MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Tue, Dec 16, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation awards grants to 388 nonprofits; Blue states, high rates; New York utility says queue for large power users has tripled; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures extend losing streak; U.S. oil slides to four year low; Tokyo Gas to invest in U.S. downstream assets; Nearly 1,400 natural gas stations to power clean transport growth in 2026; INTERNATIONAL: Baker Hughes, Hunt announce joint framework for redevelopment of mature O&G fields; USA emerges as world’s hydrocarbon superpower.

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation awards grants to 388 nonprofits
Dominion Energy
The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation recently awarded $3.5 million in grants to 388 nonprofit organizations across its operational footprint, including 208 recipients in Virginia. Announced on December 15, 2025, this funding supports critical areas such as human needs, environmental stewardship, education, and community vitality. Specific initiatives funded include pediatric mental health services, homebuyer support programs, and food access projects. Hunter A. Applewhite, the Foundation’s President, highlighted the commitment to aiding neighbors in need and strengthening communities in states like Virginia, South Carolina, and Connecticut. Applications for the next grant cycle will be accepted starting January 12, 2026. [MDN: We’ve highlighted Dominion’s charitable efforts for years. It’s a nice thing that they do. Nonprofits can apply for the next round of grants from January 12 to February 20, 2026. Visit here for more information.]

Blue states, high rates
Institute for Energy Research
A recent report by the Institute for Energy Research argues that state-level policy choices drive the significant disparity in electricity prices between Democratic and Republican states. The data reveals that 86% of states with above-average electricity rates are “blue,” whereas 80% of states with the lowest rates are “red.” The authors contend that liberal states like California and New York inflate costs through aggressive renewable mandates and carbon reduction targets. In contrast, conservative states like Florida and Louisiana maintain affordability by prioritizing dispatchable resources such as natural gas and coal. The report concludes that high electricity prices are a deliberate result of prioritizing climate goals over affordability. [MDN: Gee, where have you heard this before, that Democrat-run states have high electric rates because of the anti-fossil fuel policies they adopt?]

New York utility says queue for large power users has tripled
Bloomberg
National Grid New York reports a significant surge in power demand, with large-load connection requests tripling to 10 gigawatts over the next five years. President Sally Librera attributes this spike to the booming artificial intelligence sector and chip manufacturing. This demand places strain on the state’s aging infrastructure, some of which is nearly a century old, necessitating costly upgrades that are currently increasing customer bills. Librera emphasizes that modernizing the grid to ensure reliability will require a diversified energy mix, including renewables, natural gas, and nuclear power, to support the rapid influx of data centers and manufacturers. [MDN: Regardless of what is used to generate electricity (natural gas, solar, wind, unicorn farts) the fact is we are undergoing a tremendous expansion of demand for electricity from data centers. There’s really only one fuel source that can handle that growth economically right now: natural gas.]

NATIONAL

U.S. natural gas futures extend losing streak
Wall Street Journal
Natural gas futures fall for a third consecutive session, settling at their lowest level in six weeks. “The swing in the short-term temperature forecasts from extreme cold to above normal patterns has prompted a dramatic price plunge that has erased all the huge price gains seen since the end of October and into early this month,” Ritterbusch and Associates says in a note. The firm sees both the spike higher and the sharp fall as overdone. “As the market becomes increasingly oversold, the influx of speculative capital that has been flowing back into the short side of this market will slowly subside.” Nymex natural gas settles down 2.5% at $4.012/mmBtu. [MDN: We agree with this analysis. The swing up was wild (and uncalled for), and now, the swing down is the same. We’re keeping our tippy nose just above the $4 waterline. Let’s hope it stays there. At least we’re talking about staying in the $4s and not bumping along in the $2s hoping to get into the $3s!]

