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DAILY ENERGY NEWS | 01/15/2025

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Not even in office yet and the Donald is already chalking up wins.

New York Times (1/14/25) article: "California has withdrawn requests that the Biden administration allow the state to enact limits on pollution from trucks, locomotives and ferries that are more strict than federal standards, on the expectation that the Trump administration would revoke them.
The move will leave the state, which has become a global leader in the fight against climate change, without some tools to lower planet-warming emissions at a moment when Los Angeles is being devastated by historic wildfires. Scientific studies have concluded that pollution from fossil fuels is intensifying wildfires in the West. Under the 1970 Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency has for decades granted waivers to California, which has historically struggled with smog, to enact tougher pollution limits than those set by the federal government. Federal law also allows other states, under certain circumstances, to adopt California’s standards as their own...Nearly all waivers requested by California have been granted, except during the first Trump administration, when President Donald J. Trump seemed to relish revoking California’s waiver to tighten state controls on pollution...In December, the Biden administration granted California a waiver to enact one of the most ambitious climate policies in the world: a ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in the state after 2035. Eleven other states plan to enact the same ban. Mr. Trump has already said he will revoke it. 'California has imposed the most ridiculous car regulations anywhere in the world, with mandates to move to all electric cars,' Mr. Trump has said. 'I will terminate that.'"

"Through the EPA we have the ability to pursue energy dominance, to be able to make the U.S. the AI capital of the world, to bring back American jobs to the auto industry and so much more."

– Congressman Lee Zeldin, Nominee for EPA Director

Germany just needs a bit more green energy to turn this around!

Wall Street Journal (1/15/25) reports: "Germany’s economy contracted for a second year in a row in 2024, underlining the scale of the challenge that will face a new government after elections due in February, including the possibility of fresh tariffs on exports to the U.S. Economic output in Europe’s largest economy sank 0.2% last year after it declined 0.3% in 2023, the first two-year contraction since 2003, the federal statistics agency said Wednesday. That performance contrasts with the U.S., where growth has been surprisingly rapid over the same period. But Germany has also lagged behind many of its European peers. Increasing competition for German exports in key markets, high energy costs, elevated interest rates and an uncertain economic outlook stood in the way of growth, the agency’s president said."

OPEC isn't putting much stock in the "energy transition" to net-zero.

Arab News (1/15/25) reports: "OPEC on Wednesday predicted that global oil demand in 2026 will increase at a rate similar to this year’s growth. However, the organization lowered its 2024 demand projection for the sixth time, citing ongoing economic weakness in China, the world’s largest oil importer. The 2026 forecast aligns with OPEC’s long-term view that global oil consumption will continue to rise over the next two decades. This contrasts with the International Energy Agency, which expects oil demand to peak within this decade as the world transitions to cleaner energy sources. In its latest monthly report, OPEC projected that oil demand will increase by 1.43 million barrels per day in 2026, a growth rate nearly identical to the 1.45 million bpd expected for this year. The 2026 forecast marks the first time OPEC has provided a projection for that year in its monthly update. OPEC noted that transportation fuels will be the primary driver of oil demand growth in 2026."

Biden's ban on offshore only hurts Americans.

Real Clear Energy (1/14/25) op-ed: "With only two weeks left in his presidency, Biden has decided to maintain his legacy of repeated attacks on the fossil fuel industry, by issuing a sweeping ban of future drilling along the East and West Coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the Alaskan Coast. Roughly 625 million acres are now off limits, the size of which is larger than the entire Louisiana Purchase and considered the most extensive ban in history. It is a bold and brash move that puts U.S. energy security at risk and hurts consumers. It must be undone. Very little drilling is currently taking place in these areas; however, banning them from potential exploration sends signals to the market that could cause price increases. Limiting future inventories will cause additional price hikes as demand outpaces supply. Either way, restricting oil and natural gas development hurts consumers through diminished available energy and higher costs. Americans have relied on and will continue to depend on fossil fuels for the majority of their energy needs. Comprising at least 80% of total energy consumption for decades, these sources are paramount to economic growth and stability. Their essentiality is not fading anytime soon. Despite efforts to reduce their utilization, oil and natural gas consumption continue to surge."

Energy Markets

WTI Crude Oil: ↑ $78.73
Natural Gas: ↑ $3.99
Gasoline: ↑ $3.08

Diesel: ↑ $3.59
Heating Oil: ↑ $257.52
Brent Crude Oil: ↑ $80.76
US Rig Count: ↑ 581

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