Texas Energy Report NewsClips
Friday October 24, 2025
Asterisk (*) denotes news stories that may be inaccessible because portions are behind a paywall
Good morning! Here are today’s Texas Energy Report NewsClips
Oil prices dipped in early trade on Friday, trimming part of the previous day’s surge but remaining on track for a weekly gain, as fresh U.S. sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies over the war in Ukraine fuelled supply concerns.
West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 33 cents, or 0.58%, at $61.43.
Brent crude futures fell 36 cents, or 0.55%, to $65.63 at 0333 GMT.
“Crude is levelling off, some profit-taking is setting in, indicating the market is not hitting the panic button over Russian supply,” said Vandana Hari, the founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights.
Top Stories
Oil Price – October 23, 2025
CenterPoint’s AI-Fueled Houston Boom Lifts Q3
Related: Utility officials told analysts Thursday that CenterPoint has connected more than 500 MW of data centers so far this year, and has also seen strong demand from the energy refining sector and the Port of Houston, which saw an 18% quarter-over-quarter increase in exports — Utility Dive
CenterPoint Energy beat the Street in Q3 on a very simple story: Houston’s industrial appetite for electrons is exploding, and regulators are letting the utility recoup what it spends to keep up. Adjusted EPS landed at $0.50 (vs. $0.44 est.), up more than 60% y/y on a non-GAAP basis. The drivers were textbook utility levers—about $0.07/share from growth and regulatory recovery and $0.12/share from leaner O&M—partly shaved by $0.04/share in higher interest expense. GAAP EPS was $0.45 on net income of $293 million.
Under the hood, the Houston Electric business keeps doing the heavy lifting. Overall throughput in Houston is up 9% YTD; industrial throughput is up 11% YTD and 17% quarter-over-quarter. CenterPoint says it has already connected 500 MW of data centers this year, and it’s not pretending demand will cool: the company forecasts a 10 GW jump in Houston peak load by 2031—nearly a 50% surge in six years—as AI data centers, refiners, and port-driven exports pile on.
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E&E News – October 23, 2025
Firing roils Texas LNG ‘company town’
Freeport LNG, one of the nation’s largest natural gas export terminals, has reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in state and local tax incentives over the past decade. One of those tax breaks is now under scrutiny in Texas following the firing of a small-town official who’d suggested it was time to demand more money.
Tammi Cimiotta had been administrator for the tiny beach town of Quintana, Texas — population 25 — which sits in the shadow of the massive plant. She has charged that she was fired last spring by “corrupt” town council members who are employed by Freeport LNG or have financial ties to the company. … A federal lawsuit she filed over the summer also says the mayor and several of the council members who voted to fire her don’t live in Quintana, as required by law.
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Financial Times – October 22, 2025
US and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn experts*
The US government and investors have made a $9bn gamble on small nuclear reactors to power the AI boom and lower emissions — but experts warn the technology could prove too costly to be viable. Data compiled by the FT shows that since 2019, government agencies including the energy and defence departments have committed over $6bn to developers of small modular reactors (SMRs) through awards, loans and cost sharing agreements. Private investment has also soared, with over $3bn raised in the same timeframe. The technology promises a one-stop solution to data centres’ power needs by providing clean, reliable and cheap electricity for companies to train and run their AI models. Investor enthusiasm has lifted the share prices and valuations of companies with little or no revenues or operating projects.
“There’s a lot of cheerleading happening, but the amount of capital that you need to cross the finish line is huge,” said Chris Gadomski, head of nuclear research at BloombergNEF, which estimates data centre power needs will more than double by 2035. “What I see happening with SMRs and data centres reminds me of the internet boom and bust of the early 2000s.” Small modular reactors generate up to 300 megawatts of power each — a fraction of the roughly 1,000 megawatts produced by reactors at utility plants like Georgia’s Vogtle, the largest in the country. But questions linger over whether the technology can produce electricity which is cost competitive with bigger nuclear plants, renewables and natural gas. Past efforts to build SMR projects in the US have been plagued by delays and cost overruns. In 2023, NuScale — which has a design approved by US regulators — was forced to cancel a project after costs ballooned more than 120 per cent. The three operating SMRs worldwide, which are located in Russia and China, exceeded their original cost estimates by 300 to 400 per cent.
