Chuck Stanley

New images could change cancer diagnostics, but ICE detained the Harvard scientist who analyzes them Without scientist Kseniia Petrova’s expertise, no one can fully unlock the data’s potential, putting crucial advancements in early cancer detection at risk.

Almost every line of this story would have been simply unbelievable a few months ago:

—Pioneering cancer researcher;
—*Arrested* at airport in Boston;
—Now indefinite ICE detention in Louisiana;
—"Crime": not declaring some frog-embryo samples for research.

Read it.
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Southern Company has quietly weakened the key greenhouse gas reduction metric used in its executive compensation program — a move that makes it easier for top executives to receive performance payouts while doing less to reduce emissions.

Yet another indication climate targets are no longer in the driver's seat when it comes to renewables development: Southern Company weakens ties between executive compensation and emissions reductions.

Demand growth is the name of the game now.

energyandpolicy.org/southern-com...

Whelp...

Portugal keen to create offshore wind cluster, could reach 10 gigawatts Portugal's government said on Friday it was keen to create a cluster of wind farms off its Atlantic Ocean coast that could eventually reach a total capacity of around 10 gigawatts (GW).

Portugal has approved four offshore areas for an Atlantic wind cluster.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

‘Chilling effect’ spreads to European asset managers over climate even as risks rise Investors ‘tiptoe’ around social responsibility to avoid political pressure, while still assessing economic costs

"European asset managers are following their US counterparts in “pulling back” on a public show of climate action while still quietly assessing risks and new regulations, fund managers,"

www.ft.com/content/e2bc...

A giant battery power plant is on fire in California The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders.

This seems... very not good.

www.theverge.com/2025/1/17/24...

Load forecasts from data centers risk falling into irrational exuberance territory There is a long history of overestimating load growth, which can drive overbuilding and the addition of resources that may exceed the increased demand.

Are projections for skyrocketing electricity demand growth overhyped? CEO of @epsanews.bsky.social warns that customers could be stuck paying for overbuilds if it doesn't materialize.

www.utilitydive.com/news/load-fo...

‘Accidents waiting to happen’ in private credit, says Wellcome Trust Rating agency KBRA also warns on possible rise in defaults in fast-growing sector

“If there is an issue within that whole ecosystem, there will be some quite high-profile investors, many of whom do have some kind of systemic importance, that will be quite badly damaged,”

Gift link

on.ft.com/40yGIqY

Interesting thread on blocked US Steel takeover.

The Growing Push to Ban Renewable Energy in Oklahoma Will this renewable energy powerhouse become the first state to ban renewable energy?

Conventional wisdom is that the concentration of IRA dollars going to red districts will insulate it from GOP repeal efforts. Growing calls for a renewables ban in Oklahoma, the #3 US wind energy producer, call that into question @jael.bsky.social suggests
heatmap.news/plus/the-fig...

Biden Expected to Permanently Ban Oil Drilling in Some Federal Waters The move, expected as early as Monday, relies on a 70-year-old law that could make it difficult for the Trump administration to reverse it.

Biden administration expected to 'permanently' ban offshore drilling in parts of Pacific and Atlantic that would be hard for Trump to reverse under Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act www.nytimes.com/2025/01/02/c...

Securing financial close for Empire Wind 1 Equinor’s Empire Wind 1 project in the US has now secured a project financing package of over USD 3 billion. Financial close was reached at the end of 2024.

Equinor's Empire Wind Project off Long Island has secured $3bn in debt finance from lenders including Societe Generale, Commerzbank, BNP Paribas, and J.P. Morgan.

www.equinor.com/news/2025010...

Russia, apparently having a lot of trouble finding buyers for its sanctioned LNG exports
oilprice.com/Latest-Energ...

Fervo Energy Secures Additional $255 Million Funding to Meet Unprecedented Energy Demand Fervo Energy has secured $255 million in new funding and capital availability through both opportunistic corporate equity and new debt financing.

Geothermal raises $255m equity and debt financing

www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...

Energy reliability watchdog warns half the continent could face energy shortfalls in the coming 5-10 years. Urges improvements to siting and permitting processes for long distance transmission; careful management of 115GW in anticipated generation retirements.

www.nerc.com/news/Headlin...

Image of a DOE graph showing projected US LNG exports under various scenarios. Current projections for global LNG demand growth and unlimited US LNG exports result in demand reaching around 55Bcf/d by 2050. All other models, assuming various policy efforts to mitigate climate change result in US exports below 40Bcf/d over the same period.

