FOMC Minutes Show 'A Few' Fed Members Wanted To Hike In June, 'Majority' Fear Higher Inflation- FOMC Minutes summary: Participants generally saw upside risks to price stability as elevated, while downside risks to maximum employment goal had moderated a bit.
- The majority of participants commented that most measures of medium- and longer-term inflation expectations remained at levels consistent with the Committee's 2 percent objective.
- The majority of participants highlighted the possibility that, after several years of inflation above 2 percent, continued elevated inflation rates could begin to affect inflation expectations and wage- and price-setting decisions.
- A few participants commented that, in light of these developments, there was a case for raising the target range for the federal funds rate, but those participants indicated that they supported maintaining the current target range at this meeting.
- Most participants remarked on scenarios in which inflationary pressures would dissipate and inflation would soon begin to return to 2 percent. In such scenarios, almost all of these participants noted that it would likely be appropriate to maintain or eventually lower the target range for the federal funds rate.
- Most participants, however, also pointed to scenarios in which, in the context of stable labor market conditions, inflation would remain elevated due to strong AI-related demand, the conflict in the Middle East, or the effects of tariffs.
- In such scenarios, almost all of these participants indicated that some policy firming would likely be warranted to return inflation to 2 percent.
- Some participants observed that the sharp rise in input costs reported in business surveys raised concerns about the potential for higher energy and commodity costs to pass through more broadly to final goods prices.
- Several participants noted, however, that firms in their Districts reported that they had been cautious about increasing prices, citing concerns that higher prices could reduce demand or their market shares
- Several participants noted that the deceleration in housing services prices was likely to continue to be a source of disinflationary pressure.
The Fed appears to now be officially blaming AI for rise in core inflation:
- "Core goods price inflation had risen relative to a year earlier, which the staff judged as largely reflecting the effects of tariffs and AI-related price pressures"
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- Many participants noted that ongoing strong demand for AI infrastructure would likely sustain upward pressure on prices for technology products and electricity..."
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- "Some participants remarked that productivity gains associated with AI adoption would eventually reduce production costs and increase aggregate supply, which should put downward pressure on inflation, though they noted this effect would likely take time to materialize"
- "Initial public offering activity in the U.S. appeared set to accelerate this year, with the proceeds expected to help fund ongoing investments in AI infrastructure."
- Most participants remarked that growth in economic activity that exceeded that of potential output, owing in part to strong AI business investment, could contribute to more persistent inflationary pressures.
- With respect to household spending, most participants observed that stock market gains and federal income tax refunds sent earlier this year had provided support to consumer spending, particularly among higher-income households.
- Most participants remarked that growth in economic activity that exceeded that of potential output, owing in part to strong AI business investment, could contribute to more persistent inflationary pressures.
- Some participants remarked that productivity gains associated with AI adoption would eventually reduce production costs and increase aggregate supply, which should put downward pressure on inflation, though they noted this effect would likely take time to materialize.
- A majority of participants remarked that they saw advantages in shortening the statement.
- Some participants commented that they welcomed the opportunity to review the Committee's communications tools and practices.
- Most participants emphasized that they preferred not to repeat the language in the previous postmeeting statement that had suggested an easing bias regarding the likely direction of the Committee's future interest rate decisions. Several participants remarked that they did not see the current policy stance as restrictive, while a few other participants commented that they saw the current policy stance as slightly restrictive.
- There were no intervention operations in foreign currencies for the System's account during the intermeeting period.
Read the full FOMC Minutes here.
Money supply features in first Fed monetary policy report under Warsh -The Federal Reserve's first monetary policy report under Kevin Warsh features a measure of financial activity not typically included in the semiannual briefing: the money supply.
- Key insight: The first monetary policy report under Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh reflects his focus on monetarism and the role of the money supply in driving inflation.
- Expert quote: "I think money, strangely enough, has something to do with monetary policy. It has been absent from the discussion." — Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh, in remarks during a Hoover Institution event last year.
- Forward look: Warsh will discuss the findings in this year's report along with a host of other topics when he testifies in front of the House Committee on Financial Services on Tuesday and the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday.
The Federal Reserve's semiannual monetary policy report — released just days ahead of Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's inaugural testimony to Congress in his new role — highlights rising inflation and capital investment-driven economic growth.
Fed's Williams expects energy prices to abate even as Iran war flares (Reuters) - New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said on Thursday he did not expect a sustained rise in energy prices for the rest of the year despite the resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, and declined to say what decision he would make on interest rates at a policy meeting later this month. "The markets still expect oil prices to come down over the next six to 12 months. I think that's a pretty reasonable baseline," Williams said at a conference at the regional Fed bank. "I still feel, kind of, the fundamentals are that energy prices are likely to be around their peak and then to come down over time." When asked whether the Fed could raise rates at its July 28-29 meeting, he said, "We haven't even started the process of doing an analysis," adding "we meet every six weeks. This isn't like we're making decisions forever." Williams spoke a day after the release of the minutes from the central bank's June 16-17 meeting, at which the central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady in the 3.50%-3.75% range. While forecasts released at the meeting last month indicated officials had penciled in higher rates this year amid persistently above-target inflation, Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh refused to provide guidance about the outlook and did not explain how incoming data might shape his monetary policy views. In an interview with Fox Business Network's "Mornings with Maria" program on Tuesday, Williams said he had grown more optimistic that overall high levels of inflation will ease in part due to falling energy prices tied to a seeming resolution of the Middle East war. He also reiterated that monetary policy is in the right position given the risks facing the economy. But that outlook is now challenged by hostilities in the Middle East that again threaten to crimp the flow of energy and other goods. With President Donald Trump claiming the agreement that ended the hot phase of the conflict is now void, the risks of higher energy prices and inflation over the remainder of the year have risen, increasing the chances the Fed may have to raise interest rates to tamp down price pressures. On Thursday, Williams said it's important for the U.S. central bank to explain how it reacts to data, given that there are a wide range of possible paths for price pressures. He said the minutes from the June meeting show the "richness" of the possible scenarios ahead. "There are certain parts of the inflation outlook that are probably maybe a little bit more benign, say on the tariffs, maybe on the energy prices, depending how that plays out," he said, adding that there are "other scenarios where inflation is more persistent and stays higher, which would ... call for tighter monetary policy. I think that's the right way to think about it." "I think that the minutes actually captured a collective reaction function in a way, even though it's not designed to do that," he said. Williams reiterated the importance for the central bank to focus on incoming data. "I've spent much of my career as a policymaker talking about being data-dependent. I have not changed. I still think we need to be data-dependent." He also noted that investment tied to building the nation's artificial intelligence infrastructure could bring lower price pressures in the future, but it was now clearly helping fuel inflation that he considers to be too high. Some Fed officials have challenged the idea the balance sheet needs to be reduced, arguing the central bank's management of short-term rates and market liquidity has been successful, and that the size of Fed holdings, now at around $6.7 trillion, is not a critical issue. Any change should prioritize maintaining the safety and stability of the banking system, Williams said. "I don't think the driver of this should be" focused on the amount of Fed balance sheet reduction that can be achieved, he said. "It really should be how do we improve and make and strengthen our financial system."
Fed’s Williams Says AI Is Now His Main Inflation Concern -Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said that among the drivers of inflation in the US, he’s most focused on demand driven by artificial intelligence. And if that demand persists, it could force the central bank to raise interest rates. “If this creates a sustained impulse to demand relative to supply in inflation, I do think that’s the kind of situation where you don’t look through this,” Williams said Thursday during an event organized by the New York Fed. If inflation ends up being more persistent and meaningfully higher than his baseline forecast, he said, “then monetary policy would need to respond to that.”
Fed announces membership of monetary policy task forces - The Federal Reserve Thursday announced the names of external advisors assigned to five separate task forces focused on its policies related to communications, its balance sheet, data, and inflation, including a range of business, academic, and former government officials.
- Key insight: The Federal Reserve announced the external advisors who will be tasked with leading reviews of key policies at the central bank, including communications, balance sheet management and its view toward the labor market.
- Expert quote: "I am honored that the best minds from a range of disciplines have agreed to work with us to sharpen our performance as an institution. The goal is straightforward: to ensure the Fed is best positioned to achieve our objectives in this consequential time." — Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh
- Forward look: The task forces are expected to recommend policy changes to the Fed by the end of the year.
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's five policy review groups will be composed of a broad mix of business leaders, academics and former central bankers, including venture capitalist Marc Andreesen and former Fed Gov. Jeremy Stein.
Logan: Fed's open market activities should be centrally cleared — A top Federal Reserve official wants to see monetary policy conducted through an intermediary.
- Key insight: The Federal Reserve is considering whether it should voluntarily adhere to the Security and Exchange Commission's new rule on central clearing for Treasury security transactions.
- Expert quote: "The clearing mandate does not apply to the Federal Reserve's transactions. However, I believe the [Federal Open Market Committee] could make its open market operations more efficient and effective, and support the strength of U.S. markets more generally by centrally clearing its operations on a voluntary basis." — Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Lorie Logan
- Forward look: The SEC's central clearing mandate starts going into effect later this year. The Fed is exploring what it would have to do to run its open market operations though a central clearing agency.
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Lorie Logan said at an event Thursday that conducting monetary policy actions through a third party would improve efficiency and make markets stronger.
Netanyahu pushes back on Vance: ‘We have many, many friends’ - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing back on Vice President Vance’s warning to Israeli officials over criticizing the Trump administration’s peace deal with Iran, saying “we have many, many friends.” Vance said last month that if “I was in the Cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.” Netanyahu was asked about the remark in an interview with Fox News anchor Jacqui Heinrich on “The Sunday Briefing.” “Many leaders, you know, call me up and say, ‘Hey look, I’ve got this problem with public opinion, but I want you to know, we respect you and can we make some deals? And can you teach us some of the things that your military does? And can we have some of your AI and cyber expertise?'” Netanyahu replied. “You know, Israel is the No. 2 country in cyber in the world, and our technology is –– it’s so good. So, the relations are not quite as they appear, and we have many, many friends.” Netanyahu said he respects the vice president and that they have a “very good relationship, but it doesn’t mean that I agree with everything that he says.” “And I have to point this out: Donald Trump is a great friend, the greatest friend we’ve ever had in the White House, and I stand by that completely,” the prime minister said. He added that Israel has “other friends like the small country of India,” and that he has “this Facebook thing” before he laughed. “I’m just flooded by the overwhelming support there,” Netanyahu said. “And we have many others.” Vance had been responding to questions during a White House briefing where he was asked about an Axios report suggesting Netanyahu was “fuming” over the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the U.S. and Iran. The vice president said the report did not reflect conversations he had with Netanyahu but added that “maybe he’s saying something to somebody else that he’s not saying to me.” Clashes between President Trump and Netanyahu came to light after the MOU was signed, with Trump cursing the prime minister for continuing his strikes on Lebanon, which Trump said threatened the deal with Iran. Netanyahu said he will put Israel’s security first, and that he and Trump do not always see “eye to eye.” Iran has maintained that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is a key component of the MOU. Last month, Netanyahu said his military has “no restrictions” in targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, putting a strain on the fragile ceasefire that has already seen some flare-ups between the U.S. and Iran. Attacks carried out by the Israel Defense Forces on Beirut’s southern suburbs have killed dozens, including civilians.
Iran's Ghalibaf Says Implementing US-Iran MoU 'Difficult But Possible' - Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that implementing the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding was “difficult but possible” as he continues to favor diplomacy with the US despite recent strikes and high tensions between Washington and Tehran. Ghalibaf made the comments during a meeting with senior Hamas official Mohammed Darwish on the sidelines of the ceremonies being held in Iran for the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by the US and Israel on February 28, the first day of the joint US-Israeli attacks on the country.“We have no peace with the United States, and we will not recognize Israel,’ Ghalibaf told Darwish, according to Iran’s PressTV. The Iranian parliament speaker said Iran would continue to assist what it calls the “resistance front” in the region “if needed with missiles, and if political pressure is required, pressure through negotiations.” Ghalibaf noted that Iran was able to get the US to agree to add a ceasefire in Lebanon to the MoU following Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. “We told the American side that the territorial integrity of regional countries and the cessation of war against Iran’s allies in the resistance groups must be part of the memorandum, and it was added to the text,” he said. The US-Iran MoU calls for an end to war “on all fronts,” though the only conflict mentioned specifically by name is Israel’s war in Lebanon, and there’s no sign that the US is pressing Israel to de-escalate in Gaza, where the IDF continues daily attacks and is taking more territory in violation of the October 2025 ceasefire deal.Israel’s war and occupation in southern Lebanon also continue, and a “framework agreement” was signed between the Lebanese government and Israel, which doesn’t appear to be compatible with the US-Iran MoU since Israeli officials have insisted it allows the IDF to continue the occupation.The US and Iran are also at odds over other issues, including the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s frozen funds. “Today, this memorandum is being implemented, and its enforcement is difficult, but possible,” Ghalibaf told Darwish.Israel reportedly sought to kill Ghalibaf while he was negotiating with the US in April and, according to one of Ghalibaf’s aides, deployed a fighter jet to shoot down his plane while he was on his way back from Pakistan, forcing the Iranian delegation to land at Iran’s closest airport to Pakistan and travel back to Tehran by land.
- President Trump said Monday the U.S. will win the Iran war "one way or the other." Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he said, "We're either going to make a deal, or we're going to finish the job. It won't be tough to finish the job."
- U.S.-Iran talks are paused for the multi-day funeral of Iran's slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Thousands of people gathered in Tehran's streets and squares Monday, mostly dressed in black, with some carrying banners and pictures of the late leader.
- Three sons of the former Iranian supreme leader made a rare public appearance at his funeral on Sunday, but there was still no sign of their brother and his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei. Officials have said Khamenei was wounded in the airstrikes that killed his father but the severity of his injuries remains unclear. So far, he has only communicated through written statements.
Trump Threatens To Destroy Iran's Bridges and Energy Infrastructure If No Deal Reached -- President Trump on Monday renewed his threats against Iran, saying that if a deal isn’t reached, the US will “finish the job” and target Iran’s bridges and energy infrastructure. “We’re either going to make a deal or we’re going to finish the job. OK. And it won’t be tough to finish the job. I’d rather make a deal, because I don’t want to affect 91 million people,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, according to Reuters. “We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply…. They don’t have any money now. We haven’t given them any money,” he added.The president’s threats are in themselves a violation of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, which states that the two sides agreed to “refrain from the threat or use of force against each other.”Trump’s comments came as a massive number of Iranians filled the streets of Tehran to attend a procession that was part of the funeral for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed along with several family members by a US-Israeli attack on February 28, the first day of the bombing campaign. Trump recently said that he gave Iran “the week off” for the funeral, which came after the US and Iran held indirect talks in Qatar on the implementation of the MoU, as the two sides remain far apart on several core issues, including the Israeli war in Lebanon, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s frozen funds.
New Strikes on Ships in Strait of Hormuz Test U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire - The New York Times A U.S. official said Iranian missiles struck two commercial ships. There was no immediate comment from Iranian officials on the reported attacks. Strikes on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz presented another test of the fragile cease-fire between the United States and Iran, as President Trump flew on Tuesday to a NATO summit where discussions about the war were expected. Iranian missiles hit two ships in the strait, but there were no casualties, a U.S. official said late Monday Eastern time. According to a notice issued early on Tuesday by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a monitoring center led by the British navy, the crew of a tanker off the coast of Oman reported a strike by an unidentified projectile, which caused a fire on the vessel. The report did not identify the tanker or its cargo, and said that no casualties or environmental effects were reported. The tanker was near the eastern mouth of the strait when it was hit, according to the report. There was no immediate public comment from the authorities in Iran, where a dayslong program of funeral ceremonies is underway for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader who was killed on the first day of the war. Negotiations between Iran and the United States have been paused until after the funeral. Mr. Trump, who was on his way to Turkey for the NATO summit, also did not immediately comment on the reports of strikes on ships in the strait. He has criticized NATO’s members for not supporting the United States in the war against Iran. The strait, normally the conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil, was effectively blockaded by Tehran after the United States and Israel started the war with attacks on Iran in late February. The U.S. Navy also imposed its own blockade of Iranian ports. Economies around the world were hit by the energy supply crunch and rise in prices that followed.Traffic around the strait has picked up since June 20, around when the preliminary cease-fire agreement between the United States and Iran went into effect. That agreement has already been challenged by sporadic outbreaks of fighting. The latest strikes were reported nearly two weeks after another bout of attacks on ships by Iran, which prompted U.S. retaliation against Iranian military infrastructure. From Friday through Sunday, 108 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Kpler, a maritime data company. That was 21 fewer than the three prior days. Before the war, more than 100 ships a day routinely passed through the strait.Iran has said it expects ships to pass through the strait along its coast, not on the opposite side near Oman. The traditional route through the middle of the strait is considered dangerous because of the risk of mines laid by Iran’s military.Many ships switch off their transponders before navigating the strait, making it hard to identify their precise routes and giving an incomplete view of traffic volumes.
US Begins Bombing Iran After Multiple Tankers Struck in Strait of Hormuz - US Central Command announced on Tuesday that its forces began bombing Iran, strikes it’s framing as a response to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping.CENTCOM described the new strikes as “powerful,” and Iranian media have reported blasts in several coastal areas, including Qeshm Island and the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik. US officials claimed the strikes targeted military sites while Iran’s IRIB broadcaster reported that “most of the attacks” hit “civilian areas.”A US official told CNN that the US strikes were not “proportional” and described them as “punishment,” adding that the attacks “won’t be over for a bit.” A US official told Axios that the strikes were four or five times bigger than the previous US bombing of Iran’s coast that happened about 10 days ago. The Axios report said that President Trump approved the strikes during a meeting with his top-level officials on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.Earlier, the US Treasury Department revoked Iran’s oil sanctions waivers granted under the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which appears to be collapsing.The strikes and reversal of the sanctions waiver came after at least three tankers were hit by drones in the Strait of Hormuz, and while Iran hasn’t taken credit for the attacks, they came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warned that it would take action against ships that attempted to transit the waterway without coordinating with Iranian authorities.Iranian officials have maintained that under the MoU, Iran is solely responsible for traffic going through the strait and that any arrangements outside of its approved channels violate the agreement. The US has previously bombed Iran for attacking tankers that attempted to cross the waterway along a route that wasn’t approved by Iran.After the oil waivers were reversed, a US official told Al Arabiya that Iran will only “reap the benefits” of the MoU if “they exhibit good behavior.” The official added that Iran’s actions were “wholly unacceptable” and “will be met with consequences.”One of the vessels that was struck on Tuesday was the Al-Rekayyat, a Qatari LNG tanker, prompting Doha to strongly condemn the attack and blame Iran.“We demand that the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately cease all practices that undermine regional security or threaten the safety of international maritime navigation, & refrain from endangering global energy supplies & the resources of the countries of the region in pursuit of narrow interests,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari wrote on X. Saudi Arabia also accused Iran of attacking a Saudi tanker, with the Saudi Foreign Ministry calling on Tehran to cease “practices that threaten international maritime navigation and global energy supplies,” according to Al Jazeera.
Araghchi: No Talks on Final US-Iran Deal If Threats Continue - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that there will be no talks between the US and Iran under the Memorandum of Understanding on a final deal if President Trump continues to make threats against Iran.The statement from Araghchi came a day after President Trump said that he would “finish the job” in Iran if no final deal was reached and threatened strikes on the country’s bridges and power plants.“Millions of proud Iranians rallied in unity to honor Grand Ayatollah Khamenei and his legacy. Neither them nor our Brave Armed Forces are moved by any threats,” Araghchi wrote on X, referencing the massive crowds that attended funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.“Para 13 of the MoU is clear: Negotiations on final Deal will not commence if threats continue Honor your signature,” he added.Paragraph 13 of the MoU states that the US and Iran will start negotiations on a final deal “subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of this MoU and the continuing implementation of these measures.”Paragraph 1 of the MoU states that the two sides agreed not to launch military operations against each other and to also “refrain from the threat or use of force against each other.”Since the MoU was signed, Trump has repeatedly made threats against Iran, including a threat made against Araghchi and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf when they were in Switzerland for talks with US Vice President JD Vance. “You close [the Strait of Hormuz] and you won’t have a country,” Trump said at the time. “You won’t even make it back to your f–cking country.”
Trump Warns Iran That US Is Preparing for More Strikes After Saying Ceasefire Is Over - (AP) — President Donald Trump warned Iran on Wednesday that the U.S. was preparing for another night of strikes, just hours after he said the ceasefire was over because of Iranian attacks. A day after assaults on commercial shipping escalated into an exchange of fire on Iranian and U.S. military targets, Trump renewed his past threats to strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including electric plants and desalinization plants, and to seize the oil-production hub of Kharg Island.“We hit them very hard last night,” Trump said when asked about a possible return to hostilities. “We’ll probably hit them hard again tonight.”Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said the strikes are continued retaliation for Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. They are behaving very badly,” he said of Iran, accusing the country of launching drones and a missile at ships. After three tankers were hit Tuesday, the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, and Iranian forces retaliated by attacking American military sites in the Gulf.The latest exchange of fire raised fears that the war in Iran could reignite, and Trump fueled those concerns by saying the interim agreement to pause fighting was “over,” although he added that he would allow negotiations to continue.Attacks have repeatedly threatened the shaky ceasefire, but Trump's comments added new uncertainty, and oil prices shot up after he spoke. A renewed conflict could engulf the wider Middle East and would likely again halt energy shipments through the strait that are crucial to the global economy.“For me, I think it’s over,” Trump said when asked about the status of the ceasefire. He added that U.S. representatives can continue negotiations, but he cast doubt on the outcome. “They can talk, but I think they’re wasting their time,” he said.Trump has threatened to seize Kharg Island at previous points in the war, including last month, when he also questioned whether the U.S. “has the stomach for it.” Some 90% of Iranian oil exports pass through the island.The renewed attacks on ships in the strait, despite the negotiations, could reflect a divide among Iran's leadership. Hard-liners seek lasting control over the waterway, which is a globally important conduit for fuel shipments and has become a critical lever in confronting the West. Pragmatists, meanwhile, want a permanent peace deal to lift international sanctions and provide desperately needed economic relief.Negotiations to reach a final deal had been due to start after the dayslong funeral for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed Feb. 28 in the war’s first moments. The funeral, which ends Thursday, was supposed to be a period of lower tensions.The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. “The era of bullying and extortion is over,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X. “It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.”The U.S. military’s Central Command said American forces launched strikes “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.”It said it hit Iranian targets including air-defense systems, radars and over 60 small boats used by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.Those boats have been key to threatening ships in the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passed before the war. Iran’s ability to bring shipping in the waterway to a near halt during the war proved its greatest strategic advantage.
Iran to close Strait of Hormuz, strike twice as many targets in response to any US attack: Source - Iran has issued a firm warning that it will not back down from its management of the Strait of Hormuz and is prepared to fight to maintain control over the strategic waterway, an informed security source told Press TV on Wednesday. The source revealed that developments over the past 48 hours have solidified Tehran's resolve, with a new military and strategic doctrine now in place. According to the source, Iran's updated strategy dictates that in the event of any fresh attack on Iranian soil or interests, the Islamic Republic will respond with overwhelming force. The source elaborated on Iran's new retaliatory framework, stating that following any strike against Iran, two immediate actions will be taken: first, the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed to all maritime traffic; and second, Iran will strike enemy targets at a ratio of at least two to one, meaning that for every Iranian target hit, at least two enemy targets will be struck in return. "The memorandum of understanding signed on this matter clearly states that Iran will reopen the Strait in accordance with its own arrangements. Therefore, Iran will not permit the establishment of any new route outside the framework of its own arrangements," the source said. The source also addressed recent threats made by US President Donald Trump, delivering a blunt message to Washington. "Any threat will receive a powerful response. Iran does not distinguish between the United States and its partners in the region,” the source told Press TV. “Trump will gain nothing from these recent threats, but he will certainly lose both the Strait of Hormuz and the negotiations over a final agreement. The choice is now his." The warning comes amid rising tensions in the Persian Gulf region, after the US military carried out a fresh round of illegal and unprovoked strikes against Iran’s coastal areas early on Wednesday. US launched military strikes on a number of coastal bases and non-military stations in Iran's southern Hormozgan province and Mahshahr, which openly violated the ceasefire. In response, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) struck 85 US military targets in Bahrain and Kuwait with missiles and drones in an initial response to the American aggression. The IRGC said the strikes hit facilities at Port Salman, the US Fifth Fleet's area in Bahrain, and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. It also announced the downing of an MQ-9 drone, saying the aircraft attempted to interfere with the operation before it was shot down.
Iran signals defiance as Trump fumes over Strait of Hormuz strikes – Iran has insisted on exercising control in the Strait of Hormuz after another flare-up of attacks that prompted United States President Donald Trump to lash out against Iranian leaders.Trump, in the Turkish capital, Ankara, for a NATO summit, told reporters he considers the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that Tehran and Washington signed last month to be over and called Iranian authorities “sick” and “scum” after several ships were hit with drones in the waterway.The US military attacked southern Iran on Wednesday morning – 20 times harder than Iran’s strikes, according to Trump – and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian army launched projectiles towards Bahrain and Kuwait while shooting down a US drone.Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Washington of violating provisions of the MoU dealing with the cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and parts of the agreement relating to respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.It also condemned the US Department of the Treasury’s move to rescind waivers that allowed Iran to export its oil and get the revenues for 60 days. That waiver, along with the lifting of the US naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports, was the only immediate and tangible material benefit of the MoU for Iran. A similar but smaller set of incidents took place in late June, sparked by Iran’s efforts to prevent tankers and commercial vessels from transiting through the Strait of Hormuz along a US-backed route near Oman. However, at that time, the US did not withdraw the temporary sanctions waivers it had extended to Iran. At the heart of the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz is a difference in interpretation of Article 5 of the MoU. It states that Iran “will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels, with no charge for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, and vice versa”. Iranian authorities argue that the clause gives Tehran authority over managing traffic through the strait. “This is the only way,” Ebrahim Azizi, spokesman for the Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy in Iran’s hardline-dominated parliament, wrote on X on Wednesday afternoon. “Recognise the new and Iranian order in the Strait of Hormuz.” But the US insists that the article lists only Iran’s responsibility to ensure that it does not impede transit through the strait – without giving it a veto over who moves through the waterway. The same article of the MoU also uses softer language requiring Iran to conduct dialogue with Oman and other regional states over “future administration and maritime services” in the important waterway. Iran has conducted high-level talks with Muscat, but no breakthrough appears to have materialised. Majid Shakeri, an adviser to Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, told a state television programme on Tuesday night that Oman must offer assurances that the part of the strait in its territorial waters will not be used for military purposes against Iran. He said this can be guaranteed only through inspections by Iranian authorities, which can be conducted with Omani assistance. “Either we hold on to this strait, or we go and become martyrs for it one by one,” Shakeri said, adding that extracting “revenue is subordinate to control” over the strait as critical leverage.
Trump says ceasefire with Iran is 'over' as NATO summit wraps : NPR -President Trump said Wednesday he believes the current ceasefire with Iran is over after an exchange of attacks between the U.S. and Iran, the latest escalation straining the agreement to end the war."I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum," Trump told reporters in Ankara, Turkey, where he is attending the NATO summit.The U.S. launched a second round of attacks Wednesday, after striking 80 targets on Tuesday, according to U.S. Central Command.The stunning turnaround comes just three weeks after Trump celebrated the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran to help end the war he and Israel started. Trump insisted the deal would bring "peace and security" to the region. But within just weeks, he's amped up aggression."We hit them very hard last night. Probably hit them hard again tonight," he said earlier Wednesday.Trump said the U.S. hasn't attacked Iran at the "highest level" yet, saying he could hit electric plants and desalination plants."I don't want to do that but if we have to, we'll take them out," Trump said. Attacks on civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime.He also floated the idea of reinstituting the naval blockade on Iran.Trump's declaration in Ankara that the understanding is moot has already impacted markets, with oil prices starting to climb again. And it leaves his party, and his own approval ratings, in a precarious position once again with four months until the midterm election and little time to remedy the conflict that Americans have disapproved of from the start.The president, however, did not rule out talks continuing to permanently end the war with Iran.He said the top U.S. negotiators, special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, want to continue to negotiate.But, Trump added, "as far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them. They're liars," he said.There was no immediate response from the Iranian government.Trump's comments came after the U.S. and Iran traded attacks again overnight Wednesday, the second such escalation since the two sides signed an interim deal in mid-June.The strikes followed Tuesday's attacks from Iran on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. said it carried out strikes on Iranian targets in what it said was retaliation for the previous Iranian aggression. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said it responded to those strikes by launching missiles and drones against Kuwait and Bahrain, two Arab Gulf countries that host U.S. military bases.Trump was in Ankara to attend the NATO summit where he has continued to air grievances, lamenting that European countries don't contribute enough to their own defense spending, as Russia's war against Ukraine has dragged on.He has also expressed frustration since the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran began that Europe hasn't been supportive enough of his agenda. Earlier in the day, the president said he was "testing" allies on how they'd help with the war. "Italy turned us down, and Germany turned us down, and France turned us down, and it's OK, but you know, why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they're not there for us? We've always been there for them," Trump said.The tension between Trump and NATO nations has also grown as the president continued on Tuesday to insist that the U.S. should have control of Greenland, a territory currently under Denmark.Despite friction in the alliance, Trump and the allies have found common ground on Ukraine.Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the gathering, and said that the U.S. will allow Ukraine a license to produce Patriot Missiles, which he called "pretty cool.""We're going to give a license to you to make Patriots … This way, you can't complain that we're not giving 'em enough," Trump said in the meeting with Zelenskyy.Negotiating an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been an elusive goal for Trump, who has teased recently that the end of the war is "getting closer," without providing much further detail. He also said he would soon speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin.On Tuesday, Trump met with the leader of the host nation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he considers a friend. The two discussed the U.S. potentially selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey — despite there being a congressional ban in place that prevents this.
Trump says Iran called to make a deal after U.S. strikes - U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday evening that he does not know whether Washington and Iran are returning to a full-fledged war, but told reporters that Iran “badly” wants to make a deal to cease escalating hostilities in the Middle East. Trump flew back to Washington, D.C., via the U.K. on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One as he departed the U.K.’s Mildenhall Air Force Base, the president said American forces had “just hit [Iran] very hard.” “I say we hit them 20 to 1 – every time they hit us, we’re going to hit them 20, and we did it last night,” he said. “They did a little something today, but it was really retribution for last night … when they hit, we hit back much harder.” When asked whether the U.S. and Iran are returning to a full-scale military conflict, Trump responded: “I don’t know,” before adding that if the war resumed the U.S. would “win it very quickly.” “We have many ways we can win, but we’ve already won militarily,” he said. “They have very little left, and they want to make a deal so badly. They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly. I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal. I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal. That’s the problem.” CNBC has reached out to the Iranian government for a response to Trump’s comments. U.S. Central Command said its forces had carried out another round of strikes on Wednesday, in a bid to “degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz.” The strait, a waterway in the Middle East that’s a critical shipping route for oil and other vital commodities, has been a point of contention in negotiations to end the U.S.-Iran war. A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz throughout most of the conflict has led to a surge in energy costs that fueled concerns about higher inflation and central banks taking a hawkish turn. On Tuesday, the U.S. military conducted a round of offensive strikes against Iran in retaliation for three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz coming under attack. The U.S. Treasury Department subsequently withdrew a waiver that had allowed Iran to sell its oil. The two operations saw U.S. forces hit approximately 170 Iranian military targets, according to Centcom.
Iran formally notifies UN Security Council of fresh US violations, warns Washington of consequences - Iran has formally notified the United Nations Security Council of fresh large-scale US military attacks against its territory, urging the Council to take immediate action and warning Washington about the consequences. In a letter addressed to the Council and the UN secretary-general on Wednesday, Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani protested the US’s fresh “blatant violation” of the UN Charter and its international obligations by launching and continuing to launch such unprovoked acts of aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic. The letter came a day after extensive US strikes against southern Iranian areas leading to material damage and martyrdom of several Iranian servicemen, and shortly after American aircraft renewed assaults against a broad range of targets still lying in the country’s south. Reporting on the renewed attacks, Iranian media outlets cited strikes on the southern cities of Chabahar, where a hospital and electricity infrastructure were targeted, Iranshahr, where a fatality occurred, and Bushehr among several other places. The letter reminded that the aggression also breached a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides last month following more than 100 days of similarly unwarranted American-Israeli attacks against the whole country. It further asserted that by "repeatedly and deliberately" violating those commitments, the United States had "fundamentally repudiated the Memorandum of Understanding and bears full international responsibility for all legal and political consequences arising from its unlawful conduct and dangerous escalation." Iran condemns the violations "in the strongest possible terms,” the letter read, adding that the breaches “further demonstrates the United States' complete disregard for its international legal obligations." The ambassador called on the Security Council and the UN secretary-general to fulfill their responsibilities under the UN Charter by taking "immediate, effective, and decisive measures" to halt the violations and ensure Washington’s accountability. He, meanwhile, regretted that the Council’s inaction in such cases has rather “emboldened the United States to continue and further escalate its unlawful use of force against the Islamic Republic, thereby undermining the authority of the Council and jeopardizing international peace and security." In conclusion, Iravani reiterated that the United States bears “full and unequivocal responsibility” for all consequences arising from its violations.
NATO Chief Backs Renewed US Strikes On Iran As 'Absolutely Necessary' - Even if most individual NATO members are still reluctant to jump on board Trump's Iran war, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is busy praising American military action there amid the annual summit in Ankara.Rutte has freshly described the overnight fresh US military strikes on Iran in response to Tehran attacking multiple international shipping vessels "absolutely necessary". Rutte voiced agreement with Trump that Iran's actions violated the MoU ceasefire agreement with the US, which required a response."When you have a ceasefire and Iran is basically violating the ceasefire, I think it is totally crucial that the US forcefully react," Rutte told reporters.The new US actions resulted in a swift Iranian response, in the form of Iranian drones and missiles on Kuwait and Bahrain, which the latter country decried as a "dangerous escalation"."The era of bullying and extortion is over," Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X. "It leads nowhere. We don’t fold."As we reported earlier, President Trump has called the Iranians "scum" and declared the ceasefire "over": "To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore; they're scum," Trump told reporters. All this naturally brings up the question of 'what's next?'Certainly the Iranians seem in the mood for a fight, and Washington feels it can't let attacks on international shipping slide - so all for this could portend a return to all-out war.
Trump Says US-Iran MoU Is 'Over,' Calls Iranian Leadership 'Scum' - President Trump said on Wednesday that the ceasefire and US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding are “over” and called Iranian leadership “scum” after the US bombed Iran again and the Iranian military hit back at US bases in the region.“To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore. I think they’re scum,” the president told reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara while meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.“You know what scum is? They’re scum. They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people. And they’re vicious, violent people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, they’d use it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over,” he added. Trump suggested that his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, could continue negotiations if they wanted to, but that they would “have to come back to me … as far as I’m concerned it’s just a waste of time.”The president also said that he would bomb Iran again tonight. “We’ll probably hit them hard again tonight. I’ll give him a little warning. We’re going to hit [them] hard tonight, but we’ll see how it all works out,” he said. Later in the day, Trump said the US wasn’t even “attacking at the highest level” and threatened that the US could destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including bridges and desalination plants, attacks that would be clear war crimes under international law.“The highest level is the bridges, which we can knock down. I would say in one day we could knock down every single bridge in Iran, there’s not a thing they can do about it. Their electric manufacturing facilities … they have desalinization plants, we’ll take them out if we have to. I’d hate to do that. That’s probably the one I’d like to do least,” he said while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.Trump said that the US bombed Iran’s Kharg Island overnight and suggested the US could “take” the island and that Iran wouldn’t be able to do anything about it, though any ground operation would almost certainly result in major US casualties since invading US troops would face sustained Iranian drone and missile fire.
US Begins Bombing Iran for the Second Night - -US Central Command said on Wednesday that the US started bombing Iran again, marking the second night of US strikes, which came after President Trump said the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding was “over” and threatened more attacks.Iranian media reported explosions near several Iranian cities along the coast, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Konarak, and Chabahar, and said that Iranian air defenses are confronting “hostile targets.” Iran’s IRNA news agency reported that a firefighter was killed by US strikes that hit facilities at the Iranshahr airport in southeastern Iran. CENTCOM said that it was “conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.” A US official told Reuters that the strikes would be heavier than the night before.After the strikes started, President Trump issued a series of posts on his Truth Social account that appear to be photos and videos of the aftermath of US bombings in Iran. “This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!” he said in one post.
Renewed U.S.-Iran fighting threatens shipping and hopes of ending war | PBS News (video w/ transcript) The U.S.-Iran ceasefire is on the brink after another exchange of fire. Wednesday night, U.S. Central Command said it completed a new round of strikes against Iran. Neither side appears ready to return to talks, and Iran has not said it will allow free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Liz Landers reports.
US launches airstrikes on Iran, Tehran fires back at Gulf states | AP News — The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by hitting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in crossfire that again threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war in the Persian Gulf. The strikes came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said recent Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz signaled the end of the fragile ceasefire. The U.S. struck a variety of military sites and port facilities early Wednesday following Iran’s targeting of several merchant vessels off the coast of Oman, sparking Iranian fire then as well. But Thursday’s attacks appeared bigger all around, with sirens sounding at least twice in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters. There was no immediate word of damage in the three Gulf Arab countries. Kuwait’s military said it was actively intercepting incoming drones and missiles. Military officials said in a social media post that the latest strikes were intended to “further degrade” Iran’s ability “to threaten freedom of navigation” in the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passed before the war began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Feb. 28.Iranian state media reported explosions in several locations, including Bushehr, home to Iran’s nuclear power plant complex, and the southern port cities of Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Abbas and Sirik. After leaving a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump posted several videos on his social media site of what he said were explosions in Iran and issued another warning to the Islamic Republic.“This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!” Trump wrote.Trump had said earlier in the day that the latest back-and-forth fighting would not result in “long-term” military action.“Anything that happens is going to happen very fast,” Trump said, though he also suggested the U.S. military might “just finish the job.”Trump also renewed his past threats to hit Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including electric plants and desalinization plants, and to seize the oil-production hub of Kharg Island.
US and Iran exchange intensifying fire across Mideast - (AP) — The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by targeting U.S.-allied Mideast countries in an exchange of fire that threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war in the Middle East.Back-and-forth attacks, including a day earlier, have repeatedly threatened the ceasefire. But Thursday’s appeared bigger all around, with sirens sounding at least three times in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters, and missiles targeting Kuwait and Qatar.Sirens sounded Thursday afternoon in Jordan as well, where the U.S. has stationed troops and aircraft. An Iranian official accused the U.S. of launching an airstrike later Thursday targeting the area around Iran’s sole nuclear power plant, and other explosions were reported elsewhere in the country during the afternoon. The strikes came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said recent Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz signaled the end of a fragile ceasefire and threatened to escalate the conflict if they didn’t stop. That raised concerns that the region could tip back into a war that would engulf several countries and could halt energy shipments through the strait that are crucial for the global economy. In Iran, the two days of American airstrikes have killed at least 14 people and wounded another 78, Iran’s Health Ministry said Thursday. Most were reportedly members of the armed forces.
New Strikes On Iran Significantly Stronger Than Earlier Attacks, As IRGC Targets US Navy Warships -US officials are vowing bigger, more sustained and prolonged strikes against Iran tonight, according to the latest being reported in CNN and Axios: The U.S. has launched a significantly expanded wave of airstrikes on Iran that is four to five times larger than the strikes carried out 10 days ago, a U.S. official told Axios. The official said the operation is expected to continue for hours.Iran state media is meanwhile reporting on an initial retaliation by its forces (though not initially confirmed in other international sources): Iran fires several anti-ship missiles and drones towards US Navy warships in the Sea of Oman, Fars reports. More from state media on what could be mounting civilian casualties: The state broadcaster reports that “most of the attacks” by the US in southern Iran have “targeted civilian areas”. This comes as the US claims its military hit Iranian missile and defence systems in its latest attacks. Iran's president is hastily traveling back to the Islamic Republic, cutting short funeral observances for Khamenei among Shia communities in Iraq: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has left the Iraqi city of Najaf to return to Tehran, according to the IRIB broadcaster, following the US’s latest strikes.Pezeshkian had been in Iraq to attend funeral rites for Khamenei, whose body had arrived in Najaf on Tuesday night. According to Press TV, Pezeshkian had also planned to hold high-level talks with Iraqi government officials. The US military has announced it has commenced fresh strikes against Iran in the wake of projectiles striking multiple international tankers in the Strait of Hormuz earlier on Tuesday. US Central Command (CENTCOM) in a public X post says its "forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.""The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire," it added. These will mark the first US strikes against the Islamic Republic since last Friday's start of week-long funeral ceremonies for the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump had indicated a pause in both strikes and diplomacy was on in order for the burial to take place. The new US military escalation began around or just after midnight Tehran time.Just before the start of the fresh Pentagon action, Mohsen Rezaei, adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Iranian state TV that American attempts to forge an alternative route in the Strait of Hormuz will lead to the failure of negotiations between the two states."It is quite clear that the United States will lead the negotiations with Iran to failure," Rezaei said. He also demanded the "the withdrawal of the United States from the region" - which can ensure lasting peace, he asserted. And now there could be a return to full war in Lebanon as well. Per breaking newswires:
- Israeli fighter jets carried out attacks in Barachit and Beit Yahoun in southern Lebanon
- US Strikes Targeted Air Defense Systems, Drone Sites: Axios
- Several explosions have been heard near Sirik and Qeshm in southern Iran, according to Iran’s Fars news agency: Al Jazeera
Iran's Foreign Ministry Says US Strikes on Railway Bridges are a 'Blatant War Crime' - Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday released a statement strongly condemning the latest US airstrikes in Iran and said the attacks that allegedly hit two railway bridges were a “blatant war crime.” According to Iranian media, one US strike hit an important railway bridge in Iran’s northeastern Golestan province that links Iran to Turkmenistan and China.Iranian media also reported that a US attack disrupted passenger train traffic between Tehran and Mashhad, a city in eastern Iran that’s the hometown of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Huge crowds have gathered in Mashhad as Khamenei’s body has arrived in the city for his burial. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that it strongly condemned “the aggressive attacks carried out by the US terrorist military in the early hours of Thursday, July 9, against several locations in the southern coastal provinces, as well as two bridges in the eastern provinces along the railway route to the holy city of Mashhad.”The ministry said that the attacks “unquestionably constitute a grave war crime.” So far, the US military has neither confirmed nor denied targeting the railway bridges in northeastern Iran. US Central Command claimed that its forces hit 90 targets, including “air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline.”Iranian officials have said that the two days of US airstrikes killed 14 Iranian military personnel and civilians and wounded 78 others.The attacks came after President Trump threatened that he could bomb bridges, energy infrastructure, and desalination plants in Iran. “I would say in one day we could knock down every single bridge in Iran, there’s not a thing they can do about it. Their electric manufacturing facilities … they have desalinization plants, we’ll take them out if we have to. I’d hate to do that. That’s probably the one I’d like to do least,” he said on Wednesday.
30 Iranian Fishing Boats Destroyed in U.S. Coastal Attacks - The Union of Fishermen’s Cooperative Companies of Hormozgan announced that at least 30 fishing boats at the Panj-Peleh pier in Bandar Abbas were destroyed by two projectiles fired by the U.S. military during attacks on Iran’s southern coastline on July 8 and 9. Faramarz Jamehgir, a board member of the Posht-e Shahr Fishermen’s Cooperative in Bandar Abbas, told Iranian state media that the value of each destroyed boat was estimated at approximately 2 billion tomans. Consequently, the direct structural damage to the fishing vessels alone totalled roughly 60 billion tomans. Houshang Afrakhteh, another board member of the cooperative, stated that an additional projectile struck the fishermen’s floating dock at Panj-Peleh, causing it to sink completely. According to Afrakhteh, this severely disrupted all local fishing operations. Officials of the Islamic Republic have confirmed the strikes on the fishing infrastructure. Asaluyeh Strikes: Ehsan Jahanian, the Political, Security, and Social Deputy of the Bushehr Governorate, previously told the IRNA news agency that the Benoud fishing pier in Asaluyeh was targeted simultaneously during the U.S. attacks, causing the docked fishing boats to catch fire. No casualties were reported. Boat Losses in Benoud: Before this statement, the Governor of Asaluyeh had reported that 10 fishing boats caught fire at the Benoud pier after being struck by two projectiles. These coordinated strikes indicate that civilian fishing infrastructure at multiple locations along Iran’s southern coast sustained extensive damage during the military operations.
IRGC strikes key US infrastructure in Kuwait, Bahrain as part of initial response to latest violations - The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Aerospace Force has struck key infrastructure at four American bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in the first phase of its response against the United States’ most recent violations of Iranian territory. The Corps detailed the retaliation in a statement on Thursday, identifying the targeted outposts as Arifjan and Ali Al Salem in Kuwait and Juffair and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain, and noting that the facilities were hit using missiles and drones. The statement came after American aircraft carried out a wide range of strikes against several southern Iranian areas, targeting civilian infrastructure and claiming the life of one victim, besides attacking a bridge in the northern province of Golestan. The Corps “warns the child-killing US military that should it repeat its acts of aggression, our crushing responses will be expanded to include other American bases throughout the region.” The IRGC, meanwhile, described the most recent aggression as a “hasty” reaction by the American aggressors to ongoing massive popular turnout in neighboring Iraq during funeral processions held for martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. “This magnificent funeral procession, filled the arrogant [American] rulers with fear and compelled them to react hastily to this display of popular strength,” the statement read. Washington, it added, was seeking “to overshadow news of this unparalleled epic and conceal this inspiring event from the eyes of the world.” However, “they remain oblivious to the fact that these crimes will only awaken the peoples of the world further and strengthen their determination to play a role in the struggle against the ‘Great Satan,’” the Corps concluded, referring to the United States.
Iran Targets US Bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan Following Major US Airstrikes - --Iran’s military on Thursday launched attacks on US bases across the region following a second round of major US airstrikes against Iran, as the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding to end the conflict has collapsed.According to Iran’s PressTV, the Iranian army initially launched a “massive barrage” of kamikaze drones targeting a Patriot missile system in Kuwait, a satellite antenna for early warnings in Qatar, and fuel depots belonging to the US military in Bahrain.Later on Thursday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had targeted US military bases in Jordan using 10 ballistic missiles, calling it a “second wave” of retaliation for the US strikes.“In our previous statement, we said that any repetition of aggression would expand our response to other enemy bases in the region,” the IRGC said. “In this second phase, we have made good on that threat against the aggressions of the child-killing American military.”The IRGC added that the “enemy’s command and control center in West Asia and the al-Azraq airbase in Jordan were crushed with 10 ballistic missiles,” and said if there were any further US attacks, the “remaining US bases in the region will not be spared from our heavy fire.”For its part, Jordan said that its forces intercepted eight missiles launched from Iran and claimed there were no casualties or damage.According to Iranian media, the two days of US airstrikes killed 14 Iranian military personnel and civilians and wounded 78 others. Some of the strikes hit civilian infrastructure, including a railway line connecting Tehran to Mashhad and bridges in eastern Iran. US Central Command said that its forces bombed 90 targets inside Iran in the second wave that began on Wednesday night.
Iran MP Demands Parliament Prioritize “Revenge on Trump” Bill -- Amir-Hossein Sabeti, a representative for Tehran in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, has urged lawmakers to prioritize the review of a bill known as “Revenge on Trump and Other U.S. and Israeli Leaders” on Parliament’s agenda. In a post on the social media platform X, Sabeti wrote that one of the bills registered by representatives in the parliamentary system is the motion for “Revenge on Trump and Other Criminal Leaders of the United States and the Zionist Regime.” He expressed hope that, following a five-month recess of the open floor, Parliament would resume its sessions this week and place the review of the bill at the top of its priorities. The lawmaker’s remarks come as Saeed Jalili, a member of the Islamic Republic’s Supreme National Security Council, spoke ahead of today’s Friday prayer sermons on July 10 in Mashhad. Referring to “seeking vengeance” for Ali Khamenei, Jalili stated: “Defending the immense asset of revenge is the nation’s right, and pursuing this right falls upon the officials.” Concurrently, CNN reported, citing two informed sources, that Israel has provided information to the United States indicating that the Islamic Republic has recently drawn up a new plot to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump. According to CNN, American officials have not yet independently verified the information, but the U.S. government has previously warned multiple times that Tehran might seek to assassinate Trump in retaliation for the killing of Qasem Soleimani. These developments come amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks, with U.S. officials once again emphasizing the seriousness of the Islamic Republic’s threats against current and former American officials.
Trump says U.S. agreed to Iran’s request to continue talks, but ceasefire is over - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran had asked to continue talks and the U.S. had agreed, but that the ceasefire was over. His comments came after three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire this week, prompting the U.S. to hit Iranian sites and Iran to respond with strikes on U.S. military installations in neighboring Gulf states on Thursday. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” he wrote in a Truth Social post. Qatari negotiators were meeting officials in Iran on Friday to seek to de-escalate tensions after Iran and the U.S. exchanged fire and to discuss navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters. Daily tanker traffic through the critical waterway appeared to have slowed on Friday, after the series of attacks stoked concerns about the recovery of global oil supplies and shipping, and highlighted the fragility of the interim truce. Talks in Iran aim to address the implementation of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and the issues that triggered the recent escalation between Washington and Tehran, including disputes over navigation in the strait, the source said. Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency said a Qatari delegation visited Iran in what analyst said appears to be an effort by Doha to consolidate its role as a mediator. It follows Qatari accusations against Iran over an alleged incident in the strait. Oil prices eased on Friday but remained on track for weekly gains of 5% after the flare-up. Meanwhile, unclaimed airstrikes that hit Iran after the U.S. said it finished its attacks have again raised questions of who else may be targeting the Islamic Republic. The strikes Thursday, just as Iran prepared to bury the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hit areas across southern Iran. The country’s theocracy hasn’t directly blamed anyone, though one lawmaker warned the United Arab Emirates about allegedly providing support to the U.S. campaign against Iran. Gulf Arab states, which Iran has targeted repeatedly since the war began Feb. 28, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday over the strikes. Israel, which took part in the Iran war, also has not claimed any recent attacks on Iran.
US-Iran war: Will peace talks resume, and when? - Al Jazeera - A United States official has told Al Jazeera that despite two days of launching attacks on Iran this week, Washington remains committed to negotiations with Tehran and that technical talks for a lasting peace deal will continue.From Tuesday night to Thursday this week, the US and Iran traded attacks in a major escalation of hostilities since a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which triggered a 60-day negotiation period, was signed on June 17. The US initially launched attacks on 85 targets in Iran on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning after commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), apparently for not sticking to a route through the strait approved by Iran. Iran retaliated with attacks on US military assets and infrastructure in Gulf states on Wednesday, triggering more US attacks on 90 Iranian targets on Wednesday night and again on Thursday on Iran’s southern coastal and eastern provinces – including on civilian infrastructure, Iran claimed – further eroding the three-week-old ceasefire pact. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye, that he thought the MoU was “over”, triggering fears the ceasefire was off. However, he added that while he would allow peace talks to continue for now, he believed they were a “waste of time”. In an angry tirade, he referred to the Iranian leadership as “scum”. Trump appeared to backtrack from this stance somewhat on Thursday, when he told journalists on board the presidential plane, Air Force One, that returning to a full-scale war was not the aim. While it remained on the table, he said, Tehran “wants to make a deal”. Advertisement However, early Friday, Iranian media reported multiple explosions across southern Iran, including in Bushehr, where one of the country’s nuclear plants is located, along with Konarak, Choghadak and Bandar Abbas. The US denied any involvement in causing those explosions and, later on Friday morning, it appeared that the guns had finally fallen silent as mediating nations were attempting to get diplomacy back on track. A US official told Al Jazeera that Washington remains committed to negotiations. While neither side has officially called off talks or declared the MoU at an end, each has accused the other of violating it. So what do we know about whether talks will continue and, if they do, when will that happen? Talks had been expected to resume following the state funeral events in Iran, around July 11. However, since the US has struck Iran this week – for the third time while peace talks were ongoing and also during the state funeral proceedings – it is unclear if or when this will happen. Iranian state media reported early on Friday that the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been buried in his birthplace of Mashhad at the Shrine of Imam Reza, a vast religious complex with a large golden dome and flanking gilded minarets at the heart of the city. That event marked the conclusion of his funeral. Iran has previously stated that the US’s habit of launching attacks as talks are ongoing – as it did during the Israel-Iran war last year, and on February 28 this year – caused Tehran not to trust the US leadership. On Wednesday, Trump threw the prospect of talks continuing into serious doubt when he said that he thought the MoU with Iran was “over” and described Iranian leaders as “sick people” after Iran and the US exchanged military attacks. Trump described the US attacks as justified following Iran’s strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz – an act he said broke the terms of the MoU. However, Trump’s own messaging was mixed. On the one hand, Trump said: “I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them any more; they’re scum.” On the other hand, Trump said US negotiators would be allowed to continue talks with their Iranian counterparts. “Frankly, I don’t want to waste my time with them. Now, I’ll let our wonderful negotiators keep talking if they want, but I don’t see it,” Trump said. Now, a US official has told Al Jazeera that the US negotiating team is committed to continuing talks with Iran. Iran has indicated it is not willing to negotiate while US attacks are ongoing. The country’s political leaders condemned the new wave of attacks this week and denounced the US strikes as a “war crime”. They accused Washington of violating the MoU, which stipulates a ceasefire on all fronts. Tehran has also launched a formal complaint against the US with the United Nations Security Council and the UN Secretary-General. In a Thursday post on X, Parliament Speaker Muhammad Ghalibaf, a key negotiator in the ongoing talks, accused Washington of “bullying” tactics. “America still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free. Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you’ll get hit,” Ghalibaf wrote.
US wants Iran to pledge to stop shooting at ships in Strait of Hormuz - The US wants Iran to publicly state that the Strait of Hormuz is open and to pledge to stop firing on commercial ships, which the White House sees as a ceasefire violation, as part of negotiations due to be held on Saturday. US media cited unnamed officials as saying Tehran had privately acknowledged to President Donald Trump's advisers that the shooting at ships was a mistake, though the Iranians reportedly pinned the blame on a rogue internal group. Trump has said both sides have agreed to continue talks despite this week's fighting for control over the Strait of Hormuz. In June the US and Iran signed an agreement where Iran would, in part, give safe passage to commercial ships. Tehran said that an "errant" sect of hardliners was trying to undermine negotiations by firing on the commercial ships, unnamed senior US officials told CBS News, the BBC's US partner. One official told the US network: "They [the Iranians] came back to the table and said, 'We screwed up. We made a mistake. Let's keep talking.'" In a briefing for reporters on Friday, unnamed US officials said a message to Tehran's leadership had been conveyed through regional mediators demanding Iran release a statement declaring the strait open and that it will stop shooting at commercial ships, according to multiple media reports. "They're either going to give us that statement or we're not having a good outcome for them," said one official, quoted by Reuters news agency. Meanwhile, a delegation from Qatar travelled to Iran on Friday for talks aimed at defusing tensions and easing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social: "The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.' "We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!" No fresh attacks were reported on Friday after fighting broke out in the Gulf region earlier this week, marking the worst exchange of fire between the US and Iran since the two nations signed an interim deal in June. Three ships were struck while using a US-recommended route through Omani waters. Iran has repeatedly said the only "safe" passage is a separate route through its waters. Overall progress came last month when the US and Iran agreed on a 14-point memorandum of understanding, which was aimed at extending a ceasefire and ending conflict "on all fronts". As part of the agreement Iran and Oman must hold talks "to define the future administration and maritime services" in the strait with other Gulf states. During the conflict, Iran sought to assert its sovereignty over the strait, including by establishing the "Persian Gulf Strait Authority", which it said would manage "safe passage permits". Iran's Fars news agency has reported that under the new deal with the US the strait would ultimately be managed by Iran in co-ordination with Oman, including possible "service fees" for ships to transit the waterway.
Trump wanted 20,000 peacekeeping troops in Gaza. He is starting with 10 to 20. – —President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza envisioned a 20,000-strong force of international peacekeepers to secure the war-torn Palestinian enclave and prevent the re-emergence of Hamas as a military power. Now, with the wider Middle East stuck between war and peace, the promised International Stabilization Force for Gaza is struggling to deploy even an initial group of about 10 to 20 troops, according to a U.S. military official and other people familiar with the plans. The Moroccan soldiers, who were meant to deploy in June, are now expected within months and won’t go into Gaza right away, instead training near its border in Israel before beginning limited operations in the enclave. More peacekeepers are expected to join them at a later date. The underwhelming extent of the deployment and its delay demonstrate the limitations of the Trump approach to ending wars, which gives priority to bold moves to stop the killing and leaves knotty details about securing long-term peace for later. Progress toward the deployment is, however, a small step forward in a peace process that has otherwise stalled leaving 2.1 million Gazans to live among the rubble from two years of war, with no end in sight. Trump heralded the “historic dawn of a new Middle East” when his 20-point peace plan took effect in October, saying it would pave the way to a windfall of investment in glamorous beachside reconstruction projects. The original idea was that a multistage peace process would unlock doors to a durable end to the war. But the delays in Gaza show how even small advances in that direction are difficult to achieve. The first phase paused the fighting and split control of Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The second required Hamas to disarm and transfer power to a Palestinian technocratic council. Israel would withdraw its troops, and the peacekeepers would move in. A Board of Peace, chaired by Trump, would oversee the process. But after phase one, progress is halting. Hamas refuses to disarm and Israel continues to carry out strikes in the tiny territory, killing more than 1,000 people since the ceasefire, according to health officials in Gaza who don’t say how many were combatants. Rebuilding hasn’t yet begun, billions of dollars pledged for reconstruction haven’t materialized, and initial offers of troops have been held back because of wider regional instability, including the wars in Iran and Lebanon. “The war in Iran didn’t just delay decisions on this, I think it has weakened the appetite of some of the countries involved,” said Daniel Shapiro, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East in the Biden administration. On Monday, Hamas’s governing body, which controls parts of the enclave, said it would step down and transfer power to the technocratic council but didn’t commit to its military wing laying down arms. Middle East analysts interpreted the move as a signal that Hamas may be willing to engage, but cautioned that it was too early to proclaim progress. Others saw the move as a political stunt given the group remains the dominant force in the enclave. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which currently sits in Cairo, said it was ready to govern the territory once the political and security landscape allows. The committee is in the early stages of setting up a new police force that is meant to decommission Hamas’s weapons once the militant group agrees to hand them over. A Board of Peace official said that the humanitarian part of the peace process isn’t dependent on the disarmament of Hamas, but would be accelerated by it. Meanwhile, conditions in Gaza are deteriorating; the population is crammed into a diminishing area as Israel expands its control in the enclave, where many live in bombed-out buildings and rodent-infested tent encampments.
AFRICOM Says US Pulled Some Troops Out of Nigeria After Joint Ops Against ISIS - The head of US Africa Command said on Thursday that the US pulled some of its forces from Nigeria after a series of joint US-Nigerian operations against ISIS in the northeastern part of the country, which included at least one attack that locals say killed civilians.“We have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation,” Gen. Dagvin Anderson, the head of AFRICOM, told reporters, according to AFP.“But (we) are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that’s necessary to be able to prosecute these difficult tasks,” Anderson added. Video of US airstrikes in Nigeria on May 16 released by AFRICOM. Nigerian Defense Minister Christopher Musa told AFP that the US had deployed a group of combat troops for operations in May, which were pulled out shortly after, but they were separate from the roughly 200 US troops recently sent to the country to help train the Nigerian military.The US launched at least three days of airstrikes in Nigeria from May 16-18 after sending several hundred troops and MQ-9 Reaper drones to the country, the first known direct US military action since President Trump ordered his first bombing in Nigeria on Christmas Day. The joint US-Nigerian attacks began with an operation involving US special operations forces that the US and Nigeria claim killed a senior ISIS leader. But that same day, May 16, the village of Metele in Nigeria’s Borno state was hit by a series of airstrikes that killed dozens of civilians, according to a report from Drop Site News. Zannah Abba Aji, the village head of Metele, told Drop Site that he had gathered the names of 27 civilians, including 12 women and children, who were killed by the airstrikes. The joint US-Nigerian strikes came after the Nigerian government was accused of killing hundreds of civilians in recent airstrikes.
US Bombs Somalia for 70th Time This Year - -US Africa Command on Sunday announced that its forces launched another airstrike in Somalia as the Trump administration continues its record-shattering bombing campaign in the country. The command said that the strike was launched on July 3 and targeted al-Shabaab in the vicinity of Farsooley, a town about 55 miles west of Mogadishu. AFRICOM offered no further details after it stopped sharing casualty estimates and assessments of potential civilian harm early last year.The US-backed Somali military claimed operations in the same area around the same time that it said were conducted by the Danab, a US-trained and armed special operations unit. The Somali military claimed the operations killed 15 al-Shabaab fighters and wounded 20 others. Amid a political crisis in Somalia sparked by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to stay in power despite his term expiring, something he justifies by the changes his government made to the constitution, locals have reported that al-Shabaab has been encroaching on Mogadishu and conducting patrols at night on the city’s outskirts. The patrols have involved al-Shabaab fighters knocking on doors and asking if residents cooperated with the Federal Government’s security forces.A new report from the International Crisis Group published last week said that the war against al-Shabaab remained at a stalemate and that the group made major advances in 2025 despite a dramatic escalation in US airstrikes since President Trump returned to office. The US launched a record 124 airstrikes in Somalia in 2025, which, according to New America, an organization that tracks the air war, is more than were conducted during the administrations of Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush combined.
US Launches 71st Airstrike of the Year in Somalia - The US launched an airstrike in Somalia for the second day in a row, US Africa Command said in a press release on Monday, as the Trump administration continues the bombing campaign despite plans to cut support for the African Union’s mission in the country. AFRICOM said that the strike was launched on July 4 and targeted al-Shabaab near Jamame, a town about 37 miles northeast of the southern port city of Kismayo. US airstrikes launched in the same area in November 2025 killed 12 civilians, including eight children, according to an investigation by The Guardian. AFRICOM offered no other details about the July 4 strike, and there were no statements from the US-backed Somali government about operations that day. The attack marks at least the 71st US airstrike in Somalia this year, according to AFRICOM’s numbers, as the Trump administration has continued bombing the country at a record pace.The latest US strikes in Somalia come after reports said that the US is planning to cut support for the African Union’s mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM. According to Reuters, the US told the AU that it wouldn’t support the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), which has a $500 million budget, beyond the end of the year.The US said it would not object to the UN Security Council renewing AUSSOM’s mandate but would oppose any extension that included UN logistical or operational support. The withdrawal of US funding for the mission through the UN would likely mean its end, though there’s no sign yet that US airstrikes are slowing.The notice from the US comes amid a political crisis in Somalia sparked by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to stay in power despite his term expiring, something he justifies by the changes his government made to the constitution. The crisis has led to clashes between the US-backed government and opposition, and al-Shabaab has been taking advantage of the situation, with locals reporting the group is conducting patrols at night just outside of Mogadishu. A new report from the International Crisis Group published last week said that the war against al-Shabaab remained at a stalemate and that the group made major advances in 2025 despite a dramatic escalation in US airstrikes since President Trump returned to office. On top of the strikes in southern Somalia, the US has also been bombing an ISIS affiliate in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region.
US Launches Airstrike in Somalia for Third Day in a Row - The US has launched airstrikes in Somalia for three straight days this month as the Trump administration continues a record-shattering bombing campaign in the country that receives virtually no US media coverage.US Africa Command said in a press release on Tuesday that its forces launched an airstrike against al-Shabaab on July 5 in the vicinity of the village of Juba, about 46 miles northwest of the port city of Kismayo. As usual, the command offered no other details about the attack.The bombing came after AFRICOM said that it launched strikes against al-Shabaab on July 3 and July 4. Al Shabaab’s Shahada News Agency alleged that recent US airstrikes in the Farsooley area west of Mogadishu, an area AFRICOM said it targeted on July 3, hit residential buildings, a mosque, a school, and commercial buildings. The Shahada News Agency also published photos that purported to show the damage and two people, including a woman, who were allegedly injured by the US strikes. The US-backed Somali military claimed that the Danab, a US-trained and armed special operations unit, conducted operations in the same area and killed 15 al-Shabaab militants. Al-Shabaab claimed that its fighters were able to repel the Danab, which then prompted the US airstrikes. So far, neither side’s account has been confirmed, and it’s unclear whether the battles and attacks they referenced occurred on the same day. The situation on the ground in Somalia is always difficult to ascertain due to the lack of media coverage, al-Shabaab’s restrictions on internet use, and the US-backed government’s crackdown on journalists who report critically on the war.The series of US airstrikes comes after the US informed the UN that it would no longer support the African Union’s mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, which has troops on the ground in Somalia that are involved in the war against al-Shabaab.
Trump Says He Supports Ukraine's Long-Range Attacks Inside Russia, Will Allow Ukraine To Produce Patriot Missiles - President Trump heaped praise on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, expressed support for Ukraine’s long-range attacks inside Russia, and said he would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missile interceptors.When asked about Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries, the president said, “It’s an escalation, but it’s also an escalation that could help lead to an end.”Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks rely on intelligence provided by the US, and Ukrainian officials told The Financial Times this week that the Ukrainian military was able to strike multiple Russian oil refineries recently because US intelligence has allowed it to find the optimal flight path for its drones to get through Russia’s air defenses. On top of Ukraine’s success in striking Russian oil refineries, there has also been a significant spike in Russian civilian casualties in Ukraine’s drone attacks. Russian officials have cited the civilian deaths when justifying Russia’s ramped-up bombardments of Ukrainian cities, which have led to an increase in Ukrainian civilian casualties. Discussing the Patriot missiles, Trump told Zelensky, “We’re going to give a license to you to make Patriot missiles. That’s pretty cool. This way, you can’t complain that we’re not giving them enough. I said, ‘Make them yourself.’ We haven’t informed the company of that yet, but that’ll work out all right.”Trump’s approval of Ukraine manufacturing Patriots marks another escalation of US support for Ukraine, and Russia will almost certainly attempt to target any Patriot factories that are established on Ukrainian territory.
Trump Greenlights Patriot Missile Production In Ukraine, Praises Deep Strikes Into Russia - President Trump just prior to entering the Oval Office vowed to quickly achieve peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, which is currently in its fifth year. The MAGA base got energized by Trump's earlier repeat statements that he'd bring peace to major global flashpoints and hotspots, but instead of anti-interventionism he started a new war of choice in the Middle East, and is now tripling down on military support to Kiev. While in Turkey for the annual NATO summit, President Trump commented on the issue of Ukrainian drone strikes deep into Russian territory on its oil refineries and defense manufacturing facilities, which has unleashed a fuel crisis in various parts of Russia and especially Crimea."It's an escalation but it’s also an escalation that can help lead to an end [of the war]," the US President told the NATO summit.After heaping lavish praise on Ukraine forces for supposedly turning the tide of battle and momentum in Kiev's favor, Trump also said, "We have a lot of pressure on President Putin. I don’t think he likes what’s going on." He added: "But I talked to President Putin a lot. He wants to end the war."The Wall Street Journal comments in the wake of Trump's remarks: President Trump said he supported Ukraine striking targets deep inside Russian territory, calling it an escalation that could help end the war....In a marked contrast to past meetings between the two leaders, Trump opened his press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky by offering warm words and fresh promises of military cooperation with Ukraine, providing a major boon for Kyiv and its supporters in Europe. Trump praised Ukraine’s bravery, signaled he would consider granting Kyiv a license to produce U.S. Patriot missile interceptors and said he would consider travel to Kyiv at the right time in peace talks. On this, Trump said Washington would give Ukraine "the right to make Patriots" - after Zelensky has for at least six months been relentless in requesting this, framing it as urgent and for the protection of cities and civilians."We’ll show them how to do it," Trump stated, describing the system as "very complex" - though he also said the Ukrainians would "figure out the complexity quickly."Trump continued by saying that American defense firms are already building "four plants" and claimed that "all of our companies will be able to do this in two to three months."However, there have notoriously been immense backlogs when it comes to Patriot production, and there's said to be great global demand among US allies, especially given depletions which have come as a result of the Iran war.
Responding To Trump, Kremlin Says Ukraine's Long-Range Drone Attacks Will Likely Prolong War - The Kremlin on Thursday responded to President Trump’s comments about Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks in Russia, which are supported by US intelligence.At the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump acknowledged that the attacks are an “escalation” but one that could lead to an end to the conflict.“This is a misconception. Rising tensions and further escalation cannot contribute to a peace process in any way,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.“The more strikes the Kiev regime carries out on our infrastructure facilities, the wider the security zones we will need to create. Further escalation will likely prolong the special military operation to some extent, although I cannot say by how much, and it will certainly force us to create a broader buffer security zone,” Peskov added.The Kremlin spokesman also responded to Trump, suggesting he would be willing to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine as part of a security guarantee for a future peace deal.“No one had previously raised the issue of closing the airspace. In any case, this would imply operational activities by NATO member states’ armed forces over Ukrainian territory,” Peskov said. “This is precisely what the special military operation is intended to prevent.”Trump also said at the summit that he would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles, though actually establishing production is expected to take several years. Despite Trump’s backing for Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks and other escalations, Peskov said Russia still believes that the US genuinely wants to end the war while acknowledging “discrepancies” in the US position.
Trump reignites feud with Italy’s Meloni: "Restraining order needed" - President Donald Trump has seemingly reignited his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by sharing a meme on Truth Social depicting the two leaders, weeks after a diplomatic row over his claim that she had “begged” him for a photograph. The image, posted Sunday, showed Trump alongside Meloni, who is looking up at him, overlaid with a caption that said, “Restraining Order Needed.” The meme appeared to joke that the Italian prime minister had been overly eager to seek Trump’s attention. Newsweek contacted Meloni’s office, the Italian Foreign Ministry, the U.S. Embassy in Italy and the Italian Embassy in the U.S for comment by email, and the White House via online form, outside normal working hours. The meme appeared without additional commentary and was among a flurry of Truth Social posts shared by the president over the weekend. It suggests Trump is continuing a dispute that had appeared to subside after the exchange of statements last month. It also comes shortly before Trump and Meloni are expected to attend the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, where the two leaders could meet in person for the first time since their public disagreement. Over the past few months, the relationship between the two leaders has deteriorated from one of Europe’s most closely watched political alliances into a series of public attacks and personal barbs. The shift marks a stark contrast to earlier this year, when Meloni was widely described as the “Trump whisperer” and stood out as the only European leader given a front-row seat at Trump’s January 2025 inauguration, as reported by the BBC. Their seemingly close alliance first showed signs of cracking in late March, when Italy’s Defense Ministry declined to allow U.S. military aircraft bound for the Middle East to use the NATO air base at Sigonella in Sicily without parliamentary approval. The decision reflected Italy’s constitutional requirements and widespread public opposition to the war, which began when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. The disagreement intensified in April, when Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social over the pontiff’s condemnation of the war, calling him “weak on crime.” Meloni released a statement condemning Trump’s remarks against the pope, saying in part: “I find President Trump’s words toward the Holy Father unacceptable. The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal that he calls for peace and condemns all forms of war.” Trump responded to her comments in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.“It’s her who’s unacceptable, because she doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if it had the chance,” the U.S. president said in comments translated by Politico.He told the newspaper he was “shocked” by her comments, adding, “I thought she was brave, but I was wrong.”Trump’s latest post marks an escalation in a dispute that erupted after last month’s 51st G7 summit.It began after Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni had “begged” him to take a picture with her at the G7 summit and later repeated the claim on Truth Social. “She wanted a picture with me so badly,” Trump said. “I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her.” Italy’s foreign minister canceled a planned visit to the United States over the comments, and Meloni forcefully rejected the allegation, calling it “completely made-up” and saying, “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.” She also criticized Trump for what she described as treating allies more harshly than the U.S.’s adversaries. Trump subsequently doubled down, saying Meloni had asked “over and over” for a photograph and suggesting she wanted to boost her approval ratings. He also criticized Italy’s position on U.S. military operations against Iran and accused Meloni of doing “poorly in Italy with her level of popularity,” which he said was because Italy had not become involved in the war. “Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.’ No thanks!!!” Trump said, prompting a fresh response from the Italian prime minister. Meloni said defending Italy’s national interests was her responsibility and told Trump that her popularity was “none of your concern.” Although Trump suggested Meloni’s popularity had declined in Italy, polling examined by Newsweek found a more nuanced picture. While Meloni’s approval ratings had eased from earlier highs, she remained one of Italy’s most popular political leaders and continued to outperform many domestic rivals.
Trump orders a halt to US trade with Spain - — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was cutting off trade with Spain over defense spending — reviving a long-running feud between Washington and Madrid. "I didn't speak to Spain. Spain is a wasted cause. We don't want to do any trade business with Spain anymore," he told reporters ahead of a meeting with fellow NATO leaders in Ankara. "By the way, I'd like you to cut it off," he added, appearing to address U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Trump's feud with Spain goes back to last year's NATO summit. Madrid was the only ally refusing to endorse NATO's new 2035 target of spending 5 percent of GDP on defense, deeply angering Washington. The U.S. president has repeatedly threatened to respond with tariffs. However, it's unclear how Trump's idea would work as Spain is a member of the EU, which is in charge of trade policy for all of its member countries. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also criticized Trump's decision to go to war with Iran and refused to let the U.S. use military bases in Spain for the campaign, deepening the dispute between the two countries. "Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don't participate, they don't pay. I don't want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits," Trump said. "Let's see how hostile they remain when they call up, and they say 'please, please, we want to trade with you, sir.'"