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Dallas Morning News – October 23, 2025
Crews break ground on Texas’ first commercially produced water lithium extraction facility*
Crews broke ground this week on the state’s first end-to-end produced water lithium project, a move expected to position East Texas as a player in the sector amid fierce global competition over critical metals. Against a backdrop of surging rare mineral mining in Texas, the small-scale commercial lithium extraction facility, located in Joaquin in the Haynesville shale region, will turn up to 3,000 metric tons per year of high-purity lithium salts.
It will then convert the oil and gas waste streams into the marketable lithium product used in rechargeable batteries and storage systems. Mariana Minerals will fund, design, construct and operate the facility, while tapping Select Water Solutions’ water treatment know-how and existing pipeline infrastructure. The partnership will source, transport and manage the produced water streams to the extraction process.
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Center Square – October 23, 2025
Japan’s JERA to acquire Hayneville shale gas assets in west Louisiana
Related: A recently launched offshore wind venture from BP and a Japanese power company plans to largely close up its U.S. operations amid the Trump administration’s hostile stance toward renewable energy — JERA Nex BP said Wednesday that it would trim its U.S. operations to a “minimal level” and dismiss all of its U.S.-based employees, though the affected number of workers wasn’t immediately clear — Politico*
Japanese power generation company JERA said Thursday it has agreed to acquire natural gas producing properties located in western Louisiana’s Haynesville Shale basin from Williams Cos and GEP Haynesville II for $1.5 billion. JERA, one of the world’s largest importers of LNG, bought properties located around the South Mansfield gas field, which now produces about 500 million cubic feet of gas per day. The company said in a news release that planned investments could double production to one billion cubic feet a day (Bcf/d).
“The U.S. energy sector is leading the way in the global LNG market and JERA’s investments have lined up accordingly,” said John O’Brien, JERA Americas’ chief executive officer. “The upstream Haynesville Acquisition is a strategic addition to our asset portfolio, enabling us to advance our unique supply chain expertise while deepening our commitment to Americas’ energy future,” O’Brien said.
The Latest TERse Tips
Freeport LNG was working Thursday on taking in more natural gas following an outage
Governor Greg Abbott appointed Morgan Johnson to the Public Utility Commission of Texas for a term set to expire on September 1, 2031 — see the press release
Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc. on Wednesday reported profit of $22.1 million in its third quarter — the Houston-based company said it had profit of 15 cents per share — the offshore oil and gas services contractor posted revenue of $377 million in the period — Associated Press/KVUE
Permian Basin natural gas prices at the Waha hub again plunged into negative territory this fall, but Matador Resources Co. is navigating the slide with record production, buttressed by the Haynesville Shale — Natural Gas Intelligence*
President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he was terminating all trade negotiations with Canada because the Ontario provincial government aired an ad featuring former President Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs — Trump’s announcement accused Canada of trying to influence a pending U.S. Supreme Court case that could doom many of his tariffs, including ones on Canada — CNBC
Russia believes some NATO members, in particular Poland, want to abandon restrictions on the deployment of nuclear weapons in their countries, which would aggravate “strategic risks” and tensions, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said — Newsweek
Conroe City Council on Oct. 9 approved a new ordinance strengthening local oversight of oil and gas infrastructure following months of public concern over the proposed Blackfin Pipeline compressor station — Community Impact
The University of Texas at El Paso has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to develop artificial intelligence tools that strengthen cybersecurity for nuclear power plants — El Paso Inc
EPA is relaxing the cleanup standard for lead removal at contaminated sites to levels dating back to 1994 — Politico*
Alumni from Bill Gates’ energy innovation group have launched a new organization to push renewable energy — the Clean Economy Project debuted Tuesday, bringing together leaders who formerly worked in policy at Breakthrough Energy, which shrunk its operations earlier this year — Politico*
Rivian is carrying out another round of layoffs affecting around 4.5% of its workforce as the electric-truck maker tries to conserve cash ahead of an expected drop in sales of electric vehicles — The Wall Street Journal*
Oil & Gas Texas
Yahoo! News – October 23, 2025
Valero Energy One-Off $1.1B Loss Undermines Earnings Quality, Spotlighting Margin Debate
Related: Valero Energy is not planning on participating in projects announced over the past few weeks that would enable more refined products to reach markets in the western US to alleviate shortages once two California refineries complete their permanent closures — Quantum Commodity Intelligence*
Valero Energy (VLO) posted a 0.6% net profit margin for the twelve months ending September 30, 2025, down from last year’s 4.4%, as a one-off $1.1 billion loss weighed on the bottom line. Despite this margin pressure, analysts expect the company’s earnings to grow at a 15.8% annual rate over the next three years, while revenue is forecast to decline a modest 0.6% per year.
