Empty land, cheap natural gas and energy-hungry data centers drew Nate Franklin to dream up an 8,400-acre power complex in West Texas. Now all he needs is the $12 billion to build it and the hyperscalers—and he likes his odds. Read the full story: https://t.co/mDhrdLKxi5 📸: Courtesy Pacifico Energy ...

Guyana is moving ahead with a second gas-to-shore pipeline as President Irfaan Ali pushes to use offshore natural gas for power generation and industrial growth beyond its oil boom https://t.co/QLTRxeAFd0 ...

Australia’s Queensland state has expanded oil and natural gas exploration in a major basin, as the fossil fuel exporter seeks to address local shortfalls https://t.co/ay5c3y1SG1 ...

Group 1 - EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT) is recognized as one of the best AI energy stocks to buy currently [1] - Mixed analyst sentiment is observed ahead of EQT's Q4 results, which are set to be announced on February 17, 2026 [2] - Barclays has reduced its price target for EQT from $67 to $64 while maintaining an 'Overweight' rating, citing resilience in the upstream sector's cash return model despite macro volatility [3] - Bank of America Securities has lowered its price target for EQT from $84 to $74, reiterating a 'Buy' rating, while expressing concerns over rising oversupply risks in 2027 and downward revisions to natural gas price forecasts [4] Group 2 - EQT Corporation operates as a vertically integrated natural gas company, focusing on production and midstream operations in the Appalachian Basin, providing reliable gas supply and infrastructure solutions across the U.S. [5]

Core Insights - The Trump administration has focused on reviving the coal industry through policy changes and executive actions, but market forces are driving a decline in coal usage in the U.S. energy market [1][2] - Coal's share of total energy consumption has dropped significantly from 50% in 1950 to only 9% in 2023, indicating a long-term decline despite government efforts [1] - A recent failed coal lease sale in Montana, which would have been the largest in over a decade, highlights the lack of interest in coal among utilities, who are increasingly turning to cheaper natural gas and renewables [2] Actions During Trump's First Term (2017–2021) - The Trump administration aimed to reverse Obama-era coal policies through various actions, including lifting the federal coal leasing moratorium and rescinding new valuation rules for coal royalties [3][4] Actions During Trump's Second Term (2025–present) - In April 2025, the Trump administration continued to promote coal through executive orders emphasizing its importance to national security and directing federal agencies to take supportive actions [3]

Energy Demand and Market Trends - The ongoing investment theme in energy is driven by the growing demand for data centers to support artificial intelligence, leading to increased energy consumption [1][4] - Goldman Sachs projects that data center electricity use in the U.S. will rise from 3% of total demand in 2022 to 8% by 2030, with overall energy demand expected to grow by 2.5% over the next decade, five times the previous decade's growth rate [4][5] - The Bank of America Institute highlights the need for approximately $720 billion in global grid upgrades by 2030 to prevent energy bottlenecks [5] Company Performance - Bloom Energy and Oklo have seen significant stock price increases, with Bloom Energy up 285% and Oklo up 252% year to date, benefiting from the positive energy narrative [2] - Bloom Energy specializes in solid oxide fuel cell systems, providing modular, onsite power solutions that can be deployed quickly, within 50 days, to meet rising energy demands [7][9] Industry Dynamics - Hyperscalers like Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon are driving demand for renewable energy and reliable power, contributing to the resurgence of nuclear energy and increased reliance on natural gas [6] - The expansion of data centers to meet AI demand is expected to significantly increase energy consumption, with Bloom Energy and Oklo positioned to provide reliable energy solutions [8]

Israel gave the green light to a deal worth $35 billion to supply natural gas to Egypt from 2026 to 2040, overcoming some pushback on the agreement’s terms https://t.co/7Ylwuozgcp ...