Trump Says He Will Lift Sanctions on Turkey and 'Certainly Consider' F-35 Sale - President Trump said on Tuesday that the US will lift sanctions imposed on Turkey in 2020 and that he would “certainly consider” selling F-35 fighter jets to the country, as he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the opening of the NATO summit in Ankara.“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off,” Trump told reporters alongside Erdogan. The US sanctioned Turkey during the first Trump administration under the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act over its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.When asked about the F-35 sale, Trump said, “It’s a decision we’re going to make,” and went on to praise Turkey. “We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal, so, yeah, it’s something certainly we would consider,” he said. While Trump has been critical of other NATO countries for not backing his war with Iran, he expressed appreciation to Turkey for not entering the conflict on the side of Iran, citing its hostile relationship with Israel. “They could’ve gotten into the fight. They’re a very powerful military nation. They didn’t do that, maybe they didn’t do that because of me, but they could’ve gotten into the fight on the other side,” he said. The president’s praise for Turkey came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he doesn’t want President Trump to sell F-35s to Ankara, as Israeli officials have identified Turkey as the next potential target in a future war.“I don’t think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets because that’ll upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority and also, I think, by America’s posture in the Middle East,” Netanyahu said in an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”
Most Americans Don't Believe NATO Would Assist If The Country Were Attacked - Most Americans do not believe that European members of the North Atlantic Alliance would come to the United States' aid if attacked. Politico reported that a NATO poll found that just 43% of Americans believe the bloc would assist the US if needed. While Politico was unable to view survey results from previous years, a NATO official said that American confidence in the bloc was down about eight percent. The foundation of NATO is Article 5 of the bloc’s charter. Article 5 is viewed as a mutual defense pact that calls on each member to come to the aid of any state that is attacked. In recent years, Americans have begun to question the United States' membership in the bloc. Americans have long pointed to the US footing the majority of the alliance's military spending. The drift away from supporting NATO intensified when the bloc backed Ukraine in the war against Russia. Many Americans argued that NATO providing billions of dollars of assistance to non-member Ukraine unnecessarily created tensions with Russia. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently criticized the alliance over Europe's lack of assistance in the war against Iran: President Donald Trump declined Tuesday to say whether he plans to announce additional US troop reductions in Europe, telling reporters, "we’re going to see," during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.“Well, we’re going to see,” Trump said when asked whether he is likely to announce further drawdowns of US forces in Europe.The US president also renewed his criticism of NATO, suggesting he had considered skipping the summit altogether.Trump is meeting other NATO leaders in Turkey this week, where he is expected to push member states to increase military spending.
Johnson: House GOP ‘looking at all angles’ after Supreme Court birthright citizenship ruling -- Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Sunday his conference is “looking at all angles” to legislatively address birthright citizenship, after the Supreme Court ruled against President Trump’s executive order restricting it. “We do need to address it. We’re looking at all angles,” Johnson told host Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday.” “If there’s some legislative fix, we’ll advance that immediately,” he added. “If it’s a constitutional amendment … it takes a little more time. But we’ve got to address this. It really is a serious, serious issue.” The high court last Tuesday upheld the long-standing precedent of birthright citizenship, with five justices ruling the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to nearly all children born in the U.S. — even those born to parents in the country illegally. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, meanwhile, ruled Trump’s executive order violated the Nationality Act of 1940, which mirrored the amendment’s language. In his opinion, Kavanaugh wrote that Congress could “amend” federal law “or otherwise enact new legislation establishing exceptions to birthright citizenship for children born to foreign citizens unlawfully or temporarily in the country.”Since the ruling, multiple GOP members of Congress have called to address birthright citizenship — with Trump saying a constitutional amendment is not necessary. A day after Trump signed his executive order, Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) introduced legislation to codify it. The bill proposes redefining the “subject to the jurisdiction” clause of the 14th Amendment, outlining that an individual is subject to U.S. jurisdiction — and therefore a citizen at birth — if they have at least one parent who is a citizen, lawful permanent resident or noncitizen with lawful status who is serving in the U.S. military. Babin’s legislation would not apply retroactively and thus would not impact the citizenship or nationality status “of any person born before the bill’s enactment date.”Johnson, a constitutional lawyer, also said Sunday that the 14th Amendment has “been devalued” due to “birth tourism,” or visiting the country with an intent to give birth on U.S. soil. Up to 26,000 of the more than 3.5 million babies born in the U.S. annually can be attributed to the practice, according to a review of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Migration Policy Institute. “It’s a threat to the rule of law and national security,” the Louisiana Republican added.
Florida Republican calls Haitians’ deportation after TPS ruling a ‘huge mistake’- Florida Rep. Carlos Giménez (R) on Sunday said efforts to deport Haitians after the Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration’s decision to rescind temporary protected status (TPS) would be a “mistake.” “In the case of Haiti, without a doubt, Haiti is a failed state, and I think that deporting Haitians that are under TPS right now back to Haiti would be a huge mistake,” Giménez said during a Sunday appearance on CBS News’s “Face the Nation.” “I mean, that’s the reason why TPS was established to begin with, just like with Venezuelans. If Venezuelans lose their TPS status — which they have, too — we should reinstate that because of the devastation caused by these earthquakes that happened last week,” he added, noting the U.S. should act as a safeguard to those in need. Haiti remains locked in a severe humanitarian crisis driven by compounding natural disasters and near-total gang governance. The intersection of catastrophic earthquakes, systemic political collapse and widespread paramilitary violence has left millions of citizens vulnerable, causing international organizations to repeatedly sound the alarm. In 2021, former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, and the country was hit by a massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the southern peninsula. This disaster displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and it deepened severe food and clean water shortages caused by a 7.0 earthquake in 2010, which killed more than 200,000 people and leveled the capital of Port-au-Prince. Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said, “There’s a lot of people that came over here 15, 20 years ago underneath TPS that’s already changed their status,” during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “The whole time these individuals have been here underneath the temporary protected status, they could have applied for a visa,” he continued, adding that the individuals also could have applied for lawful permanent residency. After the Supreme Court ruling, roughly 350,000 Haitians who found safe harbor in the U.S. are at risk of losing their employment authorization documents and facing deportation, although many are also separately navigating the U.S. asylum system. “TPS should … not be abused. TPS is what it says, temporary protected status. And if you’re here for a number of years, you should change your status from TPS to something else,” Giménez told guest host Ed O’Keefe on Sunday. “But, by the same token, it is meant to safeguard those that are fleeing countries which are either failed states and there would be at risk of going back to them, or countries that really can’t handle them right now, as the case of Venezuela,” he added.
House chaos scrambles agenda — again - The annual defense policy bill, a fiscal 2027 spending measure and other House business on the schedule for this week will have to wait until mid-July, after House Republicans on Tuesday failed to coalesce around a resolution that would have allowed those major pieces of legislation to advance. House leaders kicked off their July Fourth recess two days early, having been thwarted by 14 conservative holdouts. Those Republican lawmakers — still angry about the Senate’s inaction on an election security bill — helped Democrats defeat the rule that would have teed up floor votes on the National Defense Authorization Act and the State-Foreign Operations spending bill, as well as hundreds of proposed amendments. The rebellion over unrelated legislation means that the bipartisan NDAA and the Republican-drafted funding bill for the State Department — both of which contain language on energy and environment issues — are stalled indefinitely. House leaders already punted on the Energy-Water spending bill due to time constraints associated with last week’s conservative revolt With members going home for recess early, the Energy and Commerce Committee also postponed a markup of data center and grid-related bills. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee scrapped plans to mark up its recently unveiled Water Resources Development Act.
Spending standoff driving a wedge between bipartisan Senate duo - Sens. Susan Collins and Patty Murray have long prided themselves on working together to advance government funding bills. That collegiality is now showing signs of decay. The Maine Republican and Washington Democrat have been openly feuding about the path forward on spending measures this summer. It comes after their successful collaboration on bipartisan legislation during Murray’s two-year reign as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which continued when Collins took the gavel last year. Democrats attribute the clash to Collins’ pursuit of President Donald Trump’s demands for a record military budget that eclipses domestic spending, as she fights to retain her Senate seat in November. Republicans say Murray is playing midterm politics by trying to prevent Collins from landing a deal before Election Day, when Democrats hope to regain House and Senate majorities — and the upper hand in year-end funding talks.
Senate Defense Bill Would Establish Fund For Government To Buy Into Private Companies A new bill in Congress would enshrine into law the ability of the executive branch to buy into private companies, and create a fund to finance the purchases.The current Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act gives the Defense Department explicit authority to take ownership stakes in companies. A provision titled "Equity Investments and Related Matters" establishes a new "Department of Defense Equity Investment Account" within the Treasury Department, which the Defense Department can use to make equity investments in critical minerals, materials, chemicals, and batteries. While administration officials say this move allows the Defense Department to better align its goals with the private sector and for taxpayers to earn a return if the companies do well, critics have raised concerns about establishing a legal basis for government expansion into the private sector. Government investments in companies under this bill would be limited to a 50 percent stake, non-voting shares, and a dollar cap of $500 million. Michael Duffey, under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, stated in January that the Trump administration is "fundamentally shifting our approach to securing our munitions supply chain." "By investing directly in suppliers we are building the resilient industrial base needed for the Arsenal of Freedom," Duffey said. The Pentagon has been actively buying stakes in private companies over the past year, including a $400 million investment in MP Materials, a rare-earths mining company, in 2025, and a $1 billion investment a L3Harris Technologies, a rocket motor manufacturer, in April, as well as a 10 percent stake in chipmaker Intel. "Equity ownership can align incentives in ways that grants and subsidies cannot," Carliss Chatman, a law professor at Southern Methodist University, told The Epoch Times. "If taxpayers are assuming significant financial risk to help develop strategically important industries, an equity stake allows the public to participate in the upside if those investments succeed," she said. "Equity may also provide the government with governance rights, access to information, or long-term alignment that grants generally do not." Critics, however, say this initiative marks a new expansion of the state into private industry. While the U.S. government has taken stakes in banks, insurers, and carmakers in the past, those have been short-term measures to rescue companies from bankruptcy, and typically done with congressional approval and oversight. "The problem begins with creating the statutory architecture for a Pentagon stock portfolio in the first place," Cato economist Tad DeHaven stated in a June 16 report. "That means Congress would not merely be tolerating a one-off emergency action but would instead provide the Pentagon with a standing legal pathway to acquire ownership stakes in private companies." The Defense Department can legitimately support strategic industries through grants, loans, and government contracts, DeHaven states, but "ownership means continuing federal financial interest in a company's valuation, which is precisely what creates the favoritism, conflict of interest, and political pressure risks Congress should be avoiding." Duffey stated at a March 4 House Armed Services Committee hearing that these equity investments "create a partnership with industry, an opportunity, not only for government to provide capital to lead to the kind of growth such as in the L3 deal, but it also crowds in additional private capital." However, the purchases have drawn scrutiny. Critics say that the Defense Department's investment in L3 Harris Technologies could create a conflict of interest, with the government's role as L3's largest customer and decision-maker regarding procurement, as well as a shareholder that will benefit if the company performs well.
Vought: Earmarks will be protected under new grant rules - White House budget director Russ Vought said Tuesday that the Trump administration’s overhaul of the federal grant approval process won’t undermine lawmakers’ ability to direct cash to specific projects back home. “Sometimes you have an earmark to a specific person or a specific organization, and that would probably be at the top of the list that needs to be funded,” Vought told House appropriators during a morning oversight hearing. The White House proposed changes last month that would put political appointees in charge of approving or scrapping funding awards to community groups, education institutions, state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations. But projects Congress orders the Trump administration to fund through so-called earmarks are “not something that is impacted by this grant rulemaking,” Vought said.
Trump Energy Department proposes hurdles for future appliance efficiency standards - The Energy Department on Thursday proposed to put up hurdles for the creation of future energy efficiency standards for appliances. While the hurdles would technically apply equally to any current or future administration, Democrats are more likely to want to tighten energy efficiency standards, and a future Democratic administration’s efforts could be hampered by the regulation if it’s finalized. The proposal would require that any future effort to force appliances to be more efficient would have to meet strict criteria. This includes requiring future regulations to inspire either a 10 percent reduction in energy use over a 30-year period or save a large quantity of energy — two quadrillion British thermal Units — over that period. It would also require the use of an “early assessment” that would add an extra step before tightening existing regulations. “Every time you change a rule, you impact manufacturers all around the world,” Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson told The Hill in a brief interview Thursday. “Changing a rule should be difficult. It should benefit consumers by having meaningful, significant energy savings, and significant energy savings is something that wasn’t defined before,” Robertson added. Opponents of the rule, however, criticized the thresholds proposed by the Trump administration. “Unless a standard saves at least $35 billion you can’t even consider it, even if it had zero cost,” said Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “If it had been in place historically, it would have eliminated many of the standards in place today that are reducing utility bills in people’s homes,” deLaski said. Democrats have long been proponents of tightening energy efficiency requirements, saying it can both save consumers money on energy use and help the planet. While in past decades, the issue had some bipartisan support, more recently, many Republicans have decried what they’ve described as a war on household appliances such as gas stoves. Meanwhile, a future administration could overturn the process rule and then proceed to carry out its agenda. However, overturning rules can take time and the process rule could serve as a barrier holding up a future administration from starting to tighten energy efficiency rules.
Data center moratorium still has few takers on Capitol Hill – A surprise call from a powerful House Democrat to impose a nationwide moratorium on new data center development is gaining little traction with many colleagues, suggesting the approach remains radioactive despite growing bipartisan concern about the energy-hungry facilities.Energy and Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone of New Jersey threw a curveball during debate last week on more modest data center bills when he endorsed the federal pause, making him the highest-ranking federal lawmaker with jurisdiction over energy and the environment to back the idea.But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told POLITICO on Tuesday he hadn’t discussed the moratorium with Pallone, and he sought to distance himself from a policy position that is becoming popular among progressive lawmakers and environmental groups. “That’s certainly not a position that I’ve articulated at this moment,” Jeffries said. Pallone wouldn’t say whether he would pursue the nationwide data center moratorium should he take over the Energy and Commerce Committee next year if Democrats win back the House.“Right now, there is no federal regulation of data centers,” Pallone told POLITICO. “And they just keep being built. So until we have some strong protections to address the cost to ratepayers and the environment, we should have a moratorium.”Other Democrats said Tuesday they were not supportive of the moratorium but understood Pallone’s position, which they said was driven by rising community-level pressure.“A nationwide moratorium has issues because we still need to build data centers in the United States. That’s not going to change. You can argue that we’re going to need to build more, given where emerging technology is headed,” said Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), who has opposed data center expansion in his Northern Virginia district and sought to draw a distinction to a more localized approach.“I don’t see a problem with a local moratorium, especially where I live in Northern Virginia, where there are far too many data centers, and we’re having conversations about putting power lines in residential areas and schools and really hurting the environment and the community at large,” said Subramanyam, who is sponsoring legislation, H.R. 9372, that would standardize how the government studies data centers and their energy and water use.Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), who is also leading legislation, H.R. 6529, to address the energy impacts of data centers, said, “It’s not where I am, but I believe there needs to be a national framework to protect communities, to protect ratepayers, to protect workers. I don’t think it’s feasible to not have data centers. But it’s also not practical to continue to ask communities to figure this out on their own.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) last week officially introduced the House version of her and Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders’ legislation to instill an indefinite national data center moratorium. Pallone has not specifically backed their effort yet, but Ocasio-Cortez said she was “very encouraged” to hear Pallone’s support for the general idea.The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy approved legislation last week — with Pallone’s support — that would have states consider adopting a federal standard requiring large electricity users to pay the full cost of new generation and transmission upgrades.The full Energy and Commerce Committee was supposed to vote on the Ratepayer Protection Act, H.R. 9340, on Wednesday but postponed the session when House GOP leaders sent lawmakers home for recess early. “It’s an important step,” said Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), the Energy Subcommittee ranking member who co-sponsored the bill with Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) and said Democratic leadership is supportive of it. “It’s still pretty modest. The burden will be on states and communities to put in the guardrails.” Castor reiterated she opposes a nationwide moratorium but said Pallone told her he decided to call for one because “his local communities were up in arms. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) said about Pallone’s position: “I understand the concern that he’s hearing. I hear it locally in Virginia. I don’t know if we need a moratorium but we definitely need to be more thoughtful in siting them and showing they are paying their fair share.”
Energy Department unveils draft electric transmission needs study - - The Department of Energy released a study Thursday that identifies the nation’s greatest electricity transmission needs and calls for more planning and investment that would clear up costly congestion on the interstate power grid. Relieving bottlenecks on the U.S. grid that drive prices up during hours of high energy demand is a notable move away from DOE’s focus under the Biden administration on enabling the build-out of long-distance power lines to ship renewable energy across the United States. The draft triennial National Transmission Needs Study lands as the country confronts growing demand from data centers, manufacturing and other large industrial electricity loads. It provides new analysis on how transmission investment can help maintain reliability, provide congestion relief and account for new generation and grid interconnection. “Electricity demand is accelerating faster than anything we’ve seen in decades, driven in part by data centers, manufacturing growth, and new forms of industry that are emerging almost by the month,” said Assistant Secretary of the Office of Electricity Catherine Jereza in a statement.
Energy Department closes $3.26B loan to support Texas grid - The Energy Department announced on Wednesday it finalized a $3.26 billion loan to help boost electricity transmission infrastructure and reduce power interruptions in Texas. The financing from the Office of Energy Dominance Financing to AEP Texas, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, will support a portfolio of nearly 100 projects to enhance grid reliability, the company said. AEP Texas said it signed letters of agreement supporting up to 41 gigawatts of potential new load additions through 2030. The agreement is expected to provide an estimated $685 million in total savings to customers on electricity costs over 30 years. Advertisement The company intends to use the loan to rebuild or reconductor existing transmission lines, as well as build new transmission lines spanning about 2,800 miles.
EPA taps brakes on Biden-era truck pollution rule - - EPA on Thursday proposed “targeted revisions” to increasingly stringent Biden-era limits on heavy-duty trucks’ emissions of a smog-forming pollutant. The changes are meant to address industry concerns about up-front costs while keeping the Biden administration’s numerical limits in place and maintaining almost 90 percent of the pollution reductions, the agency said.“These rules do not reduce the emission requirement,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said while announcing the rule at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall. “We’re making significant changes that heed the feedback that we got from the industry on commonsense changes that can be made to their regulation that can allow them to continue to innovate and provide high-quality products to customers at more affordable costs.” The proposed amendments to pollution rules for heavy-duty trucks is the latest effort by the Trump administration to ease or repeal Biden-era rules on internal combustion engines, which separately involved ending all greenhouse gas regulations for vehicles.
The administration has a new climate change office. It’s headed by a climate critic. - The Trump administration has reconstituted a governmentwide program that tracks how climate change is transforming the country, after having gutted it last year as part of a purge of programs that didn’t line up with its worldview.The U.S. Global Change Research Program is now headed by Matthew Wielicki, a former University of Alabama geochemist, according to his public postings on social media and confirmed by a second person familiar with the program, granted anonymity over fears of reprisal. Wielicki, who calls himself a “professor in exile” and who frequently critiques climate science on social media, will be in charge of the program’s primary product, the congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive report released every four years that shows how American infrastructure, lives and the economy are affected by climate change. Reached by phone, Wielicki, who has been soliciting ideas on X for what he should include in the next version of the assessment, said he’d like to speak about his work but only if the White House allows. The White House did not make him available for an interview, but sent a statement.
‘Can you help us?’: US oil execs turn to Trump to topple Europe’s climate rules - The U.S. oil and gas industry has succeeded in exporting massive amounts of natural gas to Europe. Now, with the help of White House officials, it looks like it might also succeed in exporting the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda.Now the sector is attempting to strong-arm the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, into delaying the rollout of what the bloc intended to be a major rule to curb a potent climate pollution. It has prevailed in winning the backing of over half the bloc’s 27 member countries, who have joined U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright in calling for swift changes to the rules.At stake is potentially billions of dollars in natural gas that U.S. companies want to continue exporting to Europe but that EU policymakers say must be subject to strict rules governing emissions of methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that has fueled extreme weather around the globe. And it raises worries among climate advocates that the Americans are choking out what the EU intended to be a major initiative to combat climate change, one that had been years in the making. The energy industry’s monthslong campaign against new methane regulations that had been in the works since 2024 scored a major victory last week when member countries pushed the commission to delay and make complying with the rules easier. The regulation would require oil and gas imports into the EU to show their fuel is produced with little methane.“The underlying policy is still very flawed,” Mike Sommers, the chief executive of API, told reporters in response to a question from POLITICO, saying the group has sent delegations to Europe and is working with the Trump administration to “hopefully get a policy that makes sense for American producers — and, by the way, for Europe.”Many of the industry’s arguments center on technical challenges about implementing the regulation. But one oil and gas executive was more blunt, saying there’s also a battle of business philosophies.“Some people view this more ideologically about whether or not Europe should be regulating global oil and gas production, but then there are others who see the realities that the EU has over-stretched without the necessary frameworks in place, in the EU and globally — whether around measurement, clarity of enforcement, or understanding of existing commercial agreements,” said the executive.The diplomatic fight is around an EU regulation aimed at cutting industrial releases of methane. The greenhouse gas has 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide — and is also the main ingredient for natural gas, something European countries have come to depend on the United States for as a supplier. The bloc has committed to ending imports of Russian fuel by the beginning of next year and must also find substitutes for Qatari supplies halted due to damage from Iranian strikes earlier this year. EU officials proposed that companies seeking to sell natural gas into Europe disclose how much methane leaked out of the wells, inventory tanks, pipelines and ships on its way to Europe. The rules are designed to both meet the bloc’s energy needs while limiting its effects on warming the planet. It would require importers to verify that the fuel they receive is produced with limited methane leakage and intensity.American oil and gas producers say providing that level of detail once the new rule would go into effect Jan. 1 is all but impossible and would effectively shut them out of a major market. They warn the EU devised the rule without a full understanding of the U.S. gas market, where companies mix supply from various fields and basins to chill into a liquid and then export. “There is absolutely no way that a producer in Europe could say, ‘show me who produced this gas in the United States, and what was their methane intensity,’” said Fred Hutchison, president of LNG Allies, which supports U.S. LNG exports.Finnish energy minister Sari Multala told POLITICO that Helsinki’s assessment of the supply risks didn’t match up to the dramatic conclusions reached by other member countries pushing to revise the regulation. Finland doesn’t “see the point” of reopening the rules, she said. Spanish energy minister Sara Aagesen Muñoz went one further, vowing to fight to preserve the rules. “There are other elements that the Commission should explore, but not opening the regulation,” she said. “This is something that was very tough [on emissions], and it’s very important.”Exxon Mobil and some of the U.S. industry’s largest players have publicly vowed to combat methane emissions, saying it’s in their interest to account for the gas being lost to leaks and flaring. Lobbying outfits like API have also consistently noted U.S. gas burns cleaner than its competitors.Still, they uniformly have pushed back against the EU rule. Companies contend their concern is about regulatory uncertainty and timelines rather than any ideological objection to slashing methane emissions.“Importers will be forced to break the law or stop delivering energy to Europe. No amount of guidance or waivers will fix that,” a spokesperson for Exxon Mobil said in a statement. “The EU must hit the pause button now and simplify the rules so industry can continue to reduce emissions while also delivering the energy that allows society to thrive.”
Trump launches Trump Accounts, rings stock market opening bell - President Trump opened U.S. financial markets and officially launched Trump Accounts on Monday, marking the first time the opening bell has been rung from the Oval Office. The president rang the opening bell at 9:30 a.m. alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), tech billionaire Michael Dell and his wife, Susan Dell, and New York Stock Exchange president Lynn Martin, among others. “The American dream belongs to every child, and today we are equipping the next generation with the right to claim their rightful share of it,” Bessent said. Trump Accounts will be available for children who do not turn 18 before the end of the calendar year in which their parents open an account, according to the IRS. The program was created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law last year. “If parents have not done so already, and they are doing so in record numbers, they should go right away to TrumpAccounts.gov and sign their child up for a free investment savings account,” Trump said. Trump noted that donors are putting “millions and millions of dollars into the accounts of poor children.” “The parents can’t even believe it’s happening,” he said. “It’s an amazing thing.” In December, Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to help fund Trump Accounts.
HHS seeks to add COVID-19 countermeasure injuries to federal compensation program -- The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department is seeking to add COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics to a government program that compensates people for injuries or deaths linked to the administration of medical countermeasures recommended by the agency during public health emergencies.First reported by Stat News, the proposed rule would establish a COVID-19 Countermeasures Injury Table for the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP). Established under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, CICP provides compensation for unreimbursed medical services, lost employment income, and survivor death benefits to those deemed eligible.“The Table will list and explain injuries that, based on compelling, reliable, valid, medical, and scientific evidence, are presumed to be caused by covered COVID-19 countermeasures, and set forth the time periods in which the onset of these injuries must occur after the administration or use of these covered COVID-19 countermeasures,” the proposed rule states.While the proposed rule does not specify any particular countermeasures, it would likely include COVID-19 vaccines, which have been associated with a rare but real risk of myocarditis, particularly in young men. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine critic, once claimed the COVID vaccine is “the deadliest vaccine ever made.” "Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy, HHS is restoring transparency and accountability because the American people deserve clear, evidence-based information about both the benefits and the known risks associated with medical countermeasures," an HHS spokesperson said in an email.The rule is set to be proposed in November, with a comment period ending in January 2027.
Anti-abortion leaders furious after Planned Parenthood defunding expires - Planned Parenthood has regained access to federal funding, enraging anti-abortion conservatives one year after Republicans were able to cut its clinics off from Medicaid. Beginning July 5, clinics were once again able to bill Medicaid for reimbursement for non-abortion care, like contraception and screenings for sexually transmitted infections. The new funding will be a lifeline for the organization’s network of clinics and their patients. Medicaid is a significant revenue stream for Planned Parenthood, accounting for more than $800 million. In addition, more than half of Planned Parenthood’s patients rely on Medicaid for their health coverage, the organization said. Last year, Republicans were successful in using the party-line One Big Beautiful Bill Act to achieve their long sought-after goal of defunding Planned Parenthood, though the complicated Senate rules involved in passing the legislation meant the ban only lasted a year. Now, anti-abortion leaders are furious that congressional Republicans focused on other issues like defense and immigration without extending the ban before it expired. They view it as a reversal of progress and are demanding GOP leaders include an extension in a third party-line reconciliation bill that they want to pass before the end of the year. Anti-abortion advocacy group Students for Life Action gave every lawmaker an “F” on its “pro life generation report card,” and said they need to “get busy” to replace it. “The bottom line, pro-life voters want to see healthcare money invested with those who intend for their patients to survive with their lives and fertility intact,” Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life Action and Students for Life of America, said in a statement. Students for Life Action recently picketed outside the Republican National Committee headquarters, urging Republicans not to abandon anti-abortion voters and commit to defunding Planned Parenthood again. Last year, anti-abortion activists warned lawmakers debating the defunding provision against creating a cliff just ahead of the midterms. They now worry that Republicans are squandering their control of government and won’t get another shot to pass conservative priorities if Congress is split after November. “It is the default expectation of the pro-life movement for Congress to renew the defunding of Planned Parenthood and abortion businesses, and the politically smart thing for Republicans who must energize the base to win in November,” Kelsey Pritchard, communications director for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a statement to The Hill. “SBA is doing our part by investing $160 million in 2026 and 2028 for Republican pro-life candidates, now Republicans must do their part in doing everything they can to once again defund Big Abortion.” Lila Rose, president of the anti-abortion group Live Action, said allowing the ban to expire was a “moral failure” that needs to be corrected immediately. “President Trump and Congress must act as fast as possible to restore and extend the defunding of Planned Parenthood and every organization that commits abortion,” Rose said in a statement. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wants to start working on a third reconciliation bill soon, and hard-line conservatives of the House Freedom Caucus are demanding an extension of the Planned Parenthood defunding provision. But Senate Republicans are cooler to the idea of a third reconciliation bill, and don’t think it’s realistic given the narrow margins the GOP holds and the general reluctance of some lawmakers to start an abortion fight so close to the midterms.
DC fireworks led to 'Code Red' air quality alert (WDCW) – The Washington, D.C. area was under an air quality alert after a dazzling fireworks show lit up the nation’s capital to celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July Fourth. D.C. issued the “Code Red” air quality alert on Sunday morning, hours after the record-setting fireworks display on the National Mall had ended. Trump mixes patriotism with partisanship on America’s ‘joyous’ 250th anniversary The “Code Red” alert indicated that outdoor air quality was recorded at “unhealthy” levels for “seniors, kids [and] people with medical conditions,” according to AlertDC. While the alert was in effect, officials recommended the general public in impacted areas limit time spent outside. According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), Northern Virginia was also in the red zone. Thee following areas were under Code Red Air Quality levels on Sunday: D.C., Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Loudoun County, Manassas,, and Manassas Park. While unhealthy, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) had initially forecast a Code Purple alert for D.C. and Northern Virginia for Sunday, which would indicate “very unhealthy” air quality after the especially large fireworks show. “There’s a lot of particulate matter that’s very, very small- and with the volume of fireworks that we’re expecting, particulate matter can even be as much as 7 to 12 times higher than typically expected with fireworks,” Dr. Karen Kaufman, of Kaufman Allergy Asthma and Immunology, previously told Nexstar’s WDCW. Kaufman explained that the tiny particles can travel deep into the lungs and may contain heavy metals, increasing health concerns for people with respiratory conditions. “All of the particulate matter is very, very small and gets very far deep into the lungs, and that can include some heavy metals. So for patients who have asthma … they should have their relief inhalers ready in case they need it,” said Kaufman. Experts also said the heat in the D.C.-area may cause any unhealthy conditions to linger. As of Monday morning, the air quality in Northern Virginia and D.C., as well as suburban D.C., were said to be back to “moderate,” according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Trump says he overruled recommendation to cancel July 4 event on the National Mall President Trump on Sunday said he overruled a recommendation to cancel a July 4 event on the National Mall that was threatened by severe weather. “The Crowd at 7:05 in the evening was 422,000 people,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post. “All were forced to leave because of the weather, the event was cancelled, and everyone was gone because of lightning. When I heard that it was cancelled, I immediately overturned that decision, and waited a while for people to come back,” he added. Trump also said 150,000 people returned to hear his address and watch the firework show, which he said made for an “even more spectacular evening than it would have been as normalized.” “It showed work under pressure. Congratulations to the Secret Service and Law Enforcement on being able to get so many people back into the Arena in such rapid fashion,” the president wrote in the Sunday post. Earlier on Independence Day, patrons visiting the “Great American State Fair” experienced high temperatures, and 34 participants were hospitalized for heat exhaustion, according to The Washington Post. In an effort to shield participants from the heat, the Secret Service pushed back the event’s start time, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi told the outlet. “There’s never an event when you have to move more than 100,000 people on short notice, that it doesn’t cause some type of bump in the road,” he told the Post. By early evening, National Guard soldiers were helping event planners prepare for an oncoming storm by flipping over tables and escorting visitors and journalists to nearby museums for shelter. The president vowed that his address would go on, with one official saying he pledged to speak as late as 2:00 a.m. EDT. Trump was scheduled to provide a “Salute to America” address at 9:45 p.m. EDT, but severe weather and thunderstorms caused a delay, pushing the start time back to 11 p.m. EDT. A large-scale fireworks show took place shortly after, coinciding with lightning strikes in the night sky.
Luna demands probe into Patriot Front white nationalist group - Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) on Monday called for an investigation into the Patriot Front white nationalist group after its Independence Day rally and march across Washington, D.C. “What I find odd about Patriot Front is how under Biden they were never investigated. Well funded. Never investigated,” Luna wrote in a post on the social platform X. “FBI under Biden looked into Catholics instead. So, looks like @GOPoversight should do some digging,” she added, referring to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Luna’s push for a probe follows Patriot Front’s 400-person march throughout the nation’s capital on Saturday. Many of the people in the march were masked and uniformed, and some were carrying the American flag upside down. The group is known for its “flash demonstrations,” making it one of the United States’s most visible white supremacist groups, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). On Sunday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said he doesn’t agree with what Patriot Front stands for, but he defended the group’s First Amendment right to free speech. On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Burgum told host Dana Bash, “Certainly what they stand for is nothing that I could possibly agree with, but one of the foundational principles of the United States, which makes democracy messy, is free speech, and there are plenty of things that I see that I might personally find offensive, reprehensible, but in America, free speech is allowed, and this is by the whole spectrum of things.”
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool repairs to be handled by company that won no-bid contract, Burgum says - Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Sunday said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool repairs will be completed by the same company that was previously hired to revive the landmark. “We’ll use the same company, because they did a fantastic job,” Burgum said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” The Interior Secretary did not explicitly state the name of the company that would be contracted for a second go round of repairs. The Hill reached out to the Interior Department to inquire about which company would be used. Green Water Solutions, based in Ohio, initially received a $1.7 million contract for work on the pool. It helped install nanobubbler ozone technology to kill algae in the water and another company added an industrial liner to the pool bottom to prevent leaks. The Trump administration has accused vandals of destroying the liner with a sharp object, which led to the need for urgent repairs. “Thankfully, the vandalism was small. It was, it was bad. I mean, it could cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair, so then it could fall into a felony, felony thing, just like damaging any other government property could,” Burgum told host Dana Bash.
Doomsday speculation about the midterm elections takes hold - “They’re animals,” President Trump said about the success of leftists in this year’s Democratic primaries. “We have to stop this…horrible threat of cancer that’s permeating our country called communism,” he told right-wing evangelicals in a desperate effort to stir fear about Democrats.The Washington Post described his words as “dehumanizing,” and similar to 1950s “redbaiting,” attacks on Democrats that led the U.S. Senate to censure the infamous Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.). Trump is pushing every button with the November midterms getting closer.As his poll numbers sink to 61 percent disapproval in a Fox survey, Trump is frantic for any tactic to stop Democrats from taking control of the House and possibly winning a Senate majority.He is even planning a national Republican convention before the midterms.He wants to distract from RealClearPolitics polls that show Democrats with the advantage in generic congressional voting, holding about a 5-point edge on Republicans. He wants to distract from RealClearPolitics polls that show Democrats with the advantage in generic congressional voting, holding about a 5-point edge on Republicans.Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) warned last month that Trump is willing to “deny the results of midterms if they do not go his way…do not let this scare you: show up, vote, and fight like this country depends on you — because it does.”Slotkin’s words presaged Trump’s refusal last week to sign a bipartisan bill to create more affordable housing. That potential win for the Republican majority went to waste because Trump’s focus is on having Congress pass the SAVE Act, to require more identification from voters in an effort to depress turnout among Democrats. Congressional Republicans don’t have the votes but Trump delights in the deadlock and talk about election fraud. As a result, the Republican majority in the House left town for an early July 4 break without passing a defense policy bill. Trump’s fixation with stopping a blue wave in the midterms now defines all politics. Around the country, the president has already succeeded in pressing Republican state legislators to draw new congressional districts to increase the number of seats likely to be won by Republicans. The Supreme Court made history by weakening the Voting Rights Act to allow some of that mid-decade redistricting. That ruling ignited racial tensions nationally by allowing white Republican state legislators to dismantle majority Black districts that vote for Democrats. Trump has also pushed the Justice Department to force states to give him access to voter registration rolls so that he can look for voters he thinks should not be allowed to vote. He still refuses to admit he lost the 2020 presidential election. To this day, most Republican voters do not even support that fraudulent claim. And he has pardoned supporters who led a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol in an effort to stop certification of the 2020 election. It is hard to believe but earlier this year, when confronted with the historical pattern of midterm losses for the party in power, Trump told Reuters: “When you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election.” Now doomsday speculation about the fall election is taking hold in conversations among insiders on Capitol Hill. Political players on both sides of the aisle casually speculate that Trump will press Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to refuse to seat Democrats who would form a new House majority. That fear grows because the scenario has precedent. Last year, Johnson delayed the swearing-in of Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) for nearly two months after she won a special election, in order to shield the president from the release of embarrassing files about his decades-long friendship with notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Johnson already did this to delay release of files on Epstein and child sexual abuse. Election rigging is small ball by comparison. More recently, Johnson amplified Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud in California without any evidence of any irregularity. Most telling in listening to the current rush of scary political fantasy is that it takes the lid off a pot of boiling anxiety with four months to go before the midterms. The basics of the script is consistent: Democrats win enough competitive House races to claim a majority, but the Speaker delays or refuses to seat members from closely contested districts — citing bogus allegations of voter fraud or unresolved close election disputes. The fight inevitably lands before the conservative Republican majority on the Supreme Court who has already shown itself to be corrupt and serving partisan interests that protect Trump from accountability. With potential legal and personal accountability awaiting Trump and his aides if Democrats take control of House subpoena powers, the president prefers having Republicans now in Congress and, ultimately, the Supreme Court decide the election. Add to that a nation that has grown accustomed to the threatening presence of Trump-controlled military and law enforcement agents in Washington, where Congress ultimately decides the disputed House elections.
Epstein survivors: Former assistant Lesley Groff lied to Congress - Lesley Groff, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime assistant, told members of Congress last month that she never met any of the girls and young women who provided massages to Epstein and that she didn’t know anything about their backgrounds – including how old they were.Some Epstein survivors say that Groff was not telling the truth. In interviews with CNN, multiple Epstein victims, including four women who spoke on record and two who shared their accounts anonymously, took issue with various aspects of Groff’s recent testimony to lawmakers. They described meeting Groff in person, discussing with Groff how old they were and being directly paid by Epstein’s assistant of 18 years — all contrary to what Groff told lawmakers.Those details were part of Groff’s hourslong, transcribed June 9 interview with the House Oversight Committee about her experience working for Epstein. She told members of the panel – which has been questioning a series of people in the convicted sex offender’s orbit this year – that she never knew about Epstein’s abuse of girls and women and that she was duped by his manipulation.While Groff was listed as a potential co-conspirator to Epstein as part of the controversial non-prosecution agreement struck with federal prosecutors in Florida in 2008, she has never been charged with a crime.Groff’s lawyer did not respond to CNN’s request for comment for this story.A spokeswoman for the House Oversight Committee told CNN that the committee is “currently reviewing Ms. Groff’s transcript against the available evidence.” She added: “We welcome any additional evidence from individuals who possess information.”“Lesley Groff knew what was happening in Epstein’s inner circle, which is why Chairman Comer should have required her to testify under oath,” Sara Guerrero, communications director for the oversight committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia, said in a statement.Another Democrat on the panel, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, said in a statement after CNN’s story published that Groff’s “testimony is directly contradicted by the accounts of multiple survivors.” “If she lied to us, which it appears she may have,” he added, “she should come clean or else face criminal sanctions.”Groff’s testimony has only fueled the frustration of Epstein survivors, many of whom are concerned that Congress’ interviews with Epstein associates will not lead to more accountability. Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell is the only person who has been prosecuted in the US in relation to Epstein, and the Justice Department has said there has been insufficient evidence to pursue other charges – even after it released millions of Epstein files.“We have so many people coming in and lying and saying they don’t know, they don’t remember,” said Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda. “Can we just have one person at least come in and take accountability and bring in full transparency?”Groff told members of the House Oversight Committee that Epstein had been a “master manipulator and deceiver” who had kept his abuse a secret from her, saying: “For 18 years, I worked for Dr. Jekyll but was never permitted to see the true Mr. Hyde.”It is a crime under federal law to “knowingly and willfully” give “materially” false statements to Congress. The Epstein survivors CNN spoke with said it was not possible to produce corroboration for some of their claims about their interactions with Groff, which for some, took place more than two decades ago when many of the victims were teenagers and before the proliferation of smart phones.Here is what Epstein survivors said in response to some of the claims Groff made in her interview:
Trump Admin Approves Public Release Of OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Models Ahead Of Thursday Release -The Trump administration has approved the wide public release of OpenAI's advanced GPT-5.6 model family, a source familiar with the discussions confirmed to Axios on Tuesday. OpenAI announced late Tuesday night that its flagship model, named Sol, along with the more accessible Terra and Luna variants, will launch publicly this Thursday.The decision marks the latest delayed rollout due to coordination between the U.S. government and leading AI companies over access to frontier systems. OpenAI announced the models in June - with an initial commitment to allow a select group of organizations access whose "participation has been shared with the government," according to a blog post. According to the company, "we’re introducing a new max reasoning effort to give Sol the most time to reason deeply. Additionally, we’re introducing a new ultra mode that goes beyond the capabilities of a single agent by leveraging subagents to accelerate complex work."Last month, the administration directed OpenAI to begin with a limited release of GPT-5.6, restricting early access to government-approved entities only. OpenAI had publicly stated at the time that a staggered approach was not its preferred method and that both companies and regulators were operating without finalized standards called for in President Trump's recent AI executive order.The new green light followed additional testing and meetings - with technical experts from OpenAI traveling to Washington, D.C. to answer questions during the review process. The evaluation was conducted by the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) within the Department of Commerce - the entity responsible for assessing advanced AI systems for safety, security, and standards alignment.Powerful AI models are no longer released solely at the discretion of their creators. The U.S. government and top AI labs are actively negotiating - model by model, in real time - who gets access and under what conditions due to concerns over national security, potential misuse, the need to maintain American leadership in AI while managing downsides. Of course, big brother is also shackling US models while cheaper, more efficient, open-weighted Chinese models are starting to dominate. That said - China is now considering restricting access to their models.
OpenAI, Google sold AI model access to China-linked blacklisted group – report - OpenAI and Alphabet's Google have been selling access to AI models to Singapore units of Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent, despite their parent companies being designated by the Pentagon as Chinese military-linked firms, the Financial Times reported. The sales are legal under current U.S. regulations because the Pentagon's list does not prohibit U.S. companies from providing AI services to the designated firms. However, the arrangements have drawn scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and policy experts, who argue export controls on AI models have not kept pace with restrictions on advanced AI chips. OpenAI has recently suspended some Alibaba-linked accounts over suspected "distillation," a process in which outputs from frontier AI models are used to train competing models, the report said. While Google (GOOG) acknowledged that geographic restrictions alone are insufficient to prevent unauthorized copying or extraction of model capabilities, highlighting the technical challenges of controlling access to advanced AI. The report contrasted the approaches of major AI developers, noting that Anthropic (ANTHRO) has adopted a stricter policy by blocking access from Chinese entities and closing loopholes that previously allowed access through overseas affiliates and cloud providers. Anthropic (ANTHRO) has accused Alibaba (BABA) of using thousands of fraudulent accounts to collect data from its Claude models.
What AI companies want for the millions they're spending on elections - AI executives and companies are betting that spending millions in the 2026 midterm elections will allow them to influence AI bills being developed in Congress.As of the end of June, the two biggest artificial intelligence political action committees have dropped at least $44 million into 40 House and Senate candidates, per a CNBC analysis of Federal Election Commission data. That’s an early taste of how the groups will spend the more than $200 million they’ve raised on the rest of primary season and into the general election, according to fundraising totals provided by groups.The spending by the burgeoning AI industry makes it an increasingly powerful player in the Washington influence space. The companies — through their PACs — are setting themselves up to shape how the first national legislation to regulate AI use takes form. Brad Carson, who heads Public First Action, a nonprofit organization with several PACs, said he’s seen more bills introduced and discussion around AI legislation, especially as concerns about the capabilities and risks of powerful AI models like Mythos and Claude Fable have come into the spotlight. While any legislation is unlikely to cross the finish line this year, given the limited number of days lawmakers are in session, both parties have signaled AI will continue to be a priority in coming years. “They have a lot of benefits. They have a lot of dangers. And you can’t just release them into the wild with no government concern,” Carson told CNBC. “Everybody from the right to the left, from pro-Trump to anti-Trump recognizes that.” Josh Vlasto, co-leader of Leading the Future, said coming up with the right regulatory structure is critical for lawmakers. “It is so important that we do this now and urgently, because it is still the early innings of the technology, but it is being adopted quickly, at scale,” he told CNBC. The overwhelming number of candidates supported by both PACs have won their primaries. Of the 28 candidates Leading the Future has backed, 25 have won their primaries, two have yet to face their elections and only one — Jesse Jackson Jr. — lost. The group also opposed Alex Bores, who lost the Democratic primary in New York’s 12th Congressional District. Public First Action has backed candidates in 11 races. With the exception of Bores, every candidate it has supported has won. Carson said the group plans to spend in 50-60 races by the end of the midterms. The playbook AI companies are using isn’t a new one. In the 2024 elections, crypto-backed PAC Fairshake dropped an eye-popping $200 million into elections, supporting pro-crypto candidates on either side of the aisle. The result: A major bill on stablecoins became law, and significant progress was made on a rules-of-the-road digital assets bill favored by major crypto companies like Coinbase and Ripple. So far, Leading the Future has spent more than $24 million on primary races through the end of June, according to data filed with the Federal Election Commission. The group said it raised $125 million by the end of 2025, in part from donors including private equity firm Andreessen Horowitz, Open AI co-founder Greg Brockman, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, SV Angel founder Ron Conway and AI software company Perplexity. Public First Action, which launched last year, has spent $20 million so far, and it announced last month it had raised $80 million through the end of June. The group received $20 million from Anthropic, although the amount is restricted to educating the public on AI policy and not for political purposes, per a spokesman for the PAC. Pubic First Action doesn’t disclose its donors; Anthropic disclosed its own donation. But Carson said the group has received donations from employees of OpenAI, Google, DeepMind and X.
Bernanke joins Anthropic's oversight trust, JPMorgan inks NBA deal -- Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was appointed to Anthropic's long-term benefit trust, a corporate oversight body meant to keep the artificial intelligence company accountable to its stated mission. Bernanke led the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2014, sitting at the helm of the central bank during the 2008 financial crisis and recovery. He currently serves as a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institute. "The potential of artificial intelligence is enormous, and so is the range of outcomes. How that potential plays out will depend, in part, on the institutions we build around it," Bernanke said in the Thursday announcement. The trust consists of four members who do not hold company equity and receive no corporate profits. Their role is meant to ensure that Anthropic balances the public's interests alongside those of investors as a public benefit corporation, according to the company. JPMorganChase has inked a multiyear agreement to be the official jersey patch and banking partner of the Dallas Mavericks, the bank announced in a press release. The deal is Chase's first NBA jersey patch sponsorship and expands its large presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan region, where it operates nearly 200 Chase retail branches and employs about 17,500 people, it said in the release. The bank did not disclose the financial details of the agreement. In addition to the Mavericks, Chase is the official bank of the New York Knicks, the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks, a Chase spokesperson confirmed. As part of the deal, JPMorgan and the Mavericks will "work together on North Texas initiatives that expand economic opportunity and support local entrepreneurs," according to the release. In addition, Chase cardholders will get access to certain benefits at the Mavericks' team store and arena concessions during Mavericks games as well as select events at American Airlines Center, the bank said.
MacBooks, Xboxes grow in cost amid AI boom - Memory chips, which are responsible for storing and processing data, are a key component in everything from smartphones to laptops to cars. But the massive data center buildout is straining supply and driving up costs. Major U.S. consumer technology companies such as Apple and Microsoft have already announced price hikes for popular laptops, tablets and video game systems as they scramble to adapt to the shift in the memory market. The rise of AI over the past few years has fueled a push to rapidly build new data centers and bring online additional computing capacity. While much of the conversation has centered around advanced AI chips, memory chips are also a crucial component. “It’s making things worse for consumer devices because not only is there increased demand on the data center side for memory, but they use a specialized type of memory called HBM [high bandwidth memory],” Jitesh Ubrani, director of consumer devices research at IDC, told The Hill. “And every time a chip maker or memory supplier chooses to build HBM, they’re foregoing multiple times over the number of memory modules it can build for a consumer device,” he continued. High bandwidth memory requires about three times the amount of silicon wafer, the foundational material for chips, as the type of memory used in consumer devices, according to Micron, one of the world’s leading memory chipmakers. Market forces are driving the memory companies to produce more of these high-capacity chips for hyperscalers like Google and Amazon, said Long Le, a teaching professor at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. This has resulted in shortages of traditional chips, but the companies “have an incentive to not overproduce these memory chips because overproduction in the past has hurt them,” Le added.
EU Parliament Passes Chat Control by Default: 314 MEPs Couldn't Block Scanning Law - The EU Parliament passed Chat Control 1.0 into law Thursday afternoon without a majority of its members ever voting for it. Of the 607 MEPs who cast a vote in Strasbourg, 314 voted to reject the measure — a clear majority of those present. They fell 47 votes short of the 361-vote absolute majority required to stop it under second-reading procedural rules, and the law passed by default. Voluntary mass scanning of private messages on platforms including Gmail, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, and Skype is now a legal activity in the EU until April 3, 2028. The result closes a three-month gap created when Parliament voted down the same measure in March — and sets a precedent for how EU legislation that loses a floor vote can be revived without ever winning one. The history of Chat Control 1.0 turns on a deceptively simple legal mechanism. The regulation, formally Regulation (EU) 2021/1232, created a temporary exception to the EU's ePrivacy Directive allowing messaging platforms to voluntarily scan private communications for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). It was first adopted in 2021, when Google, Meta, and Microsoft opted in immediately.On March 26, 2026, the EU Parliament voted against extending it: 311 MEPs opposed, 228 were in favour, and 92 abstained. The derogation expired April 3. That appeared to be the end. It was not.On July 2 — 90 days after Parliament's rejection — the EU Council adopted the Commission's original text as its official second-reading position. That single procedural step transformed the entire legislative arithmetic. Under EU Parliament second-reading rules, Parliament can reject or amend a Council second-reading position only by an absolute majority of all members — currently 361 of 720 — not just a majority of those voting. Absences and abstentions effectively count as support for the Council's text.On July 7, the European People's Party (EPP), the Parliament's largest group, moved under Rule 170 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure to invoke an urgency procedure, bypassing the standard committee review stage and sending the proposal directly to a plenary vote before the summer recess. Parliament President Roberta Metsola — herself an EPP member — initiated the process. The urgency vote passed 331 to 304. Then, on the last sitting day before summer, with fewer MEPs present than on a normal plenary day, the threshold arithmetic proved decisive. “This is unprecedented," said Greens/EFA MEP Markéta Gregorová, Parliament's negotiator on the file. "This is no longer just about protecting privacy — it is about protecting our democracy."Chat Control 1.0 authorizes but does not require platforms to scan private messages using three detection methods: perceptual hash-matching against databases of known CSAM images maintained by organizations such as NCMEC and the Internet Watch Foundation; AI-based image classification for previously-unseen material; and text analysis for grooming-pattern detection in chat conversations. The Internet Society has detailed the technical implications of each method and the risks each poses to user privacy.Critically, the regulation does not apply to end-to-end encrypted communications — and it never did. Services such as WhatsApp and Signal encrypt messages between sender and recipient with keys that only those two parties hold, making server-side scanning technically impossible. An amendment explicitly exempting end-to-end encrypted services from the derogation's scope was adopted today alongside the main vote. According to Breyer's post-vote analysis, the platforms scanning under Chat Control 1.0 are unencrypted or server-side-encrypted US services: Gmail, Facebook Messenger (pre-2023), Instagram DMs (post-May 2026, after Meta removed E2E encryption), Skype, Snapchat, iCloud Mail, and Xbox.The technical distinction matters to users choosing messaging tools. WhatsApp, Signal, iMessage (when iCloud backup is disabled), and similar E2EE-first services were not covered by Chat Control 1.0 before today, and the adopted amendment confirms they remain outside its scope. Scanning-as-usual resumes for the unencrypted services that had been operating without legal basis since April 3.The accuracy record of these scanning systems is, however, genuinely contested. The European Commission's own implementation report found that AI-based classifiers for unknown material produced a false positive rate "as high as 20 percent" — meaning one in five flagged conversations was not actually CSAM. Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has reported that 48 percent of all Chat Control intelligence alerts it receives are "not criminally relevant." Former MEP Patrick Breyer, citing the same official data, noted that 40 percent of investigations triggered by Chat Control flags actually target minors themselves — not perpetrators — and that an estimated 99 percent of the reports generated by Meta consist of previously known material that does little to identify active, ongoing abuse.
It's A Race Between Revolutionary Consciousness And The Implementation Of Police Robots -Caitlin Johnstone - John F Kennedy was correct when he said “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” That’s why police robots are being aggressively normalized today. The empire managers want to make sure violent revolution is impossible, too.The New York Times’ sports department The Athletic has a creepy new article out titled “The ‘Robodogs’ on World Cup patrol in Mexico” about how wonderful and awesome it is that the international soccer tournament is being patrolled by surveillance robots. The article is functionally a PR piece for police robots, gushing about how “cute” and “cool” onlookers find the dystopian technology.The piece opens with the cheery paragraph, “A group of police officers patrolling a stadium with three dogs on a World Cup matchday wouldn’t usually raise eyebrows. But when those three dogs are high-tech robots equipped with video cameras that can sustain speeds of 20kmph, you can understand the fuss.” “The K9-Xs are made of aluminium and high-strength plastic,” The Athletic writes. “They have facial recognition and behavioural analysis systems installed, which means they detect when a group of people become agitated and send video to the police force’s centre for command, control, communication and computers.”In a video segment accompanying the article, The Athletic’s Tomás Hill López-Menchero refers to the robots as “creatures” and says the robots “went down a treat with the public” in the World Cup audience.It’s little things like this that help normalize police robots in public consciousness. Calling them “dogs”, giving them the name “K9”, calling them “creatures” instead of machines. It’s pretty clearly designed to evoke the image of something normal that westerners are familiar and comfortable with.But westerners should not feel familiar and comfortable with these things, and we should not see them as normal. The fact that we’re seeing more and more use of police robots around the world should frighten us all, and the fact that popular institutions like the World Cup and the New York Times are being used to normalize them should freak us the hell out. Our rulers are always acutely aware that there are a whole lot more of us than there are of them, and that we could turn on them at any time. This has been the case for as long as there have been rulers. History is full of examples of the masses turning against their government and establishing a new order, and the oligarchs and empire managers have long been preoccupied with the task of ensuring that this never happens to them.Autonomous killing machines nullify many of the problems presented by human security forces. You don’t have to worry about the robot army siding with the people, or refusing to fire upon their fellow citizens. An army of militarized police robots would provide the oligarchs and empire managers of the western empire with a perpetually obedient force of bulletproof trigger-pullers who can shut down any uprising when the time comes.The increasing ubiquitousness of police robots is not separate from the exploding prevalence of surveillance cameras and AI facial recognition, the push for digital IDs and the eradication of online anonymity, or the increasing instances of online censorship and Silicon Valley algorithm manipulation. A technological cage is being constructed around the public to ensure that we can be stopped from turning against our masters. The story of humanity in the 21st century is the story of a race between revolution and the technologies designed to prevent it. A race between the awakening of collective consciousness to the urgent need for revolutionary change on one hand, and the technological ability to quash a people’s rebellion on the other. We’re all in this race, whether we realize it or not. We’d better pick up the pace.
AI’s no-win choice: Using huge amounts of water or energy - - Artificial intelligence has a real heat problem.Cooling next-generation computer chips for AI requires either millions of gallons of water or huge amounts of electricity. Both have ignited sharp opposition from the public.The industry’s heat trade-off threatens to deepen its unpopularity in communities where concern is growing about the financial and environmental toll of data centers. If a company chooses to save water when cooling a facility, its power needs surge. If it reduces electricity, its water use climbs. One option increases carbon emissions and strains the electric grid; the other depletes a natural resource. “There’s no easy answer — it’s a lot of trade-offs,” said John Ikeda, chief mission officer at the Water Environment Federation, a technical and educational nonprofit for water professionals that has worked with Amazon on data center issues.POLITICO spoke with four of the biggest technology companies about how they choose to use either water or energy to cool their facilities — knowing that either one will tax resources and drive public backlash. Microsoft and Quality Technology Services have pledged to use zero water, in return for higher power usage and potential carbon emissions. Google and Amazon say they use water to reduce pressure on the electric grid in wetter climates, but not in drought-prone areas. While companies are prioritizing different risks, most are trying to find innovative solutions to their heat problems. Amazon has developed a system that lowered the company’s North American water use by 946 million liters in 2024 — enough drinking water for 1.3 million people a year. And the company improved its water efficiency by 17 percent that year. Microsoft is experimenting with new technologies that allow AI computer chips to function at higher temperatures, potentially reducing power demand for cooling.“The warmer the temperature, the more efficient the energy use,” said Steve Solomon, Microsoft’s vice president for data center infrastructure engineeringEven so, the sheer volume of water or power needed for the facilities has led to public backlash. Seven out of 10 Americans are opposed to data centers, according to a recent Gallup poll, citing water use as a top concern. In the first quarter of 2026, at least 75 projects valued at $130 billion were disrupted by local opposition, according to the tracking company Data Center Watch. And county-level moratoriums are becoming increasingly common.“You can cool a data center without a single drop of water, but it’s very energy-intensive,” said Ikeda, who has worked with technology companies to help utilities understand the water needs of data centers. “Or you could go 100 percent water for cooling and drop your energy usage, but depending on the time of year or temperature, you’re going to be competing with the community water needs.” In other words, water use, electricity demand and carbon emissions are tightly linked. Optimizing one often means worsening the other. And almost no one outside of the companies has enough information to assess the impacts — because the industry rarely shares details about its processes
The ‘time-consuming’ permits dozens of data centers are skipping - By the time Krista Meredith learned last winter that an AI data center was coming to her community in the suburbs of Canton, Ohio, the site was already dotted with construction equipment. A nurse practitioner who has lived in the area for two decades, Meredith is concerned about how the project could affect water and air quality around the Rust Belt city that was once defined by steel mills and now houses a mix of affluent and working-class neighborhoods. But unbeknownst to her — one of hundreds who signed a petition against the data center — the only required federal permit was issued last August. And there was no chance for the public to weigh in. As a tidal wave of sprawling energy- and water-guzzling data centers are proposed across the country, opponents are finding that one of their strongest levers for challenging projects has all but disappeared. That’s thanks to a 2023 ruling from the Supreme Court that dramatically shrank the number of streams and wetlands protected by the Clean Water Act. Once one of the most important permits that virtually all construction projects needed, now everything from subdivisions to oil pipelines to data centers can be built without federal water pollution permits if the streams and wetlands they are filling in or contaminating fall outside the law’s scope. Other projects that are still covered by the law, like the data center near Canton, are newly eligible for perfunctory approvals that the general public often doesn’t know about. “I didn’t expect it to be a very reckless fast procedure to get this done,” said Meredith. “You should allow everyone to have a voice.” Located where Canton’s suburban outskirts transition to open space and small farms, the Amazon-backed project is one of at least 26 data centers being built nationwide in sensitive streams and wetlands with streamlined water pollution permits, according to a POLITICO analysis of 95 Army Corps of Engineers documents and permit records from January 2024 to this past June. Dozens more data centers are going up in states like Texas, Utah and West Virginia without a wetlands permit, the analysis found. In arid states, the Clean Water Act now covers so few waters that developers may not even be making contact with regulators at all, industry experts say. Even just figuring out which water features required a federal permit used to “take an incredibly long time and then the determination of actually getting the permit is time consuming as well,” said Wayne D’Angelo, a partner at the law firm Kelley Drye whose clients include energy and manufacturing companies. But thanks to the three-year-old court ruling, he said, “all that can likely be avoided by a number of projects just because of where they’re situated now outside of federal jurisdiction.” The massive scale-back of the water permitting process has been a major enabler for the lightning-fast build-out of data centers across the country. While hyperscale projects still have to navigate state and local regulations on everything from zoning to fire safety, the federal water permits were once seen as the most onerous part of the permitting process. Now, data center projects are often flying through the environmental review process — and, at the same time, shrinking their vulnerability to lawsuits from community activists, green groups and federal pollution regulators. The Trump administration is greasing the skids. After EPA last year told on-the-ground regulators to take an even narrower approach to the Supreme Court’s ruling, developers of a data center linked to the $500 billion Stargate venture withdrew their permit request. Located in rural Milam County, Texas, OpenAI, Oracle and SB Energy’s project site spans over 600 acres, but the Army Corps concluded a permit was not needed anymore because wetlands on the site were no longer federally regulated, according to public records obtained by POLITICO. A spokesperson for the project confirmed no permit was needed. In response to questions about the Canton project, Amazon spokesperson Brandon Scheller said the company tries to site projects in a way that avoids impacts to streams and wetlands. “We identify natural resources early and work intentionally to keep them undisturbed,” Scheller said in an email. As the federal government relinquishes oversight of millions of acres of wetlands and streams, it’s also losing its ability to go after companies for damages from data center construction in those areas — — leaving it to states to enact and enforce regulations. But the trend has left community members feeling squeezed out at a time when concerns over quality of life, energy and water use and health impacts are turbocharging local opposition in communities from Wisconsin to Arizona.. “Part of getting a permit is you’re letting the public know that this activity is planned for this place,” said Sara Gonzalez-Rothi, a law professor at Pace University who served as a senior water official under the Biden administration. “As you’re moving forward on completing infrastructure that’s going to be there pretty darn permanently — and the effects on the waters are pretty long-term and significant — there is no recourse.” For the better part of the past half-century, federal regulators at the Army Corps of Engineers took a sweeping approach to water protections, requiring anything more than minor construction across the American landscape to seek a federal permit. That process gave nearby residents, green groups and state environmental officials a window into developers’ plans for everything from strip malls and highway off-ramps to petrochemical facilities and coal mines — as well as a powerful tool for challenging them. The Clean Water Act permits don’t relate to the amount of water a data center uses, which is the subject of state and local rules. Instead, they are aimed at minimizing harms to creeks, marshes and other features on the landscape and offsetting any damage that is done. The process is especially salient for wetlands, which can absorb extraordinary amounts of water during floods and help filter pollutants out of drinking supplies, even though they may only look like a soggy spot in a grassy field. Now, the booming data center industry is reaping the benefits of the Supreme Court’s shrunken approach to which waters get federal protection as well as the Trump administration’s efforts to further restrict it, according to POLITICO’s analysis. The administration is proposing to only regulate wetlands and streams that physically touch a larger waterbody — like a major lake or river — and are brimming with water for at least part of the year. Some legal experts say that standard would go beyond what the high court required, but EPA officials say it’s legally sound. Since the start of 2024, there have been at least 27 data center sites where Army Corps regulators found wetlands, streams or other water resources, but determined that no federal dredge-and-fill permit was needed because the waters fell outside the reach of the Clean Water Act. The scale of those projects was hardly modest, ranging in size from 15 acres — more than 11 football fields — to nearly 2,000 acres, or roughly 3 square miles. And while some of those projects would have only a minimal impact on waterways, in other cases the waters affected are vast, according to the agency’s records. For instance, federal regulators found 27 acres of streams on a nearly 2.5 square mile data center site outside Reno, Nevada, but because they usually only flow after rain events — as is the case for the overwhelming majority of waterways in the arid West — the Army Corps determined that none were subject to federal regulation. That meant the project didn’t need a Clean Water Act permit. In northern Texas, near the Oklahoma panhandle, a planned data center and renewable energy campus was found to impact over 63 acres of streams, wetlands and other water features. It also didn’t need a permit because none were jurisdictional. POLITICO found just three projects in the arid Southwest — two in Nevada and one in Utah — that had even asked the Army Corps for a review since early 2024. There were no records of any developers seeking reviews in Arizona, where more than 160 data centers have taken root around Phoenix and community pushback last month led the state’s Republican-led Legislature to pass the country’s longest freeze on tax incentives for the industry in a budget deal with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. “From our experience in Arizona, I am not aware of any of the major data center projects we have supported having pursued Section 404 permits through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” Steven Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, said in an email. Through a public records request, POLITICO also identified 26 data centers since January 2024 that the agency said qualified for a streamlined permit, usually a nationwide permit that the public doesn’t learn about until after it’s issued, if they do at all. In fact, only 26 of the 95 projects POLITICO reviewed were required to obtain a more comprehensive permit, called an individual permit, which is posted publicly in advance so interested parties can weigh in before it is issued. Army Corps spokesperson James Lalino defended the agency’s permitting decisions, saying that the Army Corps can’t require a permit if there are no federally protected waters on a site. “If a jurisdictional determination determines there is no jurisdiction, USACE and any federal agency under the Clean Water Act has no authority to require a permit at all.”
Big Tech data centers are driving up power bills at America's Rust Belt factories (Reuters) - For years, electricity costs for the Belden Brick Company in Sugarcreek, Ohio, had been relatively stable. Last year, they surged by 90% — largely because of rising power demand from data centers in the region. The 141-year-old brick manufacturer, whose products can be found in iconic buildings including the Texas Alamo and Notre Dame University, is seeing power bills rise mainly from a monthly capacity charge, which recently jumped from $1,600 a month to $12,000. Belden Brick is among many manufacturers across America’s heartland where costs are rising as power-hungry data centers serving the artificial intelligence industry proliferate. Factory electricity bills, a core expense, are rising faster than for many homes and other businesses, according to a Reuters review of U.S. energy data and interviews with nearly a dozen manufacturers and industry advocates. Federal, state and local governments responding to consumer anger and grid-stability concerns are pushing Big Tech to pay more for their expected demand. But some of their proposals lump in smaller factories with tech giants such as Meta and Amazon, whose power needs can dwarf even large manufacturers by a factor of 50. Meta declined to comment. Amazon did not respond to a comment request. Capacity charges are designed to compensate power generators for ensuring the grid has enough electricity for peak usage and to spur development of new supply. They generally account for about 10% of residential bills but can represent up to three times that for manufacturers, according to interviews with manufacturers, attorneys and energy experts. Such fees have soared in the 13-state region covered by grid operator PJM Interconnection due to stagnant supply and demand from data centers, where one server warehouse can use as much electricity as a mid-sized town. "That capacity charge just jumped off the page," said company president Brad Belden, part of the fifth generation working at the company. Despite such capacity-charge hikes, PJM was forced to take emergency steps last week, including asking some users to curb electricity use, to prevent rolling blackouts as searing temperatures pushed peak demand to a new record. The rising costs and regulatory uncertainty threaten some factories’ viability at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is prioritizing domestic manufacturing, advocates and policy experts say. These businesses are considering raising prices, slowing growth, or in some cases relocating. Belden has raised brick prices by 4% and profits have still shrunk. If bills keep rising, he said local manufacturers may quickly reach limits on cost-cutting or price-hiking. "There are going to be some companies that are on the razor's edge," said Belden. The White House said in a statement that Trump has taken action to cushion the blow on manufacturers, citing his hosting of tech companies signing a "ratepayer protection pledge" earlier this year and directives to build more power plants in PJM, paid for by tech companies. Data center advocates say the industry’s rapid expansion is driving long-overdue investments in America’s electric grid and cite other factors driving up costs, including power-plant retirements and transmission constraints. Data-center growth is “making us finally grapple with the difficult decisions that we were always going to have to face,” said Aaron Tinjum, vice president of energy for Data Center Coalition, a trade group. PJM, the largest U.S. grid operator, covers a Mid-Atlantic and Midwest manufacturing belt from New Jersey to northern Illinois and as far south as Tennessee that has become attractive to data center developers. Of the eight U.S. states considered emerging data center hubs, five are in the Rust Belt, according to Synergy Research Group data. The clash of old manufacturers and new data centers in the same region weighs heavily on costs and grid reliability. Data centers, said PJM spokesperson Jeff Shields, “can be built faster than the generation needed to serve them, driving up demand faster than supply." PJM sets capacity prices paid to power generators based on forecasted supply and demand, and manufacturers often pay an outsized share once capacity charges filter down to customers. PJM’s capacity prices jumped from $28.92 per megawatt-day in 2024 to the current $329.17 per megawatt-day — a 1,038% rise — driven primarily by data center growth. That helped push up electricity prices more quickly for industrial users in big manufacturing states that are also becoming data center hubs in PJM’s region, according to Reuters calculations using U.S. Energy Department data on electricity prices. Average industrial electricity prices were up 31% in Pennsylvania and 26% in Ohio as of December 2025 from 12 months earlier, compared with a 7% rise nationwide for industrial users. Residential customers in those two states saw increases of 14% and 9%, respectively. Even a 1% or 2% power-cost increase can stretch factory owners, who often operate on thin margins and use lots of electricity, economists and industry officials say. "This can have short- and long-term impacts on whether or not these facilities can continue to operate," said Paul Cicio, president of the trade group Industrial Energy Consumers of America.
Why should Ohioans pay tech billionaires' energy tab? Tom Bullock - cleveland.com - Ohio keeps picking up the tab, and now it’s for data centers used by tech billionaires. The latest example: The Ohio legislature rushed off to its summer break without passing House Bill 646 to create a separate energy rate class for data centers and shield everyday Ohioans from footing the electricity bill of some of the wealthiest corporations in the world. Ohioans were left holding the bag again. Disappointing? Absolutely. Surprising? Not even a little.
Amazon's Data Centers Keep Catching Fire – Small-Town Fire Departments Pay the Price -- Firefighters in Jerome Township, Ohio roll up to an Amazon data center with lights flashing and full gear ready. Then they wait. Facility security can hold crews at the gate for up to an hour while Amazon grants authorization to enter, according to Daily Dispatch reporting. Whatever's burning keeps burning. Two Amazon data centers under construction in this small township have generated 84 emergency calls since 2021 — roughly two per month, often requiring lights-and-sirens response, according to Data Center Dynamics. This isn't a statistical blip. It's the invoice for America's AI boom, and small-town fire departments are picking up the tab. A single Amazon data center fire burned for 30 hours, caused $50 million in damage — and the company pays zero property taxes on the site. In April 2025, a two-alarm fire at the Industrial Parkway Amazon site occupied firefighters for approximately 30 hours and caused an estimated $50 million in damage, according to Data Center Dynamics. That exceeds the duration of most industrial fires handled by rural crews across an entire year — and it was a single incident at one address.Amazon reportedly secured 100% property tax abatements for ten years on each Jerome Township site, according to Daily Dispatch. The township still funds every emergency response. In nearby Hilliard, three data center campuses surround roughly 37,000 residents, and approximately $2 million in tax revenue has reportedly been diverted from emergency services since construction began around 2015. Jerome Township Fire Chief Douglas Stewart put it plainly: data center responses "That taxes our resources every time we go."Here's what Ohio's data center boom actually costs locally, by the numbers:
- 84 emergency calls to Jerome Township since 2021 — roughly two per month, often lights-and-sirens
- $50 million in damage and 30 hours of firefighter time in the April 2025 Amazon site fire alone
- ~$2 million in tax revenue reportedly diverted from emergency services in Hilliard since construction began around 2015
- 100% property tax abatement for ten years, per site, granted to Amazon in Jerome Township
- 10–35% electric supply price increases for many Ohio consumers in June 2025, partly driven by grid upgrades for data center demand
Ohio law lets data center operators withhold power plant blueprints from the firefighters expected to protect them. State laws fast-tracking private power projects have created a dangerous blind spot. The Norwich Township fire chief has raised alarms that companies classify on-site power plant designs as "trade secrets," blocking first responders from accessing detailed facility plans, according to Fire Rescue 1. A single hyperscale facility can consume as much electricity as 100,000 homes. Dense electronics, massive battery banks, proprietary layouts — these rank among the most complex fires any crew can face. That complexity doesn't clock out at 2 a.m.US data centers consumed about 176 TWh of electricity in 2023 — roughly equal to Ohio's entire annual usage — with that share projected to reach 9% of national consumption by 2030. Companies plan to invest up to $40 billion more in Ohio data centers by decade's end, with AWS alone targeting approximately $7.8 billion in the state. Hilliard's fire chief captured the tension directly: "We're not a huge fan of the data centers, but Hilliard controls economic development, and data centers bring in business," according to Daily Dispatch. Economic development officials argue these facilities diversify local tax bases and signal participation in the AI economy — but consumer advocates and fire chiefs counter that they deliver few permanent jobs while shifting safety burdens onto under-resourced local agencies.Ohio's utility commission has approved a Data Center Tariff requiring large facilities to paying too much for at least 85% of their contracted electricity capacity for up to 12 years. That's a meaningful step on the power-cost side. The harder question remains unanswered: who funds the training, equipment, and staffing for the fire crews protecting the servers that run your internet?
Landsman Introduced Third AI Data Center Bill in Congress - – This week, Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) introduced legislation to combat the environmental impacts that come along with Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers. ..As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Congressman Landsman is leading the effort to ensure AI data centers are federally regulated to protect hardworking Southwest Ohio families.Landsman introduced the Protecting Communities from Data Center Impacts Act– legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to study the environmental impacts of data centers. Then, develop best practices to combat those environmental impacts.The study would evaluate issues on noise pollution, air pollution, water consumption, water supply, carbon emissions, waste, including electronic waste.Earlier this year, Landsman introduced the Do No Harm Data Centers Act and the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act. “There are legitimate concerns about pollution and AI data centers. Our bill makes sure these environmental impacts are studied so communities have the information they need and peace of mind they deserve.” Read the bill here.
Sherrod Brown attacks Husted over Ohio data centers - Sherrod Brown has made going after data centers a more prominent part of his campaign for the U.S. Senate, putting the influential, pro-union Democrat notably at odds with some members of his party as well as one of the state’s largest organized labor groups. Brown released an ad this week attacking Republican Sen. Jon Husted, his opponent in the November election, as “the face of data centers in Ohio.” The ad says Husted “cut sweetheart tax deals” and fast-tracked approvals “while ordinary residents watched their electricity bills explode.”The ad references Husted’s championing of data centers as Ohio’s lieutenant governor in the late 2010s, before the recent AI boom that’s made Ohio among the industry’s national epicenters, bringing a political backlash with it. Husted has taken a more critical stance recently, including appearing with President Donald Trump in a White House event in which billionaire Elon Musk and other AI executives pledged to completely cover their facilities’ electricity costs. The ad notably isn’t what politicos call a “contrast ad” – in which a candidate pairs an attack with a statement of their own position. So Brown isn’t saying what he’d do differently. It simply attacks Husted. “Jon Husted: Who’s he really working for?” the narrator asks.Brown released the ad a couple weeks after he called for Ohio to end its tax break for data centers in an interview with Spectrum News, in which he also said data centers should take steps to limit their water usage and ensure they don’t pass increased electricity costs on to consumers. “They should eliminate the tax breaks. Why would we want these data centers to come in and use tax dollars to get them here?” Brown told Spectrum News.Brown’s approach to data centers is especially notable in how it places him at odds with organized labor groups that represent the state’s unionized construction workers. The groups strongly support Ohio’s data center industry because of the construction jobs it’s created. Some state Democrats have been hesitant to campaign against data centers, even as the building trades groups have increasingly aligned with Republicans as Ohio has drifted politically rightward. Business groups meanwhile have praised their effects on the economy, while backing the industry push to pledge to cover future electricity costs.David Niven, a political scientist at the University of Cincinnati, said Brown – in cutting his ad – has decided to make a rare break with a labor group. He said attacking data centers is a political winner, given the widespread concern across the political spectrum about their environmental effects. Niven said that organized labor still holds influence with Democrats, but it has lessened as labor groups have gotten closer with Republicans or shown they lack the ability to deliver voters.“I think it’s still a bitter pill for any Democrat to take a stance against a union, but the practical reality is not only have a lot of Ohio unions proven themselves to be fair-weather fans of Democrats, they’ve also proven themselves to not be terribly influential,” said Niven, who was a speechwriter for ex-Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland. “So at some point you can either relentlessly serve their agenda, or you can try to win an election. And I think Sherrod Brown has reached a point where he’s trying to win this election.” Brown isn’t the only Ohio Democrat to incorporate data centers into their campaign attacks. Toledo Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who’s one of the country’s most vulnerable incumbent Democrats, made a passing reference to the topic in a recent ad in her contest against Republican challenger Derek Merrin. The ad says Republicans made myriad promises, but instead delivered “fewer jobs with more data centers.”Kylie Blitzer, a Kaptur campaign spokesperson, said Kaptur supports bringing jobs to Northwest Ohio.However, economic development should strengthen our communities, not drain their resources, and put added burdens on our people. If data center companies want to do business here, they should pay their fair share – not force hardworking people and local municipalities to subsidize billions in tax breaks for wealthy CEOs and shareholders,” Blitzer said.
