What a day on the Energy News Beat News Desk!

In this Energy News Beat Stand-Up, we had a wild day on the News Desk!

We cover some huge stories, and any one of them would be a great single podcast, but we have 8 stories and stocks that Stu reviews on VectorVest software.

The main topics discussed in thispodcast are:

**1. Ukraine War & Russia-U.S. Economic Relations** Stu Turley discusses a Bloomberg report about a Russian memo proposing a return to U.S. dollar-based trade as part of a potential broader economic partnership with the Trump administration. This development could signal a possible end to the Ukraine conflict and have significant implications for global geopolitics and energy markets.

**2. U.S. Energy Engagement with Venezuela**

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright made a high-level visit to Venezuela—the most significant U.S. energy-focused trip to the country in nearly three decades. The goal was to revitalize Venezuela's struggling oil sector through investments, licensing reforms, and legal changes. Chevron's return to processing Venezuelan oil in U.S. Gulf Coast refineries signals a thawing of U.S.-Venezuela energy relations.

**3. Tightening Global Oil Markets**

The discussion covers how U.S. sanctions pressure on Russian and Iranian oil flows is creating tighter-than-expected oil markets. Millions of barrels of sanctioned crude are accumulating in floating storage, affecting global supply dynamics. In a memo covered by Bloomberg, President Putin proposes trading the US dollar, signaling a potential end to the war in Ukraine.

**4. Trump Administration's Coal Industry Support**

President Trump issued an executive order leveraging federal purchasing power to sustain coal operations, framing it as a national security matter. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) also decided to keep two major coal facilities operational beyond their originally scheduled closure dates.

**5. Energy & Financial Markets Analysis**

The transcript includes commentary on the performance of various energy sector companies (oil, gas, and coal) and the host's personal trading strategies and market observations.

1.The End to the Ukraine War May Be at Hand with Putin Asking President Trump to Return to the US Dollar

2.What Should Investors Look at After Secretary Chris Wright’s Trip to Venezuela?

3.Chevron Taps Into Venezuelan Oil as Crude is Being Processed in US. What does this mean for investors?

4.Vitol CEO Says Oil Market Tightens on Geopolitical Squeeze

5.Trump to Assign Pentagon to Buy Electricity from Coal to Keep Them Alive

6.TVA Does Not Want to Close Two Coal-Fired Power Plants: A Shift in Energy Strategy Amid Rising Dema

7.China’s Clean Energy Machine is Based on Oil and Coal to Survive

8.Trump Set to Repeal Landmark Climate Finding in Gigantic Regulatory Rollback

Check out The Energy News Beat Substack https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

Shout out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting team at https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/

Chet Love stopped by the Energy News Beat Podcast, and we had an absolute blast. Chet has a wild background and is working to solve problems in the AI/Data Center and business space. We had fun talking about wind, solar, and how Elon's vision could hold the key.

The main topics discussed in this podcast are:

1. The state of the US energy industry and grid infrastructure:

- The challenges with renewable energy sources like solar and wind, and the need for a balanced energy mix including natural gas.

- The importance of securing the supply chain and manufacturing capabilities for energy technologies within the US.

- Concerns about grid security and vulnerabilities, especially related to equipment sourced from China.

- The need to invest in and modernize the US energy infrastructure to meet growing demand, especially from data centers and new technologies.

2. The role of government policy and leadership:

- Praise for the policies and actions taken by the Trump administration to support the energy industry and domestic manufacturing.

- Criticism of the Biden administration's policies and their impact on energy security and affordability.

- The importance of bipartisan, fact-based policymaking focused on serving the best interests of all Americans.

3. The future of technology and innovation:

- The growth of AI, data centers, and other emerging technologies and their increasing energy demands.

- Opportunities for technological innovations like space-based solar and advanced energy storage.

- The need to align technological progress with energy infrastructure development.

