MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Wed, Dec 3, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

NATIONAL: Natural gas futures fall amid uncertain weather forecasts; Solar bankruptcy Pine Gate Renewables (boom to bust continues); Modern Hydrogen lays off most of its employees after decade-long pursuit of clean energy; Environmental Defense Fund staffers launch union; Soaring U.S. natural gas prices could boost coal power generation; Google plans to power a new data center with fossil fuels, yet release almost no emissions; Energy Department renames renewable energy lab to reflect Trump’s fossil fuel focus; INTERNATIONAL: Crude settles lower on peace talk jitters; Canada’s first compressed air storage facility; EU seals deal to phase out Russian gas by 2027; India’s Russian oil dilemma – cheap crude, costly consequences.

NATIONAL

Natural gas futures fall amid uncertain weather forecasts
Wall Street Journal
Natural gas futures decline as cold weather hits parts of the U.S. but forecasts for next week grow uncertain. NatGasWeather.com says in a report that forecasts for December 7-15 “is struggling” as it remains unclear “just how much cold air over southern Canada will push into the northern US.” The report adds that, overall, “the trend has been for a little more subfreezing air” in the region. “This period needs close monitoring,” the firm says. Natural gas for January falls 1.6% to $4.84/mmBtu, snapping a three-day winning streak. [MDN: We are thrilled that the NYMEX price is still above $4.50. The price falling a few pennies is a nothingburger.]

Solar bankruptcy Pine Gate Renewables (boom to bust continues)
MasterResource
Robert Bradley Jr. reports on the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Pine Gate Renewables, adding the national developer to a growing list of failed U.S. solar firms. Despite significant government subsidies covering approximately 30 percent of costs, the company is selling its portfolio, leaving 119 creditors in the lurch. While CEO Ben Catt frames the liquidation as a strategic move to preserve value, Bradley condemns him as a “political crony” and “rent-seeker.” The article contrasts Catt’s positive spin with the reality of the industry’s financial instability, arguing that taxpayers and creditors ultimately bear the cost of these unsustainable, subsidized ventures. [MDN: The companies peddling so-called renewables like solar are collapsing everywhere. This is just the latest example. Take away taxpayer support (the theft of our money going to these crony capitalists) and the whole house of cards comes tumbling down.]

Modern Hydrogen lays off most of its employees after decade-long pursuit of clean energy
GeekWire
After a decade of pursuing clean energy solutions, Bill Gates-backed Modern Hydrogen has laid off most of its workforce and terminated vendor contracts, citing funding changes and reduced operations. The Seattle-area startup, which raised $125 million to develop technology that cracks natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon, had recently completed pilot projects and was preparing a commercial unit in Texas. However, an email to partners revealed a sudden “broader restructuring,” leaving contractors anxious about unpaid invoices. It remains unclear if the company, which once employed approximately 80 people, will shut down completely or continue in a new form. [MDN: More evidence of imploding green energy grifter companies. Remove taxpayer money and they collapse.]

Environmental Defense Fund staffers launch union
POLITICO Pro – Greenwire
Employees at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) announced the formation of a new union, EDF Together, on Tuesday, aiming to represent nearly 500 workers. Supported by a supermajority of eligible staff and represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, the union seeks to address systemic organizational challenges, including job security, promotion transparency, and high turnover. The move follows recent staff layoffs and budget cuts at the organization, reflecting a broader trend of unionization among environmental nonprofits like the Natural Resources Defense Council and Greenpeace USA. Organizers have requested voluntary recognition from EDF’s executive management to avoid a formal National Labor Relations Board election. [MDN: It’s fun to watch the left turn in on itself. The climate fraud and the NGOs behind it is coming apart at the seams.]

Soaring U.S. natural gas prices could boost coal power generation
OilPrice.com
U.S. coal-fired power generation is rebounding this winter as utilities shift away from natural gas due to surging prices. Benchmark Henry Hub gas prices recently climbed to nearly $5 per MMBtu—a three-year high driven by a polar vortex in the Midwest and record LNG exports. With gas costs rising, the EIA forecasts a significant jump in prices paid by power plants in 2025. This cost disparity is boosting coal demand, further supported by delayed plant retirements and Trump Administration policies. Consequently, electric power coal inventories are projected to fall by 17% by year-end as consumption increases. [MDN: One of the downsides of higher natgas prices is losing out to cheaper coal for electric power generation.]

