are the primary cause of global environmental harm. Using Yale’s Environmental Performance Index (EPI), which tracks 58 factors such as air quality, biodiversity, and forest integrity, it shows that only nations with per capita GDP above $30,000 achieve the highest environmental scores. Wealth enables investment in clean water, pollution control, and conservation, while poverty drives deforestation and neglect of ecosystems. The study also finds that free speech, property rights, and rule of law foster ecological stewardship, making prosperity a driver of cleaner environments. [MDN: Contrary to the false claims of the dictatorial, anti-capitalist left, capitalism and free markets lead to a better, cleaner environment. Economic growth is NOT the bogeyman the UN claims it to be. It’s time to defund and dump the UN.]
Indian oil minister denies country is profiteering from Russian imports
Reuters/Nidhi Verma
India’s Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has rejected claims that the country is profiteering from discounted Russian oil, arguing instead that its purchases have helped stabilize global markets and prevented prices from soaring to $200 per barrel. He emphasized that India operates within the G-7/EU price-cap framework and utilizes legally compliant shipping, insurance, traders, and audited channels. Responding to U.S. criticism—which accuses India of acting as a “laundromat” by importing cheap crude and reselling refined products—Puri insists India has adhered to rules and is not funding Moscow’s war. [MDN: India is lying, plain and simple. The country IS a laundromat for Russian oil and IS funding the Ukraine war with its purchases. This is undeniable.]
The climate activist case for continued drilling for fossil fuels
London (UK) CityAM/Callum Adamson
A pragmatic transition to green energy, argues Callum Adamson, requires maintaining limited domestic oil and gas production—especially in areas like the UK’s North Sea—to avoid carbon leakage from higher-emission foreign sources and uphold energy sovereignty. Dismissing “drill baby, drill” rhetoric, he promotes a nuanced energy mix as a bridge to renewables, enabled by cleaner fossil fuel usage and AI-driven optimisation. This approach preserves infrastructure, skilled jobs, and system resilience while clean-energy capabilities scale. Rather than abrupt cuts, he advocates for thoughtful stewardship: delayed decline, not shutdown, to ensure energy security and a credible transition path. [MDN: Still not a solution, but at least this lefty is bending in the direction of allowing fossil fuels and isn’t demanding the immediate end of fossil fuels as many on the lunatic left do. We give him a solid C+.]
Ontarians leery as province proposes legislation to allow underground CO2 storage
Toronto (ON) Globe and Mail/Jeff Gray
A recent hydrogen sulphide leak in Wheatley, Ontario, has reignited concerns over the risks of underground gases as the provincial government considers Bill 27, which would permit large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS). Proponents argue CCS could help industries like steel and cement cut emissions, citing Ontario’s deep geological formations as suitable for storage, while critics warn of safety risks, high costs, and limited effectiveness, especially given the region’s thousands of aging oil and gas wells. The bill includes safeguards, but uncertainties remain around monitoring, land rights, and public trust, leaving CCS a controversial and uncertain climate strategy for Ontario. [MDN: Can we be honest? When are we not, right? CCS is DUMB. We don’t blame these people for being concerned and skeptical.]
OPEC+ in process of retaking market share
Rigzone/Andreas Exarheas
OPEC+ is gradually unwinding voluntary production cuts as it seeks to retake market share, putting downward pressure on oil prices. SEB analysts forecast Brent crude could fall to $55 per barrel in Q4 2025 before the group intervenes with new cuts to stabilize the market in 2026. Unlike the 2014–16 period, OPEC+ is expected to act more cautiously, balancing output increases with potential cuts. Traders remain wary amid oversupply concerns, awaiting signals from OPEC’s September 7 meeting, where the group may unwind the remaining 1.65 million barrels per day of cuts, with flexibility to pause or reverse depending on conditions. [MDN: We seriously doubt the thug dictators of OPEC+ will allow oil prices to slip into the mid-$50s—simply because they won’t haul in enough money to keep their citizens from revolting. These countries rely on oil revenues to buy off the population at large for the thug dictators to stay in power without open rebellion.]