4. The importance of American competitiveness and national security:

- Concerns about China's growing influence and aggression, and the need to counter this through domestic energy and manufacturing capabilities.

- The role of energy security in maintaining US global competitiveness and national security.

Connect with Chet Love on his LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetlove/

Chet's article on Real Clear Energy America First Demands International Energy Alliances

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In this Super Bowl Sunday edition of the Energy News Beat Stand Up, we cover Wind and key oil and gas updates. With the Strait of Hormuz having threats of more tankers being seized, which is escalating short-term oil prices, we cover some hard, cold facts about wind.

Let's push nationally to level the playing field for Wind and Solar by including their costs in projects, storage, and the additional maintenance that the spinning up and down of gas turbines pass on to consumers. With no subsidies for the wind, solar, and storage technology is supposed to be cheaper, let's install all of them. But let's include land reclamation, recycling, and grid resilience without subsidies, and see how many wind and solar farms get installed.

The main topics discussed in this Energy News Beat Stand Up are:

1. The high costs and challenges associated with wind energy, including the need to frequently replace wind turbines, the lack of profitability, and the issues with recycling and disposing of old turbine blades.

Michael Tanner and Stu Turley discuss how wind energy is not as cost-effective or environmentally friendly as it is often portrayed. They highlight examples like a wind farm in Texas that is replacing 100 turbines after only 5 years, and the toxic waste problems caused by abandoned and discarded turbine blades.

2. The advantages of traditional energy sources like natural gas and coal over renewable energy for grid reliability and resilience, especially in cold weather climates.

The hosts argue that energy sources like natural gas and coal are better able to withstand extreme weather conditions compared to wind and solar, which can experience significant output drops during freezing temperatures.

3. The financial and regulatory challenges facing the renewable energy industry, particularly in states like New York that have set ambitious clean energy targets.

The transcript discusses how the costs of implementing renewable energy are much higher than expected, leading to financial issues and a reliance on fossil fuels that contradicts the stated environmental goals.

4. The global expansion and technical expertise of U.S. oil and gas companies, and how they are leveraging this to gain a competitive advantage internationally.

The discussion touches on how U.S. oil majors like Chevron and ExxonMobil are using their technical capabilities to grow their business overseas, in contrast to European oil companies that have shifted more towards renewable energy. We also cover Liberty Energy's different view of being an oilfield service company.

1.100 Wind Turbines Get an Upgrade in Texas, but at What Cost?

2.Texas Sues Wind Turbine Recycler Over 3,000 Blades Dumped In Sweetwater

3.Wind Costs Hitting New York’s Utopian Green-Energy Party Where It Hurts

4.Finland Wind Turbine Blades Freeze, Curbing Green Power Output. Yet another lesson on Grid Resilience

5.U.S. Oil Majors Are At the Front Lines of Energy Dominance Through Service

6.Liberty Energy Secures 330MW Power Deal to Support Data Center Expansion in Texas

https://energynewsbeat.co/

https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

Get your CEO on the podcast: https://sandstoneassetmgmt.com/media/

Shout out to Steve Reese and Reese Energy Consulting for sponsoring the podcast. https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/

This series of storms highlights the need to rethink how electricity is priced for consumers in the United States. Wind and solar receive subsidies, have no end-of-life funds, and incur no grid-resilience costs when they can't generate. The current pricing model also does not include grid resiliency costs and the additional maintenance required for natural gas turbines to spin up and down during wind and solar generation. The additional maintenance costs are just passed on to consumers, who don't realize they are caused by wind and solar installations.

The main topics discussed in this Energy News Beat Stand Up are:

1. The impact of recent winter storms on the U.S. energy grid and the performance issues with renewable energy sources like wind and solar during peak demand periods. The speaker argues that wind, solar, and storage need to be repriced to account for the additional costs they impose on the grid.

2. The launch of "Project Vault" by the Trump administration to establish a strategic critical minerals reserve and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign suppliers, especially China. The speaker highlights several companies that are expected to benefit from this initiative.

