Today's Energy Pulse
Scania pilots vehicle‑to‑grid power for heavy‑duty electric trucks
Scania showcased one of the first V2G systems for heavy‑duty electric trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). The pilot demonstrated bi‑directional power flow, letting trucks feed stored electricity back to the grid while parked, with real‑time communication enabling dynamic charging and discharging. The company also opened orders for trucks equipped with an extra battery pack and MCS.
Also developing:
The Three Mile Island Trade
In September 2024 Microsoft signed a 20‑year power‑purchase agreement to revive Three Mile Island Unit 1, committing roughly $1.6 billion to bring the dormant reactor online for AI training workloads. Constellation Energy, after acquiring Calpine for $26.6 billion, positioned itself as the largest private U.S. power operator, but PJM’s grid‑interconnection timeline now pushes the plant’s start‑up from the promised 2028 to 2031. The deal sparked a 57% rally in Constellation’s stock in 2025, followed by a roughly 20% decline in 2026 as delays and risk‑transfer concerns surfaced. Analysts remain bullish, but the narrative highlights a clash between hyperscaler ambitions and nuclear project realities.
California's Oil Imports Outsource Emissions, Undermining Reductions
California and Newsom have a dirty little secret: CA imports a lot of oil from abroad, and in particular, the middle east (~28.5% of imported oil). I love California but it is misleading when you look at Newsom’s claims about...
Gas‑price Panic Blinds Us
If even a fraction of the people who freak out about the price of gasoline would give a damn about renewables buildout, we’d never know or care about the Strait of Hormuz.
Train 6 Feed Gas Approval Marks Latest Step in Cheniere Stage 3 Ramp-Up
Cheniere Energy received federal approval to introduce 210 MMcf/d of feed gas into the cold‑end of Train 6, the latest milestone in its Stage 3 expansion at the Corpus Christi LNG export terminal. The approval signals that the train is moving into late‑stage commissioning,...
Signature Solar Announces Reno, NV Distribution Center, Targets South Carolina for Next Facility
Signature Solar, a Texas‑based solar distributor, is opening a 76,000‑square‑foot warehouse and a 2,000‑square‑foot retail store in Reno, Nevada. The new hub will serve DIY homeowners and B2B installers on the West Coast, shortening shipping times and lowering freight costs....
Unlocking the Next Source of US Energy Dominance
The U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA‑E has poured $4.2 billion into 1,700 energy R&D projects, catalyzing a surge in commercial fusion ventures. Data centers, now 4.4% of U.S. electricity use, could climb to 10% by 2028, driving grid investment and new...
Daily Energy Report
Oil markets tumbled on May 6 after Axios reported a near‑final US‑Iran memorandum of understanding that could end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude dropped more than 13%, briefly slipping below $100 per barrel to around $98...
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Green Hydrogen in Europe: Who Stands to Benefit From Nuclear?
The European Commission’s AccelerateEU plan is reviewing green‑hydrogen rules to potentially add nuclear power as an approved electricity source. Under current RFNBO certification, projects must draw power from renewables or a grid that was at least 90% renewable in the...
US Onshore Wind Halt Deals Latest Blow for Project Cargo
The Department of Defense has halted approvals for roughly 165 on‑shore wind projects in the United States, citing national‑security concerns. The pause affects a sector that supplies over 90% of global turbine orders, creating a ripple effect for heavy‑haul logistics...
Microsoft Weighs Abandoning 2030 Renewable Energy Goal As AI Buildout Tests Limits
Microsoft is weighing a delay or abandonment of its 2030 pledge to match every hour of electricity use with renewable purchases, as the AI‑driven expansion of data centers strains power availability. The firm continues to secure carbon‑free projects, notably a...
Why Is Gas So Much More Expensive in Some States Than Others?
Gasoline prices have surged about 50% since the Iran‑Israel conflict began, with the national average reaching $4.54 per gallon on May 6, 2026. California leads with $6.16 per gallon, while Oklahoma sits at $3.96, illustrating stark regional gaps. The price swing reflects...