Out of 5 global demand scenarios examined in the report, only 1 results in demand exceeding the ~48.5 Bcf/d already approved for export by 2050, and even that doesn't happen until the 2040s

The report doesn't draw a fine line on whether future LNG exports to non-free trade agreement countries should be approved (that's not what it's for). But it casts doubt on whether a market case exists for development of these facilities.

Image of text: ‘DOE analysis exposes a triple-cost increase to U.S. consumers from increasing LNG exports – the increasing domestic price of the natural gas itself, increases in electricity prices (natural gas being a key input in many U.S. power markets), and the increased costs for consumers from the pass-through of higher costs to U.S. manufacturers.

Lots of interesting stuff in DOE's report on US LNG exports. One thing that jumps out is this concise summary of how changes in gas prices reverberate through the economy.

Limited export capacity has insulated US consumers from global energy market volatility

www.energy.gov/sites/defaul...

On Saturday, batteries set a new record in ERCOT, supplying 9% of power on an evening w/ high thermal outages & low wind. Prices spiked to near the max for 5 minutes, 4,300 megawatts of storage surged onto the grid (and demand went down ~2,000 MW) & things went back to normal. (h/t @gridstatus.io

That could serve as a tail wind for OSW if the Trump II admin doesn't lean too hard into undermining the industry.

That's a big if, given Trump's comments on OSW.

Rising demand could drive US wholesale electricity prices 19% higher by 2028: ICF Electricity demand is expected to rise in every region of the U.S., but “the largest increase by far” is projected in the mid-Atlantic region, where demand could grow 68% by 2050, ICF said.

But you have to wonder if demand pressure could make regulators and rate-payers alike less price sensitive when it comes to building new generation in the coming years.

www.utilitydive.com/news/us-elec....

Offshore wind prices about to reset in Massachusetts - The New Bedford Light “Shielding project costs and the impact upon ratepayers from this procurement until winter is not an acceptable start.” — State Sen. Mark Montigny

That's a big jump from the sub-$100 agreements inked before mid-2022.

As Strazik notes, just about all those contracts busted.

newbedfordlight.org/bay-states-o...

Equinor solidifies New York offtake contract for Empire Wind 1 Equinor today announced the execution of the Purchase and Sale Agreement with NYSERDA for the renewable power generated by Empire Wind 1.

What's interesting, is that's not out of line with offtake agreements we've seen in the US in the past year or so.

NY's June agreement with Equinor's Empire Wind I, has a strike price of $155/MWh. Comparable with other deals this year.

www.equinor.com/news/2024060...

Scott Strazik says offshore wind energy must price higher for the industry to succeed. He points to nuclear energy, which prices around $150/MWh as a more practical comparison for offshore wind pricing than cheaper onshore renewables.

GE Vernova Expects More Trouble for Struggling Offshore Wind Industry GE Vernova Inc., the maker of the biggest offshore wind turbines in the Western hemisphere, sees grim prospects for a beleaguered industry that’s facing slowing demand and weak pricing.

Kind of a bleak assessment of the offshore wind sector from the CEO of turbine maker GE Vernova:

“The reality is, the economics of this industry don’t make sense”

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

A Carbon Capture Project Faces a New Delay in a Year of Slow Progress for Coal Power Plants Looking for Retrofits - Inside Climate News Project Tundra has lost its lead contractor, which pushes back the timetable for a high-profile and controversial plan.

New setback for Minnkota Power's effort to add a multi-billion dollar carbon capture facility to a North Dakota coal plant, as lead contractor TC Energy walks away from the project.

insideclimatenews.org/news/1012202...

oh your neighborhood has five guys burgers? haha yeah I guess that does sound like a lot of guys

Why I Just Resigned From The Los Angeles Times By Harry Litman

Harry Litman announces resignation as an LA Times columnist, citing a pattern of editorial interference by owner Soon-Shiong aimed at "currying favor" and "cozying up" with the incoming Trump Aministration

harrylitman.substack.com/p/why-i-just...

Equinor and Shell to create the UK’s largest independent oil and gas company Equinor UK Ltd and Shell UK Limited are to combine their UK offshore oil & gas assets to form a new company.

Shell and Equinor combine UK offshore oil and gas assets into new joint venture. www.equinor.com/news/2024120...

Texas report recommends low-interest loans for advanced nuclear, similar to gas plant fund The report, released Monday by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, says the state can become a global leader in advanced nuclear energy with funding and a new regulatory regime.

Texas Public Utility Commission says the state could be a hub for advanced nuclear energy development

Recommends establishment of a state-backed loan program; advanced nuclear oversight authority and permitting officer

www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-a...