3. Siemens Energy's $1 billion investment to expand manufacturing of grid equipment in the U.S., creating 1,500 new jobs. The speaker praises the "approachability" of the Trump administration and the Department of Energy, which he says has made it easier for companies like Siemens to invest in Republican-led states.

4. The decline in OPEC oil production in January 2026, largely due to political turmoil in Venezuela. The speaker discusses the complexities of the global oil market, noting that "not all oil is created equal" and that OPEC is taking a cautious approach to production quotas and cuts.

5. India's continued imports of Russian oil, despite pressure from the U.S. to reduce reliance on Russian energy. The speaker argues that he does not fault India for buying cheap Russian oil, but criticizes California for importing Russian oil-derived jet fuel, which he sees as a national security risk.

6. The need for more truthful and fact-based reporting on energy issues by the mainstream media, which the speaker believes is often biased in favor of renewable energy.

1.Overreliance on Renewables Leaves Americans Out in the Cold, and Paying More for Electricity

2.Trump’s Project Vault Gives US Critical Minerals a Boost

3.Siemens Energy Commits $1 Billion to Ramp Up Manufacturing in US, Impacting Grid Equipment

4.OPEC Output Fell Last Month Due to Venezuela Turmoil

5.Oil Rises Amid Conflicting Reports on Iran

6.India Is Expected To Only Slowly Reduce Its Import Of Russian Oil

7.When will the Mainstream Media Report the Truth on Energy? Nick Deluliis Stops By to Talk about the Truth In Energy

Shout out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Team at https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/

Sources: theenergynewsbeat.substack.com, nationalreview.com, Grok, electrek.co, eia.gov

Get your CEO on the podcast: https://sandstoneassetmgmt.com/media/

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Nick Deluliis is a Director on the CNX Board and an author, bringing decades of experience to the discussion. On his website, he cites WSJ reporting and notes that the mainstream media (MSM) is letting the American Public down. He also raises some compelling points about how this can play out.

With Bill Gates admitting we are not going to die from "Climate Crisis" to Larry Fink admitting at Davos that we need stable power, when will the MSM follow these stories? Is it up to the podcasts?

Connect with Nick on his LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-deiuliis/

1. Concerns about biased and inaccurate energy news reporting:

The host and guest discuss how energy news reporting, particularly in outlets like the Wall Street Journal, often fails to provide objective, fact-based coverage. They cite the "Gell-Mann amnesia effect" where readers trust the reporting on topics they are unfamiliar with, even when the reporting on the guest's area of expertise (energy) contains significant flaws and omissions.

2. The challenges of transitioning the energy grid to renewable sources:

The transcript explores how the push for large-scale adoption of wind and solar power has led to "manufactured inefficiencies" in energy systems. The guests argue that intermittent renewable sources are not viable replacements for reliable baseload power from fossil fuels and nuclear, resulting in grid instability and higher costs for consumers.

3. The importance of rational, fact-based energy policies:

The discussion highlights how ideologically-driven energy policies, often favoring renewable energy over more reliable sources, have had negative consequences for energy affordability, grid reliability, and industrial competitiveness. The guests advocate for policymaking grounded in scientific and economic realities rather than political agendas.

4. The potential of the Marcellus Shale region for reviving American manufacturing:

The guests express optimism about leveraging the abundant natural gas resources in the Marcellus Shale to support domestic manufacturing and economic growth, if policies enable the efficient development and utilization of these energy assets.

5. The emerging global divide on energy and climate policies:

The transcript suggests a bifurcation of the world into two camps - those pursuing net-zero emissions policies that undermine industrial competitiveness, versus those focused on energy affordability and reliability to support economic prosperity.

We emphasized the need for objective, fact-based journalism to inform the public and policymakers on the complex realities of the energy transition.