What's the state of data center legislation in Ohio? | OSU Extension -- The Ohio State University -- We’ve talked about data centers extensively over the past few months. We’ve shared numerous blog posts, and data centers were our topic for our last Farm Office Live Ag Law & Policy Roundtable. If you missed that discussion, it is available to watch here. When we hosted that discussion, the Ohio House was signaling that it might come back to consider House Bill 646, which appears to be main vehicle for data center legislation. That did not come to pass, and now both chambers of the General Assembly are on recess until November. How would the current version of H.B. 646 address data centers? H.B. 646, available here in its current form, has gone through many changes since it was first introduced in January by Representatives Click (R-Vickery) and Deeter (R-Norwalk). Its first iteration, which we discussed here, would have created a Data Center Commission with 13 appointed members. The Commission would have been tasked with looking at the impacts of data centers and submitting its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly. However, that version of the bill was scrapped in May when the Select Committee on Data Centers, with members from both chambers, was created. After the Committee held hearings in May and June, a new version of H.B. 646 was introduced. The current version of H.B. 646 would place restrictions on data centers built and operated in Ohio. One of the main focuses of the bill is electric use by data centers. It requires any data centers with a monthly maximum electricity demand of 250 megawatts or greater to supply its electricity using sources that offset its consumption from the electrical grid. Furthermore, it requires all direct costs for retail electric services be paid by the data center operators and prohibits other Ohio customers from paying for these costs. Further, the bill would create a separate electric rate class for data centers. The amount of water used and discharged by data centers is often cited among those worried about the environmental impacts of the tech hubs. H.B. 646 would require data center owners or utilities that solely supply power to data centers to measure and report the data center’s consumptive use of water. The bill also requires data centers to implement best industry practices for water conservation and water-use efficiency in the design, construction, and operation of the facility. Data centers would also have to report their water usage annually to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and their water quality measurements quarterly to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). ODNR and OEPA, in turn, would be required to file an annual report on data center water usage and quality to the legislature. H.B. 646 contains language that would make nondisclosure agreements subject to public records requests. Thus, it would allow citizens to look up nondisclosure agreements made between data centers and individuals, local governments, etc. Finally, the most recent version of H.B. 646 would address tax breaks for data centers. The bill limits property tax exemptions for data centers in certain situations, and requires local governments granting property tax exemptions to obtain a security in the form of a surety bond or cash, certificates of deposit, or government securities from data center developers. The bill also excludes data centers from qualifying for megaproject tax incentives. Most notably, the bill would also limit sales tax breaks for data centers. Governor DeWine did pause the 100% sales tax break for data centers in May, and H.B. 646 would change it to 50%. This 50% sales tax break appears to be one of the reasons that the General Assembly did not pass H.B. 646 before the legislative recess. Reportedly, some lawmakers wanted the tax break eliminated altogether. As a result, the bill remains in the Senate Energy Committee until lawmakers return to Columbus in November. We will have to wait until then to see if there are any changes made to the bill, including the 50% sales tax break. Other data center bills:
- H.B. 646 was fast tracked by the legislature and seems as though it is the data center legislation most poised to pass when they return in November. With that being said, there are several other bills addressing data centers that we have been following. It appears some ideas from these bills have found their way into the newest version of H.B. 646. It’s possible additional pieces of these bills could be incorporated into H.B. 646 when the General Assembly returns, or that they could pass on their own.
- House Bill 695—While this bill, sponsored by Representatives Bird (R-New Richmond) Stewart (R-Ashville) does not address data centers directly, it does target local elected officials who could have knowledge of such developments. The bill would prohibit county commissioners, township trustees, and village mayors and council members from knowingly entering into nondisclosure agreements that prohibit “disclosing, discussing, describing, or commenting on” matters related to official duties, a repeated complaint of citizens. Note that H.B. 646 would address nondisclosure agreements regarding data centers in a different way—by making them subject to public records requests. H.B. 695 had its third hearing in the House Local Government Committee on June 3.
- House Bill 706—H.B. 706, sponsored by Representatives Rader (D-Lakewood) and Thomas (R-Jefferson) focuses on the infrastructure impacts of data centers. The bill aims to “ensure costs of new infrastructure and grid upgrades needed to serve these facilities are not shifted onto existing Ohio ratepayers.” The bill would require long-term service agreements of at least 12 years with electric utilities for data center customers, require the Public Utilities Commission to create standards for interconnection practices, load study deposits, and milestone requirements. It would also prohibit utilities from recovering data center costs from other customer classes, set minimum billing standards, and require financial assurance prior to facility construction. H.B. 706 had its third hearing in House Energy on June 3.
- House Bill 784—Sponsored by Representatives Cockley (D-Columbus) and Lett (D-Columbus), H.B. 784 would require any data center that withdraws from waters of the state to submit monthly and annual data center water consumption reports to the Division of Water Resources. The bill also contains non-disclosure prohibitions similar to H.B. 695. H.B. 784 was referred to the House Energy Committee in March.
- Senate Bill 381—Introduced by Senator Weinstein (D-Hudson), S.B. 381 would require interconnection approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio prior to connecting a data center with a monthly maximum demand of more than 25,000 kilowatt hours. The bill was referred to the Senate Public Utilities Commission in March.
We will continue to closely monitor data center legislation in Ohio when the General Assembly returns this fall!
How AI Data Centers Lost the PR War; Dems Swear Off Using AI -Marcellus Drilling News - A rare bipartisan backlash against AI data centers has emerged, with more than 70 state and local governments passing restrictions or moratoriums due to concerns about water use, electricity consumption, noise, and utility rate hikes. Critics span the political spectrum, from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to conservatives like Pennsylvania State Treasurer (and Republican candidate for Governor) Stacy Garrity. Public relations experts blame the industry’s failure to build trust, communicate transparently, and engage communities early, comparing tech companies’ top-down approach to the tobacco industry’s playbook. The consequences are mounting: 25 data center projects were canceled in 2025 — quadruple 2024’s total — while roughly 99 of 770 planned projects face local opposition. Pennsylvania is at risk of forfeiting some $92 billion in private investments (see Pittsburgh Energy Event Truly Mind-Blowing, $92B+ Investments for PA).
AI Data Centers Trigger Third Federal Grid Emergency, Sending Bills Up and Air Quality Down - The United States government is using a law written for wartime to manage a problem created by artificial intelligence infrastructure — and it has now done so three times in the span of six months, each time for the same structural reason. On June 30, Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed two emergency orders under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, a 1935 statute originally designed to compel reluctant utilities to cooperate during war, directing America's largest regional grid to force AI data centers onto diesel backup generators within 15 minutes of an emergency signal. The orders were not a precaution. They were a last resort before rolling blackouts, deployed as millions of Americans switched on their air conditioners for the Fourth of July weekend — and they represent an escalating pattern that the law's own implementing regulations explicitly say cannot continue. This is the third time in 2026 that the Department of Energy has invoked Section 202(c) within the PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization serving 67 million people across 13 states and Washington, D.C. The previous two orders covered a January cold snap and a May heat-and-maintenance squeeze. All three share the same underlying cause: data centers have added so much load to the grid so quickly that the system cannot reliably meet peak demand without emergency federal intervention. DOE's own regulations, finalized in 1981, state explicitly that the emergency authority "does not intend to replace prudent utility planning and system expansion." Three orders in six months for a predictable, structural load problem contradict that intent — and grid planners are beginning to say so openly.As of this morning, July 4, 2026, the emergency orders remain in force. PJM requested an extension through July 6, and that extension was approved. According to PJM's July 3 operations update, a heat dome over the Eastern Seaboard has pushed feels-like temperatures past 38 degrees C (100 degrees F) from New York to Washington, D.C. On Thursday, July 2, PJM demand hit approximately 163 gigawatts, narrowly below the all-time record of 165,563 MW set in 2006 — but high enough to rank among the two or three highest load days in PJM's nearly century-long history. Day-ahead electricity prices spiked past $2,000 per megawatt-hour in parts of the system. Operating reserves fell to 5,091 MW, a margin that leaves the grid with almost no cushion against an unexpected outage.Wright's orders authorized data centers and other large electricity consumers with at least 50 megawatts of peak load to be disconnected from utility-supplied power and shifted to on-site backup generation on demand — with hospitals, 911 centers, water treatment plants, and defense facilities exempt. The orders also granted temporary relief from normal environmental permit restrictions for power plants, allowing them to operate beyond their standard limits for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide to maximize available generation capacity. PJM officials acknowledged the orders could result in exceedances of normal pollution limits."Currently, there are tens of gigawatts of readily available backup generation that have remained largely untapped," Wright said in the order. Critics point out that this framing obscures the underlying problem: the backup generators being "tapped" are primarily Tier 2 diesel units — among the most polluting forms of power generation permitted under EPA standards — and they are being activated in communities where residents already face elevated health risks from data center proximity.Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act was enacted in 1935 and has been used roughly 29 times in the eight decades before this year — 22 of those times during World War II. From 2000 through February 2026, the DOE used the authority approximately 26 times across all US grid operators, typically in response to brief, unpredictable events: hurricanes, winter storms, sudden equipment failures. The orders generally lasted hours to days.Three orders within a single regional grid in a single calendar year is, by any historical measure, unprecedented. A February 2026 Congressional Research Service analysis flagged the pattern as "novel" and noted that DOE's own regulatory language characterizes Section 202(c) as a tool for "unexpected inadequate supply" — not a substitute for capacity planning. The Balch and Bingham law firm, which advises energy sector clients on federal regulatory compliance, wrote in March 2026 that the authority has transformed from an emergency backstop into "an active instrument of reliability management" — a characterization that carries significant implications for how the US regulates its electricity system going forward.The structural cause is not difficult to identify. PJM projects that data centers will add 65 gigawatts of new demand to its footprint over the next decade, as documented by the Center for Progressive Reform. The grid missed its reliability reserve target — the cushion of capacity maintained above forecast peak demand to absorb unexpected outages — for the first time in its history in December 2025. The capacity auction that month cleared 6,625 megawatts short of PJM's own reliability requirement. A data center can be built in roughly 18 to 24 months; the transmission lines and substations needed to power it take three to seven years, and transformer lead times have stretched to two to five years. The mismatch between build speed and grid expansion speed is structural, not seasonal, and emergency law cannot resolve it.When PJM directs a data center off the grid under a Section 202(c) order, that facility typically switches to Tier 2 diesel backup generators — units that, under normal operating conditions, are subject to strict EPA limits on sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and ammonia emissions. The emergency waiver contained in Wright's July orders suspended those limits to the "maximum extent feasible." In practice, that means communities adjacent to data center campuses — some of which are among the most environmentally burdened neighborhoods in their states — experience diesel exhaust during the same heat events that already strain respiratory health.University of Cambridge researchers documented a related effect: temperatures in the immediate vicinity of data centers run approximately 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) higher than the surrounding area on average, and as much as 9.2 degrees C (16.6 degrees F) directly adjacent to the facilities — a heat island effect driven by the thermal exhaust of continuous server operation. In the context of a heat dome already pushing temperatures to historic levels, that localized thermal loading compounds the public health exposure of living near large data center campuses.Roughly 38 percent of Americans — approximately 125 million people — live within five miles of one of the country's approximately 3,000 operational data centers, according to Pew Research. In Virginia's Henrico County, home to 37 data centers, school administrators were asked by their utility to limit power usage during peak periods, according to emails obtained by the tech publication 404 Media. Earlier this year, approximately 50,000 California customers near Lake Tahoe were notified they would need to find a new electricity provider, a move linked to surging data center demand in the region, as Fortune reported.
How Flagstar Bank integrated its acquired data centers | American Banker - How do you combine three banks into one? Very carefully — especially when data centers are involved.
- Key insight: Flagstar Bank reduced the number of co-located data centers it operates as it upgraded its enterprise technology stack this past year.
- Expert quote: "The trick is to make it as modern as you can and as flexible as you can, so you can adapt to change along the way." —Flagstar Bank's CIOO Chris Higgins
- Supporting data: North American inventory across data center markets increased by 33% year over year but vacancy still fell to an all-time low, according to a recent commercial real estate report.
How community banks can benefit from data centers | American Banker There's little question that, for banks and financial institutions, data centers present inherent risk, whether financial or in the public eye. But for community banks and credit unions that lack the resources or interest to finance such projects, data center construction can also present new opportunities.
- Key insights: Large banks are committing billions of dollars to fund the construction of data centers. There's opportunities for smaller community banks and credit unions when a data center comes to town, as long as risks can be balanced.
- What's at stake: For community-minded financial institutions, the mere association with data centers has the potential to turn into a public relations nightmare.
- Expert quote: "There are other services, besides banking, that institutions can provide," Jerry Silva, vice president of financial insights at IDC, told American Banker.
Bitcoin miner bets on AI with $19B deal in Kentucky - - One of the nation’s leading bitcoin miners is cementing its pivot into artificial intelligence with a data center deal valued at $19 billion.TeraWulf, a Maryland-based energy infrastructure company, on Monday announced a 20-year lease agreement with Anthropic — the AI company behind Claude — for a new data center campus in Hawesville, Kentucky.California-based Anthropic is one of numerous AI companies racing to secure reliable, long-term access to processing power as it scales up operations. The Kentucky data center would offer the company about 400 megawatts of capacity by 2028, roughly the electrical load of a medium-size city. Officials outlined plans for a data center at the Kentucky site back in February, but locking in Anthropic gives the plan a boost even as local pushback has gotten Washington’s attention. TeraWulf’s shares closed about 5 percent higher Monday after surging 18 percent earlier in the day.
How Devon Energy’s “Three Waves of AI” is Transforming the Company -Marcellus Drilling News -- Following its May merger with Coterra Energy, Devon Energy is positioning AI as central to integration efforts while targeting $1 billion in annual pre-tax synergies by the end of 2027. The combined company—valued at over $60 billion with 1.6 million boe/d production—is concentrated in the Delaware Basin (70% of oil output), recently bolstered by a $2.6 billion New Mexico acreage acquisition, and includes Coterra’s 190,000-acre Marcellus position, which reportedly drew an $8 billion offer.
‘I’m Now Broke’: These Investors Lost Billions Buying Trump Stocks And Crypto -Desperate to rebuild his fortune, Donald Trump asked his political supporters to become his business partners. Those who trusted him most got hurt the worst. Vadim Fistikan started working at 17 and built the kind of savings that usually takes years of overtime, delayed purchases and adult restraint: more than $100,000 by the time he hit his late twenties. In 2021, the Washington State truck driver eyed a house near family in Florida, with a pool and a waterway that led to a river, and then the ocean. “We were thinking about pulling the trigger,” he says. “Then I saw this whole Trump thing going on.” This Trump thing was the Trump Media and Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social. In October 2021, the president unveiled the business, promising a censorship-free platform and giving supporters a chance to invest via a special purpose acquisition company. Shares of the SPAC jumped 1,650% in two days, then fell about 30% by the start of the third. To Fistikan, that looked less like a warning than a discount. “I’m like, ‘I’m getting in,’” says the three-time Trump voter, who added to his bet until it hit $205,000. That investment is now worth $30,000.
Nearly a Million Investors Lost a Total of $3.8 Billion on Trump Crypto Coin - The New York Times - A report from a cryptocurrency analytics firm details how those who bought the Trump memecoin have fared, with most retail investors having lost money while sophisticated traders did better. An up-to-date tally of Trump followers turned crypto investors is in. And for them, the overall results are remarkably bad.Nearly 1 million people who bought President Trump’s memecoin have lost money through the end of June, according to a report by the cryptocurrency analytics firm Nansen. Their losses total $3.81 billion.The analytics firm’s assessment was calculated this week after Mr. Trump signed an annual financial disclosure showing that he walked away with a $636 million payout on the same crypto bet, part of a haul of at least $2.2 billion from all of his business ventures in 2025.The odds were always in his favor. Mr. Trump profited whether the price of his memecoin went up or down. He collected returns whenever anyone traded the tokens, as he repeatedly pushed his followers to do, using his Truth Social account to promote the coin. Once a crypto skeptic, Mr. Trump embraced the profit-making opportunity of digital currencies in 2024, while he was running for president. He and his sons founded a crypto start-up called World Liberty Financial, which soon began selling a coin called $WLFI that has also declined sharply. Three days before his inauguration, Mr. Trump unveiled a second Trump-branded investment — the $TRUMP memecoin, a type of novelty currency with little practical value. “It’s time to celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING!” Mr. Trump wrote on social media. “Join my very special Trump community. GET YOUR $TRUMP NOW!” But that turned out to be bad advice. Most crypto transactions are publicly visible, recorded on a digital ledger called the blockchain. That allows analysts to trace purchases of digital coins from individual crypto accounts, known as wallets. Nansen’s data shows that, as of the end of June, 988,905 buyers of the $TRUMP memecoin have lost money, representing roughly two out of every three buyers. Cumulatively, these 988,905 wallets have lost a total of $3.81 billion, including buyers who have held on to their stash and recorded paper losses, according to Nansen. The coin was trading at $1.76 as of Friday, down 97 percent from its peak price of $75.35. Nicholas Pinto is among the losers. A frequent crypto trader who voted for Mr. Trump in 2024, Mr. Pinto said he invested a total of roughly $500,000 in the $TRUMP coin, and has now lost about half that investment. “He is leveraging the power of being president to launch currencies, when he seems trustworthy in the public’s eye,” Mr. Pinto said in an interview. “It is kind of incredible. It is almost a legal scam.” The White House this past week rejected any suggestion that Mr. Trump has cashed in at the expense of his followers. Since arriving at the White House, Mr. Trump and appointees have curtailed regulatory oversight of the industry, including policies related to memecoins. “President Trump proudly made the United States the crypto capital of the world,” Anna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement to The New York Times after Mr. Trump’s annual report was made public on Tuesday. “All actions by President Trump and his administration are taken in the best interest of the American people.” A representative for the $TRUMP memecoin venture did not respond to a request for comment. David Wachsman, a spokesman for World Liberty, blamed the plummeting value of $WLFI on broader market conditions that have forced down the prices of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. “No one can control the markets,” he said. “World Liberty stands behind the governance token WLFI, which has had increasing utility in a growing ecosystem since day one.” Mr. Trump was not the only winner on the $TRUMP coin. After it launched, its price surged from less than $1 to more than $70, creating a window of opportunity for sophisticated crypto traders to extract a big profit.
Trump Crypto Firm in Talks to Sell Payments Biz at 98% Loss - When Donald Trump’s 2025 financial disclosures were revealed this month, we learned his first year back at the White House was extremely lucrative. In between the mass deportations, East Wing demolition, and war on algae, he made at least $2.2 billion — more than he took in during his entire first term in office and four times what he made the year before he returned to Washington. We also learned more than half of that money came from various crypto ventures — $1.4 billion to be exact — a number staggering in and of itself but even more so in the context of just how much money investors lost betting on the president. A real “heads I win, tails you lose” situation — and we don’t want to shock or upset anyone, but it turns out this is not the only instance in which Trump has managed to profit while others got screwed. As The Wall Street Journal reports: A year ago, the Trump family’s crypto venture bought control of a small payments company for $750 million. The deal has been a money loser for almost everyone except the Trumps.The Nasdaq-listed company — previously called Alt5 Sigma, and recently renamed AI Financial — is now in talks to sell its core business to blockchain technology company Perpetuals.com, according to a corporate filing. The price being discussed is for up to $15 million, according to a person familiar with the transaction and company documents. If you don’t have your calculator handy, those numbers translate to a 98 percent loss, and while that should be very embarrassing for the First Family of crypto, the money they made off AI Financial should help cushion the blow. Here’s the Journal again:AI Financial has served mostly to channel more than half a billion dollars to the Trumps, in an instance of investors losing out while the presidential family rakes in cash … World Liberty acquired a majority stake in AI Financial in August by paying with its own cryptocurrency. The payments company then raised a further $750 million from investors to buy more of World Liberty’s digital tokens, called WLFI. The deals saddled AI Financial with an enormous pot of Trump cryptocurrency that since has slumped 70% in value and is partly subject to a lockup. Investors in the raise have also seen their AI Financial shares fall over 90%, leaving the company’s market value at just $80 million. Yet thanks to an arrangement in which the Trumps receive 75 percent of the proceeds from the sale of WLFI tokens, they got a cool $540 million in cash from the $750 million in token sales.World Liberty and AI Financial declined the Journal’s request for comment about the deal talks. The White House declared that “there are no conflicts of interest” and that “the President has implemented policies that have made all Americans wealthier and more prosperous.”In related news, the New York Times reported over the weekend that the nearly 1 million people who bought Trump’s memecoin, $TRUMP, have lost a collective $3.81 billion through the end of June. At the same time, the president made $636 million in fees in 2025. Responding to criticism regarding the contrast between those two outcomes, a spokeswoman told the Times last week, “President Trump proudly made the United States the crypto capital of the world. All actions by President Trump and his administration are taken in the best interest of the American people.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene compares Trump family corruption to Hunter Biden - Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, drew a parallel between the Trump family and former first son Hunter Biden, saying on The View that the Trump family’s financial gains since the president’s return to the White House in January 2025 amounted to the kind of “corruption” she once denounced in the Biden family. Greene’s remarks come after Trump’s financial disclosures renewed scrutiny of his business interests and those of his family. Recent reporting by The New York Times found Trump reported more than $1 billion in income tied to his family’s cryptocurrency businesses, with roughly another $1 billion from other business holdings, marking a sharp increase from the previous year’s reported income. House Republicans have alleged that Biden family members and associates received more than $10 million from foreign sources and argued that the payments reflected an “influence-peddling” operation built around former President Joe Biden’s political standing. While investigators pointed to meetings, relationships and financial transactions, they did not establish that Biden personally received the foreign payments identified in the probe or that he changed official U.S. policy because of his family’s business dealings. The roughly $2.2 billion Trump reported in his latest financial disclosure is more than 200 times the more than $10 million House Republicans alleged Biden family members, associates and related companies received from foreign sources. Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, told Newsweek in an email that Greene is a “quitter who is pathetically trying to stay relevant by going on liberal media shows to bash President Trump.” He added that “Trump Derangement Syndrome has rotted former Congresswoman Greene’s peanut-sized brain.” Tuesday on The View, Greene said, “Oh, he’s making money, all right,” in response to a question about Trump’s financial gains since taking the Oval Office. “I was one of the loudest voices attacking Hunter Biden for what I perceived to be corruption while his father was president, but I was really blown away [with Trump’s]. Most people are blown away,” Greene said. “Even Fox News had something to say about it. That’s pretty shocking.” Greene acknowledged that Hunter made a “lot of money while his father was president” but added that it’s “just wrong” that the Trumps have “made a lot of [more] money than ever before.”A 927-page report, released at the end of June by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), showed that Trump pulled in billions of dollars last year through various business dealings, including stock trades, his global real estate and business interests and royalties from Trump-branded products.A significant portion—around $1.4 billion, according to estimates from The New York Times and Reuters—came from the president’s cryptocurrency ventures, a relatively recent addition to his business empire but one that has swiftly become its most profitable arm. This stems primarily from his family’s company, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), as well as from the sale of the $TRUMP meme coin.
US Bitcoin Reserve Stalls As Treasury And Commerce Vie For Control: Report- Sixteen months after President Donald Trump ordered his administration to build a federal bitcoin reserve, the White House says it is still working out how the fund should be structured, and a dispute between two departments has slowed the effort, according to recent reporting from Bloomberg. Trump signed an executive order in March 2025 to create what he called a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, along with a separate U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile for other cryptocurrencies. The order directed the Treasury and Commerce departments to develop budget-neutral methods for acquiring bitcoin, ones that would not draw on taxpayer money.The reserve was to be funded in large part with bitcoin the government already holds through criminal and civil forfeitures. According to Bloomberg, the plan has run into two obstacles. Treasury and Commerce are each making a case to run the reserve, and questions have arisen over whether Treasury has the legal authority to manage the holdings. People familiar with the matter, who were not authorized to speak in public, said housing the reserve inside the Commerce Department is one option under review.The Justice Department said its Office of Legal Counsel “is working closely with both the Treasury and Commerce departments to determine legally available options to accomplish the president’s policy.” A further concern is whether the government can hold bitcoin for an indefinite period, as the order intended, given the currency’s price swings.“President Trump campaigned on a vision of cementing America as the global capital of cryptocurrency and other cutting-edge technologies,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement. “To deliver on the president’s vision, the Trump administration continues to evaluate the best structure for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile.”The administration’s chief crypto adviser, Patrick Witt, said in April that he expected a major announcement within weeks. That announcement has not come.Officials have said a presidential order alone cannot complete the project. The order does not carry the force of law, and Congress has not passed legislation to authorize the reserve. Yesterday, while speaking on the newly introduced Trump Accounts, President Trump said bitcoin could eventually be added to the accounts, saying “something could happen” when asked about the asset. Trump also said he’s “a big fan of crypto.”
Treasury scraps plans to put Harriet Tubman on $20 bill --The Treasury Department has scrapped plans for Harriet Tubman to be on the $20 bill, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday. In response to a question about the status of the bill from Spectrum News, Bessent said the Trump administration was “not at present” planning to place Tubman’s likeness on it. The Hill reached out to the Treasury Department for comment on the decision. The Biden administration attempted to speed up the release of $20 bills with the famous abolitionist after the first Trump administration shelved the move first kicked off by the Obama administration. “The Treasury Department is taking steps to resume efforts to put Harriet Tubman on the front of the new $20 notes,” former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a news briefing in January 2021. Psaki said the department was “exploring ways to speed up the process” and stated the U.S.’s money should “reflect the history and diversity of our country, and Harriet Tubman’s image gracing the new $20 note would certainly reflect that.” Ten years ago, the push to swap former President Jackson with Tubman on the front of the bill began under former President Obama. The bill was originally set to be unveiled in 2020, in line with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.
Strategy Is Now Selling Bitcoin It Acquired Just Days Ago -One week ago I argued that the most important change in Strategy’s new bitcoin framework was the company’s willingness to be a seller and how important that makes bitcoin’s price now that the market knows it. We may soon find out.According to the company’s latest filing, Strategy sold 3,588 Bitcoin between June 29 and July 5. About 1,363 Bitcoin were sold during the first two days of the program at an average price around $59,256, with another 2,225 Bitcoin sold over the following five days at $60,773.The amount isn’t enormous in the context of Bitcoin’s daily trading volume. In fact, one of the takeaways so far is that the market has absorbed sales of roughly 1,000 to 2,000 Bitcoin per week without any obvious signs of stress. That’s encouraging if you’re a preferred shareholder hoping the company can continue funding its obligations without materially disrupting the market. But I think investors are missing the more important point. The significance isn’t the 3,588 Bitcoin that were sold. It’s the more than 846,000 Bitcoin that now sit behind Strategy still.For years, Strategy cultivated the image that its Bitcoin treasury was effectively untouchable. Michael Saylor repeatedly framed Bitcoin as something to accumulate, never distribute. CEO Phong Le spent the better part of the last year telling investors to focus on Bitcoin Yield as the company’s defining metric, celebrating every incremental increase in Bitcoin per share as proof the strategy was working. The company differentiated itself from virtually every other corporate holder by insisting that selling simply wasn’t part of the playbook.That narrative is over. And quite frankly, now it looks like it was all total bullshit all along. The market now knows Strategy isn’t just willing to sell Bitcoin in size, it already has. And it has formalized a framework under which additional sales aren’t an emergency measure but a legitimate capital management tool. That changes how investors should think about the balance sheet. Every future discussion about Strategy’s liquidity now carries an obvious follow up question: how much Bitcoin might they sell next?That’s a very different conversation than the one investors were having just a few months ago.If there was any doubt that Strategy’s messaging has fundamentally changed, this filing should eliminate it.
Michael Saylor’s recent Bitcoin sales are a worry for crypto investors | New York Post --You can add another brick to the “wall of worry” facing the $2.27 trillion crypto market – and it has “Michael Saylor” written all over it. Saylor runs a company called Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy. It was a software company that under Saylor’s leadership has been transformed into what crypto types call a major “hoarder” of Bitcoin.His strategy goes something like this: He sells company stock and preferred shares while purchasing lots of Bitcoin. Strategy currently holds around 4% of all the available digital assets. Michael Saylor runs a company called Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy. It was a software company that under Saylor’s leadership has been transformed into what crypto types call a major “hoarder” of Bitcoin.Jack Forbes / NY Post Design That’s a lot of Bitcoin, around 800,000 of them. With Bitcoin last year hitting all time highs of about $120,000, his investors have done well (60% plus return over the last five years). That is, until recently when shares of Strategy began reflecting the downdraft in digital coins. Another has been my podcast partner, Bob Sloan, a longtime capital markets professional who now runs S3 Partners, a well-regarded market data firm that is often referred to as the gold standard for investor and trader positioning. Bob has long warned of the dangers that Saylor posed for Bitcoin and crypto in general.Any market that leans heavily on one investor buying and not selling is courting trouble when that buyer does become a seller, which given the volatility of Bitcoin was always inevitable, Sloan argued.Or as he put it: “Funding was required to keep his buying going. No funding equals forced selling.”Bob’s bunny has a good nose (he’s seen plenty of market ructions during his long career). I was reminded of this Monday when my old colleague at the Wall Street Journal, Jonathan Weil, did a deep dive into Saylor’s business model. Weil raised questions about the in-house metrics used by Saylor that, he reports, have overvalued the company’s stock that became his “currency to buy bitcoin.” With that overvaluation comes the likelihood of selling as opposed to buying Bitcoin.Informed of these sentiments, a press rep for Saylor hasn’t provided any comments as this piece goes to press. But Weil makes a compelling case that Saylor’s strategy has some holes, as did sources including Sloan even before the WSJ piece was published. It’s why the crypto winter is now likely to stick around until next spring as Saylor, the market’s marginal buyer, could become a significant seller to support his stock price. That’s something he has been loath to do until Monday when Strategy released a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that showed he recently sold 3,588 coins worth over $200 million. Ok it’s a sliver of his holdings, and many Bitcoin maxi’s tell me the market is more than Saylor. It includes big Wall Street firms and plenty of long-term investors. Maybe. Or maybe Saylor’s selling is the start of something bigger and a crypto winter that lasts until next summer.
Bitcoin Treasury Firm Empery Digital Dumps Nearly Half of BTC Holdings for $87 Million - Decrypt Publicly traded Empery Digital Inc. has sold nearly half its Bitcoin treasury since early May, using the proceeds to pay down debt, prepare for an AI-related real estate acquisition, and cover mounting legal bills tied to a shareholder lawsuit, according to an SEC filing this week. The company disclosed it sold 1,400 BTC since May 7 at an average price of about $62,200 per coin, generating roughly $87.1 million in gross proceeds. Of that total, $10 million went toward retiring outstanding debt on July 7. The remainder is earmarked for a previously announced property acquisition—pending completion of a purchase and sale agreement—as well as legal expenses stemming from stockholder litigation disclosed in the company's most recent quarterly report, along with general operating costs. The $65 million property deal, announced on June 30, is for a “25% ownership [stake] into a private entity that is acquiring a strategically located Midwest facility to be converted into a state-of-the-art AI data center.” As of Thursday, Empery Digital held 1,514 BTC—currently valued at nearly $96.5 million—and approximately $73.9 million in cash, with $45 million still outstanding on its debt facility, the filing shows. Decrypt reached out to Empery Digital for comment regarding the sale and whether it impacts the firm’s treasury strategy going forward, but did not immediately receive a response. The disclosure offers a window into how corporate holders of Bitcoin are increasingly treating their crypto reserves as a liquidity source, selling down positions to meet conventional financial obligations rather than holding the asset purely as a long-term investment. The most prominent example is Bitcoin giant Strategy’s recent sales from its $54 billion BTC stash, which have been done to fuel dividend payments for its preferred share offerings in an effort to cool concerns around its ability to meet its financial commitments. Such fears had helped tank the price of Strategy’s MSTR common shares and its STRC preferred shares in recent weeks.
Will the crypto market structure bill cross the finish line? — The next few weeks before the August recess offer Congress its last realistic chance to pass a piece of crypto legislation it has spent months fighting over.
- Key insight: Ethics concerns from Senate Democrats remain the biggest obstacle for the upper chamber to pass a crypto market structure bill.
- What's at stake: No further negotiations on yield-related restrictions on stablecoins are currently planned among lawmakers, despite bank lobbying efforts to make headway on the issue.
- Forward look: Lawmakers face a narrow window before August recess to reach a deal, after which the urgency of spending legislation and the heart of the midterm campaign will make passage exceedingly unlikely.
Senator Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Senator Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., voted to move a crypto market structure bill out of committee, but have withheld their support on the Senate floor unless the bill includes enforceable conflict-of-interest rules to prevent public officials from profiting off of crypto investments. Banking lobbyists' push for changes to stablecoin yield rules as part of long-embattled crypto market structure legislation has stalled, with no new talks in sight.
Why Standard Chartered, BNY launched stablecoin rails -
- Key insight: Standard Chartered and BNY now let institutional clients mint and redeem Circle's USDC through the bank instead of a direct Circle account.
- What's at stake: Handling stablecoins directly gives banks a new custody-and-fee business, but it also risks client cash shifting out of deposits into stablecoins and tokenized funds.
- Forward look: Standard Chartered plans to expand beyond Dubai and BNY to add more issuers, while the OCC is still writing the GENIUS Act's implementing rules.
The banks now let institutional clients mint and redeem Circle's USDC directly, turning them into stablecoin infrastructure providers. Overview bullets generated by AI with editorial review.
Swift recruits big banks to test its new blockchain ledger -Swift will soon get an early look at how its new blockchain technology can help the messaging network ward off challenges from digital-asset upstarts.
- Key insights: Seventeen banks, including BNY, Citi, HSBC, Standard Chartered and Wells Fargo, are preparing to test live, tokenized cross-border payments on the company's blockchain-based orchestration platform.
- What's at stake: The transition to a pilot stage is an important step for Swift as the rise of digital assets threaten its position as a key coordinator among banks.
- Expert quote: "Critical mass amongst banks will be important for moving tokenized payments into the mainstream." — Dave Scola, U.S. CEO at Form3, a payments-as-a-service fintech.
Seventeen banks, including BNY, Citi, HSBC, Standard Chartered and Wells Fargo, will make tokenized cross-border payments as the messaging network looks to counter threats from digital asset fintechs.
Tokenized deposits may be coming, but it's not a slam-dunk — Prudential regulators and the Securities and Exchange Commission appear to be moving closer to establishing rules for tokenized bank deposits sometime next year, which would allow banks to offer blockchain-based deposits at scale and compete more directly with crypto firms.
- Key takeaway: Market watchers say the groundwork has been created over the years for regulators to now establish guidelines for tokenized bank deposits.
- Expert quote: "This gives banks another tool in their toolbox to be able to compete with crypto and fintech firms, which helps banks and potentially levels the playing field." —Graham Steele, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Law
- What's at stake: Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins said tokenized bank deposits could be available by next year, adding that the Securities and Exchange Commission is working with prudential regulators to make that possible.
Market watchers say it is plausible that regulators will have established rules of the road for tokenized bank deposits by next year. But to get there, many outstanding issues will need to be ironed out first.
BankThink An 'always-on' treasury operation is becoming a banking necessity -The global financial system is undergoing a fundamental transformation, driven by the emergence of 24/7/365, real-time payments. With the payments industry generating $2.5 trillion in revenue from $2.0 quadrillion in value flows, supported by 3.6 trillion transactions worldwide, the shift to an always-on economy is no longer theoretical. It is an active and accelerating reality. However, this transition is not linear. Modernization is unfolding unevenly across global jurisdictions, technologies and financial infrastructures.
- Key insight: To thrive in the new age of real-time payments, banks must invest in a continuous operating model that integrates payments, treasury and working capital into a seamless ecosystem.
- Supporting data: With the payments industry generating $2.5 trillion in revenue from $2.0 quadrillion in value flows, supported by 3.6 trillion transactions worldwide, the shift to an always-on economy is no longer theoretical.
- Forward look: Historically, treasury has operated in rigid, batch-based cycles, with payments timed to market cutoffs. In an always-on environment, that model is becoming obsolete.
To thrive in the new age of real-time payments, banks must invest in a continuous operating model that integrates payments, treasury and working capital into a seamless ecosystem.
BankThink Finance is not prepared for the coming wave of value destruction - When you pitch a startup to investors, you always focus on the TAM, the total addressable market. In the world of blockchain and crypto, that often means looking at the size of the traditional financial markets in play. Cross-border payments are a good example: The low-value cross-border payments revenue pool stands at roughly $100 billion a year, in a market characterized by transactions that can take days and cost between $15 and $50 each.
- Key insight: Just as internet connectivity destroyed the market for long-distance telephone service, blockchain technology is going to make high-margin transactions, like cross-border funds transfers, dirt cheap.
- Supporting data: $50 international wire transfers are about to be replaced with transactions that cost under $0.05.
- Forward look: Established players should brace themselves.
Just as internet connectivity destroyed the market for long-distance telephone service, blockchain technology is going to make high-margin transactions, like cross-border funds transfers, dirt cheap. Established players should brace themselves.
SEC's novel ETF review draws early pushback over prediction markets - On June 30, the SEC asked for public comments on the regulator's proposed amendments to novel ETFs. About a week in, responses tilt to a hard "no thank you." A little more than one week in, the SEC's request for public feedback on novel exchange-traded funds — those that "invest in innovative asset classes or engage in novel investment strategies" — has drawn a small but largely skeptical set of responses.
Block to pay $45M to states for fraud on Cash App --A settlement with 46 states resolves allegations that Block's Cash App engaged in deceptive marketing and failed to maintain legally mandated fraud protections. The deal also requires Block to honor an agreement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau made in the final days of the Biden administration.
CFPB job cuts frozen until a new director is confirmed -A federal judge has put on hold a plan for mass layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau until a new, permanent director is confirmed by the Senate. The judge's order ratifies an agreement on the issue between the CFPB and its union.
CFPB, in major turnabout, to revisit credit-card late fees - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is preparing to request information from credit-card issuers about their late fees. The renewed interest in late fees is a surprise, given the agency last year sided with the banking industry to kill a Biden-era rule that would have dropped the charges from $32 to $8.
Community banks notch rare victory in housing package — In a Congress that has been overwhelmingly focused on delivering for the crypto industry, community banks may finally get their own legislative win.
- Key insight: The housing package raises the threshold under which reciprocal deposits should be treated as regulated deposits rather than "brokered."
- What's at stake: The change means that more banks that aren't considered "too big to fail" can attract local business and municipal deposits without the risk that those deposits will flee in times of stress.
- Forward look: President Donald Trump could still veto the bill on Friday, which would send it back to Congress to overturn. Alternatively, Trump could allow the bill to become law by doing nothing.
As the deadline for President Donald Trump to sign or veto a housing package looms, hanging in the balance is a reciprocal deposit provision that would give small banks more room to compete for large corporate and municipal depositors.
Trump says he won't sign housing bill — President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he will not sign the housing bill.
- Key insight: Trump promises to not sign the bill, but has not said whether he plans to veto it or not.
- Forward look: The bill becomes law at midnight without Trump's signature or veto.
- What's at stake: A number of community bank-favored riders are in the bill, including two brokered deposit bills.
The bill, which passed with wide bipartisan support, will become law at midnight if President Donald Trump doesn't veto it.
Housing bill quietly limps its way into law - — After months of negotiations and weeks of last-minute drama, the bipartisan housing bill became law at midnight.
- Key insight: A bipartisan housing bill passed Congress with overwhelming margins in both chambers before President Donald Trump canceled a signing ceremony the morning it was to become law.
- What's at stake: The law reshapes manufactured and modular housing rules, restricts large institutional investors from buying single-family homes, and includes a handful of banking industry priorities like brokered deposit reforms.
- Forward look: Housing groups say the legislation is a good start, but other reforms — like tax tweaks and other changes to boost housing supply and activity — are still needed.
A consumer group that blocks insurance hikes now faces state attack - California’s top insurance official is taking unprecedented steps to weaken a consumer group that has fought insurance hikes for decades and now is battling plans to remake the state’s ailing property-insurance market. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s effort to cut millions of dollars that Los Angeles-based Consumer Advocate has been paid for its work is the latest step in his wide-ranging effort to stabilize the state insurance market. Devastating wildfires have made California the epicenter of a nationwide property-insurance crisis that has seen insurers withdraw from risky areas and raise rates. From coastal to heartland states, officials are debating how to keep coverage affordable and available — and they invoke California as a nightmare scenario. Consumer Watchdog, which calls itself “the nation’s most aggressive consumer advocate,” has hounded Lara’s department with lawsuits, records requests and regulatory appeals to block his stabilization plan, which it calls a giveaway to insurers. With Lara set to leave the office in January due to term limits, he is trying to revise a pillar of California’s system that requires insurers to pay consumer advocates that intervene in rate cases. Rules proposed by the insurance department would make it harder for consumer advocates to collect payments — and be a direct hit on Consumer Watchdog. No group has used the California intervenor process, or collected more money from it, than Consumer Watchdog, according to the state Department of Insurance. Of $1.5 million paid to outside intervenors in 2025, Consumer Watchdog collected $1.47 million. The group has received $3 million for insurance-rate interventions since 2020, Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court said. The figure represents 13 percent of the group’s budgets in that period. The nonprofit says it raises substantive objections when insurers attempt to raise prices excessively. Last year alone, Consumer Watchdog says, it saved property and auto insurance policyholders $2.35 billion in premiums. Insurers laud Lara’s move, saying objections from Consumer Watchdog are sometimes without merit and have deterred them from doing business in California. Lara calls it a “central component” of his campaign to make California insurable for the long run. It takes “too doggone long to get the California Department of Insurance to approve a rate,” said Steve Young, senior vice president and general counsel for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California. Young said Lara is proposing “common sense ground rules” that should entice insurers back to the state. In California, half of insurance rate filings take more than 225 days to close, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Nationally, the figure is 35 days. Mike Zaremski, an insurance analyst with BMO Financial Group, lauded Lara’s proposal in an April research note, saying the country’s “largest and most dysfunctional insurance market is finally becoming more [insurer] friendly.” But Dave Jones, a former California insurance commissioner, called Lara’s proposal “terrible.” “Consumer groups are not always right. But in my experience, they add a lot of value to the process,” Jones said. “It’s important that they be able to continue to meaningfully participate in rate proceedings.” Lara’s proposed regulations are pending final review this month by a California office that checks for compliance with state law. If approved, they would take effect shortly after. Lara’s attempt faces opposition and possible litigation from Consumer Watchdog. Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the group, said by phone that Lara is dismantling consumer protections that have long shielded Californians from the “rapacious greed and abuses of insurance companies.” He said the group will consider legal action against the new rules. A successful ballot measure that Rosenfield spearheaded in 1988 created the intervenor system and effected other changes such as making the state insurance commissioner an elected position rather than appointed. Proposition 103 also specifies that anytime insurers want to raise rates, they must get approval from the regulator. The approval requirement sets California apart from many states, which let insurers change prices freely as long as they notify authorities.
Consumer Credit Unexpectedly Shrinks For The First Time Since 2024 As Credit Card Rates Jump - After two consecutive outsized jumps in consumer credit in the months of March and April, when gas prices surged and inflation resumed its track higher, lifting most prices as a result of the war in Iran, moments ago the Fed published its latest consumer credit (G.19) report for the month of May and it was a doozy: instead of the expected $17.5BN increase, in May total consumer credit unexpectedly shrank for the first time since November 2024.The move was driven by a notable slowdown in nonrevolving credit, coupled with the biggest drop in revolving (credit card) debt since late 2024. Specifically, car and student loans (collectively non-revolving credit), rose by a modest $5.1 billion.It was unclear what was behind the muted rise: recall that for the first quarter of 2026, student loans surged by $28 billion while auto loans posted a $2.4 billion decline, perhaps due to the very high interest rates on the debt (we will get an update for Q2 next month).What is interesting, is that while auto loans have barely budged since late 2023, staying around 1.55 trillion for nearly three years, student loans have resumed their ascent, and after a modest decline in late 2023, student loans are once again at all time highs just shy of $1.9 trillion. At the same time, revolving credit, which mostly means credit card debt, unexpectedly shrank by a notable $5.3 billion, following two months of $10BN+ increases. It will be interesting to see if the paydown of credit card debt reflect in weaker retail sales for the month of June, which we will know when the report comes out in one week's time. Finally for those keeping tabs, after a modest decline in the previous two quarter, the average interest rate on credit card accounts assessed interest rose to 22.15%...
Waymo Robotaxi "Snitches" On Two 15-Year-Olds Drinking & Shooting Orbeez Guns In Bay Area -Two 15-year-old boys were detained in San Mateo Monday afternoon after the Waymo robotaxi they were riding in reported them to police - for drinking alcohol and firing a gel-bead blaster out of the moving car - then pulled itself over so officers could collect them. Waymo's remote monitors spotted the behavior on the vehicle's interior cameras and called the San Mateo Police Department around 2:10 p.m. with the car's exact location. The company then disabled the vehicle near 20th Avenue and El Camino Real, telling the pair the car was having trouble - a ruse that bought officers time to get into position. Because the initial report described what looked like a real firearm, police conducted a high-risk stop, approaching with guns drawn and a police dog deployed. No one was hurt. Inside, officers found an Orbeez-style gel blaster - painted over to pass for the real thing - and open alcohol. The teens cooperated, were detained, and were released to their parents. The case has been forwarded to the San Mateo County District Attorney's office for review of possible charges, including underage drinking, and police say they plan to pull the Waymo's interior video.
Trump launches Trump Accounts, rings stock market opening bell President Trump opened U.S. financial markets and officially launched Trump Accounts on Monday, marking the first time the opening bell has been rung from the Oval Office. The president rang the opening bell at 9:30 a.m. alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), tech billionaire Michael Dell and his wife, Susan Dell, and New York Stock Exchange president Lynn Martin, among others. “The American dream belongs to every child, and today we are equipping the next generation with the right to claim their rightful share of it,” Bessent said. Trump Accounts will be available for children who do not turn 18 before the end of the calendar year in which their parents open an account, according to the IRS. The program was created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law last year. “If parents have not done so already, and they are doing so in record numbers, they should go right away to TrumpAccounts.gov and sign their child up for a free investment savings account,” Trump said. Trump noted that donors are putting “millions and millions of dollars into the accounts of poor children.” “The parents can’t even believe it’s happening,” he said. “It’s an amazing thing.” In December, Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to help fund Trump Accounts.
Some College Students Are Testing At The Level Of 10-Year-Olds - Are you smarter than a 4th grader? Gone are the days of university freshmen reading classical philosophers like Plato or contemporary pedagogues like Ta-Nehisi Coates. These days, incoming college students are lucky if they can get through Judy Blume’s “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.” According to a new “Survey of Adult Skills” conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development - a forum for 38 high-income, predominantly Western countries - a not insignificant number of adult students enrolled in higher education are now reading and doing math at a level which, in a more functional society, would be alarming for a middle schooler. The survey, first spotted by the Economist, tested around 160,000 people of all ages, across all 38 member states. It found that across all OECD member countries, a full 8 percent of college students are reading at the level of a ten-year-old, if not worse. While countries like Germany and France rang in at under 5 percent, countries like Poland, Israel, and the United States blew the curve at 21, 20, and 14 percent, respectively. The numbers aren’t much better when it comes to math.Across OECD countries, 9 percent of college students do math at or below a ten-year-old level. In Italy, the US, and Slovakia, that figure jumps to over 15 percent — only outdone by Israel, where roughly 21 percent of college students were underachieving at the same low benchmark. It seems there are numerous compounding explanations for these test results: pandemic-era learning gaps leading to lower levels of preparation, declining college enrollment forcing schools to lower admissions standards, and lower levels of public funding for education, to name a few. The results also coincide with the explosion of large language models like ChatGPT, which by many accounts have carved out a new floor for academic failure in both K-12 and college-level education.While there’s no denying how complicated the issue is, there is evidence that removing technology from classrooms altogether could offer an immediate boost. In one classroom in Minneapolis, for example, a literature and English teacher banned phones and laptops, requiring all coursework to be done on pencil and paper. As the school-year started in September, just 46 percent of the students involved said they felt confident about their reading skills. A few months later in February, that number stood at 95 percent. Though it’s just one classroom, something is clearly off the rails in the education systems of the richest countries of the world — and the longer it goes unaddressed, the more students will be pushed into the world with the reading skills of 4th graders.
Brown University Prof Bans Take-Home Exams After Mass-Cheating -A Brown University professor says he will no longer allow students to take exams at home after he caught a large chunk of his class cheating on a test. Economics Professor Roberto Serrano said he allowed students to take a midterm at home, and 40 students, nearly half the class, earned a perfect 100; among the 86 students in the class, the average overall class score was 96, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported July 6. “I immediately knew that something was fishy. In previous editions of the course, the average grade in the midterm ranged from 65 to 80,” the Ivy League professor said. He said further review seemed to confirm his suspicions, so he told the class: “I’m not going to declare it void for now. I’m going to give the class a chance to prove me wrong. If the distribution of grades in the final exam looks roughly similar to the distribution of grades on the midterm, then I’ll count the midterm. If not, I will declare the midterm null and void. Also, the final will be in person.” Serrano told the Chronicle that, unfortunately, his fears were confirmed. “Between the midterm in March and the final in May, there was a consistent flow of students dropping the class — many of them had scored 100 on the midterm,” he said. “Of the 59 students that took the final, 19 of them failed, so they also failed the course. Quite a few showed up, signed the exam, and turned it in blank. The average grade for this final was by far the lowest in the history of this course.” Underscoring the cheating scandal, Serrano is blind, and has had to overcome numerous hurdles as a student and an academic. Asked what he thinks of students taking the easy route, Serrano said they’re only selling themselves short. “A culture of effort and hard work should be inherent to learning. I worry many of our students now have the wrong idea, believing that the answer to any question can be obtained with a couple of clicks of the mouse,” he told the Chronicle. “I tell them that years from now, their grades won’t matter. What will matter is how much they learned and how much stayed in their brain.”
The cost of HIV drugs for Medicare is projected to skyrocket by 2035 - As more people with HIV reach retirement age, the annual cost of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for Medicare for people 65 or older is projected to nearly triple over the next decade, from $6.4 billion in 2026 to $17.8 billion by 2035. Medicare is the federal health insurance program for older Americans and people with disabilities. The analysis, published today in JAMA Network Open, projects that 63% of the cumulative cost to Medicare for older beneficiaries living with HIV will be to pay for ART, which is the lifelong treatment that suppresses the virus to non-detectable levels. Without these antiviral medications, HIV goes from a chronic to a fatal condition. The study based its cost projections on current ART prescribing patterns, healthcare-associated inflation, and data showing that more people with HIV are living into their 70s and 80s because of ART. The findings surprised lead author Emily P. Hyle, MD, a Boston-based infectious disease physician at Mass General Brigham and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. People with HIV tend to have a higher risk of certain cancers and heart disease, so she assumed these comorbidities contributed more to the overall cost of care for HIV patients, she told CIDRAP News. It turns out that, because ART drugs are so expensive, the biggest hurdle Medicare faces in maintaining costs for HIV patients is the price of these medications. The analysis explored two cost-containment strategies that could bring down the price of ART for Medicare. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, allows Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies on the price of certain high-cost medications, including Biktarvy, a popular ART pill that combines three drugs. For Biktarvy alone, researchers found that Medicare could save a cumulative $12.7 billion over the next 10 years if the minimum IRA-proposed discounts were accepted. Also, if generic versions were immediately available for all ART medications, Hyle and her colleagues estimate that could reduce all HIV-related costs for Medicare by 60%. This would lower overall Medicare spending for beneficiaries with HIV by 38%. But lower drug costs for Medicare might incur unintended consequences, warned the study authors. The 340B drug program allows hospitals, community health clinics, and other healthcare organizations to buy pharmaceuticals at heavily discounted prices and then bill health insurance, including Medicare, at standard rates. These entities are allowed to keep the difference, which many HIV programs use to subsidize other services. At a time when funding is increasingly precarious, Hyle worries that lowering the overall price that Medicare must pay for ART could diminish an important funding source for organizations caring for people living with HIV. These include vital safety net services for Americans who lack health insurance.
HIV dramatically increases the risk of HPV-related anal cancer, data show -- Richard Goldman lived with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) for at least five years with few symptoms. When he developed rectal pain at age 40, his doctor said he just had hemorrhoids. Goldman waited months to discover the real source of the pain: anal cancer. It was 1989, and scientists had only just begun to link anal cancer to human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that causes 90% of anal cancers. HPV also causes almost all cervical cancers and most cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, and head and neck. Researchers didn’t learn that people with HIV are at high risk for HPV-related anal cancers until the mid- to late-1990s. Goldman’s doctors said they had no idea what to expect when treating anal cancer in someone with a severely weakened immune system, and that he should “get his affairs in order.” Doctors today know far more about HPV-related anal cancers—including how to prevent them—than when Goldman was diagnosed. Almost everyone who has ever had sex has been exposed to HPV, a large family of viruses that cause six types of cancer: anal cancer, cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, penis cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer.HPV spreads through intimate, skin-to-skin contact. In the vast majority of cases, the immune system keeps HPV in check, and the virus doesn’t pose a threat.People with weakened immune systems, including those with HIV or who have received solid-organ transplants, are at much higher risk. A study published today in JAMA Network Open finds that people with HIV are 4.5 times more likely to develop a cancer fueled by HPV. Organ transplant recipients are more than twice as likely People with HIV are 59 times as likely to develop anal cancer than other people, according to the study of more than 350,000 people born from 1940 to 2000, led by Swedish researchers. People with HIV are eight times as likely to develop penile or vulvar cancer, and 2.5 times as likely to develop cervical cancer. Researchers found no statistically significant increased risk among people with HIV for head and neck cancers. The study had no information about vaginal cancers. Nearly 11,300 new cases of anal cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year, including 3,570 in men and 7,700 in women, according to the American Cancer Society. About 1,700 people die. While women make up the bulk of people with anal cancer, men have a much higher risk. According to the new study, straight men with HIV are more than six times as likely to develop anal cancer than others, while men who have sex with men are five times as likely. The risk of anal cancer in HIV-positive men who have sex with men is now higher than the risk for cervical cancer was in women before the advent of Pap tests, said Mark Einstein, MD, chair of obstetrics and gynecology and women's health at Montefiore Einstein Medical Center in New York, who was not involved in the new study.People whose HIV is not well controlled were 8.6 times more likely to develop an HPV-related cancer, the study found. But even people whose HIV is well-controlled have a risk of HPV-related cancer 3.9 times higher than others.
COVID-related healthcare costs drop sharply 3 months after acute infection, study suggests A new analysis of more than 930,000 Medicare beneficiaries suggests that COVID infection is associated with a sharp spike in healthcare use and costs during the acute illness phase, but those differences diminish substantially over time, with only modest increases in healthcare use and spending in the first three months after infection. The study, published this week in JAMA Network Open, compared 937,077 Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed as having COVID-19 from February 2020 to November 2022 with more than 4.8 million beneficiaries who did not have COVID. Researchers led by scientists from the US Department of Health and Human Services followed participants for up to 40 weeks after diagnosis and examined differences in symptoms and healthcare use and spending across the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants. Researchers identified 21 possible symptoms associated with postacute COVID, including fatigue, respiratory problems, and cognitive impairment. In the week immediately following a COVID diagnosis, beneficiaries were 41.71 percentage points more likely than those in the control group to receive at least one diagnosis for a postacute-COVID symptom. From week one to week 12 after infection, that difference declined to 5.22. From weeks 13 to 40, the difference narrowed even further, reaching 1.94 percentage points. Healthcare spending followed a similar trajectory. Compared with the control group, Medicare spending was $7,933.13 higher on average when beneficiaries were in the first week of infection. That amount decreased to $232.31 from wees one to 12 post-infection and fell to just $28.21 per week from weeks 13 through 40. Differences in healthcare use were also highest during the first week after infection, then dropped significantly in the following weeks. The difference in the number of hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits averaged 1.78 during the first week and fell to an average of 0.03 visits per week in weeks 13 to 40. The findings are at odds with previous surveys suggesting that 4.5% to 6.5% of older adults experience long COVID. “Our study did not find increases in recorded diagnoses or health care utilization, in contrast to what these self-reports of long COVID might suggest,” write the authors. One possible explanation, they write, is that symptoms may go unrecorded if beneficiaries don’t seek healthcare. Other factors could include underreporting when healthcare is used and difficulty distinguishing long COVID symptoms from preexisting chronic illnesses in older populations. Although the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic is over, write the authors, “these findings may be useful in considering how we would prepare to assess the immediate and longer-term impacts of future infectious diseases in the Medicare population.” The authors also call on future research to investigate the underlying reasons for the low rates of care-seeking behavior observed in their findings relative to data showing higher levels of self-reported long-COVID symptoms.
Persistent vision problems after COVID linked to ongoing inflammation, nerve damage Long-lasting vision problems following mild cases of COVID-19 may stem from persistent inflammation and nerve damage, even as the results of standard eye examinations appear normal, according to a study today in Nature Communications. Although less well-known than other long-COVID symptoms, ocular symptoms like pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision, and difficulty reading affect up to 31% to 35% of people with the condition, the study authors note. But this abnormal eye behavior can’t be detected by standard methods, making it difficult for patients to get a diagnosis or treatment. To better understand the eye problems that develop following a COVID-19 infection, researchers led by a team at Linköping University in Sweden examined 100 people who developed ocular symptoms persisting from three months to three years post-infection. The researchers compared their findings with 32 people who had had COVID-19 but didn’t develop eye symptoms. Roughly 78% of participants had eye symptoms that lasted at least one year, and about 33% of participants had symptoms that lasted at least two years. Symptoms were so significant for a third of participants that they reported taking part- or full-time leave from work. Only 39% of participants had a formal long-COVID diagnosis. Participants with persistent symptoms experienced a range of ocular abnormalities, including difficulty seeing things up close, eye misalignment, inability to maintain focus, and weakened reflexes in their pupils. Many participants reported that their symptoms interfered with daily activities, particularly reading printed text or screens. Sensitivity to light was another common symptom. But because these impairments were not detectable in routine exams, it was hard for those with symptoms to get help. “Ocular pathology from SARS-CoV-2 infection…lacks diagnostic criteria and biomarkers, hindering awareness, diagnosis, and medical management,” write the researchers. The specialized tests used in the study were able to detect changes that conventional exams missed. When the researchers analyzed participants’ tear samples, they identified nearly 200 dysregulated proteins linked to immune activity, ocular inflammation, and nerve damage or loss. “Strikingly, the same protein pattern has been found in blood and tissue in cases of severe and fatal COVID in other studies,” notes a Linköping University news release. Tests of pupillary reflexes showed that the pupils of those with persistent eye symptoms didn’t respond as expected to changes in light or focus. The findings suggest dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system, which controls how pupils respond to stimuli. Our findings suggest that these people have suffered a severe reaction to COVID-19 manifested in the eyes. The researchers also found that people with persistent eye symptoms had fewer nerve fibers in the cornea and a weakened blink response, which may indicate nerve damage. “Our findings suggest that these people have suffered a severe reaction to COVID-19 manifested in the eyes, with long-term inflammation and an impact on the nerves that control multiple eye functions,”
Having long COVID worsens heart-related fitness, study finds People with long COVID often report fatigue and other symptoms that make it challenging for them to enjoy life like they once did. A study published recently in JACC: Advances found that people with more long-COVID symptoms are less active and have poorer cardiovascular health measures. But more investigation is needed to understand the relationship between activity levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) for those with long COVID. The results “demonstrate associations between a high burden of persistent long COVID symptoms and objective indicators of impaired cardiopulmonary fitness,” wrote the US researchers. “Additional research, including those employing longitudinal designs, is needed to determine if long COVID at least six months after SARS-CoV-2 infection is a novel risk factor for cardiopulmonary disease.” The scientists examined wearable activity tracker data for six months from 1,475 participants who were enrolled in the Researching COVID-19 to Enhance Recovery Adult Cohort Study (RECOVER) to evaluate certain measures of cardiovascular health, such as heart rate variability, resting heart rate, heart rate while exercising, activity level, and step count. Previous research looked at wearable data in patients about six months post-COVID infection. For this study, the team examined data from patients at an average of 21 months after infection to understand the longer-term impact of long COVID on cardiopulmonary fitness. Most participants were female (76%), White (65%), overweight or obese (70%), and had low symptom burden (66%) as defined by the 2024 Long COVID Research Index (LCRI). Those with a greater symptom burden (34%) took fewer steps daily, spent less time being active, and engaged in more sedentary behavior than those with fewer symptoms. People with more symptoms also experienced “significantly lower” heart rate variability (HRV) and elevated resting heart rates. Having lower HRV and a higher resting heart rate has been linked to CVD and even death. “In the Long COVID population, prior studies suggest that reduced cardiopulmonary fitness and decreased physical activity reflects a combination of limited exercise capacity and intentional pacing to reduce the risk of postexertional malaise, rather than a lack of motivation or interest in exercise,” the authors wrote. “Our wearable sensor data cannot definitely disentangle the effects of physiologic impairment (eg, ventilatory, circulatory, and neuromuscular limitations) vs intentional effort restriction on the cardiopulmonary fitness among participants.” Past research has identified a connection between long COVID and CVD. An analysis published in June in the journal Clinical Medicine Insights: Cardiology found 11.9% of patients with long COVID experienced CVD, while 6.8% of people without long COVID had it. A study from Sweden published earlier this year also showed an association between having a long-COVID diagnosis and experiencing a cardiovascular event, such as cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat) and coronary artery disease. The authors of this most recent study urge more investigation into the relationship between activity levels and CVD. “Longitudinal analyses of physical activity with long-term follow-up are needed to evaluate whether the indicators of cardiovascular fitness and decreases in physical activity translate into an increased risk of cardiovascular disease,” they wrote.
HHS seeks to add COVID-19 countermeasure injuries to federal compensation program -- The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department is seeking to add COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics to a government program that compensates people for injuries or deaths linked to the administration of medical countermeasures recommended by the agency during public health emergencies. First reported by Stat News, the proposed rule would establish a COVID-19 Countermeasures Injury Table for the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP). Established under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, CICP provides compensation for unreimbursed medical services, lost employment income, and survivor death benefits to those deemed eligible.“The Table will list and explain injuries that, based on compelling, reliable, valid, medical, and scientific evidence, are presumed to be caused by covered COVID-19 countermeasures, and set forth the time periods in which the onset of these injuries must occur after the administration or use of these covered COVID-19 countermeasures,” the proposed rule states.While the proposed rule does not specify any particular countermeasures, it would likely include COVID-19 vaccines, which have been associated with a rare but real risk of myocarditis, particularly in young men. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine critic, once claimed the COVID vaccine is “the deadliest vaccine ever made.” "Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy, HHS is restoring transparency and accountability because the American people deserve clear, evidence-based information about both the benefits and the known risks associated with medical countermeasures," an HHS spokesperson said in an email.The rule is set to be proposed in November, with a comment period ending in January 2027.
Ebola deaths top 500 as DR Congo health workers threaten to strike - The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached another grim milestone, as 506 people have now died from the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which has no targeted treatments or vaccines.The DRC Ministry of Health has now confirmed 1,561 cases in the outbreak, with the epicenter in Ituri province and significant transmission in North and South Kivu provinces, as well. Thirty-three of the DRC cases are new, as are 14 of the deaths. Neighboring Uganda has 20 cases, two of them fatal.Yesterday healthcare workers in Ituri issued a 24-hour notice of an impending strike, saying working conditions were too poor to continue. They reported unpaid benefits, low wages, and inadequate supplies since the outbreak officially began in May. The strike could hinder the execution of two experimental therapies that were launched this past week in the DRC. Enrollees will be given the antiviral drug remdesivir, the experimental antibody treatment MBP134, or a combination of both, with survival rates calculated during a 28-day follow-up period.Local residents in the hard-hit city of Bunia told news media that the trial is the first sign of hope they have had in weeks that the outbreak would be contained and stopped. In related news, the World Health Organization (WHO) also added the first diagnostic test for the Ebola Bundibugyo virus to its emergency use listing. The test can quickly confirm infection in blood samples.Experts suspect tests given in the DRC throughout the spring may have missed early infections caused by the Bundibugyo strain, instead only assessing for the more common Zaire strain of the Ebola virus.“Public health emergencies require not only speed, but also confidence that the health products being used meet standards for quality, safety and performance,” Yukiko Nakatani, MD, PhD, WHO assistant director-general for health systems, access, and data, said in an agency press release. “During a fast-moving outbreak, timely access to quality-assured diagnostic tests can make a critical difference in containing transmission. Through this Emergency Use Listing, WHO is helping countries access trusted diagnostic tools more rapidly so that they can respond more effectively.”In mid-May the WHO said the DRC had a capacity of approximately 200 to 400 tests per day, but it can now conduct more than 2,000 tests per day in a network of 10 laboratories across the affected provinces.Despite increased testing, contact tracing remains difficult in the region, and a patient zero has still not been identified in this outbreak.
Ebola workers strike as CDC head says agency’s response will last months | CIDRAP - To add to an already difficult public health crisis, some healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have gone on strike, saying they are fighting an Ebola virus in an outbreak with inadequate equipment and low wages, the Associated Press (AP) reports. While no official strike has been declared, workers are leaving their jobs at clinics and treatment centers amidst the growing outbreak. As of today, BNO News notes 1,729 Ebola cases and 582 deaths in the DRC and Uganda, where the Bundibugyo strain of the virus is spreading in an already chaotic region. Workers in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak, told the AP they have not been paid wages and bonuses since the outbreak was declared on May 15. In addition to healthcare workers, safety and security teams who help identify Ebola in the community are also striking. Government officials in Ituri said the missing payments are because of the broader implications of the outbreak. “The fact that Bunia airport is closed is hampering the very implementation of the response, particularly certain aspects of the flow of funds. This is one of the reasons that may account for the delay in payment,” Akilimali Pierre, the incident manager at Congo’s National Institute of Public Health, told the AP. The strike is causing residents of Ituri province to worry that worker absences will only continue to foment case transmission. Yesterday in an email sent to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employees, acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, said the outbreak, which is already the third-largest in history, requires a renewed call for frontline responders. Bhattacharya said the CDC’s involvement will last for several months and require more personnel. “The coming months will require us to make hard decisions about how to prioritize work, especially programmatic activities in [CDC centers, institutes, and offices, or CIOs],” he wrote in an email obtained by the Federal News Network. “We understand the challenges related to balancing program priorities and support for emergency responses, and we appreciate your leadership and flexibility in planning for how your CIO can support response needs.” Currently the Ebola outbreak is designated as a level 1 response for the CDC, which requires the “largest number of staff possible to work 24/7 on the response,” the email said. The last time the CDC had a level 1 activation was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the agency had more than 3,000 more staff working with state and federal offices on response. But staff said the agency must grow by hiring more scientists to meet the needs of the Ebola outbreak, as well as domestic measles outbreaks, foodborne illnesses, and New World screwworm in animals. This fiscal year, the CDC has made only 38 new hires.
Ebola outbreak in DR Congo still outpacing response - As Ebola cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to climb, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official is warning that the outbreak could be much larger than case counts indicate.Chikwe Ihekweazu, MBBS, MPH, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme,told Reuters that 80% of new Ebola patients in Ituri province—the epicenter of the outbreak—are not on contact lists of existing patients. That suggests the outbreak, which is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, is largely spreading undetected.Ihekweazu said estimates based on modeling and test-positivity rates indicate the number of cases could be two to four times higher than confirmed cases.According to the daily Ebola update from BNO News, DRC has 1,792 confirmed Ebola cases and 625 deaths. The case-fatality rate is 34%. Neighboring Uganda has 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. “We continue facing the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever on the continent,” Wessam Mankoula, MBBS, MPH, an epidemiologist with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said yesterday in a press briefing. The outbreak is already the third-largest on record and could surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak and the 2018 North Kivu, DRC, outbreak at its current rate. Mankoula highlighted a chart showing that 1,596 cases were reported in the DRC in the first six weeks after the outbreak was declared in mid-May, compared with 994 in the first six weeks of the West Africa outbreak and 378 in the North Kivu outbreak. “Unfortunately, the virus is still ahead of our response,” Mankoula said. “It’s moving faster than we can deploy the resources to control the situation.”DRC is no stranger to Ebola, having experienced 16 outbreaks prior to the current one. But the challenges facing the response are numerous and include an ongoing conflict between the Congolese military and rebel groups, insufficient contact tracing, and community mistrust. On top of that, Ebola responders in the country’s hardest-hit province went on strike this week over unpaid benefits and poor working conditions.Mankoula noted that 112 healthcare workers in DRC have gotten infected, and 32 have died. “We’re still losing our healthcare workers in DRC,” he said.There are no licensed treatments or vaccines for Bundibugyo. A clinical trial for two antiviral treatment candidates—the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral remdesivir—began enrolling patients last week in the DRC, but it could take several months before trial investigators know if either of those treatments is effective.
The Eaton wildfire evacuation shelter near LA saw outbreaks of norovirus, COVID, and flu, report reveals Fueled by 90-mile-per-hour winds, the Eaton wildfire in Los Angeles County began on January 7, 2025, and firefighters did not contain it until January 31. The blaze killed 19 people and forced the evacuation of about 100,000 people, according to a study in yesterday’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Many of the evacuees needed to stay in a shelter, including some of the about 1,800 people transported from assisted or skilled nursing facilities. By January 13, reports emerged of gastrointestinal illness, COVID-19, and flu in people staying at the Eaton wildfire evacuation shelter, and these concerns were filtered to the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD). To contain possible outbreaks, public health staff recommended bolstered monitoring and infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts and the addition of several isolation areas. “Infectious disease outbreaks in evacuation shelters are an important public health concern and exacerbate the challenges faced by persons seeking safety during and after an emergency,” wrote the authors of the paper, led by the PPHD. “Rapid implementation and sustained adherence to standardized IPC protocols should be part of standard shelter establishment procedures,” they added. “Early adaption of these measures can reduce transmission, morbidity, and mortality, and decrease the likelihood of outbreaks.” Immediately after the public health department received reports of illness, staff visited to identify ways the shelter could improve its ICP measures. Public health experts observed improper hand washing and incorrect usage of personal protective equipment. Many of the cleaning products did not disinfect against norovirus, and the shelter had no isolation space. Infectious disease outbreaks in evacuation shelters are an important public health concern and exacerbate the challenges faced by persons seeking safety during and after an emergency. The shelter staff made the recommended changes, and both Pasadena and California public health staffers regularly visited the shelter to ensure proper implementation of the ICP measures. In addition to the recommended changes, the PPHD and the California Department of Public Health tracked ill shelter residents when they sought care from the medical staff, as well as staff members when they participated in testing or reported illness to their supervisors. Public health officials detected 104 cases of norovirus, 56 cases of COVID-19, 29 cases of flu, and 30 cases “nonspecific respiratory illness” among evacuees and staff members. Of all the ill shelter residents, 11 had co-infections—four people with norovirus and COVID-19, five with norovirus and flu, and two with COVID-19 and flu. Challenges of implementing infection control steps It’s possible that the experts failed to capture some illnesses, because people with milder symptoms might not have sought medical treatment or employees did not report an illness to their supervisors, the authors noted. What’s more, declining cases of illness could be related to fewer people staying in the shelter. Still, the authors underscore the importance of infection control and prevention in communal shelters following climate emergencies.
Estimated US flu vaccine efficacy against death in kids 80% over 8 seasons During eight respiratory illness seasons, estimated influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against death in US children was 80% overall, 77% in those who had underlying medical conditions, and 87% among those without such conditions, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers reporttoday in Pediatrics. The team used data from the US Influenza Associated Pediatric Mortality Surveillance System and survey data to estimate VE against death and assess vaccination status in children aged 6 months to 17 years who died of their infections from August 2016 through July 2025. The study excluded the 2020-21 flu season. “Seasonal influenza vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk of influenza and severe complications among children aged 6 months and older,” the study authors noted. “Since 2010, reported numbers of influenza-associated pediatric deaths among children younger than 18 years have ranged from 37 during the 2011 to 2012 season to 289 during the 2024 to 2025 season.” In total, 1,234 children aged 6 months to 17 years died of flu. Overall, 48% of pediatric deaths occurred in children with one or more underlying medical conditions and 52% in those without such conditions. Of deaths in children with at least one high-risk condition, the greatest proportion of flu vaccination was in those with non-asthma lung disorders (35%), followed by immune-weakening conditions (33%) and genetic and mitochondrial disorders (29%) and was lowest among those with obesity (18%), diabetes (11%), and hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease (8%). Among 1,086 deaths with flu vaccination data, only 23% of 530 children with chronic conditions and 13% of 556 children without these conditions were fully vaccinated against flu. By season, the proportion of flu deaths in children vaccinated in the current year ranged from 26% in 2018-19 to 9% in 2024-25. Vaccination rates ranged from 42% to 50% among children with high-risk medical conditions and 39% to 48% in their otherwise-healthy peers. VE against death was 80% overall, 77% among children with underlying medical conditions, and 87% in children without these conditions. VE against influenza A death in children with high-risk conditions was 68% and 77% against death related to influenza B, while VE in otherwise-healthy children was 87% against both influenza A and B. Among children with high-risk underlying conditions, VE estimates were higher for those aged 6 months to 4 years (83%) than for those aged 13 to 17 (66%). In children without such conditions, VE was also higher for those aged 6 months to 4 years (89%) than for those 13 to 17 (80%). Sensitivity analyses accounting for potential overestimation of flu vaccine coverage in US survey data confirmed the association between vaccination and protection. While neurologic, cardiac, and pulmonary conditions and genetic disorders are tied to a higher risk of flu death among children, the researchers noted that those with no underlying conditions make up roughly half of flu-related pediatric deaths.
Quick takes: More US measles, Cyclospora spike in Michigan, frozen blueberries and E coli | CIDRAPcidrap.umn.edu
- Measles cases continue to climb across the United States, with 2,170 confirmed cases reported in the United States as of late last week, 36 of which are new, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ninety-three percent of cases are part of 31 outbreaks tracked so far this year. All but 12 of this year’s cases have been locally acquired as several states battle ongoing outbreaks. Hot spots include Utah, which is now reporting 514 cases (seven new), according to the CDC measles map. The Utah health department, however, lists 502 cases (three new). Virginia is reporting 145 cases (16 new in the past week). Pennsylvania officials report 89 cases (five new), but the CDC map shows 90 cases in the state, seven of which are new.
- Over the holiday weekend the number of reported cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan has increased by 300 cases to 572, state health officials said on July 4. The cases are mostly reported in southeast Michigan, including Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Shiawassee, Jackson, Oakland, and Livingston counties. The source of the outbreak has still not been determined, but the parasite, which causes severe, watery diarrhea, has been linked in previous outbreaks to fresh cilantro, fresh basil, raspberries, snow peas, salad kits, and green onions. Cases are rarely fatal, and infections can be treated with antibiotics.