Google plans to power a new data center with fossil fuels, yet release almost no emissions
The Conversation
Google is addressing the surging energy demands of AI data centers by supporting the construction of a new 400-megawatt natural gas power plant in Illinois that utilizes carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. In partnership with Broadwing Energy, the facility is designed to capture approximately 90% of its carbon dioxide emissions before they reach the atmosphere. The captured greenhouse gases will be transported and injected deep underground for permanent storage in the Mount Simon saline aquifer. Despite past safety challenges with CCS infrastructure, experts view this technology as vital for meeting rising electricity needs while mitigating climate change. [MDN: Once upon a time, Google and other Big Tech companies wouldn’t even consider buying electricity not produced by “green” sources. This is progress. Google is now willing to buy electricity created by natural gas.]

Energy Department renames renewable energy lab to reflect Trump’s fossil fuel focus
Wall Street Journal
The Energy Department is renaming the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to the National Laboratory of the Rockies, symbolizing a shift toward the Trump administration’s fossil fuel focus. Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson stated the rebranding reflects a move away from “picking” specific energy sources, coinciding with the recent elimination of clean-energy offices. Originally established in 1977 to advance solar and wind technologies, the lab’s new identity aligns with the administration’s broader campaign against renewables. This includes expunging “clean energy” references and challenging climate science, marking a significant departure from the institution’s historic mission of fostering U.S. energy independence through sustainable innovation. [MDN: Good move by Trump. Unreliable renewables are never going to take over. Time to recognize the truth.]

INTERNATIONAL

Crude settles lower on peace talk jitters
Bloomberg
Oil prices declined approximately 1.2%, with West Texas Intermediate settling near $58, as volatility persisted during crucial Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations. While Vladimir Putin threatened retaliation against nations aiding Ukraine and noted recent attacks on Russian shipping, the potential for a peace deal fueled fears that Russian crude could flood an already oversupplied market. Conversely, geopolitical tensions regarding potential US military strikes in Venezuela provided a temporary price floor. Ultimately, bearish sentiment prevailed, with analysts warning that drying liquidity and a lack of conviction from buyers are leaving the market highly susceptible to selling pressure amidst broader expectations of a global surplus. [MDN: Just the usual up and down within a narrow range that we’ve seen for well over a year. WTI for January settled at $58.64 a barrel, while Brent for February settled at $62.45 a barrel.]

Canada’s first compressed air storage facility
EllisDon
EllisDon and Cache Power have partnered to build Canada’s first commercial-scale Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) facility in Northeast Alberta, commencing construction in late 2025. Using Siemens Energy technology, this project utilizes underground salt caverns to store surplus electricity as compressed air for up to 48 hours, providing crucial long-duration grid stabilization. The system generates power by expanding released air with natural gas, capable of blending up to 75% hydrogen to support net-zero goals. Developed with Cold Lake First Nations, the facility offers a cost-effective solution for managing renewable energy intermittency and advancing provincial and national electricity targets. [MDN: The facility will store up to 48 hours of energy by compressing air using surplus electricity from the grid and storing it in underground solution-mined salt caverns. During periods of higher demand, the air is released and mixed with natural gas to generate heat, allowing it to expand and drive turbines to generate electricity. Creative.]

EU seals deal to phase out Russian gas by 2027
Bloomberg
The European Union has secured a deal to accelerate the phaseout of Russian energy, agreeing to ban Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports by the end of 2026, a year ahead of schedule. Additionally, long-term pipeline gas flows must halt by late 2027. Driven by the Ukraine invasion and the need for energy security, this move aims to sever the bloc’s remaining reliance on Moscow, which still supplies nearly 20% of imports. Facilitated by expected market surpluses and US pressure, the “RePowerEU” plan represents a permanent shift toward alternative suppliers and total energy independence. [MDN: After what, four years of financing the Ukraine war by buying Russian energy, Europe promises to phase it out in the next two years. Yeah, and we have a bridge in Brooklyn we’d happily sell ya if you believe Europe’s pledge to end Russian energy imports.]

India’s Russian oil dilemma – cheap crude, costly consequences
Forbes
India has become a top buyer of discounted Russian oil, saving billions and stabilizing its economy but providing Moscow with a critical financial lifeline during the Ukraine war. This trade has triggered backlash from Kyiv, with Ukrainian MP Oleksii Goncharenko urging the EU to sanction billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries for processing Russian crude. While Indian officials defend the strategy as essential for national energy security, the move highlights growing geopolitical tensions. As India balances domestic economic needs against diplomatic fallout, Western allies face the dilemma of tolerating these purchases or risking a global surge in fuel prices. [MDN: At the end of the day, India will do what benefits it economically. Our challenge is to make it MORE expensive to buy Russian crude (via sanctions, tariffs, etc.) than it is to do what is morally right, which is to stop buying from Russia until the war is ended.]