Time Stamps:

01:04 WSJ Pivots from Trusted Reporting to Propaganda

04:00 The founding of the nation was on trust, and the press was afforded protections

08:59 Texas ERCOT, even with problems, is better off than other areas

12:42 Manufactured inefficiency on the grid

15.13 Ds and Rs it is simpler - it's ideological

17:39 the Reliables are nat gas, coal, and nuclear

20:11 Power sources next to generation

Shout out to Reese Energy Consulting for sponsoring the Podcast: https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/

Check out the Energy News Beat Substack: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

A wild way to end January trading with the Silver Crash of 2026, and how is oil going to shake out? We also cover earnings for Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Liberty Energy.

The main topics discussed in thisEpisdoe of the Energy News Beat Stand-Up are:

1. The dramatic plunge in silver prices:

- The silver market saw a 37% single-day crash on January 30th, the worst day on record since March 1980.

- There are questions around potential market manipulation by entities like JP Morgan.

- The hosts discuss the underlying supply and demand factors impacting the silver market, such as China's export restrictions.

2. The global energy crisis and its impact:

- Europe is facing major challenges with energy security and affordability, leading to a resurgence of fossil fuel usage.

- Countries like China, India, and the UK are all ramping up domestic oil and gas exploration and production.

- The hosts analyze how this global energy crunch is affecting natural gas prices and availability in the US.

3. The role of natural gas and fossil fuels in the energy transition:

- Texas is doubling down on natural gas-fired power generation, including a massive 75.65 GW project.

- Major oil companies like Exxon and Chevron are increasingly partnering with data centers to provide dedicated, behind-the-meter power generation.

- The hosts discuss how this shift towards natural gas-powered data centers could impact midstream pipeline companies.

4. Earnings and financial performance of energy companies:

- The hosts review the latest quarterly earnings reports from companies like Liberty Energy, Exxon, and Chevron.

- They analyze trends like share buybacks, production growth, and the impact of assets like Guyana and Venezuela.

- The discussion touches on how these companies are transitioning towards more utility-like business models.

1.Silver Market Plunge Wipes Out Investors, and We Have Questions

2.The Monroe Doctrine in Full Display as Danish Firm Maersk Temporarily Takes Over Operations of Two Ports on the Panama Canal

3.Energy Security Starts at Home, and the EU and UK Are Waking Up

4.Largest Power Project In US Approved For West Texas Amid Gas Plant And Data Center Buildout

5.Liberty Energy Earnings Report for Q4 2025

6.Exxon Beats Expectations as Record Production Offsets Lower Oil Price

7.Chevron Beats Profit Estimates with Venezuela on a Roll

Shout to Steve Reese and the entire Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Energy News Beat Podcast. https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/

Shout out to FeedSpot - Energy News Beat ranked #3 globally for top Energy Podcast

https://podcast.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

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You can't buy this kind of entertainment. When President Trump throws out a mean Truth Social post, he can move the markets, but when an Aircraft Carrier Strike group shows up near Iran and Iraq, the oil traders panic. It is quite possible that the Glut Narative may just roll off into the sunset, as Stu Turley has said on the podcast "Where's the Glut?" much like the "Where's the Beef" Wendy's commercial.

We are seeing a commodities Supercycle surge, and did oil just make it to the Commodities Homecoming Dance? We cover critical investing and issues that will impact consumers in the oil and gas markets.

The main topics discussed in this Energy News Beat Stand-UP are:

1. Geopolitical tensions and their impact on oil prices:

- President Trump's threats of military action against Iran and the resulting spike in Brent crude oil prices

- Concerns about potential supply disruptions from Iran and Iraq, which could further impact oil markets

2. Declining oil and gas exploration and investment:

- The plunge in global conventional oil and gas discovery volumes in recent years

- The decline in overall oil and gas capital expenditures, focused on short-cycle, low-cost projects

- The high percentage of production coming from post-peak oil and gas fields raising concerns about future supply

3. The changing dynamics in the oil and gas industry:

- The dichotomy between "drill, baby, drill" and "grow, baby, grow" approaches to production

