Volume 9, Issue 7 Welcome to our seventh issue of Currents 2025. In this issue, we look at the changing tides for coal, the new NEPA procedures, West Virginians desire for lower cost energy, southwestern Virginia's newest...more
7/25/2025
/ Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Data Centers ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Sector ,
Natural Gas ,
NEPA ,
Nuclear Power ,
Offshore Wind ,
Oil & Gas ,
Solar Energy ,
Wind Power
Welcome to our third issue of Currents 2025. Again, thank you for reading!
Power Plays and Fueling Tension: Trade War Ripples Through North American Energy Markets -
President Trump's pursuit of U.S. energy dominance,...more
3/21/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Carbon Emissions ,
China ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Data Centers ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Power Plants ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Technology Sector ,
Trade Relations
Welcome to the Tenth Issue of Currents 2024, our energy e-newsletter.
Natural Gas is Not Going Away -
While net-zero remains a dream for many, the electricity market is providing a wake-up call for anyone believing...more
10/18/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Charging Stations ,
Clean Air Act ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Microsoft ,
Natural Gas ,
North Carolina ,
Nuclear Power ,
Offshore Wind ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Grid ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Utilities Sector ,
Wind Farm
Record U.S. Oil Production and the Potential Impacts -
Domestic oil production in the U.S. reached a new record in November 2023, hitting 13.31 million barrels per day, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information...more
3/21/2024
/ China ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
What is the Hydrogen Hubbub?
Hydrogen is seen by many as the fuel of the future, a substance that can provide heat through combustion, or electrical power from fuel cells, emitting only water in the process. Its potential...more
8/17/2023
/ China ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Exports ,
FERC ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Power Plants ,
Steel Industry ,
Transmission Grid
Domestic Nuclear Power Advancement: Barriers to Entry and the Need for a National Strategy -
As previously reported on this site, nuclear generation development has taken hold as a potential promise for a long-term,...more
7/20/2023
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Clean Power Plan ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Green Infrastructure ,
Italy ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Natural Gas ,
Norway ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
Solar Energy
Balancing Reliability, Affordability, and Renewability in the Energy Transition -
Throughout the United States and globally there is an undisputed trend towards renewable energy as much of the world seeks to decarbonize in...more
An Uncertain Future for Nuclear Generation -
As countries and companies around the world set goals for renewable energy targets, there is constant uncertainty as to the best path for reaching these goals. While wind and...more
5/11/2023
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Chevron Deference ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Green Energy ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
NOAA ,
Real Estate Development ,
Renewable Energy
The Cost of "Electrification"
“Electrification” has become a ubiquitous term these days, although depending on who you ask, it might have different meanings. However defined, a critical component of electrification as a...more
4/25/2023
/ Biomass ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Exports ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Natural Gas ,
North Carolina ,
Nuclear Power ,
Plant Closures ,
Power Grid ,
Power Plants ,
Price Transparency ,
Renewable Energy ,
Renewable Fuel ,
Russia ,
Small Business ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
Texas ,
Ukraine ,
Utilities Sector ,
Virginia ,
Washington ,
Wind Power
Biden Races to Meet 2035 Climate Goal -
“He didn’t provide new details of how the U.S. electric grid could be carbon-free by 2035, a top goal for the administration.”
Why this is important: The Biden administration...more
3/10/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
China ,
Electricity ,
Energy Commissions ,
Energy Sector ,
Natural Gas ,
New Legislation ,
Power Grid ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
Solar Energy
Report Claims ESG-focused US Shale Producers Perform Better Over Time -
“'It is clear that ESG performance impacts investor appetite, even though ESG scores have not been the lead indicator of stock growth during the...more
Cap and Trade Gets a Big Win in Pennsylvania. Will It Last?
"Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced that his administration had finalized a regulation to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade...more
Gas Gap in Europe Drives U.S. LNG Exports to Record High -
"About half of the record U.S. LNG volumes shipped last month went to Europe, up from 37% earlier in 2021."
Why this is important: The onset of a challenging...more
1/14/2022
/ Coal Industry ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Exports ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas
FERC Warned Renewables Planning Can Strand Grid Assets -
"But at a FERC technical conference, others highlighted a potential risk for overbuilding and the cost it could incur for consumers."
Why this is important: It's...more
12/2/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
FERC ,
Natural Gas ,
NERC ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy
German Regulator Puts Brake on Nord Stream 2 in Fresh Blow to Gas Pipeline -
"First flows through the pipeline look very unlikely in the first half of 2022, he added."
Why this is important: It is estimated that Russia...more
11/18/2021
/ Coal Industry ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Russia Chooses Not to Raise Natural Gas Supplies to Europe Despite Putin’s Pledge to Help -
"Highly anticipated auction results showed Russia’s state gas giant Gazprom had not booked additional gas transit capacity for...more
11/4/2021
/ Abandoned Property ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal ,
Coal Mines ,
Energy Sector ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Coal Power to Increase for First Time Since 2014, US Says -
"The amount of electricity produced by coal plants is expected to tick up 22% in 2021, reversing coal’s six-year downward trend."
Why this is important: For...more
10/21/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy
Ford Building Massive Electric Vehicle and Battery Plants with $11.4 Billion Investment
"Automaker says production hubs will bring 11,000 jobs to Tennessee and Kentucky."
Why this is important: Ford Motor Company and...more
China Risks Winter Energy Crunch -
"China is at risk of the same energy-crunch chaos seen in Europe, with a state-run newspaper warning that coal-fired power plants will struggle to keep the lights on this winter."...more
9/23/2021
/ China ,
Coal ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Coking Coal ,
Cybersecurity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Natural Gas ,
NPDES ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Utilities Sector
How a Colorado Coal Plant Could Become a Massive Battery for Renewable Energy -
"If the idea works, it could be a case study for other communities trying to preserve jobs and property taxes as the world shifts to cleaner...more
9/9/2021
/ Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Coking Coal ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tesla
Gas Stations Run Dry as Pipeline Races to Recover From Hacking -
"Gas stations along the U.S. East Coast are beginning to run out of fuel as North America’s biggest petroleum pipeline races to recover from a paralyzing...more
5/14/2021
/ Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal Mines ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
CPUC ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
FERC ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Shot Heard Across Texas: San Antonio Gets a Temporary Restraining Order Against ERCOT -
"CPS Energy, the municipal electric utility serving San Antonio and the surrounding area, has won the first skirmish against the...more
5/12/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Renewable Energy
WV Legislature Adopts Compromise Amendment to Natural Gas Property Tax Bill -
"HB 2581 would provide a revised methodology to value oil and natural gas properties by the State Tax Commissioner in response to a West...more
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 11 of Currents. As we begin a new month. I'll remind everyone that we are continually looking to write about different topics...
In Shift, Oil Industry Group Backs Federal Price on Carbon -...more
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Floats Natural Gas Tax to Pay for $3 Billion Pandemic Recovery Plan -
"Long a proponent of an extraction tax, Wolf said it could pay for improvements to workforce training and support, remove...more