Texas Energy Report NewsClips
Friday December 12, 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 rose on Friday supported by concerns of Venezuelan supply disruptions, though they remained on track for a weekly drop amid cautious market sentiment and optimism over the prospects for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
West Texas Intermediate crude was at $58.03 a barrel, up 43 cents, or 0.75%.
Brent crude futures rose 43 cents, or 0.70%, to $61.71 a barrel by 0352 GMT.
Both benchmarks fell about 1.5% on Thursday.
The U.S. is preparing to intercept more ships transporting Venezuelan oil following the seizure of a tanker this week, as it increases pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, six sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
The U.S. seizure this week raised concerns about supply disruptions.
Top Stories
Reuters – December 12, 2025
US preparing to seize more tankers off Venezuela’s coast after first ship taken, sources say*
The U.S. is preparing to intercept more ships transporting Venezuelan oil following the seizure of a tanker this week, as it increases pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, six sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The seizure was the first interdiction of an oil cargo or tanker from Venezuela, which has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019. It came as the U.S. executes a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean and as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for Maduro’s ouster.
The latest U.S. action has put shipowners, operators and maritime agencies involved in transporting Venezuelan crude on alert, with many reconsidering whether to sail from Venezuelan waters in the coming days as planned, shipping sources said. Further direct interventions by the U.S. are expected in the coming weeks targeting ships carrying Venezuelan oil that may also have transported oil from other countries targeted by U.S. sanctions, such as Iran, according to the sources familiar with the matter who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
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Houston Chronicle – December 11, 2025
A $9.4 billion network of long-distance power lines will be built across the eastern swath of Texas to create a new “superhighway” for the state’s power grid, after state officials voted unanimously to approve the plan this week. The project, made up of more than 1,100 miles of power lines and transmission towers, would cut through the Houston area, though exact routes haven’t been determined yet. Once completed in the early 2030s, the 765-kilovolt power lines would be able to carry more than twice as much electricity as the existing 345-kilovolt power lines across the state.
This new “superhighway” is needed so that the state’s power grid can keep the lights on amid an expected boom in electricity demand in the coming years, said Kristi Hobbs, vice president of system planning for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. ERCOT manages the power grid that serves most of the state’s electricity demand. By 2031, that demand could increase more than 70%, according to ERCOT’s forecasts, primarily because of electrification in the oil and gas industry and an influx of data centers powering artificial intelligence technologies.
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Straight Arrow News – December 11, 2025
Texas crypto mines consumed more power than 1 million homes
A Straight Arrow News investigation found that in 2024, large cryptocurrency operations in Texas consumed more electricity mining virtual currencies such as Bitcoin than residential utility customers in the cities of San Antonio and El Paso combined. The footprint of crypto mines is expected to keep growing in the coming years.
As of mid-November, 22 cryptocurrency mining facilities had registered with the Public Utilities Commission of Texas. In 2024, those facilities combined to consume more than 14.7 million megawatt hours of electricity, according to public records obtained by SAN. That corresponds to about 3% of all electricity produced on the state’s power grid in 2024.
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News Nation – December 11, 2025
Texas pushing to build ‘The Gate,’ a $30B coastal project
Texas is working on building “The Gate,” the country’s largest coastal protection effort to date. The project aims to protect the state’s $1 trillion oil and gas industry from the threat of catastrophic storms after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the coastal area. “What we’re trying to do is protect not human life but also property and economic vitality,” said Coalter Baker, executive director of the Gulf Coast Protection District. …
Baker said the community is energized, noting the state has already committed $950 million to advance the work. He pointed to Hurricane Ike in 2008, which brought a 17-foot storm surge that narrowly missed the Houston Ship Channel and the world’s largest petrochemical complex, as a reminder of what’s at stake. “If it had hit our petrochemical industry, we would’ve had more than $100 billion in damage, not only ecological but also economic,” he said.
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Politico – December 11, 2025
‘Windmills are a disgrace’: Inside Trump’s war against a growing U.S. industry
The day after President Donald Trump halted construction of a $5 billion wind project off the New York coast, the nation’s top offshore wind developers gathered for a regularly scheduled strategy session in Washington. The mid-April meeting quickly became heated.
Michael Brown, an outspoken Scotsman who leads the developer Ocean Winds, expressed anger that the industry’s main trade association would not join a blue-state lawsuit challenging Trump’s freeze on offshore wind permitting. American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet pushed back, saying the industry should preserve its political capital at a time when Congress was gearing up to eliminate former President Joe Biden’s clean energy tax credits.