- Frozen blueberries sold at Publix stores have been recalled after they were linked to a dozen Escherichia coli cases, Food Safety News reported. The berries come from a Chilean distributer and are sold under the Comfrut brand. The organic berries were exclusively distributed to Publix stores in eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. There has been no officials reporting of the cases by the US Food and Drug Administration or the CDC, but the company said all 12 cases occurred from May 11 to June 5 of this year.
With 61 new cases, US measles outbreak fast approaching last year’s total -The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 61 new US measles cases today and 2,231 for the year, as Virginia has become the country’s latest hot spot. Last year the CDC recorded 2,289 infections for the entire year, so the nation is just 58 cases short of that as we pass the midpoint of the year. The 2025 total was the most since 1991, and the United States is now on track to lose its measles elimination status that it gained in 2000.All but 13 of this year’s cases were locally acquired, with the rest related to travel outside the country. Of the total, 20% of infections are in children age 5 and under, and 70% involve kids and young adults to age 19. Six percent of patients have been hospitalized, compared with 11% in 2025. Among all measles patients, 93% are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccine status. Measles activity in Virginia has increased, with 22 new measles cases confirmed this week and 177 for the year. On June 26, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) said that the measles outbreak that began in May in Buckingham County has expanded to include Cumberland County. “The number of outbreak cases has risen substantially in Buckingham County and in some neighboring areas,” the VDH said. Pennsylvania, meanwhile, confirmed 12 new cases this week and 101 total, and Utah lists five new cases, for a total of 507. The CDC measles map, however, shows 103 cases in Pennsylvania and 516 in Utah. This week Iowa reported its first measles case of the year, in a vaccinated woman who had traveled internationally. South Carolina continues to have the most cases this year, with 670, according to the CDC map, but the large outbreak in the Upstate region is now over. Texas has reported the third most cases for 2026, with 182. After Virginia comes Florida, with 141 cases. The Florida Department of Health, however, lists 155 measles cases through July 4.
Armed conflict tied to higher measles burden worldwide - Armed conflict is associated with higher measles burden through missed vaccinations, weakened healthcare systems, population displacement, and socioeconomic decline, researchers at King's College London and New York University (NYU) write in PLOS Medicine. Amid rising military hostilities and forced displacement around the world, the team sought a better understanding of the connection between war and preventable infectious diseases like measles. The researchers analyzed and modeled data on battle-related deaths, displacement, economic factors, life expectancy, and education from 193 We get reports from conflict-affected settings of polio outbreaks or measles making a comeback. But it’s very hard to marry conflict data and public health data to understand the impact of conflict on health,” Yesim Tozan, PhD, the study’s senior author, says in a university news release. “Whenever an external shock strikes—a natural disaster, a pandemic, or armed conflict—it tests the health system's resilience,” she adds. “During these crises, policymakers need an understanding of how the external shocks may lead to increased infectious disease burden.” The researchers estimated about 2,500 additional reported measles cases per year for roughly every 3,700 battle-related deaths. “For context, the mean number of reported measles cases globally from 2000 to 2023 was ~2,250 per country-year, indicating that the estimated conflict-associated increase is substantial relative to the baseline annual burden,” write the researchers. The effects of conflict often extended beyond periods of active fighting, according to the findings, with higher measles case counts persisting up to a year after hostilities ended. “Such delayed associations underscore the need for sustained surveillance, early recovery investments, and the integration of displaced populations into routine immunization systems,” the researchers note. Armed conflict and displacement were also associated with lower levels of socioeconomic development, which, in turn, was strongly associated with increased measles burden. Each standard-deviation increase in development was tied to a 0.32 to 0.34 standard-deviation reduction in measles cases, “suggesting that stronger health, education, and economic systems collectively reduce population vulnerability to infectious disease risks,” the researchers write.
- The number of cases in a growing cyclosporiasis outbreak in southeastern Michigan has risen to 700, according to the Detroit Free Press, with 36 people hospitalized. The gastrointestinal illness, caused by the intestinal parasite Cyclospora cayatensis, typically affects people who’ve eaten contaminated produce, including lettuce, basil, cilantro, snow peas, and raspberries. The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) has been conducting interviews with case-patients, but, as of July 4, investigators have not been able to link a specific produce type or grower to the outbreak. “This is food-borne illness forensics, and MDARD [is] working as quickly as possible to review the nearly 600 food histories to try and identify a common denominator in collaboration with our public health partners,” a spokesperson told the paper.
- The New York City Health Department has launched an investigation into two cases of Legionnaire’s disease in two neighborhoods on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Because past community clusters of the pneumonia-like illness in New York City have been linked to Legionella bacteria being spread by mists from cooling towers, the department is sampling and testing water from all cooling tower systems in the two neighborhoods. “Any New Yorkers with flu-like symptoms who live, work, or visited the affected area since late June should contact a health care provider as soon as possible,” NYC Health Commissioner Alister Martin, MD, MPP, said in a press release.
- The number of new PhD students admitted to the country’s leading research universities for fall 2026 dropped 15% compared with last year, according to a new report from the Association of American Universities (AAU). The authors of the report, which is based on data from 55 AAU member institutions, say cuts in graduate admissions can be directly linked to declining and unpredictable federal research funding. “As PhD admissions decline, America faces the alarming prospect of losing an entire generation of scientific talent,” the authors write.
An intestinal parasite is causing ‘explosive’ diarrhea in Pa. and N.J. Here’s what to know about cyclospora - An intestinal bug that can send people dashing to the loo with “explosive” diarrhea has public health experts on alert. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 145 reported cases of cyclosporiasis between May 1 and June 16, including a cluster in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. State health officials in Michigan have reported that more than 1,200 people have been diagnosed with the disease as of July 9, and another 177 cases have been diagnosed by health officials in Ohio as of July 2. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the state has recorded 28 cases of cyclosporiasis in 2026, with 14 occurring in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2025, the state recorded 40 cases. In 2024, there were 87 cases. So far, no one has died this year from the stomach infection, which is typically not considered to be life-threatening. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite. Cyclospora is so small that it can only be seen under a microscope. The parasite is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions of the world; however, people elsewhere can contract it if they consume contaminated food or water. Foodborne outbreaks in the U.S. are usually linked to imported produce such as basil, cilantro, raspberries and snow peas.“While cyclosporiasis cases can occur year-round, they typically rise during the spring and summer months,” a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Health wrote Thursday in an email. According to the CDC, the time between infection and symptom onset is approximately one week. The main indication of the infection is watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea. Other signs include bloating, cramps, fatigue, increased gas and a loss of appetite. Less common symptoms include body aches, a low-grade fever and vomiting. If left untreated, these symptoms can last anywhere between a few days to a month or longer. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some people show no symptoms. Doctors use stool samples to determine whether someone has cyclosporiasis. Cyclospora is not easy to detect, so oftentimes health providers take multiple stool samples.Once a diagnosis is confirmed, some health care providers will prescribe an antibiotic. However, according to the CDC, most people with healthy immune systems will recover without any treatment.Immunocompromised people are at risk of more severe or prolonged illness.It is not entirely known how the microscopic parasite enters food and water sources. The CDC recommends avoiding feces-contaminated food or water. However, in an area where the infection is endemic, the CDC warns that routine disinfecting is “unlikely” to kill the parasite.
Exclusive | I’m in the hospital with the 'explosive diarrhea' parasite -- Cristy Cooper, 51, is among more than 140 people infected in a multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak. Between May and June, 145 people ages 5 to 86 years across 20 states contracted the illness, according to the CDC — with New York reporting the highest number of cases, followed by Texas and Illinois. The disease, caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, is likely linked to various fresh, imported produce — but experts are not sure exactly what food exactly has led to some of the biggest clusters of cases. While no deaths have been reported, 40 people have reportedly been hospitalized, Cooper included. “I really didn’t do anything about it for the first few days, and then it just was unbearable,” she said, recounting her days and nights spent blasting the loudest farts of her life while enduring a relentless rush of poopy water. “Normally diarrhea would never send me to an ER.” Her first symptom was what she called “unbearable” diarrhea, which began on June 25. It started with “a lot of, like, just basically water coming out the back end.” Cooper said she was stunned by the sheer force, speed and volume. “You know, like when you flush a public toilet, how it goes, ‘WHOOSH!’ That’s what I would liken it to, coming out of you.” “The funniest part of it [is] literally the sounds. I was farting like a grown man.” Even sleep offered little relief. “Here’s the bad part,” she recalled. “I shat myself twice in my sleep. That was fun.” She felt it coming, but the force was simply too much. Cooper called it “absolutely” the worst diarrhea she’s ever had. “I wouldn’t wish this one on my enemies,” she said. On second thought: “Maybe an ex-husband.” Over the next two days, she developed excessive gas, fatigue, acute vomiting, nausea and painful cramping and had a fever of 100.2 degrees — all symptoms of cyclosporiasis. At its worst, she was using the toilet no less than 30 times a day. “The funniest part of it [is] literally the sounds. I was farting like a grown man,” she remembered. “I mean, like you could hear it probably three doors down, like ‘What on earth?’ That was the most bizarre part.” By Sunday, Cooper knew something was seriously wrong and checked herself into the hospital, where she finally received her diagnosis. Most people with healthy immune systems eventually recover from cyclosporiasis without treatment by resting, staying hydrated and eating what they can tolerate. “This is worse than like any flu I’ve ever gotten or anything, it’s just so…it’s miserable. I’m worn out from it. I really am.” “Nothing tastes right, nothing sounds good,” she said. “When I finally said, “Oh, well, maybe I would eat that — no. One bite, I’m like, ‘No, it just, nothing tastes right.'” She believes she’s lost at least 10 pounds during the ordeal. But if anyone is considering cyclosporiasis as a weight loss hack, Cooper wouldn’t advise it: “I don’t recommend this diet plan at all. It’s not the new Ozempic.” “This is worse than like any flu I’ve ever gotten or anything, it’s just so…it’s miserable,” she added. “I’m worn out from it. I really am.” Fortunately, Cooper is receiving treatment. Due to her sulfa allergy — sulfa is a key ingredient in trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol, the standard treatment for cyclosporiasis — doctors prescribed ciprofloxacin. She also learned that the illness can relapse for some people, with symptoms disappearing before returning again. “I’m like, please don’t be ‘some people,'” she said. Now her trips to the toilet have dropped to four or five times a day, though her business still isn’t as usual. “I haven’t had anything solid coming out of me since before Thursday is when it all started,” she revealed.
US Cyclospora cases mount as CDC lags on tracking In parts of the country, including southeast Michigan and northern Ohio, clinicians are tracking scores of cases of sudden, explosive diarrhea and gastrointestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensi. Michigan now has 1,251 cases of cyclosporiasis, according to state officials today, more than doubling the case count reported over the July 4 weekend. Typically, Michigan reports around 50 cases per year, but during the last week of June state officials first noted an outbreak of 170 cases that has since skyrocketed. Of the 1,251 patients, 44 have been hospitalized, according to the case count. In Ohio counties that border southeast Michigan, officials are tracking more than 500 cases, including 306 in Lucas County, the Associated Press reports. In an update yesterday, however, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) confirmed only 177 cases statewide as of July 2, with 28 people hospitalized. Most cases have occurred since June 20, the ODH said. No source has been identified in the outbreaks, but the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) is now recommending enhanced washing procedures for “restaurants, commercial kitchens, and other entities preparing or serving raw produce in Southeast Michigan.” The recommendations include careful washing of lettuce, herbs, green onions, raspberries, and snow peas, all foods associated with past Cyclospora outbreaks. “Cyclosporiasis is not usually life-threatening, but dehydration from frequent bouts of diarrhea can cause severe illness, particularly among younger or older people and those who have weakened immune systems,” the MDHHS said. “The time between being exposed and becoming sick is usually about one week but can range from two days to two weeks or more. Untreated, the illness may last from a few days to more than a month. Symptoms may go away and then return.”While it may seem as though Michigan is the epicenter of US Cyclospora activity, true case counts are unknown. As of July 1, 2025, FoodNet, the main foodborne illness surveillance arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), made tracking Cyclospora optional.Currently state health departments are required to survey for just two pathogens: Salmonella and Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC), which cause the largest foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States. Some states, including Michigan, have maintained Cyclospora surveillance.And the CDC is not keeping up with national data on recent outbreaks. The agency last posted an update on activity on July 1, which lists only 145 cases nationwide through June 16, with 20 hospitalizations.
Explosive diarrhea parasite cases double in Ohio. How to protect yourself - Ohio is second in the nation for cases of an intestinal parasite that causes explosive diarrhea amid a nationwide outbreak, with the number more than doubling in the past week.As of July 9, the Ohio Department of Health is reporting 364 cases of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness caused by a parasite known as cyclospora cayatenensis, in 51 counties so far in 2026, with 46 people hospitalized. That's up from 177 in 43 counties the previous week. All but six of those cases occurred in June and July, mostly since June 20.The most cases in Ohio are in Lucas County in the northwest portion of the state, which reports 86, up from 30 the previous week. Wood County, just to the south of Lucas, reports 49 cases, up from 20. Only Michigan has more than Ohio, reporting more than 1,250 cases since June 22, the Detroit News, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported July 9. Nationwide, USA TODAY reports that more than 1,000 infections have been reported as of July 9, according to STAT, a health and medical news source which cited Associated Press reports. So far, no source has been confirmed, ODH states. The department is working with local health departments, Michigan officials and state and federal partners on the investigation. This includes interviewing individuals who are sick and collaborating with partners to identify potential common exposures. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite cyclospora cayetanensis, also known as cyclospora, according to the CDC. The illness is not usually life-threatening.The parasite spreads when people eat food or drink water that was contaminated with feces. People may be at an increased risk for infection when living or traveling in tropical or subtropical regions of the world where cyclosporiasis is regularly occurring.In the U.S., outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce. According to the CDC, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), which is sold under the brand names Bactrim, Septra or Cotrim, is the treatment of choice for the illness caused by the parasite.Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are types of antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Available as a tablet, it belongs to a group of medications called sulfonamide antibiotics. A cyclosporiasis infection can often clear up on its own in healthy individuals, though symptoms may last several weeks.
Valley reports cases of nationwide gastrointestinal disease Ohioans are being urged to take extra precautions when handling fruits and vegetables to help prevent a gastrointestinal disease that has sickened hundreds of people across several states recently, including Ohio and Pennsylvania. Ohio Department of Health Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff announced on Wednesday that as of July 2, ODH has reported 177 cyclosporiasis cases in the state this year. Of those, 171 cases occurred in June, mostly since June 20. Two of those cases were in Mahoning County. The Ohio Department of Health has not reported any cases in Trumbull or Columbiana Counties. According to the Centers for Disease Control, fewer than ten cases have been confirmed in Pennsylvania since May 1. Twenty-eight Ohioans have been hospitalized. Although cyclosporiasis is not typically life-threatening, it can cause watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea. “Fortunately, there have been no deaths in Ohio, as is consistent with our past experiences with this illness,” Dr. Vanderhoff said. “Nevertheless, this is a serious illness that can cause dehydration and require people to seek emergency medical care, and it should be taken seriously.” Dr. Vanderhoff says ODH and local health departments are working with neighboring state partners and federal partners to investigate the outbreak. This includes conducting interviews and traceback investigations to help identify any potential common exposures. The illness is caused by a microscopic parasite -- Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known as Cyclospora. The disease generally is transmitted by eating contaminated produce. No common source has been identified yet. However, the investigation continues. CDC The most common symptom is watery diarrhea. Bloating or cramping, or loss of appetite can also occur. If not treated, symptoms may seem to get better and then return one or more times. Ohioans who experience these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.- The number of cases in Michigan’s cyclosporiasis outbreak has risen by more than 300 to 1,562, according to an update today from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Forty-four patients have been hospitalized to date in the outbreak of the intestinal illness, which causes diarrhea. The source of the outbreak, caused by Cyclospora parasites, has not yet been identified.
- A cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases in two neighborhoods in New York City’s Upper East Side has grown to 46 cases, with 22 patients hospitalized, the New York City Health Department said yesterday in an update. The department is continuing to investigate the source of the pneumonia-like illness, which can occur when people breathe in water vapor that contains Legionella bacteria. Officials said in the update that the outbreak is not linked to issues with plumbing systems in any buildings in the two neighborhoods, and that residents can continue to drink tap water, bathe, shower, cook, and use their air conditioners.
- Two more New World screwworm (NWS) infections have been reported this week in Texas, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service dashboard. Both detections, one in Brewster County and one in Crockett County, are in cattle. Since the first detection of the parasitic fly infection on June 3, there have been 34 cases—33 in Texas and one in New Mexico. Twenty of the cases are active, which means the infested animal is still undergoing treatment and wound management until free of NWS myiasis (maggot infection in living tissue).
Taco Bell is pulling these ingredients from menu items amid ‘explosive diarrhea’ parasite outbreak -- Taco Bell is pulling some fresh ingredients from its menu items as a parasite outbreak that causes explosive and watery diarrhea is spreading rapidly across the country.The fast food chain posted signs at several locations, including in Metro Detroit, informing customers that they are unable to provide a handful of produce items regularly on the menu as health officials investigate a spike in cyclosporiasis cases. Nearly 1,000 people in Michigan have been infected with the illness - the state typically identifies only about 50 cases a year.Exposure to the Cyclospora parasite leads to cyclosporiasis, a nasty stomach bug often caught through contaminated produce. Cases have spiked over the past week in several states including Michigan, Illinois, Virginia, Ohio, and New York.“We are currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro, Onion, Pico de Gallo and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall,” the notice outside Taco Bell locations in Detroit reads, WWJ reported. “We apologize for the inconvenience. Any items ordered that normally come with these items WILL NOT contain them.”‘We are currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro, Onion, Pico de Gallo and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall,’ the notice outside some Taco Bell locations read (Getty)There has not been a specific produce supplier or specific produce type identified as the source of the nationwide outbreak. It was not immediately clear if anyone who ate at a Taco Bell became ill. The Independent has contacted Taco Bell for more information.The menu changes come as health officials investigate a spike in cyclosporiasis, a parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The parasite infects the bowels and spreads through feces. Previously, people have become infected after consuming fruit or vegetables that were exposed to feces-contaminated irrigation water. Previous outbreaks of the illness have been tied to bagged salad mixes, cilantro, basil, snow peas, green onions and raspberries, according to Michigan’s health department.
CDC confirms 12 sick in ongoing E coli outbreak linked to frozen blueberries | CIDRAP - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a food safety alert for an ongoing outbreak of E. coli infections linked to frozen organic blueberries. At least 12 people in two states have been sickened during the outbreak. Four people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. Eleven of the case-patients are from Florida, with a single case reported in Georgia. Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 11, 2026, to June 5, 2026, the CDC said. Case-patients range in age from 2 to 88 years old.“The true number of sick people in this outbreak was likely much higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses,” the CDC said.Late last week Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur of San Carlos, Chile, recalled Frozen GreenWise brand organic blueberries after being sold in Publix stores in eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.The frozen blueberries recalled cover a single lot with a best-by date of February 9, 2028. Consumers should check their freezers for the fruit and toss the product if they find it.“Do not eat any recalled frozen blueberries,” the CDC said in a news release yesterday. “Throw them away or return them to where you bought them. Wash items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled blueberries using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.”
E coli-produced HPV vaccine effective against cancer-causing strains of HPV - An Escherichia coli–produced human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects women from cancer-causing strains of HPV, according to a recent study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. E coli–produced HPV vaccines cost less than commonly used HPV vaccines and could help boost immunization rates in low- to middle-income countries. “Given its low production cost, this vaccine has the potential to improve global access to high valency HPV vaccination,” wrote the authors, led by researchers at Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Preventative Medicine in China. HPV causes 90% of cervical cancer, which is the fifth most common cancer in women. In 2024, 604,000 women worldwide received a cervical cancer diagnosis, and 280,000 women died from it. Many of the deaths occurred in poorer countries, according to The World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO hopes to eliminate cervical cancer by vaccinating 90% of girls worldwide by 2030. Yet the cost of vaccines are a barrier to many countries’ ability to implement widespread HPV immunization. To understand if the E coli–produced nine-valent (nine-strain, 9vHPV) HPV vaccine protected against HPV infection, the researchers created a multicenter double-blind randomized clinical trial of 9,327 women in China who had not been vaccinated for HPV. Half, 4,664, received the 9vHPV vaccine (Cecolin 9) and the remaining 4,663 women received the two-valent HPV vaccine (Cecolin) as the control group. The researchers found that Cecolin 9 was 98.2% effective at preventing infection for a year from several high-risk HPV strains: 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.
One more infant sickened with botulism in outbreak tied to powdered formula -The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said there are now four cases of infant botulism illnesses from three states, up from three last month. The new case is in California. California now has two cases, while Pennsylvania and Washington state each have one. All cases have been linked to Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic powdered formula, which was recalled last month. According to the FDA, Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula was distributed nationally across Target retail stores, Target.com, and Nara.com from July 2025 to June 2026. “Parents and Caregivers should stop using Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula immediately,” the FDA said yesterday. “If your child is experiencing symptoms after consuming Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula seek immediate health care.”According to the CDC, infant botulism is a rare but serious illness, which occurs when a baby swallows spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The first symptoms are typically poor feeding, and symptoms can take several days and weeks to develop.
How to prevent New World screwworm infestations in cats and dogs - Although the New World screwworm (NWS) mainly endangers livestock, the parasitic flies can also attack and kill pets. Two of the 34 animals sickened by NWS since early June are dogs. One dog was infested in New Mexico, and a second dog was sickened in Texas. Most animals in the United States have a low risk of being affected. Pets are at elevated risk if they live in areas with documented NWS cases, including Lea County, New Mexico, and the Texas counties of Brewster, Crocket, Edwards, Gillespie, Jim Hogg, LaSalle, Medina, Pecos, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Uvalde, and Zavala.Screwworm infestations sound like something out of a horror movie: They occur when the adult fly Cochliomyia hominivorax lays eggs in a wound or body opening of a warm-blooded animal. When the eggs hatch, they devour the animal’s flesh. Infestations can cause severe tissue damage, serious infections, and death, especially if not detected and treated early. For many pet owners, the thought of screwworms attacking their dogs and cats is horrifying. The good news is that there are ways to prevent and treat infestations— and your dogs and cats may already be using them.Medications that prevent fleas and ticks are a first line of defense against screwworm. By preventing itchy bites, these medications prevent dogs and cats from scratching themselves and creating a wound in which the adult flies can lay their eggs, said Kate Elden, DVM, chief medical officer at Dutch, a company that offers telehealth visits for animals.In addition to killing fleas and ticks, these medications—called isoxazolines—also kill screwworm larvae, Elden said. While they won’t prevent the screwworm fly from laying eggs in a wound, these anti-parasitic drugs will prevent the devastating injuries caused by larvae.This class of drugs includes lotilaner, afoxalaner, fluralaner, and sarolaner. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued emergency use authorizations for three treatments for dogs and cats, including two isoxazolines. Authorized products include NexGard (afoxolaner) chewable tablets for dogs and puppies, and NexGard Combo (esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, and praziquantel topical solution) for cats and kittens. Both treatments are available by prescription and protect pets from fleas and ticks. NexGard Combo also protects cats from worms. The FDA also authorized Credelio for dogs and puppies and Credelio Cat (lotilaner) for kittens and cats. Both kill fleas and ticks and are sold as chewable tablets, available by prescription. Although the FDA approved these drugs to treat NWS infestations, they will likely prevent infestations as well, wrote Scott Weese, DVM, a veterinary internal medicine specialist and the chief of infection control at University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College in Canada, on the Worms & Germs blog.Elden recommends that all pets take medication to prevent fleas, ticks, and heartworm, no matter where they live.“You should have your dog or cat on an isoxazoline,” Elden said. “If your pet is on one of those products, they are not going to get screwworm.” The FDA also approved nitenpyram, sold as Capstar or CapAction and available without a prescription, as a treatment for dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens infested by screwworm. In his blog, Weese noted that a small study found nitenpyram to be 100% effective at killing screwworms within 24 hours of administering a standard dose in naturally infested dogs. After treatment, a veterinarian may still need to physically remove any remaining live or dead larvae, according to the FDA. The agency cautions pet owners against trying to remove the larvae themselves, to reduce the risk of infection or damaging tissue. Pet owners should ask their vet about wound care and how to reduce the risk of new infestations. Veterinarians recommend that people who live near areas with screwworm outbreaks inspect any pets that go outdoors once a day. Most vets interviewed told CIDRAP News that it’s not necessary to keep pets indoors, unless they have an open wound.Elden is more cautious. “Even if I had a healthy dog, I would consider keeping them inside unless I was just going for walks,” she said. “I'm not naturally an alarmist, so I don't want people to start panicking. But if this were my own pet, knowing what I know about screwworm, it’s the most reasonable thing to do.”For people who live in affected areas of Texas and New Mexico, “now's not a good time to let your dog just be outside hanging out with all the livestock and the flies, if you can avoid it. Why take the risk?” Elden said.Although the New Mexico dog with screwworm recovered, the Texas dog was euthanized, state officials said. The Texas dog was a working dog that spent days and nights with its herd.
West Nile virus confirmed in Summit County. What you need to know - The threat of the West Nile virus has arrived in Greater Akron. Surveillance testing of mosquitoes in Summit County has returned two positive results for West Nile. Summit County is one of five counties in Ohio where there have been positive results for West Nile virus. The Ohio Department of Health says the other counties with positive results include Stark, Portage, Richland and Franklin counties. State health officials say there have not been any positive West Nile cases among residents, birds or horses. Mosquitoes are most active in Ohio from May through October. Sara Cochrane, mosquito program supervisor for Summit County Public Health, said the positive trap results were in Norton on Connect Road and in Boston Heights at the dead end of Pine View. "The West Nile virus is endemic to Summit County and residents should take precautions at all times to prevent mosquito-borne diseases," she said. Cochrane said it is typical for there to be a at least one positive result in June in Summit County. What are the signs of West Nile? The Ohio Department of Health says some 80% of those infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms. Those infected can show symptoms anywhere from two to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some 20% will experience symptoms for as little as a few days to up to several weeks. The symptoms include: Fever. Headache. Body aches. Nausea. Vomiting. Swollen lymph glands. Rash on chest, stomach or back. Health officials say about one in 150 people infected will develop severe illness. These symptoms can last anywhere from several weeks, and neurologic effects may be permanent. Symptoms of severe illness can include: High fever. Headache. Neck stiffness. Stupor. Disorientation. Coma. Tremors. Convulsions. Muscle weakness. Vision loss. Numbness. Paralysis. The state says death from the infection can occur in 10% of those with severe illness.
1 in 4 adults in tick-heavy states test positive for alpha-gal antibodies - In five states with high rates of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), nearly one in four adults test positive for antibodies associated with the condition, according to a study published last week in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The findings suggest that the presence of the molecule that triggers AGS may be far more common than the syndrome itself. AGS is an allergy triggered by exposure to galactose-α-1,3-galactose, or alpha-gal, a sugar found in mammalian (red) meat, dairy products, and mammalian-derived byproducts like gelatin. People with AGS can experience hives, swelling, wheezing, or gastrointestinal symptoms or, rarely, they might die when they consume these foods. Most US cases are linked to bites from lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum). Alpha-gal is found naturally in lone star ticks’ saliva and, when it is transferred to humans through a bite, can induce the production of alpha-gal–specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. To better understand how common alpha-gal antibodies are regardless of a person’s clinical symptoms, a team led by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers tested 3,000 residual blood donor samples collected from 10 states from November 2024 to April 2025. The states included five with historically high alpha-gal seroprevalence—Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia—as well as five states with lower disease activity. The highest estimated prevalence of alpha-gal IgE antibodies was found in Arkansas, where 31.2% of adults were estimated to be seropositive. Missouri followed, at 26.0%, with Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee all above 21%. Together, these five states had an estimated seroprevalence of 24.0%—a rate that far exceeds the 450,000 US adults estimated to have AGS (0.14% of the population). Prevalence was much lower in New Mexico (1.9%) and Washington state (1.1%), both states with no known lone star tick populations. Seroprevalence was 60% lower among people aged 16 to 34 years old than among adults 55 to 64 (odds ratio [OR], 0.40), according to the findings. It was also higher among men than in women (OR, 1.61). Seroprevalence was lower among Hispanic people than among non-Hispanic people (OR, 0.43). Per county, population density was inversely associated with seropositivity. For every tenfold increase in population density in a specific county, the probability that a resident would test positive for alpha-gal IgE antibodies decreased 29.5%. Positive test not the same as diagnosis A positive alpha-gal IgE test does not necessarily mean a person has AGS, say the researchers, who recommend that testing be reserved for patients with clinically compatible symptoms. “Reliance on positive alpha-gal IgE test results without considering whether patients also have clinical signs and symptoms of AGS might result in overdiagnosis and unnecessary dietary restrictions,” the researchers write.
China reports H9N2 avian flu in 1-year-old girl - Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is reporting a new case of variant H9N2 avian flu H9N2 in a 1-year-old girl from Guangdong province. The girl first had symptoms on June 12. There is no further information provided on her current status. There have been 16 known human infections of H9N2 over the past six months, including 12 on mainland China, one each in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and one case in Italy. Twelve of the 16 cases reported in recent months have occurred in children 10 years or younger. Since 2015, a total of 164 cases of human infection with H9N2 avian flu, including two deaths (both in people with underlying conditions), have been reported to the World Health Organization in the Western Pacific, the organization said. Of the 164 cases, 160 were in China.
Cattle, egg-laying poultry in Utah hit with H5N1 avian flu - - At least eight dairy cows in Utah have been hit with H5N1 avian flu in the past two weeks, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) most recent updates on the virus in livestock. In the past 30 days there have been 26 confirmed detections in dairy cows, with Idaho reporting 15 cases in the past 30 days and Texas reporting three cases. So far this year 72 cattle have had confirmed H5N1 infections. Last year APHIS tracked 171 H5N1 cases in cattle. In 2024, the year the virus was first detected in cows, the United States saw 917 animals infected. Utah is also reporting a large H5N1 outbreak among commercial egg-laying chickens in Cache County, according to a separate APHIS tracker. More than 1.2 million birds were affected as of July 6. In the past 30 days, APHIS has confirmed outbreaks in six US flocks, but the Utah outbreak was the only commercial flock affected. The rest were backyard blocks or live-bird markets.
H5 bird flu detected in Australian seabird for first time Scientists have detected the highly contagious H5 bird flu in an Australian seabird for the first time, the government said Friday. Australia was for years the only continental landmass to be free of the H5 strain, which has caused severe disease and high death rates in poultry and wild birds worldwide. A total of 12 cases of H5 bird flu have been confirmed in Australia since June, but all of them were in migratory seabirds, not local wildlife. Laboratory testing confirmed the disease had infected a greater crested tern in the town of Robe, South Australia. "While this, of course, is a concerning development, it is not unexpected," Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said. "I do want to reiterate, though, that at this time there is still no evidence of any mass mortality due to the H5 bird flu," she told a news conference in Hobart, the capital of the island state of Tasmania. There was no sign the virus had spread to other animal populations, poultry or agricultural systems, "and there remains a low risk to human health," the minister said. . Scientists were seeking to establish the potential pathways for the virus's spread to the Australian bird, Collins added."What we do know is that this is a coastal seabird that has an overlapping coastal range with migratory seabirds that have previously tested positive for H5."The South Australian state government had implemented "enhanced surveillance" in the area where the bird was found, she said.There has been concern that the deadly disease could add to the extinction risks faced by Australian fauna, many of which are unique to the vast continent.Almost half of Australia's wild bird species, and 83% of its mammals, are found nowhere else.The wild birds most affected by the H5 strain include waterfowl, shorebirds, seabirds and birds of prey.Marine mammals have also been affected, with some detections in other animals such as cats, goats, alpacas and pigs.Officials have previously said they are investigating whether the disease arrived in Australia via birds migrating from the sub-Antarctic.Scientists said in June the H5 bird flu strain had killed more than 13,000 elephant seal pups after infecting a breeding colony on the remote Heard and McDonald Islands, one of Australia's external territories in the sub-Antarctic.
They're here: Biologists identify first established colonies of invasive clam in northeastern US - A collaborative team of biologists led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, MIT Sea Grant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Center for Coastal Studies has discovered that the invasive Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, has established itself along the northwestern Atlantic coastline—the last place in the Northern Hemisphere to have remained Manila-clam free. The team's findings, published in Biological Invasions, document an exceedingly rare moment when an invasive species first takes hold in a new environment and begins to spread. The home range of the Manila clam is from the coast of Russia's Sakhalin Islands through Japan and southern China, but since at least the early 20th century, it has been spreading to coastlines throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This is because it was introduced accidentally and intentionally to the American Pacific Coast and to Europe. It is a delicious clam, prized in many cultures' cuisines, and now represents a $7 billion-a-year industry. However, the clams can also outcompete native shellfish, hybridize with similar species and, in colonies dense enough, affect the local ecological community. "Given that Manila clams are everywhere else in the Northern Hemisphere, it was only a matter of time before they showed up here, and we've been keeping an eye out for them," says marine scientist Aly Putnam, who is a postdoctoral researcher at UMass Amherst and lecturer at Smith College, as well as the paper's lead author. As it turns out, the Manila clam has now reached the final major gap in its Northern Hemisphere distribution: the coastlines of the northeastern U.S. We owe this new information to a simple text message. In the summer of 2025, Putnam, who was leading a mini-workshop on intertidal biodiversity on Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor, received a text from El Fernekees Hartshorn, a recent undergraduate student from the University of Rhode Island, who had worked alongside Putnam through regional Rapid Assessment Surveys for marine invasive species. Hartshorn, also one of the paper's co-authors, had texted Putnam a picture of a clam and suggested it might be a Manila clam. Putnam's co-investigator Carolina Bastidas, research scientist with MIT Sea Grant, was also along on the trip to Spectacle Island, and the two decided to keep an eye out for Manila clam shells—which they found in abundance. Unbeknownst to Putnam and Bastidas, another research group, led by the Center for Coastal Studies' Owen Nichols, had also begun hearing reports from local clammers in 2023 of "weird clams" in Provincetown, at the northern tip of Cape Cod, and other sites around the Cape. When James T. Carlton, emeritus professor of marine sciences at Williams College and one of the world's foremost authorities on marine invasive species, heard of the shells on Spectacle Island, he told Putnam and Bastidas to make sure they weren't just the remains of someone's dinner or discarded bait shells. "Find me living clams," he told the group—especially baby clams and clams that showed evidence of having reproduced. It didn't take long for Putnam and Bastidas to do just that. The team spent hours digging at Squantum in Quincy and Calf Pasture Park in Boston. Using sieve-based sampling, it yielded dozens of tiny, live specimens, confirming recent reproduction and recruitment. And then, when Nichols' team investigated the weird clams on Cape Cod, it found female Manila clams that showed evidence of having reproduced.
Black bear sightings throughout southeast Cleveland suburbs—— Michael Shamblin was scrolling through footage from his security camera Tuesday morning when he saw something unexpected: a black bear, moseying down his cul de sac on Willowbrook Drive.“My initial reaction was surprise,” Shamblin said. “It’s fascinating to see wildlife that close to home.”In Shamblin’s neighborhood north of where Interstate 77 and Interstate 480 intersect, racoons, deer, wild turkeys, skunks and possums are common. A black bear is an anomaly. Shamblin said he sent his security footage to the Cuyahoga Heights Police Department and encouraged them to share it with the community.“I thought it was important to share for safety reasons,” Shamblin said. “You have to be conscious to give wildlife space.”Multiple suburbs in the Cleveland area have reported sightings of a black bear in recent days. A Pepper Pike resident’s security camera captured footage of a black bear around 12:30 a.m. Sunday as it walked on a driveway on Lawton Lane. Garfield Heights residents chattered on social media channels this week about a black bear sighting in their community.The bear was filmed walking down the street at about 2:54 a.m. and then going into a wooded area behind the cul de sac, Shamblin said. His security camera picks up movement, and, in turn, will often pick up footage of animals. It was the first time he’d ever seen the creature in his area.“We don’t live around black bears,” he said.Cuyahoga Heights police Detective David Lukas said he was shocked when Shamblin’s video showed up in his email inbox.“I’m an avid outdoorsman, and this is the first time I’ve seen a sighting in a suburb,” Lukas said. Lukas said he has heard reports in recent years of black bears migrating from Pennsylvania toward Ohio, according to a report from the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s Division of Wildlife.Black bears are considered a state-endangered species. In the last few decades, black bears have been naturally recolonizing the state from healthy populations in bordering areas, the report shows. There have only been about 15 sightings of black bears in Cuyahoga County since 1995, according to the Cleveland Metroparks website. Last year, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was able to capture a female black bear in Ashtabula County and equip her with a tracking collar. Their hope is that tracking the bears will help the division learn more about the actual population in Ohio. Officials in Pepper Pike, Garfield Heights and Cuyahoga Heights are issuing guidance to residents consistent with guidance from ODNR. Anyone who sees a black bear should not approach the animal, and residents should heed precautions to remove food sources from around their property and secure trash cans.
California wolves feed heavily on cattle and their presence causes significant stress among livestock - Two new studies examining gray wolves in California paint a complex picture of life on the state's ranching landscapes: Wolves eat cattle more than anything else, and the presence of the predators causes significant stress among livestock. In the first study, University of California, Davis, researchers found wolves from the Lassen and Harvey packs in northeastern California were primarily eating cattle. They collected scat samples during the summer months of 2022 and 2023 and found 72% of wolf scat contained cattle DNA. The research was published in PLOS One. "Whether it's through scavenging or whether it's through depredation, it's a huge component of the wolves' diet," said lead author Tina Saitone, a professor of Cooperative Extension in the UC Davis Agricultural and Resource Economics Department. "Their conservation success is because of livestock producers in the state." Cattle appeared as the most frequently occurring food item during both summers of the study, present in 86% of samples in 2022 and 55% in 2023. While all 2022 samples were from the Lassen Pack, the 2023 samples included eight from the newly established Harvey Pack. Wolves are a state and federally recognized endangered species. The first confirmed wolf entered California in 2011, following a nearly 100-year absence. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates the state is now home to nine wolf packs. Wolves in California live in landscapes shaped by people. They have fewer wild ungulate prey options than wolves in other parts of North America. Mule deer are their only significant wild food source, but populations have dropped sharply since the 1970s. Saitone said the scarcity of wild prey may be one reason wolves are eating cattle instead. Researchers found mule deer in just 45% of the scat samples, significantly less common than cattle. Keeping wolves away from cattle is difficult on many of these working landscapes. "Conservatively, we're talking about a million acres in our study area and 10,000 cow-calf pairs," said Saitone. "It's not as simple as putting up an electric fence on a 0.8-hectare (2-acre) pasture or putting cattle in the barn at night." Researchers also examined how living among wolves affects cattle. Their findings suggest the costs of wolf reintroduction extend well beyond animals lost to predation. A second study, published in Ecology and Evolution, measured cortisol levels in tail hair samples collected from beef cattle grazing rangelands in northeastern California—some herds sharing territory with wolf packs, others in areas without wolves. Cortisol, often called the stress hormone, accumulates in hair over time, making it a reliable indicator of chronic stress rather than a momentary response to fright. Cattle herds living among wolves had cortisol levels 58% higher than those in control herds—a significant physiological difference. This marks one of the first times hair cortisol analysis has been used to study how the reintroduction of predators reshapes livestock physiology in the field. "What this really confirms is that death or depredation is not the only impact here," said Saitone. "Living among wolves for cattle is a chronically stressful experience, and that could ultimately have production-related impacts in both the short and the long term."
Cambodia wants to bring tigers back, but should it? - Pan Sok still remembers his relative screaming as a tiger dragged him away one night, deep inside the Cambodian rainforest where they were tapping trees for resin. So he is "not happy" about a plan to reintroduce the big cats, a decade after they were declared extinct in Cambodia. "I saw the tiger take him with my own eyes," he said, describing the attack that took place more than 30 years ago. "He was screaming but we couldn't help him." Cambodia's last confirmed tiger sighting was in 2007 camera-trap footage, but conservationists say they may soon be able to reintroduce the big cats. The plan would see India send several of its more than 3,600 tigers to southwest Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains, a protected expanse of lush rainforest stretching over 1 million hectares (2.5 million acres). Reintroducing tigers could boost protection of Cambodia's landscapes, restore an iconic apex predator and even boost tourism, said Jimmy Borah of Indian environmental group Aaranyak, who serves as a consultant to Cambodia's government on the reintroduction. It "would be a conservation message to the world, that this can be done," he told AFP. But there are risks. Poaching has decimated Cambodian wildlife, creating doubts about whether the Cardamoms have enough prey for tigers to eat. Deforestation continues to erode their proposed new habitat, driven particularly by dam projects—and local residents say they have not been consulted. Indian tiger biologist Ullas Karanth once led surveys of Cambodia's tigers and said the big cats and their prey "went extinct as we watched." He fears prey availability has not recovered enough to support tigers, which could starve. "The tiger diplomacy of the last 10 years to dump tigers from India into that rampant hunting culture is doomed, I believe," he told AFP. Borah argues camera trapping shows enough prey for initial arrivals and that "the conservation message is more important right now than worrying about prey availability."
Trump admin tees up endangered species policy changes - --The Trump administration this year plans to finalize a range of potentially far-reaching changes to wildlife management, including changing the definition of what it means to “harm” an endangered species and making decisions on whether to provide federal protections for certain plants and animals.In its unified agenda, the regulatory blueprint released Friday, the Office of Management and Budget laid out deadlines for decisions on grizzly bear populations and other wildlife.One change expected to be finalized this month would remove prohibitions on second-order “harm” to imperiled species like habitat destruction. That shift was first proposed in April 2025. By October, the Fish and Wildlife Service also plans to finish rules governing how to analyze the economic and other effects of designating critical habitat for species. The changes would put back in place a rule carried out by the first Trump administration that was later revoked under former President Joe Biden.
How climate change affects interactions between owls and their prey - A study published in Ecography has assessed how climate change may be destabilizing interactions between predators and prey in the wild—specifically, how owl–prey interactions have responded to environmental variability and resource availability over 24 years in the semi-arid ecosystem of Bosque Fray Jorge National Park in Chile. In their analysis of data from 1990–2015, the researchers found that during periods of low precipitation, when resource availability was reduced, owl species increasingly focused on different prey, reducing dietary overlap. After 2003, owls also began incorporating new prey species into their diets, increasing the overall richness of prey in the food web. Temperature was the strongest driver of these long-term changes in prey richness. "Our findings suggest that changing environmental conditions are reshaping predator-prey interactions," said corresponding author Angéline Bertin, Ph.D., of the University of La Serena in Chile. "As climate change intensifies, the fragility of these ecological networks may become more pronounced. Understanding how climate and resource availability shape predator-prey dynamics will be essential for predicting ecosystem resilience.
DC fireworks led to 'Code Red' air quality alert (WDCW) – The Washington, D.C. area was under an air quality alert after a dazzling fireworks show lit up the nation’s capital to celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July Fourth. D.C. issued the “Code Red” air quality alert on Sunday morning, hours after the record-setting fireworks display on the National Mall had ended. Trump mixes patriotism with partisanship on America’s ‘joyous’ 250th anniversary The “Code Red” alert indicated that outdoor air quality was recorded at “unhealthy” levels for “seniors, kids [and] people with medical conditions,” according to AlertDC. While the alert was in effect, officials recommended the general public in impacted areas limit time spent outside. According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), Northern Virginia was also in the red zone. Thee following areas were under Code Red Air Quality levels on Sunday: D.C., Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Loudoun County, Manassas,, and Manassas Park. While unhealthy, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) had initially forecast a Code Purple alert for D.C. and Northern Virginia for Sunday, which would indicate “very unhealthy” air quality after the especially large fireworks show. “There’s a lot of particulate matter that’s very, very small- and with the volume of fireworks that we’re expecting, particulate matter can even be as much as 7 to 12 times higher than typically expected with fireworks,” Dr. Karen Kaufman, of Kaufman Allergy Asthma and Immunology, previously told Nexstar’s WDCW. Kaufman explained that the tiny particles can travel deep into the lungs and may contain heavy metals, increasing health concerns for people with respiratory conditions. “All of the particulate matter is very, very small and gets very far deep into the lungs, and that can include some heavy metals. So for patients who have asthma … they should have their relief inhalers ready in case they need it,” said Kaufman. Experts also said the heat in the D.C.-area may cause any unhealthy conditions to linger. As of Monday morning, the air quality in Northern Virginia and D.C., as well as suburban D.C., were said to be back to “moderate,” according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
North Bay’s PFAS problem: what to know about a ‘forever chemicals’ hotspot in Ontario - Great Lakes Now - Gathered in an arena in North Bay, Ont., in summer 2024, federal officials told hundreds of concerned citizens how they planned to remediate longstanding contamination of the city’s waterways left behind by the Department of National Defence. A few months later, officials gave a similar presentation to a packed hotel conference room. For nearly a decade now, residents have known about the contamination. Some have been told not to drink the water from their own wells, and everyone in the city has been warned not to drink water or eat fish from a creek outside town. The creek is part of a system of waterways where carcinogenic “forever chemicals” run downstream from a military base, emptying into Trout Lake, the source of the city’s drinking water. It sits at nearly double Health Canada’s guideline for PFAS in drinking water, measured in nanograms per litre. Health Canada published an “objective” level of 30 nanograms per litre in August 2024 for 25 chemicals in the PFAS family. The city did not reply to The Narwhal’s detailed questions regarding the current state of the drinking water supply, but CBC reported in February 2026 that Trout Lake contained around 58 nanograms of PFAS per litre of water. Thousands of substances classified as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are used to make everything from medical equipment to waterproof clothing. They can generate hazardous waste which, if not disposed of carefully, contaminates air, water and soil — where it can remain for 1,000 years, hence their other nickname, “forever chemicals.”Statistics Canada reports almost all Canadians already have PFAS in their bodies, including in remote regions such as the Arctic and subarctic. In North Bay, the issue is top of mind, with a class-action lawsuit, a lengthy and expensive remediation plan and a new factory importing chemicals from the Teflon-like subgroup of PFAS, called PTFE. And the company behind that factory, Industrial Plastics Canada, is one of the 10 major importers of PTFE in Canada.While PFAS have been making global headlines for years as an emerging threat to the environment and our bodies, North Bay knows the issue intimately; citizens fear for their water as politicians try to clean up the mess.From the early 1970s to the mid-1990s, the Department of National Defence used a fire suppression foam containing PFAS to train firefighters across Canada, including near the North Bay Jack Garland Airport. In 2016, after the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit learned PFAS had been identified by the Department of National Defence in waterways around the city, it commissioned consulting firm Stantec to assess the impacts on soil and groundwater. It’s the invisible nature of these chemicals that are part of what makes them so insidious; you can’t see them or smell them, so you don’t know they’re there without testing. In late 2025, North Bay citizens filed a proposed class-action lawsuit asking for remediation, safe drinking water and $105 million in damages for residents living within a three-kilometre radius of the 22 Wing Canadian Forces Base and Jack Garland Airport. Some of the people who live closest to the contamination have been receiving bottled water from the government for years, but have had no other opportunity for recourse.The proposed lawsuit, if certified by the court, would be against the City of North Bay and the Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Department of National Defence, focusing on the loss of property value and remediation costs. The case is also seeking punitive damages, contending that National Defence was aware of the contamination long before warning residents.Not mentioned in the suit is the long list of health concerns associated with “forever chemicals.”The United States Environmental Protection Agency lists potential health risks of exposure to PFAS, including reproductive problems like infertility, developmental effects in children, increased risk of certain cancers and weakening of the body’s immune system, including reduced vaccine response. The Canadian government says PFAS can be transferred through the placenta during pregnancy, and infants can be exposed through human milk. In 2021, the City of North Bay announced plans to begin remediation under a “shared responsibility” agreement between the Department of National Defence and the city. The federal department would cover 97 per cent of the costs, or $19.4 million, and the city would cover the remaining three per cent, at $600,000. But costs have ballooned since then; in December 2025, National Defence announced it would contribute another nearly $100 million to the remediation, with the city’s share rising to more than $3.6 million. The total for the cleanup project has risen to more than $122 million.The remediation, which began on the ground in 2024, includes excavating and disposing of about 26,000 tonnes of PFAS-impacted soil; injecting activated carbon material into particularly dense patches of PFAS to stop the underground plume from spreading; and installing a filtration system to treat water leaving the site.Contamination on federal sites is an issue across Canada. There are thousands of contaminated sites listed on the federal contaminated sites inventory, and PFAS are found on more than 100 of them. These include at least 26 National Defence sites including bases in Trenton, Ont., Gagetown, N.B., and Moose Jaw, Sask. And contaminants don’t stop at the fenceline. Health Canada says some contaminants can travel long distances through soil, water and air: “PFAS can be found in fresh water and drinking water in areas that are far away from where they entered the environment,” according to the department’s website.While the Canadian government no longer uses firefighting foam that contains PFAS, industry continues to bring these substances into the country. In 2023, The Narwhal reported on an international plastics conglomerate that opened its first Canadian location, Industrial Plastics Canada, in North Bay. The company has a presence across Europe as well as in India and China, billing itself as one of the “largest worldwide manufacturers of PTFE products.”PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene, is a Teflon-like product in a subgroup of PFAS known as fluoropolymers, or fluoroplastics. A company spokesperson previously told The Narwhal the use of PTFE at the factory will not produce waste and poses “no risk.” The company also says fluoropolymers aren’t as dangerous as other PFAS and are “considered safe, non-bioaccumulative and non-toxic.” But fluoropolymers have been found to be dangerous to human health, according to research published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology and others.In 2023, Health Canada released a draft assessment of the state of PFAS in Canada to help decide how to regulate the class of chemicals. In it, the agency cited an industry-funded study that said fluoropolymers should be considered separately from other PFAS as “polymers of low concern.” A Health Canada spokesperson said the agency, along with Environment and Climate Change Canada, “examined information from a wide range of sources,” including scientific journals and reports while preparing the state of PFAS report.The substances were ultimately excluded from the final report, released in March 2025, in which Health Canada proposed classifying the remaining PFAS chemicals as toxic substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
New study traces PFAS in Great Lakes food webs over 40 years - Great Lakes Now -- Researchers from the University of Notre Dame have developed the most comprehensive look yet at how PFAS moves through the food web in the Great Lakes.The study published this spring in the Journal of Environmental Quality analyzed 42 years of studies and combined nearly 2,500 samples of algae, fish, birds and other organisms — in what’s called a meta-analysis — to identify trends. PFAS refers to a group of man-made and long-lasting compounds linked to a range of human health issues. It can enter waterways through landfills, wastewater and industrial facilities.“What we’re finding is that the food web itself is a vehicle for transferring these chemicals from one organism to another,” said Gary Lamberti, aquatic science professor at Notre Dame and a study co-author. “So it’s a more holistic view than we’ve known before.”The study identified a dramatic decrease over the last two decades of one PFAS chemical known as PFOS, following a voluntary phase out by industries in the early 2000s.“If we stop manufacturing these chemicals, they will eventually reduce in concentration in the food web,” Lamberti said. “That’s kind of good news for how we can manage these chemicals.” Those declines were seen in the lower Great Lakes — Ontario and Erie — likely because these areas are home to the heavy industries that used the chemical.But there was little to no decline in PFOS in the upper Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron, most likely because the water bodies are larger that the lower lakes. In contrast to the shallower Lakes Erie and Ontario, water can stay in the upper lakes anywhere from about 60 to 170 years.The study also confirmed that these chemicals increase in concentration as they travel up the food chain. Algae and plants have the lowest concentration, according to the study, because they grow and die quickly. A map showing where samples included in the study were taken from the Great Lakes. (Image courtesy of the Journal of Environmental Quality) But predators like salmon and eagles had the highest concentration because they’re eating a large amount of prey that have a lot of accumulated PFAS.Potentially dangerous levels of these chemicals in fish have prompted warnings across the state on how much is safe to eat. Michigan has been testing fish for PFAS since 2012.“If we can understand what the PFAS levels are in the food web, we can better communicate the risk of consuming those potentially toxic food sources,” said Katherine Manz, an environmental health professor at the University of Michigan who was not involved in the study. But because PFAS chemicals are in everyday products and they’re very hard to avoid, Manz said her best advice is to use less. Online databases can help consumers avoid certain chemicals. Manz said the study also pointed out some interesting gaps in research on PFAS dynamics, like a lack of data on certain species. It was easy to find PFAS data on salmon, trout, and some birds, Lamberti said. But information on the “less glamorous” smaller fish, invertebrates or algae was harder. The study only focused on six of the PFAS chemicals most commonly tested for, but there are more than 15,000 types out there, according to the National Institutes of Health. Tools to analyze the range of these chemicals are still evolving, said Vernon Lalone, CEO of Traverse City-based startup Wave Lumina that’s developing a rapid testing kit for PFAS in water and soil.“It’s like a chicken and an egg situation,” said Lalone, who wasn’t involved in the study. “You’ve got to have an analytical method that’s robust and reliable enough to measure these things before you can regulate them at certain limits.”Lamberti said there’s still plenty of questions about how these chemicals will shift in the lakes as temperatures rise due to climate change, ice formation shifts and as industries introduce new chemicals. “Anything we put into the Great Lakes will be there for an extremely long time, not only the water, but all the chemicals that it has, so we have to be very cognizant of how we treat the lakes and what we put into them,” Lamberti said. (Documentary video included)
High levels of forever chemicals found on wastewater filters -As cities across the nation and the globe increasingly turn to advanced water purification systems to expand their drinking water supplies, researchers at Texas A&M University have identified a critical environmental safety consideration. A new study from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering shows that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," accumulate significantly on the purification filters used in advanced treatment to recycle wastewater into drinking water. This research, published in the Journal of Membrane Science, examines a real-world potable reuse facility, where municipal wastewater is currently treated to very high standards to produce safe drinking water. Although the technology effectively removes contaminants, the study shows for the first time that microscopic trapping of harmful chemicals causes significant accumulation on the filters over their operational lifespans. These findings carry implications for public health and environmental policy. When water utilities replace thousands of worn-out filtration membranes, the accumulated PFAS could pose risks to workers handling the equipment or leach into local groundwater if the components are discarded improperly. By detailing exactly how and where these persistent chemicals accumulate, the research provides engineers with foundational data needed to develop safer disposal protocols and advanced cleaning techniques. The research team analyzed several commercial reverse osmosis filters—coiled, sheet-like polymer membranes—that had been operating for four consecutive years at a full-scale potable reuse facility. "Reverse osmosis is excellent at removing PFAS, just like it's excellent at removing salts," said Chellam. "It's literally a desalination technology, and it is good for removing a lot of contaminants, but it's expensive." Reverse osmosis works by forcing water through a dense, highly selective polymer membrane under high pressure, leaving salts, minerals and contaminants behind. Because wastewater contains much higher levels of PFAS than typical freshwater sources like lakes or rivers, these filters face an intense barrage of chemical pollutants over years of continuous service in a potable reuse plant. This research addresses a crucial gap by analyzing the concentrations of these chemicals on the filters themselves. The team discovered that long-chain PFAS compounds often bind strongly to organic and biological fouling layers—slimes or biofilms composed of proteins, sugars and microorganisms—that naturally form on filter surfaces over time. "There could be a correlation between the bio-organic fouling and PFAS accumulation on the filter surfaces," said Abada. "In all but the very last filtration stage, we found organic fouling." The researchers discovered that long-chain, water-repelling PFAS variants accounted for two-thirds of the trapped chemical mass in the initial stages of the membranes. Additionally, chemical precursors—compounds that degrade over time into more stable forms of PFAS—accounted for another 14% of the accumulation. In contrast, the final stage of the filtration system, which was dominated by chalky mineral scales rather than organic slime, retained almost no PFAS. "PFAS is toxic at very low concentrations, and they have been reported in numerous drinking water sources and wastewater," said Chellam. "The removal technologies currently in use, such as reverse osmosis, take a water stream that is relatively dilute in PFAS and concentrate the toxic chemicals to much higher levels on the filters." The conclusions drawn from this study add critical data on a widely concerning pollutant and support policymaking and regulatory oversight. Future research on PFAS mitigation technologies can also benefit from these results in terms of membrane life cycle analysis. "The problem of membrane use, cleaning and disposal will only become bigger and bigger," said Abada. "Even if we become more efficient and make the membranes last longer, we still have to figure out how to safely handle and dispose of them once they reach the end of their life."
Nanoplastics found in Antarctic soils for first time, suggesting long-range atmospheric transport - Microplastic contamination has been a much-discussed topic over the last several years, but contamination from even smaller plastic particles represents another pressing issue. Nanoplastics—defined as being under a micrometer in diameter—may pose an even higher ecological risk because they can travel more easily, cross cellular membranes and easily adsorb other pollutants. Although nanoplastics have been found in environments all over the world, it was thought that soil in pristine places like Antarctica, particularly areas farther from the ocean, might be somewhat protected from contamination. However, a new study, published in Scientific Reports, reports that nanoplastics have now been found in the soils of desert valleys in the interior of Antarctica. Both macro- and microplastics have been documented in remote areas, and past studies have found nanoplastics in other remote regions, like the Alps and Greenland, suggesting long-range atmospheric transport might be delivering tiny plastics far from their sources. Antarctica is considered "pristine" due to its lack of human population, permanent settlements or historical industrialization, but macro- and microplastics have been documented in Antarctic marine ecosystems, including seawater, sediments, coastlines, glaciers, sea ice and snow. Yet plastic contamination of Antarctic soils, particularly submicro- and nanoplastics, remains poorly studied and had not been reported before this study. This is partially due to the technical difficulties of measuring extremely low nanoplastic levels in complex materials like soil. The authors of the study say that a new method has allowed for more accurate measurements. To test for nanoplastics, the team extracted soil samples from the Taylor and Wright valleys in the McMurdo Dry Valleys in January 2023. They tested 13 topsoil samples and four deeper soil samples from more than 20 centimeters (8 inches) deep. They used the newly developed soil protocol and measured nanoplastics with thermal desorption proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry. They also tested for microplastics. Nanoplastics were detected above detection limits in 54% of the 13 topsoil sites, with concentrations up to 295 nanograms per gram of soil. They were also detected in half of the deeper soil layers at lower levels, suggesting some vertical movement or burial. Six commonly used types of plastic were identified throughout the soil, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and particles from tire wear. Polypropylene dominated overall by mass at 41.9% of the total, followed by tire-wear particles at 29.6% and polyethylene at 14.6%. The researchers note that concentrations are likely underestimated, as the recovery method does not have 100% extraction and measurement ability. They also say the method may be biased toward detecting smaller nanoplastics, potentially missing some of the larger particles. Another limitation is that the sample size was not large, and results showed strong patchiness, making it hard to generalize across all Dry Valley soils.
US pushes for weaker truck pollution rules - President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday moved to loosen truck pollution regulations put in place by his predecessor, Joe Biden, in its latest environmental rollback benefiting makers of fossil fuel-burning vehicles. Speaking to reporters at an event on the National Mall, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said the changes would help both manufacturers and truck operators, who he said had warned the previous rules "would drive up costs" and "force companies to rush products to market before they were ready." The proposed changes pertain to a 2023 rule designed to tamp down NOx—shorthand for nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide—from truck tailpipes, beginning with model year 2027. It still requires a public comment period before it is finalized. NOx is a smog-forming pollutant that aggravates respiratory illnesses, especially asthma, forms acid rain and contributes to nutrient pollution in coastal waters. Notably, the EPA wants to reduce the emissions-related warranty—the amount of time makers guarantee their pollution controls will work—from 450,000 miles (724,000 kilometers) back down to 100,000 miles (161,000 kilometers). At the same time, regulators argued they are keeping in place nearly 90% of NOx reductions from the Biden rule. Together, it estimated the amendments would save $12 billion, with up to $6,000 in savings per new truck for Americans. "We believe strongly at the Trump EPA that we can protect the environment and grow the economy," Zeldin said. But the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) said the changes would harm Americans' health. "This Trump EPA proposal to weaken vital clean air protections will mean more health harms and higher costs in communities across the country," said the EDF's Peter Zalzal in a statement. "Heavy-duty diesel vehicles like freight trucks and buses emit huge amounts of smog- and soot-forming pollution into the air we breathe, but truck makers are already introducing new engines that can substantially cut this pollution and meet protective standards. "EPA should abandon this proposal and instead maintain strong pollution safeguards for new heavy-duty vehicles." The Trump administration has taken an ax to vehicle emissions standards, eliminating, for instance, climate regulations that were governed under a landmark scientific determination called the Endangerment Finding.
Bumblebees exposed to up to 7 times as much toxic metal as honeybees - Bumblebees collect up to seven times the amount of toxic heavy metals as honeybees even when foraging in the same environment, new research from the University of Cambridge has found. Exposure to these metals can affect everything from their ability to forage for food to their ability to reproduce. Metal pollution is a widespread issue, typically concentrated near industrial centers, mining areas, and towns and cities. It can also be carried to rural areas in the air or through the use of sewage sludge, agrochemicals, and fertilizers, for example. When bees are foraging for food, they can inadvertently collect metals from their environment through exposure to contaminated soil, dust, and pollen. Even at low concentrations, certain metals can be toxic, for example impairing learning and memory, which may affect foraging efficiency and navigation. Metals have been linked to reduced reproductive success, leading to fewer offspring and disrupting brood development. Honeybees have previously been used as a proxy for assessing contamination in highly polluted areas. However, in research published in Ecological Entomology,, scientists have shown that species of bees accumulate heavy metals differently—with bumblebees particularly vulnerable to exposure. Honey bee. Credit: Sarah Scott Researchers at the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, collected pollen samples using pollen traps and measured concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, and tin in both pollen and adult bee bodies. They used this information to compare levels of heavy metals accumulated by honeybees and bumblebees from apiaries in Cambridgeshire, an area that typically has relatively low soil metal contamination. Despite the colonies of the two bee species being adjacent to each other, meaning that they were foraging in the same landscapes, the researchers found that heavy metal concentrations differed significantly between species. Bumblebees collected pollen with between two and seven times the level of heavy metals as that collected by honeybees. This was true for most metals tested. Bumblebees accumulated around three times greater concentrations of heavy metal in their bodies than honeybees. "Most metal levels we found were not high enough to kill bees, but even low levels can still harm bee health and colony success in subtle but important ways, such as affecting their ability to forage and reproduce." The reasons for these differences are likely due to a mixture of foraging behavior and bee physiology. Honeybees nest in above-ground cavities, such as hollow trees or human-managed hives. Colonies are large, typically consisting of 30,000 to 60,000 individuals. In contrast, bumblebees nest underground, in soil or leaf litter. Bumblebee colonies are much smaller, typically containing 50 to 500 individuals. Not all bees visit the same flowers. Their choices depend on things such as nutritional needs, body size, tongue length, and foraging habits, and some plants absorb metals at higher levels than others. Honeybees collect large amounts of pollen from many types of flowers, so any contamination may get diluted. Bumblebees, on the other hand, collect less pollen from fewer sources, so their exposure depends more on whether they happen to visit contaminated plants. Honeybees travel farther when foraging—up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the colony—and have more workers, so they can avoid heavily contaminated spots by using a wider area. Bumblebees, however, stay closer to their nest—typically traveling no more than 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the nest to forage—and have fewer options, so are more affected by local contamination. Bumblebees are also hairier than honeybees, which makes them more likely to pick up dust and tiny airborne particles that can contain metals. These particles can stick to their bodies and end up in the pollen they bring back. "Even in areas that we usually consider safe or lower risk for heavy metals—typically rural areas, away from industrial or mining areas—bees can pick up toxic metals. Bumblebee colonies tend to have fewer workers available to perform tasks, so the loss of individuals can have a big impact on overall colony function."
Bees 'facial expressions' may be a sign of their inner lives --It's easy for us to tell if someone is enjoying their meal or not. They lick their lips if they like it, grimace if they don't. Our new research, published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows we might be able to read insects' facial expressions in a similar way.This offers potential insights into their inner lives—and builds on a wave of new work that is daring to suggest insects might have a form of consciousness. Humans read each other's expressions and body language all the time. By doing so, we can typically get a pretty accurate read on what another person is feeling.Naturalist Charles Darwin was one of the first to discuss how facial expressions in other animals might also give us a read on their emotions. Most dog owners would agree that dogs can communicate clearly through body language and expression when they are joyful, afraid or in pain. In mammals, at least, basic features of facial expressions associated with liking and wanting seem to be deeply conserved through evolution.Psychologist and neuroscientist Kent Berridge and his colleagues pointed out just how eerily similar the facial expressions of newborn human babies and baby rats are when they receive a surprising sweet treat versus a bitter one. In both species, the former triggered lip licking, whereas the latter triggered a mouth gape of revulsion.Based on a combination of careful neurobiological and behavioral studies, Berridge has convincingly argued that we can use facial expressions to read what a rat likes and dislikes, and he has used this as a measure to understand the neurobiology of liking in rats. What about other animals with radically different brains, bodies and faces? What about, say, insects? Insects have a hard exoskeleton. Their faces are impassive masks, but bumblebees do have highly mobile mouthparts. They can extend their long glossa (the equivalent of a tongue) to reach deep into flowers to sip nectar. In experiments performed at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, colleagues and I studied how bumblebees moved their glossa and other mouthparts when sampling different tastes. To a single bumblebee, we offered a tiny droplet of sugar water from a pipette. The bee vigorously extended her glossa to drink the droplet, but even after she finished drinking and the pipette was taken away, she kept extending and retracting her glossa into thin air—almost as if smacking her lips. By stark contrast, when we offered the bee a droplet of dilute salty water, she sampled it with her glossa, then backed away shaking her head and wiping her glossa as if in disgust. Could these responses be simply innate reactions of the glossa to the different chemistry of sugar and salt? To test this, we changed the bee's physiological state. We heated the bee to 40°C (104°F) for a short time. While this didn't harm the bee, it was equivalent to the bee being active on a hot day and caused her to become dehydrated. Now when we offered the bee dilute salty water, rather than shaking her head and wiping her mouth, she drank thirstily and showed those glossa extensions. This showed the glossa movements were not automatic responses to sugar and salt. Rather, they had more to do with the bee's physiological state. A dehydrated bee needs dilute salty water, and now when offered it she showed the glossa extension responses she would otherwise show to sweet sugar. It's somewhat like those oral rehydration electrolyte drinks. Most of the time, they are bearable—just. But if you have just completed a long run and are dehydrated, they taste so much better. In other experiments, we directly manipulated the bees' neurochemistry. We found that if we treated bees with different neurochemicals, we could change the glossa response to sugar. Bees treated with the neuromodulators octopamine and dopamine were more reactive to sugar, but did not show those post-drinking glossa protrusions to a sucrose drop. However, bees treated with an endocannabinoid (a different neuromodulatory system that in mammals is related to mood, appetite and physiological regulation) showed enhanced post-drinking glossa protrusions, but were not more reactive to sugar. This told us two things. First, the glossa protrusion is independent of a sugar reaction. Second, very specific changes in bee neurochemistry can enhance the glossa protrusion response. A subjective inner state Together, these experiments showed that the glossa responses were subjective to the bee, related to her physiological state, and not simple reactions to chemicals. This evidence suggests the bee's responses to what it likes and dislikes are similar to those of humans and other mammals. At the very least, we can say that the bee's responses gave us a read on her subjective inner physiological state.
Heat illness records set last week from New York to Minnesota - The blistering heat wave that canceled July 4th events and knocked out power last week caused record rates of heat illness in parts of the nation, according to an analysis of federal data by POLITICO’s E&E News. Three U.S. regions set single-day records for heat-related emergency room visits, according to the analysis of federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention records dating to 2018. The CDC tracks for 10 regions the percentage of emergency-room visits each day that are due to heat or heat-related illness. In the five-state mid-Atlantic region, 2.1 percent of all ER visits were heat-related on July 3, CDC records show. That broke the previous record of 1.8 percent, set on June 24, 2025, for the region, which includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. A region made up of New York and New Jersey also hit a record on July 3, when 1.5 percent of ER visits were heat-related.
New Jersey reports 29 suspected heat-related deaths after prolonged early July heat wave - Health officials in New Jersey have increased the number of suspected heat-related deaths associated with last week’s extreme heat wave to 29, on Monday, July 6, 2026. A prolonged heat wave brought temperatures above 38°C (100°F) and dangerous heat index values approaching 43°C (110°F) across parts of the state over the Independence Day weekend. Most fatalities are yet to be certified as heat-related deaths by the forensics department, hence the toll remains preliminary. According to the New Jersey Department of Health, the suspected victims ranged in age from their mid-30s to their 80s, with most deaths reported in Central and North Jersey. Officials said final determinations will be made by the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner following individual forensic investigations. The death toll rose after rising to 25 earlier on Saturday, July 4. Authorities stress that all cases remain under review and have not yet been certified as heat-related by medical examiners. “Unfortunately, many of these individuals were found in homes without air conditioning,” New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington told reporters at the news conference on Saturday. “A few were outside their residences, some on the street, and some even in parked cars. The fatalities followed several days of exceptionally hot and humid weather across New Jersey and much of the northeastern United States under a persistent heat dome. Air temperatures exceeded 38°C (100°F) across much of the state, with some locations reaching 40°C (104°F) or higher, while heat index values approached 43°C (110°F). Warm overnight temperatures provided little relief, increasing the cumulative risk of heat-related illness. The heat wave ended on Monday, July 6, as a cold front swept across the region, triggering widespread thunderstorms, torrential rainfall, and flash flooding across parts of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The storms caused localized flooding, transportation disruptions, structural damage, and power outages after several days of dangerous heat. Extreme heat remains one of the deadliest weather hazards in the United States, causing more fatalities in many years than floods, tornadoes, or hurricanes.
Extreme heat pushed electricity demand to near record levels - Scorching temperatures pushed electricity demand to near record levels as parts of the eastern U.S. endured temperatures in excess of 100 degrees during last week’s heat wave. Electricity demand hit its second-highest level ever Thursday evening in the power grid serving the mid-Atlantic region. Demand in the Midwest, meanwhile, crested at its highest level in at least 10 years last Tuesday. And grid operators in New York and New England issued alerts to consumers asking them to conserve electricity as they grappled with elevated demand. The grid’s performance has garnered heightened attention amid concerns over rising power demand from data centers and the threat of climate change. Power flowed throughout the recent heat wave, though localized outages were reported in Michigan, New York and Wisconsin. Much of the focus centered on the PJM Interconnection, a grid serving 67 million customers across 13 mid-Atlantic states at the center of the country’s data center boom. Power demand hit 162 gigawatts around 6 p.m. on July 2 — the second-highest level ever recorded by PJM. Demand likely would have surpassed the record of 165 GW set in 2006 had the grid operator not implemented a program that pays large energy consumers to reduce consumption, PJM said on its website. The grid operator received emergency authorization from the Energy Department to direct data centers to switch to backup generation, but ultimately did not utilize the authority, said Jeffrey Shields, a PJM spokesperson. Mark Christie, a Republican who served on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and is a former Virginia utility regulator, said the grid’s performance prompted him to do something that was “very rare.” “I want to praise PJM,” he said. “It was a tremendous challenge, and they met it.” PJM has become a political punching bag for Democrats and Republicans alike for its failure to keep pace with rising electricity demand, Christie said. Virginia’s largest utility, Dominion Energy, has 70 GW of data center loadthat it’s trying to connect to its system, he added. “Add 70 GW to what happened in this heat dome, and you’re nowhere near meeting demand,” Christie said. Yet PJM showed that it was able to manage surging demand in extremely challenging conditions, as temperatures in large load centers like Washington, Philadelphia and Newark crested above 100 degrees on July 2. Another grid manager, the New York Independent System Operator, issued an energy watch on Wednesday as high temperatures led to reduced generating reserves. But the Empire State’s grid largely navigated the heat wave without incident. Demand peaked around 31 GW at 7 p.m. on July 2, according to preliminary electricity data maintained by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Localized power outages were reported in New York City, where Consolidated Edison was forced to shut off electricity to 9,800 customers due to extreme heat. In the Midwest, high temperatures peaked two days earlier. The 121 GW of demand reported by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator on June 30 at 5 p.m. was the highest level in at least a decade, according to EIA data, which goes back to 2016. MISO reported an all-time peak of 127 GW in the summer of 2011.
Flash flood warnings issued for parts of New York City and Northeast as heat wave breaks - Heavy rain and flooding are breaking a heat wave that gripped New York City and much of the Northeast last week. Flash flood warnings were issued Monday for parts of New York, Philadelphia and New Jersey as rounds of storms moved through the area. On Sunday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned about heatstroke and shared locations of pools and cooling centers. By Monday, he was urging people to leave basement apartments immediately if they saw water rising in their homes. Heavy rain stranded cars on flooded highways across northern New Jersey and caused part of the roof of a BJ's Wholesale Club in Ocean Township to collapse. Video from the store showed the roof over the bakery cave in and a torrent of water rushing down, sending tables of baked goods and at least one shopper clutching a cart skidding away. Two people were briefly trapped but managed to escape, and no injuries were reported, according to the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office. People take cover from the heat under umbrellas as they wait for a parade of tall ships and flyovers in Weehawken, N.J., Saturday, July 4, 2026. Credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig "Nothing too serious. They have us running from call to call," said Capt. Leroy Marshall of the nearby Lakewood Police Department. The rain and storms broke the heat dome that settled over much of the Northeast last week. LaGuardia Airport in New York set a record high Thursday of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). Low temperatures in many places barely made it below 80 degrees F (26.7 C), preventing people from cooling off even at night. Officials in New Jersey were investigating at least 29 deaths that were possibly heat-related. The people were found dead on the street or in homes without air conditioning. They ranged in ages from their 30s to their 80s, New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Raynard Washington said. Autopsies and other investigations will be needed before the deaths are officially blamed on the heat, Washington said. Other states have not announced possible deaths from the heat. Severe storms moved from Michigan to the East Coast as the heat wave broke over the weekend. About 450,000 people remained without power across the country, most from the storm damage, according to poweroutage.com.
Extreme Heat Hits Europe for the Third Time This Year - NYTimes -- Another heat wave is taking grip of Europe this week. The continent’s third spell of scorching weather since May, the heat spells have disrupted daily life, contributed to a rise in deaths and are posing significant wildfire danger in some countries. The latest is driven by a new heat dome, the same weather pattern responsible for the previous two heat waves. Temperatures are expected to climb as much as 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) above average across parts of western Europe, including Spain, Portugal, France and Britain. In France, a wildfire in the Pyrenees mountain range area bordering Spain, has already burned more than 11,000 acres and forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate from nearly 30 villages and towns, the authorities said on Monday. Other wildfires tore through parts of Spain’s Mediterranean coast over the weekend, forcing some 500 people to evacuate. Although temperatures are not expected to reach the exceptional levels of the June heat wave, which were exacerbated by human-made climate change, forecasters warn that the relentless heat spells are creating an unprecedented wildfire danger in some countries, with extensive high-level warnings already in place.The blaze in France’s Pyrenees, has rapidly expanded since Sunday evening. More than 2,000 firefighters joined the effort to bring it under control and firefighting jets were trying to put out the flames.Very extreme fire weather conditions cover a broad swath of western and central Europe, according to the European Forest Fire Information System, particularly across France, Spain and Portugal, central Europe around the Alps and the southern British Isles.