THE COMING URANIUM SQUEEZE: The 85M Lb Deficit, the A.I. Demand Shock, the Hollowed-Out U.S. Production Crisis & Why Uranium...
Uranium markets are entering a tight supply cycle, with global demand projected to outpace supply by roughly 85 million pounds, driven largely by AI‑powered data centers and grid modernization. The Sprott Physical Uranium Trust now holds over 81 million pounds—about two years...
Trump Claims Deal with Iran to Reopen Hormuz: Update
President Donald Trump announced a tentative peace deal with Iran that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. "Epic Fury" operation. Iran's foreign ministry said it is still reviewing the U.S. proposal, labeling some clauses unacceptable. Crude...
Resident-Led Campaign Fails to Reverse Ohio County’s Ban on Renewables
Residents of Richland County, Ohio, voted 53% to 47% to retain a July 2023 ban on utility‑scale solar and wind projects across 11 of the county’s 18 townships. Turnout was about 30%, underscoring modest voter participation. The ban, permitted by a...
Smart Meters Explained: Will They Raise or Lower Your Energy Costs?
Smart meters are digital devices that record household electricity use in near‑real time and automatically send the data to utilities. Major U.S. utilities such as PG&E, Duke Energy, Southern Company and Xcel Energy are rolling out the technology to cut...
Oil Prices Fall as Trump Says Strait of Hormuz ‘Open to All’ if Iran Accepts Deal
President Donald Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened to all shipping if Iran accepts a pending deal, prompting a sharp drop in oil prices. Brent crude slid 11% to $97 a barrel, breaking below the $100...
OTC Speakers Say Venezuela Reopening Hinges on Stability, Legal Clarity
At the 2026 Offshore Technology Conference, speakers warned that Venezuela’s re‑entry into the U.S. energy market hinges on political stability, clear legal frameworks, and manageable geopolitical risk. U.S. majors such as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips have already dispatched technical teams to...
Transition Away Host Colombia Faces Phaseout Challenges
Colombia, under President Gustavo Petro, hosted the inaugural Transition Away conference in Santa Marta, calling on 57 nations to develop national fossil‑fuel phase‑out roadmaps. The government released a draft roadmap aiming to cut domestic fossil‑fuel demand by 90% through rapid solar and...
FOCUS: As One Unit at Three Mile Island Eyes Restart, Decommission of Other Stalls
Three Mile Island Unit 1 is slated to restart in 2027 under a 20‑year power purchase agreement with Microsoft, aiming to supply AI data centers with carbon‑free electricity. The $1.6 billion project, backed by a $1 billion DOE loan, promises over 3,000 jobs...
Digital Imaging Streamlines Tedious Home Retrofits for Clean Heat
Today on Volts: the work of retrofitting homes with good air sealing & clean heat (eg, heat pumps) is incredibly important & also incredibly tedious & high-touch. I talk with a company that's using digital imaging to remove several steps...
From OPEC-Plus to OPEC-Minus
The United Arab Emirates announced it will exit OPEC on May 1, 2026, a move that stunned Saudi Arabia and the broader OPEC+ coalition. The departure reduces the bloc’s production capacity by roughly 3 million barrels per day and raises questions about the...
Online Sleuths Are Raising More Red Flags Around Suspiciously Timed Iran-War Oil Trades
Oil prices plunged after reports that the United States and Iran were close to a peace agreement, sending Brent down 11.9% and WTI over 13%. Data from The Kobeissi Letter revealed nearly $920 million in crude‑oil short contracts opened just an...
Brazil Poised for $21.3 Bn Critical‑Mineral Investment by 2030
Brazil will draw $21.3 bn in critical‑mineral investments through 2030, a 15.2% rise over the previous forecast. The surge centers on rare‑earth, lithium and other battery metals, positioning the country as a key alternative to China’s dominance.
