Author: Erick Parel

250 Years of Energy: How America’s Abundant Natural Resources Powered a Rising Nation — And Why Smart Policy Will Determine the Next Century

Energy News Beat This article first ran yesterday on the Energy News Beat Substack. From the wood fires that warmed homes and fueled early industry in 1776 to the sophisticated mix powering AI data centers, electric vehicles, and global exports today, energy has been the invisible backbone of American prosperity, innovation, and geopolitical strength. The […]

The Spread Between Crude Oil and Refinery Pricing: What It Means, and Is Gouging Possible?

Energy News Beat This article was first published on the Energy News Beat Substack.  In energy markets, the key metric that separates crude oil prices from what consumers ultimately pay at the pump is the crack spread—the difference between the cost of crude oil feedstock and the market value of refined products such as gasoline, […]

U.S. Department of Energy Meets President Trump’s Goal, Delivers Third Advanced Reactor CriticalityJuly 2, 2026

Energy News Beat In a landmark achievement for America’s nuclear renaissance, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that Deployable Energy’s Unity demonstration reactor successfully achieved criticality on June 30, 2026 (late yesterday), at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). This marks the third DOE-authorized advanced reactor to reach this milestone by the July 4, 2026, deadline […]

More New Capacity Online at US Uranium Enrichment Plant

Energy News Beat Urenco USA brings fifth new cascade online at Eunice, New Mexico facility, bolstering domestic nuclear fuel supply EUNICE, N.M. — Urenco USA has started up its fifth new gas centrifuge cascade at the National Enrichment Facility, with production beginning on June 22, 2026. The company announced the milestone on June 29, continuing […]

A new electricity consumption tax on data centers in Virginia passes into law on July 1, 2026

Energy News Beat On June 22, 2026, Virginia’s General Assembly approved its two-year biennial budget (HB 30), which includes a first-of-its-kind electricity consumption tax on qualifying data centers. The tax took effect July 1, 2026, and runs through June 30, 2028. The measure levies $0.011 per kWh (1.1 cents) on all electricity consumed at covered […]

Billionaire Texas Hunt, Crow families join bitcoin firm in $1 billion data center deal

Energy News Beat In a significant move blending Texas real estate and energy dynasties with public-market access, members of the billionaire Hunt and Crow families have partnered with Nasdaq-listed Empery Digital Inc. (NASDAQ: EMPD) to develop data centers targeting hyperscalers and AI workloads. The group has agreed to acquire a powered Midwest industrial facility for […]

Why is China Building Reactors While America Sleeps?

Energy News Beat In this episode of the Energy Newsbeat Podcast, host Stu Turley sits down with Thomas Land, CEO of Myriad Uranium and J2 Metals, to explore the geopolitical battle reshaping global energy. While China aggressively builds dozens of nuclear reactors to power its AI dominance, the United States remains frozen in time with […]

Enverus acquires PDS exchange assets, expanding its operating network across U.S. energy markets

Energy News Beat Transaction adds Frac Interference Exchange, Well Data Exchange, Production Data Exchange and AquaTrade, extending Enverus’ secure exchange network across completions, well data, production and water logistics AUSTIN, Texas (June 30, 2026) — Enverus today announced the acquisition of four exchange platforms from PDS Energy Information: the Frac Interference Exchange, Well Data Exchange, Production Data […]

Carney Concedes Canada Will Overshoot Emissions Forecasts

Energy News Beat Prime Minister Mark Carney has delivered his clearest admission yet that Canada’s near-term climate targets are out of reach. In a June 30, 2026, video statement, Carney stated that “Canada’s emissions will be higher in the coming years than previously projected,” directly conceding that the country will overshoot earlier forecasts while refusing […]

No Brent Crude Oil Cargoes Set to Load in August: Milestone for the Global Price Benchmark

Energy News Beat In a historic first for the world’s most important oil price benchmark, no cargoes of North Sea Brent crude oil are scheduled to load in August 2026. This development, driven by steadily declining production from mature fields, marks a symbolic turning point for the Dated Brent complex—even as the benchmark itself remains […]