MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jan 9, 2026 [FREE ACCESS]

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Northeast gas demand started New Year with a gang; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Glenfarne launches financing for Texas LNG project; BLM announces March 2026 sale of oil and gas leases in four eastern states; NY Coalition for Safe and Reliable Energy petition; Washington State admits massive climate data error in 2026; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures down despite inventory draw; U.S. natural gas futures dip 3% on forecasts for mild weather, low heating demand; Strategies for reducing methane emissions from cattle; INTERNATIONAL: Oil prices jump as short covering builds; Survey shows OPEC held supply flat last month; Could Venezuela production get back to 3 million bpd?; Europe is waking up to the follies of ‘green energy.’

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION

Northeast gas demand started New Year with a bang
RBN Energy
Northeast natural gas demand rose by 2.1 Bcf/d for the week ending January 6, reaching an average of 33.1 Bcf/d. This surge was primarily driven by cold weather increasing residential and commercial heating consumption, with a daily peak of 34.9 Bcf/d on New Year’s Day. Consequently, the tightened regional supply led to a 0.6 Bcf/d drop in net outflows, particularly toward the Southeast and Gulf. However, upcoming warmer forecasts suggest demand will soon plummet below historical five-year minimums. While flows to the Midwest saw a minor increase, Canadian imports remained steady during this brief period of heightened regional volatility. [MDN: There’s an interesting graphic with this story. Click to view it.]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS

Glenfarne launches financing for Texas LNG project
Bloomberg
Glenfarne Group LLC is currently securing financing for its 4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity LNG export project in Brownsville, Texas. Supported by advisors CIBC and Mizuho Financial Group, the developer aims to capitalize on the United States’ status as the world’s leading supplier of cleaner-burning fuel. Although a final investment decision date has not been set, the project has already garnered significant interest from high-profile prospective customers, including EQT Corp., Gunvor Group, RWE AG, and Macquarie Group. Once financing is finalized and a formal commitment is made, construction will begin, contributing to the anticipated surge in global LNG supply. [MDN: Getting the money to actually build the thing is the next step. With commitments in hand, an FID and then construction will follow. We previously told you that EQT has a signed deal to sell this facility 2 MTPA (half) of the gas it will need (see EQT Signs Contract to Ship 264 MMcf/d to LNG Export Plant in Texas).]

BLM announces March 2026 sale of oil and gas leases in four eastern states
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has scheduled an oil and gas lease sale for March 12, 2026, offering eight parcels totaling 506 acres across Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, and Mississippi. Following scoping and public comment phases in 2025, a 30-day protest period is now open through February 9, 2026. While leasing is the initial step, future development remains contingent on additional drilling permits, environmental reviews, and stakeholder coordination. All parcels include stipulations to protect natural resources. Detailed maps and protest instructions are available via BLM’s ePlanning portal, with the auction held online through the EnergyNet platform. [MDN: None of these parcels are in the M-U. However, it’s good to see the BLM reengaging and selling O&G leases in the eastern half of the country again. We previously told you that the BLM will sell leases in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest in September of this year (see BLM Plans Ohio Wayne Nat’l Forest Lease Sale for September 2026).]

NY Coalition for Safe and Reliable Energy petition
Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
The Coalition for Safe and Reliable Energy recently petitioned the New York Public Service Commission to evaluate suspending or modifying the state’s ambitious Climate Act mandates. This filing aligns with a previous technical challenge by Independent Intervenors, both asserting that “Net Zero” targets compromise grid reliability and energy affordability. The groups argue that renewable development is lagging while fossil-fuel retirements accelerate, creating a dangerous resource gap without viable zero-emission backup technology. By demanding a formal hearing, they seek to establish objective criteria for economic and operational safety, ensuring New York’s transition does not result in systemic instability or excessive costs. [MDN: The goal with this petition is to stop the state from phasing out fossil energy anytime soon. It’s not necessary and it will put residents of the state in energy jeopardy. Blackouts are coming, folks! How many times do we have to say this?]

Washington State admits massive climate data error in 2026
Seattle (WA) KIRO Radio 770
The Washington Department of Commerce admitted to a massive data entry error that overstated the Climate Commitment Act’s (CCA) emission reductions by 96 times. Originally claiming eight projects would cut 7.5 million metric tons of CO2, the state now confirms the actual impact is only 78,000 tons. Critics argue the CCA has spiked energy costs for families while prioritizing political optics over efficacy. Furthermore, approximately 70% of CCA funding reportedly supports projects with no expected carbon impact, such as bicycle education. This discrepancy has prompted a full review of over 3,600 state-funded projects to identify further reporting inaccuracies. [MDN: What’s this? The government in Washington State lied about the climate benefits of its screwy regulations? And you’re surprised! This global warming crap is just that: CRAP.]

NATIONAL

U.S. natural gas futures down despite inventory draw
Wall Street Journal
U.S. natural gas futures fell for the sixth time in seven sessions, settling 3.3% lower at $3.407/mmBtu as a storage withdrawal of 119 Bcf failed to provide market support. While the EIA data narrowed the inventory surplus over the five-year average to 31 Bcf, prices hit fresh intraday lows following the release, signaling that the report did little to shift the market’s bearish momentum. Analysts note that traders are currently looking past storage figures to focus on the week ahead, which is forecasted to bring unseasonably warm weather to major population centers across the eastern United States. [MDN: We in the northeast need a little warm-weather break. However, it’s serving to drive down the NYMEX gas price. We’re not back under the $3.50 line and likely heading lower. Bummer.]