Investors are watching closely, as Valero’s stock trades below estimated fair value but looks expensive relative to industry peers on a price-to-earnings basis. This sets up an interesting debate over the quality of reported profits versus long-term growth potential.
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Jackson Clarion-Ledger – October 23, 2025
New MS data center could double state’s economic development record. Exxon could be a driver
A meeting in Mississippi’s smallest town could lead to the largest economic development project in the history of the state. An ExxonMobil spokesperson as well as one of its local lobbyists met with residents of Satartia in Yazoo County on Monday, Oct. 20 to discuss the potential of the company building a power plant that would energize a data center for what could ultimately be as much as a $30 billion project.
If that is the case, it could nearly double or even triple the previous economic development project record. Currently, the record development project is the Amazon data center project in Madison County, which is slated to cost between $10 and $16 billion.
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Zacks/Yahoo! News – October 23, 2025
Baker Hughes (BKR) Tops Q3 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
Baker Hughes (BKR) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.68 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.61 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.67 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +11.48%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this oilfield services company would post earnings of $0.55 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.63, delivering a surprise of +14.55%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times. Baker Hughes, which belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas – Field Services industry, posted revenues of $7.01 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.61%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $6.91 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.
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Zacks/Yahoo! News – October 23, 2025
Kinder Morgan Q3 Earnings Meet Estimates on Natural Gas Pipelines
Related: US pipeline operator Kinder Morgan said Wednesday it is evaluating new projects to support natural gas exports to Mexico, amid rising power demand in the country. CEO Kim Dang said during a third-quarter earnings call that in total the Houston-based company is pursuing more than US$10 billion in opportuniities including liquefied natural gas (LNG) development, new power plants and exports to Mexico — BNAmericas
Kinder Morgan Inc. reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of 29 cents, which met the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The bottom line also increased year over year from 25 cents. Total quarterly revenues of $4.15 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.13 billion. The top line also increased from $3.70 billion in the prior-year quarter.
The in-line earnings and better-than-expected top line were primarily backed by business activities associated with natural gas pipelines. Other midstream giants like Enterprise Products Partners LP EPD and Enbridge Inc. ENB are yet to report results. Both EPD and ENB generate stable cash flows from their vast network of midstream assets. While Enterprise Products is likely to report third-quarter earnings on Oct. 30, Enbridge is scheduled to post results on Nov. 7.
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Midland Reporter-Telegram – October 23, 2025
Diamondback Energy to cut debt, navigate Permian volatility*
Permian Basin oil and gas operators are experiencing volatility and price levels they’ve not been accustomed to. However: “Never underestimate the Permian Basin,” Kaes Van’t Hof, chief executive officer and director at Diamondback Energy, told attendees at Hart Energy’s DUG Permian conference.
“Go back to May after ‘Liberation Day’ and the concern over demand shock, over supply shock. Six months later, demand remains strong, (though) supply questions remain. Everything will be fine. We survived COVID. We survived negative $37 oil. Everything will be fine,” he said. Operators will react quickly and get through the down cycle, he added. “Whatever happens the next six months, we’ll be prepared.” Since its inception about 15 years ago, Diamondback has fashioned itself as the operator with the lowest costs, he said, and the company’s job is to continue keeping costs low. Amid the uncertain climate, Van’t Hof said the company will focus on paying down debt and on execution.