CME April Volume Hits 25.9 M Contracts, Micro Contracts and Energy Futures Lead Growth
CME Group reported an average daily volume of 25.9 million contracts in April 2026, highlighting a surge in micro‑sized contracts and energy futures. The data underscores shifting trader behavior toward smaller exposures and heightened interest in energy markets.
Even if an Iran Deal Calms Energy Markets, One Oil Stock Can Still Stand Out
Shell plc (SHEL) is poised to benefit from sustained high oil prices as the Strait of Hormuz blockage keeps Brent crude elevated. The company just finished a $3.5 billion share‑buyback and is expected to launch another tranche alongside its 3.2% dividend....
Mona Dajani Joins Cooley as Co-Chair of Infrastructure, Energy and Real Estate Group
Cooley has launched an Infrastructure, Energy and Real Estate group in New York, appointing Mona Dajani as partner and co‑chair alongside Michelle Schulman. Dajani, a former global co‑chair of Baker Botts' energy, infrastructure and hydrogen practice, brings decades of experience in...
NERC Issues Level 3 Alert, Orders Utilities to Cut Data‑Center Load Losses by Aug. 3
The North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) issued a rare Level 3 alert on May 5, 2026, mandating utilities to implement seven actions by Aug. 3 to curb unpredictable data‑center load losses. The move follows a Level 2 warning last year and raises concerns...
How Should Europe Respond to the Energy Shock?
European governments have largely responded to the Iran‑driven energy shock by cutting fuel taxes, a move that the author argues misses the strategic opportunity presented by soaring oil prices, which have risen to about $115 per barrel. Instead of subsidizing...
Delfin LNG Gains More Momentum With Another SPA on Path Toward FID
Gunvor Group announced a new sale‑and‑purchase agreement to buy additional LNG from the Delfin floating‑liquefaction project off Louisiana. The deal follows a similar SPA signed in 2023 and adds to Delfin’s existing contracts covering more than 4 million tonnes per year....
Oil Prices Drop and Stock Markets Rise After Reports of Deal to End Iran War
Oil markets fell and global equities rose after reports that the United States and Iran are close to a one‑page memorandum ending the war. Brent crude dropped to $97 (≈£73) per barrel before rebounding above $101, down from a peak...
EU Rolls Out $711 B AccelerateEU Clean‑Energy Investment Package
The European Commission announced AccelerateEU, a €660 billion ($775 billion) clean‑energy investment package aimed at decarbonising the bloc by 2030. The plan couples short‑term crisis relief with long‑term grid and renewable upgrades, responding to recent supply shocks in the Middle East.
PHX Energy Services Q1 2026 Update – PHX.TO
PHX Energy Services posted Q1 2026 revenue of C$183.9 million (≈US$136 million), a 5% decline from a year ago, while gross profit fell 25% to C$30.4 million (≈US$22.5 million). Adjusted EBITDA dropped 26% to C$30 million (≈US$22.2 million), pushing the dividend yield to 6.8% on a C$11.80...
Q&A: How the Strait of Hormuz Closure Affects Global Oil Supply
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has halted the transit of roughly 20% of the world’s oil, sending shockwaves through global commodity markets. Tim Statts of Schneider Electric explains that despite the U.S. being the top oil producer, it...
CISA Launches CI Fortify to Enable Weeks‑to‑months OT Isolation for Critical Infrastructure
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced the CI Fortify initiative, urging owners of electricity, water, and transportation systems to develop plans that keep essential services running for weeks to months while disconnected from IT networks and third‑party vendors....
PolyJoule’s 3rd-Gen Conductive Polymer Battery Self-Extinguishes at 3,600 °F and Delivers 10,000+ Cycles
PolyJoule unveiled its third‑generation conductive polymer battery, a large‑format prismatic cell that uses a proprietary polymer cathode and liquid‑salt electrolyte. In a UL 9540A test, the cell self‑extinguished when exposed to a propane torch at roughly 3,600 °F (1,982 °C), proving it...