- High-level heat warnings were in place across parts of Andorra, France, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.
- In Portugal, eastern parts of the country were under the highest-level heat warnings on Monday. IPMA, the country’s weather service, said temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius (around 108 degrees Fahrenheit) were possible, although showers and thunderstorms were also a risk.
- AEMET, Spain’s national weather service, said the extreme heat was expected to last through at least Wednesday, with temperatures ranging from the high 30s Celsius to the mid-40s. The highest temperatures are expected on Tuesday, with a maximum of 44 Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) possible in southern Valencia.
- France is also expecting high temperatures this week, with the hottest conditions forecast from the southwest to the lower Rhone Valley, Météo-France, the country’s weather service said. The heat is expected to persist through the end of the week, the agency added.
- Britain will also see temperatures climb well above average. The Met Office, the country’s weather service, said highs of 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) were possible in southern England. The very warm conditions are expected to continue into the weekend, accompanied by increasing humidity and a growing risk of thunderstorms, the service added.
While tying a single heat wave to climate change requires specific attribution studies, scientists are certain that heat waves around the world are generally becoming hotter, more frequent and longer-lasting, and Europe is warming faster than any other continent. In 2025, almost the entire continent was hotter than normal. Researchers estimate that in recent years, Europe has seen tens of thousands of heat-related deaths annually. Many homes, schools and businesses across Europe were built for an older, cooler climate. In Britain, many were even built to retain heat, making cooling off amid heat waves especially difficult. Air-conditioning is not a quick fix. In France, installing such systems has become a political flashpoint, while in Britain, high energy prices deter many. Even in hotter Mediterranean cities, where old-fashioned courtyards, heavy shutters and white-stone facades can keep homes cool, many newer buildings have been constructed using techniques that trap heat.
Extreme Heat Stuns Even Climate Scientists Who Saw It Coming - Much of the US just sweltered through the July 4 holiday weekend as an intense heat dome bore down, straining power grids and prompting the cancellation of many events. Washington, DC, saw a high of 102F (39C) on Saturday, a new local record for the date. In Europe, punishing temperatures are set to return days after a deadly heat wave pushed thermometers as high as 43.8C (111F) in France. A troubling pattern has emerged in this summer’s heat: Not only has it broken records, it’s done so often by margins far above the previous all-time highs. These heat jumps are part of a larger shift of climate change seeming to accelerate. Ocean temperatures just reached a new high for the early summer. Sea levels are rising faster than before, while new records for daily rainfall are being set at a rapid clip. The pace of global warming itself has quickened in recent years. While scientists have long braced for climate change, the growing severity of its impacts is shocking them. Today’s climate can “seem like an unexpected step change” from that of a few years ago, said atmospheric scientist Katharine Hayhoe of Texas Tech University. Climate models from decades ago have proved prescient, closely aligning with what the mercury later showed: heat increasing around the planet, caused primarily by humans burning fossil fuels.As the global average temperature rises gradually, changes on the ground can be abrupt and dramatic, hurting people and damaging property. Especially during El Niño weather phases, one of which began in June and is set to bring months of misbehaving weather. El Niños exacerbate the heating brought about by greenhouse gas pollution and can cause billions of dollars in direct economic damage, from flooding, crop losses, wildfires and civil unrest. The indirect costs reach trillions in lost gross domestic product.Some models suggest this El Niño could push warming briefly as high as 2C. And “it is possible for a single month to surpass this threshold,” said Sarah Kapnick, global head of climate advisory at JPMorgan Chase & Co. The world is currently at 1.4C above pre-industrial levels. Scientists have long warned that change will not be smooth. “Far from being self-stabilizing, the Earth’s climate system is an ornery beast which overreacts even to small nudges,” wrote the late Wallace Broecker in 1995, two decades after he coined the term “global warming.” One of the most dramatic spikes came in September 2023. The monthly average temperature worldwide overshot the previous September record by 0.5C — the biggest such margin ever and extreme even for an El Niño year. Scientists are still puzzling over the 2023 anomaly, going through several possible causes: water vapor from a 2022 volcanic eruption; a drop in atmosphere-cooling air pollution from the shipping industry; declining cloud cover; natural climate variability. None of these factors could explain all of the surge. Stefan Rahmstorf, of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, and retired climate researcher Grant Foster removed the effects of natural variability, volcanoes and changes in solar radiation from temperature records and the quickened pace was clear to see. A team led by the University of Pennsylvania’s Michael Mann concluded in May that standard models explain the recent high heat without searching for new aberrant trends. Satellites can see heat building up. They take a very direct and useful measurement of global warming: How much sunlight is entering the atmosphere, and how much heat is radiating out to space? The deficit between those two things is a measure of the warming, and it has doubled in recent years. “An anomaly which has clearly caught us off guard,” wrote the authors of a May 2025 estimate of the Earth’s energy imbalance. The extra energy trapped in the system seems to be the result of the planet reflecting less sunlight back to space. That’s partly the result of bright-white ice turning into darker, heat-absorbing sea water. But the bigger concern is that reflective, low-lying clouds may be going missing.The energy imbalance “suggests that the models may also be under-predicting future warming,” said Phil Duffy, chief scientist of Spark Climate Solutions, a nonprofit that identifies and helps limit climate risks. “We don’t know that to be true, but we need to get to the bottom of what’s going on.” "Extreme events are so far outside anything we have expected,” said Friederike Otto, an Imperial College London climate scientist and co-founder of World Weather Attribution. “It’s not so important whether it’s what we expected as experts. It’s whether it’s what we expect as people on the ground.”
One for the history books: What we know about the European heat wave - Temperature records were rewritten across Europe as hundreds of millions of people withered under extreme heat that closed schools, shut down transport and cost untold lives. A heat dome trapped hot air from North Africa over the Iberian Peninsula in late June before spreading as far as the United Kingdom, eventually weakening over central and eastern parts of Europe in early July. As the mercury starts to rise again in Europe, here's what we know so far about the impact of the early summer heat wave: As the June episode intensified, comparisons were quickly made to August 2003, when a heat wave of unprecedented magnitude baked Europe for a fortnight, causing tens of thousands of excess deaths. Alvaro Silva, from the World Meteorological Organization, said duration was one measure of heat wave severity—along with intensity and range—and this recent episode was not as long as 2003. "But we got many temperature records during this heat wave and the most impressive thing, we were still in June. So this is a big difference," the climate scientist told AFP. France's weather service said the 14-day heat wave was even "more intense" than the 2003 episode that claimed 15,000 lives in France—although it was two days shorter. Meteo France said temperatures above 40°C (104°F) were registered 114 times between June 17 and June 29—surpassing the previous record of 87 instances during August 2003. The UK Met Office said "direct comparisons with historic events are not straightforward because each heat wave has different characteristics." The recent heat wave was "one of the most significant" the UK has experienced in recent decades and particularly notable for a combination of "sustained heat, exceptional humidity and very warm nights," it added. World Weather Attribution, a network of climate scientists, said the heat wave was the "most severe ever recorded" based on a three-day forecast of average peak temperatures over the region studied. Such a heat wave would have been "virtually impossible" without the influence of climate change, they said. A similar event in June 2003 would have been about 2°C cooler. In a preliminary assessment, Germany's weather service said the heat wave "can without a doubt be described as historic." "Since weather records began, there has never before been such a long and intense heat wave so early in the summer, in Germany or in many other parts of Europe," it said. Radim Tolasz, a climatologist at the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, told AFP the heat wave smashed previous temperature highs and, for June, was the longest ever recorded. More than two-thirds of Europeans endured temperatures topping 35°C (95°F) during the June 15–30 heat wave, according to an AFP analysis. Areas inhabited by some 410 million people on the continent were affected by the hot spell, compared with 320 million during the record-setting heat wave of August 2003. Almost the entire population of mainland France and more than three-quarters of the combined populations of Spain and Italy experienced temperatures exceeding 35°C (95°F) at some point in June. The heat wave has been linked to thousands of excess deaths in Europe. France recorded a 29.1% increase in the number of recorded deaths during the week starting June 22. That corresponded to 2,025 additional deaths compared with the previous week. In Spain, at least 1,028 people died of heat-related issues in June, more than double the figure from the same month last year. Belgium reported 39% more deaths than normal between June 18 and 29, amounting to 1,222 excess fatalities. In the Netherlands, provisional estimates of mortality figures for June 22–28 indicated approximately 480 more deaths than expected. Temperature records tumbled across Europe, with the thermostat topping 40°C (104°F) in many locations during the hot spell. Germany, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary recorded their hottest-ever temperatures, while the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland hit new highs for June.
Thousands flee new wave of European wildfires -The fires are burning as temperatures rise once again in the heatwave-scarred region. Wildfires across southern Europe forced thousands of people to flee their homes and prompted authorities to ban spectators from Monday's Tour de France stage, which was threatened by one inferno. Hundreds of firefighters are battling blazes that have devastated more than 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of land—an area nearly three times the size of Manhattan—across Portugal, Spain, France, Greece and other countries. The fires are spreading as temperatures rise again—already reaching 43C (109F) in Spain—in a continent still scarred by the aftermath of heat waves in May and June that have been blamed for thousands of deaths. Scientists agree that climate change driven by humans burning fossil fuels is increasing the risk and severity of heat waves and other extreme weather phenomena. Some 10,500 people were told to evacuate their homes near Perpignan in southwestern France as firefighters battled a blaze in the Pyrenees that has devoured more than 4,600 hectares (11,400 acres), authorities said. A French civil protection service plane drops water on a huge forest fire in the Pyrenees. "The fire came within 300 meters (980 feet) of the houses. We were taken aback by how fast it spread, it was staggering—bordering on panic," said Patrice, a 53-year-old resident of the village of Trevillach, who did not give his surname. "We started seeing smoke around 10:30 p.m., then it kept coming closer and closer. Someone from the town hall knocked on our door around 1 a.m. to tell us to leave," said Charlotte Pignol. "The smell of smoke was overwhelming," Authorities said Monday's third stage of the Tour de France cycle race through the Pyrenees would take place without the thousands of spectators who normally line the route. The 196-kilometer (122-mile) stage sees the race cross the border from Spain into France. But only riders and their team vehicles will be allowed on the route. The fires forced evacuations in southwestern France. Three hundred French firefighters struggled to control another fire in a mountainous district of the southeastern Drome department. In Greece, flames set off by a forest fire tore through two factories in Thessaloniki in the north of the country, forcing authorities to evacuate the surrounding area and warn households to keep their windows closed. A fire that threatened the tourist beaches of the Costa Brava in northeastern Spain burned more than 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres) in two days and was still being fought Monday. Rising temperatures in Spain fueled fears of more blazes. The thermometer reached 43C (109F) in Andalusia and Extremadura on Sunday. In Portugal, emergency services said they had controlled a wildfire that devastated some 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres) of forest and scrubland in a northern district. Four Portuguese regions remained on a heat alert Monday, however. Elsewhere, major fires also destroyed hundreds of hectares of forest, vineyards and scrubland on the Croatian island of Hvar and at Tale in Albania, authorities said. Europe recorded record-breaking temperatures during a severe heat wave in June that would have been "virtually impossible" without climate change, the World Weather Attribution group of scientists said. Following the two-week surge in temperatures, France said there had been more than 2,000 extra deaths than usual in just one week, while Spain and Belgium each reported more than 1,000 "excess" deaths.
Heat waves push tropical forests past photosynthesis limits across 57 million hectares - As heat waves continue one after another, we are feeling their effects on our own bodies: It becomes harder for us to function normally. Trees also have their limits when temperatures are too high. Above a certain critical temperature, photosynthesis, the process by which plants produce their own nutrients, release oxygen and absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, starts declining, reducing growth and increasing the risk of plant mortality. According to a new EPFL study, tropical forests are increasingly exposed to temperatures that exceed the limits for efficient photosynthesis, threatening their ability to absorb carbon dioxide. "There is a safety margin of about 15° in which plants can still do photosynthesis. Due to global warming, droughts, and extreme events, this margin has narrowed significantly," says Charlotte Grossiord, tenure-track assistant professor at the Plant Ecology Research Laboratory, who led the study. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is among the first to combine species-specific thermal thresholds with large-scale satellite observations to assess heat stress across tropical forests. In the same way that extreme heat affects biological functions in humans, thermal stress also affects biochemical reactions occurring in leaves. "When leaves become too hot, the proteins that drive photosynthesis begin to break down. As a result, trees absorb less carbon dioxide and grow less efficiently," Grossiord says. The loss of some plant species is the most dramatic consequence of rising temperatures. However, it is not the only one. Changes in forest composition can alter ecosystem functioning, also reducing animal biodiversity and weakening resilience to future heat waves and droughts. Tropical forests are among the world's most important carbon sinks. As their capacity to absorb CO₂ declines, global warming could accelerate. At the same time, tropical forests will also release less water vapor into the atmosphere, thus increasing the risk of droughts and extreme events worldwide. Although climate change is progressing rapidly, it is occurring on a time scale that still allows some species to adapt to changing conditions. "Within the same forest, more heat-tolerant species may adapt and gradually replace others that disappear," Grossiord explains. However, how quickly these shifts can occur, and the temperatures beyond which plants can no longer adapt, remain largely unknown. In this study, EPFL researchers compared the critical temperatures cataloged for 200 species with satellite-derived temperature measurements collected across tropical forests between 2001 and 2020. Over two decades, the area of tropical forest experiencing treetop temperatures above the average critical threshold increased from 43 million hectares to 57 million hectares, an area larger than France. The future projections are not particularly optimistic. By 2050, it is expected that the area of tropical forests exceeding the critical temperature could cover 83 million hectares, while by the end of the century, this figure could increase to 160 million hectares, an area larger than South Africa.
Global warming, increasing wildfire risk threaten viability of some California winery regions - The U.S. is the fourth-largest wine-producing country by output volume, and approximately 80% of its production occurs in California. Ever since the 19th century, California's premier wine-growing regions have been the Napa Valley and Sonoma County, thanks to their favorable microclimate. But grape yield and quality are very sensitive to the local environment, which means the climate crisis could shake up California's wine industry. Now, a study appearing in Frontiers in Climate shows that established regions including Napa and Sonoma could struggle to sustain their wine production under severe climate change. Others, like northern and coastal California, could become new wine-growing powerhouses."Our findings reveal that the outlook for Mendocino and Monterey is uniquely promising because of a dual trend: They are projected to experience both increasing climatic suitability for wine-growing and a decrease in extreme fire-weather days," said Dr. Yusuke Hiraga, an assistant professor at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, and corresponding author of the study. "This combination makes these areas stand out as comparatively favorable expansion zones, distinct from many other regions with either rising suitability alongside increased wildfire weather or declining suitability." Together with Takuya Matsumoto, a master's student at Tohoku University, Hiraga modeled California's current and future climatic suitability for wine grape cultivation. They focused on 379 wine-growing locations listed by the California Wine Institute, predominantly in the North Coast region and across the Central Coast.To forecast climate change, the authors mapped projections from global climate models onto a 4-kilometer-by-4-kilometer (2.5-mile-by-2.5-mile) grid across the mainland U.S. They considered two alternative carbon emission scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: RCP4.5, which assumes that mitigation policies are gradually implemented, and the "worst-case scenario" RCP8.5.For each scenario, they modeled three periods: 1976–2005 ("baseline"), 2040–2069 ("mid-century") and 2070–2099 ("late century"). Each grid cell's suitability for growing grapes and the expected quality of its vintage were predicted by a machine learning algorithm. To capture wine quality, the scientists trained an algorithm on wine ratings by professional tasters, published between 1996 and 2023 in the magazine "Wine Spectator."The authors likewise modeled the shifting weather conditions linked to wildfire risk and expected severity within each cell. The results showed that the suitability of currently important wine-growing regions, like Napa, Sonoma, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, is likely to decline sharply under severe climate change. In contrast, suitability was predicted to increase greatly in Mendocino, Monterey and in central to southern coastal areas. Suitability was found to depend mostly on yearly total precipitation, cumulative temperature across the growing season between early April and late October, the minimum temperature of the coldest month, and the vapor pressure deficit—the difference between how much moisture the air holds and how much it holds when saturated. The number of days with extreme wildfire weather conditions tended to increase across large swaths of California, but especially in northern regions and inland high-elevation areas. However, this decreased in large parts of Mendocino and Monterey. Wine-growing suitability tended to be greater under RCP4.5 than under RCP8.5 for the late century, suggesting that higher greenhouse gas emissions could lead to a decline in vintage quality."While our study highlights long-term shifts in climatic and fire-weather suitability through the end of the century, it does not attempt to predict a specific timeline for when emerging areas will surpass currently established regions in wine-growing potential," Hiraga warned. "Such a precise forecast is complex, as the future of viticulture is shaped not only by climate change and wildfire weather but also by a wide array of anthropogenic factors."
Why Europe's trees are dying - In Europe, trees are increasingly dying prematurely. A new study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) on French forests now shows that it is not only drought but also unusually warm or wet springs that increase the risk—even ideal growing conditions can prove fatal later on. Beech trees with brown leaves in summer, spruce trees withering under bark beetle infestations, trees snapped by a severe storm: Across Europe, there have been signs for about 20 years that more and more trees are dying prematurely. In some regions of the continent, the state of the forests is now even worse than it was in the 1980s, when air pollution caused serious damage to trees in selected regions. An international team jointly led by the French Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement and the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL has taken a closer look at data from the French Forest Inventory from 2015 to 2023. The researchers aimed to identify patterns in the data that could explain why trees are dying—and the data clearly showed that they are. Using a combination of various computer models and machine learning, the team demonstrated that, in addition to tree size and competitive conditions, deviations from the usual seasonal climate were a key factor triggering tree mortality in France. In the process, they made a surprising discovery: Even ideal growing conditions, such as warm, wet springs, can increase the risk of trees dying. The paper is published in the journal Nature Communications. In particular, tall-growing trees such as silver fir died in greater numbers following such seemingly favorable growing conditions. The researchers suspect that these trees grow more vigorously than usual during such springs. "This increases their water demand and makes them more vulnerable as soon as conditions become dry. At the same time, this means they consume more water from the soil early in the year. If a dry summer then follows, the water reserves in the soil are already depleted, and the trees experience drought stress more quickly," says Pascal Schneider. He is a Ph.D. student at WSL and the lead author of the study. Furthermore, wet springs could facilitate the growth of pathogens such as fungi, further weakening the trees. Using their ensemble approach, Schneider and his team trained several models with different subsets of the forest inventory data. This enabled them to specifically investigate how seasonal deviations from the usual climate influence tree mortality. "Our results show that it isn't just one 'summer drought' that causes problems for trees. Depending on the tree species, a slowly increasing water shortage can have a greater impact than a short, intense drought—or vice versa," says Schneider. But it is not only summer drought that can take its toll on trees. Unusually mild winters can also be problematic, as pests survive better in higher winter temperatures. Warm springs can further increase the risk, as budburst then occurs earlier, making young leaves more susceptible to late frosts. Therefore, trees die from a combination of climate anomalies, rather than solely due to individual extreme events.
Preservation project launches effort to restore rare ravine ecosystem - Great Lakes Now- A $5.75 million federal grant has been awarded to the Lake Forest Open Lands Association (LFOLA) to support a preservation project along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Illinois. The 61-acre Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve at McCormick Ravine is part of Lake Michigan’s 57 unique ravine systems stretching 22 miles along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, according to Ryan London, the association’s president and CEO. According to London, LFOLA has been working in the region on a voluntary basis since 1977, removing invasive species and monitoring rare plants. LFOLA then acquired the property rights from the city of Lake Forest, which had been developing the site until 2019 and turned the site into a nature preserve open to the public in 2023. There is a common misconception that ravines are carved by glaciers, said London. “When the glaciers most recently came through about 12,000 to 14,000 years ago, they left unique landforms along Lake Michigan called moraines,” London said. Moirane soil consists of large particles of gravel, sand and sometimes layers of clay, a mixture known as “unconsolidated till,” according to London. “These moraines are not really stable soils because they’re the large materials, the sand and the gravel. They erode very easily with water, and that’s what actually creates ravines, which can be up to 75 to 90 feet deep,” said London. London said that the microclimate in the ravine bluff ecosystem features lower average temperatures and higher humidity than surrounding areas. That means natural fires occur far less frequently in the region than on prairies and savannas. Since fire is less common in the region, species are able to persist without risking exposure to fire threats, said London. The LFOLA said the wooded corridors formed in the ravine-bluff ecosystem create a unique microclimate, providing habitats for 48 rare plant species and over 100 animal species. According to London, unique flower species in the area include starflower (Lysimachia borealis), shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica) and rare orchids. He said the McCormick Ravine is the only ravine where the starflower is known to grow. “Starflowers are short in stature with whorled leaves that have white star-shaped flowers with seven petals,” said Heather Decker, the managing ecologist of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Decker said that ravines are an ideal habitat for starflower because it grows through rhizomes, which are horizontal growths that establish new roots and shoots, to form large colonies in moist, shaded forests. According to Decker, starflowers and other northern species in the ravine are gifts of glaciers. Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, as the glaciers advanced, these plants hitched a ride southward. When the glaciers retreated, the plants were left behind. The ravine-bluff ecosystem represents one of Illinois’ rarest and most fragile landscapes, as its river channels are formed from highly erodible soils, according to London. LFOLA said that decades of urbanization and shoreline modification accelerated erosion and destabilized the ravines, leading to widespread vegetation loss and habitat degradation. “As the surrounding areas have become developed and urbanized, these ravines are accepting water at a much higher volume and a much higher rate than they were before pre-European settlement conditions,” said London. Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of storms, pushing landscapes beyond their natural limits, according to London. Stormwater is “scouring through the ravine, and when you have all that erosion taking place, all that sediment gets pushed out into a big plume in Lake Michigan and many municipalities,” said London. The ravine-bluff wooded corridors also serve as natural infrastructure, filtering stormwater and protecting water quality, according to LFOLA. London said the plants prevent erosion, so less sediment washes into Lake Michigan. According to London, this project will stabilize the slope in the ravines using nature-based solutions. Natural materials such as tree trunks will be woven into the slope surface, and vegetation will be replanted in areas where it is absent.
Confirmed tornado, powerful macroburst leave trail of damage across Mahoning County — Residents of Mahoning County are cleaning up after two separate but equally destructive severe weather events struck the area on July 5. The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado touched down in Canfield Township, while a powerful macroburst swept across nearby communities, producing widespread wind damage over a much larger area. Canfield is in Mahoning County, about 55 miles southeast of Cleveland, near Youngstown. The confirmed Canfield Township tornado developed around 2:03 p.m. with peak winds of 95 mph, earning an EF-1 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Survey teams determined the tornado carved a path approximately 0.58 miles long and 300 yards wide, leaving behind a concentrated corridor of damage where trees were snapped, roofs were damaged, and power lines were brought down. While the tornado received much of the attention, meteorologists say an even broader area experienced damaging straight-line winds from a macroburst. The Mahoning County macroburst occurred between 1:56 p.m. and 2:33 p.m., producing peak winds of 90 mph across a swath measuring roughly 10.25 miles long and 3.3 miles wide. The damage stretched from near Canfield and Boardman eastward toward Poland, toppling hundreds of trees, damaging homes and businesses and causing widespread power outages. A macroburst is a powerful downdraft that rushes out of a thunderstorm and spreads across the ground in all directions. Unlike a tornado, which features rotating winds concentrated in a relatively narrow path, a macroburst produces straight-line winds that can spread several miles across on a path many miles long. Strong macrobursts are capable of generating winds exceeding 100 mph, producing damage that can rival that of a weak tornado. Meteorologists distinguish the two by carefully surveying the pattern of damage. Tornadoes leave evidence of rotating winds, while macrobursts create damage that generally points outward from the storm's downdraft. The July 5 storm serves as a reminder that not all destructive wind damage is caused by tornadoes. In this case, Mahoning County experienced both a confirmed EF-1 tornado and a significant macroburst from the same severe weather event, demonstrating how thunderstorms can unleash multiple forms of destructive winds in a matter of minutes.
Tornadoes wreak havoc across central China as Typhoon Bavi looms offshore | Reuters (Reuters) - Two tornadoes wrought devastation in central China's Hubei province, killing at least 11 people, as winds of up to 149 kph (93 mph) overturned cars and ripped roofs from buildings, state media said on Tuesday. Over four hours on Monday evening, gales measuring level 13 on the extended Beaufort wind force scale swept over the cities of Huangshi, Huanggang, Ezhou and Xianning, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Hubei's emergency management authorities. At least one person was still missing, the report said. Tornadoes are extremely rare in Hubei, a major industrial, automotive manufacturing and technology hub, Wang Xiaoling, an expert at the provincial meteorological bureau, told Hubei Daily. The last tornado in the province was in May 2021. China, the world's second-largest economy, is becoming increasingly exposed to extreme weather events that experts attribute to climate change. Torrential rain, scorching summer heat and gale-force winds cause tens of billions of dollars in economic losses annually, disrupting industry and destroying crops. Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed rescue workers in Huanggang looking at a badly damaged truck cab that appeared to have been shredded by corrugated steel torn from the roof of a nearby building. Another clip showed a wrecked white car that had been blown into a lamp post that was also surrounded by sheets of twisted metal. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The National Meteorological Centre said northeastern Hubei should brace for further heavy to torrential rain on Tuesday. It also warned of heavy rain for parts of the southwestern Guangxi region, the southern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan, and the more northerly Jilin, Shandong and Liaoning provinces, among other areas. The Guangxi region, still reeling from Typhoon Maysak, which killed at least four people in its capital city Nanning over the past few days, should prepare for extremely heavy rain of up to 260 mm (10 inches) over the next 24 hours, which could trigger landslides, the forecast added. Sixteen people remain missing after a landslide in a mountainous county in western China's Gansu province, state media reported. A total of 33 people were swept away in the early hours of the morning. y. China also faces Super Typhoon Bavi, which is tracking across the Pacific towards Taiwan and forecast to make landfall along China's eastern coast over the weekend. Super Typhoon Bavi will begin affecting Taiwan from Friday with the worst of the wind and rain expected later that day and Saturday. Taiwan cabinet Secretary-General Xavier Chang said in a Facebook post that Bavi may bring more than one metre (3.3 feet) of rain to parts of the island and almost 29,000 military personnel are on stand-by to help with relief efforts. Bavi is expected to weaken slightly as it approaches northern Taiwan, but it may still remain a relatively large typhoon, with strength ranging from the lower end of a strong typhoon to the upper end of a moderate typhoon, the island's weather administration said. The storm packed winds of up to 289 kph (180 mph) as it swept across Guam, Tinian, Saipan and Rota on Monday.
Severe storms in China bring tornadoes and landslides that have killed 15 people - The death toll from devastating storms in parts of China rose to 15 on Tuesday, with hundreds more injured and tens of thousands evacuated, state media reported, as the country’s leader, Xi Jinping, urged “all out” efforts to rescue people affected by the weather. Thunderstorms and gale-force winds killed at least 11 people and injured 331 in the central province of Hubei, where “severe convective weather” hit cities, while tornadoes were reported elsewhere late Monday, state news agency Xinhua said. Xinhua also reported that 4,800 houses had been damaged and 22 more collapsed. “This episode of severe convective weather was characterised by its sudden onset and intense, short-duration winds,” it added. In the southern region of Guangxi, heavy rains and severe flooding from Typhoon Maysak killed at least four people, with at least 50,000 people evacuated, while eight people were still missing. Officials in Nanning, Guangxi’s capital, raised the flood control emergency response to the highest level after torrential rain breached dams. Dramatic video shared by state media showed a torrent of muddy water rushing past the crumbled concrete walls of a reservoir dam that had burst. On Tuesday morning a landslide in a village in the north-western province of Gansu buried 33 people in a separate incident, with 17 of them “successfully rescued”, CCTV said, without specifying what caused it. Local authorities are “are making every effort” to search for those still trapped, “properly relocate and settle affected residents, and strictly guard against secondary disasters”, it added. Natural disasters are common across China, particularly in the summer, when some regions experience intense rainfall while others bake in scorching heat. Scientists warn the intensity and frequency of global extreme weather events will increase as the planet continues to heat up because of fossil fuel emissions. At least 22 people were killed in China in May after heavy rains lashed its central and southern regions, with some places “hit by record-breaking rainfall”, state media reported.
Hotter, drier weather could double water bills in some US cities, study finds -- Hotter, drier weather threatens to double water bills by midcentury in some cities, according to a Stanford-led study. The research, published in Nature Sustainability, is the first to comprehensively model how climate change, infrastructure investment and household water demand can combine to compound an already growing affordability crisis. "Climate change stresses water supplies and forces utilities to build expensive new infrastructure to maintain reliability," "In cities already struggling with affordability due to aging infrastructure, the additional costs passed on to ratepayers to pay for additional infrastructure and reliability measures can push a substantial share of households into crisis." The average cost of tap water in the United States has increased three times faster than inflation over the past two decades, driven largely by aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance. Climate change is layering a new and poorly understood pressure on top of those existing strains, according to Skerker and her study co-authors. To understand how predicted changes in temperature and rainfall over the next two decades are likely to affect local water supplies and costs, the research team analyzed data from Santa Cruz, California. The small coastal city relies almost entirely on local surface water and a single reservoir. The local utility has implemented many lower-cost conservation options, such as water-saving appliances and reduced irrigation, necessitating infrastructure investments for climate resilience. Using a modeling framework developed with data from Santa Cruz's water department, the researchers linked plausible future climate scenarios with utility adaptation decisions, such as building a wastewater reuse facility, methods for pricing water and household-level water demand. Among the results: Measures taken to adapt to less water availability could lead to a near doubling of median water bills in Santa Cruz by midcentury. Paying for major new infrastructure could push the share of households exceeding the EPA's recommended affordability threshold from 19% to 35%, according to the study's findings. The model showed median water bills for the poorest residents could rise from around $60 to $111 per month (in today's dollars) under a dry climate scenario. More than 5% of households would have to devote as much as a third of their income to water, likely forcing painful trade-offs with food, health care and other necessities. Different infrastructure strategies produced starkly different outcomes. A risk-averse approach that built large desalination capacity early provided strong supply reliability, but at a steep cost to affordability. A more cautious approach that delayed investments kept bills lower but left the system dangerously exposed during droughts, providing reliable water supply in only six out of 10 years on average.
The world's oceans are the hottest on record for June—and El Niño is set to turn up the heat even more - The world's oceans are the hottest on record for June, pushing past records set during the 2023–24 El Niño years. Right now, the average sea surface temperature is just under 21°C across the world's tropical and temperate oceans. Before widespread industrialization in 1870, the temperature was about 19.6°C.That may not sound like a big difference. But heating the world's oceans this much requires a truly enormous amount of energy. Of all the extra heat trapped by greenhouse gases from burning coal, gas and oil, more than 90% has gone into the world's oceans.As a result, the oceans are getting rapidly warmer. In 2025, the heat added was the equivalent of about 12 Hiroshima-scale nuclear bombs exploding every second of every day.To find a climate analog comparable to what's happening now in the oceans, we would have to go back around 120,000 years to before the last ice age. Back then, slow shifts in Earth's orbit led it to heat up gradually over thousands of years. Humans have accomplished a similar result in a little over a century. The seas around Europe have been much warmer than average. This map shows temperature anomalies from June 29 2026. But the heat in the ocean doesn't just stay there. Hotter oceans fuel stronger cyclones, a more humid atmosphere, more intense rainfall and more heat in air masses over the seas, which can in turn make heat waves over land more likely and more intense. The El Niño forming in the tropical Pacific right now is likely to be a big one. As it develops, we can expect to see warmer temperatures and extreme events such as marine heat waves in the western Indian, tropical Atlantic and eastern Pacific oceans. Europe is sweltering through a record-breaking heat wave. The oceans surrounding the region and in enclosed seas are also exceptionally hot.Parts of the Mediterranean are up to 6°C hotter than the long-term average. Parts of the North Sea are up to 3°C warmer than average. The forming El Niño has led to sea surface temperatures about 1.24°C warmer than average across a large area of the central eastern Pacific.There's much more heat below the surface as well. Subsurface conditions in the eastern Pacific are more than 6°C above average.The seas around Europe have been much warmer than average. This map shows temperature anomalies from June 29 2026. A typical El Niño lasts about a year. The full effect on atmospheric heat becomes clearest toward the end of the cycle. That means while we can expect 2026 to be very hot—perhaps a new record—next year is very likely to be even hotter, as ocean heat is moved back to the surface. We saw this during El Niño events over 2023–24 and 2015–16. Steady ocean warming coupled with longer-lasting and more intense marine heat waves poses huge threats to marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows and coastal reefs. Research on the 2023–24 El Niño and the warm 2024 year showed widespread impacts. A warmer ocean is less able to cool the land over summer. Warmer oceans also lead to more evaporation, boosting humidity and fueling more intense and more sudden extreme rain and floods. These can have devastating consequences.Over the past two years, we have improved our ability to forecast marine heat waves three to four months ahead in Australia, the United States and other regions. Forecasts give marine authorities a chance to act early by reducing allowable fishery catches and beginning conservation efforts for vulnerable species. This early success in ocean forecasting may be short-lived. The current U.S. administration last year slashed funding for climate data-gathering networks and has worked to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research.This year, the administration announced it would end funding for a key ocean monitoring network before backing down.Ongoing collection of ocean data is crucial for ocean and land forecasts. If they are weakened or discontinued, we could face the challenge of dealing with worsening climate impacts blind.Ending the measuring of climate change won't stop it from happening. The only way to keep climate change from steadily worsening is to reach net zero as soon as humanly possible. Until then, we must use forecasts to prepare for what we can't avoid.
Strengthening El Niño and Atlantic cold anomaly in focus for Winter 2026–27 outlook - A strengthening El Niño and a persistent cool sea-surface-temperature anomaly in the subpolar North Atlantic, associated with the feature known in climate research as the North Atlantic warming hole, may influence large-scale atmospheric circulation during early Winter 2026–27 across North America and Europe, according to seasonal forecast guidance from major international forecasting centers. Forecasters are monitoring a persistent region of below-average sea-surface temperatures in the northern Atlantic Ocean, often referred to informally as the Atlantic cold anomaly or North Atlantic “cold blob.” Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC) indicate that El Niño conditions are expected to persist and strengthen during the second half of 2026. Current multi-model guidance suggests the event could become strong by autumn, although its eventual peak intensity remains uncertain. The cold anomaly combined with the strengthening El Niño, could alter the position and strength of the jet stream during the early stages of Winter 2026–27. Such changes may influence storm tracks and temperature patterns across parts of North America and Europe, although the precise regional impacts remain uncertain several months in advance. Large-scale pressure patterns could favor a more amplified jet stream across the Northern Hemisphere, according to seasonal guidance from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Similar broad signals appear in other long-range forecasting systems, although individual models differ in the placement and intensity of regional temperature and precipitation anomalies. ECMWF and other seasonal forecast systems show an increased probability of colder-than-average conditions across portions of the central and eastern U.S. during the early part of winter, while warmer-than-average conditions may prevail across western Canada and parts of the western U.S. These projections represent seasonal probabilities rather than forecasts of individual cold outbreaks, winter storms, or snowfall events. The evolving atmospheric pattern could also influence the distribution of winter storms across North America. Depending on how the Pacific jet stream and North Atlantic circulation develop during the season, some regions may experience increased storm activity while others remain comparatively mild. Frecasters note that confidence in regional details remains limited at this time. ECMWF and other seasonal models indicate that the interaction between El Niño and the North Atlantic circulation could favor contrasting conditions between the northern and southern parts of Europe. Some models suggest periods of enhanced Atlantic storm activity over northwestern Europe, while others indicate relatively milder conditions across portions of central and western Europe. Confidence in specific regional winter outcomes, however, remains lower than confidence in the broader large-scale climate signals. Researchers are also closely monitoring the Atlantic cold anomaly because previous studies have associated similar sea-surface temperature patterns with changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), one of the primary drivers of winter weather across Europe and eastern North America. Updated seasonal outlooks issued during autumn are expected to provide greater confidence in regional temperature, precipitation, and storm-track projections as ocean temperatures, atmospheric circulation, and other climate indicators become better defined. Although confidence is increasing that El Niño will become one of the dominant climate drivers heading into Winter 2026–27, meteorological agencies emphasize that seasonal outlooks should be interpreted as projections of probable climate patterns rather than forecasts of specific weather events.
Congo River freshwater rides 49-day Atlantic eddy to travel 200 kilometers offshore -- The Congo River is the second-largest river in the world, releasing an average of 40,000 cubic meters of water per second into the Atlantic Ocean. This huge discharge rate creates a large plume of fresh water that fans out 800 kilometers (500 miles) offshore. During the wet season, the plume shifts to the southwest, where it can be trapped by large, rotating currents called mesoscale eddies, with sizes on the order of 100 kilometers (60 miles). These eddies transport fresh water hundreds of kilometers from the coast. In work done at the Laboratory of Space Geophysical and Oceanographic Studies (LEGOS) and collaborating laboratories, Cardot and team examined the swirling currents of mesoscale eddies through both modeling and recorded observations to better understand how fresh water moves from the Congo River into the Atlantic Ocean. The work is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. Researchers used a 3-kilometer ocean circulation model, NEMO (Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean), to simulate the Congo River discharge. The study focused on 2016 because of the year's strong observational records from the Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA) and satellite records of salinity and currents in the region. They validated the model's output using measurements of sea surface salinity, sea surface height and surface current data gathered from the Automatic Identification System for ship tracking and processing done by eOdyn. Overall, the model was able to reproduce the size, position and seasonal changes of the Congo River plume.
A Super El Niño is coming: hard‑won lessons the world can learn from Africa - Climate prediction scientists announced in June 2026 that El Niño, a cycle that happens every two to seven years, had formed. It was expected to develop into one of the strongest on record—a "super" El Niño.El Niño happens when the surface of the Pacific Ocean becomes unusually warm. It can alter weather patterns worldwide, often leading to extreme events such as droughts, floods and heat waves.In Southern Africa, it causes hot, dry weather. In a previous cycle, this pushed 18 million people into hunger. In East and Central Africa, it has brought heavy rain and flooding that previously destroyed more than 600,000 homes, along with farmland and health services. In West Africa, it has reduced harvests, raised food prices and left families struggling with food shortages for years after the event. A "super" El Niño is caused by Pacific Ocean temperatures rising far more than normal. Parts of the Pacific are expected to be about 3°C warmer than average by the end of 2026. There have been only three other super El Niño events in modern records (since 1982). The most recent, in 2015–16, pushed more than 36 million people across East and Southern Africa into hunger. The effects were felt through food and nutrition security, water scarcity, health access and livelihoods. My research has shown how Africa, with high levels of poverty, underdevelopment and weak infrastructure, is highly exposed to climate risks that damage food systems and health. African countries have spent decades coping and adapting to repeated cycles of drought, floods, rainfall variability and food insecurity. The continent has built valuable experience in managing multiple harsh conditions. The five hard-won lessons:
- 1. Preparedness is better than response: Across Africa, governments, researchers, humanitarian organizations and communities have recognized the value of taking action before disasters happen. Early warning systems, making plans and getting support ready can help reduce losses before they become humanitarian emergencies. There are still gaps in early warning systems, but on the whole, Africa's Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action Situation Room and national systems are becoming stronger. Progress is mainly slowed by a lack of finance.
- 2. Indigenous and climate-resilient crops are part of the solution: Africa's agricultural future can't continue to depend entirely on a limited number of staple crops like maize and wheat that are increasingly vulnerable to climate stress. My research has highlighted the potential of neglected and underutilized crops such as sorghum, millet, bambara groundnut and cowpea. African communities have long cultivated these crops. They're better adapted to harsh growing conditions than many conventional staple crops.
- 3. Water, energy, food and health cannot be treated separately: Climate impacts rarely stay within a single sector. A drought affects crop production. Reduced harvests affect food prices and nutrition. Water shortages place pressure on health systems. Energy disruptions can affect irrigation, health care delivery and economic activity. El Niño's effects cascade across agriculture, water access, nutrition and health. There are connections between water, energy, food, environmental sustainability and health. Because these problems often happen together in Africa, countries have learned that the best solutions address them together, not one by one.
- 4. The biggest limitation is finance, not knowledge: Across the continent, researchers, farmers, practitioners and institutions have developed ways of preparing for climate risks. More funding is needed. Development finance, climate change adaptation grants and concessional finance could help vulnerable countries and communities that cannot borrow on normal market terms get the money they need for irrigation, health facilities and roads. Funding is also needed for smallholder farmers to insure their crops and livestock. Governments need money to pay for social protection and cash transfers. These provide safety nets in case of disaster so families are not forced to sell assets or take their children out of school.
- 5. Partnership must replace paternalism: Climate resilience can't be built through one-way relationships in which solutions are designed elsewhere and delivered to African communities.
Could geoengineering work to tamp down super El Niños? - With an anticipated "super" El Niño looming, a new study led by UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography considers whether society could use a weather-altering technique as a tool to mitigate the floods, extreme heat and other events that El Niño would bring. The findings are published in the journal Science Advances. An attempted real-world field test could lead to disastrous unintended consequences, but the "Black Summer" bushfires that scorched Australia in 2019 and 2020 served as a "natural experiment." The smoke that wafted into the atmosphere was filled with reflective, cloud-interacting aerosols akin to those used in a geoengineering method called marine cloud brightening. Previous research by one of the study co-authors found that the smoke-brightened clouds throughout the southeastern Pacific Ocean appeared to play a key role in creating global La Niña-like weather patterns. The effect was compelling enough that the team led by Scripps Oceanography researchers Kate Ricke and Jessica Wan used a seasonal forecasting model to investigate what would have happened if a similar event had occurred before a "super El Niño" instead. The results suggest that this might be an instance where geoengineering is worthy of serious consideration, the authors said. "As long-term anthropogenic warming and short-term natural variability often compound to produce extreme weather events, our findings suggest it may be worth considering interventions which target natural variability, rather than the forced response to greenhouse gases," wrote the authors in the study. "Such an approach could result in similar physical risk reduction with shorter duration interventions that carry less sociotechnical risk than a sustained deployment." Geoengineering—the altering of climate by making clouds brighter, the oceans more greenhouse gas-absorbent or by other means—has been proffered as a solution to slow the pace of global warming for decades, but it is always accompanied by controversy. Scientists and environmental agencies cite the potential for such methods to make things worse in ways not easily predicted. Entrepreneurs seeking to build a new industry have pushed for real-world testing and have quietly done so in a few regions of the world. Applied to El Niños like the one forming now, geoengineering could be used temporarily as a tool to help society mitigate specific events nearly guaranteed to produce significant damage. Economic analyses have shown that recent large El Niños cost society trillions of dollars in damage, the authors note. Strategic marine cloud brightening could be added to an arsenal that already includes flood control and other measures.The rapid-response nature of such an intervention contrasts with geoengineering schemes that address human-caused global warming but entail a need for international cooperation to manage them over years or decades, Ricke and Wan said."One of the biggest social concerns around geoengineering is the fact that if we use it to reduce long-term climate risks, we have to deploy it continuously for an indefinite period of time," "If we could target natural variability, we could get some of the benefits of geoengineering without having to employ it indefinitely."
Unusual Heat Warning for Arctic Plains as Alaskans Warned of Illness, Stroke – Newsweek - A bout of hot temperatures has prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) in Fairbanks, Alaska, to issue heat advisories across northern parts of the state, with temperatures forecast to climb as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the Arctic Plains and 85 degrees in the Yukon Flats early this week. The advisories cover portions of some of the coldest inhabited regions of the United States, where residents are far less accustomed to prolonged heat than people living farther south. NWS meteorologist Andrew Stokes, who works at the Fairbanks office, told Newsweek that high temperatures such as these occur about once a year in the region, and the current heat is unlikely to break any records. The NWS office in Fairbanks said a Heat Advisory will remain in effect from 10 a.m. Monday through midnight Tuesday for Alaska's Western and Central Arctic Plains, including Umiat, Franklin Bluffs, Sagwon and portions of the Dalton Highway. Forecasters warned that afternoon and evening temperatures could reach around 80 degrees, creating a risk of heat-related illness for people unaccustomed to such conditions. Temperatures frequently plunge below zero in these areas. For example, average high temperatures in the middle of winter in Umiat are around -10 degrees Fahrenheit, with lows dropping to -20. In summer, highs are more normally in the upper 50s or low 60s.
Massive calving episode in Greenland may foreshadow more rapid ice sheet loss - In November 2025, a study led by Adrien Wehrlé, a researcher in the Department of Geography at the University of Zürich, Switzerland, looked at the massive calving response of one of West Greenland's active glaciers, Sermeq Kujalleq in the Kangia icefjord (SKK), to the drainage of two surface lakes. Called supraglacial lakes, these are temporary meltwater ponds that form and accumulate in depressions or holes on the surface of glaciers and ice sheets. Using satellite and terrestrial radar observations, the researchers studied SKK's response to the drainage of two supraglacial lakes in July 2022. The study is published in the journal Nature Geoscience. SKK, also known as the Jakobshavn glacier, is a large and rapidly retreating outlet glacier on the Greenland ice sheet. As one of the world's fastest-moving and most active ice streams in West Greenland, it discharges more than 50 gigatons of ice into the ocean each year. Rising temperatures and increased melting will cause larger lakes that may increase the frequency and magnitude of drainage events, further degrading glaciers and contributing to sea-level rise. Between July 21 and 24, two supraglacial lakes 13 kilometers (8 miles) south of SKK and 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the glacier's edge released a catastrophic surge of fast-flowing meltwater that propagated all the way to the glacier's lowest depths. This unusual event is an example of a process chain from a lake drainage event to a resulting calving episode, demonstrating the influence that an increase in glacier flow upstream can have on Greenland tidewater glaciers at large. A drainage event sends a sudden pulse of meltwater to the bottom of the glacier, lubricating it and resulting in faster flow. Similar to a traffic jam suddenly clearing, this rapid flow pushes material forward and destabilizes the glacier edge. The stress from this acceleration forces open pre-existing cracks at the glacier front, leading to a cascade of calving events. Video of the July calving event. In this case, the rapid drainage event in July resulted in a subglacial flood at the base of the ice stream that lubricated the bottom of outlet glaciers and rapidly accelerated ice flow. Though the regular flow speed of SKK is around 7 kilometers per year, this acceleration created a surface speed-up pulse that traveled more than 16 kilometers (10 miles) downstream within four hours. This speed-up flow, equivalent to a walking pace of around 2.5 miles per hour, lasted for 24 hours and triggered a massive calving episode upon reaching the end of the glacier, or glacier terminus. Unlike calving events shown in movies, which often depict a single chunk of ice breaking and falling into the water below, this massive calving episode recorded 25 consecutive events over two hours. The largest single calving event during this episode was also one of the largest of the 125 total calving events that the researchers captured during their 13-day field campaign in the SKK region. In the study, researchers documented a direct causal relationship between lake drainage and calving activity, concluding that disturbances from upstream drainage events can propagate downstream without dampening and directly affect calving events at the glacier terminus. The Greenland ice sheet alone is responsible for 20% of current global sea level rise. Jonathan Kingslake, a glaciologist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, told GlacierHub that "while general statements about the frequency and magnitude of similar events may be hard to make, there is probably going to be more drainage and melting in the future." The rate of melting in Greenland, which is nearly seven times faster than it was 30 years ago, creates alarming risks for coastal communities that are highly vulnerable to destructive flooding events and saltwater intrusion. Arctic ice sheet loss may also destroy vital wildlife habitats and disrupt marine ecosystems in the region.
The administration has a new climate change office. It’s headed by a climate critic. - The Trump administration has reconstituted a governmentwide program that tracks how climate change is transforming the country, after having gutted it last year as part of a purge of programs that didn’t line up with its worldview.The U.S. Global Change Research Program is now headed by Matthew Wielicki, a former University of Alabama geochemist, according to his public postings on social media and confirmed by a second person familiar with the program, granted anonymity over fears of reprisal. Wielicki, who calls himself a “professor in exile” and who frequently critiques climate science on social media, will be in charge of the program’s primary product, the congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive report released every four years that shows how American infrastructure, lives and the economy are affected by climate change. Reached by phone, Wielicki, who has been soliciting ideas on X for what he should include in the next version of the assessment, said he’d like to speak about his work but only if the White House allows. The White House did not make him available for an interview, but sent a statement.
Arizona repeals electric utility efficiency mandate - Arizona regulators voted to ax the state’s energy efficiency standards Wednesday, in part because they said the rules were out of step with growth from data centers and factories. The state first enacted energy efficiency standards in 2010, requiring that regulated electric utilities achieve annual savings of at least 22 percent by 2020. Under the program, utilities incentivized energy-efficient appliances, promoted smart thermostats and rewarded customers for lowering demand during peak periods. The standards only ran through the end of 2020 and have not been updated — a fact that made them ripe for elimination by the all-Republican Arizona Corporation Commission. Commissioner René Lopez said the rules were “done with the best intention” but provided diminishing returns for the over $1 billion in utility spending. Plus, Lopez said, having a standard on the books could leave utilities at risk as they serve more manufacturing facilities and data centers that cannot be as flexible as a home or small business. Arizona is already one of the top states for data center development and the state’s largest electric utilities have said their load could nearly triple because of the influx of tech infrastructure in the coming decades. “When you bring on large load customers, there’s no way to be more efficient,” Lopez said at Wednesday’s commission meeting. According to data provided to the commission, regulated utilities and electric cooperatives had all met or exceeded the standards. The state’s two largest investor-owned utilities, Arizona Public Service and Tucson Electric Power, had achieved 26 percent and 28.5 percent cumulative energy savings, respectively. Environmentalists and ratepayer advocates, however, said the fact that the efficiency standards were out of date doesn’t mean they should be scrapped. They urged the commission to update the rules to better reflect current grid conditions and technology, especially since efficiency programs can help lower ratepayers’ bills. A staff analysis of the repeal found that getting rid of the program could result in “higher energy consumption and long-term utility bill increases” for residential customers by removing incentives for utilities to consider energy efficiency. Commission staff also said there could be short-term bill benefits from removing surcharges that have funded statewide efficiency programs.“This is a short-sighted moment for this commission,” said Will Greene, Arizona representative for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project. “There will be plenty of opportunity in the future to bring forward the kind of performance-based efficiency and demand-side management programs that we know work, but in the short term we’re going to be reliant on utilities to do this with no requirements and no reporting.”According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficienct Economy, which advocates for efficiency measures, Arizona was one of 26 states plus the District of Columbia that had requirements for utilities to achieve efficiency. In a February report, the council said utility efficiency programs can help meet growing grid needs at less than half the cost of new gas-fired power plants.The Trump administration has scaled back federal work on energy efficiency and clean building standards. Last week, the Department of Energy proposed changes to its energy efficiency standards program for home appliances — a shift that critics said could make it harder to make equipment more efficient in the future.Arizona commissioners said Wednesday that removing the mandate would not ban utilities from enacting efficiency measures on their own. Commissioner Rachel Walden noted that utilities would still be able to include demand response or efficiency in their long-range resource plans and said the commission would support measures “that don’t have a cost shift.”
Flawless – Hyperscalers Taking Steps to Mitigate the Impacts of Their Skyrocketing Use of Natural Gas | RBN Energy - Many of the nation’s largest hyperscalers now acknowledge this simple fact: The need to rapidly ramp up the availability of around-the-clock electricity to power their new data centers gives companies like Amazon Google, Meta and Microsoft little choice but to rely heavily on natural gas-fired generation, at least for the near term. These gas-dependent plans conflict with long-stated “net zero” goals for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, however, so many of these same AI giants are taking aggressive steps to mitigate the environmental impact of their fast-rising gas use. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss their dilemma and a few of the approaches they are taking. There are two primary drivers for U.S. gas demand in the late 2020s and early 2030s, namely the proliferation of new LNG export capacity along the Gulf Coast and a slew of new, energy-hungry data centers, most of them in a dozen or so key states. Due to the outsized role of these two markets, we’ve been blogging about them extensively — for example, in the past two and a half years, nearly 200 of our blogs made reference to existing or planned LNG export terminals and more than 100 blogs mentioned data centers and their massive energy requirements. We also posted a Drill Down Report on data centers in April. The report’s title — Go Speed Racer Go — emphasized a critically important aspect of data center development: the perceived need among hyperscalers to get their projects up and running as quickly as humanly possible. And, along with the truckloads of Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and other chips required for each facility, these data centers need reliable, 24/7 electric power — and lots of it — from the get-go. Estimates vary, but it’s safe to say that data centers totaling more than 200 gigawatts (GW) of new compute capacity are under active development in the U.S. and that most of that demand will be met (at least initially) by gas-fired generation. (As we’ll get to, some also are building new wind, solar, geothermal and battery storage; others are turning to nuclear.) A portion of that gas-fired power will be supplied from the electric grid, but an increasing share will come from onsite, “behind-the-meter” (BTM) power plants that serve data centers directly. Again, “speed to market” is a major factor — for the most part, it takes considerably less time to site, permit, and construct a BTM plant than a conventional, grid-connected plant because of the sometimes years-long queues for grid connections.The catch for many hyperscalers — and there’s always a catch, isn’t there? — is that powering most of their new data centers with GHG-generating natural gas conflicts with the goals they very publicly established years ago to quickly ratchet down their carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and other GHG emissions and achieve net-zero emissions in short order. For example, Microsoft has said its global operations will be carbon negative by 2030; Google originally committed to net-zero emissions and matching 100% of its energy use with carbon-free energy (also by 2030) but has since backed away from those goals; and Meta and Amazon continue to stand by their net-zero aspirations — Meta by 2030 and Amazon by 2040.The goals to be “flawless” from an environmental/GHG perspective became far more challenging with the rapid advance of AI and the ongoing race among high-tech giants to develop the new compute capacity required to train and run AI models. As we’ve explained in our blogs and Drill Down Report, large-scale data centers use extraordinary amounts of electricity — a 1-GW data center, for instance, needs about as much around-the-clock power as Austin or Denver, and the 2 GW required by the first phase of the 8-GW Monarch Compute Campus being developed by Nscale in Mason County, WV (see rendering above), is roughly equal to the needs of the heavily industrialized Houston Ship Channel or Miami/Dade County in Florida. (In March, Nscale said it had signed a letter of intent to provide 1.35 GW of compute capacity at Monarch to Microsoft.) While hyperscalers plan to “green up” the power side of their data center operations over time, for now their main focus is on gas-fired generation. The Monarch campus, to be developed in phases over the next five years, is a case in point. At the Monarch site, which is located near the southwestern edge of the Marcellus/Utica gas production area, Nscale is building what will be the U.S.’s first state-certified AI microgrid, a microgrid being a self-contained power system that can generate, store and distribute electricity to a defined area. (The West Virginia legislature voted last year to allow large microgrid developments to operate as independent utilities to attract industries that need significant amounts of power, like data centers.) The first phase of development at Monarch is clearly gas-centric. The initial 2-GW tranche of onsite generating capacity, set to start up by January 2028, will come from a fleet of about 800 gas-fired Caterpillar G3520K reciprocating engines, each with a capacity of 2.5 MW. That capacity will be supplemented by a large battery energy storage system (BESS), which will provide the added benefit of supplying instantaneous bursts of incremental power to the data center when needed. (The moment-by-moment power requirements of data centers can spike up and down with shifts in compute demand.)Nscale has said it is evaluating a number of options to further reduce the impact of Monarch’s gas-fired power generation, including the use of renewable natural gas (RNG); the development of renewables like geothermal and solar with thermal energy storage; and the addition of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) utilizing 800 million metric tons of already-secured CO2 pore space. (Permit applications for the first Class VI CO2 injection and storage well were filed in 2024; approvals are expected in Q2 2027.) Further, Microsoft and other tenants may well turn to buying and retiring “low-MI gas certificates” (aka MiQ certificates) tied to natural gas that has been independently certified as having very low methane intensity (MI).But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Our aim in this blog series is to discuss the full breadth of options that hyperscalers are employing to help meet their GHG-related and other environmental goals while at the same time relying heavily on gas-fired generation for most of the electricity needed to power new data centers. These mitigation efforts fall into four main categories, though it’s important to note up front that many data center developers (like Nscale) are taking a multi-faceted approach. Here are the four categories:
- Turning to the certified or differentiated natural gas market. As we just said, one option is to buy and retire unbundled low-MI gas certificates, often referred to as the “national book & claim” method (often shortened to “book & claim”). Some companies also are exploring the possibilities of using the “regional book & claim” approach, under which the certified low-MI gas is required to be produced in a nearby basin (or basins) and flow into the same pipeline network that supplies the buyer (in this case, the data center). A third, even more complex (and controversial) method is “trace & claim,” in which the buyer needs to prove there is a plausible physical pathway between the certified, low-MI gas wells and the burner tip. (More on these in an upcoming blog.)
- Capturing and sequestering most of the CO2 emitted by the gas-fired plants. The likely use of CCS at Nscale’s Monarch project in West Virginia is one example; a surer one is Google’s long-term agreement to buy most of the power generated by the Broadwing Energy Center (see rendering above), a new 400-MW, gas-fired plant in Decatur, IL, being developed by Low Carbon Infrastructure (LCI), a portfolio company of I-Squared Capital. More than 90% of the plant’s CO2 will be captured and sequestered at an existing Class VI well at the site. The electricity produced at the plant will flow into the regional grid, which serves (among many other customers) existing and planned Google data centers in Aurora and New Lenox, IL.
- Developing new wind, solar and geothermal projects to offset the gas-fired generation. In at least a few instances, hyperscalers are planning renewable-energy facilities on or near their planned data center sites to reduce the amount of gas-fired power that needs to be produced (see Together in Electric Dreams). For example, Amazon in January acquired the fully permitted Sunstone site in Morrow County, OR, where it plans to develop 1.2 GW of solar and 1.2 GW of BESS to support the company’s nearby data centers. In other cases, data center developers are building renewable projects at faraway locations with the aim of mitigating their gas-plant impacts by generating more green power for others. In June, Meta announced an agreement with XGS Energy to support the development of 150 MW of “next-generation” geothermal capacity in New Mexico by 2030.
- Signing long-term power deals with the owners of existing nuclear assets or making plans to invest in new small modular reactors (SMRs). Examples here include Microsoft’s long-term deal to buy all of the 835 megawatts (MW) to be produced by Constellation’s Three Mile Island Unit 1 in Pennsylvania (now called the Crane Clean Energy Center) when it is restarted in 2028, and Amazon’s agreement to buy up to 1.9 GW from Talen Energy’s Susquehanna nuclear station, also in Pennsylvania (see We’ll Be Together). Separately, Amazon, Google and Meta are backing plans for SMRs.
Well, that lays out a roadmap for where we’re headed. In upcoming blogs, we will discuss in more detail each of the four primary approaches hyperscalers are taking to mitigate or offset their rapidly increasing use of natural gas.
AI’s no-win choice: Using huge amounts of water or energy - - Artificial intelligence has a real heat problem.Cooling next-generation computer chips for AI requires either millions of gallons of water or huge amounts of electricity. Both have ignited sharp opposition from the public.The industry’s heat trade-off threatens to deepen its unpopularity in communities where concern is growing about the financial and environmental toll of data centers. If a company chooses to save water when cooling a facility, its power needs surge. If it reduces electricity, its water use climbs. One option increases carbon emissions and strains the electric grid; the other depletes a natural resource. “There’s no easy answer — it’s a lot of trade-offs,” said John Ikeda, chief mission officer at the Water Environment Federation, a technical and educational nonprofit for water professionals that has worked with Amazon on data center issues.POLITICO spoke with four of the biggest technology companies about how they choose to use either water or energy to cool their facilities — knowing that either one will tax resources and drive public backlash. Microsoft and Quality Technology Services have pledged to use zero water, in return for higher power usage and potential carbon emissions. Google and Amazon say they use water to reduce pressure on the electric grid in wetter climates, but not in drought-prone areas. While companies are prioritizing different risks, most are trying to find innovative solutions to their heat problems. Amazon has developed a system that lowered the company’s North American water use by 946 million liters in 2024 — enough drinking water for 1.3 million people a year. And the company improved its water efficiency by 17 percent that year. Microsoft is experimenting with new technologies that allow AI computer chips to function at higher temperatures, potentially reducing power demand for cooling.“The warmer the temperature, the more efficient the energy use,” said Steve Solomon, Microsoft’s vice president for data center infrastructure engineeringEven so, the sheer volume of water or power needed for the facilities has led to public backlash. Seven out of 10 Americans are opposed to data centers, according to a recent Gallup poll, citing water use as a top concern. In the first quarter of 2026, at least 75 projects valued at $130 billion were disrupted by local opposition, according to the tracking company Data Center Watch. And county-level moratoriums are becoming increasingly common.“You can cool a data center without a single drop of water, but it’s very energy-intensive,” said Ikeda, who has worked with technology companies to help utilities understand the water needs of data centers. “Or you could go 100 percent water for cooling and drop your energy usage, but depending on the time of year or temperature, you’re going to be competing with the community water needs.” In other words, water use, electricity demand and carbon emissions are tightly linked. Optimizing one often means worsening the other. And almost no one outside of the companies has enough information to assess the impacts — because the industry rarely shares details about its processes.
Ohio's power grid warns of record usage, tells data centers to use backup power - Data centers might need backup power as Ohio's grid preps for record usage - A heat dome is causing record energy demand on the electric grid powering Ohio and other states.. Large energy users, including data centers, could be ordered to switch to backup power to ease grid stress. The federal government is authorizing Ohio's power grid operator to request that data centers and other large energy users move to backup power if needed amid expected record energy usage during the stifling heat dome. PJM Interconnection, the United States' largest electric grid operator with an estimated 67 million customers, warned that spiking temperatures ahead of the July 4 weekend are pushing the grid toward record energy demand as Americans strive to stay cool. The grid has already experienced unprecedented stress as it struggles to meet the needs of data centers and residents across its coverage area, which serves all or parts of Ohio, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia, which is the world's data center capital. The central Ohio area, which houses the majority of Ohio's over 230 data centers, has been under an extreme heat warning in the week leading up to the holiday. The warning is expected to end July 3, but a forecasted high of 96 degrees is still projected for later in the afternoon July 4, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. The "real feel" temperature on July 4 will be 105, according to Accuweather, meaning anyone with air conditioning is certainly going to be using it. The U.S. Department of Energy approved PJM's request to deploy emergency measures for grid users July 1-3, which means large power users and data centers could be, under certain emergency conditions, required to use backup generators to ease any risk of residential customers losing power. These are "last resort" measures before rolling blackouts or decreasing the amount of voltage sent out by the grid. The Energy Department said the order is necessary to ensure adequate electricity supply and to protect public safety, as some areas expect record-high temperatures, according to the National Weather Service.Maps Show Data Centers in Areas Where Power Grids Struggling - As a dangerous summer heat wave pushes electricity demand toward record levels, some of the nation’s largest data center markets are clustered in places where power grids are already under strain or facing warnings of future stress. The pressure is most immediate in the Mid-Atlantic grid operated by PJM Interconnection, where recent federal emergency orders gave grid operators authority to call on backup generation and, as a last resort, curtail large users such as data centers with backup power. In Texas and Illinois, the picture is less immediate but still significant: grid officials say they expect to manage near-term demand, while regulators, reliability monitors and consumer advocates have pointed to fast-growing data-center loads as a source of future grid and cost pressure. Perhaps the clearest example is the PJM region, which serves all or parts of 13 states and Washington, D.C., including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. PJM said this week it had issued hot-weather, maximum-generation and load-management alerts as extreme heat pushed forecast demand close to—and potentially above—its all-time summer peak. Data centers are not incidental to the PJM story. In an emergency order, the Department of Energy (DOE) cited North American Electric Reliability Corporation findings that PJM demand is growing at its fastest pace in years, “driven primarily by data centers,” followed by electrification and manufacturing loads. The same order said PJM faces tightening capacity because of generator retirements and project delays, raising the risk that emergency procedures may be needed during peak periods. PJM said the DOE order allows transmission owners, if needed as a last resort before voltage reductions or load shedding, to curtail data centers and other large loads that have backup generation. That makes the Mid-Atlantic perhaps the strongest current example of a grid operator and federal officials directly linking heat-wave reliability measures with data-center demand. Northern Virginia remains central to that dynamic. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has described Northern Virginia as having the highest concentration of data centers in the world, while global commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield said Virginia remains the world’s largest data-center market by operational capacity, at 11.3 gigawatts. A recently launched map by environmental activist Erin Brockovich shows data centers spread widely across the region, with especially dense clusters around Northern Virginia, the Baltimore-Washington corridor, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio. Texas presents a different kind of warning: less immediate emergency, more rapid growth. ERCOT, which operates the grid for most of Texas, said ahead of summer that demand could surpass 92 gigawatts, above the state’s current record of 85.5 GW set during an August 2023 heat wave, as reported by Community Impact. The grid operator attributed the expected increase in part to high temperatures and the growth of data centers and other large projects. ERCOT officials have also said a grid emergency or blackout was unlikely this summer, citing new generating capacity. Still, the scale of expected large-load growth has drawn attention from federal and state energy observers. EIA projected that electricity demand within ERCOT would rise by seven percent in 2025 and 14 percent in 2026 as large data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities come online. Longer-term forecasts show even sharper potential growth, though with uncertainty. ERCOT’s preliminary long-term load forecast includes large industrial, crypto and data-center projects, and outside coverage has noted that ERCOT itself raised concerns about relying on preliminary figures for reliability analysis. ERCOT says data centers, cryptocurrency miners and large industrial customers are requesting to build in Texas in growing numbers, with some exploring co-location arrangements that let them draw power directly from nearby generators. Those arrangements concerned Texas lawmakers, ERCOT said, because generation used by a co-located large customer is “effectively removed from the pool of resources available to serve all Texans.” An ERCOT spokesperson told Newsweek: "ERCOT continuously monitors load growth and works closely with utilities, generators, and other stakeholders to ensure the grid can reliably serve demand. This includes advancing transmission planning, implementing the Batch Zero process for large load interconnections, and coordinating with the Public Utility Commission of Texas on long-term grid needs." Texas is also becoming a larger data-center market in its own right. Cushman & Wakefield ranked Dallas as the world’s No. 1 primary data-center market in 2026, while saying Virginia still had the largest operational capacity. According to the Brockovich Data Center Reporting map, Texas is heavily populated with data-center markers, with the densest cluster around Dallas-Fort Worth and additional concentrations along the Austin-San Antonio corridor, around Houston and across parts of West Texas. Markers are spread across much of the state rather than confined to a single metro area, underscoring that data-center development is extending beyond Texas’ traditional urban hubs. A map from brockovichdatacenter.com highlighting data centers across Texas. In the Chicago area, the immediate strain was local. On July 1, local utility company ComEd warned customers in parts of Chicago’s West Side and several west and southwest suburbs that the local grid was under “critical strain” or had reached a “critical level” during a heat wave, CBS News reported. The warning covered areas including Berwyn, Cicero, North Riverside, Riverside, Stickney, Forest Park, Maywood, Oak Park and Chicago neighborhoods such as Little Village, North Lawndale, Douglas Park, Garfield Park and Austin. ComEd urged users to reduce electricity use to help prevent outages while crews worked on impacted equipment. In Illinois, market analysts have suggested that data center growth could put pressure on the system. Commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE said data-center projects served by ComEd face power-delivery delays until 2032 or later, and that new development is moving outside the Chicago suburbs toward larger power sites. Illinois regulators are already examining how to shield customers from data-center-related costs. The Illinois Commerce Commission said ComEd has 75 large-demand customer applications in its pipeline, totaling more demand than the utility’s all-time system peak, and warned that such projects can affect other customers’ bills and ComEd’s ability to serve customers affordably. Separately, the Union of Concerned Scientists estimated that data-center load growth could add $24 billion to $37 billion in Illinois electricity system costs between 2026 and 2050. The Brockovich Data Center Reporting map suggests Illinois data centers are most heavily concentrated in the Chicago area, with smaller clusters around central Illinois and comparatively fewer markers across the rest of the state.
Ohio has bipartisan models for changing course on data center tax breaks - Ohio needs to curb the data-center tax break that cost $2 billion in state and local revenue last year. If the billions being given out to Amazon, Google, Meta and others can’t be easily reined in, legislators should approve other taxes to fill in for some of the losses.Recent action in other states shows that it can be done – and that this is not a partisan issue.In Virginia, home to the nation’s largest number of data centers, the Democratic-majority legislature approved a tax on data center electricity use that is set to raise up to $600 million a year in revenue. In Texas, the second largest in data centers, Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has called for a repeal of the state’s data center sales-tax exemption.That’s just the beginning of action to slash or pause these tax breaks that benefit some of the world’s wealthiest companies. In Pennsylvania, where legislative control is split, both the Senate and House have separately approved repeal of the exemption, with large majorities in both chambers.In Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, has approved a two-year moratorium on the tax break, while in Arizona, the Republican legislature and Democratic governor approved a three-year pause as part of its state budget. A bill New York approved with a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development is now awaiting action from the governor.Other states, from Massachusetts to Oklahoma, are taking steps to pause or limit the tax break. In state after state, the data center industry and its defenders have argued that ending or reducing the exemption will hurt the business climate and mean the state is “not open for business.” But now, with states all over the country cutting back on the exemption – including most of those that have the largest concentration of data centers – the fallacy of this has been exposed. Even Lydia Mihalik, Ohio’s development director, said of the exemption: “I don’t think it’s as much of a deciding factor going forward.” Ohio’s General Assembly voted a year ago to repeal the tax break, although this repeal would only cover new agreements. Importantly, that leaves existing tax breaks for big data center operators undisturbed, even for new facilities they build. News that the tax break was costing a fortune prompted Governor Mike DeWine, who had previously vetoed the repeal, to put a temporary pause on such new approvals. But before breaking for the summer, the General Assembly failed to pass a data center bill that would have limited – weakly – the break to 50% for new agreements. Some legislators thought that didn’t go far enough. They’re right. It didn’t. Like people across the country, Ohioans aren’t crazy about the noise, pollution, water and electricity use the data center boom is bringing to their communities, and especially the secretive process that often accompanies their development. More guardrails for them are badly needed. Providing giant tax incentives for largely unregulated projects that most people don’t want is not just bad policy — it’s a huge waste of precious resources. If Ohio can’t find a way to end these outlandish breaks, it should follow Virginia’s example, and approve a data-center tax to make up the revenue. One such tax would be a tax on data center equipment. The Ohio General Assembly should come back from its break and deal with this issue.
Ohio lawmakers tackle foreign influence in data center debate - — In May, Gallup polling showed that seven in 10 Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their communities, but some have questioned where exactly that opposition comes from. During hearings before the Ohio Legislature’s Joint Data Center Committee, it’s been suggested that the data center backlash is driven, at least in part, by foreign influence on social media, particularly by the Chinese government. At one June hearing, committee co-chair Sen. Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) notably asked a data center opponent where he was from and whether he was being paid to testify. “Several of the witnesses made it clear that they’re not funded by anyone, and I take them at their word,” Chavez said after the hearing. “There’s a lot of forces pushing back on a lot of different things. There’s geopolitical forces at work here.” More than once in those hearings, local and state officials, union leaders, and lawmakers have raised the question of foreign influence. Rep. Adam Holmes (R-Nashport), who co-chairs the committee with Chavez, said the committee has seen no direct evidence of such influence in Ohio, but that it’s a reasonable concern. “They can post a website or post opinions from a nonverified source and put that into the social media to just add debate to the narrative,” Holmes said. “That is the definition of information operations which is part of all military organizations. They’ve been involved in that, as we have, for decades.” Holmes also warned there are economic and military incentives for foreign adversaries to blunt American technological industries, including Ohio’s data center boom. “Whoever has an advantage with data management and information management in the future is really going to have a lot of advantages in the economic and finance sectors and currency exchanges and trade,” Holmes said. “It is a very urgent competition and support of data centers really helps us retain that leadership role.” The evidence for the existence and effectiveness of a foreign influence campaign on data centers is murky. Last month, OpenAI announced it had identified clusters of Chinese accounts spreading negative content about data centers. The company referred to this as a “bandwagon” campaign because it was mostly amplifying existing opposition. As Roxana Vatanparast, a digital infrastructure expert at Capital University, pointed out, that opposition is not new. “We already know that this debate has been ongoing for several years,” Vatanparast said. “This has not just started in 2026 as the result of any sort of ostensible foreign interference or operation.” According to Vatanparast, it is important to take note of where foreign influence accusations come from, and it’s important for leaders to be careful about suggesting opponents are being influenced by a “foreign plot.” “I don’t think a state data center bill is the place to really address this kind of potential issue that, again, we’re not seeing evidence of, and it’s certainly not a reason to dismiss people voicing their concerns,” Vatanparast said. “They’re essentially telling people that their institutions aren’t really listening to them and their concerns, and I think that could cause a loss of trust that could be corrosive to a lot of our public institutions.”
Big Tech sues tiny Ohio town after residents reject massive AI data center - A small Ohio city has become the latest flashpoint in the AI infrastructure boom after a widely shared X video highlighted a local fight over a proposed data center. In Urbana, residents helped stop plans for a massive AI facility, but the conflict did not end with the vote.The developer is now suing, reported Yahoo.. Urbana, which has fewer than 12,000 residents, first saw its city council reject the large project after locals raised concerns. The city later approved a 12-month moratorium tied to the proposal, and developer Thor Equities responded by taking the matter to court. The post says: "Big Tech is suing a tiny Ohio town of Urbana after its city council listened to the residents and voted no on a massive AI data center." The creator added, "Urbana only has a population of about 11,000, but they're going up against a $20 billion company." It also says the proposed facility would use "eight times the entire town's current annual electricity usage," cover 565 acres, and consume "up to hundreds of millions of gallons per year" of water. Why does it matter? For smaller communities, a large data center can raise worries about electricity demand, water consumption, constant noise, and pressure on local infrastructure. Those concerns are becoming more common as cloud computing and AI drive a rapid buildup of such facilities across the United States, even as supporters argue they can bring innovation and economic activity. Training and running AI models can drive major power and water consumption, put more pressure on local grids, and create risks tied to misuse, security, and unintended consequences such as rising energy bills. Across the country, towns are weighing promised investment against environmental and quality-of-life tradeoffs. In Urbana, that broader debate has now turned into a legal battle between a small municipality and a major developer. Online reaction has been split. Some commenters echoed residents' concerns, saying a data center of that size could hurt nearby property values or make the area less appealing. Others argued the project could instead boost home values over time and bring economic benefits.
