Welcome to our fourth issue of Currents 2025. We are covering a multitude of issues in this edition, but we want to pass along a couple of announcements first. Again, thank you for reading!
The Data Center Boom...more
4/17/2025
/ China ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Data Centers ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
FERC ,
MISO ,
Nuclear Power ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Tariffs ,
Utilities Sector
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
The proverbial road to Electric Vehicle (EV) rollout is paved with numerous challenges. Among these speedbumps is the preeminent question of how the infrastructure to support nationwide EV charging will be financed and...more
9/20/2024
/ Charging Stations ,
China ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Infrastructure ,
Investment ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Tariffs
Chevron Doctrine -
The Chevron Doctrine -- what is often referred to as “Chevron deference” – is based on the precedent set by the Supreme Court about four decades ago, which some argue has overly empowered the...more
10/19/2023
/ Batteries ,
Beneficial Owner ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Charging Stations ,
Chevron Deference ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Coal ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydrogen Power ,
OSHA ,
Reporting Requirements
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
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
Appeals Court Rules Louisiana Oil-and-Gas Lawsuits Must be Heard in Federal Court -
"The state and six coastal parishes have filed 42 lawsuits against 200 fossil fuel companies since 2013 over coastal erosion and wetland...more
8/12/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tax Credits
Noble Energy Shareholders OK $4.1B Sale to Chevron -
"The addition of Noble will boost Chevron's U.S. shale oil holdings, making it the No. 2 producer behind EOG Resources, according to data from Rystad Energy."
Why this is...more
10/13/2020
/ Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
China ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Cybersecurity ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Sector ,
Exxon Mobil ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Grid Energy Storage ,
Hydrogen Power ,
India ,
Natural Gas ,
Net Zero ,
Petroleum ,
Popular ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
UK ,
Utilities Sector ,
Wind Power
Trump Administration Approves Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for Land Leasing, Oil Drilling -
"The Trump administration continues to roll back environmental protections and opening doors for the fossil fuel industry in...more
8/24/2020
/ Arctic Drilling ,
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Bitcoin ,
Bitcoin Mining ,
Chevron ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Cybersecurity ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Exports ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Green Energy ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Joint Venture ,
Mechanics Lien ,
National Stockpile ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Fusion ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Plastics ,
Power Grid ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy ,
Rollbacks ,
Shale Gas ,
Trump Administration ,
Virtual Reality ,
Zero Emission Credits
Exxon Mobil: Doubling Down While Facing Peak Oil Demand -
"With most competitors pivoting away from upstream growth, Exxon continues to press ahead with investments despite very challenging current price environment for...more
8/18/2020
/ Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal Mines ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cybersecurity ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Exxon Mobil ,
FERC ,
Industry Consolidation ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Prices ,
Permits ,
Petroleum ,
Power Grid ,
Renewable Energy ,
Senate Committees ,
Solar Energy ,
Supply and Demand ,
Transmission Grid ,
Trump Administration
Coal Earnings Set to Plunge 50% in North America, Moody's Says -
"Earnings for North American coal miners may plunge by more than half this year as the coronavirus pandemic makes a weak market even worse, according to...more
6/8/2020
/ Acquisitions ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Water Act ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal Mines ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Market ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Ford Motor ,
Mining ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Infrastructure ,
Renewable Energy ,
Section 401 ,
Utilities Sector
Energy-Related CO2 Emissions ‘Flatlined’ Last Year, IEA Says, Raising Hopes About Climate -
"Global emissions remained at approximately 33 gigatonnes in 2019 despite the world economy growing by 2.9%, the IEA...more
