US PJM electricity demand hits preliminary winter records during winter freeze
PJM Interconnection, a power grid operator in the United States, said on Wednesday that it had set a preliminary winter record with a peak load exceeding 145,000 megawatts. It also exported 8,000 MW due to extreme cold across the country. This record is higher than the previous one of 143.700 MW, set in February 2015. Data verification will be conducted by PJM.
US NatGas Demand Could Hit Record High
U.S. spot natural gas and power prices soared to multi-year highs in several parts of the country with extreme cold expected to boost gas demand to a daily record high on Tuesday.Extreme weather has created havoc for power and gas markets in recent years as demand has come close to outpacing supply.In February 2021, a freeze in Texas killed more than 200 people and left millions without power…
The demand for US natgas is expected to reach a record high on Tuesday
The U.S. demand for natural gas is expected to hit a record on Tuesday as the extreme cold that has affected much of America puts pressure on power grids, and certain oil and gas operations. Last week, the February natural gas contract reached its highest price since December 30, 2022. The cold weather that accompanied the weekend had the potential to reduce output due to the freezing of gas wells and pipelines.
Corn prices surge, triggering a wave of sales by US farmers
Iowa farmer Caleb Hamer picked up his phone this week and called a local buyer of corn, eager to get his grain sold as the prices rose to their highest levels in over a year. Grain dealers in Iowa Illinois Indiana and Nebraska reported that farmers across the Midwest increased crop sales after corn and soybean futures spiked on Friday when the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut its harvest estimate for 2024.
Winter storms in the US could lead to power outages and a reduction of natgas supplies
According to energy analysts, the next few weeks could see massive power outages across the U.S. and a spike in natural gas demand. As a result of the "freeze offs" of oil and gas pipes and wells, the demand for gas is expected to increase. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gas is responsible for 43% of America's electricity generation and 45% of its homes are heated by it.
Biden team offers nuclear pathway to hydrogen tax credit
Biden's administration announced on Friday that portions of nuclear power plant will be eligible for tax credits in order to produce clean hydrogen, if these credits prevent the reactors from being retired. The new rules deal with one of the most controversial issues in the Inflation Reduction Act. This law, which is set to be implemented by 2022…
US Awards up to $2.2 Billion to Speed Clean-hydrogen Development
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Wednesday that it had awarded up to $2 billion to centers in the Gulf Coast and the Midwest for the development of hydrogen, a new source of energy which is costly to produce with renewable power. Hydrogen supporters, such as the administration of Joe Biden believe that low carbon hydrogen can combat climate change by fueling industries like aluminum…
Grid operator PJM faces a new complaint regarding power supply
Consumer advocacy group filed a complaint with PJM Interconnection. They claim that the U.S.'s largest grid operator unfairly awards record-high payments to power plants, driving up electricity prices for households and businesses. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission received a complaint on Monday, the second in recent times regarding PJM Interconnection’s capacity market auction for 2025-2026.
US Governors push back against PJM following record-high prices for power plants
Five governors urged PJM Interconnection on Tuesday to change its process for determining the price of power plants, after the auction that saw record prices. Prices in the most recent PJM auction were almost 10 times higher than last year. This was largely due to a shrinking supply of electricity and an increasing demand for electricity. Prices were…
ADM accused for misconduct and lack of safety inspections following explosion that injured US worker
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co intentionally failed to test and maintain safety systems on its grain equipment for years, which contributed to an explosion that immolated a worker and put him in a coma last year, according to a lawsuit filed against the company. The explosion is part of a series of safety incidents that have occurred at ADM's facilities in Decatur (Illinois), the North American headquarters of this global grain trader.
Maguire: Slow rollout of charge points could stall US EV sales momentum
The United States has seen a 140% increase in electric vehicle sales since 2023. However, further growth could be hindered if public charging stations are not rolled out more evenly and at a slower pace. According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, U.S. electric vehicle registrations will reach just over 3.5 millions by September 2024. This is…
Maguire: Slow rollout of charge points could stall US EV sales momentum
The United States has seen a 140% increase in electric vehicle sales since 2023. However, further growth could be hindered if public charging stations are not rolled out more evenly and at a slower pace. According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, U.S. electric vehicle registrations will reach just over 3.5 millions by September 2024. This is…
BP to Sell Petrochemicals Business to Ineos for $5B
British oil major BP will sell its global petrochemicals business to Ineos for $5 billion, a transaction delivering BP's divestments target a year earlier than originally scheduled.Brian Gilvary, BP’s chief financial officer, said: “With today’s announcement we have met our $15 billion target for agreed divestments a full year ahead of schedule, demonstrating…
Oil rises 5% in second weekly gain on output cuts, demand hopes
Oil prices settled 5% higher on Friday in their second consecutive week of gains as U.S. producers cut production with the number of drilling rigs falling to a record low, and as more states moved ahead with plans to relax lockdowns intended to halt the coronavirus pandemic.The number of operating oil and natural gas rigs fell by 34 to an all-time…
Oil surges as China Pushes Tariff Rollbacks
Oil prices rose more than 1% on Tuesday on hopes for a U.S.-China trade agreement and optimism that Washington could roll back some tariffs on Chinese imports.Brent crude futures rose 74 cents, or 1.2%, to $62.87 a barrel by 12:56 p.m. EST (1756 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 68 cents, or 1.2%, to $57.22 a barrel.China is pushing U.S.
Big Corn, Big Oil Unhappy with Fed's Biofuel Plan
Corn farmers, ethanol producers, refinery representatives, energy traders and state and local officials from the Midwest all blasted away at the Trump administration's proposed biofuels plan for next year during a public hearing on Wednesday hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).The hearing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, marks the second public meeting on the topic in as many days…
ExxonMobil Seeks to Sell Montana Refinery
Exxon Mobil Corp is seeking a potential buyer for its roughly 60,000 barrel per day Billings, Montana refinery, according to three sources familiar with Exxon’s plans.Representatives for large refiners, including Valero Energy Corp and Marathon Petroleum Corp, have toured the refinery, two of the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because…
Citgo's New Board Arrives, to Hold First Meeting
A board of directors appointed this month by Venezuela's opposition-controlled congress to run state-owned oil firm PDVSA's U.S. unit Citgo Petroleum on Thursday was arranging its first meeting at the company's headquarters, according with two people familiar with the matter.Venezuela's National Assembly, led by opposition leader and self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido…
TransCanada Restarts Portion of Keystone Pipeline
TransCanada Corp restarted a section of the Keystone oil pipeline on Tuesday, following a leak in Missouri earlier this month, company spokesman Terry Cunha said.TransCanada had shut an arm of Keystone from Steele City, Nebraska to Patoka, Illinois on Feb. 6 after a 43-barrel leak. The shut-down restricted the flow of Western Canadian crude to U.S. refineries.Reporting by Rod Nickel
Top Citgo Executives Removed as PDVSA Chaos Continues
Citgo Petroleum Corp has removed at least three top executives close to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, people familiar with the matter said on Monday, in a move to cement management control under a new board of directors.The U.S. refining arm of Venezuelan state-run oil company PDVSA has been thrust in recent weeks into the center of a political…