What happens when a city changes its mind about a data center? -Cleveland.com --- A small Ohio city spent a year courting a $1 billion data center, then reversed course. Now a federal judge may decide whether it waited too long to change its mind. Thor Equities, a global real estate development and investment firm, is suing the City of Urbana in U.S. District Court. It wants a judge to declare Urbana’s data center moratorium unconstitutional and require the city to consider its application under the zoning rules that were in place when it filed for approval. The lawsuit is rooted in the specific steps Urbana took over 14 months, but it could become an important test for when developers acquire legal rights to proceed with a project the community no longer wants.
Cleveland gave developer the OK to pitch hyperscale data centers in the city, letter shows — Long before the city rejected a developer’s pitch to build a controversial data center in Slavic Village, officials with the city’s electric utility had given the company the green light to seek out data center operators and scout potential sites in Cleveland, records show. City-owned Cleveland Public Power Commissioner Ammon Danielson sent developer Lakeland Equity Group a letter of support, dated June 25, 2025, telling the company it “may use this letter of support to communicate to prospective national data center operators and stakeholders CPP’s willingness to work with LEG” — and potentially provide up to 125 megawatts of power if they chose to locate in the city. The letter raises new questions about whether Mayor Justin Bibb and City Hall were caught off guard when Lakeland submitted plans in May for a $1.6 billion, 150-megawatt data center on a 35-acre site in Slavic Village that was quickly rejected by the city.
Ohio’s AI data center boom is fueling a natural gas power rush - cleveland.com -- Across Ohio, energy companies are racing to build gas-fired power plants that will never send a single watt of electricity to your home. That’s because these plants—ten of them, proposed or already under construction—are being built for one customer: data centers running artificial intelligence. A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project, a nonprofit that tracks industrial pollution nationwide, found that if all 10 plants operate at full capacity, they could emit 75 million tons of greenhouse gases annually.
Big Tech data centers are driving up power bills at America's Rust Belt factories (Reuters) - For years, electricity costs for the Belden Brick Company in Sugarcreek, Ohio, had been relatively stable. Last year, they surged by 90% — largely because of rising power demand from data centers in the region. The 141-year-old brick manufacturer, whose products can be found in iconic buildings including the Texas Alamo and Notre Dame University, is seeing power bills rise mainly from a monthly capacity charge, which recently jumped from $1,600 a month to $12,000. Belden Brick is among many manufacturers across America’s heartland where costs are rising as power-hungry data centers serving the artificial intelligence industry proliferate. Factory electricity bills, a core expense, are rising faster than for many homes and other businesses, according to a Reuters review of U.S. energy data and interviews with nearly a dozen manufacturers and industry advocates. Federal, state and local governments responding to consumer anger and grid-stability concerns are pushing Big Tech to pay more for their expected demand. But some of their proposals lump in smaller factories with tech giants such as Meta and Amazon, whose power needs can dwarf even large manufacturers by a factor of 50. Meta declined to comment. Amazon did not respond to a comment request. Capacity charges are designed to compensate power generators for ensuring the grid has enough electricity for peak usage and to spur development of new supply. They generally account for about 10% of residential bills but can represent up to three times that for manufacturers, according to interviews with manufacturers, attorneys and energy experts. Such fees have soared in the 13-state region covered by grid operator PJM Interconnection due to stagnant supply and demand from data centers, where one server warehouse can use as much electricity as a mid-sized town. "That capacity charge just jumped off the page," said company president Brad Belden, part of the fifth generation working at the company. Despite such capacity-charge hikes, PJM was forced to take emergency steps last week, including asking some users to curb electricity use, to prevent rolling blackouts as searing temperatures pushed peak demand to a new record. The rising costs and regulatory uncertainty threaten some factories’ viability at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is prioritizing domestic manufacturing, advocates and policy experts say. These businesses are considering raising prices, slowing growth, or in some cases relocating. Belden has raised brick prices by 4% and profits have still shrunk. If bills keep rising, he said local manufacturers may quickly reach limits on cost-cutting or price-hiking. "There are going to be some companies that are on the razor's edge," said Belden. The White House said in a statement that Trump has taken action to cushion the blow on manufacturers, citing his hosting of tech companies signing a "ratepayer protection pledge" earlier this year and directives to build more power plants in PJM, paid for by tech companies. Data center advocates say the industry’s rapid expansion is driving long-overdue investments in America’s electric grid and cite other factors driving up costs, including power-plant retirements and transmission constraints. Data-center growth is “making us finally grapple with the difficult decisions that we were always going to have to face,” said Aaron Tinjum, vice president of energy for Data Center Coalition, a trade group. PJM, the largest U.S. grid operator, covers a Mid-Atlantic and Midwest manufacturing belt from New Jersey to northern Illinois and as far south as Tennessee that has become attractive to data center developers. Of the eight U.S. states considered emerging data center hubs, five are in the Rust Belt, according to Synergy Research Group data. The clash of old manufacturers and new data centers in the same region weighs heavily on costs and grid reliability. Data centers, said PJM spokesperson Jeff Shields, “can be built faster than the generation needed to serve them, driving up demand faster than supply." PJM sets capacity prices paid to power generators based on forecasted supply and demand, and manufacturers often pay an outsized share once capacity charges filter down to customers. PJM’s capacity prices jumped from $28.92 per megawatt-day in 2024 to the current $329.17 per megawatt-day — a 1,038% rise — driven primarily by data center growth. That helped push up electricity prices more quickly for industrial users in big manufacturing states that are also becoming data center hubs in PJM’s region, according to Reuters calculations using U.S. Energy Department data on electricity prices. Average industrial electricity prices were up 31% in Pennsylvania and 26% in Ohio as of December 2025 from 12 months earlier, compared with a 7% rise nationwide for industrial users. Residential customers in those two states saw increases of 14% and 9%, respectively. Even a 1% or 2% power-cost increase can stretch factory owners, who often operate on thin margins and use lots of electricity, economists and industry officials say. "This can have short- and long-term impacts on whether or not these facilities can continue to operate," said Paul Cicio, president of the trade group Industrial Energy Consumers of America.
Columbus-area data centers used 1.2 billion gallons of water in a year - Columbus-area data centers – including those serving tech giants Amazon, Meta and Google – used about 1.2 billion gallons of the city's water in a 12-month period, according to information provided exclusively to The Dispatch in response to a public records request.
Amazon's Data Centers Keep Catching Fire – Small-Town Fire Departments Pay the Price -- Firefighters in Jerome Township, Ohio roll up to an Amazon data center with lights flashing and full gear ready. Then they wait. Facility security can hold crews at the gate for up to an hour while Amazon grants authorization to enter, according to Daily Dispatch reporting. Whatever's burning keeps burning. Two Amazon data centers under construction in this small township have generated 84 emergency calls since 2021 — roughly two per month, often requiring lights-and-sirens response, according to Data Center Dynamics. This isn't a statistical blip. It's the invoice for America's AI boom, and small-town fire departments are picking up the tab. A single Amazon data center fire burned for 30 hours, caused $50 million in damage — and the company pays zero property taxes on the site. In April 2025, a two-alarm fire at the Industrial Parkway Amazon site occupied firefighters for approximately 30 hours and caused an estimated $50 million in damage, according to Data Center Dynamics. That exceeds the duration of most industrial fires handled by rural crews across an entire year — and it was a single incident at one address.Amazon reportedly secured 100% property tax abatements for ten years on each Jerome Township site, according to Daily Dispatch. The township still funds every emergency response. In nearby Hilliard, three data center campuses surround roughly 37,000 residents, and approximately $2 million in tax revenue has reportedly been diverted from emergency services since construction began around 2015. Jerome Township Fire Chief Douglas Stewart put it plainly: data center responses "That taxes our resources every time we go."Here's what Ohio's data center boom actually costs locally, by the numbers:
- 84 emergency calls to Jerome Township since 2021 — roughly two per month, often lights-and-sirens
- $50 million in damage and 30 hours of firefighter time in the April 2025 Amazon site fire alone
- ~$2 million in tax revenue reportedly diverted from emergency services in Hilliard since construction began around 2015
- 100% property tax abatement for ten years, per site, granted to Amazon in Jerome Township
- 10–35% electric supply price increases for many Ohio consumers in June 2025, partly driven by grid upgrades for data center demand
Ohio law lets data center operators withhold power plant blueprints from the firefighters expected to protect them. State laws fast-tracking private power projects have created a dangerous blind spot. The Norwich Township fire chief has raised alarms that companies classify on-site power plant designs as "trade secrets," blocking first responders from accessing detailed facility plans, according to Fire Rescue 1. A single hyperscale facility can consume as much electricity as 100,000 homes. Dense electronics, massive battery banks, proprietary layouts — these rank among the most complex fires any crew can face. That complexity doesn't clock out at 2 a.m.US data centers consumed about 176 TWh of electricity in 2023 — roughly equal to Ohio's entire annual usage — with that share projected to reach 9% of national consumption by 2030. Companies plan to invest up to $40 billion more in Ohio data centers by decade's end, with AWS alone targeting approximately $7.8 billion in the state. Hilliard's fire chief captured the tension directly: "We're not a huge fan of the data centers, but Hilliard controls economic development, and data centers bring in business," according to Daily Dispatch. Economic development officials argue these facilities diversify local tax bases and signal participation in the AI economy — but consumer advocates and fire chiefs counter that they deliver few permanent jobs while shifting safety burdens onto under-resourced local agencies.Ohio's utility commission has approved a Data Center Tariff requiring large facilities to paying too much for at least 85% of their contracted electricity capacity for up to 12 years. That's a meaningful step on the power-cost side. The harder question remains unanswered: who funds the training, equipment, and staffing for the fire crews protecting the servers that run your internet?
I Want More – As Data Centers Come to More Northeast States, Natural Gas Market Prepares for Growth | RBN Energy --A number of states have been early movers in the data center world, but several in the Northeast — while not yet major data center hubs — are laying the groundwork for a much bigger role. On top of that, a few states may turn out to be real surprises. There are also a handful of states intentionally shying away from the data center spotlight that could be wildcards. In today’s RBN blog, we examine the plans of several Northeastern states and how they could impact the region’s natural gas market.After being in virtual limbo for the past couple of years, the Northeast gas market is reawakening, which we’ve detailed in several previous blogs and our latest Drill Down Report, Wake Me Up. Pipeline projects to expand connectivity between Appalachia and demand centers are moving forward for the first time in years, including into the previously off-limits New York/New Jersey and New England market areas. Regional flow dynamics are poised to shift as expansions debottleneck production and pathways out of the Appalachia producing region, deepening seasonal patterns.At the same time, structural changes, such as coal retirements and new data centers, are driving additional gas demand, and we’re already seeing more gas-related projects in areas where data centers are planned or under construction. In our most recent blog, we turned our attention to the states with already-giant data center footprints — including Virginia and Ohio — that receive gas from Appalachia and how pipeline developers are responding. Today’s blog shifts the focus to several states flying under the radar.Let’s start with the area known as the Chesapeake-Delaware Corridor (green-shaded area in Figure 1 below) Maryland (medium-green area) is emerging as a key up‑and‑coming data center market, with spillover from Northern Virginia’s Data Center Alley (see Sweet Virginia) combining with a growing roster of large campuses. Key operators include QTS Realty Trust, Digital Realty, COPT Data Center Solutions and Aligned Data Centers, the last of which is building a roughly 264-MW, four‑building campus in Frederick County (light-green area to right at bottom of Figure 1). Much of the momentum centers on the Quantum Loophole data center, a 2,100‑acre redevelopment of the former Alcoa Eastalco site that hosts Aligned’s Quantum Frederick campus and other hyperscale builds. Big projects like TeraWulf’s planned 1,000-MW Chesapeake Data campus in Charles County, Atmosphere’s 300-MW Dickerson Data Center in Montgomery County, and the 150-MW Security Land Baltimore project, along with existing footprints from Amazon and Meta, add up to multi-gigawatt sites. These could change Maryland from a niche market to a secondary data center hub. Policy‑wise, Maryland is still crafting rules around data-center growth. Some counties are developing data-center-specific frameworks after community pushback, and there is growing talk of more cohesive statewide oversight as power demand ramps up.On the power and gas side, Maryland is leaning on new gas‑fired capacity, transmission build‑out and grid imports to support rising data center load. Constellation, a regulated utility there, has proposed more than 700 MW of new gas‑fired generation as part of a larger package of generation and storage. Maryland is part of the PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization that manages the power grid and wholesale electricity markets, which has approved high‑voltage projects such as the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project and a new 765-kV transmission line into Frederick County to move more power into central Maryland as coal plants retire. Legacy gas pipeline and power‑plant sites such as Dickerson are being reimagined as data-center-plus-gas platforms.Delaware (dark-green area in Figure 1) also in PJM, is taking a very different approach. Most of its current facilities serve the Philadelphia-Wilmington corridor; as of mid-2026, there have been no publicly announced projects by the major cloud providers. One very large colocation‑style project is on the drawing board, although it faces an uncertain path forward. Starwood Digital’s proposed Project Washington, which would include about 6 million square feet of data-center space over an 11-12 building campus between New Castle and Delaware City, is considered a test case for how the state’s Coastal Zone Act applies to big data centers. (The law, enacted in 1971, bans new heavy industry along the state’s 115-mile coastline.) Regulators have ruled that the site’s diesel-heavy design constitutes prohibited heavy industry in the coastal zone, a decision now affirmed on appeal, so the project’s future is uncertain.Next, we look at the southern New England states (purple-shaded area in Figure 1) tied to ISO‑New England: Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The Boston area is the region’s primary data center hub, and a leading AI market, but the rest of Massachusetts (medium-purple area) has yet to see the same level of growth. Major operators in the Boston area include CoreSite, Digital Realty and Iron Mountain Data Centers, and several communities in western Massachusetts are evaluating larger data center proposals, including projects around Westfield (near Springfield).Local opposition and zoning debates are becoming more common, but development interest is spreading. Western Massachusetts, especially the Westfield area and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, is drawing attention, including a proposed campus that could exceed $3 billion and include up to 10 buildings, backed in part by state tax incentives. Smaller proposals are also emerging in Greater Boston.Connecticut (dark-purple area in Figure 1) is not yet a major hyperscale data center state, and its current data center load is likely in the tens of megawatts rather than the hundreds. Most operating sites are small, nestled around Stamford, Hartford, New Haven and Trumbull. One of the largest is the 365 Data Centers facility in Trumbull (about 30 miles northeast of New York City), where the company is evaluating a roughly $200 million data center complex. The bigger story in Connecticut is the slate of proposed projects. The flagship is the NE Edge Millstone Data Center Campus in Waterford, a planned 300-MW facility near the Millstone nuclear plant. Other proposals include Atlas Capital Group’s data center concept in Bloomfield, at roughly 1 million square feet, and the Gray Wolf/ReNew Colchester AI and high‑performance computing facility. Governor Ned Lamont has been publicly promoting data centers, particularly in the Fairfield County and Millstone areas. Rhode Island (light-purple area in Figure 1) is the smallest of the three, with very few data centers today. A developer has floated a large data center project in Smithfield, paired with a commercial solar installation. The idea has drawn local pushback and remains in its early stages.A number of relatively small gas pipeline projects are in the works that could help meet rising demand in southern New England. Algonquin Gas Transmission’s (AGT) Reliable Affordable Resilient Enhancement (RARE) project would upgrade existing AGT facilities and add about 75 MMcf/d (0.08 Bcf/d) of incremental capacity to the system, improving deliverability on peak days. The Western Mass Reliability Project is a short intrastate pipeline and new delivery point that will shore up local infrastructure and make it easier to support incremental gas‑fired generation in the Springfield‑Longmeadow area.Northern New England (blue-shaded area in Figure 1) has a distant relationship with data centers. Maine (dark-blue area) is still a small, regional data‑center market, with roughly a dozen modest facilities scattered across places like Portland, Brunswick, Bangor, Lewiston and Millinocket and no true hyperscale cloud or AI campuses in operation. Policymakers have focused their debates on larger sites using more than 20 MW of power. The state is just beginning to grapple with how big data center loads fit into a constrained grid.The flagship project is the planned conversion of the former Androscoggin paper mill in Jay (see icon on dark blue-shaded area) into a large data‑center campus backed by JGT2 Redevelopment, anchored by an 82-MW allocation from Central Maine Power. There’s potential for the site to grow into the 200+ MW range. Earlier this year, lawmakers approved a first‑of‑its‑kind statewide pause on new data centers over 20 MW, but Governor Janet Mills vetoed the moratorium, arguing it would chill projects like Jay. She created a Data Center Advisory Council to study grid, cost and environmental issues and recommend new legislation by early 2027.In New Hampshire (medium-blue area of Figure 1), there are a small number of enterprise and colocation sites serving the Boston region. There are no major hyperscale campuses at this time. The state has just a handful of documented projects that are all quite small — facilities of less than 10 MW for Consolidated, FirstLight, Liberty Mutual and others. Vermont (light-blue area) doesn’t have any major data centers. There are legacy, on‑premise corporate data centers but these are not counted as distinct, large‑scale facilities in the national trackers. And there is nothing big planned.A number of projects are in the works or have been completed that would help gas flow in northern New England. Around 2008, Maritimes & Northeast’s Phase IV Expansion nearly doubled capacity into Maine, boosting the line’s ability to move gas from about 0.4 Bcf/d to roughly 0.8 Bcf/d through new looping and compression and later the system was adapted to move some gas north. Project Beacon, another Algonquin expansion, would increase New England’s capacity by around 0.3 Bcf/d — just under 10% of Algonquin’s existing capacity, addressing reliability concerns by helping meet growing data‑center power needs.Finally, we should note the importance of West Virginia (orange area in Figure 1), which has only a modest data‑center footprint today but sits atop abundant gas reserves and legacy coal‑to‑gas infrastructure, with high‑voltage lines and major pipelines nearby. Those fundamentals make it a logical candidate for greenfield data center‑plus‑gas‑plant complexes, even if the in‑state market is still emerging.Two large developments show how quickly things could change. In Berkeley County’s eastern panhandle (light-green area to left at bottom of Figure 1), Penzance Management’s Bedington Campus, billed as a “High Impact Intelligence Center,” is planned on 548 acres with up to $4 billion in capital investment. Even more ambitious, the off‑grid Monarch Compute Campus, now owned by Nscale (see They’ve Got the Power), is designed as an 8-GW natural‑gas‑powered project; Microsoft has agreed to deploy 1.35 GW of Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) there, with the first 2 GW targeted for 2028 and a full buildout by 2031.Gas‑pipeline expansions are being tailored to this emerging demand. TC Energy’s $1.5 billion Appalachia Supply Project would add up to 800 MMcf/d initially — and possibly as much as 2 Bcf/d by 2030 — across its Columbia Gas Transmission system, explicitly to serve new data centers and power projects in states including West Virginia. Additional capacity tied to the MVP Boost Project, which will raise MVP’s capacity from 2 Bcf/d to 2.6 Bcf/d by mid‑2028 through added compression in West Virginia and Virginia, further enhances the region’s ability to support large‑scale, gas‑fueled data‑center complexes. While the Northeast’s biggest data center markets continue to grab the headlines, the region’s next wave of growth may come from states that until recently attracted little attention. From Maryland's rapidly expanding hyperscale pipeline to West Virginia's gas-powered AI ambitions, and from southern New England's emerging projects to Maine's cautious approach, these markets are beginning to reshape expectations for both electricity and natural gas demand. Not every proposal will reach the finish line, but together they underscore a broader trend: data centers are becoming a powerful new force in Northeast energy markets, driving pipeline expansions, power infrastructure investments and long-term gas demand well beyond the region's traditional growth centers.
The ‘time-consuming’ permits dozens of data centers are skipping - By the time Krista Meredith learned last winter that an AI data center was coming to her community in the suburbs of Canton, Ohio, the site was already dotted with construction equipment. A nurse practitioner who has lived in the area for two decades, Meredith is concerned about how the project could affect water and air quality around the Rust Belt city that was once defined by steel mills and now houses a mix of affluent and working-class neighborhoods. But unbeknownst to her — one of hundreds who signed a petition against the data center — the only required federal permit was issued last August. And there was no chance for the public to weigh in. As a tidal wave of sprawling energy- and water-guzzling data centers are proposed across the country, opponents are finding that one of their strongest levers for challenging projects has all but disappeared. That’s thanks to a 2023 ruling from the Supreme Court that dramatically shrank the number of streams and wetlands protected by the Clean Water Act. Once one of the most important permits that virtually all construction projects needed, now everything from subdivisions to oil pipelines to data centers can be built without federal water pollution permits if the streams and wetlands they are filling in or contaminating fall outside the law’s scope. Other projects that are still covered by the law, like the data center near Canton, are newly eligible for perfunctory approvals that the general public often doesn’t know about. “I didn’t expect it to be a very reckless fast procedure to get this done,” said Meredith. “You should allow everyone to have a voice.” Located where Canton’s suburban outskirts transition to open space and small farms, the Amazon-backed project is one of at least 26 data centers being built nationwide in sensitive streams and wetlands with streamlined water pollution permits, according to a POLITICO analysis of 95 Army Corps of Engineers documents and permit records from January 2024 to this past June. Dozens more data centers are going up in states like Texas, Utah and West Virginia without a wetlands permit, the analysis found. In arid states, the Clean Water Act now covers so few waters that developers may not even be making contact with regulators at all, industry experts say. Even just figuring out which water features required a federal permit used to “take an incredibly long time and then the determination of actually getting the permit is time consuming as well,” said Wayne D’Angelo, a partner at the law firm Kelley Drye whose clients include energy and manufacturing companies. But thanks to the three-year-old court ruling, he said, “all that can likely be avoided by a number of projects just because of where they’re situated now outside of federal jurisdiction.” The massive scale-back of the water permitting process has been a major enabler for the lightning-fast build-out of data centers across the country. While hyperscale projects still have to navigate state and local regulations on everything from zoning to fire safety, the federal water permits were once seen as the most onerous part of the permitting process. Now, data center projects are often flying through the environmental review process — and, at the same time, shrinking their vulnerability to lawsuits from community activists, green groups and federal pollution regulators. The Trump administration is greasing the skids. After EPA last year told on-the-ground regulators to take an even narrower approach to the Supreme Court’s ruling, developers of a data center linked to the $500 billion Stargate venture withdrew their permit request. Located in rural Milam County, Texas, OpenAI, Oracle and SB Energy’s project site spans over 600 acres, but the Army Corps concluded a permit was not needed anymore because wetlands on the site were no longer federally regulated, according to public records obtained by POLITICO. A spokesperson for the project confirmed no permit was needed. In response to questions about the Canton project, Amazon spokesperson Brandon Scheller said the company tries to site projects in a way that avoids impacts to streams and wetlands. “We identify natural resources early and work intentionally to keep them undisturbed,” Scheller said in an email. As the federal government relinquishes oversight of millions of acres of wetlands and streams, it’s also losing its ability to go after companies for damages from data center construction in those areas — — leaving it to states to enact and enforce regulations. But the trend has left community members feeling squeezed out at a time when concerns over quality of life, energy and water use and health impacts are turbocharging local opposition in communities from Wisconsin to Arizona.. “Part of getting a permit is you’re letting the public know that this activity is planned for this place,” said Sara Gonzalez-Rothi, a law professor at Pace University who served as a senior water official under the Biden administration. “As you’re moving forward on completing infrastructure that’s going to be there pretty darn permanently — and the effects on the waters are pretty long-term and significant — there is no recourse.” For the better part of the past half-century, federal regulators at the Army Corps of Engineers took a sweeping approach to water protections, requiring anything more than minor construction across the American landscape to seek a federal permit. That process gave nearby residents, green groups and state environmental officials a window into developers’ plans for everything from strip malls and highway off-ramps to petrochemical facilities and coal mines — as well as a powerful tool for challenging them. The Clean Water Act permits don’t relate to the amount of water a data center uses, which is the subject of state and local rules. Instead, they are aimed at minimizing harms to creeks, marshes and other features on the landscape and offsetting any damage that is done. The process is especially salient for wetlands, which can absorb extraordinary amounts of water during floods and help filter pollutants out of drinking supplies, even though they may only look like a soggy spot in a grassy field. Now, the booming data center industry is reaping the benefits of the Supreme Court’s shrunken approach to which waters get federal protection as well as the Trump administration’s efforts to further restrict it, according to POLITICO’s analysis. The administration is proposing to only regulate wetlands and streams that physically touch a larger waterbody — like a major lake or river — and are brimming with water for at least part of the year. Some legal experts say that standard would go beyond what the high court required, but EPA officials say it’s legally sound. Since the start of 2024, there have been at least 27 data center sites where Army Corps regulators found wetlands, streams or other water resources, but determined that no federal dredge-and-fill permit was needed because the waters fell outside the reach of the Clean Water Act. The scale of those projects was hardly modest, ranging in size from 15 acres — more than 11 football fields — to nearly 2,000 acres, or roughly 3 square miles. And while some of those projects would have only a minimal impact on waterways, in other cases the waters affected are vast, according to the agency’s records. For instance, federal regulators found 27 acres of streams on a nearly 2.5 square mile data center site outside Reno, Nevada, but because they usually only flow after rain events — as is the case for the overwhelming majority of waterways in the arid West — the Army Corps determined that none were subject to federal regulation. That meant the project didn’t need a Clean Water Act permit. In northern Texas, near the Oklahoma panhandle, a planned data center and renewable energy campus was found to impact over 63 acres of streams, wetlands and other water features. It also didn’t need a permit because none were jurisdictional. POLITICO found just three projects in the arid Southwest — two in Nevada and one in Utah — that had even asked the Army Corps for a review since early 2024. There were no records of any developers seeking reviews in Arizona, where more than 160 data centers have taken root around Phoenix and community pushback last month led the state’s Republican-led Legislature to pass the country’s longest freeze on tax incentives for the industry in a budget deal with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. “From our experience in Arizona, I am not aware of any of the major data center projects we have supported having pursued Section 404 permits through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” Steven Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, said in an email. Through a public records request, POLITICO also identified 26 data centers since January 2024 that the agency said qualified for a streamlined permit, usually a nationwide permit that the public doesn’t learn about until after it’s issued, if they do at all. In fact, only 26 of the 95 projects POLITICO reviewed were required to obtain a more comprehensive permit, called an individual permit, which is posted publicly in advance so interested parties can weigh in before it is issued. Army Corps spokesperson James Lalino defended the agency’s permitting decisions, saying that the Army Corps can’t require a permit if there are no federally protected waters on a site. “If a jurisdictional determination determines there is no jurisdiction, USACE and any federal agency under the Clean Water Act has no authority to require a permit at all.”
Wilmington City Council delays decision on data centers - (WDTN) – At the Wilmington City Council meeting on Thursday, the city had a big decision on the table: whether to add data centers into the mix of what people can build within the city. At the recommendation of the deputy law director, the council voted 5-1 to only have the second reading of this ordinance, meaning no change involving data centers has been made. “I think there’s additional discussion that needs to be had with the law director as well before moving forward with that one,” said Deputy Law Director Brooke Horan. After deciding at the last council meeting that there would be a vote to amend certain sections of the planning and zoning code for the city, the deputy law director said more conversations needed to be had with attorneys on all sides before it should move forward. Amazon has purchased land off of U.S. 68 to build a data center, with some residents against it due to the impact it could have on the land. However, others say it could help the community, including the mayor. “Traditionally, a major project like a new safety building would be funded by taxpayers’ money, putting a heavy financial burden on our residents,” said Mayor Patrick Haley. “To avoid this, the city has asked Amazon for financial help with the new safety building, which is estimated to cost about $28 million.” 4th of July travelers brave heat wave at Indian Lake park However, the deal is not yet finalized, meaning millions from Amazon remain in the balance. “The goal is to secure the full $28 million upfront to fund the project,” said Haley. “Negotiations are still ongoing. No agreement has been finalized, and contrary to some of the comments on social media, the city has not received any funds from Amazon.” The council will hold the third reading of the ordinance regarding data centers at its next meeting on July 16.
Judge weighs challenge to Amazon's $4 billion Ohio data center -— A legal battle over a proposed $4 billion Amazon Data Center project in Wilmington, Ohio, has resumed for a second day at the federal courthouse in Cincinnati. A group of homeowners who live next to the 472-acre Amazon site argues the City of Wilmington pushed forward a series of zoning changes and ordinances last year, without properly notifying or giving the public a fair chance to weigh in. Attorneys for the City of Wilmington disputed those claims during the first day of arguments in an evidentiary hearing on Tuesday. Ohio's open meetings law requires local governments to hold public hearings before most zoning changes. The law also requires the government to notify nearby property owners by mail at least 30 days before the hearing, to allow residents an opportunity to learn about the proposal and voice their opinions. Wilmington’s Public Service Director Michael Crowe and Deputy Director Samantha Ison testified Tuesday — both acknowledged signing non-disclosure agreements (NDA) with Amazon months before the public became aware of the project. Crowe testified that he held secret negotiations with Amazon about the project code-named "Apollo." Elected leaders also moved forward with zoning and ordinance changes in 2025 favorable to the project, without informing the public of Amazon's intent to build. Attorneys for the city argued Tuesday that elected leaders rezoned a former farm to light industrial use and lifted noise restrictions on diesel-powered generators in the interest of public safety, economic development and the public interest, not solely to benefit Amazon. Attorneys for Amazon defended the use of NDA's saying they protect the company from competition, foreign actors and trade secrets. They also argued Wilmington homeowners are seeking "death by process," saying they are trying to delay the development through litigation and red tape. Attorneys for Amazon and the city argued the case should be thrown out on the merits. Federal Judge Jeffrey P. Hopkins was skeptical of that argument and of how an injunction could delay Amazon's project timeline. "It would take 30 days if you did it again," Hopkins said, who is considering a preliminary injunction. The federal judge said the city could simply repeal and redo the zoning changes and ordinances without further litigation. Attorneys for Amazon said they weren’t opposed to that while arguing against an injunction. The company wants to begin site grading this September to meet its four-year project timeline. Arguments in the case resumed at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning at the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in Cincinnati. Judge Hopkins is expected to consider a preliminary injunction and whether the case should continue. While the case is argued in federal court, a grassroots group of Wilmington residents is also working to bring comprehensive data center regulations to the November Ballot.
Grassroots effort pushes for data center regulations in Wilmington - — A federal judge in Cincinnati is hearing arguments Tuesday, that could delay or halt a proposed $4 billion Amazon data center project in Wilmington, Ohio. The case centers around whether Wilmington City leaders followed the proper procedures when clearing the way for the project. A group of Wilmington homeowners alleges that city leaders did not provide proper notice or time to weigh in before approving zoning changes at a former 500-acre farm purchased by Amazon. Advertisement The tech giant wants to build a 1.9-million-square-foot hyperscale data center at the site. The project is expected to bring more than 100 permanent jobs and tens of millions of dollars in private upgrades to city infrastructure. However, homeowners who joined the suit and residents have raised concerns about noise, air pollution, water usage, and government transparency. The project has been shrouded in secrecy after elected leaders signed non-disclosure agreements, barring them from discussing much of the proposal publicly. While the case is argued in federal court, a grassroots group of Wilmington residents are also working to bring comprehensive data center regulations to the November Ballot. Quintin Koger Kidd is one of the residents leading the effort, which must garner 321 signatures from registered voters in Wilmington to reach the ballot. "Communities across Ohio are grappling with how to handle the rapid growth of data center development," Koger Kidd said. "Wilmington residents deserve a direct voice in that conversation, and this initiative gives them one." Koger Kidd says he and others have pleaded with city leaders to set limits on massive developments, but says they didn't act. The proposed initiative would set rules on data center developments based on their size. It would set noise limits to protect nearby homes, require setbacks or buffer zones for building near homes or schools, air quality protections, and financial guarantees for future site cleanup after a data center reaches its end of life. "This isn’t about stopping data centers from coming to Wilmington," Koger Kidd said. "It’s about making sure that if they do come, they’re built and operated under rules that actually protect our neighborhoods, our schools, our water, and our quality of life. Right now, those rules don’t exist. This initiative gives Wilmington voters — not just City Council — the chance to decide whether they should." Koger Kidd says he's confident organizers will get the signatures required to place the issue before Wilmington voters in November. WLWT reached out to Wilmington's Mayor Patrick Haley and all eight council members for comment; they did not respond.
City plans major data center in Piqua near i-75 exit 78 -The city of Piqua approved plans earlier this year for a large-scale data center, a project officials say represents more than $1 billion in planned private investment. The data center is part of the city’s long-term plan to develop the I-75 Exit 78 Business and Industrial Park, a more than 1,200-acre area near Interstate 75 that city officials have identified for industrial growth for years. The proposed data center campus would occupy approximately 607 acres within the larger business park. City commissioners are considering a 40-year contract with AES Ohio to provide electrical services to the data center campus, with a vote on that expected in August. Since the project was announced, it has drawn significant public scrutiny. Residents have raised questions during public meetings about issues including water usage, electric demand, environmental impacts, traffic, the use of tax incentives, transparency during negotiations and the project's compatibility with nearby residential and agricultural areas. Anti-data center signs are common throughout Piqua, including this one on Wednesday, July 8 in flower beds in front of North Star Coffee Station on North Main Street. City officials have responded by publishing frequently asked questions, project documents and presentations outlining the city's rationale and projected benefits. Here are some of the project’s major details: The project area is south of Sherry Industrial Park, around Interstate 75 Exit 78, extending west from the County Road 25A corridor to the north and south of Farrington Road. The specific data center site is north of Farrington Road and east of Washington Road. The city says the area has long been identified for industrial growth. Its 2007 Comprehensive Plan designated the County Road 25A corridor as an Economic Expansion Area suitable for industrial development. According to the city, the site fits long-range planning goals for industrial development. Approximately 1,200 contiguous acres were annexed into the city between 2020 and 2025, creating a large area for economic expansion. The location offers access to transportation corridors and existing utility infrastructure. What economic impact does the city project? The city's estimates include: More than 50 permanent full-time jobs with average annual salaries exceeding $100,000. More than 400 contracted service jobs supporting operations. More than 1,000 construction jobs annually during the estimated three- to five-year construction period. More than $180 million in projected community revenue over 30 years. Annual operations expected to contribute approximately $46 million to regional GDP and $212 million in economic output across Piqua and west-central Ohio. The city says the project will fund: Approximately $76 million in water, wastewater, electric and roadway infrastructure improvements. Additional infrastructure improvements funded through an estimated $78 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue generated by the project. Road widening and intersection improvements along the Washington Road and Farrington Road corridors. The Piqua Municipal Water System will provide water. The city says the facility will use a closed-loop cooling system that requires an initial fill and only occasional replenishment afterward, with most daily water use limited to domestic needs such as restrooms and sinks. Wastewater will be treated through the city's wastewater system. During construction, electricity will be supplied by the Piqua Power System, while AES Ohio is expected to provide long-term transmission service for operations. Backup generators would be used only during emergencies and are subject to Ohio EPA regulation.
Data center debate prompts monitoring discussion in Martins Ferry - The Times Leader - - As AI data center development draws growing scrutiny across the region, Martins Ferry may be moving to get ahead of potential impacts by exploring preemptive monitoring measures and discussing how to protect local environmental and public health conditions. The discussion also comes as data center-related development continues to surface elsewhere in the region, including in Warwood, where recent proposals tied to the former Centre Foundry property have drawn public attention and concern. In Belmont County, separate reports have also pointed to early-stage data center campus concepts, further fueling regional debate over energy use, environmental impact and long-term community benefits. Martins Ferry Councilman Andrew Smay said, while it later clarified as a facility intended to manufacture modular components for data centers rather than a full-scale data center, recent conversations about possible data center projects on both sides of the river warrant closer attention, even if current proposals are outside the city's jurisdiction. "There have been talks of data centers being out in the old Centre Foundry in Warwood. This is obviously out of our jurisdiction so there's very little we can do, it's a different state, different county, different city," Smay said, pointing out the city is just 1,400 feet from Warwood. Smay said concerns seen in other communities include noise, light, air quality and wastewater impacts, including issues tied to large-scale cooling systems used by data facilities. "Noise pollution which includes both audible and infrasound, light pollution, wastewater pollution, air quality concerns that have been documented in other places where data centers have been built," he said. Smay said he recently attended a town hall in Warwood and met with local and state officials, including West Virginia Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, regarding ongoing discussions about potential development near the river. "Because of the discussion I had with her I am even more at ease with how this will progress into the future," he said. He added that while state legislation in West Virginia is expected to increase oversight of data center development, Martins Ferry should consider its own long-term monitoring strategy. "One idea to take into consideration by the city in the future is to place audio sensors around the city at different locations," Smay said. "Other types of sensors, air quality sensors, things of that nature... If we establish a baseline before any data center goes in then we would have the ability to have evidence that their data center or facility was in fact impacting the quality of our environment." Service Director Andy Sutak asked whether funding sources might be available to support such monitoring equipment, indicating the city may pursue potential grant programs and other state and federal funding opportunities as part of broader environmental and infrastructure planning efforts. Councilman Gus Harris expressed strong opposition to data center development, citing concerns over resource use and community impacts. "Those data centers are the worst thing that can happen in this county," Harris said. "They use millions of gallons of water to cool their centers... They take up thousands of acres. They tax our resources and they give nothing back... All they do is take, take, take." He added that other communities have expressed regret after allowing similar facilities. "There's other states that let them in and they regret it," Harris said. "Communities are getting sick. [There's ] hearing pollution, air pollution." Harris questioned whether baseline monitoring would even be necessary if impacts were not expected. "If they were legit, why would we even be talking about our health or baseline data?" he said. The discussion comes amid broader national debate over AI-driven data center expansion, which has sparked increasing public backlash due to high energy and water consumption, infrastructure strain, and limited long-term employment benefits. Several projects across the country have been delayed or reconsidered as communities weigh economic development against environmental and quality-of-life concerns. No formal action was taken in Martins Ferry regarding a monitoring plan , but the conversation signals a growing interest in preparing for potential regional development before projects are fully proposed or constructed.
Canton Sets Hearing on Proposed Zoning Changes Addressing Data Centers – WHBC - – It will be a well-attended meeting no doubt. The public hearing on data centers in Canton. It happens Monday July 27 at 7 p.m. in council chambers. City council gave first reading last week to changes in the city’s planning and zoning code, defining large data centers and smaller similar facilities. The changes provide setback requirements, especially from schools, residential areas, hospitals and more. Developers would also be required to run sound checks. The requirements could be finalized on the night of the public hearing.
For 18 months, Alliance won't permit new data center construction - Canton Repository - ‒ No new data centers will be built in Alliance for 18 months after City Council approved a moratorium at its July 6 meeting. The temporary ban − not to exceed 18 months − was approved by a 5-1 vote. Councilmembers will have time to study data center impacts. The legislation denies permits for any "AI data centers" within city limits. Councilman Phillip Mastroianni voted against the legislation. Councilwoman Jennifer Kiko was absent. Mastroianni repeatedly has said he opposes moratoriums, saying they stifle economic growth. The ban comes as Mayor Andy Grove recently revealed that at least one company has interest in bringing a data center to the city. The ban also follows separate legislation council approved in mid-June to restrict future data centers to I-2 industrial zones. The issue of large data centers has become a growing concern for communities across the country, because of the strain they can have on water use, power grids and noise. There also are concerns with tax breaks and long-term effects on neighborhoods. Councilwoman Sheila Cherry pushed for the temporary ban, saying on June 30 that she wanted to make sure residents were protected, to separate facts from rumors and amend the I-2 restrictions to include conditional uses. A new sub-committee on data centers was formed to have future workshops and public discussion, led by Mastroianni and Cherry. The sub-committee will create conditional uses. Cherry said she wants all council members to participate in the research and create the conditions. She said she would support dropping the ban before 18 months if the work is done. But she said she wanted 18 months on the ban because "things come up in this administration and everything doesn't run like clockwork." Cherry said she wants to come back to the public fully educated on the industry and make sure there are no flaws in the city's regulations. "I want to make sure I've done all, everything I could, get all the information I can, so I can stand on my truth., she said.
Massillon officials add amendments to data center zoning proposal -– City Council has agreed to a series of changes to proposed zoning legislation that would allow data centers to operate in the city.By adding new amendments, members are delaying their final vote on new overall zoning rules for such structures by at least two weeks, as legislation reverts back to first reading. The zoning measure was up for third and final reading on July 6. The move also allows council more time to review conditions and limits, and corresponds with a separate but related 60-day extension of a data center stay approved by members in mid-June.City Council is scheduled to meet for a work session July 13 and continue to discuss zoning options for data centers.Massillon's proposed zoning legislation — as amended on July 6 — looks to define smaller-scale data centers as 100,000 square feet or less per parcel, and larger ones as 100,000 square feet or more.Council wants to assign any data center to heavy-industrial (I-2) zoning regions only, mainly because I-2 parcels are farther from residential areas. Light industrial (I-1) zoning was a previous option that has been eliminated.Setbacks from residential districts for large and small data centers will be at least 400 feet, according to the city's zoning proposal. Earlier language included 200 feet setbacks.In addition, developers will be required to prove in their site plan that a data center has adequate water, electric and wastewater capacity available prior to construction, as well as having peak noise and decibel level certifications.Allowing the city's site plan review committee to revisit any utility-related changes that may arise after initial approval or construction of a data center is another zoning addition."The theme here is to provide some post-construction comfort (to residents) should issues arise," said Development Director Ted Herncane, who explained the series of amendments to City Council.Planned data centers have been a concern to many residents of Stark County, as one is underway in Perry Township. Perry Township trustees on March 24 voted 2-1 to approve a 30-year property tax abatement for a planned data center site off Faircrest Street SW, despite opposition by numerous residents. Canton City Council approved the abatement May 18, as it relates to an existing Joint Economic Development District with Perry. Stark County commissioners voted 2-0 to approve the deal on June 10.A data center developer also has eyes on the Massillon Technology and Energy Park ― the former site of Republic Steel ― as a potential location down the road. That area is zoned heavy industrial.
Everyday Americans are fighting to take down data centers - Growing up in Brown County, Ohio, Karley Baurichter learned to appreciate the land her family descended from. Her grandfather, whom she affectionately called “Papaw,” would take her to nearby paylakes and teach her how to catch and clean fish. He’d tell stories of shooting possum and digging for frogs when he didn’t have any other food, his grandfather who played the fiddle and rode the rails, and how the family’s milk and moonshine business allowed them to buy the 100 acres in Brown County Baurichter would spend Christmases and Easters on.That’s the Appalachian landscape that Baurichter, a writer and stay-at-home mother in Higginsport, yearned to return to after a stint in Cincinnati for college. It’s also the environment that large corporations want to take over with the construction of hyperscale data centers that are at the forefront of the artificial intelligence bubble.“These big companies use the same playbook everywhere,” she said. “They assume that rural folk are dumb. They assume that rural folk are not going to resist, and they’re wrong.”Baurichter is a volunteer who manages internal communications for the ConserveOhio campaign, a grassroots effort springing out of rural, southwest Ohio proposing an amendment to the state constitution that would ban the creation of data centers that use more than 25 megawatts of energy per month. For reference, 25 megawatts can power an estimated 15,000 to 25,000 homes. Private-practice attorney Nick Owens and Austin Baurichter, a practicing lawyer and Karley’s husband, began drafting the ConserveOhio petition in March to fight back against local plans to build large-scale data centers across the region.Though they didn’t expect to collect enough signatures to get the proposed amendment on the 2026 ballot, the petition committee has set a new goal of allowing Ohioans to vote on the future of data centers in their state in the November 2027 general election. They’re confident they will make it, with a swath of supporters from across the political spectrum and more than 105,000 signatures from all 88 Ohio counties collected in just three months since the campaign launch.“I firmly believe that the stakes are as high as they just about can get with all this, in terms of the sanctity of the environment, the sanctity of our government, our communities [and] our resources,” Austin Bauricther, who is also a petition committee member, told Salon. “The time to act is right now, and I’m not sure we’re going to have another chance.”“The time to act is right now, and I’m not sure we’re going to have another chance.”Ohio ranks sixth in the country for the highest number of data centers and is on track to become the second-largest data center hub in the Great Lakes region, with 77 more facilities slated for construction by 2030. Of the 224 throughout the state, 140 populate central Ohio, dotting the city center through to the edges of suburban cities like New Albany and Dublin, according to Data Center Map. An investigation from The Columbus Dispatch found that Columbus-area data centers used about 1.2 billion gallons of the city’s water between May 2025 and May 2026, the equivalent of about 21,000 central Ohio households of three to four people in the same span.In rural areas, residents fear the worst. Karley Baurichter said she worries that building hyperscale data centers in Brown and Adams counties will exhaust natural water systems, mislead rural workers into believing data center jobs will bring long-term prosperity, disrupt the ecosystem with noise, light and excess heat, and expose rural communities to greater surveillance. The centers’ likely usage for AI concerns her as an artist, while the companies’ erasure of cultural landmarks in the construction process upsets her as a longtime resident.“The hyperscale site that is proposed in Adams…They’re calling it the Buck Canyon site, but you want to know what that place actually is? Carter’s Holler. People were born and raised in Carter’s Holler, and people have written poems about Carter’s Holler,” Baurichter said, tearing up. “So I’m seeing a depressed area being further squashed because they can’t even get the name right, and I have a sneaking suspicion it might be because they might have to feel something about destroying a place if they get the name right.” ConserveOhio was born out of existing, smaller community efforts in southwest Ohio to track an Amazon data center in Adams County along the Ohio River and unearth plans for the use of 1,000 contiguous acres in Brown County. When county residents went to a Mount Orab Village Council meeting in January to learn about why houses were being torn down for a secret project, the council and mayor told them they couldn’t share details because they had all signed non-disclosure agreements. As Owens, the Baurichters and other petition committee members like realtor Jessica Baker began searching local deeds, filing information requests with the county and researching the company, they learned the land was likely to be used for a hyperscale data center and began raising the alarm in local Facebook groups.
Why Ohioans (and Everyone Else) are Fighting About Data Centers - Great Lakes Now - Video - Around the country, more and more communities are having difficult conversations about whether or not they want to allow data centers in their backyards. In an interview with Zaria Johnson, environment reporter for Ideastream Public Media, we explore how those conversations are playing out in Ohio.
Why should Ohioans pay tech billionaires' energy tab? Tom Bullock - cleveland.com - Ohio keeps picking up the tab, and now it’s for data centers used by tech billionaires. The latest example: The Ohio legislature rushed off to its summer break without passing House Bill 646 to create a separate energy rate class for data centers and shield everyday Ohioans from footing the electricity bill of some of the wealthiest corporations in the world. Ohioans were left holding the bag again. Disappointing? Absolutely. Surprising? Not even a little.
How AI Data Centers Lost the PR War; Dems Swear Off Using AI -Marcellus Drilling News - A rare bipartisan backlash against AI data centers has emerged, with more than 70 state and local governments passing restrictions or moratoriums due to concerns about water use, electricity consumption, noise, and utility rate hikes. Critics span the political spectrum, from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to conservatives like Pennsylvania State Treasurer (and Republican candidate for Governor) Stacy Garrity. Public relations experts blame the industry’s failure to build trust, communicate transparently, and engage communities early, comparing tech companies’ top-down approach to the tobacco industry’s playbook. The consequences are mounting: 25 data center projects were canceled in 2025 — quadruple 2024’s total — while roughly 99 of 770 planned projects face local opposition. Pennsylvania is at risk of forfeiting some $92 billion in private investments (see Pittsburgh Energy Event Truly Mind-Blowing, $92B+ Investments for PA).
Ohio Regulator Criticizes PJM Data Center Plan - Ohio's top utility regulator is arguing PJM Interconnection's plan to grapple with surging energy demand, fueled largely by data centers, doesn't go far enough. Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chair Jenifer French outlined that view in a letter as the regional transmission organization navigates an expedited rulemaking effort to connect data centers to the grid without causing resource shortages. Current proposals in the mix would establish a reliability backstop procurement plan to plug an expected energy shortfall and see PJM partnering with state-led programs to manage the grid during times of stress. French, in a letter to the PJM Board of Managers, voiced support for utilizing PJM's critical issue fast path process "in response to unprecedented regional load growth." But relying on states to do the heavy lifting in allocating curtailment risk to retail customers through voluntary programs, she argued, could create a patchwork of programs across the 13-state territory and remains "insufficient to meet the moment." "A robust regional response is necessary to ensure that large loads can quickly and reliably interconnect to the grid, set a framework to appropriately allocate costs and curtailment risks to the entities who caused them, and preserve affordability for those who did not," she wrote. She encouraged PJM to reconsider its earlier proposal for a PJM-managed effort, creating a uniform approach across the organization's footprint. “Importantly, this structure also serves to incent each [new large load] to bring its own capacity to avoid curtailment, a mechanism vital to address the resource adequacy needs of the region,” French wrote. “PJM should not shy away from this endeavor and should partner with states on necessary reforms.” French asked the board to consider whether the proposed Reliability Backstop Procurement auction accounts for “restructured states” such as Ohio that bar utilities from owning or planning generation resources to meet load. “The market must deliver sufficient generation resources, and the RBP must be paired with strong incentives for [new large loads] to bring new capacity,” she wrote. Other entities have also provided feedback on PJM's proposal, including the Data Center Coalition and the Virginia State Corporation Commission. DCC President and CEO Josh Levi and VSCC Chair Kelsey Bagot jointly wrote that they plan to develop model retail tariff structures to protect existing customers when new large loads connect to the grid and establish load reduction programs. “By targeting reductions from large commercial and industrial customers before implementing widespread feeder-level outages, this approach can significantly reduce the likelihood that residential customers are interrupted during the most severe reliability emergencies,” they wrote.What's the state of data center legislation in Ohio? | OSU Extension -- The Ohio State University -- We’ve talked about data centers extensively over the past few months. We’ve shared numerous blog posts, and data centers were our topic for our last Farm Office Live Ag Law & Policy Roundtable. If you missed that discussion, it is available to watch here. When we hosted that discussion, the Ohio House was signaling that it might come back to consider House Bill 646, which appears to be main vehicle for data center legislation. That did not come to pass, and now both chambers of the General Assembly are on recess until November. How would the current version of H.B. 646 address data centers? H.B. 646, available here in its current form, has gone through many changes since it was first introduced in January by Representatives Click (R-Vickery) and Deeter (R-Norwalk). Its first iteration, which we discussed here, would have created a Data Center Commission with 13 appointed members. The Commission would have been tasked with looking at the impacts of data centers and submitting its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly. However, that version of the bill was scrapped in May when the Select Committee on Data Centers, with members from both chambers, was created. After the Committee held hearings in May and June, a new version of H.B. 646 was introduced. The current version of H.B. 646 would place restrictions on data centers built and operated in Ohio. One of the main focuses of the bill is electric use by data centers. It requires any data centers with a monthly maximum electricity demand of 250 megawatts or greater to supply its electricity using sources that offset its consumption from the electrical grid. Furthermore, it requires all direct costs for retail electric services be paid by the data center operators and prohibits other Ohio customers from paying for these costs. Further, the bill would create a separate electric rate class for data centers. The amount of water used and discharged by data centers is often cited among those worried about the environmental impacts of the tech hubs. H.B. 646 would require data center owners or utilities that solely supply power to data centers to measure and report the data center’s consumptive use of water. The bill also requires data centers to implement best industry practices for water conservation and water-use efficiency in the design, construction, and operation of the facility. Data centers would also have to report their water usage annually to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and their water quality measurements quarterly to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). ODNR and OEPA, in turn, would be required to file an annual report on data center water usage and quality to the legislature. H.B. 646 contains language that would make nondisclosure agreements subject to public records requests. Thus, it would allow citizens to look up nondisclosure agreements made between data centers and individuals, local governments, etc. Finally, the most recent version of H.B. 646 would address tax breaks for data centers. The bill limits property tax exemptions for data centers in certain situations, and requires local governments granting property tax exemptions to obtain a security in the form of a surety bond or cash, certificates of deposit, or government securities from data center developers. The bill also excludes data centers from qualifying for megaproject tax incentives. Most notably, the bill would also limit sales tax breaks for data centers. Governor DeWine did pause the 100% sales tax break for data centers in May, and H.B. 646 would change it to 50%. This 50% sales tax break appears to be one of the reasons that the General Assembly did not pass H.B. 646 before the legislative recess. Reportedly, some lawmakers wanted the tax break eliminated altogether. As a result, the bill remains in the Senate Energy Committee until lawmakers return to Columbus in November. We will have to wait until then to see if there are any changes made to the bill, including the 50% sales tax break. Other data center bills:
- H.B. 646 was fast tracked by the legislature and seems as though it is the data center legislation most poised to pass when they return in November. With that being said, there are several other bills addressing data centers that we have been following. It appears some ideas from these bills have found their way into the newest version of H.B. 646. It’s possible additional pieces of these bills could be incorporated into H.B. 646 when the General Assembly returns, or that they could pass on their own.
- House Bill 695—While this bill, sponsored by Representatives Bird (R-New Richmond) Stewart (R-Ashville) does not address data centers directly, it does target local elected officials who could have knowledge of such developments. The bill would prohibit county commissioners, township trustees, and village mayors and council members from knowingly entering into nondisclosure agreements that prohibit “disclosing, discussing, describing, or commenting on” matters related to official duties, a repeated complaint of citizens. Note that H.B. 646 would address nondisclosure agreements regarding data centers in a different way—by making them subject to public records requests. H.B. 695 had its third hearing in the House Local Government Committee on June 3.
- House Bill 706—H.B. 706, sponsored by Representatives Rader (D-Lakewood) and Thomas (R-Jefferson) focuses on the infrastructure impacts of data centers. The bill aims to “ensure costs of new infrastructure and grid upgrades needed to serve these facilities are not shifted onto existing Ohio ratepayers.” The bill would require long-term service agreements of at least 12 years with electric utilities for data center customers, require the Public Utilities Commission to create standards for interconnection practices, load study deposits, and milestone requirements. It would also prohibit utilities from recovering data center costs from other customer classes, set minimum billing standards, and require financial assurance prior to facility construction. H.B. 706 had its third hearing in House Energy on June 3.
- House Bill 784—Sponsored by Representatives Cockley (D-Columbus) and Lett (D-Columbus), H.B. 784 would require any data center that withdraws from waters of the state to submit monthly and annual data center water consumption reports to the Division of Water Resources. The bill also contains non-disclosure prohibitions similar to H.B. 695. H.B. 784 was referred to the House Energy Committee in March.
- Senate Bill 381—Introduced by Senator Weinstein (D-Hudson), S.B. 381 would require interconnection approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio prior to connecting a data center with a monthly maximum demand of more than 25,000 kilowatt hours. The bill was referred to the Senate Public Utilities Commission in March.
We will continue to closely monitor data center legislation in Ohio when the General Assembly returns this fall!
Massena data center project continues to receive pushback as town reviews code -Data centers have been the center of controversy throughout the country and that battle is being waged in Massena as well. Most recently, the Town Planning Board opted to remit a proposal to the Zoning Board of Appeals to weigh-in on whether the former Alcoa East location is a permitted location for such projects. Though NYDIG and its subsidiaries are currently operating there with a colocation operation from North Country Collocation Services, the plan set forth calls for the construction of three new buildings ranging in size from 450,000 to 515,000 square feet. Planning Board officials said last month they intended to thoroughly vet and review the project and would not rush a decision. One of the major concerns is the environmental impact, a topic that was raised at numerous meetings throughout the county. Planning Board Chair Vance Fleury said the board would remit the project for pre-submission review after County Planning Board members raised a number of concerns themselves, from environmental issues to code language issues. “They did a review and they sent it back. They said the town should first refer the project to the Zoning Board of Appeals for interpretation if this project fits the definition of use permitted in the industrial zone,” he said. With county officials also raising concerns, some municipalities are taking matters into their own hands to slow things down. In Canton, town officials are currently mulling a moratorium of their own. For Massena, Planning Board officials and Town Board officials are in discussions, Fleury said previously. He said the project could possibly not meet the criteria under current code and require a resubmission for a use variance. Fleury said he was aware the town was reviewing current code language as well, which is "running in parallel" with the Planning Board. Despite the boards taking matters slowly to properly vet and review details, the project is not necessarily a popular one. The proposal has received significant pushback in recent weeks, including from advocacy group Mohawks United in Safety and Health (MUSH), who held an "emergency mobilization" at the Massena Town Hall on June 29. The group has held numerous information sessions already and had direct engagement with NYDIG officials regarding the project. County officials have also voiced concerns about such projects in recent weeks, saying the environmental impact may be extensive and such projects should be thoroughly vetted. Assemblyman Scott Gray also called for the governor to veto a potential moratorium on data centers, saying the legislation passed lacks the necessary regulatory framework to site projects while also taking control from local municipalities. In a statement issued recently, Gray called for the state to take a step back from data centers and return power to local communities. "It's the state's job to create the necessary regulatory framework surrounding these projects. Ultimately, final say should be held with the local communities who would be impacted and the state should take a step back," Gray said. County officials said much the same last month after dozens of residents spoke in direct opposition to data centers. Many called for an outright county-wide ban, however legislators said the county lacks legal authority to do so. "This really is a local issue and it's up to the municipalities. The county doesn't have the legal authority to necessarily do that," Legislator Rita Curran said at the time. County officials say they will continue to monitor such projects and work with state representatives as legislation is brought forward.
Sunbury residents push to let voters decide on proposed Amazon data center – 10TV -— More than 1,300 acres off Vans Valley Road could soon be the site of Amazon’s next Ohio data center, but not if some Delaware County voters have their way. On Monday, a group handed over 450 signatures to the City of Sunbury to begin the process of placing the project before the voters with the intent to stop it. “It would be about 200 to 300 yards from my home, you’re talking three years of construction, noise and diesel fuel for generators. I’m not against AI I think it’s in the wrong spot," says Larry Thode. He and others say the site is also too close to homes and schools and should be built elsewhere. The group says it’s not against data centers but wants Sunbury to limit the size of any data center and have it use less than 25 megawatts of electricity per month. Amazon has not released how much energy it plans to use. The petition centers on a large-scale data center campus Amazon wants to build on land the city rezoned for limited industrial use in 2023. Under an agreement with the developer, Sunbury would tax the property at 12.5% for the first 15 years and 25% for the following 15 years, revenue city leaders say would benefit local schools. But for many residents, the potential economic gains are outweighed by concerns about the project’s impact on daily life. "There is a lot of concern. There is noise pollution, water consumption, electricity, having something that big with that noise, next to schools, next to houses,” said Trey Dockendorf, petition committee member. Those concerns prompted city leaders in April to place a temporary moratorium on the project until January of next year to study its potential impacts. Residents living closest to the proposed site say location is their biggest issue. Supporters, including city officials, have emphasized the potential for new tax revenue and economic development tied to growing demand for data infrastructure. The city says Amazon is offering to spend $2 billion on the project. It says it put into place lighting restrictions including no lighting from the development is permitted to spill into neighborhoods, noise is limited to 80 decibels at the boundary of the nearest neighborhood. The minimum building set back is 100 feet from any neighboring residential or agricultural use, and the city set a maximum height of 85 feet but only if the building is set back 200 feet. If the petition is certified and voters approve the measure in November, opponents believe the city would be forced to halt the project. “That’s our hope,” says Dockendorf. For now, the future of the proposed data center rests with election officials — and potentially, voters this fall.
NM lawmakers push for statewide moratorium on data center projects — A handful of state lawmakers from Southern New Mexico want to place a statewide moratorium on large-scale data center developments across the state. State Reps. Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla), Angelica Rubio (D-Las Cruces) and Eleanor Chávez (D-Albuquerque) and Sen. Carrie Hamblen (D-Las Cruces) announced plans to introduce legislation establishing a statewide moratorium on large-scale data center development in New Mexico. The proposed moratorium, to be introduced in the 2027 legislative session, would prohibit new large-scale data center projects in New Mexico, while the state develops a framework for evaluating water use, energy demand and emissions, ratepayer impact, and community benefits related to this industry. Lawmakers said they intend to couple this push with legislation to close the microgrid loophole and protect the data security of New Mexicans. “New Mexico cannot keep saying yes before we understand what we are saying yes to,” Rubio said. “We are watching this industry move faster than our laws, our water systems, and our communities can keep up with. A moratorium gives us the time to get this right, instead of finding out the consequences after the concrete is already poured.” The announcement comes as New Mexico communities continue to grapple with the consequences of Project Jupiter, an AI hyperscale data center being built in Santa Teresa. A $165 billion Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) for the project was approved by the Doña Ana County Commission in September, despite an incomplete application, hundreds of pages of documents left blank or marked as drafts, and a public input process that many felt was lacking, the lawmakers said. Since then, Project Jupiter has continued construction without the air quality permits needed for their power generation, they added. “Project Jupiter moved so quickly that the same county officials who approved the tax break worth billions and took ownership of this project still can’t provide details or information for constituents seeking accountability on water use and emissions,” Cadena said. “That’s exactly what happens when speed replaces scrutiny, and when deals are made with dishonesty and deception. A statewide moratorium is necessary so that we can ensure all industries meet our clean energy standards and operate within our scarce water realities.” “As an observer of what our communities in Doña Ana and Socorro County are facing, and what private equity is attempting to do in acquiring our local utility, it is imperative that the New Mexico Legislature step in, require a pause, and establish guidelines and guardrails for all industries that put our communities’ futures, and our land, air, and water in danger,” Chávez said. Similar legislative efforts have advanced in other states, including a recently passed measure in Maine that was ultimately vetoed by the state’s Democratic governor after a dispute over a single project exemption. The New Mexico sponsors said they have been in discussions with Maine lawmakers to learn from their experience, while building a New Mexico-specific approach that reflects the state’s unique water scarcity and the needs of frontline communities.
As people protest data centers across the Heartland, lawmakers rush to regulate development - More than 100 people packed into tight county board chambers carrying signs reading “Protect Our Water” and “Approve the Moratorium.”They showed up at the Champaign County Board meeting in east central Illinois this spring to support pressing pause on development of large scale data centers — a move many communities have made in recent months in response to an influx of development proposals.Dozens of people voiced concerns about the massive amounts of water and energy data centers use, including sixth grader Samuel Tomory, who’s worried about the impact to Champaign County’s water source, the Mahomet Aquifer.“We need the water from our aquifer, but we do not need AI [artificial intelligence]. We can just have the intelligence ourselves,” he told county board members. “We don’t need the AI, as we need our water.”The board unanimously passed the one year moratorium in April, giving a new task force time to develop zoning standards for undeveloped land in the county.This pushback against data centers is becoming more common as development of the large scale facilities is booming across the Midwest and South. More communities are fighting against them – pointing to the massive water and energy usage and concerns about noise.Analysis from Pew Research Center finds the Midwest alone is set to see a 64 percent increase in development, and overwhelmingly, the development is planned for rural areas. About two-thirds of planned data centers in the U.S. are located in rural communities.Many local and state governments are now adding guardrails or pressing pause on data center development. Texas, what some are calling the first data center moratorium in the state passed in May in Hill County, about an hour south of Fort Worth. In eastern Wisconsin, Manitowoc County passed an 18-month moratorium in April. And Huron County in eastern Michigan passed a three year data center moratorium in May. Kate Stoll with the American Association for the Advancement of Science helps connect scientists with decision-makers on many issues, including data centers. She said more communities are asking to hit the brakes on data centers.“We’re also seeing some trends of cities and counties setting pauses or moratoria on data centers while they kind of shore up their data center specific policies in this time of rapid growth,” she said. From fears of noise and changing rural landscapes to environmental concerns, people are coming out in droves to block efforts to bring giant data centers to their communities.That effort worked in Champaign County, Illinois, at least for now. But an hour away in Springfield, the data center debate went a different way.In April, the Sangamon County Board approved a controversial $500 million data center, after several contentious public meetings.The county’s zoning code was not written for this type of development, said Lori McKiernan, with the nonprofit Sustainable Springfield, which promotes sustainable practices in the community.“The developers are taking advantage of that,” she said. “They’re going to these communities that don’t have strong zoning.”Petitioners in the Springfield area are currently gathering signatures to remove the county’s board chair and the leader of the Democratic caucus from their leadership positions, McKiernan said.In Festus, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, the community voted out half of its city council after it approved a $6 billion data center deal.Rick Belleville is a newly-elected council member in the city. He decided to run for office to bring more transparency to the project, he said. “When somebody comes to town and says, ‘Hey. We’re gonna give you millions of dollars, and we’re gonna build a data center,’” he said, “you need to slow down and get a full understanding of how the full thing’s gonna affect their community.”Now, Belleville is working on ordinances that would put limits on water use for any new industry – including data centers – that want to build in Festus. Meanwhile, residents are trying to remove the city’s mayor and the rest of council.In Illinois, at least one Sangamon County board member said there’s movement to respond to community concerns.“Now that there has been greater public input about what the concerns are that we do need to go back and look at what our zoning code would do if data center number two applies,” Tony DelGiorno said.The head of the county’s Democratic caucus, DelGiorno is at risk of losing the position if a citizen petition to recall him is successful. The board is already considering changes to the county’s building code to address concerns residents have raised, DelGiorno saidState lawmakers are also pondering how to regulate data centers.Missouri lawmakers passed a law last year that raises rates for customers using large amounts of energy. Petitioners in Ohio are collecting signatures for a proposed constitutional amendment banning new, large-scale data centers. Legislation was also introduced in several states this year, including Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, to tighten regulations. “I think people are trying to catch up,” said Dave Owen, a law professor at the University of California San Francisco who studies the energy impacts of data centers.This flurry of legislation stems from the outrage many communities feel when data center developers try to build in their backyard, he said.“I don’t think really anybody foresaw how much of a popular backlash there would be against data centers,” Owen said. “Even a year and a half ago, a lot of state and local governments were very eagerly trying to court data centers.”Analysis from the National Conference of State Legislatures found that as of May, 38 states offer dedicated incentives meant to attract data centers, including every state in the Midwest and almost every state in the Great Plains, except for Nebraska and South Dakota.But several states are changing course, said Nicholas Miller with the National Conference of State Legislatures.“We saw about an even number of states considering creating a brand new incentive versus pressing pause or walking back their existing incentives,” he said, “and as legislative sessions have progressed, we’ve seen more movements legislatively in repealing incentives or in rolling them back then we have in adopting new data center tax incentives.”Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently paused the state’s data center tax exemption.DeWine said in a statement that he supports the legislature's work to study the issues, including benefits to communities that offer tax exemptions to data centers.“As this work is ongoing, I believe it is appropriate for the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to pause its consideration of new data center tax exemptions while the full impact of data center growth in Ohio is being reviewed,” he said.
Northeastern States Position Themselves for Data Center Growth - Marcellus Drilling News - Northeastern states outside established data center hubs are positioning for major growth that could reshape regional natural gas demand. Surprisingly, blue state Maryland is emerging as a secondary data center hub, supported by large hyperscale projects, new gas-fired generation, and transmission upgrades. Delaware is constrained by coastal regulation, while Massachusetts, Connecticut, and even the Communist state of Rhode Island are seeing proposals (although there is stiff opposition in all of those states). Maine is weighing large-load rules as a mill conversion advances, and New Hampshire and Vermont remain limited.
Energy Department unveils draft electric transmission needs study - - The Department of Energy released a study Thursday that identifies the nation’s greatest electricity transmission needs and calls for more planning and investment that would clear up costly congestion on the interstate power grid. Relieving bottlenecks on the U.S. grid that drive prices up during hours of high energy demand is a notable move away from DOE’s focus under the Biden administration on enabling the build-out of long-distance power lines to ship renewable energy across the United States. The draft triennial National Transmission Needs Study lands as the country confronts growing demand from data centers, manufacturing and other large industrial electricity loads. It provides new analysis on how transmission investment can help maintain reliability, provide congestion relief and account for new generation and grid interconnection. “Electricity demand is accelerating faster than anything we’ve seen in decades, driven in part by data centers, manufacturing growth, and new forms of industry that are emerging almost by the month,” said Assistant Secretary of the Office of Electricity Catherine Jereza in a statement.
Energy Department closes $3.26B loan to support Texas grid - The Energy Department announced on Wednesday it finalized a $3.26 billion loan to help boost electricity transmission infrastructure and reduce power interruptions in Texas. The financing from the Office of Energy Dominance Financing to AEP Texas, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, will support a portfolio of nearly 100 projects to enhance grid reliability, the company said. AEP Texas said it signed letters of agreement supporting up to 41 gigawatts of potential new load additions through 2030. The agreement is expected to provide an estimated $685 million in total savings to customers on electricity costs over 30 years. Advertisement The company intends to use the loan to rebuild or reconductor existing transmission lines, as well as build new transmission lines spanning about 2,800 miles.
Operator warns of record power demand as heat continues - Ohio - – An electric power grid operator, PJM, which serves 13 states, including Ohio, warned electric demand will “approach record levels” over the next few days as temperatures soar to highs not seen in more than a decade. The company asked for and received assistance from the U.S Department of Energy “to allow local utilities to direct data centers and other large load customers to use backup generation if necessary to avoid outages for residential and other customers,” PJM saId. Temperatures on Thursday were expected to hit the highest levels since 2014, the company said in a statement, with little relief expected today. “PJM’s coordinated summer preparations with our local utility partners include scenarios at and above the PJM record demand of approximately 165,500 MW set in 2006, with continued high temperatures Friday and Saturday but lower power demand forecast due to the holiday weekend,” PJM said. Although temperatures will remain high today and Saturday, the Fourth of July weekend is expected to lower demand, PJM said. “We have sufficient resources to serve this level of electricity use if the generation fleet and transmission system perform as expected,” it said. “We will continue to work closely with all of our partners, including generation and transmission owners, to keep the power flowing during this heat wave,” it said. The company also activated its Pre-Emergency Demand Response program. “In simple terms, demand response or load management customers are paid to reduce their electricity consumption to ease demand during critical periods,” PJM spokesman Dan Lockwood told The Center Square. “Demand Response has been active in PJM for many years and used most recently during other recent hot and cold weather events, including the May heat spell and Winter Storm Fern in January,” the company said. Data centers have been criticized for potentially overloading the power grid during times of extreme weather. “With the rise of artificial intelligence, the size, complexity, and cost of data centers have increased dramatically because AI needs a lot of computing power,” the Ohio Public Utilities Commission says on its website. “Data centers being built also use a lot of electricity, need strong cooling systems, and take up space.”Dept. of Energy orders Mid-Atlantic data centers to switch to backup generators –WKYC report - Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued the mandate this week as the heat wave strains the region's electrical grid.
AI Data Centers Trigger Third Federal Grid Emergency, Sending Bills Up and Air Quality Down - The United States government is using a law written for wartime to manage a problem created by artificial intelligence infrastructure — and it has now done so three times in the span of six months, each time for the same structural reason. On June 30, Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed two emergency orders under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, a 1935 statute originally designed to compel reluctant utilities to cooperate during war, directing America's largest regional grid to force AI data centers onto diesel backup generators within 15 minutes of an emergency signal. The orders were not a precaution. They were a last resort before rolling blackouts, deployed as millions of Americans switched on their air conditioners for the Fourth of July weekend — and they represent an escalating pattern that the law's own implementing regulations explicitly say cannot continue. This is the third time in 2026 that the Department of Energy has invoked Section 202(c) within the PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization serving 67 million people across 13 states and Washington, D.C. The previous two orders covered a January cold snap and a May heat-and-maintenance squeeze. All three share the same underlying cause: data centers have added so much load to the grid so quickly that the system cannot reliably meet peak demand without emergency federal intervention. DOE's own regulations, finalized in 1981, state explicitly that the emergency authority "does not intend to replace prudent utility planning and system expansion." Three orders in six months for a predictable, structural load problem contradict that intent — and grid planners are beginning to say so openly.As of this morning, July 4, 2026, the emergency orders remain in force. PJM requested an extension through July 6, and that extension was approved. According to PJM's July 3 operations update, a heat dome over the Eastern Seaboard has pushed feels-like temperatures past 38 degrees C (100 degrees F) from New York to Washington, D.C. On Thursday, July 2, PJM demand hit approximately 163 gigawatts, narrowly below the all-time record of 165,563 MW set in 2006 — but high enough to rank among the two or three highest load days in PJM's nearly century-long history. Day-ahead electricity prices spiked past $2,000 per megawatt-hour in parts of the system. Operating reserves fell to 5,091 MW, a margin that leaves the grid with almost no cushion against an unexpected outage.Wright's orders authorized data centers and other large electricity consumers with at least 50 megawatts of peak load to be disconnected from utility-supplied power and shifted to on-site backup generation on demand — with hospitals, 911 centers, water treatment plants, and defense facilities exempt. The orders also granted temporary relief from normal environmental permit restrictions for power plants, allowing them to operate beyond their standard limits for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide to maximize available generation capacity. PJM officials acknowledged the orders could result in exceedances of normal pollution limits."Currently, there are tens of gigawatts of readily available backup generation that have remained largely untapped," Wright said in the order. Critics point out that this framing obscures the underlying problem: the backup generators being "tapped" are primarily Tier 2 diesel units — among the most polluting forms of power generation permitted under EPA standards — and they are being activated in communities where residents already face elevated health risks from data center proximity.Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act was enacted in 1935 and has been used roughly 29 times in the eight decades before this year — 22 of those times during World War II. From 2000 through February 2026, the DOE used the authority approximately 26 times across all US grid operators, typically in response to brief, unpredictable events: hurricanes, winter storms, sudden equipment failures. The orders generally lasted hours to days.Three orders within a single regional grid in a single calendar year is, by any historical measure, unprecedented. A February 2026 Congressional Research Service analysis flagged the pattern as "novel" and noted that DOE's own regulatory language characterizes Section 202(c) as a tool for "unexpected inadequate supply" — not a substitute for capacity planning. The Balch and Bingham law firm, which advises energy sector clients on federal regulatory compliance, wrote in March 2026 that the authority has transformed from an emergency backstop into "an active instrument of reliability management" — a characterization that carries significant implications for how the US regulates its electricity system going forward.The structural cause is not difficult to identify. PJM projects that data centers will add 65 gigawatts of new demand to its footprint over the next decade, as documented by the Center for Progressive Reform. The grid missed its reliability reserve target — the cushion of capacity maintained above forecast peak demand to absorb unexpected outages — for the first time in its history in December 2025. The capacity auction that month cleared 6,625 megawatts short of PJM's own reliability requirement. A data center can be built in roughly 18 to 24 months; the transmission lines and substations needed to power it take three to seven years, and transformer lead times have stretched to two to five years. The mismatch between build speed and grid expansion speed is structural, not seasonal, and emergency law cannot resolve it.When PJM directs a data center off the grid under a Section 202(c) order, that facility typically switches to Tier 2 diesel backup generators — units that, under normal operating conditions, are subject to strict EPA limits on sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and ammonia emissions. The emergency waiver contained in Wright's July orders suspended those limits to the "maximum extent feasible." In practice, that means communities adjacent to data center campuses — some of which are among the most environmentally burdened neighborhoods in their states — experience diesel exhaust during the same heat events that already strain respiratory health.University of Cambridge researchers documented a related effect: temperatures in the immediate vicinity of data centers run approximately 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) higher than the surrounding area on average, and as much as 9.2 degrees C (16.6 degrees F) directly adjacent to the facilities — a heat island effect driven by the thermal exhaust of continuous server operation. In the context of a heat dome already pushing temperatures to historic levels, that localized thermal loading compounds the public health exposure of living near large data center campuses.Roughly 38 percent of Americans — approximately 125 million people — live within five miles of one of the country's approximately 3,000 operational data centers, according to Pew Research. In Virginia's Henrico County, home to 37 data centers, school administrators were asked by their utility to limit power usage during peak periods, according to emails obtained by the tech publication 404 Media. Earlier this year, approximately 50,000 California customers near Lake Tahoe were notified they would need to find a new electricity provider, a move linked to surging data center demand in the region, as Fortune reported.
