Author: Stu

Abandoned oil wells could power AI data centers as energy storage systems

This was originally posted on American Bazaar Online. By Phil Cruver As AI data centers face rising power demands, abandoned oil wells are being repurposed into long-duration energy storage systems that could stabilize electric grids and create new economic value. The recent analysis “The Borehole Battery: From Liability to Long Duration Storage Asset” by Gilles […]

Energy Stocks Worth Looking Into for the Data Center Power Boom

The AI-driven data center boom is reshaping U.S. energy demand, with hyperscalers (Microsoft, Meta, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and others) pouring hundreds of billions into new facilities that require massive, reliable, 24/7 power. Natural gas—via pipelines, turbines, onsite generation, and supporting equipment—is emerging as a critical bridge fuel due to its dispatchability, speed of deployment, and […]

Nat Gas May Lose Its Seasonality and Become More Expensive Due to Surging Demand

The era of ultra-cheap U.S. natural gas appears to be ending. A combination of explosive demand growth from LNG exports and AI-driven data centers, paired with maturing supply dynamics, is poised to push Henry Hub prices higher while potentially flattening the traditional seasonal price swings that have defined the market for decades. Traditional Seasonality Under […]

What is next for the Oil and Gas Markets? Doomberg stops by and drops some truth bombs around the cage.

Doomberg stops by and drops some truth bombs around the cage. We cover his article for tomorrow and Friday and tee up his book. You can read all of Doomberg’s articles on Doomberg  A lateral-thinking approach to energy, finance, and geopolitics | Subscribe below for free previews of new articles | Click through to our […]

Micron Breaks Ground on $9 Billion Plant Expansion in Japan

Hiroshima facility expansion targets high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI as the company reports record earnings and advances global capacity buildout Hiroshima, Japan – July 5, 2026Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 4, 2026, for a major expansion of its semiconductor manufacturing facility in Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan. The project […]

Canada, Alberta announce new West Coast oil pipeline to boost exports

CALGARY — In a major step toward diversifying Canadian crude exports, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced on July 2, 2026, plans for a new West Coast oil pipeline capable of transporting 1 million barrels per day (bpd) from Alberta’s oil sands to a deep-water terminal on British Columbia’s southwest coast. […]

Largest US power grid PJM escalates emergency actions to avoid blackouts

The largest U.S. regional transmission organization, PJM Interconnection, escalated emergency measures on July 3, 2026, issuing a federal alert to cut electricity consumption across its vast territory amid generator outages, overloaded high-voltage transmission lines, and surging air-conditioning demand from a prolonged heatwave. PJM, which manages the electric grid for approximately 67 million people, activated demand-response […]

Jack Prandelli stops by the Energy News Beat Global Oil and Gas Markets Update

You won’t want to miss this episode with Jack Prandelli from Switzerland. As an international trader and Substack Author, Jack has been on target with his articles on global oil and Gas Markets. Check out The Merchant’s News : https://themerchantsnews.substack.com/ Follow Jack on X @jackprandelli Connect with Jack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prandelligiacomo/ Add Free for our SubStack Subscribers. Jack Prandelli […]

China Merchants Stay the Course on VLCCs – What does this mean for the energy markets?

China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) is doubling down on Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), signaling strong long-term confidence in global crude oil trade despite short-term market volatility. In a recent Lloyd’s List report, the Chinese shipping giant dismissed a nearly 40% drop in VLCC spot rates since late June 2026 as a temporary distortion, raising […]

The U.S. is leading SMR Projects Globally

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are reshaping the nuclear energy landscape with their compact size (typically up to 300 MWe per unit, versus 1,000–1,400 MWe for traditional large reactors), factory-built modular designs, enhanced safety features, and faster deployment potential. These attributes make SMRs ideal for powering data centers, remote communities, industrial sites, and replacing retiring coal […]