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Financial Times – October 23, 2025
Why the Permian Basin is facing a power crunch
Ravenous data centres are upending the energy industry and reworking the landscape for power. Natural gas, once on the back foot as the world focused on renewable power and lower emissions, is now at the forefront of a renaissance brought on by the voracious need for electricity. Gas turbine manufacturers are racing to meet demand, with orders climbing almost 50 per cent over the past five years, according to my FT colleagues Harry Dempsey, A Anantha Lakshmi and Malcolm Moore.
The power needed to fuel the demands of artificial intelligence must be reliable and available around the clock. Last year, the US Department of Energy forecasted data centres would consume as much as 12 per cent of domestic electricity by 2028, up from 4.4 per cent in 2023. Nuclear power, another industry once consigned to the scrap heap, is also enjoying renewed interest to help satisfy that thirst for power. My colleagues Jamie Smyth, Martha Muir, George Steer and Alex Rogers wrote an in-depth story yesterday about a $20bn nuclear start-up with links to the Trump administration that has no revenue. Even more surprising, Oklo has no binding power contracts, nor an operating license, yet its market valuation has risen more than 500 per cent this year. The power crunch has come home to roost here in Texas, the second-biggest economy in the US, and nowhere more so than in the Permian Basin. There isn’t enough electricity to go around in the country’s biggest oilfield with data centres threatening to suck up every last electron. It’s a mounting problem bedevilling oil and gas products that I delve into in today’s Energy Source.
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KRIS – October 22, 2025
10 things we learned about the water crisis from a Texas oil and gas industry executive
As Corpus Christi faces its most severe drought in decades, local industries that fuel the region’s economy are under pressure to conserve water while keeping operations running. Bob Paulison, Executive Director of the Coastal Bend Industry Association (CBIA), represents 21 major companies that do business in and around the Port of Corpus Christi — including refineries, chemical manufacturers, crude and liquefied natural gas terminals.
In a sit-down interview, he broke down how much water local industries use, why they use it, and what the looming “Stage 4” drought restrictions could mean for jobs, production, and the economy. Ten Takeaways:
CBIA REPRESENTS THE REGION’S BIGGEST EMPLOYERS — Paulison leads a group of 21 companies tied to the Port of Corpus Christi — from refineries to chemical and midstream operators. Together, they drive much of the region’s economy and tax base.
YES, INDUSTRY KNOWS IT USES MOST OF THE WATER — About 500,000 people rely on Corpus Christi’s water supply but refineries and chemical plants are the heaviest users. As of 2024, industrial use accounts for approximately 55% of water consumption in Nueces and San Patricio counties (up from typical 50%), totaling about 60.5 million gallons daily out of 110 million gallons total.
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Midland Reporter Telegram – October 22, 2025
PBPA panel targets power solutions for Permian Basin energy*
ower needed by the Permian Basin’s energy companies to produce energy remains a primary issue for the Permian Basin. At its first-ever luncheon held at the Permian Basin International Oil Show, the Permian Basin Petroleum Association offered a panel discussion on how industry, regulatory and legislative cooperation is moving the industry toward solutions. Railroad Commission Chairman Jim Wright was a special guest at the discussion, telling those in attendance he had enjoyed spending the last few days in the heart of the state’s energy industry. Wright cited the state’s dominance in energy production and its strong economy.
“That leadership didn’t happen overnight,” he said, praising the industry’s entrepreneurial spirit. He acknowledged that the industry is dealing with some growing pains — water management and power — but said growing pains are better than the alternative. The agency looks to work with the industry to ensure it continues to generate energy and revenue. “We want to work with you for the greater good,” he said. He went further, adding that he wants to ensure everything the agency does protects everyone in the state and that he takes politics out of the equation.
Oil & Gas National & International
CNBC – October 23, 2025
Trump’s Russia oil sanctions could just be starting as low prices leave room to escalate
Related: The bipartisan authors of sweeping Russia sanctions legislation are hoping the Senate is finally ready to consider their bill after President Donald Trump hit Moscow’s energy sector with penalties this week — Politico
President Donald Trump could further rachet up sanctions against Russia’s oil sector, with an expected global surplus of crude next year leaving the U.S. room to escalate while insulating American drivers from a price shock. The Treasury Department on Wednesday announced sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s two largest oil exporters, citing Moscow’s “lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.”