The pair “were shouting at one another,” said one person at the meeting, who like most industry figures quoted in this story was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive business and political matters. Another attendee described it as “definitely contentious.” A third called it one of several confrontations among industry members over how to respond to Trump.
The Latest TERse Tips
Trinity Gas Storage LLC has reached a final investment decision on a second phase of its East Texas natural gas storage facility, expanding capacity as Texas contends with growing demand volatility from data centers, LNG exports and extreme weather — Natural Gas Intelligence*
Origis Energy has successfully closed a $290 million financing deal for its Swift Air Solar II and III projects in Ector County — Tip Ranks
Repsol advances its renewable energy strategy in the United States with a new deal with Stonepeak with the investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets agreeing to acquire a 43.8% stake in Repsol’s Outpost solar project, located in Webb County, Texas, for $252.5 million — Stonepeak
Oklahoma’s data center boom is about to hit the grid — The Frontier
The Intense True Story of “Landman”: All About the Texas Oil Boom That Inspired Taylor Sheridan’s Show — AOL
These are the Top 10 Oil Spill Response Technologies — Energy Digital
US guardrails aren’t built for electric vehicles. It’s time to change that: opinion by David Schrum* — The Hill
Bitcoin Miners Hunted After Stealing $1 Billion of Electricity From Malaysia Grid — Bloomberg*
More than any conflict in history, the Russia-Ukraine war has been about electricity. Now, a proposed peace deal would give Russia half of the juice generated by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant — Robert Bryce (blog)
Kern County has announced it will resume issuing oil and gas permits in 2026 following a court decision to discharge a writ related to ongoing litigation — KBAK (Bakersfield CA)
When Zillow removed climate risk scores from its home listings last month, following a complaint from the real estate industry, many observers took to the press and social media to warn that disappearing the data doesn’t get rid of the risk — Politico*
Beyoncé, Oxy’s Vicki Hollub make Forbes’ 100 most powerful women list — Houston Chronicle*
Oil & Gas Texas
Reuters – December 11, 2025
Buyout firm Carnelian raises eyebrows with rare effort to sell multiple energy assets, sources say*
Carnelian Energy Capital is moving to sell six of its North American oil and gas production investments, multiple people familiar with the matter said, at a time of mounting pressure on private equity firms to increase exits and return cash to investors. The moves, representing most of the Carnelian-backed companies that produce oil and gas, and about 40% of its overall investments, have raised eyebrows among industry participants because buyout firms traditionally space out sale efforts to avoid exhausting buyer demand.
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Rigzone – December 11, 2025
Aramco, ExxonMobil Mull Petrochemical Complex at Samref
Exxon Mobil Corp and Saudi Arabian Oil Co (Aramco) have agreed to evaluate upgrading their Samref refinery in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, with plans to expand the site into an integrated petrochemical complex. The facility currently has a declared oil processing capacity and storage capacity of about 400,000 barrels per day and 13.2 million barrels respectively. It produces mostly gasoline, as well as diesel fuel, heating oil, jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas and others, the joint venture says on its website.
“The companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, as well as opportunities to improve the refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce emissions from operations through an integrated emissions-reduction strategy”, Aramco said in a press release.
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BNAmericas – December 11, 2025
BOURBON signs a 5-year contract with ExxonMobil in Guyana
BOURBON announces the signing of a major 5-year contract (with extension options) with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) to provide maritime services in Guyana. It will start in the first quarter of 2026, with the commissioning of the large PSV Bourbon Calm (Platform Supply Vessel) and covers the transport of products essential to offshore operations in one of the world’s most dynamic oil basins.
The discovery of oil fields in 2015 has made Guyana one of the fastest-growing offshore operations, with the planned commissioning of additional FPSOs (floating production, storage, and offloading units). Since 2019, BOURBON has been supporting the development of this industry thanks to the technical quality of its fleet and the expertise of its local teams.
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Bloomberg/Financial Post – December 11, 2025
Toxic Water From Texas Oil Production Is Set to Be Treated and Pumped into Rivers
Texas is about to deploy a potential solution to the oil industry’s toxic wastewater problem — but it’s a move that carries environmental risks of its own. State regulators are working to issue permits that would let four companies, including major landowner Texas Pacific Land Corp. and pipeline operator NGL Energy Partners LP, release treated wastewater from the Permian Basin into the Pecos River near New Mexico, regulatory filings show. At least one could be granted as soon as the first quarter of 2026, according to Texas Pacific.
