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
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
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
● Offshore Oil and Gas at Risk of Potentially Catastrophic Cyberattack: GAO -
“The industry includes about 1,600 offshore oil and gas facilities that are highly dependent on remotely connected operational technology, the...more
12/5/2022
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
FERC ,
Infrastructure ,
Labor Relations ,
Offshore Drilling ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Popular ,
Power Grid ,
Railways ,
Solar Energy ,
Strike ,
Wind Power
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
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
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
The Possible Xinjiang Coal Link in Tesla’s Bitcoin Binge -
"The main draw is the cheap power needed to run the computers that perform the complicated equations for so-called 'Proof of Work' that confirm transactions...more
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
China's New Coal Projects Make Up 90% of Global Total for First Half of 2020: Study -
"Global coal-fired generation capacity saw a net decline of 2.9 gigawatts from January to June, the first drop on record for a six-month...more
8/11/2020
/ Advanced Batteries ,
Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Carbon Emissions ,
China ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal ,
Coal Ash ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Deadlines ,
Economic Downturn ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Grid Energy Storage ,
Metallurgical Coal ,
Natural Gas ,
Petrochemicals ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy ,
Steel Industry ,
Time Extensions
Fossil Fuels Still Supply 84 Percent of World Energy — and Other Eye Openers from BP’s Annual Review -
"China was responsible for three quarters of the world’s energy consumption growth, followed by India and Indonesia....more
6/29/2020
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal Mines ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Energy Market ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Policies ,
FERC ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Furloughs ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Power Grid ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Proposed Rules ,
Restraining Orders ,
Trump Administration ,
Utilities Sector ,
Well Drilling
Industry Expert Insights -
We reached out to one of our Lex Mundi partners and a well-known expert in Poland in the energy and legal industries to get his thoughts on the current energy climate.
Radoslaw Wasiak is a...more
5/29/2020
/ Acquisitions ,
Boycotts ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Electric Generation Suppliers ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Mergers ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Prices ,
Power Infrastructure ,
Power Plants ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Renewable Energy
Cancelled Teck Oil Sands Project Underscores Global Climate-Energy Policy Tension -
"The Frontier project became the latest casualty in oil-producing countries with robust environmental movements agitating to cut...more
2/29/2020
/ Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Ash ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cyber Threats ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Exemptions ,
Exports ,
FERC ,
Groundwater ,
Hydrocarbons ,
Japan ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Sands ,
Permits ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Power Plants ,
Ransomware ,
Renewable Energy ,
Supply and Demand ,
Technology Sector ,
Utilities Sector ,
Water Pollution
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 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
Why Everything They Say About California Fires — Including That Climate Matters Most — is Wrong -
"'We’ve looked at the history of climate and fire throughout the whole state, and through much of the state, particularly...more
11/11/2019
/ Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
China ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Mines ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cybersecurity ,
Diesel Fuel ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
Exports ,
France ,
Germany ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Imports ,
India ,
Metallurgical Coal ,
Natural Disasters ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Pakistan ,
Paris Agreement ,
Petroleum ,
Poland ,
Power Plants ,
Public Utility ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Tariffs ,
UK ,
Wildfires
New Fortress Energy LNG Plant Demonstrates New York Insanity -
"For those unfamiliar with the facility, the plant is a gigantic $800 million investment that will take in natural gas from the Marcellus Shale and liquefy it...more
2/19/2019
/ Automotive Industry ,
China ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Delays ,
Electricity ,
Energy Market ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Green Energy ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy ,
Severe Weather ,
Tesla ,
Utilities Sector
Trump Prepared to Hit China with $60 Billion in Annual Tariffs -
"President Trump is preparing to impose a package of $60 billion in annual tariffs against Chinese products, following through on a longtime threat that he...more
3/23/2018
/ China ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Mines ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
EU ,
Exports ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Fracking ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Misappropriation ,
Oil & Gas ,
OPEC ,
Russia ,
Scientific Evidence ,
Sewer Systems ,
Shale Gas ,
Tariffs ,
Tax Cuts ,
Trade Secrets ,
Transparency ,
Trump Administration ,
Waste Treatment Facilities ,
Wastewater
Trump is Still Pulling Out of Paris Agreement, Despite Chatter of a Reversal, Experts Say -
"President Donald Trump is unlikely to reverse his position to pull out of the Paris climate agreement, despite the White House...more
9/22/2017
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Energy Policy ,
Environmental Liability ,
Global Warming ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Paris Agreement ,
Public Nuisance ,
Rescission ,
State Budgets ,
Trump Administration ,
Well Drilling