The sanctions mark the “most material move to date by the United States to shutter the Russian war ATM,” Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital markets, told clients. The sanctions took the oil market by surprise. U.S. crude prices spiked nearly 6% to trade above $60 per barrel in response after many traders had discounted the risk of escalation due to Trump’s focus on keeping energy prices low.
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Associated Press – October 23, 2025
European Union agrees on new sanctions against Russia targeting its shadow oil fleet and LNG imports
The European Union has agreed on a new raft of sanctions against Russia targeting its shadow fleet of oil tankers and banning its imports of liquefied natural gas, the Danish EU presidency announced Thursday. “Today is a good day for Europe and Ukraine,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in a statement, as EU leaders were gathering for a summit in Brussels.
He said that the new sanctions “will introduce new and comprehensive measures on oil and gas, the shadow fleet and Russia’s financial sector.” A new system for limiting the movement of Russian diplomats within the 27-nation EU will also be introduced.
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Globe & Mail – October 22, 2025
EQT Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
- Free Cash Flow — $484 million of free cash flow attributable to EQT was generated in Q3 2025 after $21 million in one-time Olympus transaction costs. Cumulative free cash flow attributable to EQT exceeded $2.3 billion over the last four quarters at a $3.25/MMBtu average gas price, demonstrating resilience at moderate prices.
- Production — Production was near the high end of guidance for Q3 2025 due to robust well productivity, despite price-related curtailments.
- Corporate Differential — Outperformed, coming in $0.12 tighter than the midpoint of guidance for Q3 2025, as local basis widened after guidance was issued.
- Total Cash Cost per Unit — Achieved a record low, attributed to water infrastructure and midstream optimization.
- Capital Spending — Came in approximately $70 million below the midpoint of guidance, driven by upstream efficiency and midstream performance.
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Argus Media – October 23, 2025
US’ EQT plans to add LNG regasification capacity
US natural gas producer EQT is not seeking any additional offtake volumes for its 6.5mn t/yr LNG portfolio but anticipates it will sign deals for regasification capacity in international markets. EQT, the second-largest US gas producer by volume, concluded a spree of offtake deals totaling 4.5mn t/yr with proposed US LNG projects in late August and early September. Those agreements came on top of a 2mn t/yr tolling agreement signed in July 2024.
“Our bucket is full now,” chief executive Toby Rice said on Wednesday. “I wouldn’t anticipate we sign anything else near term. But the company expects to sign deals for sales agreements and regasification capacity in overseas markets, part of a “direct-to-consumer approach” for a large portion of its LNG portfolio, chief financial officer Jeremy Knop said.
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Bloomberg – October 22, 2025
US Oil Production Is Booming. So Is Demand: Javier Blas*
I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that on my US road trip last week, the tank-sized sports utility vehicle provided by the rental company delivered a ludicrously low average fuel economy of 26.4 miles per gallon. That may sound about right to US readers, but in the UK I typically achieve 45-plus miles. Of course, my US friends roll their eyes at the tiny Honda I drive in London; my US ride was a Ford Explorer better suited to a war zone than the leafy byways of Maine. My shock at the gas station was a timely reminder of an underappreciated companion to the “drill, baby, drill” mantra that’s transformed US oil production — demand is also booming.
Oil is a hard-to-break addiction, even more so when one is swimming in petroleum. And, in fact, the US produces more oil than it consumes. The shale revolution provides a political embarrassment of riches — one that, via low prices and taxes, subsidizes rising consumption. On current trends, the US will consume an annual average of 20.59 million barrels a day in 2025, the highest in 18 years. It helps that the US Energy Information Administration, the government body that counts the barrels, recently revised significantly higher its estimate of 2024 oil demand. Further increases are likely, putting in play the current 20-year-old record — a high-water mark that the industry had thought would remain unchallenged.