2/18/2020
/ Asia ,
Australia ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Brownfield Properties ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Charging Stations ,
China ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal Mines ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Cybersecurity ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Sector ,
EU ,
Exports ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
International Energy Agency (IEA) ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Mongolia ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Waste ,
Paris Agreement ,
Petrochemicals ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Research and Development ,
Security Risk Assessments ,
Shale Gas ,
Solar Energy ,
State Funding ,
Trump Administration
The Insanity is Over: ‘Navigable’ Now Means ‘Navigable’ Again -
"The Trump administration has now announced that the intentionally ambiguous and easily abused Waters of the United States Rule has been replaced by the new,...more
2/11/2020
/ Advanced Batteries ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Blockchain ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Clean Water Act ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Diesel Fuel ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Exports ,
Federal Bans ,
Japan ,
Joint Venture ,
Natural Gas ,
Navigable Waters ,
Navigable Waters Protection Rule ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Plant Closures ,
Power Grid ,
Renewable Energy ,
Severe Weather ,
Trump Administration ,
UK ,
Utilities Sector ,
Waters of the United States
Energy Blockchain’s Most Obvious Use Case is Not What You Think -
"Instead, a select group of blockchain companies is finding success with a focus on certificates of origin, helping demonstrate the provenance of renewable...more
2/1/2020
/ Automotive Industry ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Blockchain ,
China ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Cybersecurity ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
EU ,
Exports ,
Federal Bans ,
France ,
Germany ,
Global Warming ,
International Energy Agency (IEA) ,
Iran ,
Lithium Batteries ,
Metallurgical Coal ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Plastics ,
Recycling ,
Renewable Energy ,
Risk Management ,
Solar Energy ,
Steel Industry ,
Supply and Demand
Energy Infrastructure Attacks are ‘Probable’: Oil Traders Fear Supply Disruptions in the Middle East -
"A dramatic escalation of geopolitical tensions will most likely result in an unplanned oil supply shortage in the...more
1/11/2020
/ Ad Velorum Property Taxes ,
Agricultural Sector ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
China ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Exports ,
Fuel Supply ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Imports ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Lithium Batteries ,
Manufacturers ,
Middle East ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Power Grid ,
Power Infrastructure ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
State Legislatures ,
Surface Transportation ,
Terrorist Acts ,
Transmission Planning ,
Trump Administration ,
Ukraine
Court Ruling Vindicates ExxonMobil in New York ‘Climate Change’ Fraud Case -
“'The Office of the Attorney General failed to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that ExxonMobil made any material misstatements or...more
12/14/2019
/ Advanced Batteries ,
Amicus Briefs ,
Asia ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Certiorari ,
China ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Dismissals ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Storage ,
Exports ,
Exxon Mobil ,
Forest Service ,
General Motors ,
Geothermal Energy ,
Imports ,
India ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas ,
Permits ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
SCOTUS ,
Securities Fraud ,
Shale Gas ,
Solar Energy ,
US Steel ,
Wind Power
Big Oil’s Climate Change Reckoning Finally Arrives in Court -
"New York’s $1.6 billion lawsuit arose from a national effort to hold Big Oil responsible for global warming."
Why this is important: The most important...more
10/28/2019
/ Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
China ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal Mines ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Costs ,
EU ,
Exports ,
Exxon Mobil ,
Geothermal Energy ,
Governor Northam ,
Imports ,
Investors ,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) ,
Misrepresentation ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Proxy Statements ,
Renewable Energy ,
Robotics ,
Shale Gas ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
State Contractors ,
Universities
Pennsylvania, CNX Reach $1.48M Settlement on Abandoned Wells -
"The order covers 141 conventional wells and five shale gas wells in Allegheny, Washington, Greene and Westmoreland counties."
