The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in April 2026, with exports hitting a record high as surging crude oil and petroleum product shipments more than offset a sharp rise in imports of computers, semiconductors, and telecommunications equipment tied to the AI data center boom. According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the trade […]
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In a striking confirmation of the enduring role of fossil fuels in global finance, the world’s 65 largest banks committed a record $906 billion to oil, natural gas, and coal companies in 2025 — an 8% jump from $869 billion the year before. This marks the second straight year of rising fossil fuel financing after […]
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In the heart of America’s oil boom, a tale of two fuels is unfolding in the Permian Basin. While soaring crude prices fueled by the Iran war have oil producers celebrating record revenues, associated natural gas has become a costly burden. At the Waha Hub—the key pricing point for Permian gas—prices have now been negative […]
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The Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and significant LNG volumes flow — has remained effectively closed since early March 2026 following the escalation of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. Iran has suspended talks and signaled the blockade could become permanent absent major concessions. In a wide-ranging interview with […]
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Blacksburg, SC – USA Rare Earth (Nasdaq: USAR) has announced a $1.2 billion investment to build a major rare earth magnet manufacturing and refined metals facility in Cherokee County’s Bailey Industrial Park in Blacksburg, South Carolina. The project marks a significant milestone in the company’s effort to create a fully domestic “mine-to-magnet” supply chain and […]
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A major industrial proposal is advancing in northeast Oklahoma at the Tulsa Port of Inola along the Verdigris River. The Inola Aluminum Smelter—formally known as the Oklahoma Primary Aluminum project—represents the first new primary aluminum smelter in the United States since 1980 and would become the largest ever built in the country. What Is the […]
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Grimes County, Texas, took a bold step forward on June 3, 2026, by approving a major incentive package for SpaceX’s proposed TeraFab semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing facility. In a 4-1 vote, county commissioners designated a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) and granted a 100% property tax abatement for the project, paving the way for […]
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Duke Energy President and CEO Harry Sideris delivered a clear message at the Edison Electric Institute convention in Las Vegas today: artificial intelligence and data centers are reshaping U.S. power demand at a pace never seen before. With 30 years at the company, Sideris noted that Duke has historically experienced annual load growth of just […]
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Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE: VG), a leading U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) developer and exporter, announced on June 1, 2026, that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Venture Global LNG, Inc. (the Issuer), intends to offer $2.25 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2034 and 2036. The proposed private offering targets qualified institutional buyers […]
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US refiners are operating plants at elevated run rates, with some delaying scheduled maintenance amid strong refining margins and steady-to-robust fuel demand. According to a Bloomberg report from June 1, 2026, the industry saw one of its lightest maintenance seasons in recent memory, with an average of only 470,000 barrels per day (bpd) of processing […]
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