It would be easy to blame the pro-fossil fuel Trump administration for the increase, but much of what’s happening today took shape during the Biden years, and even earlier during the first Trump administration and the Obama years. It was then that a wave of petrochemical plants was announced, paving the way for today’s rising demand for black gold.
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Politico – October 17, 2025
Trump says US won’t comply with carbon ship fee
President Donald Trump on Thursday called on other countries to reject a proposal from a global shipping regulator to impose the first-ever worldwide fee on greenhouse gas emissions from ships, saying the U.S. will not comply “in any way, shape, or form.” “I am outraged that the International Maritime Organization is voting in London this week to pass a global Carbon Tax. The United States will NOT stand for this Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
The International Maritime Organization, a U.N. agency with over 170 member countries that sets binding rules for the global shipping industry, is meeting in London this week and is expected on Friday to approve a proposal to charge ships for their greenhouse gas emissions. The revenue would help fund the shift to greener fuels and support developing countries. “We will not tolerate increased prices on American Consumers OR, the creation of a Green New Scam Bureaucracy to spend YOUR money on their Green dreams. Stand with the United States, and vote NO in London tomorrow!,” Trump wrote in his post.
Utilities, Electricity & Renewables
KEYE – October 23, 2025
Austin Energy announces historic $288M battery storage deal with Jupiter Power LLC
Austin Energy announced on Thursday a historic agreement with Jupiter Power LLC to establish a large-scale battery storage facility, marking the largest battery storage deal in the utility’s 130-year history. The contract will enable the provision of up to 100 megawatts of electricity, significantly enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the energy supply in Central Texas.
“This battery storage project boosts our grid, but it’s more than an investment in infrastructure — it’s a commitment to a cleaner, more resilient energy future for Austin,” said Mayor Kirk Watson.
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KVII – October 23, 2025
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry addresses concerns over AI data center’s water use
In an exclusive interview, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, co-founder of Fermi America, discussed the Matador Project, which aims to build the world’s largest AI data center in Amarillo. The project, set to include four nuclear reactors with a potential output of 11 gigawatts, has raised community concerns about water usage amid regional drought risks and agricultural reliance on aquifers.
Perry emphasized his understanding of water needs, drawing on his background as a former agriculture commissioner and governor. “This project will use about as much water for its first gigawatt. As one pivot to water corn, one pivot,” he said. Perry highlighted the project’s significance for national security, innovation, and economic growth, stating, “We are in a war. We’re in a race to get to the artificial intelligence that’s going to be driven by these data centers.”
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KVUE – October 22, 2025
AI can help the environment, even though it uses tremendous energy. Here are 5 ways how
Artificial intelligence has caused concern for its tremendous consumption of water and power. But scientists are also experimenting with ways that AI can help people and businesses use energy more efficiently and pollute less. Data centers needed to fuel AI accounted for about 1.5% of the world’s electricity consumption last year, and those facilities’ energy consumption is predicted to more than double by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. That increase could lead to burning more fossil fuels such as coal and gas, which release greenhouse gases that contribute to warming temperatures, sea level rise and extreme weather.
But when AI’s computing power is used to analyze energy usage and pollution, it can also make buildings more efficient, charge devices at optimal times, make oil and gas production less polluting and schedule traffic lights to reduce vehicle emissions. Experts say that if uses like these continue to grow, they could help offset the energy consumed by AI.
“Crude prices in the mid-$60s or worse have made it tough for sellers, especially private equity firms with oil-weighted assets,” said Andrew Dittmar, principal analyst at Enverus Intelligence Research.
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Utility Dive – October 22, 2025
States should think twice before taking steps to exit PJM
Recent capacity prices in the PJM Interconnection have inspired threats from certain states to withdraw from PJM. Before there are efforts to translate these threats into action, I thought it would be helpful to review the law on regional transmission organization withdrawals. I do this in part because I believe a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order authorizing an RTO member withdrawal issued when I was FERC chairman has been widely misinterpreted and may mislead states considering withdrawal.
In 2006, FERC approved a request by Louisville Gas and Electric to withdraw their transmission facilities from what was then the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, or MISO. FERC approved the request with conditions to make sure LG&E honored merger commitments and met its open access obligations.