Why this is important: The...more
10/18/2019
/ Advanced Batteries ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Mines ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Foreign Investment ,
Gas Prices ,
India ,
Marcellus Shale ,
Natural Gas ,
Offshore Wind ,
Oil Wells ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Product Defects ,
Rare Earth Metals ,
Renewable Energy ,
Safety Equipment ,
Settlement ,
Shale Gas ,
State Regulators ,
Supply and Demand ,
Toxic Exposure ,
Transportation Industry ,
Utica Shale ,
Utilities Sector ,
Wind Power
This Breakthrough Lithium Extraction Technology Could Accelerate the Sustainable Energy Transition -
"A breakthrough nanotechnology from cleantech start-up EnergyX promises to revolutionise the speed, cost and...more
10/7/2019
/ Asia ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
China ,
Clean Tech ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Crude by Rail ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Exxon Mobil ,
India ,
Lithium Batteries ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
PHMSA ,
Pipelines ,
Power Grid ,
Preemption ,
Renewable Energy ,
Sustainability
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Remains Halted as Developers Wait on Court Decisions -
"There are currently two federal permits under review--one issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and one issued by the U.S. Forest...more
9/14/2019
/ Automotive Industry ,
Benchmarks ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Discharge of Pollutants ,
Drainage ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
Federal Bans ,
Fracking ,
Geoengineering ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Land-Use Permits ,
Lenders ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Penalties ,
Petition for Writ of Certiorari ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Political Parties ,
Renewable Energy
Iraq Would Face 'Wrath of U.S.' if Oil Pipeline Projects with Iran Go Ahead -
"Washington would do anything to prevent an Iran-Iraq oil pipeline from ever being built, even if the Europeans were in favor, policy...more
9/3/2019
/ Advanced Batteries ,
Automotive Industry ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
China ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Mines ,
Commodities ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity Costs ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Exports ,
G7 ,
Geothermal Energy ,
Imports ,
Iran ,
Iraq ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
Solar Energy ,
State Legislatures ,
Syria ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Wars ,
Trump Administration ,
United States ,
US Trade Policies ,
Wind Power
Federal Appeals Court Vacates Key Atlantic Coast Pipeline Permit -
"A federal appeals court has pulled another permit issued to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, saying the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had fast-tracked the...more
8/1/2019
/ Appeals ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Charging Stations ,
Coal ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Endangered Species Act (ESA) ,
Energy Policy ,
Land-Use Permits ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Shale Gas ,
Trump Administration ,
US Fish and Wildlife Service ,
Wastewater
Supreme Court Sides with Property Owners; Companies have No Right to Get Natural Gas Without Permission -
"The Supreme Court said, 'A mineral owner or lessee has an implicit right to use the overlying surface to access...more
6/10/2019
/ Adjacent Property Owners ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Carbon Off-Set Credits ,
China ,
Chrysler ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Ash ,
EBITDA ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Federal Loans ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Fracking ,
General Motors ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Impact Fees ,
Metallurgical Coal ,
Mineral Rights ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Political Debates ,
Power Infrastructure ,
Presidential Elections ,
Property Owners ,
Rare Earth Metals ,
Severance Tax ,
Subsurface Estates ,
Surface Estates ,
Tesla ,
Trespass ,
USDA ,
WV Supreme Court ,
Zero-Emission Vehicles
Trump Aides Try to Quash Tax Hike Rumors Amid Infrastructure Talks
"The White House is reassuring conservative leaders that it has no plans to hike the gas tax to help fund a massive infrastructure package that President...more
5/28/2019
/ Australia ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
BP ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Carbon Taxes ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Condemnation ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Gas Taxes ,
Global Warming ,
India ,
Infrastructure Financing ,
Lithium Batteries ,
Lobbying ,
Metallurgical Coal ,
Natural Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Prime Minister ,
Shell Oil ,
Sustainability ,
Trump Administration ,
Universities
New Sulfur Caps for Shipping Fuels Will Help Make the Shale Boom Even Bigger
"Now the shale revolution will help shippers across the world comply with the International Maritime Organization's 2020 standards, called "IMO...more
5/13/2019
/ Abandoned Property ,
Australia ,
Automotive Industry ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
China ,
Clean Water Act ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Mines ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Electricity Costs ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Violations ,
Ethane ,
EU ,
Exports ,
Geothermal Energy ,
Governor Cuomo ,
Imports ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Maritime Transport ,
Metallurgical Coal ,
Methane ,
Natural Gas ,
Petrochemicals ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Shale Gas ,
Shipping ,
State Bans ,
Steel Industry ,
Storage Tanks ,
Tax Credits ,
UK ,
Zero-Emission Vehicles