- The role of refinery demand in determining the pricing and trading of different crude oil grades

- Saudi Aramco's efforts to change how OPEC monitors and prices oil, moving towards a more refinery-driven model

4. Potential mergers and acquisitions in the sector:

- The ongoing discussions around a potential merger between Coterra Energy and Devon Energy

- The involvement of activist investor Kimmeridge in pushing for this merger, including the potential nomination of Scott Sheffield to Coterra's board

5. Performance and outlook for oil and gas companies:

- The strong stock price performance of major oil companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron

- The potential opportunities in the mining and gold/silver sectors as a hedge against oil and gas market volatility

Stories Covered in today's Energy News Beat Stand-Up

1.Brent Breaks $70 After Trump Threatens Iran With Military Force

2.Oil Options on Longest Bullish Run Since 2024 as Iran Risk Looms

3.Oil Exploration Drastically Lagging Demand – We are approaching a critical junction of lack of investment

4.Trinidad & Tobago: The $4 Billion Nat Gas Play

5.Gas Turbines Suffer Economic Hardships Due to Stress Placed on Them by Wind and Solar

6.Saudi Aramco Raises $4 Billion as Oil Prices Remain Under the Oil Glut Threat

A shout-out to Reese Energy Consulting for sponsoring the Podcast: https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/

Check out: theenergynewsbeat.substack.com,

Get your CEO on the podcast: https://sandstoneassetmgmt.com/media/

Is oil and gas right for your portfolio? https://sandstoneassetmgmt.com/invest-in-oil-and-gas/

Robert Bryce is an author and movie producer, and he has a great Substack at Robertbryce.substack.com. We consider him a national treasure, and he holds nothing back in this great interview. We explore the world to see how energy, oil, and geopolitics collide.

As we release this podcast, US Ships are approaching Iran, and oil prices are responding.

The main topics discussed in this Podcast are:

1. The role of energy, particularly oil, in global geopolitics and conflicts:

- The transcript discusses how targeting electrical grid infrastructure has been a common military tactic in major conflicts like the Iraq wars, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the situation in Venezuela.

- Controlling energy resources and infrastructure is seen as a key strategic objective in these conflicts.

2. The "dark fleet" and Venezuela's involvement in circumventing sanctions:

- The discussion touches on Venezuela's relationship with Russia and China, and how they have been using a "dark fleet" of tankers to move oil and bypass sanctions.

- This highlights how energy trade and financial mechanisms are being used to counter geopolitical pressure.

3. The shift towards a "Western Hemispheric energy powerhouse":

- There is discussion about the Trump administration's efforts to align the energy resources of the Western Hemisphere, including shale, oil sands, and Venezuela's heavy crude, under a framework that prioritizes reliable, low-cost supply.

- This is seen as a potential challenge to OPEC's influence.

4. The challenges facing the transition to renewable energy and electrification:

- The transcript touches on the growing demand for electricity, the constraints on the power grid and natural gas supply, and the difficulties in rapidly scaling up new energy infrastructure.

- There is a discussion about the role of natural gas, data centers, and new technologies like reciprocating engines in meeting this growing energy demand.

5. The performance and challenges of the electric vehicle (EV) market:

- The transcript discusses the significant financial losses incurred by legacy automakers in their efforts to compete with Tesla and enter the EV market.

- This is seen as an example of the industry misjudging the market and customer demand for EVs.

Chapters/Time Stamps

03:27 War and how energy infrastructure is targeted

07:59 Energy is the key to geopolitics

14:35 Greenland is the New Green Deal

18:32 EIA Growing Electricity Demand

27:37 Natural Gas, and we may be too dependent on one source

32:41 EVs and the problems car makers have had, and caused.

Check out Robert Bryce on his Substack: https://robertbryce.substack.com/

Check out the Energy News Beat Substack: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

or the Energy News Beat Website https://energynewsbeat.co/