Oil and gas wells in the Permian, the largest US shale basin, generate 21 million barrels per day of water laden with salt, chemicals and heavy metals. Drillers have been disposing of most of that fluid by pumping it back underground, a practice that has triggered earthquakes and leaks.
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Oil production in the Permian basin is poised to peak in December, a watershed moment for the U.S. shale boom that upended the global energy market over the past 15 years. Yet drilling innovations mean output in America’s most prolific oil patch will hold steady for years to come. The Permian basin, which straddles West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, is set to produce a record-high 6.76 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil in December, only slightly higher than November’s total, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its latest Short Term Energy Outlook.
This monthly figure may never be topped, given that most of the Permian’s top-tier oil acreage has been tapped and sharply depleted after more than a decade of drilling. But improvements in drilling technology are enabling firms to explore new, often deeper formations. That means current production levels can likely be sustained for years, defying previous warnings that the shale boom would experience a precipitous decline.
Midland Reporter-Telegram – December 10, 2025
Texas carbon management roadmap takes shape with safety, permitting focus*
Texas has numerous advantages — from power and industrial facilities to geography and a skilled workforce — that make it a prime state for carbon capture and its resulting economic and environmental benefits. The question is: What policies are needed to help Texas reach its potential? The Great Plains Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping develop pragmatic energy solutions, is helping develop the Texas Carbon Management Roadmap. Ryan Kammer, research manager for carbon management at the institute, detailed the efforts going into developing the roadmap, which is expected to be unveiled in the first quarter of next year.
He told those attending the CO2 Conference that stakeholder engagement is a vital part of the process. Those stakeholders include industry representatives, state agencies, academic and legal experts, environmental groups and community representatives. The group is examining carbon capture, storage, utilization and transportation, along with direct air capture, community engagement, workforce development and hydrogen development with carbon capture, utilization and storage. Recommendations already include strengthening competitiveness through international export opportunities and ensuring permitting certainty and readiness. The third recommendation involves building public confidence through safety and transparency.
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Houston Chronicle – December 10, 2025
A trillion-dollar climate industry emerging in Houston’s backyard meets new resistance*
A week after the federal government gave Texas the power to approve permits for a new kind of well that stashes climate-warming carbon dioxide underground, one of the state’s top oil and gas regulators decried it as a waste of taxpayer dollars. Wayne Christian, one of the three elected leaders of the Texas Railroad Commission, questioned why the commission would spend state funds regulating the practice when the Trump administration believes it is “a scam” and that carbon dioxide “is no longer a threat.”
“I also find myself very disappointed that we make a decision,” he said, referring to the commission’s approval of Occidental Petroleum’s carbon storage project, “at this time that the administration, the world, seems to be realizing that a lot of this extremist environmental agenda has been over the top.”
Christian’s statements highlight the uncertainty surrounding carbon capture and storage — a climate solution that Houston’s oil and gas companies spent billions growing into what they believe can be a trillion-dollar industry. The Trump administration has gutted regulations of climate-warming gases and cut funding to hundreds of clean energy projects. Climate-focused companies and projects are folding and cutting back. Even Bill Gates, a devoted climate champion for many years, walked back funding for climate initiatives and repositioned some of his philanthropic investments.
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Politico – December 9, 2025
FERC green-lights piece of major Louisiana LNG project*
The developer of the CP2 natural gas export terminal in Louisiana can begin construction of a gas-fired compressor station tied to the project, federal regulators said Monday. In a letter to Venture Global, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted a November request to commence work on the Moss Lake compressor station in Louisiana’s Calcasieu Parish.
FERC’s approval is another positive step for the CP2 liquefied natural gas project, which has a proposed export capacity of at least 20 million metric tons annually. The project was delayed by the Department of Energy amid a high-profile debate during the Biden administration over the merits of increasing U.S. LNG exports, though FERC approved the project in June 2024. Venture Global “has provided the information necessary to meet the applicable conditions” of
Oil & Gas National & International
The Wall Street Journal – December 11, 2025
OPEC Holds Oil-Demand View Steady But Expects Higher Supply From Rivals*
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries left its oil-demand outlook unchanged as it prepares to pause output hikes in early 2026, but modestly raised its forecast for this year’s supply growth from rival producers. The Vienna-based cartel expects demand to grow by 1.3 million barrels a day this year and 1.38 million barrels a day the next, supported by expectations of steady economic growth. Supply from producers outside of the wider OPEC+ alliance is now expected to rise by 960,000 barrels a day this year, above previous projections of 920,000, mainly driven by the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Argentina. Next year’s supply growth is still expected at 630,000 barrels a day.