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October 21, 2025
The Social Costs of an AI-Led Nuclear Energy Renaissance: Carnegie Endowment
Technology firms are among the major backers of efforts to spur a nuclear energy renaissance in the United States to fuel data centers that run AI and cryptocurrency operations. While this creates hopes for a nuclear energy expansion, there are social costs that need to be addressed to ensure that these plans do not encounter challenges over the next few years caused by public opposition.
These costs have to do with limited direct economic benefits to host communities but increased environmental and health concerns at a time of precipitous decline in the federal government’s willingness and capacity for regulating nuclear energy systems. What should policymakers do to address the social costs of the AI-led nuclear energy renaissance currently unfolding? Fully understanding these potential costs and their implications is the first step.
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Canary Media – October 22, 2025
Rondo Energy turns on first major thermal battery — at an oil field
Thermal energy storage systems, which turn electricity into heat that can be tapped for hours or days at a time, could help decarbonize the production of everything from cement to beer. But in the U.S., where the economics of replacing fossil fuels with electricity remain challenging, thermal-battery startup Rondo Energy has found its first industrial-scale opportunity in a more controversial place: the oil fields of California.
Last week, the San Francisco Bay Area-based firm announced the start of commercial operations for its first 100-megawatt-hour “heat battery,” located at a Holmes Western Oil Corp. facility in Kern County, the heart of the Central California oil patch.
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Clean Technica – October 22, 2025
A New Energy Storage Solution For Wind & Solar: Floating “Water Batteries”
Pumped hydropower means just what it says. Water is pumped from a low-lying river or reservoir, into a reservoir located at a higher elevation. When electricity is needed, gravity does all the the heavy lifting. The water flows downhill to a generating station, where it runs turbines to produce electricity. Pumped storage systems predate the renewable energy transition, but they are an ideal match for today’s utility-scale wind and solar farms. For all the improvements in battery-type energy storage systems and new long-duration storage systems, pumped hydro still accounts for about 95% of the bulk-quantity, long-duration energy storage capacity in the US.
During periods when electricity demand is low but the sun is shining and/or the wind is blowing, the excess capacity from wind turbines and solar panels can be put to work at a pumped hydropower facility. If electricity is needed at night-time or during periods of slack wind, the pumped hydro system can be called into play.
Regulatory
Politico – October 22, 2025
Senate panel approves pipeline agency reauthorization*
Legislation to reauthorize the nation’s primary pipeline regulator sailed through the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Tuesday. S. 2975, the “PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025,” passed by voice vote. It is a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s safety programs until 2030.
PHMSA, which regulates millions of miles of pipelines and all hazardous material shipments, last received a full authorization in 2020. The legislation from Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas), ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) would authorize new studies and standards for hydrogen and carbon dioxide pipelines.
“As the energy capital of the world, millions of jobs nationally and in Texas depend on the safe and reliable movement of energy,” Cruz said Tuesday. “The ‘PIPELINE Safety Act’ … is an important, consensus-driven bill that directs PHMSA to address key pipeline safety challenges,” he added. The Tuesday markup had a potential for drama, as environmental groups warned that Republicans would push an amendment to crack down on pipeline protests and disruptions. But no such amendment came up.
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Politico – October 23, 2025
Judge pauses legal battle over DOE climate report*
A federal judge has granted the Trump administration’s request to pause a lawsuit over the Department of Energy’s contrarian climate report. Senior Judge William Young of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts did not elaborate on his Wednesday night decision. The Trump administration had argued that the government shutdown prevented its attorneys from working on the case.
The lawsuit seeks to toss the DOE report that EPA is using as a scientific basis in its efforts to repeal the 2009 endangerment finding. Young’s decision came hours after the Environmental Defense Fund urged the judge to keep the case moving, arguing that the administration is “racing ahead” to repeal the Obama-era finding, despite the government shutdown. EDF cited news reports that EPA employees have been working through the shutdown to advance efforts to roll back the finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. The finding underpins the agency’s regulations on heat-trapping emissions from vehicles, power plants and the oil and gas sector.