Company Overview - Vistra Corp. is the largest competitive power producer in the U.S., operating around 60 generating plants, with approximately half of its output serving Texas, meeting about 25% of the state's electricity needs [1][2] - The company serves 5 million homes and businesses nationwide, with a workforce of about 7,000 employees [1] Market Dynamics - Texas has the 10th-largest power market globally, accounting for about 10% of the U.S. electric grid, and has pursued a more competitive market structure than other states [3][4] - Since 2000, Texas has attracted over $100 billion in capital for power generation, with no costs passed onto customers [5][6] - The Texas electricity market allows for open access, enabling the construction of various types of power plants without needing prior approval from the Public Utility Commission [4][5] Grid Resilience and Changes - Following the February 2021 freeze, Texas implemented Senate Bill 3 to enhance winterization and emergency preparedness for utilities [6][7] - The grid has seen an increase in battery and solar energy integration, which can help during winter days, but challenges remain in ensuring reliability during extended cold spells [8][9] - The ERCOT system lacks a reserve and capacity market, which are present in other states, raising concerns about grid redundancy and reliability [9][10] Demand Trends - Texas has experienced a 5-6% growth in energy demand over the past two to three years, with data centers and industrial customers adapting their energy usage based on grid conditions [15][16] - The consumption of power by data centers could rise from 3-4% to 9-10% of total consumption, driven by increased electrification and demand from various sectors [18][19] Nuclear Power and Future Outlook - Texas operates two nuclear plants, with one recently relicensed to operate into the 2050s, providing reliable energy generation [21][22] - The cost of building new nuclear facilities remains high, but there is potential interest from large tech companies for carbon-free generation options [24][26] Price Trends and Market Challenges - Electricity prices have been rising across the U.S., with Texas not experiencing the same level of increase as other states, although the trend is concerning [26][27] - The retirement of coal plants and challenges in building new assets in other states have contributed to tighter supply and demand dynamics, leading to price pressures [28][29] - The Texas Energy Fund aims to incentivize gas plants amid rising construction costs and increased renewable penetration, highlighting the need for a balanced energy strategy [31][32]

Electricity Market Trends & Drivers - Electricity prices have increased by approximately 23% over the past 5 years due to various factors including data center demand, overall inflation, storm costs, and renewable energy policies [2] - Data centers are a contributing factor to electricity price increases, particularly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, but their impact is regionally focused [2][3] - Increased electricity demand from data centers is driving the need for increased electricity supply [1][5] Utility Strategies & Solutions - Utilities are negotiating long-term contracts (e g, 12-year agreements) with large hyperscalers to protect residential customers from rising electricity bills [3] - Some utilities have created mechanisms or structures outside the regulated utility model to shield residential customers from the impact of data center electricity consumption [4] - Increasing electricity supply is seen as the primary solution, with an estimated growth of over 28% annually through 20240 [5][6] Energy Supply & Resources - Short-term solutions include restarting old nuclear assets and utilizing less efficient forms of gas generation, as well as extending the life of existing coal plants [6][7] - Natural gas is considered a meaningful resource for new power plants, with potential future contributions from small modular nuclear, large-scale nuclear, and other developing technologies [7] - Renewable energy policies have faced slowdowns, and intermittent renewable resources are not considered ideal for meeting the 24/7 power needs of data centers [8][9] Investment Opportunities - DTE Electric (Midwest utility) is favored due to its data center growth story, with potential for additional hyperscaler partnerships and behind-the-meter generation [10] - First Energy (Mid-Atlantic, Ohio, Pennsylvania wires company) is also highlighted for its potential earnings growth driven by data center demand in its service area, with meaningful upside potential [10] - These companies are seen as having solutions to lower bills for residential customers while driving EPS accretion for shareholders [11][12]

Financial Performance & Shareholder Returns - Chevron aims to grow free cash flow at a 10% compound annual growth rate [3] - At a $70 oil price, Chevron could return 45% of its market cap to shareholders over the next 5 years through dividends and share repurchases [4] - Earnings per share growth is expected to be better than 10% annually if Brent stays above $70 through 2030 [4] - Break-even point to cover capital spending and dividends is below $50 [7] - Free cash flow is expected to triple from 2024 to 2026 at a $60 oil price [7] Production & Capital Expenditure - Production is growing at a 2% to 3% compound annual growth rate [9] - Capital expenditure is being reduced to a range of $18 billion to $21 billion per year through 2030 [8] - An additional $1 billion in cost cuts has been announced [9] - Synergies on the Hess transaction have been increased by 50% from $1 billion to $15 billion [9] Market Outlook & Strategy - The International Energy Agency's updated report shows demand for oil and gas growing to 2050 [13][14] - Chevron is in discussions to build data centers powered by natural gas, targeting large customers and off-grid power generation [19][20][21][22]