US moves to eliminate longtime radiation safety principle for nuclear power - The federal government is proposing to overhaul radiation safety regulations for nuclear power, including by eliminating a long-term principle for nuclear safety. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) this week proposed to get rid of the requirement for nuclear plants to ensure that radiation exposure is “as low as is reasonably achievable.” Proponents of the change say just using radiation dose limits is less subjective than going by the “as low as is reasonably achievable” principle — and that it led to overly conservative protections that stifled the nuclear industry. Supporters of the current language, however, say that having the “as low as reasonably achievable” principle, also known as ALARA, in place ensures that nuclear plants take all measures possible to reduce exposure for workers and the general public. NRC Chair Ho Nieh said in a statement that the agency is “raising the standard for regulatory clarity, not lowering the standard for safety.” “Our radiation dose limits remain unchanged — what we’re eliminating is unnecessary ambiguity,” he said. But critics say that eliminating ALARA means getting rid of a key incentive for energy companies to keep radiation levels as low as possible — and could mean more cancer cases. “Facility owners felt like … ALARA was forcing them to go well below the allowable radiation limits and spend a lot of money to do that,” said Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Lyman warned that the change could ultimately make it so that currently low doses of radiation that workers and the public are exposed to “could increase really all the way up to regulatory limits without any sanction from the NRC.” He said this could include by having employees work longer shifts and therefore getting more radiation exposure. Overall, he said, “this is opening the door for sloppier practices” and “worse management.”
Save Ohio Parks raises serious questions about Steubenville plan to frack historic park by Cathy Cowan Becker - Recently Save Ohio Parks was contacted regarding a plan by the mayor and city council of Steubenville to lease 19 parcels totaling about 157 acres, including 99 acres of historic Beatty Park, for fracking. In looking into this proposal, we found:
- The city passed an ordinance authorizing leasing public lands for fracking in October 2025 after being approached by several oil and gas companies.
- The city tried to bid out four parcels including 99 acres of Beatty Park and several acres of Jim Wood Park in December 2025, but got no bids.
- In April, the city tried again with 19 parcels and got two bids -– one from Ascent Resources – Utica for $1.1 million, and one from Pike Petroleum for $249,000.
- The city held a public hearing on June 2. Dozens of people showed up and expressed concerns.
- The city was supposed to vote on whether to accept one of these bids on June 11 but delayed the vote to July 14.
In light of this upcoming vote, Save Ohio Parks has numerous questions about the city of Steubenville’s plan to lease Beatty and Jim Wood parks for fracking.
- City leaders say there will be “no surface use”- – meaning the fracking pads will be located outside the city parks. But how far outside? The air pollution, noise, and lights from fracking travel for miles and do not stop at park boundaries. Even if fracking is happening outside the parks, it will still greatly affect the parks.
- Each frack well is typically allowed to take 100,000 gallons of fresh water per day from nearby streams, rivers, and lakes, for a total of 40 million to 60 million gallons per well. Where will the water to frack Beatty and Jim Wood parks come from? Has any hydrologist examined how that would affect water flow within the parks?
- All the water, sand, and chemicals used in fracking operations must be brought in truckload by truckload. Then the resulting frack waste must be carried back out truckload by truckload. This amounts to thousands of truck trips each way per well. Can Steubenville’s roads handle this kind of consistent and heavy truck traffic?
- Fracking injects water and sand laced with toxic chemicals at high pressure into wells to free oil and gas. When this mixture comes back up, it brings radioactive elements Radium 226 and Radium 228. These are bone-seeking and cancer causing. How will Steubenville oversee disposal of tens of millions of gallons of toxic and radioactive frack waste per well fracking these 19 parcels?
- The only households notified of the plan by letter were those within 500 feet. However, in leases to frack Salt Fork State Park, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources required frack pads be at least 1000 feet from the park border. Why did Steubenville notify people only within 500 feet and not 1000 feet or one mile?
- The areas around Beatty Park and Jim Wood parks are highly residential. Many are likely to have fracking occurring under their homes whether they consent to it or not. Are homeowners aware they can be forced into fracking? Is Steubenville city government prepared for homeowners who do not want their land to be fracked?
- Union Cemetery – Beatty Park is on the National Register of Historic Places, which is maintained by the National Park Service. That means there is a federal interest in Beatty Park. On the state level, whenever there is a federal interest in land nominated for fracking, that land is required to go through the National Environmental Policy Act process. This happened with Zepernick and Leesville wildlife areas. Will Steubenville allow Beatty Park to go through a NEPA process?
- Why were the citizens of Steubenville, who own and have used Beatty Park for decades, not given an opportunity to comment on the proposal to frack this historic park before oil and gas bids were solicited? On the state level, Ohio citizens are informed of nominations to frack public land and given 45 days to comment before a decision is made to seek bids. Decision makers are required by law to consider comments and objections from Ohio citizens, along with criteria such as environmental impact, geological impact, compatible use, and effects on visitors. Did the city of Steubenville consider any such criteria before soliciting bids?
- On the state level, any payments from oil and gas companies from fracking public land go into a special State Land Royalty Fund, where money is allocated for purposes designated by the state legislature. Will the city of Steubenville deposit any revenue from fracking Beatty and Jim Wood parks and the other parcels into a special fund so that how this money is used can be transparently tracked? Or will this revenue go into the general city budget where it is mixed into the broader municipal funds, making it impossible to track how this money is used?
- The posted lease document contains contradictory information regarding injection wells that take tens of millions of gallons of toxic, radioactive fracking waste. Page 10 grants the lessee the right to drill wells for the disposal or injection of fracking waste on the leased property. But page 13 says the lessee is not granted any right to use the leasehold for construction and operation of disposal or injection wells. So which is it? Will the oil and gas company fracking Beatty Park be able to put an injection well for toxic and radioactive fracking waste wherever they want, or not? Is the city of Steubenville prepared to oversee and regulate such injection wells?
- Research by Save Ohio Parks and FracTracker finds the oil and gas industry in Ohio experienced almost 2000 accidents and incidents from 2015 to 2023 – an accident or incident every 1.5 days. Is Steubenville prepared to deal with leaks, spills, gas releases, fires, explosions, and truck rollovers that regularly come with fracking?
- In soliciting bids to frack public land, did the city of Steubenville require oil and gas companies to include a certificate of insurance? If so, did the city require the insurance be up to date, and require liability insurance of at least $5 million, as is required by Ohio state law? Will the city make these insurance certificates public, as the state does for companies selected to frack public lands?
Given that the state of Ohio is charging ahead with plans to frack its own state parks and wildlife areas – despite thousands of public comments that run 98% to 100% opposed – it is no surprise that some cities now want a piece of the oil and gas pie. But that doesn’t make it right. Parks were set aside in the public trust and meant to be protected – not subjected to industrial oil and gas extraction. Save Ohio Parks finds it alarming that the city of Steubenville would proceed so quickly to frack its most treasured and historic park with so many questions unanswered. In months of city council meeting minutes, one would be hard pressed to find any city leader express any concern about the environment, the park, or what their own citizens want. We urge Steubenville city leaders to step back from this ill-thought-out plan to frack Beatty and Jim Wood parks, and instead find other sources of revenue.
Ohio Earned $314M (So Far) From Leasing State Lands for Fracking -- Marcellus Drilling News -- Ohio’s program to lease state-owned land for fracking beneath it (never on top) has been an astonishing success. Ohio has earned $314 million from leasing roughly 22,000 acres of state parks and wildlife areas for fracking. Most came from signing bonuses: $62 million for 6,200 acres under Salt Fork State Park and $238 million for Jockey Hollow and Egypt Valley wildlife areas. Royalties have also begun flowing—Infinity Natural Resources has paid $11.3 million from Salt Fork production since October 2025.
New legislation proposed to prevent another Twinsburg Township home explosion - (WOIO) - Ohio State Senator Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) has said publicly he and his staff are working on new legislation for additional safety requirements for underground installation of utilities. This is in response to the June explosion of a Twinsburg Township home, which destroyed three homes and damaged at least 36 others. The home that exploded on Hiram Lane and its two neighboring homes were destroyed. Debris was thrown throughout the neighborhood. One resident was even blown out of his chair but was not injured. The residents of the home that exploded were not home at the time. Twinsburg Fire Chief Earl Wilson said firefighters were called to the area around 3:20 p.m. Thursday, June 25, due to a smell of gas. Firefighters arrived on scene, immediately noticed the smell, and called Enbridge Gas Ohio. “And that happened within two minutes of them [gas crews] arriving. I mean two minutes of them getting out of the vehicle... and that explosion happened,” said Wilson. Two people were hospitalized. One was hospitalized for medical treatment and the other for injuries from the blast. Both victims have been treated and released. After the explosion, fire from the house of origin spread to the two nearby homes and firefighters immediately began battling the blaze and evacuating the area. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office said the gas leak was caused by a contractor drilling. Hudson Councilman Kyle Brezovec said it is believed a Kinetic fiber contractor hit a gas line while expanding the network. “While this did not occur in Hudson, and was not a Velocity Broadband crew, there were a number of gas line strikes in previous weeks here in Hudson,” said Brezovec. Chief Wilson added they may never know what triggered the explosion due to the gas leak, because there are so many possibilities, including, light switches. The Ohio State Fire Marshal is assisting in the investigation.
Rules for digging could change in Ohio after Twinsburg gas explosion - (WJW) — Weeks after a catastrophic natural gas explosion destroyed three homes and damaged dozens of others on June 25, an Ohio lawmaker is now pushing for tighter regulations on broadband internet installations to prevent future disasters. State Sen. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, told FOX 8 he is working on a bill aimed at strengthening drilling and digging rules after the incident on Hiram Lane in Twinsburg Township where a crew installing fiber-optic cables struck a gas line. The explosion was powerful enough to be felt in neighboring Hudson, part of Weinstein’s 28th District. “This could’ve happened anywhere. So, we want to ensure that it doesn’t,” Weinstein said. “Let’s learn the lesson from this and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.” He noted that it’s a miracle that no one was severely hurt in this incident, but there’s no guarantee that would be the case if another explosion were to happen elsewhere. Weinstein’s proposal will focus on utilizing existing state broadband expansion funds to provide grants to local communities. The funding would allow communities to adopt advanced, safer installation technologies. Weinstein explained that the other option includes water drilling, which he said is less likely to puncture underground utility lines, and advanced radar technology to accurately map underground infrastructure rather than relying solely on physical markers that may sometimes be inaccurate. Shampoo recalled nationwide after bacterial contamination detected “What this ultimately boils down to is ensuring that communities are able to implement the absolute best practices and safeguards and put them in place to protect homeowners,” Weinstein said. The proposed bill will also include provisions to hold prime contractors legally accountable for the actions of any sub-contractors they hire. Additionally, it would mandate that utility companies fully restore private properties to their original condition once digging is complete. Weinstein told Fox 8 he hopes to file the legislation in the next month and quickly get it into hearings when lawmakers return to session in the fall. He noted that it’s late in the current General Assembly, and if it doesn’t get completed it will become a top priority of his in the next one. “We have this opportunity now to ensure that every single home where we’re going to have fiber installs being done… is done with the utmost regard to safety,” Weinstein said. Cleanup efforts remain ongoing on Hiram Lane, where the street remains closed to the public The investigation into what ignited the gas and the specifics of how the line was struck remain under investigation. A spokesperson for the State Fire Marshal’s Office said the investigation is ongoing.
Twinsburg home blast tragedy could bring years of litigation | Akron Beacon Journal-- Around 3:30 p.m.June 25, a subcontractor working on behalf of Uniti Group struck an underground gas line while installing fiber-optic cable for Kinetic. Upon smelling natural gas, the crew immediately called 911. Shortly after, the Twinsburg Fire Department issued a shelter-in-place notice for the residents of Hiram Lane, Hiram Square and Dorset Lane, all streets within the Woodlands development. At around 4:40 p.m., something as simple as the flip of a light switch or the activation of an air conditioning unit — although the exact action is unknown — ignited the natural gas, creating an explosion that destroyed three homes and damaged nearly 36 others. Miraculously, only two people were injured from the blast and are expected to make full recoveries. Ohio loves cooking with gas Only a handful of other states love “cooking with gas” more than Ohio, with 3.5 million households in the state relying on it every day for heat, cooking and drying clothes, according to the American Gas Association. To make this possible, beneath our feet lies an underground network of more than 122,000 miles of distribution, transmission, gathering and service lines that require constant monitoring, maintenance and replacement. Now, pretend for a moment that you’ve just accepted a job installing fiber-optic cable. Before digging, you submit an 811 ticket to ensure the gas lines can be marked and avoided. But those markings aren’t always accurate and can be affected by outdated records, inaccurate readings from specialized locating equipment and human error. Even with the 811 system in place, according to data from the Common Ground Alliance, an average of over 500 underground utility damages were reported each day in the U.S. in 2024 — close to 197,000 for the year. Of these reported cases (and not every incident is reported), roughly one-third are attributed primarily to excavation errors, another third to inaccurate locating or marking by the utility company or the contractor they’ve hired, and about one-quarter to digging that began without first submitting an 811 request. If you wanted to be extra careful, you could use ground-penetrating radar, but with pricing upward of $40,000 for professional models, if you work for a smaller company or were subcontracted, it’s unlikely you have access to that equipment in the first place. And so, you dig and hope for the best. While it may be true that “the first hole’s the hardest,” as Magnet says to Stanley in the movie “Holes,” eventually, your fear fades away — the detachment less an act of carelessness and more one of existential acceptance. Do this for long enough, and you might start to believe your safety has less to do with you and more with the work and recordkeeping of people whom you’ll never meet. Though contract work is necessary for the largescale fiber-optic installations occurring across Ohio, for both utility and telecommunications companies, much like a game of telephone, each handoff introduces another opportunity for communication, documentation or execution to break down. A recent statement from Uniti Group says as much, citing “inaccurate markings of underground utilities by a third-party utility locating service” as the believed culprit of this disaster. Compounding this tragedy could be years of litigation, with the chain of companies involved potentially consuming themselves like an ouroboros as Enbridge, their contractors, Kinetic, Uniti Group, insurers and others argue over who bears financial responsibility.
Possible gas line rupture prompts evacuation in Canfield neighborhood - Residents in the area of The Cloisters neighborhood in Canfield were evacuated Sunday afternoon due to a high pressure gas line rupture. Residents were advised to take shelter at Canfield Fire Station 3 at 5007 Messerly Road.The neighborhood is located off of Shields Road and St. Angela Place near the Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten. As of 7 p.m. Sunday, first responders told 21 News that the situation was under control and the danger had been cleared.
Gas line struck at Six's Corner construction site prompts evacuation, road closures in Tiffin— A gas line was struck Thursday morning at the Six’s Corner construction site, prompting emergency crews to close roads, evacuate a nearby business and reroute traffic for several hours, according to a Tiffin Police Department media summary. The incident was reported around 9:59 a.m. July 2 near 265 N. Washington St. Dispatch notes said a truck at Pit Stop doing an inspection could hear gas hissing, and Columbia Gas was contacted shortly after crews arrived. Tiffin Fire/Rescue, police, the city street department and Columbia Gas responded to the area. Crews began setting up barricades near North Sandusky Street, Apple Street, Second Avenue, West Davis Street and other nearby streets as officials worked to secure the area. By about 10:15 a.m., dispatch notes indicated crews were “closing this whole area,” including access near Circle K. The street department later placed road-closed signs and cones at West Davis and Short streets, while officers stood by near North Sandusky Street and Apple Street until additional barricades were in place. Dollar General was evacuated around 10:54 a.m., according to the media summary. Officials also contacted ODOT for truck-route signs, and the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office was advised of the closure. The city’s CERT team was called to assist with traffic control near Hudson and North Sandusky streets and was on scene by about 12:38 p.m. Dispatch notes listed several barricade locations, including Sandusky Street at First, Second, Apple and Hudson; Davis Street at Minerva and Jackson; and other points around the affected area. A truck detour was later routed from Second Avenue to Wall Street to Miami Street and back to Sandusky Street. The leak was contained by about 2:19 p.m., though fire officials and Columbia Gas remained on scene. Around 2:29 p.m., fire officials advised that crews could begin reopening State Route 53, and the street department was contacted to collect the barriers.
Ohio Natural Gas Power Plant Facing Delay After FERC Rejects Turbine Swap --The Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) has denied Chestnut Run Energy’s request to swap turbine models at its planned 1,300 MW natural gas plant in Ohio, likely delaying the fast-tracked project by about two years. At a Glance:
Waiver denial risks 2-year delay
PJM warned of study ripple effects
Turbine backlog led to waiver request
28 New Shale Well Permits Reported for PA-OH-WV Jun 29 – Jul 5 -- Marcellus Drilling News - The Marcellus/Utica region received 28 new drilling permits last week, June 29 – July 5, down 3 from two weeks ago. Last week, Pennsylvania issued 18 new permits. Ohio issued 4 new permits. And, West Virginia issued 6 new permits. The drillers who received new permits included: Antero Resources (6), CNX Resources (10), EOG Resources (4), EQT (1), Expand Energy (3), and Range Resources (4). Bradford County | Greene County (PA) | Tuscarawas County | Tyler County | Washington County | Westmoreland County
EQT Sets New U.S. Onshore Record for Deepest & Longest Shale Well -Marcellus Drilling News - EQT Corporation, the largest driller in the Marcellus/Utica (based on M-U production), recently achieved two records with the same Marcellus well. EQT drilled not only the "deepest" shale well in the continental U.S. (by "measured depth"), but also the longest horizontal shale well (by lateral length). EQT's Longwell 9H well, located in Wetzel County, West Virginia (near the Pennsylvania border), eclipses a record set by Expand Energy in 2025 in Marshall County, WV.
EQT drills longest lateral well in continental U.S. near Pennsylvania border - EQT Corporation completed the Longwell 9H in Wetzel County, West Virginia (near the Pennsylvania border), setting two continental U.S. records. It reached a total measured depth of 37,610 feet (7.1 miles) and boasts a record lateral length of 29,070 feet (5.5 miles). [1, 2, 3] The massive feat eclipsed a previous onshore record set in 2025 by Expand Energy in neighboring Marshall County, WV. According to EQT Corporation's Instagram Post, drilling the Longwell 9H required immense precision—the lateral path was completely within the target zone, and the operation utilized a wide range of partners including Halliburton, Patterson-UTI, and Scientific Drilling. [1, 2] Because longer laterals enable producers to tap into larger gas inventories with fewer surface well pads, EQT's CEO Toby Z. Rice has heavily championed "super laterals" as a tool to unlock America's energy potential and improve well economics. [1, 2, 3, 4] The natural gas producer completed the well June 12 after months of planning and modeling.
EOG Resources' Future Well Inventory Is 16 Years Onshore US - Hart Energy - EOG Resources has at least 27,000 miles of horizontal wells left to drill in its U.S. shale leasehold, according to findings in a Novi Labs analysis. EOG Resources' production in its U.S. shale leasehold ranks third behind ConocoPhillips and Devon Energy.
DOE Sec. Wright Says Constitution Pipeline Project a “No-Brainer” - Marcellus Drilling News - The Trump administration and its officials continue to aggressively push the Williams 125-mile Constitution Pipeline project, which would stretch from the prolific shale gas fields of Susquehanna County, PA, into and through New York State, to Schoharie County, NY, to move Marcellus gas into New York State and New England. In June, Trump EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited Binghamton to advocate for reviving the long-stalled project (see EPA Admin. Zeldin Stops in Binghamton to Push for Constitution Pipe). Last Thursday morning (July 2nd), Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright appeared on the Fox Business program Mornings with Maria (Bartiromo) to discuss the current state of energy here at home and around the world (including the Iran war). It was a question that Bartiromo posed to Wright near the end of the interview that piqued our interest.
No Pipeline? No Problem! Trucked CNG Can Feed New Data Centers - Marcellus Drilling News -- We spotted a press release from Hexagon Agility that the company has secured its largest-ever single order for “Mobile Pipeline” modules from Certarus, valued at about $100 million, with an option for up to $25 million more by 2028. It triggered a “connect the dots” moment for us. Mobile pipelines are another term for virtual pipelines, which is a euphemism for trucking natural gas via CNG (mostly) and sometimes LNG. The Hexagon press release indicates strong new demand for such technology in the AI data center market. No pipeline? No problem! Just truck it in via a virtual pipe instead.
U.S. Propane Inventories Post Rare Early-July Draw | RBN Energy -Total U.S. propane/propylene inventories posted a counter-seasonal draw of 845 Mbbl during the week ended July 3 (red bar in Figure 1), about 3 MMbbl below industry expectations and 2.6 MMbbl below the average build of 1.7 MMbbl for the reporting week (green bar). It was the largest draw for the same reporting week since 2019. Total U.S. inventories are now at 90.5 MMbbl (red line in Figure 2), leaving stocks 12.1 MMbbl, or 15%, above the same week in 2025 (blue line), 19.3 MMbbl, or 27%, above the five-year average (green dashed line), and 6.7 MMbbl, or 8%, above the previous five-year maximum. The counter-seasonal draw in total U.S. propane/propylene inventories was driven by PADD 3 (Gulf Coast), where inventories posted a draw of 1.9 MMbbl during the week ended July 3, marking the largest draw for the same reporting week since our record-keeping began in 2011. Total PADD 3 inventories are now at 56.9 MMbbl (red line in Figure 3), leaving stocks 8.8 MMbbl, or 18%, above the same week in 2025 (blue line), 5.1 MMbbl, or 10%, above the previous five-year maximum, and 15.9 MMbbl, or 39%, above the five-year average (green line). The draw coincided with U.S. propane exports averaging 2.6 MMb/d, just shy of the record set in May. The combination of the largest draw for the same reporting week in PADD 3 and near-record export volumes highlights the strength of Gulf Coast propane demand.
CBF Supports Antis in Lawsuit to Block Dominion Va. Peaker Plants -Marcellus Drilling News - Over the years, we have chronicled the far-left Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) lawfare against fracking, gas-fired power plants, and pipelines (see our stories here). So it comes as no surprise that CBF is once again attacking a gas-related project in Virginia, Dominion Energy’s $1.47 billion natural gas plant in Chesterfield County. In February, the far-left Southern Environmental Law Center, representing three radical nonprofits, appealed the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) approval of the Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (see Radical Groups File Lawsuit to Block Dominion Va. Peaker Plants). CBF has just filed a “friend of the court” brief supporting the SCC’s lawfare against the project
Supreme Court Rules President Can Remove Commissioners, Like FERC - Marcellus Drilling News - – Over the past two weeks, just prior to heading out on summer vacation, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a number of extremely important decisions. One of them was Slaughter v. Trump, a 6-3 decision in which the Supremes overturned the 91-year-old Humphrey’s Executor precedent, granting the president broad authority to remove members of independent federal agencies for any reason. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the president must have trusted subordinates to ensure accountability, though the Court exempted the Federal Reserve to preserve its independence. This ruling permanently solidifies President Trump’s earlier removals of Democratic appointees, significantly expanding executive control over critical regulatory bodies, including the National Labor Relations Board, the Federal Trade Commission, and most importantly for MDN readers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
U.S. LNG Feedgas Continues to Soar | RBN Energy - U.S. LNG feedgas demand rose last week as Golden Pass LNG restarted following a brief shutdown. Feedgas demand averaged nearly 18.9 Bcf/d last week, up 0.2 Bcf/d week-on-week with most terminals at full operations. All Gulf Coast terminals are operating at or above full contracted level, while Cove Point and Elba Island are both just below full operations, according to our LNG Voyager Weekly report. After briefly shutting down the week prior, Golden Pass restarted last week, and feedgas demand at the terminal was around or above 0.5 Bcf/d for most of the week, about 0.1 Bcf/d higher than the average intake before the shutdown. At full operations, Train 1 will require around 0.8 Bcf/d of feedgas, so the terminal’s intake will continue to increase. Early commissioning work has also begun at Train 2 but it is not yet taking feedgas. ExxonMobil has said that it expects Train 2 to be mechanically complete by the end of the year and then begin producing LNG next year.
US LNG Feedgas Stabilizes After Sabine Pass-Led Pullback - A look at the global natural gas and LNG markets by the numbers. North America LNG Export Flow Tracker showing July 8, 2026 feed gas deliveries, LNG terminal utilization rates and daily export volumes across US facilities.
- 18.2 Bcf/d: US LNG feedgas demand pulled out of a downward spiral Wednesday despite ongoing maintenance at Sabine Pass. Nominations landed at 18.2 Bcf/d, according to NGI's Entropic Analytics data. Nominations recovered from a Tuesday dip but held slightly below the seven-day average of 18.6 Bcf/d, weighed down by two days of compressor maintenance at Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana. Nominations to the facility were cut to 3.9 Bcf/d Tuesday, the lowest since at least early May. Elsewhere, Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG continued to run essentially full at about 3.9 Bcf/d, and Freeport climbed to a summer high of 1.7 Bcf/d.
- 2.21 Mt: Weekly US LNG exports fell in the week ended July 5 to around 2.21 Mt, according to Kpler data, retreating about 19% from the prior week's 2.73 Mt. The weekly results followed a choppy June, with terminals sending out 2.22 Mt in the week of June 15 and 2.61 Mt in the week of June 8. The latest total was roughly 12% below the prior three-week average, cooling from what had been the strongest week/week pace since late February. US exports were about 4% higher than the same week in 2025. Asia led all destinations during the week at 0.86 Mt, ahead of Europe's roughly 0.72 Mt.
- 0.49 Mt: While overall US LNG shipments continued to flag, power demand and winter storage refilling in South America and the Caribbean is offering demand support. Shipments to Latin America climbed to 0.49 Mt the week ended July 5, marking the highest weekly total for the region in at least two years. Brazil, Colombia and the Dominican Republic each took a full cargo from US terminals during the week, while Puerto Rico received a partial cargo and another 0.15 Mt from vessels without a confirmed origin, according to Kpler data. The cargoes capped a busier June for intra-Americas trade that also saw US deliveries to Argentina and Chile early in the month.
- $15.608/MMBtu: French nuclear outages tied to the Central European heat wave are adding another layer of support for European LNG demand, as weaker reactor availability, a worsening Nordic hydroelectricity balance and lower wind output raise risks on the grid, according to European trading firm Mind Energy. Prompt Title Transfer Facility futures also strengthened through the period, rising to $15.608/MMBtu Tuesday from $14.569 on June 30 after a brief dip on July 1. The broader heat-driven support for European natural gas prices comes as storage lags behind year-earlier levels and continued aggression in the Middle East this week threatens further price spikes.
Freeport LNG Feedgas Eases Ahead of Major Maintenance --Freeport LNG plans to kick off a major maintenance turnaround at its Texas export facility on Friday, contributing to a further downturn in US feedgas demand until late August. This Entropic Analytics chart shows Freeport LNG feedgas deliveries by pipeline from May to July 2026, with total feedgas recovering to nearly 2.0 Bcf/d. At a Glance:
Maintenance seen finished by late August
Interstate deliveries fell to 1.6 Bcf/d
National feedgas averaging 18.5 Bcf/d
EIA Sees Record Power Burn, Soaring LNG and yet Lower Natural Gas Prices in 2027 The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has upwardly revised its natural gas price forecast for this year, though it still expects a downward trajectory in 2027 as ample production outweighs rising demand. Chart compares US natural gas prices, including Henry Hub bidweek prices, residential prices and forward forecasts through 2027 using NGI and EIA data. At a Glance:
EIA raises 2026 Henry Hub forecast
Inventories seen ending October at 3.97 Tcf
Production growth weighing on price forecast
AccuWeather Trims Storm Outlook, but Market Focus Remains on Fundamentals - AccuWeather slightly lowered its 2026 Atlantic hurricane forecast as strengthening El Niño conditions continue to favor a quieter-than-normal season, but the private forecaster maintained its outlook for direct US impacts, suggesting the risk to Gulf Coast natural gas and LNG infrastructure remains largely unchanged. Chart comparing average Atlantic named storms and hurricanes during El Niño, neutral and La Niña ENSO phases, showing higher tropical cyclone activity during La Niña. At a Glance:
Storm outlook trimmed
US impact unchanged
Forward curve steady
IGU Warns Structurally Pricier Henry Hub Could Test Next Wave of US LNG - The economic landscape for the next wave of US LNG export projects could be increasingly competitive as developers face more expensive Henry Hub natural gas prices, according to the International Gas Union’s (IGU) latest report.NGI chart shows Henry Hub forward natural gas prices through July 2030, with seasonal winter peaks above $4.50/MMBtu and summer lows near $3.00/MMBtu. At a Glance:
US holds 34.8% of pre-FID capacity
$5 Henry Hub implies $10-plus Asia spot
January 2029 marks curve-wide high at $4.746
Why Super El Niño is a ‘Very Big Deal’ for Natural Gas Traders - A historically potent and long-lasting El Niño event is looking increasingly likely over the coming months, with potentially major implications for natural gas demand and prices. NOAA ENSO outlook shows rising odds of moderate to very strong El Niño conditions through winter 2026-2027. At a Glance:
- Super El Niño Odds at 63%
- Phenomenon seen strengthening into winter
- Pattern favors quieter hurricane season
El Niño occurs when equatorial sea surface temperatures (SST) exceed the historical average by at least 0.5 degrees Celsius, while a very strong or “super” El Niño entails a 2 degree Celsius difference.The phenomenon is associated with mild winters in the Lower 48’s coldest climes, which can mean substantially less consumption of natural gas for space heating. In its latest monthly El Niño-Southern Oscillation update published Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said that, “Since mid-April 2026, above-average equatorial SSTs have gradually increased across the central to eastern Pacific Ocean.” El Niño conditions “are expected to strengthen into the Northern Hemisphere winter 2026-27,” forecasters explained. They added that, “There is a 63% chance of a very strong El Niño during November-January that would rank among the largest El Niño events in the historical record going back to 1950.”So what does it all mean for the natural gas market?“Very strong El Niño usually points to a wetter, cooler South and a warm and dryer North with fewer Atlantic hurricanes,” said NGI Senior Vice President of Business Development and Client Support David Dutch. “This at a macro level paints a bearish tenor on the winter since it is cold and wet in the wrong places. The October/January NYMEX spread is where a lot of traders will be expressing this trade through summer as we see how things develop.” Dutch spent 24 years as a natural gas trader based in Houston. During strong El Niño years, he explained that, “as I was not a Henry Hub futures trader but more of a regional trader, I always asked, ‘Does this help or hurt my trade?’ For example, if I was very long the upcoming winter with a long SoCal basis position, this could be a bit supportive for me as it gives SoCal a better chance at a colder winter.” For Henry Hub futures and options traders, Dutch said that a strong El Niño “is a very big deal, and if they are already bearish this is highly supportive for them … for those Henry Hub futures traders with a long bias, this will make them reevaluate their position sizes.” Polar vortex disruptions such as Winter Storms Fern, Enzo and Uri have been the defining feature of recent North American winters, causing production freeze-offs and massive inventory draws, leading to skyrocketing natural gas prices in both the cash and futures markets.While major cold snaps can still occur during strong El Niño years, they tend to be less severe and occur earlier in the season, according to DTN Long-Range Meteorologist Stephen Strum. “Generally, polar vortex disruptions are much less frequent during strong El Niño patterns,” Strum told NGI. “The greatly enhanced Pacific flow tends to limit the development of significant pools of Arctic air across central and southern Canada, which means extreme cold is usually less frequent across the Lower 48 during these winters.”He added, “The best chance for significant cold anomalies across the Lower 48 during a strong El Niño is often from late October into early December, before the traditional strong El Niño flow pattern fully settles in. Several stronger El Niño winters have produced cold outbreaks during that early-season period, while the remainder of the winter usually averages warmer than normal across much of the country.”In the nearer term, Strum said that, “El Niño favors a quieter overall Atlantic hurricane season this year. But that does not mean we cannot still see a highly impactful storm; it simply means the overall risk is lower because there are likely to be fewer storms than in recent years.”He noted that, “It only takes one major storm hitting a vulnerable section of coastline to make a season memorable. The classic example is 1992, when only six named storms developed, but one of them was Category 5 Hurricane Andrew, which struck South Florida and later Louisiana.”National Weather Service forecasters predicted a below-normal hurricane season this year in the Atlantic Basin, due in large measure to expectations for a strengthening El Niño pattern.
Permian Gas Production Holds Steady Despite More Takeaway | RBN Energy --In the latest edition of the NATGAS Permian report, the Permian supply forecast and near-term historical revisions incorporate the latest available data from Novi Labs. The updated forecast combines Novi Labs' AI-driven energy intelligence and upstream analytics with RBN's assessment of current market conditions and planned pipeline buildout. Last week, Permian production ranged from 21.9 Bcf/d to 22.3 Bcf/d, averaging 22.1 Bcf/d, which is down slightly from the week prior. With the Gulf Coast Express expansion now online, the basin has some breathing room which has allowed prices in the basin to rebound above zero. So far, despite the new takeaway capacity online, production has been relatively flat, as shown in the orange line in the graph below. However, the rig count is up by 15 since the end of March indicating production growth is coming. Outflows from the Permian were slightly higher last week, driven by higher outflows to the East. Outflows to the East averaged 13.3 Bcf/d, up 0.2 Bcf/d week-on-week. Reported flows on Gulf Coast Express were up last week, particularly deliveries to Tennessee Gas Pipeline in the Agua Dulce area, which was one of the new points that was placed into service with the expansion on June 9. Outflows on the other greenfield pipelines to the East are strong as well, although reported flows on Whistler, which also goes to Agua Dulce, have been down slightly since the Gulf Coast Express expansion came online.
Power outage at Marathon refinery in Detroit prompts controlled gas burning - Officials are monitoring air quality in and around the Marathon refinery in Detroit after a power outage at the site resulted in a controlled burning of gases, the energy company said Sunday.Marathon said on its website, "Due to a power outage the operating conditions at Marathon's Detroit refinery have made flaring necessary."Flares, according to the company, are safety devices that allow for the safe combustion of extra gases under certain conditions. Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield said in a written statement that visible smoke from the flaring had residents concerned.The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and refinery personnel are monitoring air quality both at the site and in surrounding neighborhoods, according to Sheffield. She added that, as of Sunday night, monitoring "has not detected gas readings of concern."Officials in Melvindale, a city near the refinery, said in a social media post Sunday afternoon that the state agency had identified "a very light sulfur reading," but that there was "nothing to be alarmed about."Schaefer Road between Interstate 75 and Dix Road is closed as a precaution, Sheffield said.Marathon's Detroit refinery, located on the city's southwest side, processes crude oils into gasoline, distillates, asphalt, natural gas liquids and petrochemicals, propane and heavy fuel oil, according to the company.
WTI Crude-to-Gas Ratio Moves Closer to Year-Ago Levels | RBN Energy - The WTI crude-to-gas ratio for July 2026 to date — shown by the green bar in the chart below — has declined to 21.40, down from 25.39 in June. July crude is averaging $68.65/bbl, while Henry Hub gas is averaging $3.21/MMBtu. By comparison, the ratio stood at 20.30 in July 2025 — shown by the red bar — when crude averaged $67.17/bbl and gas averaged $3.32/MMBtu. After reaching a peak of 36.61 in April 2026, the ratio has declined for three consecutive months and is now just 5% above year-ago levels.
Jambalaya on the Bayou – More on Louisiana Refineries and How They Get Their Crude Oil | RBN Energy -Louisiana refineries don’t pipe in all the crude oil they need from the Houston and Nederland, TX, areas or the U.S. Gulf, or ship it in from abroad. Some in northwestern Louisiana (and nearby southern Arkansas) depend on crude piped in from Longview, TX, and others get at least some of their oil from Capline, a large-diameter pipe that moves both heavy and light crude south from the hub in Patoka, IL. In today’s RBN blog, we continue our series on Louisiana’s refineries and the sourcing and delivery of their crude, this time focusing on the pipelines that move crude in from Longview and Patoka — and out from St. James, LA. In Part 1, we said the 14 refineries in Louisiana and two just over the state line in Southern Arkansas account for almost one-fifth of total U.S. refining capacity and can consume more than 3 MMb/d of crude oil from a wide range of domestic and foreign production areas. We also noted that the sourcing of that crude has been shifting over the past few years, with the pace picking up as more U.S. Gulf production flows to Texas (and less flows to the Bayou State), new pipeline projects increase eastbound and southbound flows into Louisiana, and refineries modify their crude slates to optimize their economics. Today, we turn our attention to Louisiana and Southern Arkansas’s other major crude oil pipelines, namely those that move oil from Longview (TX) and Illinois (Capline), as well as pipes that shuttle oil out of the St. James hub — the all-important terminus of the Bayou Bridge, Capline, LOCAP and Zydeco pipelines. (The Bonefish Pipeline, too.) We’ll start with the pipelines that transport crude from the Longview hub to several of the green-highlighted refineries in Northwestern Louisiana and Southern Arkansas. According to the EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR) released this morning, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) recorded its 13th consecutive weekly draw for the week ended June 19, reducing stocks to levels not seen since 1983. First up is the Caddo Pipeline, an 80-mile, 12-inch-diameter conduit (dark-purple line in Figure 2 below) owned by a joint venture of Plains All American and Delek Logistics Partners that transports up to 80 Mb/d from Plains’ Atlas Terminal in Longview to Finney, LA (southeast of Shreveport). Caddo receives its crude from Plains’ Red River Pipeline (light-green line), a 350-mile, 16-inch-diameter pipe that can move up to 235 Mb/d from the crude oil hub in Cushing, OK, to the Atlas Terminal.The Caddo Pipeline supplies Calumet Specialties’ 35-Mb/d refinery in Shreveport. The pipe also hands off oil to Delek Logistics’ Magnolia Pipeline (pink line), which in turn flows into Delek Logistics’ El Dorado Pipeline (light-purple line), the “last-mile” pipe to Delek US’s 83-Mb/d El Dorado refinery in Southern Arkansas. Those flows are supplemented by Delek Logistics’ SALA crude oil gathering system (not shown), which moves locally produced oil to El Dorado. (Delek Logistics is a master limited partnership formed by Delek US in 2012 to own and operate its midstream assets.) Another major pipeline flowing into Northwestern Louisiana from Longview is Energy Transfer’s Mid-Valley Pipeline (red line), which runs about 1,000 miles from the company’s Longview Terminal all the way up to Samaria, MI. The pipe’s capacity in the first portion of that run is 250 Mb/d. Mid-Valley can supply Calumet’s Shreveport refinery as well as Delek US’s El Dorado facility, the latter via the Magnolia and El Dorado pipelines we just mentioned.And then there’s Energy Transfer and ExxonMobil’s Permian Longview and Louisiana Extension, a pipeline better known as PELA (for Permian Louisiana; dark-yellow line). PELA, with a capacity of 120 Mb/d, runs about 750 miles from the Permian’s Midland Basin in Midland, TX, to Anchorage, LA (near Baton Rouge), passing through Energy Transfer’s Longview Terminal (aka Texoma Terminal) and the Shreveport area along the way. (The Longview-to-Anchorage section is a reversal of part of ExxonMobil’s old North Line, which used to flow northwest.) The Longview terminal also is connected to Energy Transfer’s West Texas Gulf (blue line) and Permian Express (dark-orange line) pipelines. PELA can deliver crude to Shreveport-area refineries as well as Delek’s El Dorado refinery (via the Magnolia and El Dorado pipelines) and Exxon’s 546-Mb/d refinery in Baton Rouge. One last thing to emphasize about crude oil deliveries to refineries in Northwestern Louisiana and Southern Arkansas — at least for now (we’ll discuss the facilities in greater detail in upcoming blogs): As we said earlier, these refineries also receive crude by rail and by truck (from local production).The next pipeline on our list is Capline (dark-blue line in Figure 3 below), a different animal if there ever was one. As we have chronicled in our blogs over the years, Capline — co-owned by Plains (~54%), Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC; ~33%) and BP (~13%) — is a 632-mile, 40-inch pipeline that for most of its first 50 years of operation (1968 to 2018) had the capacity to transport up to 1.2 MMb/d of imported crude and offshore Gulf production north from St. James to the oil hub in Patoka; from there, the oil was piped to a long list of Midwest refineries. Capline’s capacity was highly utilized for decades. But as we first discussed in Draggin' the Capline and later in Livin’ on the Edge, by the early 2010s the Midwest refineries connected to the Patoka hub had gained access to increasing volumes of crude from Western Canada and the Bakken. As a result, they simply didn’t need Capline’s northbound flows as much as they used to, and volumes on the pipe slowed to less than half and then less than a third of its capacity. Ultimately, the pipeline’s owners shut it down and soon thereafter undertook a project to enable southbound flows on Capline from Patoka to St. James. Those flows started in 2021.
U.S. Crude Fundamentals Show Early Signs of Rebalancing | RBN Energy - The EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR) for the week ended July 3 pointed to a notable softening in U.S. crude market fundamentals, marking a shift away from the news-driven market tightness that characterized recent weeks during the Iran conflict. Commercial crude inventories posted their first build in 11 weeks, supported by lower refinery utilization, stronger crude imports, and weaker exports. As discussed in this week's Crude Oil Billboard, coupled with a decline in exports to 3.3 MMb/d (far right of chart below), net imports rose 1.1 MMb/d to 2.4 MMb/d, the highest number since the end of March. At the same time, the flattening WTI forward curve and deteriorating Gulf Coast export economics signaled easing prompt market tightness. Over the past several months, bullish sentiment and elevated volatility have been driven primarily by headlines surrounding the Iran conflict rather than underlying supply-and-demand fundamentals. While that headline-driven premium faded over the past two weeks as geopolitical tensions eased, this week's EIA data suggests the market's focus may be shifting back toward fundamentals, with softer U.S. crude balances pointing to easing prompt tightness.
The Long Run – How the U.S. Upstream Operations of the Integrated Majors Compare with Independent E&Ps | RBN Energy - For decades, the major integrated oil companies have been judged by their global scale, diversified business models and shareholder returns. Yet one question is rarely asked: How competitive are their U.S. upstream businesses when measured against independent E&Ps? In today’s RBN blog, we provide answers that may surprise many investors. We began our analysis by isolating the U.S. upstream operations of BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell to examine where these assets fit within each company’s global portfolio. ExxonMobil and Chevron are the two largest U.S. producers with 2025 output of 2 MMboe/d and 1.87 MMboe/d, respectively, outpacing independents Occidental Petroleum, ConocoPhillips and EOG Resources. BP’s 2025 output was 824 Mboe/d, approximately equal to Devon Energy (before this year’s merger with Coterra), while Shell has by far the lowest U.S. footprint at 378 Mboe/d. We then compared capital spending, reserves and operating focus before benchmarking each company's U.S. upstream performance against comparable independent E&P peer groups using standardized three-year operating and financial metrics. The analysis highlights not only where the majors are investing, but also whether those investments are generating competitive upstream returns. Figure 1 below shows the relative size of the four majors’ U.S. oil and gas reserves (blue bars and left axis) and production (orange line and right axis) that are the subject of this blog. ExxonMobil has built the industry’s largest and most diversified U.S. upstream portfolio, anchored by a dominant position in the Permian Basin and supported by a legacy natural gas business. As of December 31, 2025, ExxonMobil reported $299.4 billion of net fixed assets worldwide, of which $219 billion (73%) was invested in upstream operations. The U.S. accounted for 63% of those upstream assets, representing approximately 46% of the company’s total fixed asset base. During 2025, U.S. properties also represented 38% (7.4 billion boe) of ExxonMobil’s global proved reserves (blue slice in right chart in Figure 2 below). ExxonMobil invested $24.9 billion in organic upstream capital worldwide, with the U.S. accounting for $12.5 billion, or 50% of total upstream investment (blue slice in left chart). This is approximately equal to the exploration-and-development capex of ConocoPhillips, Occidental Petroleum and EOG Resources combined. ExxonMobil’s $59.5 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources in May 2024 (see Take Me to the Top) transformed the company into the dominant producer in the Permian Basin. Its extensive acreage across the Midland and Delaware basins (see Figure 3 below) provides a deep inventory of high-return drilling opportunities supported by manufacturing-style development, integrated infrastructure and advanced operating technologies. The company’s aggressive spending supports its goal of increasing Permian output to 2.5 MMboe/d by 2030, up from ~1.7 MMboe/d in Q1 2026. Chevron has focused on assembling one of the highest-quality asset bases in North America. Although both it and ExxonMobil are anchored by the Permian Basin and the offshore Gulf, Chevron's strategy places greater emphasis on the upstream through its capital allocation and portfolio optimization.The core of Chevron’s highest-quality U.S. onshore upstream portfolio includes the legacy assets stemming from the 2001 merger of Chevron and Texaco, especially its premier Permian position. The company also has a long-life deepwater Gulf business and a diverse set of additional assets acquired through recent purchases of Hess Corp. and PDC Corp. As of December 31, 2025, Chevron reported $217.9 billion of net fixed assets, with $205.2 billion (94%) invested in upstream operations. The U.S. accounted for $72.4 billion, or 35%, of global upstream investment, while Guyana — following the Hess acquisition (see Surprise, Surprise) — represented the only region approaching the investment scale of Chevron’s U.S. asset base (26%). About 54% of 2025 organic upstream capital spending, or approximately $9 billion, was directed to the U.S. (dark-blue slice in left chart in Figure 4 below) compared with 17% for Guyana (light-blue slice). That level of investment was a third below ExxonMobil but significantly higher than the major U.S. E&Ps. U.S. properties also accounted for 44% of Chevron's global oil and gas reserves (dark-blue slice in right chart). In stark contrast to the Permian focus of ExxonMobil and Chevron, BP has concentrated its U.S. upstream portfolio on LNG-leveraged natural gas assets balanced with significant deepwater U.S. Gulf projects. As of December 31, 2025, BP reported just under $100 billion of net fixed assets globally, with approximately 60% invested in upstream operations. The U.S. represented 54% of BP’s upstream asset base and 43% of global oil and gas reserves (orange slice in right chart in Figure 6 below), making it the company’s most important upstream region. About 51% of BP’s $9.8 billion of 2025 organic upstream capital spending, or $4.9 billion, was spent in the U.S. (orange slice in left chart), approximately the same level of investment by Occidental Petroleum and EOG Resources. Unlike the other majors, Shell has concentrated its U.S. upstream business almost exclusively in the deepwater Gulf, divesting its onshore shale assets in transactions, highlighted by the $9.5 billion sale of its Permian properties to ConocoPhillips in 2021. That strategic focus gives Shell a distinctly different investment profile — and ultimately leads to a different set of operating and financial outcomes. As of December 31, 2025, Shell reported $185.1 billion of net fixed assets globally, with $113 billion (61%) invested in upstream operations. Although the company does not disclose regional capitalized costs, the U.S. accounted for 34% of 2025 upstream capital spending (orange slice in left chart in Figure 8 below), or approximately $2.8 billion-$3 billion, while representing only 6% of global oil and gas reserves (orange slice in right chart). This apparent imbalance reflects Shell’s strategy of concentrating investment in a relatively small number of high-return offshore projects rather than pursuing broad reserve growth.The four integrated majors have assembled high-quality U.S. upstream portfolios, but they have done so using very different strategies. To evaluate whether those strategies translate into superior performance, we benchmarked each company’s U.S. upstream business against comparable independent E&P peer groups. Chevron and Shell were compared with the Oil-Weighted E&Ps because their U.S. portfolios are 71% and 85% oil-weighted, respectively, while BP and ExxonMobil were benchmarked against the Diversified E&Ps given their U.S. oil weightings of 56% and 62%. Figure 10 below shows that, despite their world-class asset bases, Chevron and Shell generally underperformed the Oil-Weighted E&Ps on investment metrics during 2023-25. Independent producers replaced reserves more efficiently, generated lower finding-and-development (F&D) costs, and achieved materially higher recycle ratios than either integrated major. Figure 11 below shows the comparison between BP, ExxonMobil and the Diversified E&Ps produced a different outcome. ExxonMobil generated the strongest overall performance, driven by exceptional investment efficiency despite reserve revisions that weighed on traditional reserve replacement metrics.When reserve revisions are excluded, ExxonMobil’s F&D cost of $8.05/boe substantially outperformed both BP and the Diversified peer group, highlighting the quality of its underlying investment program. BP, meanwhile, led the group in operating profitability, posting the highest upstream revenues per boe, the lowest lifting costs, and the strongest pretax income and cash flow.Although each of the four majors has assembled a highly competitive U.S. upstream business, their strategies — and results — differ considerably. BP has positioned itself to benefit from growing North American LNG demand; ExxonMobil has built an unmatched Permian franchise supported by a legacy gas business. Chevron has assembled one of the industry’s highest-quality portfolios, and Shell has focused on maximizing long-term value from deepwater Gulf developments.The benchmarking results suggest that independent E&Ps continue to hold an advantage in capital efficiency, particularly in reserve replacement and F&D costs. The integrated majors, however, often benefit from higher-margin assets, greater portfolio diversification, and stronger operating cash flows. In other words, the majors are optimizing portfolio quality, while the independents continue to optimize capital efficiency.
Keystone Pipeline Owner Agrees to $26.8 Million Spill Settlement - The Keystone Pipeline owner has agreed to pay a $26.9 million civil penalty and complete about $40 million in integrity improvements under a proposed settlement tied to the 2022 Kansas oil spill. (P&GJ) — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a proposed settlement requiring the owner and operator of the Keystone Pipeline to pay a $26.9 million civil penalty and complete an estimated $40 million in pipeline integrity improvements to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations tied to the pipeline's 2022 rupture in Washington County, Kansas. The proposed consent decree, filed on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Kansas, resolves allegations against South Bow (USA) LP and South Bow Infrastructure Operations Inc. related to the release of nearly 13,000 barrels (approximately 543,000 gallons) of crude oil on Dec. 7, 2022. According to the Justice Department, the spill was the largest discharge in the Keystone Pipeline system's history and one of the largest inland crude oil spills in recent U.S. history. In addition to the federal civil penalty, South Bow agreed to contribute more than $3 million to the State of Kansas for natural resource restoration projects. The settlement also requires the company to implement measures intended to reduce the likelihood of similar releases. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson said preventing future pipeline failures is a key component of the agreement. "An important part of this proposed settlement is the work the company has committed to do to help prevent future leaks," Gustafson said. The EPA said the rupture released crude oil into Mill Creek, where oil covered approximately 3.5 miles of the waterway and affected surrounding land and wildlife. State officials issued a stream advisory prohibiting contact with the creek by people, livestock and pets, while cleanup efforts restored aquatic habitat, stream banks and surrounding areas following a 2023 EPA cleanup order. EPA Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall said the settlement reflects both the environmental damage caused by the release and the need to strengthen pipeline integrity. "The substantial penalty reflects the seriousness of the environmental harm, and the other requirements of the settlement reflect the need to prioritize pipeline integrity and maintenance for this critical infrastructure," Hall said. The 2,687-mile Keystone Pipeline transports crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta, to Port Arthur, Texas. The rupture occurred on the section between Steele City, Nebraska, and Cushing, Oklahoma. The proposed consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period before it can receive final court approval.
Sempra’s ECA LNG Loads First Cargo Amid Surge in Mexico Natural Gas Flows -Sempra’s Energia Costa Azul (ECA) LNG export plant in Mexico has begun loading its inaugural cargo onto a TotalEnergies-controlled vessel, supported by US feedgas flows flowing south through the North Baja Pipeline system. Entropic Analytics chart tracks daily North Baja Pipeline deliveries at Ogilby from late May through early July 2026, showing natural gas flow trends in MMBtu. At a Glance:
Feedgas volumes nearly double
North Baja deliveries keep climbing
Permian supply reaches Pacific Coast
Sempra Ships First ECA LNG Cargo, Eyes Commercial Start as Waha Natural Gas Firms - San Diego’s Sempra Infrastructure is targeting “substantial completion” of its 3.25 Mt/y EnergÃa Costa Azul (ECA) LNG export plant in Mexico for this summer after shipping out its first cargo this week. At a Glance:
- First cargo departs Pacific Coast
- Commercial operations approach rapidly
- Phase 2 development gains momentum
Boat fires cause oil, fuel spills in Pierce County - - East Pierce Fire & Rescue says two boats caught fire over the holiday weekend, spilling fuel and oil into Lake Tapps. It happened sometime before 3:30 a.m. on July 5. Some brush along the shoreline was also on fire.Crews on shore and aboard Marine 122 worked together to quickly contain the fires. The Washington State Department of Ecology was called to help with a fuel and oil spill from the burning boats. Marine 122 deployed containment booms to help keep the oil from spreading. East Pierce crews remain on scene assisting with recovery operations. The cause remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.
Pembina Announces Positive FID on 932 MW Greenlight Power Generation Facility in Alberta - This morning Pembina Pipeline Corporation announced a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Greenlight Electricity Centre (GLEC), a 932 MW gas-fired combined cycle power generation facility to be located within Alberta’s Industrial Heartland in Sturgeon County near Edmonton. Pembina estimates the project will require approximately 150 MMcf/d of natural gas.GLEC is expected to be in service in the second half of 2030 with a capital cost estimate of CAD$4 billion, and will provide electricity on a dedicated basis to a major data center development under a long-term tolling agreement. Media reports last year suggested Meta was the customer, but Meta has not yet publicly confirmed it is pursuing a data center project in Alberta. GLEC has all major regulatory approvals in hand, and the site is permitted for a doubling of capacity to 1,864 MW. GLEC is owned by Pembina (47.5%), Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (47.5%) and Kineticor Asset Management (5%).
Alberta Oil Production 4.31 Million b/d in May, Up 151 Mb/d Year-To-Date | RBN Energy Alberta crude oil and condensate production for May averaged 4.31 MMb/d, down 180 Mb/d vs. April, but up 387 Mb/d year-over-year, according to data released by the Alberta Energy Regulator this week. May is typically the lowest production month for the year, due to spring turnaround season, but this spring's turnaround season (see red dots in chart below) does not appear as busy as last year's (see black line in chart below).Year-to-date production of 4.48 MMb/d is up 151 Mb/d or 3.5% year-over-year (+112 Mb/d oil sands, +14 Mb/d conventional crude oil, +27 Mb/d condensate and pentanes plus). Reports that heavy rainfall in early June slowed down the mining trucks, while some of Cenovus's bitumen production went offline due to a power outage, likely means the recovery typically seen in June was impeded. The month-over-month decline was primarily driven by lower in situ bitumen production (orange line in chart below).
Alberta Submits Proposal For New 1 Million+ b/d Oil Pipeline to West Coast -- On Thursday July 2 the Government of Canada, along Alberta’s provincial government, announced a proposal for a heavy crude oil pipeline capable of transporting more than 1 MMb/d from Bruderheim, AB (near Edmonton) to a deepwater port at Roberts Bank just south of Vancouver, BC (see map below). The project would entail the construction of a new 42-inch diameter, 1,211-km (752-mile) pipeline, largely following the existing right-of-way of the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline, but unlike TMX, would terminate at deepwater port (Roberts Bank), with berths for two VLCC oil tankers (TMX’s Westridge, BC marine terminal has berths for three Aframax vessels). The project may also consider the potential for trans-loading from TMX’s Aframax vessels onto VLCCs at Roberts Bank. The proposal Alberta submitted to the Major Projects Office estimated a construction cost of CAD$35.2 billion if a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) is made in 2027, with an estimated in-service date of 2032, or alternatively a CAD$43.7 billion cost estimate if a positive FID decision occurs in 2028 with an in-service date of 2034. The joint venture company that would own the project consists of the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission (APMC), Trans Mountain Corporation (TMC, owner of the Trans Mountain pipeline), and Pembina Pipeline Corporation. APMC and TMC are owned by the Alberta and Canadian governments, respectively. Pembina would have a 10% economic interest through construction, with the option to increase to 20% once the project is operating. The project has been referred to Canada’s Major Projects Office, who will consider listing it as a national interest project by October 1. This news is part of a larger set of announcements from the government of Canada regarding nation-building infrastructure development, primarily within British Columbia. The Premier of British Columbia has agreed not to oppose this pipeline project. The Alberta and federal Canadian governments, along with Oil Sands Alliance (OSA, a partnership of the five largest oil sands producers), are finalizing an agreement on regulatory reforms and growth incentives to expedite oil sands production growth and include conditions necessary for OSA to build the Pathways CO2 sequestration project. Details of this agreement are expected to be release “in the coming days”. At this early stage for the project, there does not appear to be any binding commitments made by shippers.
US LNG Exports to the Americas Surge Amid Seasonal Demand - US LNG exports to the Americas rose to a multi-year high of 0.42 Mt in the week ending July 5, up from 0.31 Mt the previous week, driven by peak winter demand in Latin America and global energy market shifts. Table shows Latin America DES LNG prices for August-October 2026 across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Panama as of July 8, 2026. At a Glance:
Weekly exports jump
Argentina winter demand lifts imports
Europe, Asia still lead volumes
‘Can you help us?’: US oil execs turn to Trump to topple Europe’s climate rules - The U.S. oil and gas industry has succeeded in exporting massive amounts of natural gas to Europe. Now, with the help of White House officials, it looks like it might also succeed in exporting the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda.Now the sector is attempting to strong-arm the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, into delaying the rollout of what the bloc intended to be a major rule to curb a potent climate pollution. It has prevailed in winning the backing of over half the bloc’s 27 member countries, who have joined U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright in calling for swift changes to the rules.At stake is potentially billions of dollars in natural gas that U.S. companies want to continue exporting to Europe but that EU policymakers say must be subject to strict rules governing emissions of methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that has fueled extreme weather around the globe. And it raises worries among climate advocates that the Americans are choking out what the EU intended to be a major initiative to combat climate change, one that had been years in the making. The energy industry’s monthslong campaign against new methane regulations that had been in the works since 2024 scored a major victory last week when member countries pushed the commission to delay and make complying with the rules easier. The regulation would require oil and gas imports into the EU to show their fuel is produced with little methane.“The underlying policy is still very flawed,” Mike Sommers, the chief executive of API, told reporters in response to a question from POLITICO, saying the group has sent delegations to Europe and is working with the Trump administration to “hopefully get a policy that makes sense for American producers — and, by the way, for Europe.”Many of the industry’s arguments center on technical challenges about implementing the regulation. But one oil and gas executive was more blunt, saying there’s also a battle of business philosophies.“Some people view this more ideologically about whether or not Europe should be regulating global oil and gas production, but then there are others who see the realities that the EU has over-stretched without the necessary frameworks in place, in the EU and globally — whether around measurement, clarity of enforcement, or understanding of existing commercial agreements,” said the executive.The diplomatic fight is around an EU regulation aimed at cutting industrial releases of methane. The greenhouse gas has 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide — and is also the main ingredient for natural gas, something European countries have come to depend on the United States for as a supplier. The bloc has committed to ending imports of Russian fuel by the beginning of next year and must also find substitutes for Qatari supplies halted due to damage from Iranian strikes earlier this year. EU officials proposed that companies seeking to sell natural gas into Europe disclose how much methane leaked out of the wells, inventory tanks, pipelines and ships on its way to Europe. The rules are designed to both meet the bloc’s energy needs while limiting its effects on warming the planet. It would require importers to verify that the fuel they receive is produced with limited methane leakage and intensity.American oil and gas producers say providing that level of detail once the new rule would go into effect Jan. 1 is all but impossible and would effectively shut them out of a major market. They warn the EU devised the rule without a full understanding of the U.S. gas market, where companies mix supply from various fields and basins to chill into a liquid and then export. “There is absolutely no way that a producer in Europe could say, ‘show me who produced this gas in the United States, and what was their methane intensity,’” said Fred Hutchison, president of LNG Allies, which supports U.S. LNG exports.Finnish energy minister Sari Multala told POLITICO that Helsinki’s assessment of the supply risks didn’t match up to the dramatic conclusions reached by other member countries pushing to revise the regulation. Finland doesn’t “see the point” of reopening the rules, she said. Spanish energy minister Sara Aagesen Muñoz went one further, vowing to fight to preserve the rules. “There are other elements that the Commission should explore, but not opening the regulation,” she said. “This is something that was very tough [on emissions], and it’s very important.”Exxon Mobil and some of the U.S. industry’s largest players have publicly vowed to combat methane emissions, saying it’s in their interest to account for the gas being lost to leaks and flaring. Lobbying outfits like API have also consistently noted U.S. gas burns cleaner than its competitors.Still, they uniformly have pushed back against the EU rule. Companies contend their concern is about regulatory uncertainty and timelines rather than any ideological objection to slashing methane emissions.“Importers will be forced to break the law or stop delivering energy to Europe. No amount of guidance or waivers will fix that,” a spokesperson for Exxon Mobil said in a statement. “The EU must hit the pause button now and simplify the rules so industry can continue to reduce emissions while also delivering the energy that allows society to thrive.”
IEA Chief Urges EU to Drop Arctic Drilling Ban The European Union should reverse the current moratorium on drilling in the Arctic, where Norway is pushing to drill if allowed, Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), has said. The EU’s moratorium on Arctic drilling was enacted in 2021 due to the bloc’s climate commitments and environmental concerns. The ban does not allow drilling in Norway’s northern parts of the Barents Sea, which is estimated to contain most of the remaining Norwegian oil and gas resources. Norway, which is not a member of the EU but is the biggest gas supplier to European markets, has been lobbying the bloc in recent months to drop its opposition to drilling in the Arctic. The Iran war and the biggest oil and gas supply disruption in history have added to Norway’s arguments that Europe needs reliable supply from places outside of conflict zones. The IEA’s Birol called for a review of the moratorium after a meeting with Norwegian Finance Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, in Brussels. “I support the Commission to give a very close look at this issue because it is extremely important for the European energy security,” Birol said, as carried by Bloomberg. “The world needs every drop of oil from Norway,” the head of the international agency added. In a post on X, Birol wrote that during the meeting with the Norwegian official, “I emphasised Norway’s importance for European energy security as countries reassess their energy strategies.” European investors, meanwhile, are urging the European Commission to keep the moratorium in place. Norway has argued for years that an arbitrary line defining the Arctic area shouldn’t be viewed as the cut-off line for oil and gas drilling. “Of course there are environmental concerns that we have to take into account,” Stoltenberg said this week. “But to say no, there should be no oil and gas exploration in the Arctic doesn’t make sense for Norway.”
IGU World LNG Report 2026: Global LNG Hit Record 437 Mt in 2025 -- Marcellus Drilling News - The International Gas Union’s 2026 World LNG Report shows global LNG trade hit a record high of 436.98 million tonnes (Mt) in 2025, up 6.3%—the strongest growth since 2022—driven by a 25.3 Mt surge in North American exports and Europe’s return as the key balancing market. Canada and Mauritania–Senegal became first-time exporters. Investment in new supply reached a six-year high. The LNG fleet grew 8.4% to 804 vessels, with 301 newbuilds on order, keeping freight rates depressed, while bunkering infrastructure expanded. Despite disruptions from the Gulf conflict that damaged infrastructure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the IGU says LNG’s long-term demand outlook through 2035 remains intact.
Shell Annual LNG Outlook Predicts Demand to Soar 65% by 2050 –- Marcellus Drilling News - Shell, which dropped “Royal Dutch” from its name after leaving the Netherlands in 2022 due to high taxes and overregulation, is one of the world’s supermajors (oil and gas driller). Shell is also one of (perhaps THE) largest producers and vendors of LNG, or liquefied natural gas, worldwide. The company has just released its tenth annual LNG Outlook 2026 (full copy below), which highlights key trends in 2025 and hauls out the crystal ball to predict where things are heading over the next 25 years. Shell’s annual LNG outlook says shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz from the Iran war—which shut in roughly one-fifth of global monthly LNG supply—could keep 2026 global LNG trade flat if flows normalize within three months, with growth resuming in 2027.
LNG Supply Disruptions Pushing Prices Up, Disincentivizing EU Storage Injections - European natural gas storage inventories continue to lag well behind the levels of years past and warnings of the challenges the continent could face this winter are growing.European Union natural gas storage dashboard showing July 2026 inventory levels, storage utilization, five-year averages and year-over-year comparisons.At a Glance:
Inventories at 51%
Asia pulling cargoes away
Regas capacity could help
Global Heat Supports LNG Prices as US Feedgas Demand Trails - A hot July forecast is sharpening the near-term US natural gas demand outlook, even as healthy inventories and uneven LNG export demand is holding back prices. See Europe and Asia Weather Graphs - At a Glance:
- Feedgas lags amid stronger global prices
- CDDs near 50-year highs
- East Asia futures top TTF
Hormuz Uncertainty Keeps LNG Balances Tight, Global Natural Gas Prices Volatile -- Global natural gas prices remain volatile as peace talks between the United States and Iran appear to be stalled and LNG cargoes transiting the Strait of Hormuz have once again slowed to a trickle. At a Glance:
- Vessels massed offshore Qatar
- Asian LNG demand strengthens
- Hot weather forecast in Europe, Asia
Australia Natural Gas Surplus Eases Asia Supply Risk - The risk that Asian LNG buyers will have to battle with Europe and Latin America for US spot cargoes is easing after Australia’s east coast natural gas outlook improved, lowering the chance of government restrictions on exports.NGI chart compares annual LNG exports to Asia-Pacific from Australia, the US, and Qatar between 2020 and 2025, highlighting shifting regional market share. At a Glance:
4Q surplus strongest since 2023
JKM rises amid global supply risks
TTF gains while Henry Hub falls
Ruwais LNG Nearly Booked Despite Potential Setbacks for Middle East Infrastructure - The Ruwais LNG project under construction in Abu Dhabi has signed up offtakers for nearly all of its 9.6 Mt/y of output after inking a long-term deal with Japan’s Inpex. At a Glance:
- 90% of capacity booked
- 2028 startup still targeted
- Inpex expanding portfolio
UAE LNG Exports Continue, but Qatar Pauses Plans to Ramp Up Amid Renewed Fighting -- Map of Persian Gulf LNG import and export terminals, highlighting facilities in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, plus the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint. Confirmed crossings of the Strait of Hormuz have fallen since fighting between Iran and the United States flared up earlier this week. According to Kpler, crossings on Thursday fell to 22 from 30 the previous day. Fighting started again on Tuesday after Iran targeted vessels in the strait, including a Qatari LNG tanker that was damaged. Kpler data shows that just two LNG vessels have entered the strait and one has exited since both sides traded attacks on Tuesday.
ADNOC Integrates LNG Operations as Market Becomes More Complex --Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) said Monday it would create an integrated LNG platform to handle a growing portfolio of the super-chilled fuel. At a Glance:
- Targeting 47 Mt/y portfolio
- Aimed at flexibility, shipping
- Follows similar move by Jera
Qatar Blames Iran for First LNG Tanker Attack, Buyers Still Seeking Alternatives -Iran attacked and damaged an LNG tanker in the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since war broke out in the Persian Gulf earlier this year, sending global natural gas prices higher on Tuesday. Map of Persian Gulf LNG import and export terminals identifies facilities in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, plus the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint. At A Glance:
No casualties
Hormuz crossings slow
Prices volatile
Indian ship recycler denies NGO claims it mishandled LNG carrier oil spill at yard - Alang-based Priya Blue Ship Green Recycling has denied claims by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform that it mishandled and misrepresented clean-up efforts of an oil spill at its yard.About 62 tonnes of fuel oil spilt in the intertidal zone after the beached 137,248-cbm LNG carrier Sohar LNG (built 2001) shifted and hit a crane on 13 June.
Oil majors spill 125,000 barrels, pollute N’Delta -- Amid the inability to fund remediation of polluted water and land in the Nigeria Delta region, over 125,000 barrels of crude oil have been spilt in the oil-producing region to worsen the country’s rising environmental degradation. Multinational oil companies, including the Dutch Shell and U.S. Exxon Mobil, Agip, and others, recorded over 4,339 oil spill incidents between 2022 and the first half of 2026, linked to sabotage and rising equipment failures.A crude oil spill of 125,000 barrels is equivalent to about 19.9 million litres of oil, enough to fill approximately 602 tankers, each with a capacity of 33,000 litres. A spill of this magnitude could contaminate thousands of hectares of farmland, forests, mangroves, or wetlands, depending on the terrain, weather conditions, and the speed of the emergency response. In riverine areas, the oil could spread across extensive waterways, polluting drinking water sources, destroying aquatic life and livelihoods, and leaving ecological damage that may take years or even decades to remediate.Coming within the period when the Nigerian government already criminalised vandalism and spent billions to protect oil facilities in the oil-rich states, a report obtained from the country’s oil monitoring satellite indicates that while the number of reported incidents fluctuated over five years, environmental damage was largely driven by a handful of catastrophic spills rather than the overall frequency of incidents.Data reviewed by The Guardian show that 2022 was the worst year by spill volume, with 1,124 incidents discharging 50,599.99 barrels of oil, accounting for about 40 per cent of the total volume recorded during the period. By contrast, 2023 recorded the highest number of incidents, with 1,442 spills, but a significantly lower volume of 20,223.51 barrels, suggesting that many of the spills were relatively small.The figures further show that 2024 recorded 1,170 incidents and 31,577.84 barrels, while 2025 witnessed a sharp decline to 463 incidents and 16,481.85 barrels. In the first part of 2026, 140 incidents had already resulted in 7,108.40 barrels of oil spilt.The data, monitored by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), showed that the companies reporting the highest number of spill incidents were not always responsible for the largest volumes of pollution.A major outlier was Eroton Exploration and Production Limited, which reported just 14 spill incidents in 2022 but accounted for 36,569.89 barrels of spilt oil, representing nearly three-quarters of the total volume recorded that year. The incident remains the single largest contributor to oil pollution in the dataset.In the period, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) remained among operators with consistently high spill volumes, as the company recorded 384 incidents and 3,519.05 barrels in 2022 before reporting 632 incidents and 9,952.15 barrels in 2023, the highest number of incidents by any operator during the period. In 2024, SPDC recorded fewer incidents, 337, but the volume of oil spilt surged to 15,857.87 barrels, making it the largest polluter by volume that year.Similarly, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) remained one of the operators with the highest frequency of spills. It reported 446 incidents in 2022, 496 in 2023, and 466 in 2024, although the corresponding spill volumes were considerably lower than SPDC’s in some years, at 5,618.66, 3,883.92, and 3,576.09 barrels, respectively.
UAE Oil Output Hits All-Time High, Doubling Pre-Crisis Levels --The United Arab Emirates (UAE) produced 4.1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in June, its highest output ever, according to estimates by the International Energy Agency.The UAE’s crude oil production jumped from 3.3 million bpd in May to 4.1 million bpd in June after the country left OPEC effective May 1, started raising output, and managed to sneak a lot of exports out of the Middle East even as the Strait of Hormuz was mostly blockaded for the first half of June.The crude oil production in June, at 4.1 million bpd, was the highest ever on record for the UAE, nearly double the output in March 2026 at the start of the Hormuz crisis. The production level also topped the previous record of 4 million bpd from the spring of 2020 when the OPEC+ producers were fighting for market share in a brief price war during peak Covid.The UAE has sought to adapt to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by sneaking tankers in dark mode through the Strait and increasingly offering to sell many of its crude grades for loading offshore Fujairah and at Sohar in Oman, outside the Strait.Moreover, the Abu Dhabi national oil company ADNOC accelerated plans to have a new pipeline operational in 2027 that would double its oil export capacity through Fujairah, which sits outside the Strait of Hormuz.ADNOC plans to build a new project, the West-East 1 Pipeline, which is expected to become operational next year and double the UAE’s energy giant’s export capacity through the Emirate of Fujairah to meet global demand for energy supplies.The national oil company also plans to plans to award as much as $55 billion (200 billion UAE dirhams) on upstream and downstream projects over the next two years. The announcement of accelerated growth came days after the UAE said it would quit OPEC effective May 1 to pursue its national interests.
OPEC+ approves further oil output increase as Hormuz exports start to recover - OPEC+ has agreed a further increase in output targets from August, the group said in a statement on Sunday (Jul 5), adding to global supply at a time when oil prices are falling due to the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports. The oil-producing group agreed during an online meeting to increase quotas by 188,000 barrels per day from August, on top of similar increases for June and July. The seven core members of OPEC+, which groups OPEC and allied producers including Russia, have hiked their output quotas from April through July by almost 800,000 bpd. Yet the increase has remained largely on paper because of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which closed the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic for some of the most important OPEC+ members, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. OPEC+ output fell to 33.13 million bpd in May, according to OPEC data, from 42.77 million bpd in February. It began to recover in June thanks to US efforts to help the UAE and other OPEC+ nations export more oil, but it is still below pre-war levels. Despite persisting supply disruptions, oil prices have returned to pre-war levels, pressured by lower Chinese imports, higher exports from non-Middle East producers, and a record global strategic stock release coordinated by the International Energy Agency. "The group of seven kept unwinding their production cuts as widely expected," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said. "The near-term focus will remain on how many tankers will manage to cross the Strait of Hormuz and how quickly demand and Chinese crude imports recover." A memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran to end the war has also helped convince traders that supply will ultimately return to normal levels. Brent crude prices traded near US$72 per barrel on Friday, down from recent peaks of more than US$120 per barrel and back to levels traded just before the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb 28. Besides agreeing on production targets, OPEC+ is also facing other challenges after the United Arab Emirates left the group and Iraq signalled it wants higher quotas. OPEC+ includes 21 members including Iran, but in recent years only the seven nations - and the UAE until its departure - have been involved in monthly production management. Those seven producers - Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Oman - are boosting output as part of the phased rollback of a 1.65 million bpd supply cut agreed in 2023, when the group still included the UAE. The UAE quit the alliance in late April because it wanted to align its capacity more closely with its production, free of production restraints imposed by the group. From August, taking into account the UAE's exit from May 1, the seven core members will still have about 379,000 bpd of the original cut to return to the market, according to Reuters calculations. With the August increase now decided, they will have fully unwound the 2023 cut if they make one more hike of around the same size for September at their next meeting on Aug 2.