U.S. oil slides to four year low
Bloomberg
West Texas Intermediate crude dropped to its lowest level since February 2021, settling below $57 amid thin holiday trading. The decline is primarily driven by optimism regarding a potential Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, which implies reduced supply disruption risks, alongside mixed economic data from China that dampens demand expectations. These bearish signals outweigh conflicting geopolitical tensions, including recent attacks on Russian infrastructure and US actions against Venezuela. With global supply expected to exceed demand through next year, commodity traders remain heavily short on crude, positioning the oil market for an annual loss as it faces a looming glut. [MDN: West Texas Intermediate for January delivery fell 1.1% to settle at $56.82 a barrel. Brent for February settlement dropped 0.92% to settle at $60.56 a barrel, the lowest close since May.]

Tokyo Gas to invest in U.S. downstream assets
Bloomberg
Tokyo Gas plans to expand its US footprint by investing in downstream assets, including liquefaction plants and export terminals, to boost earnings. President Shinichi Sasayama stated this strategy aligns with favorable market conditions driven by President Trump’s energy policies and surging power demand from AI data centers. Following its recent acquisition of Rockcliff Energy, the company has allocated 350 billion yen ($2.2 billion) for overseas investments starting in fiscal 2026. Additionally, Tokyo Gas is addressing pressure from activist investor Elliott Management by identifying non-core real estate assets for sale, though it intends to retain properties essential to its core energy business. [MDN: Trump has been attracting new investments from abroad like honey attracts flies. It’s amazing what one man (with the right team) can do. It’s also amazing the damage one man (with the right autopen) can do.]

Nearly 1,400 natural gas stations to power clean transport growth in 2026
Clean Trucking
Based on the article, the United States is poised to begin 2026 with an expanded natural gas fueling infrastructure, featuring 1,385 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations and 81 liquefied natural gas (LNG) stations. The Transport Project’s Q4 2025 report highlights that 53% of these CNG stations are publicly accessible, while 46% are designed to accommodate heavy-duty Class 8 trucks. Furthermore, the network is becoming increasingly sustainable, with 51% of stations dispensing renewable natural gas (RNG). California leads the nation in station density, followed by Oklahoma and Texas, ensuring operational coverage across 47 states and the District of Columbia. [MDN: Forget about RNG, the big news here is that CNG and LNG for heavy duty trucks is growing! Finally! Forget about EVs. Natgas is the future of trucking.]

INTERNATIONAL

Baker Hughes, Hunt announce joint framework for redevelopment of mature O&G fields
Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes and Hunt Oil Company have announced a joint framework agreement to collaborate on the redevelopment of mature oil and gas fields globally. This partnership aims to extend the productive life of aging assets and unlock new hydrocarbon value by combining Baker Hughes’ advanced energy technologies and subsurface expertise with Hunt Oil’s global experience in upstream exploration and operations. The collaboration will focus on identifying and assessing opportunities across prolific basins worldwide. Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli and Hunt Oil CEO Hunter Hunt highlighted the strategic importance of using innovation to revive commercially viable fields as the industry manages declining production from aging assets. [MDN: Industry forecasts indicate that by 2030, approximately 80% of oil and gas output will come from mature assets. The redevelopment of mature fields is increasingly vital to the future of global energy. We love how creative companies in the O&G space are! The point here is that oil and natural gas are here for the long-term—well beyond our lifetimes and those of our children and grandchildren.]

USA emerges as world’s hydrocarbon superpower
Rigzone
The United States has emerged as the world’s premier hydrocarbon superpower, driven by a rapid ascent in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil production. Wood Mackenzie notes the U.S. transformed from an importer to the top global LNG exporter in under a decade and is projected to control 30% of the market by 2030. Furthermore, the nation leads global oil production, supplying one-fifth of the world’s volume—significantly outpacing Saudi Arabia and Russia. Data from the EIA and Energy Institute confirm this hegemony, forecasting continued growth in LNG exports and sustained high crude output through 2026. [MDN: It’s no coincidence that the world’s greatest capitalist democracy is also the world’s #1 hydrocarbon superpower. Socialism produces horse manure. Capitalism produces greatness. Learn it, live it, love it.]