OPEC raised its economic-growth estimates for this year to 3.1% from 3%, citing easing trade tensions after a series of agreements between the U.S. and key partners. Stimulus measures and monetary easing in some major economies are also expected to support activity. Economic growth for next year is still projected at 3.1%. In November, OPEC crude-oil production was broadly unchanged, slipping by only 1,000 barrels a day to 28.48 million barrels a day, while total production by OPEC+ members rose by 43,000 barrels a day to 43.06 million barrels a day.
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Yahoo! News – December 11, 2025
Ukraine Strikes Key Russian Oil Platform in Caspian Sea
In a significant expansion of its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, Ukraine’s security services executed a long-range drone strike on a major offshore oil field in the Caspian Sea, effectively halting production at a key Lukoil facility. The attack on Dec. 11 marks the first time Kyiv has targeted hydrocarbon extraction assets in the Caspian region, a development that signals a new phase in the targeting of Russia’s economic lifelines and raises questions regarding the security of energy corridors previously considered beyond the reach of the conflict.
The operation, carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), reportedly targeted the Vladimir Filanovsky field, situated in the northern sector of the Caspian Sea. According to SBU sources, four drones successfully struck the offshore platform, forcing the suspension of oil and gas production from more than 20 wells servicing the facility.
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The Guardian (UK) – December 11, 2025
US lawmakers condemn seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker: ‘Trump is sleepwalking us into a war’
Related: ‘Spoof’ ship: Seized oil tanker Skipper hid location data, visited Iran and Venezuela — CNBC
Related: Trump Puts the Oil Squeeze on Maduro — the U.S. hits the regime in the pocketbook, and let’s hope there’s more — The Wall Street Journal editorial*
Senior Democratic lawmakers and at least one Republican have condemned Wednesday’s seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker off the nation’s coast, with one saying Donald Trump is “sleepwalking us into a war with Venezuela”. There is growing, at least somewhat bipartisan unease in Washington over the administration’s escalating military posture in the region. Trump has accused Venezuela of facilitating drug trafficking, and increased the US military presence in the Caribbean to a level not seen in decades. The administration has also conducted a campaign of bombings of alleged drug boats, killing more than 80 people so far.
Trump confirmed the tanker seizure shortly after it occurred, telling reporters: “We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela – large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually.” When asked what would happen to the oil, Trump responded: “We keep the oil, I guess!”
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Reuters – December 9, 2025
Putin clears deals with Rosneft and Shell’s joint-venture stake in Caspian Pipeline Consortium*
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on Monday clearing potential deals with Rosneft and Shell’s joint-venture stake in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which exports oil mainly from Kazakhstan. The decree said it allowed the deals, which may result in changes of ownership, in the CPC by the Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited. It did not elaborate. The venture has a 7.5% stake in the CPC, in which other international majors, such as Chevron and Eni, as well as Russia’s second-largest oil producer, Lukoil, also have shares.
The United States imposed sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil in October over Russia’s war in Ukraine, forcing Lukoil to declare the sale of its foreign assets. Rosneft has not announced any actions in relation to the sanctions.
Utilities, Electricity & Renewables
New York Times – December 11, 2025
How to Fight Rising Utility Bills? Take Over the Company, Activists Say.*
Everyone complains about their energy bills, but few take any action. In New York’s Hudson Valley, a coalition of officials, activists and community groups are trying to do just that by taking over their local utility. On Wednesday, the coalition released a feasibility study by the Texas-based NewGen Strategies that found that replacing the utility, Central Hudson Gas & Electric, with a public authority was feasible and could result in customer savings within the first year of operation.
The savings are relatively modest — a tenth of a percent on gas and 2 percent on electric delivery rates — but they are expected to grow over time, particularly for electric customers, the study found. Reducing energy bills is not the only goal; the coalition wants the state’s energy system to be more responsive to its customers and better positioned to respond to the climate crisis. “The only way, like we’re only going to make our energy system work if we start talking about public ownership very seriously,” said Sarahana Shrestha, an assemblywoman representing Kingston and New Paltz, who has held roughly 18 town halls to build support for the project.
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Construction Equipment Guide – December 10, 2025
Doral Renewables Chooses Bechtel to Build 430 MW Cold Creek Solar Project
Bechtel, an engineering, construction and project management firm, announced on Nov. 5, 2025, that it was selected by Doral Renewables to design and build the Cold Creek Solar+Storage project in Schleicher and Tom Green counties, Texas. The facility is expected to generate approximately 430 megawatts (MW) of clean energy using more than 850,000 solar modules. The Cold Creek project also will feature a 340 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system to capture and store excess energy generated during the day and deliver it to the Texas electricity grid when consumer demand peaks.
