The summer of 2026 tested the U.S. electric grid with record heat and rising demand. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Hourly Electric Grid Monitor (based on Form EIA-930 data), three major regional transmission organizations (RTOs) set new peak hourly load records.Eia PJM (serving roughly 65–67 million people across all or parts of 13 […]
Continue Reading
As of mid-October 2026, U.S. drilling activity continues to firm. Baker Hughes reported its closely watched weekly rotary rig count at 603 for the week ending October 9 (up 5 week-over-week and up 56 year-over-year from 547). WellDatabase’s U.S. Rig Report dated 10.14.2026 showed 608 total rigs (up 6 week-over-week and up 52 year-over-year). Enverus’ […]
Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Energy on October 10, 2026, authorized an emergency exchange of up to 4 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to address supply disruptions from hurricane activity in the Gulf of America. Source –Energy ExxonMobil and BP America each received authority for up to 2 million barrels. […]
Continue Reading
The President signed the refining authority in April, and $1 billion has moved to the Energy Department. But ENB found no refinery award; most of the law expires Dec. 11, and the first big new refinery since 1977 is not due until 2028-29. The barrels that could come fastest are restarts and a wider shipping […]
Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity announced on September 24, 2026, that it intends to help fund 31 grid-improvement projects across 26 states under the Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) initiative. The package totals $5.25 billion—$1.9 billion in federal funding and $3.35 billion in […]
Continue Reading
The National Energy System Operator’s figures put transmission investment at about £64 billion through 2030 and another £89 billion after that—more than £150 billion in all. The Guardian’s mapping of official recommendations points to well over 4,000 miles of new power lines by 2041, plus subsea cables and converter stations to move Scottish and offshore […]
Continue Reading
ENB Pub Note: This article from Stephen Heins, The Word Merchant’s Substack, hits home. Steve Reese is a friend and a sponsor of the Energy News Beat podcast. He is a true “National Treasure and has made many people’s lives better by being the great energy leader that he is. Well done, Stephen, and a […]
Continue Reading
U.S. oil and gas drillers posted a modest weekly gain according to the industry’s most widely followed benchmark, while production continues to hold near record levels. This points to ongoing capital discipline even as output edges higher. The Latest Rig Counts Baker Hughes reported the U.S. rotary rig count rose 5 week-over-week to 593 for […]
Continue Reading
The latest WellDatabase US Rig Report (dated August 7, 2026) shows the national active rig count rising modestly by 3 week-over-week to 583, up 42 from the same period a year earlier. Oil-directed rigs accounted for the bulk of activity at 427 (+1), with gas-directed rigs holding steady at 127 and smaller contributions from thermal […]
Continue Reading
The latest WellDatabase US Rig Report (dated July 18, 2026) shows the U.S. active drilling rig count at 567, marking a solid +11 week-over-week (WoW) increase and +37 year-over-year (YoY) gain. This reflects resilient drilling activity amid a stable-to-rising trend over the past 12 months, with the count holding in the mid-to-high 500s range. Key […]
Continue Reading