U.S. natural gas futures dip 3% on forecasts for mild weather, low heating demand
Reuters
U.S. natural gas futures fell 3.3% to $3.407/mmBtu as unseasonably mild weather forecasts through late January suppressed domestic heating demand. Despite a larger-than-expected storage withdrawal of 119 Bcf and record-level LNG exports of 18.5 Bcfd, the bearish outlook persisted. This downturn pushed major producers Expand Energy and EQT to their lowest stock levels since October. Additionally, pipeline constraints in the Permian Basin forced Waha Hub cash prices into negative territory for the second time this month. While daily output has eased slightly to 109.1 Bcfd, persistent warmth continues to offset strong export demand, keeping the market under pressure. [MDN: Yes, the NYMEX price does have the power to affect the stock price of M-U drillers.]

Strategies for reducing methane emissions from cattle
Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)
Cattle are major methane emitters due to enteric fermentation, making them critical targets for short-term climate mitigation. Strategies to reduce these potent greenhouse gas emissions include altering cattle diets with additives like red seaweed or 3-NOP, which inhibit methane production during digestion. Additionally, improved manure management through anaerobic digesters, daily spreading, or pasture-based systems can significantly lower emissions. Practices like silvopasture further support mitigation by sequestering carbon while providing economic benefits. International efforts, such as the Global Methane Pledge, highlight a unified commitment to reducing global methane emissions by 30% by 2030 to combat rising temperatures and extreme weather. [MDN: Hands off our cows, you sickos! We don’t need to feed cows seaweed to make them burp and fart less. These antis are so consumed with global warming nonsense that they’ve become anal retentive, seeking to control every aspect of YOUR life, including what you eat and drink—and where those food sources come from.]

INTERNATIONAL

Oil prices jump as short covering builds
Bloomberg
Oil prices surged over 3% as West Texas Intermediate climbed toward $58, driven by geopolitical instability and technical market shifts. President Trump’s warnings to Iran regarding domestic unrest sparked supply concerns, while the U.S. moved to assert control over Venezuela’s oil industry. Energy Secretary Chris Wright outlined plans to manage Venezuelan crude sales through U.S. Treasury accounts, with major firms like Chevron and Citgo seeking expanded operational roles. This bullish momentum was further amplified by commodity index rebalancing and short-covering by traders. Ultimately, the market is pivoting toward shifted trade flows and heightened U.S. oversight. [MDN: Brent is back over $60. WTI for February delivery climbed 3.2% to settle at $57.76 a barrel, while Brent for March settlement rose 3.4% to settle at $61.99.]

Survey shows OPEC held supply flat last month
Bloomberg
OPEC’s crude production remained stable in December at 29 million barrels daily, as rising output from Iraq offset a significant 14% decline in Venezuela. Venezuelan production plummeted to 830,000 barrels following U.S. intervention and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Amidst a global surplus and low oil prices near $60, OPEC+ members have agreed to freeze production levels through the first quarter of the year. This strategic pause halts a previous effort to reclaim market share from American shale drillers. The alliance, led by Saudi Arabia, faces mounting geopolitical challenges as it prepares for a policy review in February. [MDN: Here is one truism in the oil world that anyone who has been around this industry knows…NEVER listen to what OPEC says, ALWAYS watch what OPEC members actually do. The members of OPEC are, by and large, liars (and thug dictators). You must carefully watch their actions and disregard their bluster.]

Could Venezuela production get back to 3 million bpd?
Rigzone
A Rystad Energy report suggests Venezuela could technically restore oil production to three million barrels per day by 2040, requiring a massive $183 billion investment over 15 years. While 1.4 million barrels per day is achievable within 24 months for $14 billion, reaching higher targets faces significant hurdles like high breakeven prices and global competition from Guyana and U.S. shale. Although a realistic ceiling may be closer to 2.5 million barrels, BMI analysts remain skeptical, citing political instability and low price forecasts as major barriers. This ambitious recovery depends on immediate capital and shifts in the geopolitical landscape. [MDN: In other words, to answer the question posed in the headline, NO. Venezuela isn’t going to restore oil production to 3 million bpd. Venezuela oil production last month was 830,000 bpd. The country will have a hard time hitting 1 million, let alone 3 million.]

Europe is waking up to the follies of ‘green energy’
Washington (DC) The Hill
Europe is facing a harsh awakening as “climate-obsessed” policies cripple its economy and lower living standards. Soaring electricity prices, particularly in Germany and Britain, are driving heavy industry to the U.S. and Asia, while “fuel poverty” has caused thousands of excess deaths. Critics, including leaders like Nigel Farage and Friedrich Merz, argue that these mandates are economically suicidal and ideologically driven by unelected bureaucrats. As anti-establishment parties gain traction, the continent struggles with the ramifications of banning reliable fossil fuels and nuclear power in favor of intermittent renewables, highlighting a widening economic gap compared to America. [MDN: You want to see what the future holds if America forces its citizens to use unreliable renewable energy? Just look at the disaster unfolding in Europe. No thanks.]