“The Cold Creek project highlights the power of an all-of-the-above energy strategy,” said Scott Austin, Bechtel general manager of renewables and clean power. “Texas continues to lead the nation in blending traditional and renewable resources to strengthen its grid. By combining 430 MW of solar generation with 340 MWh of storage, Cold Creek will make the Texas grid stronger and more reliable for years to come. We are proud to bring Bechtel’s experience to this important project and support Doral Renewables’ mission to deliver reliable, homegrown power to Texas.”
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Inside Climate News – December 11, 2025
How Batteries Could Play a Role in Data Center Rollouts
With data center developers in Texas and most other states now commonly deploying fossil fuel generators as backup power sources, a nascent industry from the renewable side of power generation—battery storage—has started elbowing its way into the fast-growing sector. A new report by Oxford-based Aurora Energy Research detailed how adding battery storage to a site could improve data centers’ power quality, provide flexibility and reduce transmission congestion, while offering an opportunity to reduce emissions.
Battery storage already works as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), or a bridge from grid power to backup power, as most generators take anywhere from five to 30 minutes to ramp up, said Lizzie Bonahoom, an Aurora Energy Research associate.
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Texas Public Radio (NPR) – December 9, 2025
AI is bringing old nuclear plants out of retirement
The Palisades Nuclear Generating Station is nestled between sand dunes on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. It shut down for financial reasons in 2022. Three years later, it’s on the cusp of reopening, with hundreds of workers streaming through its security barriers every day.
Palisades is on track to restart in early 2026. When it does, it will be the first nuclear plant in the United States to generate electricity again after being decommissioned. Nick Culp of Holtec, the company that owns the plant, said its revival is a response to a surge in demand for electricity.
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MSN – December 8, 2025
NextEra to build 15 gigawatts of power for data centers by 2035
NextEra Energy plans to build 15 gigawatts of new power generation for data center hubs by 2035, CEO John Ketchum told investors on Monday. NextEra is the largest renewable energy developer in the U.S. through NextEra Energy Resources, and also owns Florida Power & Light. The utility also operates a fleet of nuclear- and natural gas-powered plants.
The power company also announced a partnership with Alphabet’s Google unit on Monday to develop three gigawatt scale data center campuses in the U.S. with plans to expand to additional locations. NextEra shares closed about 3% lower on Monday. A gigawatt is roughly equivalent to more than 800,000 homes based on average household electricity consumption in 2024, according to the Energy Information Administration. Ketchum said the 15 gigawatts of power for data center hubs is a “fairly conservative” target.
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Bloomberg – December 9, 2025
Nuclear and Fossil Fuels Join Forces to Undermine Renewables*
The towering smokestacks of the Indian River power plant have been etched on the horizon of Delaware Bay for more than 60 years. From its opening in 1957, the plant burned tens of millions of tons of coal, sending pollution over thousands of homes and toxic ash into the groundwater. About 20 years ago, residents began joining in opposition. They collected health data from downwind communities; their findings prompted Delaware to officially designate the area a cancer cluster and led the plant to start downscaling operations.
Last year the administration of Joe Biden, whose summer home is about 14 miles northeast of the plant, approved a plan that reimagined the site. The project called for putting a substation next to it that would distribute energy from more than 100 wind turbines to be built about 10 miles out to sea. The last of the plant’s four coal-burning units was already scheduled to shut down for good within a year. Renewable energy would take the place of coal.
David Stevenson had something different in mind. A former executive for the DuPont de Nemours Inc. chemical company, he worked for the Caesar Rodney Institute, the Delaware affiliate of the State Policy Network (SPN), a national consortium of think tanks aligned with, and partly funded by, fossil fuel interests. On behalf of the institute, Stevenson, 77, campaigned against electric vehicle subsidies, national ozone standards and a carbon tax.
Regulatory
San Antonio Current – December 11, 2025
Texas cut more from its environmental budget than nearly any state
As the Trump administration pushes for deep cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, saying states can take a bigger part in environmental oversight, new data show the majority of states — Texas included — have already slashed their budgets for pollution control. A study released this week by the Environmental Integrity Project found that 27 states have reduced budgets for their environmental agencies over the past 15 years, adjusted for inflation, and Texas was among the worst offenders.
The Lone Star State is among seven that have axed a third or more of their funding for environmental oversight. Indeed, the 33% funding reduction for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was the nation’s seventh-largest. Lawmakers whittled the agency’s budget from $615 million in 2010 to just $413 million last fiscal year.