Oil Spikes After Satirical Trump Cover Fuels Market Frenzy
Crude oil had 6-sigma move higher (supposed to happen once in 4 million years) after we saw a magazine cover with so much oil out there it was coming out of President Trump's nose. Last week we had a...
US Fuel Exports Surge 20% to 8.2 Mn Barrels Daily
Last week, the US exported more than 8.2mn barrels a day of refined fuels including gasoline, diesel & jet fuel, an increase of more than 20% from the same period last year, according to the US Energy Information Administration. https://t.co/fTwGskrYWH...
US Offshore Wind “Not a Dead Industry” – Oceantic Network CEO
At the Offshore Technology Conference 2026, Oceantic Network president Liz Burdock argued that U.S. offshore wind is not a dead industry. She cited recent court rulings that overturned the Trump administration’s permitting ban and cleared five stalled permits, strengthening the...
Canada Boosts Energy Capacity for Domestic and Export Demand
Excellent meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) in Ottawa. We discussed the current crisis in global energy markets and the impressive steps 🇨🇦 is now taking to ensure it can meet the rising demand for energy at home & from its growing...
Texas Beats California in Clean Energy Thanks to Fewer Regulations
Everyone who cares about climate should understand this. Texas, with no pro-climate policies, has blown passed California in clean energy. In large part because Texas has less red tape and makes it easier to build.
Silence From High-Level Sources May Signal Imminent Hormuz Crisis
To be clear: I have no information, on or off the record. But my gut says something may break soon around Hormuz. What has my attention isn’t what sources are saying. It’s which high-level sources have suddenly gone quiet. Sometimes silence is the...
Rising $5‑plus Gas Prices Demand Humanitarian, Economic Action
Second time I've had to fill up the gas tank with prices at or above $5.00/gallon... Would be nice to get this situation resolved for humanitarian reasons - but also the economic ones
BIMCO Warns Project Freedom Pause Spikes Hormuz Risk
BIMCO Warns Abrupt ‘Project Freedom’ Pause Complicates Hormuz Risk Calculus. Oil and other products that come thru the Strait. Can this go on until supply shortage meets demand destruction? https://t.co/R2ZJUtaZxX
OpenSquareCap’s Q1 Letter Maps Post‑War Energy Market Outlook
Q1 letter from @OpenSquareCap is the best breakdown of Iran war energy implications I've read. The granularity of the supply chain analysis and alt data interpretation is just something else. Whatever the outcome of the conflict, this letter maps out where energy...
Gas Surge Reinforces K‑Shape: Rich Forget, Poor Relive 2022
Required reading from @talmonsmith on the K-Shaped consequences of the latest surge in gas prices. While those at the top have long forgotten 2022, for those at the bottom, it's deja vu all over again.
Ethanol Production Slows, Stocks Hit Record Levels
🇺🇸Last week's U.S. ethanol production was relatively muted for a third straight week, though still in line with seasonal trends. Despite lighter output, ethanol stocks reached a May 1 record, surpassing pandemic-elevated 2020 levels. Bit of a slip in demand. https://t.co/rGJ2JTZhLk
Mystery Behind Jeff Rath, Stay Free Alberta Link
Why do people keep associating Jeff Rath, Stay Free Alberta, and the Centurion Project? It's hard to pin down. https://t.co/Wfkm4AaUeq
HVDC: The Underrated Powerhouse Driving Decarbonization
High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission is an under-rated superstar player on Team Decarb, and needs more playing time to show what it can do! Hear @johnarnold, one of its savviest advocates and investors. Cannot wait to listen.
Oil Stagnates; Iranian Officials May Finally Respond
We are basically in the same position we were on Monday, when oil prices were significantly higher. The only difference is that people who don’t make the decisions in Iran are maybe going to respond to a memo…
US‑Iran Language Clash Masks Real Strait of Hormuz Status
Setting aside the nuclear situation, there's an issue with the 1st point right off the bat - language. The US says "Iran lift its chokehold over the SoH" and Iran says "SoH is open...follow these protocols (incl. payment)." Both sides agree on...