Oil Prices Fall as Hormuz Exports Recover and OPEC+ Boosts Output - Global oil prices edged lower during trading on Monday, July 6, following a decision by OPEC+ to further lift its production limits. Concurrently, a visible rebound in oil exports passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has significantly eased market anxieties regarding potential supply shortages. According to a report by Reuters, Brent crude fell by 24 cents to settle at $71.88 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 11 cents to reach $68.58 per barrel. The downward pressure on prices follows an agreement by the OPEC+ alliance on Sunday to increase its collective output ceiling by an additional 188,000 barrels per day (bpd) starting in August. This adjustment marks the fifth consecutive monthly production increase since the cartel initiated its phased rollback of previous production cuts. Reuters noted that despite previous production hikes, the actual global supply of crude had been severely constrained in recent weeks. The bottlenecks were a direct consequence of the regional conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which had heavily disrupted commercial tanker transits through the critical chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz. With tanker traffic now steadily resuming, maritime exports from Persian Gulf producers are demonstrating a clear upward trajectory. A monthly Reuters survey revealed that total OPEC crude production surged by approximately 3.3 million bpd in June compared to the previous month, reaching an average of 19.43 million bpd. Furthermore, outbound oil shipments from Persian Gulf nations expanded by more than 3 million bpd over the same period, though analysts emphasized that aggregate volume still tracks below pre-war baselines. A parallel increase in Russian crude exports originating from its western Baltic and Black Sea ports has further contributed to stabilizing international supply expectations.
Oil Market Holds Steady as OPEC+ Approves August Production Increase - The oil market ended the session relatively unchanged on Monday as it remained range bound as OPEC+ approved another production target increase starting in August and Saudi Arabia cut its official selling prices. The crude market posted a high of $69.26 during Friday’s shortened trading session in observance of the July 4th holiday. The market erased some of its gains during the remainder of Friday’s session and continued to trade lower following the reopening on Sunday evening after OPEC+ agreed to further increase its output targets from August and Saudi Arabia cut its official selling prices for August. The crude market sold off to a low of $68.58 in overnight trading before it bounced off that level and remained in a sideways trading range throughout the session. The August WTI contract settled down 14 cents at $68.55 and the August Brent contract settled down 13 cents at $71.99. The product markets ended the session higher, with the heating oil market settling up 11.62 cents at $3.2984 and the RB market settling up 8.6 cents at $3.0033. According to data from the Department of Energy, crude oil stocks in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by 6.2 million barrels to 319.5 million barrels, the lowest level since April 1983. The drawdowns are a part of a U.S. agreement to release 172 million barrels from the facility. On Sunday, OPEC+ agreed on a further increase in output targets from August, adding to global supply at a time when oil prices are falling due to the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports. The oil-producing group agreed during an online meeting to increase quotas by 188,000 bpd from August, on top of similar increases for June and July. The seven core members of OPEC+, which groups OPEC and allied producers including Russia, have hiked their output quotas from April through July by almost 800,000 bpd. However, the increase has remained largely on paper because of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which closed the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic for some of the most important OPEC+ members, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. According to Reuters calculations, from August, taking into account the UAE’s exit from May 1, the seven core members will still have about 379,000 bpd of the original cut to return to the market. With the August increase now decided, they will have fully unwound the 2023 cut if they make one more hike of around the same size for September at their next meeting on August 2nd. The United Arab Emirates raised its crude output to near record highs above 3.8 million bpd in June after it quit OPEC to escape production caps. June’s output was the highest since April 2020. IIR Energy said U.S. oil refiners are expected to shut in about 264,000 bpd of capacity in the week ending July 10th, increasing available refining capacity by 153,000 bpd. Offline capacity is expected to decrease to 252,000 bpd in the week ending July 17th.
Oil prices settle at pre-Iran war levels as crude output grows - (Reuters) - Oil prices settled around pre-Iran war levels on Monday as Saudi Arabia slashed its official selling prices, OPEC+ approved another production target increase starting in August, and exports through the Strait of Hormuz recovered further. Brent crude futures , which hit a four-year high above $126 in late April, settled at $71.99 a barrel, down 13 cents or 0.2%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures finished at $68.55 a barrel, down 14 cents or 0.2%. There was no settlement for WTI on Friday as U.S. markets were closed for a public holiday. Both contracts were little changed last week after mostly falling over the past month back to levels last seen in late February, prior to the start of the four-month war that created the biggest energy disruption in history, according to the International Energy Agency. "The downward move is still influenced by earlier stranded tankers managing to exit the Gulf, resulting in an increase in oil on water," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said. Investors kept a close eye on talks between the U.S. and Iran over the fate of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while keeping tabs on the recovery in Gulf oil exports. President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States would either reach a deal with Iran or "finish the job," renewing his threat of military action as Tehran projects defiance following the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Indirect U.S.-Iran talks ended last week without any public sign of headway toward a lasting peace, despite a 60-day ceasefire intended to create space for diplomacy following the U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered the conflict. The United Arab Emirates raised its crude output to near record highs above 3.8 million barrels per day in June after it quit OPEC to escape production caps, two people familiar with production data said on Monday. Saudi Arabia has set the official selling price for its flagship Arab Light crude to Asia in August at $1.50 a barrel below the Oman/Dubai average, marking the biggest monthly cut in the price since Reuters records began in 2003. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has also been selling crude through tenders at discounted prices, traders told Reuters. "It is increasingly looking like the Gulf producers are gearing up for a price war," The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies including Russia agreed on Sunday to further increase output targets by 188,000 bpd from August, on top of similar increases for June and July. However, these increases have remained largely on paper because of the Iran war, which closed the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic for key OPEC producers, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, capping their output. "They are selling into a falling market, offering little hope of an imminent price recovery," . "However, lower oil prices will undoubtedly stimulate demand further down the line." Elsewhere, Ukraine's military said on Monday it struck Russia's largest oil refinery in Omsk, as well as facilities in Yaroslavl and Leningrad regions overnight. Advertisement · Scroll to continue In the United States, stocks of crude oil in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by 6.2 million barrels in the week ending July 3 to 319.5 million barrels, the lowest level since April 1983, according to data from the Department of Energy on Monday. Shipping groups Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will resume some sailings through the Suez Canal, which accounts for 10% of global trade. The Asia-Europe trade corridor was abandoned by most shippers after attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthis during the Gaza war. Resuming sailings through this route will reduce the duration of the passage by four weeks, a Hapag-Lloyd spokesperson said.
Hormuz Vessel Traffic Grinds to Halt Amid Renewed Fighting --LNG and oil tankers are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz as Iran and the United States trade attacks and a tenuous ceasefire signed last month is again imperiled. Map of Arabian Peninsula maritime chokepoints showing the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal and major LNG export routes from the Persian Gulf. At a Glance:
Trump threatens more attacks
Vessels changing course
Brent, natural gas prices up
US-Iran war: Renewed attacks in Strait of Hormuz prompts another global energy alert | UN News - Amid reports that three merchant vessels were hit along with Iranian targets, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned “reckless attacks” in the past two days against several ships transiting the narrow waterway, a vital conduit for a significant proportion of the world’s energy needs. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the resumption of strikes and counterstrikes between the United States and Iran in the past 24 hours were “alarming” and risked derailing diplomatic progress made since a ceasefire framework was agreed in April.“A return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences for the peoples of the region, for international peace and security, and for the global economy as a whole,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.“These reckless attacks have again placed innocent seafarers in grave danger. No seafarer should have to risk their life simply for doing their job,” Mr. Dominguez said, as he warned flag States, shipowners and operators not to expose seafarers to “unnecessary danger” by transiting the Strait.
- Renewed Hormuz attacks trigger global energy security concerns
- Guterres warns of catastrophic consequences for region and global economy if full blown US-Iran war resumes
- Thousands of seafarers remain stranded amid shipping disruptions
- UN warns prices and supply volatility may worsen
- Heatwaves could intensify energy demand and infrastructure strain
Some 6,000 seafarers remain stranded in the channel on hundreds of vessels which used to transit at a rate of around 130 a day.That number is vastly reduced today, although shipping levels picked up before the latest escalation, in line with an agreement on a temporary ceasefire – part of a memorandum of understanding – last month between the United States and Iran.Responding to the latest escalation, the UN economic commission for Europe, UNECE, said that the already challenging situation for countries which rely on energy from the Gulf was set to continue, after more than 100 days of disruption.“We can expect prices and price volatility to remain high and supply disruptions – especially in local markets – to continue for the months ahead,” said Dario Liguti, Director of Energy, Housing and Land Management Division at the UN Economic Commission for Europe.The senior UN economist explained that although a global shortage of fuel and fertilizers has been avoided, the effects of this year’s disruption will still be felt “even if the situation normalizes rapidly”. Strategic oil reserves are also at their lowest levels for decades, Mr. Liguti stressed. If the instability does continue, we should get ready for another rise in prices and a larger-scale raw material shortage,” he told UN News.
Oil prices rise after report of Iranian attack on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz -- Oil prices rose on Tuesday morning following a report of an Iranian attack on commercial ships in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The reported attacks in the waterway, which typically handles around 20% of the world’s oil traffic, reaffirm the fragility of the U.S. and Iran’s interim peace agreement, as they negotiate a permanent end to their war. International benchmark Brent crude futures with September delivery traded 1.5% higher at $73.09 per barrel, extending earlier gains. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures with August delivery advanced 1.5% to $69.56, after closing at its lowest level since Feb. 27 in the previous session. Iran fired at least two missiles at ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening, Axios reported, citing two unnamed U.S. officials. The vessels suffered significant damage in the attack but no casualties, Axios said, according to one U.S. official. CNBC could not independently verify the report. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre, a British maritime security alert service, meanwhile, said Monday that it had received a report of an incident 8 nautical miles east of Limah, Oman. The UKMTO said a tanker had been struck by an unknown projectile while travelling southbound, resulting in a fire. No casualties were reported in the incident. President Donald Trump said Monday that the two countries would either make a deal or the U.S. would “finish the job,” renewing threats of military action against the Islamic Republic. “The situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains unsettled. But as we have argued since March, both sides should ultimately have an interest in containing the conflict,” Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, said in a research note published Friday. “Ahead of the mid-term elections to Congress on 3 November, US President Donald Trump wants low oil prices whereas the Revolutionary Guards in Tehran covet the money from potential sanctions relief,” they added.
Oil prices rise as Hormuz attacks, Ukraine strikes fuel supply concerns -Global oil prices rose on Tuesday as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe renewed concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies. International benchmark Brent crude gained about 1.05% to $72.75 per barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 0.8% to $69.32. Investor sentiment strengthened after reports that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missile attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important oil shipping routes. According to reports citing US officials, Washington is considering military retaliation against Iranian targets, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. Additional support came from Russia, where Ukrainian drone strikes reportedly targeted energy infrastructure in the western Siberian region of Omsk. Ukrainian authorities later claimed responsibility for striking the Omsk Oil Refinery, one of Russia’s largest refining facilities, with an annual processing capacity of 8.4 million tonnes. The twin developments added a geopolitical risk premium to crude markets, although gains remained limited after OPEC+ announced plans to increase collective oil production by 188,000 barrels per day from August as part of the gradual rollback of voluntary production cuts. “The group remains committed to maintaining market stability and retains the flexibility to adjust production depending on market conditions,” OPEC+ said following its latest meeting. Energy analysts say any prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could significantly tighten global crude supplies, given that roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strategic waterway. Meanwhile, market participants believe OPEC+’s planned production increase should help offset some supply risks, although escalating geopolitical tensions continue to dominate short-term price movements. What’s Next:
- Investors will monitor the release of the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) July Short-Term Energy Outlook report.
- Markets are awaiting the minutes of the US Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting for clues on future interest rate decisions.
- Traders will continue tracking developments in the Strait of Hormuz and Russia for any further threats to global energy supplies.
Geopolitical tensions have once again become the primary driver of oil prices, overshadowing concerns about slowing global demand. While additional OPEC+ supply may help contain price spikes, any further disruption to Middle East shipping routes or Russian refining capacity could quickly tighten global crude markets.
Oil Market Rallies as Strait of Hormuz Attacks and Iran Sanctions Renew Supply Fears - The crude oil market traded higher following report of attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. decision to reimpose sanctions on Iranian oil. A Qatari LNG tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker were damaged following reports that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired missiles at ships in the waterway overnight. The strikes against the tankers brought back some geopolitical risk premium, with the crude market trading from a low of $68.58 in overnight trading to a high of $70.72 ahead of the close. The market was also supported by comments made by Iran’s Foreign Minister, who stated that talks to reach a final deal between Iran and the U.S. would not take place if U.S. threats continue following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to “finish the job” unless a deal is done. The August WTI contract settled up 1.89 at $70.44 and rallied further in the post settlement period to a high of $72.51, retracing almost 50% of its move from a high of $78.14 to a low of $67.04. The rally followed the news that the U.S. was revoking a general license authorizing the sale of Iranian oil. The September Brent contract settled up $2.17 at $74.16. Meanwhile, the product markets settled in mixed territory, with the heating oil market settling up 33 points at $3.3017 and the RB market settling down 4.94 cents at $2.9539. In its Short Term Energy Outlook, the EIA said global oil output and trade flows should rebound fully by the end of this year from the disruptions caused by the Iran war. The EIA said global benchmark Brent crude oil prices will average around $74/barrel in the spot market during the third quarter of this year, down from an average of $85/barrel in June. Last month, the EIA forecast Brent prices would average over $101/barrel in the third quarter. The EIA said it expects most of the oil output previously shut in across the Middle East to return online by the first quarter of 2027. That will lift global supply and reduce withdrawals from stockpiles, returning oil markets to a state of oversupply that will weigh on prices. The agency expects oil prices to average about $65/barrel through next year, down from its prior forecast of over $79/barrel in 2027. The EIA also forecast U.S. motor fuel prices will average about $3.80/gallon in the third quarter, down from $4.21/gallon in the second quarter. The EIA reported that world oil demand is expected to total 102.8 million bpd in 2026, down 100,000 bpd from a previous estimate and 2027 demand is forecast at 104.8 million bpd, down 500,000 bpd from a previous forecast. World oil output is forecast to total 101.9 million bpd in 2026 compared with a previous forecast of 99 million bpd and output in 2027 is expected to increase to 109.8 million bpd, up from a previous estimate of 109.3 million bpd. U.S. crude oil demand in 2026 is forecast at 20.7 million bpd, unchanged from a previous forecast, while demand in 2027 is seen at 20.8 million bpd, up 100,000 bpd from a previous estimate. Axios reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired at least two missiles at commercial ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night. The report, citing two U.S. official said A Qatari LNG tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude tanker suffered significant damage but had no casualties. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said early on Tuesday that the LNG tanker was struck on its port side while travelling southbound about 8 nautical miles east of Limah, causing a fire.
Oil jumps after settlement as US revokes general license for Iran oil sales (Reuters) - Oil prices settled 3% higher on Tuesday and then extended gains post-settlement, after Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. revoked the general license authorizing sale of Iranian crude and later launched new strikes against Iran. Brent crude futures settled up $2.17, or 3.01%, to $74.16 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.89, or 2.76%, to $70.44 a barrel. In post-settlement trade, the global benchmark climbed $1.72 to $75.88 and WTI jumped $1.76 to $72.20 at 4:59 p.m. ET (2026 GMT) after the U.S. revoked a general license that authorized the sale of Iranian oil. Both benchmarks were up more than 5% from the previous day's settlement prices. The U.S. move came after Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military launched a series of strikes against Iran in response to the Iranian attacks, U.S. Central Command said. "Obviously today is the next level of breakaway from the memorandum of understanding," it was unclear whether Iran's actions were aimed at exerting authority over the Strait of Hormuz or were primarily a show of strength during mourning ceremonies for the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In June, the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding aiming to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Yawger said the U.S. decision to revoke the oil license was a signal that Iran had gone too far but added he did not expect the move to have a lasting impact on Tehran's ability to export crude or on the prospects for a broader agreement. "I don't think it's in either side's interest not to get a deal done," he said. "This shows just how fragile the ceasefire actually is. Further attacks could sporadically appear in the coming months and this will further add to the volatility," "Just one disagreeable message from one side could bring anger to the other, and remember if Iran merely threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz again, prices will spike considerably. As such, we firmly believe that volatility really is here to stay." "Renewed tensions in the Middle East and concerns over the vessel attacks could drag lower oil exports from the Middle East," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said. Talks to reach a final deal between Tehran and Washington will not take place if U.S. threats continue, Iran's foreign minister said on Tuesday, following U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to "finish the job" unless a deal is done. Investors are monitoring talks between the U.S. and Iran and their implications for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which prior to the beginning of the Iran war carried a fifth of the world’s daily supply of oil and LNG. Also on Tuesday, Kyiv's military said Ukrainian drones struck eight tankers from Russia's "shadow fleet" of aging vessels used to bypass sanctions that were delivering fuel to Crimea overnight. Market sources citing data from the American Petroleum Institute said on Tuesday that the U.S. had drawn down 399,000 barrels of crude oil inventories last week.
Global Oil Prices Hit Two-Week High as US-Iran Tensions Escalate - Pakistan Observer -- Global oil prices surged by more than 5% on Wednesday, reaching their highest levels in two weeks amid rising tensions in the Middle East. United States President Donald Trump has declared that the MoU aimed at ending the conflict with Iran was “over”, reigniting concerns over potential disruptions to crude supplies from the Middle East. By 0832 GMT, Brent crude futures had climbed $3.82, or 5.15%, to $77.98 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $3.70, or 5.25%, to trade at $74.14 per barrel. Global oil prices had already risen around 3% on Tuesday after the US revoked a general licence that had permitted the sale of Iranian crude oil. Speaking before a NATO summit in Ankara, President Trump said the temporary agreement intended to halt the conflict with Iran had effectively ended, adding that he had no plans to resume talks with Tehran. Media quoted experts as saying that the latest developments had cast serious doubt over the future of the 60-day negotiation process. In such a scenario, a price closer to $80 a barrel is more consistent with current market fundamentals than $70, experts believe. According to US Central Command, Tuesday’s airstrikes were carried out in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for strikes targeting US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait early Wednesday. According to the reports, four oil and gas tankers had either turned back or chosen not to enter the Strait of Hormuz after Iran announced that only shipping routes approved by Tehran would be considered safe. Following last month’s truce agreement between the US and Iran, oil prices had retreated to pre-conflict levels as traders increased bearish bets, expecting additional Middle Eastern oil supplies to return to global markets. Those expectations were overturned after renewed military tensions revived concerns over supply security. Although Iran denied involvement in the attacks on commercial vessels, Qatar blamed Tehran, including for an incident involving a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker that was reportedly struck by a drone, triggering a fire in its engine room. The latest incidents have renewed fears over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that previously handled around one-fifth of the world’s energy shipments before hostilities erupted in late February.
Oil prices jump 7% as U.S.-Iran truce buckles under fresh strikes | Honolulu Star-Advertiser -- Crude oil prices soared about 7% today after President Donald Trump threatened fresh strikes against Iran, which could lead Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz to ship traffic again. Before the United States war with Iran, about 20% of global oil supplies passed through the waterway.Brent futures rose $4.91, or 6.6%, to $79.07 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $4.27, or 6.1%, to $74.71. That would be the biggest daily percentage gains for both crude benchmarks since April and puts Brent on track for its highest close since June 19 and WTI on track for its highest close since June 18.President Donald Trump said an interim agreement to end the war with Iran was “over” and that the United States was likely to launch new strikes tonight following Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in the Gulf.In a flare-up of hostilities that pushed up oil prices, Iran said today it had targeted U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait after United States forces struck Iranian targets in response to attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.The attacks further undermined a shaky cease-fire agreement and dented hopes of turning the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 into a permanent peace deal to end the war, which began with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28.“Fundamentally, the events of the last few days significantly weaken any confidence that the current 60-day truce can still evolve into a permanent peace agreement,” said Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at consultancy Rystad Energy.U.S. ultra-low sulfur diesel futures soared over 14% in intraday trade after Russia introduced a ban on diesel exports today as part of a raft of measures to support the domestic fuel market after systematic Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries triggered shortages and price spikes.Ukrainian drones struck three Russian oil refineries, Russian tankers on the Sea of Azov and pipeline pumping stations, Ukrainian and Russian officials said today, in a major night of strikes ranging from the Ukrainian border to the Urals mountains.That diesel price spike boosted the U.S. 321-crack spread, which measures refining profit margins, to a record high, according to LSEG data going back to 2001.
WTI Surges to $73 as Trump Halts US-Iran Ceasefire Deal (DTN) -- Crude futures had their largest rally in more than a month on Wednesday as the Middle East and its most important sea lane, the Strait of Hormuz, were caught in new hostilities after the U.S. canceled its ceasefire agreement with Iran. The Middle East conflict resolution took a turn after U.S. President Donald Trump accused Tehran of unwarranted attacks on vessels passing the Strait of Hormuz that he said reneged on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries. The U.S. also canceled Tuesday, its waiver of sanctions on the export and sales of Iranian oil. Tehran, on its part, blamed the U.S. for violations by commercial vessels of Iranian policy over the strait. Following the renewed row between them, the two countries exchange fire Wednesday on mutual strategic targets in the region. Responding to the escalation, NYMEX WTI crude for August delivery surged by $3.08 to settle at $73.52 bbl, posting a 4.4% rise that marked the biggest percentage advance for the U.S. crude benchmark since June 1. It hit a two-week high of $76.08 during the session. ICE Brent for September rose $3.86 to close at $78.02 bbl, finishing up 5.2% for the sharpest one-day climb since May 4. The session high was $80.59. In downstream activity Wednesday, NYMEX ULSD futures for August delivery jumped almost 11%, or $0.3658, to settle at $3.6575 gallon. NYMEX RBOB for August lurched up 5%, or $0.1495, to close at $3.1034 gallon. The U.S. Dollar Index softened by 0.023 points to 100.755 against a basket of currencies. Prior to this week, crude futures had fallen four straight weeks, with WTI touching $67.04 and Brent $70.14, after the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed on June 17. Earlier, they hit four-month highs, with WTI scaling $119.48 and Brent $126.41, as the conflict led to what the International Energy Agency called the largest supply disruption in oil's history. Now, oil markets were bracing for "the risk of further supply disruptions from Iran or the wider Middle East if Tehran now chooses to close the Strait of Hormuz again", said Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at London's StoneX. The Hormuz saw a rapid recovery in tanker traffic over the past two weeks after the signing of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal. Prior to that, traffic was at a virtual standstill on the waterway for more than three months as both Iran and the U.S. enforced blockades at separate points of the chokepoint. One of the world's busiest sea lanes, the strait used to provide passage for some 20 million bpd of petroleum liquids during normal times. In U.S. inventory data, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on Wednesday the first weekly rise in commercial crude stockpiles in 11 weeks. Commercial crude oil inventories rose by 3 million bbl to 411.4 million bbl during the week ended July 3, although they remained 14.7 million bbl, or 3.4%, below the same week last year, the EIA said. Distillate fuel stocks fell by 5 million bbl to 103.6 million bbl during the week to July 3, the lowest level since the week ended June 12. Total motor gasoline balances fell by 1.9 million bbl to 212.1 million bbl during the week profiled, the lowest level since the week ended May 22.
The global oil market isn’t ready for the Iran ceasefire to end -- America’s oil supplies are far from prepared for the U.S.-Iran ceasefire to end. Global oil prices retreated to prewar levels and tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz gradually resumed after President Trump announced a temporary pause in the fighting in mid-June—but crude stockpiles will take much longer to restore. Commercial inventories in the U.S. rose 3 million barrels in the week ended Friday, according to the Energy Department, the first uptick after 10 consecutive weeks of drawdowns. Stockpiles are still so low that the central U.S. storage hub in Cushing, Okla., has reached operational limits that would make withdrawing more crude challenging. Meanwhile, inventories in the government-run Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a system of salt caverns on the Gulf Coast, keep falling and sit at the lowest level since 1983. Now that Trump has declared the ceasefire over, the situation risks becoming more dire. “The worst fears of the oil market could still be realized later this year as we get to the minimum operating levels,” said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston.“The only way to get prices back in balance is to have prices go up, such that you would have demand destruction. Once the shelf is bare, there’s nowhere to turn,” he said. Energy executives and analysts aren’t yet predicting a repeat of the oil shock that sent prices above $100 a barrel this spring, but they say another closure of the Hormuz—through which 20% of the world’s petroleum typically passes—could threaten America’s energy security. If the U.S. is forced to further draw down its stockpiles, that would potentially limit its ability to respond to new oil disruptions on the world’s stage, or natural disasters such as hurricanes that can damage fuel supply chains. It could also push fuel prices up again to a level that causes consumers and other buyers to pull back. As of early trading Thursday, U.S. oil prices have climbed about 5% to $73.90 a barrel since Trump launched new strikes on Iran this week, reaching the highest level since late June. Prices for petroleum products jumped even more. Gasoline futures have risen 6.1%. Diesel soared over 10%.The U.S. and other countries are expected to take months, or even years, to replenish their stockpiles. One of the shorter-term challenges to refilling the coffers is the transit time for ocean-faring vessels to sail from the Middle East to customers around the world.Two factors working in the U.S.’s favor: crude prices that have fallen more than 30% from their April highs and an unexpected shift in global energy flows. China and other big buyers are, for now, proceeding without using as much oil, freeing up supplies on the open market.The U.S. has slowed releases of oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve as the inventories have declined and prices have tumbled. The Energy Department awarded only about 500,000 barrels of the 40 million it had authorized for the most recent release.That decision has helped to slow the pace of U.S. crude exports, which soared to records in April after Trump declared America’s energy market open for business. South Korea, the Netherlands, Taiwan and other countries turned to the U.S. for barrels they couldn’t get from the Middle East.Exports are likely to end July below 4 million barrels a day, a level last seen in February, before the start of the conflict, according to market intelligence firm Kpler.But the supply crunch hasn’t yet eased in the market for petroleum products, such as diesel and gasoline. U.S. exports of those fuels are still hovering near record levels, while American refineries run full-tilt to replace supplies in Asia, Europe and Latin America, Kpler data show.On the Gulf Coast, the central hub of U.S. oil refining and fuel exports, stockpiles of gasoline are 7.2 million barrels lower than normal for this time of year and well below the five-year average, according to energy-data and analytics provider OPIS, a Dow Jones company.“We started the year well above that [five-year] band,” said Denton Cinquegrana, chief oil analyst at OPIS. That partially explains “why gasoline remains strong despite the fact there’s plenty of crude oil that appears to be available in the open market.”The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.85 Thursday, up from $2.98 at the start of the conflict. Although jet fuel supplies are stabilizing, American diesel inventories are at the lowest levels since the early 2000s. Exports are poised to climb to near-record levels in July, according to Kpler, partly thanks to increased appetite from Brazil.
Oil Market Rallies as Strait of Hormuz Attacks and Iran Sanctions Renew Supply Fears The oil market ended the session over 4.3% higher after U.S. President Donald Trump said the memorandum of understanding to end the war with Iran was “over”. The U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later stated that it launched strikes against U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait early on Wednesday. The market posted a low of $71.75 in overnight trading and rallied higher for much of the session as the attacks renewed concerns about tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The market rallied to a high of $76.08 before it erased some of its gains after President Trump said he did not believe a full-fledged conflict would restart in the wake of the military strikes from both sides. The August WTI contract settled up $3.08 at $73.52 and the September Brent contract settled up $3.86 at $78.02. The product markets ended the session sharply higher, with the heating oil market settling up 35.58 cents at $3.6575 and the RB market settling up 14.95 cents at $3.1034. The EIA reported that U.S. crude inventories increased for the first time since mid-April last week, as exports soften, while gasoline and distillate inventories fell ahead of the Independence Day weekend. Crude inventories increased by 3 million barrels to 411.4 million barrels in the week ending July 3rd after falling for 10 straight weeks. Crude stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma delivery hub fell by 52,000 barrels in the week. U.S. crude oil exports declined by 746,000 barrels to 3.3 million bpd during the week, while net crude imports increased by 1.1 million bpd. The EIA said U.S. energy firms exported a record 8.73 million bpd of total petroleum products in the week ended July 3rd. That topped the prior weekly all-time high of 8.22 million bpd in early May. Ship-tracking data showed that at least four oil and gas tankers have turned back from attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, as renewed attacks on vessels in the critical waterway heightened safety and security concerns. The diversions come after a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker were damaged near the strait on Tuesday following reports that Iran fired missiles at ships in the waterway, prompting maritime authorities to raise the threat risk for transiting vessels to “severe.” Data from analytics firms Kpler and LSEG showed that LNG tankers Al Ghariya, Duhail and Al Ruwais were moving westward towards the Strait of Hormuz before changing course to turn away late on Tuesday. All three tankers controlled by QatarEnergy were empty and heading towards Qatar’s Ras Laffan export facility to load cargoes. LSEG and Kpler data also showed the Indian-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier Lila Vadinar, which is carrying 2 million barrels of Kuwaiti crude that was loaded late last week, made a U-turn off the tip of Oman at the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. According to Vortexa analysts, a queue of ballast or empty vessels waiting to load at Ras Laffan has also built up, reaching more than 10 ships in early July. HSBC lowered its Brent crude oil price forecast for 2026 to $80/barrel from $95/barrel, as it assumes a return to normal Gulf oil exports by the end of September. The bank also lowered its 2027 Brent price forecast to $65/barrel from $75/barrel.
Oil eases as investors assess US-Iran peace prospects - Oil prices eased today after earlier gains as markets assessed the escalating conflict between the US and Iran and its implications for efforts to end the war and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures were down 11 cents, or 0.1%, to $77.91 a barrel this afternoon. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dropped 38 cents, or 0.5%, to $73.14 a barrel. Brent and WTI crude futures hit their highest levels since June 22 yesterday. But New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said today that markets expect oil prices to decline over the next six to 12 months, a view he said was reasonable. Both crude benchmarks rose more than a dollar in post-settlement trade yesterday after the US launched strikes on Iran, which responded with attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain. "Generally it's a very nervous market ... any news that dampens the prospect of a peace deal is adding a bit to the market," Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen said. Iranian forces targeted US military infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf states today following US strikes on Iran's southern coastal and eastern provinces, further straining a three-week-old ceasefire agreement. Iran fired ten ballistic missiles on Jordan's Azraq military base, state media reported. Some war underwriters have advised shipping companies to pause voyages through the Strait of Hormuz while others are reviewing their policy terms after renewed vessel attacks threatened a return to war, insurance industry sources said. Before the latest flare-up in the US-Israeli war with Iran, prices had been falling as the market tried to absorb the pent-up Middle Eastern supply released by a fragile truce and some signs of rising inventories. A fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies traversed the Strait of Hormuz prior to the Iran war, which began at the end of February. Tehran's control of the waterway has been its main leverage in the conflict. Goldman Sachs said risks to Gulf oil flows and near-term prices remain two-sided. It expects flows to normalise by the end of July if negotiations continue, sanctions waivers on Iranian oil are reinstated and shippers receive security assurances. That scenario would require Strait of Hormuz flows to increase by 6.6 million barrels per day. Conversely, the investment bank said failed talks, escalating tanker attacks and a potential US blockade of Iranian oil could further disrupt flows. "In the base case, Brent probably trades in a $75–$85 range over the next month, with a mild upward bias," said Aneeka Gupta, director of macroeconomic research at WisdomTree. "The underlying supply recovery is real but incomplete, the surplus narrative is discredited for now, and diplomatic engagement (while stalled) hasn't collapsed entirely." Elsewhere, Russia banned diesel exports yesterday to support its domestic fuel market after Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries caused fuel shortages and price spikes.
Oil Market Lower as Traders Balance Iran Strikes and Diplomacy - The oil market on Thursday ended the session lower as the market weighed the impact of the renewed U.S. strikes against Iran on the peace talks and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Late Wednesday, the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, which responded with attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain. The market traded to a high of $75.13 on the reopening on Wednesday evening amid the reports of the U.S. military strikes. However, the market eased off its high and traded lower throughout the session. While the U.S. launched further strikes on Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday stated that he did not see a return to a full-fledged war with Iran, which likely limited the market’s gains despite the renewed tensions in the Middle East. The market retraced little more than 50% of its move from a low of $67.04 to a high of $76.08 as it posted a low of $71.42 ahead of the close. The August WTI contract settled down $1.44 at $72.08 and the September Brent contract settled down $1.72 at $76.30. The product markets ended the session lower, with the heating oil market settling down 8.59 cents at $3.5716 and the RB market settling down 6.42 cents at $3.0387. Analysts and officials said governments are set to buy millions of barrels of oil through 2028 to rebuild emergency reserves depleted by drawdowns to plug a gap in global supply caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. They said this could increase demand for crude that would absorb some of the expected global supply surplus following OPEC+’s decision to increase output. According to Reuters calculations based on International Energy Agency, OPEC and U.S. Department of Energy data, governments drew down emergency reserves after supply disruptions linked to the conflict removed an estimated 1.5 billion barrels from global inventories this year. Kpler estimated that replenishing those reserves could add up to 664,000 bpd of demand by third quarter 2027, helping to absorb some of the excess supply expected next year as OPEC+ continues to unwind production cuts. Christopher Haines, head of oil at consultancy Energy Aspects, said restocking of reserves would lead to a higher price floor in 2027. Goldman Sachs said the latest strikes in the Strait of Hormuz could slow the ramp-up in Middle East oil production, while the cancellation of the U.S. sanctions waiver could once again weigh on exports of Iranian oil, which had only recently begun to recover. Goldman Sachs said it sees two-sided risks to Persian Gulf oil flows and near-term prices. The bank said it still expects Persian Gulf flows to return to normal by the end of July if the 60-day negotiations continue, the waiver on Iranian oil is reinstated and shippers receive security assurances. That scenario would require Hormuz flows to increase by 6.6 million bpd. Goldman Sachs stated that following the recent attacks on tankers, Persian Gulf oil exports are running at 71% of normal levels, down from 83% of pre-war flows reached within the first 10 days after Hormuz reopening in June. Meanwhile, the bank also noted that the ramp up of attacks on Russian refineries amid low product inventories and subdued Middle East and Asia runs amplifies their view that refined product margins will remain higher for longer. Bloomberg reported that unprecedented overseas demand for U.S. diesel, propane and other fuels is straining commercial reserves from the Gulf Coast to the Eastern Coast as the U.S.-Iran conflict reintensifies. It said demand for U.S. fuel probably will not abate any time soon, given the absence of shipments from Russia.
Oil prices settle 2% lower as economic worries outweigh supply risks (Reuters) - Oil prices slid about 2% on Thursday on worries that rising inflation and other economic concerns could weigh on global oil demand despite continuing supply constraints as the the U.S.-Iran conflict has delayed full reopening of Strait of Hormuz. About 20% of global oil supplies passed through the strait before the war. Brent futures fell $1.72, or 2.2%, to settle at $76.30 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.44, or 2.0%, to settle at $72.08. On Wednesday, Brent closed at its highest since June 19 and WTI closed at its highest since June 22. Iranian armed forces launched attacks on U.S. military infrastructure in Gulf states on Thursday following U.S. strikes on Iran's southern coastal and eastern provinces, further straining a three-week-old ceasefire agreement. The attacks came on the day that Iran buried its slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the shrine of Mashhad, the culmination of a week of mass funeral processions and rallies. Khamenei was killed on the first day of the war on February 28. Separately, several explosions were heard in Iran including in Bushehr, where one of Iran's nuclear plants is located. "We expect the renewed tension in the Middle East between the U.S. and Iran to be relatively short-lived because both countries are constrained by practical economic and political realities," Qatar, which has often mediated between Washington and its adversaries including Tehran, condemned attacks on commercial shipping and called for a return to diplomacy. Foreign ministers of Turkey and Oman also stressed the need to avoid further military escalation in calls with their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi. "After two days of attacks, Iran appears to be on the phone looking to scale back hostilities and possibly return to the negotiating table," Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said the U.S. attacks and intervention in redirecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupting the waterway's gradual reopening. "Our estimated oil flows from the Persian Gulf recovered to above 80% of pre-war flows within the first 10 days after Hormuz reopening as trapped tankers rushed to leave the Persian Gulf, but retreated to the low-70s% of normal following recent attacks on tankers," analysts at U.S. bank Goldman Sachs said in a report. In the U.S., the number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, supporting economists' views that the labor market remained in a "slow-hire, slow-fire" mode. Minutes of the Federal Reserve's June 16 to 17 meeting showed policymakers' concerns about inflation mounted last month and they "generally expected labor market conditions to remain stable in the near term, with the unemployment rate staying close to current levels." New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said on Thursday he did not expect a sustained rise in energy prices for the rest of the year despite the of hostilities in the Middle East, and declined to say what decision he would make on interest rates at a policy meeting later this month. When the Fed boosts interest rates to keep inflation in check, it can reduce economic growth and cut demand for oil. In China, the world's second-biggest economy behind the U.S., producer price inflation surged in June to its highest level in four years, piling pressure on manufacturers' profit margins as weak domestic demand limited pricing power. In Europe, Ukrainian drones hit a dozen more Russian tankers in the Sea of Azov overnight, Ukraine's military said, the latest in a campaign aimed at disrupting fuel supplies to Russian forces and isolating Moscow-occupied Crimea. On Wednesday, U.S. diesel futures posted their biggest daily percentage gain in four years after Russia announced a ban on exports of the industrial fuel, supercharging supply concerns in a market grappling with uncertainty about Middle Eastern oil flows. Russia said the U.S. was wrong to believe deep Ukrainian strikes into Russian territory could help end more than four years of war, and could instead prolong it. A settlement in the Ukraine war could result in the lifting of some sanctions on Russia, which could allow Moscow to export more oil. Russia was the world's third-biggest crude oil producer behind the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in 2025, according to U.S. energy data.
Oil edges lower, but heads for weekly gain as West Asia supply risks persist - The HinduBusinessLine -- Oil prices fell in early trading on Friday but remained on track for weekly gains as the United States and Iran continued trading strikes. Concerns that accelerating inflation could soften oil demand weighed on the market and pressured prices. Brent futures fell 6 cents, or 0.08 per cent, to $76.24 a barrel by 0125 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude lost 4 cents, or 0.06 per cent, to $72.04. For the week, Brent was set for a 6 per cent gain and WTI was headed for a 5 per cent increase. Iranian armed forces launched attacks on US military infrastructure in Gulf states on Thursday following US strikes on Iran's southern coastal and eastern provinces, further straining a three-week-old ceasefire. Separately, Iranian media reported multiple explosions across southern Iran, including Bushehr, where one of the country's nuclear plants is located. The renewed fighting came the day that Iran buried its slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the culmination of a week of mass funeral processions and rallies. Khamenei was killed on the first day of the war on February 28. The conflict has delayed the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that about 20 per cent of daily global oil and gas supplies passed through before the war. "Despite the US ramping up attacks on military sites in Iran, the market drew some reassurance from the Trump administration’s decision to avoid targeting Iranian energy infrastructure," said Daniel Hynes, the senior commodity strategist for ANZ bank. "This was aided by comments from President Trump, who said he doesn’t expect a return to a full-scale conflict." U.S. President Donald Trump had said on Wednesday he did not think the war would restart and that "anything that happens is going to be over very quickly." In the US, the number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, indicating that the labor market remained in a "slow-hire, slow-fire" mode. In China, the world's second-biggest economy, producer price inflation surged to a four-year high in June, piling pressure on manufacturers' profit margins as weak domestic demand limited pricing power.
Oil Steady Despite IEA Projects Global Demand Drop in 2026 (DTN) -- Crude futures were little changed on Friday, amid a bearish sentiment driven by renewed military action in the Middle East and over the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Associated Press, the United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, July 9, prompting Tehran to retaliate by targeting U.S.-allied Mideast countries. The exchange of fire threatened a fragile ceasefire agreement intended to help end hostilities in the Middle East. The front-month NYMEX WTI futures contract edged up $0.13 to $72.21 bbl. ICE Brent crude for September delivery rose $0.28 to $76.58 bbl. The NYMEX ULSD futures contract for August rose $0.0476 to $3.6192 gallon. NYMEX RBOB gasoline for August slid $0.0421 to $2.9966 gallon. The U.S. Dollar Index inched up by 0.019 points to 100.71 against a basket of foreign currencies. The weakness in the oil futures market was also supported by the International Energy Agency (IEA) projection that global oil demand is projected to drop by 1 million bpd year-on-year in 2026, marking the first annual decline since 2020. Global supply rebounded by a sharp 4.1 million bpd to 98.8 million bpd in June following a midmonth ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. However, overall production remained 9.4 million bpd below pre-war levels after previous hostilities disrupted nearly 14 million bpd of flows, the IEA said in its monthly report. The IEA warned that the fragile supply recovery could quickly reverse if shipping on the Strait of Hormuz faces more disruptions. Goldman Sachs noted that energy shipping traffic on the Hormuz had reached 80% of normal flows by end of last week as tankers rushed to escape the previously blockaded chokepoint after the June 17 ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Both sides declared the pact over on Wednesday, July 8, as hostilities resumed. Separately, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Thursday halted the listing of a contract that would have enabled the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) to begin 24/7 trading of crude oil futures as soon as Saturday. On June 22, the CFTC issued a request for comment seeking public input on the propriety of extension of standard futures contracts to 24/7 trading, including crude oil. Despite an ongoing public comment period and known risks as to whether such trading on crude oil would be consistent with the Commodity Exchange Act and Commission regulations thereunder, on July 8, CME sought to self-certify such a contract. "CME's decision to disregard the Commission's effort to undertake a reasoned analysis of the critical issues at stake is wholly inappropriate and necessitates Commission action to stay the certification," said Chairman Michael S. Selig.
Oil prices settle lower on hopes for smoother shipping in Strait of Hormuz (Reuters) - Oil prices settled lower on Friday after the latest round of U.S.-Iran fighting as traders grew hopeful that shipping would eventually resume in the Strait of Hormuz, but prices finished with sharp weekly gains. Brent futures settled at $76.01 a barrel, down 29 cents, or 0.38%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude finished at $71,41 a barrel down 67 cents or 0.93%. For the week, Brent gained about 5.50% and WTI nearly 4%. "This market is ready, willing and able to jump on good news or at least no bad news," "And it looks like the escalation won't get any worse." With the end of tit-for-tat air strikes and the promise of renewed talks between the U.S. and Iran next week, traders looked forward to the Strait of Hormuz reopening. "Amazingly though, oil prices are coming down after a spike near $76 a barrel, even as the Strait of Hormuz was effectively shut down once again, mainly on confidence that the United States' military strength will not allow the Strait of Hormuz to be shut down for an extended period of time," On Thursday, Iranian armed forces launched attacks on U.S. military infrastructure in Gulf states after U.S. strikes on Iran's southern coastal and eastern provinces. Prices pared gains after a Reuters report said Qatari negotiators were in Iran to meet Iranian officials in an effort to de-escalate tensions and create conditions for broader negotiations to continue. Separately, Iranian media reported multiple explosions across southern Iran. The area included Bushehr, where one of the country's nuclear plants is located. The recent escalation in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran could upend the International Energy Agency's forecast of a significant oil market surplus next year, the agency said. The developments have delayed a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about 20% of daily global oil and gas supplies before the start of the war on February 28. The lack of any new U.S. strikes on Iran overnight is probably weighing on oil prices, though a drop in flows through the Strait of Hormuz is limiting the downside, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. Liquefied natural gas tankers have passed through the strait in recent days, ship-tracking data showed, but overall daily traffic has slowed. U.S. President Donald Trump said this week that he did not think the war would restart and that "anything that happens is going to be over very quickly". "Despite the U.S. ramping up attacks on military sites in Iran, the market drew some reassurance from the Trump administration’s decision to avoid targeting Iranian energy infrastructure," said ANZ commodity strategist Daniel Hynes. Elsewhere, the IEA downgraded its projections on Russian oil production because of Ukrainian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure, the agency said on Friday. Russian gasoline output fell to a level equivalent to only around 65% of the seasonal average consumption after Ukrainian drone attacks led to stoppages at large oil refineries, according to two industry sources and Reuters calculations.
World oil demand set for first annual decline since 2020, IEA says - Global oil demand is set to decline for the first time since 2020 as the Iran war wreaked havoc with production and exports in the Middle East, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Friday. World oil demand is set to decline by 1 million b/d year-on-year in 2026, which would mark its first annual decrease since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the IEA said in its latest oil market report. This year’s contraction is “highly skewed in both product and regional terms,” as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — the vital shipping route for oil and gas — disrupted exports through the Persian gulf, the agency noted. A recovery is underway, the researchers added, though they warned renewed escalation in the conflict could complicate matters and further cloud the outlook. The IEA’s forecast rests on the assumption of a ceasefire and the gradual reopening of Hormuz, an outcome that looks increasingly uncertain as the U.S. and Iran traded hostilities this week. A number of ships came under attack and traffic through the Strait has once again slowed to a trickle. “While the global oil market balance looks set to swing back to surplus towards the end of the year, the forecast hinges on the assumption that tanker flows through the Strait will gradually recover, allowing producers to restart fields and refiners in the Middle East and elsewhere to resume product shipments,” the IEA wrote. “Renewed exchanges of fire in the Gulf this week highlight the risks of not reaching a lasting peace agreement, which is a must for the normalization in oil markets.” Oil prices edged lower on Friday, with global benchmark Brent crude futures for September delivery easing to $76.25 per barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures held steady at $72.09. There will not be a “swift or linear” recovery as the IEA expects a “very uncertain and unstable situation” in the region, Toril Bosoni, IEA’s head of oil and markets, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Friday. “But with significant growth from other producers, and with demand levels lower than we were expecting before the war, we could return to a surplus through the end of the year and into next year,” she added. “This would provide welcome relief to the market and allow countries to rebuild their inventories.”Tanker ablaze after being struck by projectile in the Strait of Hormuz (AP) — A tanker traveling off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz caught on fire early Tuesday morning after being struck by a projectile, the British military said. The attack was the latest targeting a vessel moving through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded once passed in peacetime. Iranian state television said the liquefied natural gas tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings but did not directly claim the assault. Tehran has repeatedly declared that only its approved route through the strait is safe and is suspected of attacking other ships that have used another route close to the Omani shore. The U.S. is eager to press ahead with negotiations with Iran aimed at fully reopening the strait, rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program and reaching a permanent end to the war launched Feb. 28. But previous attacks in the strait have sparked retaliatory strikes by the U.S., which then saw Iran attack Gulf Arab states — raising the risk of an escalation. Talks between Iran and the U.S., meanwhile, appear to be on hold until after the burial of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the beginning of the war. Signs have been increasing that mourners at his funeral were calling for the death of U.S. President Donald Trump. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the tanker had been hit near Limah, Oman, in the strait. The UKMTO said the projectile hit the port side of the vessel while trying to traveling south out of the strait toward the Gulf of Oman. It said there was no environmental impact from the strike and that authorities were investigating. Iranian state TV, quoting anonymous sources, implied Tehran carried out the assault on a tanker it said was carrying natural gas from Qatar. However, there’s been no official claim from the Islamic Republic for the attack. Iran’s joint military command warned last Thursday that all oil tankers moving through the strait must use its approved routes. It also said that interference by U.S. forces in the strait “will be met with a rapid and decisive reaction.” But the Joint Maritime Information Center, a multinational body overseen by the U.S. Navy, told shippers on Monday that the route around Oman “has been expanded and remains available for all traffic.” Trump on Monday at the White House also warned Iran that they’d need to “make a deal or we’re going to finish the job.” “I’d rather make a deal, because I don’t want to affect 91 million people,” Trump said. “We can knock down their bridges in one hour. We can knock out their energy supply.” Iran and the United States agreed as part of an interim deal to allow ships to pass without paying charges for 60 days. But Tehran insisted it must control the routes of the vessels and later charge fees for passage, upending decades of practice in the waterway. The U.S. and many Gulf Arab states say they won’t agree to Iran charging for passage through the strait. An effort by Oman and a United Nations agency to launch a new route near Oman’s shore earlier sparked attacks across the Mideast, highlighting the tensions. The data firm Kpler reported that over last weekend at least 108 ships crossed through the strait using various routes.
63 Million Barrels Of Iranian Oil Stuck At Sea After US Pulls Iran Sanction Waiver -- Tehran's oil export troubled just got worse. One week after we reported that Iran was already struggling to sell its crude to buyers in Asia (including China, which appears to now prefer UAE exports instead), overnight the US rescinded the sanctions waiver that allowed Tehran to sell its oil without penalties, making sales of Iranian crude to international buyers even more challenging. The Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday prompted immediate US reaction with the USmilitary striking multiple targets in Iran and the Treasury canceling the waiver on Iran’s oil sales that was supposed to be in place until August 21.Iran’s oil sales could be constrained again even before they resume, OilPrice reports. Since the memorandum of understanding was signed in mid-June, Iran has rushed to load cargoes from its key export sites at Kharg Island, and move its tankers out of the Gulf as soon as possible, after weeks of virtually no exports because of the U.S. blockade that began in mid-April.The surge in Iranian shipments out of the Gulf and into waters near the Malacca and Singapore Straits gave Iran a lifeline to boost its exports that had suffered from the U.S. blockade.China has remained Iran’s key customer as other buyers are reluctant to commit to purchases. But in recent weeks, we learned that even Chinese purchases of Iran oil have slowed dramatically, and now that the US has ended the waiver and sanctions are in place again, buyers in India that were considering potential purchases have likely backed out. Additionally, one could go so far as to argue Iranian oil in tankers is once again subject to US seizure.Iran is thus left with millions of barrels of crude oil on tankers moving or idling in a large area from the Persian Gulf to the Strait of Malacca. Most of the laden tankers do not broadcast destination or broadcast they are for orders, according to vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.Currently, as many as 63 million barrels of Iranian oil are either in transit or idling in tankers, per Bloomberg’s estimates based on data from Vortexa, which also notes that oil on floating storage in the Gulf has more than doubled in the past week to over 41 million barrels.
Iran condemns US gross war crimes after strike hit international rail corridor -- Tehran has strongly condemned the latest US strikes on civilian infrastructure as "gross war crimes" after cruise missiles hit multiple locations, including a bridge on a strategic international rail corridor in northwestern Iran, saying the attacks violated the UN Charter and the ceasefire memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries. In a strongly-worded statement on Thursday, the ministry said the attacks amount to "gross war crimes" and flagrant violations of the UN Charter and the war-ending memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Iran and the United States. It affirmed the unwavering determination of Iran's courageous people to defend their territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national security. The US carried out “criminal” attacks against Iran over the past 48 hours under the false pretext of giving response to alleged incidents involving several transgressing vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, it added. These strikes, the ministry emphasized, not only constitute a clear violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter but a gross breach of paragraphs one and five of the MoU on ending the war. They also constitute a pretext to justify Washington's continued non-compliance with the memorandum, it noted. The statement said the attacks came at a time when Iran's “wise and courageous” nation demonstrated its firm determination to confront the malevolent enemies and to safeguard the country’s power, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity through its magnificent and unparalleled presence in the historic farewell ceremony for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. "The malicious and psychopathic ruling administration of the United States, in order to compensate for its inability to comprehend the greatness and glory of Iranian patriotism and loyalty to the ideals of the [Islamic] Revolution, has resorted to insults, lies, and military aggression, including by targeting the railway route to Mashhad," the ministry said. The ministry further expressed disgust at the "vile rhetoric" of the US president and other American officials against the Iranian nation and announced that their explicit acknowledgment of non-compliance with the June 18 MoU “constitutes yet another clear testament to the treachery, wickedness, bellicosity, and malice” of the United States. It reiterated Iran’s determination to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity and to punish the aggressors. "The Islamic Republic of Iran will under no circumstances allow the treachery, bullying, and decadence of the US ruling administration to undermine Iran's national rights and interests," the statement pointed out. Earlier, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the US struck a railway bridge in Aq-Qala, an area northeast of Tehran in Golestan Province. The bridge lies on the international China–Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Incheh Borun rail corridor, which enters Iran through its northeastern border before linking Gorgan to Tehran. The route forms part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, connecting the Chinese city of Xi'an with the Iranian capital. Iranian media have reported that at least 65 freight trains traveled from China to Iran via the corridor last year. They added that foreign media reported a threefold increase in rail traffic after US imposed illegal blockade on Iranian ports in April. The report also said Russia began shipping goods to Iran through the route in late 2025, prompting analysts to view the strike as more than a conventional military attack. Previous attacks on Iran's rail infrastructure had been repaired within days, with six railway bridges restored in less than 96 hours following strikes earlier this year.
Oil tanker traffic through Hormuz at near standstill as attacks strain Iran truce -July 9 (Reuters) - Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was at a near standstill on Thursday, according to data and sources, as shipping risks escalated after the U.S. renewed airstrikes on Iran, triggering retaliation by Tehran in the Gulf. Just two tankers had so far sailed through the strait in the early hours of Thursday. They included the crude supertanker Berg 1, which had loaded at Iran's Kharg Island and is subject to U.S. sanctions, according to analysis from Kpler. The Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker Well Sail, also transited the strait, Kpler analysis showed. Its previous loading destination was near Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, according to LSEG ship tracking data. Shipping industry sources said vessels were increasingly switching off their public AIS tracking transponders, making it harder to see all of the ships crossing. "Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has essentially stopped, which tells you more about risk perception right now than any statement from Washington or Tehran," Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy, wrote in a report. Iranian armed forces launched attacks on U.S. military infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf states on Thursday in response to U.S. strikes on Iran's southern coastal and eastern provinces, putting further strain on a three-week-old truce. The latest flare-up in the four-month conflict began earlier this week with attacks on three tankers in the strait that the U.S. blamed on Tehran. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said on Thursday that U.S. attacks on Iran and intervention in redirecting shipping were disrupting the strait's gradual reopening, warning that any further U.S. intervention would draw a "crushing response". The Strait of Hormuz handled about a fifth of global oil supplies before the war erupted on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. Daily traffic in the past two weeks had risen to its highest levels since the war's outbreak, averaging 40 ships transiting the strait, which was still far off the pre-conflict average of 125 to 140 daily sailings. Some war underwriters have advised shipping companies to pause voyages through the strait while others are reviewing their policy terms after the renewed vessel attacks, insurance industry sources told Reuters. "The Hormuz reopening story looks more fragile after the latest escalation," ship broker Clarksons said in a report. One of the three vessels hit this week, the Marshall Islands-flagged Qatari LNG tanker Al Rekayyat, remains stranded and awaiting salvage operations off Oman after a projectile strike late on Tuesday sparked a fire in its engine room. Despite earlier fears of an explosion, industry sources said that risk was low for now and its cargo of liquefied natural gas appeared secure. The ship registry of the Marshall Islands, one of the world's top flag states, told Reuters there were no reported injuries or environmental impacts as a result of the incident involving the Al Rekayyat. "As recent incidents have shown, the (marine war) market is now facing the prospect of potentially severe losses involving vessels of substantial value," said one marine war underwriter, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the situation.
Saudi Arabia considers expansion of oil pipeline to Red Sea, sources say Saudi Arabia is considering expanding the capacity of its crude oil pipeline to the western Red Sea coast, five sources close to the matter said, enabling the kingdom and possibly neighbours to transport more oil without crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The East-West pipeline was built in the early 1980s and has become crucial since the start of the Iran war in February and the resulting halt to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. It can transport up to 7 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. About 2 million bpd feed refineries on the west coast and roughly 5 million bpd are for export, the CEO of state-backed oil company Aramco, said in May. The kingdom is in preliminary talks with some of its neighbours about the potential expansion of the pipeline's capacity by up to 2 million bpd, the sources said. It was unclear if Aramco's planned capacity increase would involve upgrades to existing infrastructure or construction of a new pipeline. One of the sources said the increase would include a smaller second pipe for oil products. Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar all lack routes that can bypass Hormuz while Iraq's pipeline to Turkey, dogged by disputes and repeated shutdowns, runs well below capacity. "We are in discussions with our brothers in Saudi Arabia and in the emirates to look at how to expand the pipeline system that they have to accommodate Kuwaiti barrels," Kuwait Petroleum Corporation CEO Sheikh Nawaf al-Sabah told the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum last month. The expansion could be for 1 million to 2 million bpd, two of the sources said, with refined products also under consideration. It would take years, cost billions of dollars and require changes to Saudi crude's pricing mechanism, another source said. Iran's blockade of the strait forced Gulf producers to shut in as much as 12 million bpd, sending prices surging. Flows have resumed partially after a preliminary U.S.-Iran deal last month, but they remain below pre-war levels. Iraqi output collapsed from 4.3 million bpd to less than 1.5 million bpd in May, Kuwait declared force majeure in March and Bahrain's Sitra refinery was struck by Iranian missiles several times. "The recent talks about new pipeline corridors involving Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar reflect a broader strategic reality. The conflict has focused minds regionally on the perils of relying solely on Hormuz," said Zaid Belbagi, managing partner at London-based Hardcastle Advisory. Aramco declined to comment while the Saudi and Bahraini government communications offices, the Iraqi oil ministry and QatarEnergy did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Qatar, which mainly exports LNG, faces greater technical hurdles and is considering several potential alternatives, including via Saudi Arabia, three sources said. The UAE, the only other Gulf state with meaningful Hormuz-bypass capacity, has completed half of a new West-East pipeline that will double crude capacity to Fujairah when it becomes operational next year. Its existing Abu Dhabi pipeline carries up to 1.8 million bpd. An expansion by Saudi Arabia "suggests that after the war, the next phase of the Saudi-UAE rivalry could be a race to the top on oil production, and therefore a race to the bottom on prices," one industry source said.
Saudi Arabia blocking money transfers to Emirati banks: Reports - Saudi Arabia has been blocking or delaying money transfers to accounts in the United Arab Emirates amid escalated tensions between the two Persian Gulf states. Financial transfers from Saudi banks to UAE accounts have been returned or held up since May, usually without any reason given, the Financial Times reported this week, citing sources familiar with the matter. "Saudi Arabia is blocking or delaying financial remittances sent from domestic banks to UAE accounts," the report said, adding that the accounts belonged to businesses and individuals. One healthcare firm in Dubai told the FT that three separate payments from a long-standing Saudi client had been blocked by the kingdom's banks since mid-May. "They are saying there's a block from the Saudi central bank and they can't really give more detail than that," an executive at the Dubai-based healthcare firm revealed. "We have a customer waiting for goods, but the payment is not happening." Similar incidents were reported by executives at other Dubai-based firms. Riyadh's central bank rejected the report, saying it did not impose "direct restrictions on specific countries." However, Bloomberg also published similar news reports, with sources telling the outlet that "several people experienced money sent from Saudi Arabian accounts not arriving in UAE accounts, being returned to the sender, and electronic payments being blocked." The Bloomberg report suggested rivalry between the financial institutions of the two Persian Gulf states as the root of the delays and blocking. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen from the Baker Institute told Middle East Eye (MEE) that the rivalry between the two neighboring states is nothing new. "There has always been economic competition between the two sides, and this is not the first time that such measures have reportedly been deployed to raise the stakes. The relationship survived previous bouts of tension in the late 2000s and in 2021 as well," Coates Ulrichsen said. During the recent unprovoked US-Israeli war on Iran, attacks on Iran were launched from the territory of several Persian Gulf Arab states. However, the US-Israeli failure in its war on Iran ignited a clash between US President Donald Trump and the Saudi leadership. Now, according to some reports, Saudi Arabia is backtracking from its hostile stance toward Iran in order to prioritize its security after the US war failed to achieve its goal of defeating Iran.
'UAE is Helping Us': Israeli Minister Confirms Iron Dome Transfer to UAE - Palestine Chronicle - Israeli Transport and Road Safety Minister Miri Regev has become the first Israeli official to publicly acknowledge security cooperation with the United Arab Emirates during the recent conflict with Iran, appearing to confirm months of media reports that had never previously received official recognition. The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that, speaking in an interview with Israel’s Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), Regev referred to the UAE while discussing regional security challenges posed by Iranian ballistic missiles. “They understood that ballistic missiles are one of the biggest challenges—the Emirates are helping us,” Regev said. Her remarks constitute the first official confirmation from an Israeli government minister that the UAE assisted Israel during the conflict, following repeated reports in Israeli and international media. Regev’s comments follow months of speculation regarding unprecedented military coordination between Israel and the UAE during the war with Iran. Among the most widely cited reports was an Axios investigation, which, citing two senior Israeli officials and one senior US official, reported that Israel had deployed an Iron Dome air defense battery to the UAE early in the conflict. According to the report, the deployment included Israeli military personnel responsible for operating the system. The report said the move reflected unprecedented levels of intelligence and security cooperation between the two countries.
Hamas Dissolves Gaza Government as It Presses for Implementation of Peace Plan - - Hamas on Monday announced that it was dissolving its governing body in Gaza as it’s pushing for the implementation of the US-backed Gaza peace plan amid Israel’s constant violations of the ceasefire deal signed in October 2025. Gaza’s Government Media Office said in a statement that Mohammed al-Farra, the head of the governing “Emergency Committee,” has “decided to submit his official resignation from his position and to announce the dissolution of the Government Emergency Committee, as a demonstration of the seriousness of these measures, in implementation of the agreed arrangements, and to facilitate the administrative transition process.”Hamas said the purpose of the dissolution was to begin the transfer of governing authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a group of Palestinians who, under President Trump’s Gaza plan, are supposed to take over the governance of the Palestinian territory. However, Israel has been blocking the NCAG, and there’s no sign that it will allow the group to enter following Hamas’s announcement. Israel has been demanding Hamas’s disarmament to move forward with the Gaza plan, while Hamas has insisted it won’t discuss the issue until Israel actually implements the October 2025 ceasefire deal. Despite claims from US and Israeli officials, the ceasefire deal didn’t commit Hamas to disarming, as that issue and Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza were meant to be worked out in follow-up negotiations and to coincide with the NCAG taking over Gaza and the deployment of an international force, which never came to fruition. Hamas’s move is seen as an effort to get mediators and the so-called “Board of Peace” to pressure Israel to actually implement the deal and stop its daily attacks in Gaza, which have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians since the agreement was signed. Israel has also ramped up ground incursions and is capturing more territory, another clear violation of the agreement. “Hamas has taken a new step in that it will no longer be in charge of the Gaza Strip, in order to remove any pretexts for the occupation, which continues its aggression and war of extermination,” said Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem, according to AFP.“We hope for the swift entry of the [NCAG], and Hamas affirms its readiness to hand over governmental responsibilities to the committee to ensure its success,” Qassem added. Hamas officials said that its Interior Ministry would still be responsible for policing and security in Gaza so as not to create a “security vacuum.” The US-led “Board of Peace” said that it “took note” of Hamas’s announcement and said that its “assessment will be guided by actions, not promises, to meet the critical needs of the people of Gaza.”
Lebanese Christians Reject Netanyahu's Claim They Requested Annexation Into Israel - -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made headlines Sunday with a claim that Lebanese Christian communities in southern Lebanon are so happy with the protection afforded them by ongoing Israeli military occupation that they’re actually requesting to be annexed into Israel outright.Netanyahu went on to purport that it wasn’t only Christians, but that Druze and Sunni Muslims were also asking for IDF “protection” from “Hezbollah fanatics.” Netanyahu made these claims during a Fox News interview.Locals contested the claim more or less immediately. The mayor of Rmeih, one of the largest Christian villages in the area, insisted that not a single mayor had asked for annexation, adding that such a move would be completely out of the question for the villages, and that locals feel connected to the Lebanese identity. While Netanyahu presented the occupation forces as protecting Christian communities in the area, there have been several high-profile incidents throughout the war in which IDF troops attacked Christian targets, including an incident where a convent was attacked and a highly publicized image in April of IDF troops smashing a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer.The sledgehammer incident was in the Lebanese village of Debel, and is just one of several incidents of Israeli troops attacking the Christian village, destroying infrastructure that powers their water supply, or otherwise desecrating religious imagery within. In the wake of Netanyahu’s claims and the subsequent denial, the Israeli army issued warnings to multiple Lebanese Christian towns and villages across the south, warning them against letting any “outsiders” in.
Israeli Settlers Establish Cattle Farm In Southwest Syria - Adding concern that the Israeli invasion of southwest Syria is proving to be a lot more permanent than initially suggested, Israeli settlers have established a new illegal settlement inside Syria’s Daraa Governorate, bringing some 140 head of cattle with them.The project was the result of a group calling itself Hashomer Hahadash, with the help of a former IDF commander, Col. Benny Kata. The settlement is positioned along the Yarmouk Basin watershed, adjacent to the already Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The group has been seeking to occupy this particular part of Syria for over a decade now, and claims that the seized land was technically seized by Israel in 1974, even though it was on the other side of the fence. The area was previously grazing land for Syrian herders.The settlers termed the Syrian herders both a “nuisance” and a potential “infiltration” threat to Israel, in as much as it was relatively close to already occupied Israeli territory. The cows, they say, will keep the Syrians and their own herds out.This perception of Syrian shepherds as a de facto threat seems to reflect IDF policy in southwest Syria, as shepherds are routinely the target of harassment and summary detention by Israeli troops, even though they never actually leave rural Syria. It now seems to serve to give the settlers an argument that their land seizure is serving Israeli strategic interests.
Russian Strikes Pound Kyiv as Ukraine Fires Over 600 Drones Into Russia - - Russian missiles and drones pounded Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine on Monday as Ukrainian forces fired over 600 drones into Russian regions.According to Ukrainian officials, the Russian strikes on Kyiv and its surrounding region killed at least 22 people, and 85 were injured. Ukraine’s Air Force said that Russia fired 351 drones and 68 missiles, including 29 ballistic missiles, that mainly targeted Kyiv, and that all of the ballistic missiles got through Ukraine’s air defenses and struck targets.Russia’s Defense Ministry said that its forces delivered a “massive” attack on the Ukrainian capital in response to what it called Ukraine’s “terrorist attacks” in Russia, as there has been a spike in civilian casualties in Russian regions in recent months.The ministry claimed that the attack targeted “military-industrial enterprises, fuel and energy sites” in the Ukrainian capital, though photos show residential buildings were also heavily damaged, and that Russian forces also hit “infrastructure of military airfields” in several other Ukrainian regions.The Russian Defense Ministry also said that its forces shot down 613 Ukrainian drones over multiple Russian regions. At least one woman was killed by the Ukrainian drone barrage in Crimea, and seven people were wounded when a drone hit a bus in Russia’s Belgorod region. A Ukrainian drone attack also set an oil refinery on fire in Omsk, a city deep inside Russia that’s about 1,700 miles from the frontline in Ukraine.The ministry vowed that Russia’s attacks on Ukraine would intensify, saying that the Western attempts to use Ukraine “for attacks on Russian civilian facilities will be countered by an increase in the number and severity of strikes on Ukrainian territory.”
Russia & Ukraine Trade Some Of Biggest Strikes Of War On Eve Of NATO Summit - Russia has unleashed another massive drone and missile attack wave on Ukraine's capital, just on the eve of the major annual NATO summit, which is in Ankara, Turkey this week. Over a dozen people were killed, with heavy damage against residential structures observed. The death toll could rise, but "In total, 14 people have died and 117 have been injured in Kyiv," the office of the attorney general said on Monday morning. Rescue crews have been retrieving bodies from under rubble throughout Monday.The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it used long-range weapons and drones to carry out a "massive" attack on Kiev and other cities, saying that military bases and energy facilities were successfully struck. According to details of the timing of the attack wave: The Kyiv Independent reported that the first explosions were heard at about 1:40am local time, followed by more strikes at 2:10am and 3:15am. Thousands of residents fled to underground shelters, it reported, as air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine. At least 15 buildings were damaged in Kyiv in the strikes, including four in the capital’s historic Podilskyi district, Tkachenko said. As for the significant numbers of projectiles focused on the Ukrainian capital alone, another source reports: Ukraine's air force said Russia used 68 missiles, including 23 ballistic and six super and hypersonic missiles, as well as 351 drones in the attack. Air force units shot down or neutralized 37 missiles and 326 drones, but none of the ballistic missiles or super and hypersonic missiles, the air force data showed. Neighboring Poland briefly scrambled fighter jets as a preventive measure. Rumors of warehouse with depleted uranium having been struck...According to Kyiv sources, Russia may hit a military warehouse with depleted uranium-238 ammunition. This is why residents were ordered to stay indoors and keep windows closed. The small town of Vyshneve is being fully evacuated. The detonation is still ongoing. This could have bad consequences for all of Kyiv.
Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s largest oil refinery in Omsk, Siberia - Ukrainian drones struck a major oil refinery in the city of Omsk in western Siberia, in what appears to be one of Kyiv’s deepest attacks on Russian territory since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Ukraine’s military general staff said Monday that the strike caused a fire at the facility, which is situated nearly 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) from Ukrainian territory and close to Russia’s border with Kazakhstan.The attack, which was confirmed by local Russian officials, provides further evidence of Kyiv’s enhanced long-range drone capabilities and comes on the eve of a crunch NATO summit. Heads of state from 32 countries are expected in Turkey’s capital from Tuesday for the two-day conference.“Today, our long-range sanctions reached the oil refinery in Omsk – nearly 2,500 kilometres from Ukraine,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily evening address, according to a translation.“Upgraded Fire Point drones have put Siberia within reach of Ukrainian precision. This is a significant blow to Russia’s oil economy and an important achievement for the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.Based in Kyiv, Fire Point is a leading Ukrainian defense-technology company that specializes in drone and missile systems for modern precision warfare.The Omsk oil refinery represents the largest of Russia’s 11 gasoline producers to be hit by Ukrainian forces, Ukraine’s military said.The facility is estimated to have a refining capacity of more than 21 million metric tons of crude oil per year and specializes in the production of a range of fuels, lubricants and petrochemical products.
Russia's Ilsky oil refinery catches fire, Taganrog evacuates after drone attacks (Reuters) - Russia's Ilsky oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region caught fire after a drone attack, while authorities in the city of Taganrog evacuated people following a separate strike, local officials said on Friday.No one was injured, according to preliminary information, the authorities said.Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russia's energy and other infrastructure in recent months to undermine Moscow's war effort. The Ilsky refinery, with a capacity of around 138,000 barrels per day, has been attacked several times before. attacks on oil refineries have resulted in fuel shortages, long queues at the filling stations and fuel price rises across Russia.In Russia's Rostov region, fires were being extinguished at two fuel depots and at the Taganrog sea port, Governor Yury Slyusar said on Telegram.Taganrog Mayor Svetlana Kambulova said on the Max messaging app that the authorities evacuated people from their houses in the affected areas. She said a private house was damaged and the roof of an administrative building caught fire.The Russian Defence Ministry said air defence units had downed 376 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Russia Bans Diesel Exports, Assuring Even Higher Prices -As was widely speculated in recent days, Russia banned exports of diesel in order to avoid domestic shortages after a flurry of attacks by Ukrainian drones on the nation’s refineries. “Today we introduced ban on exports of diesel,” Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at the government’s meeting with President Vladimir Putin. The decision will further squeeze global fuel markets, which are already under pressure due to the supply disruption caused by the Iran war. Russia's decision means that the recent surge in the diesel margins to record highs, which have completely disconnected with oil prices, are set to rise even more. Last year, Russia accounted for about 11% of global supplies of diesel, according to data compiled by Bloomberg from analytics firm Vortexa. The logical corollary is what the DOE reported earlier today, namely that US product exports - which include diesel and other refined products - surged to a record high. Exports of the fuel were previously banned only for traders and other sellers in Russia that don’t make their own fuel. The diesel ban comes on top of existing restrictions on most shipments of gasoline and jet fuel. Russia has been struggling to ensure domestic oil-product supplies and to contain prices at the pump after drone attacks damaged several refineries. Ukraine’s intensified strikes pushed Russia’s crude-processing rates to multi-year lows. Many regions have been forced to impose some degree of fuel rationing because of the disruptions. Even before the ban, Russia’s diesel and gasoil exports were dropping significantly. During the first three weeks of June, its exports of diesel and gasoil averaged about 490,000 barrels a day, only slightly more than half of what the nation shipped to foreign markets in 2025, according to data compiled by Bloomberg from Vortexa.
How Ukraine’s devastating drone attacks triggered Russia’s fuel shortage crisis - Ukrainian drones have reportedly targeted Russia's largest oil refinery in Omsk, deep within Siberia, in what Kyiv's military and Russian local authorities confirm was one of the longest-range attacks of the ongoing conflict.The strike this week underscores Ukraine's expanding reach. These persistent drone assaults are now intensifying fuel shortages across Russia, leading to widespread reports of escalating prices and lengthy queues at petrol stations throughout numerous regions.Following is a summary of the attacks starting with the most recent and their impact: Ukrainian drones struck the Omsk refinery on Monday, causing a fire, though there were no casualties. Russian air defences destroyed most of the drones involved in the attack, Governor Vitaly Khotsenko said. It was not immediately clear how much damage the refinery had sustained. The design capacity of the Omsk oil refinery is approximately 22 million metric tons of oil per year.Ukrainian drones hit NORSI, Russia's fourth-largest oil refinery, owned by Lukoil, for a second time on July 2 and crude oil processing was suspended, according to sources. They said the attack had damaged a primary refining unit, CDU-6, which is usually able to process 25,700 metric tons per day, equivalent to some 190,000 barrels, and accounts for 53% of the refinery's overall capacity.NORSI, which is Russia's second-largest producer of gasoline, can process 16 million metric tons of oil per year, or around 320,000 barrels per day. SLAVYANSK Ukrainian drones struck Russian targets including Slavyansk oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region on June 28, local authorities said. Slavyansk refinery is a private plant with capacity of about 100,000 barrels per day. It supplies fuel for domestic use and export.Ukrainian forces attacked a Russian oil refinery in Yaroslavl, some 250 km (160 miles) northeast of Moscow, on July 6, Ukraine's military General Staff said on Telegram. The refinery has processing capacity of 15 million metric tons per year, or around 300,000 barrels per day. UFA Ukraine's forces struck for a second time on July 1 an oil refinery in the city of Ufa, near the southern Ural mountains, some 1,150 km (715 miles) east of Moscow. This refinery can process more than 7 million tons of oil per year.Ukraine's military said on June 24 it had struck Orenburg gas processing plant, which has a capacity of 45 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.Moscow oil refinery halted operations after a Ukrainian drone attack on June 16, two industry sources said. On June 18, another attack damaged processing units and sparked multiple fires across the site. The facility in the capital's southeastern Kapotnya district has an annual capacity of around 11 million tons of oil.Russian Tatneft's TANECO oil refinery halted operations after a drone attack on June 12. TANECO is one of Russia's most technologically advanced refineries, equipped with hydrocracking, catalytic cracking and delayed coking units According to industry data, TANECO processed 17.0 million tons of crude oil in 2024, producing 2.7 million tons of motor gasoline, 8.5 million tons `of diesel fuel and 1.3 million tons of petroleum coke.Rosneft's Kuibyshev oil refinery halted processing on June 10 after a drone attack. The Kuibyshev refinery processed 4.7 million tons of crude in 2024, or 94,400 barrels a day, producing 0.8 million tons of gasoline, 1.4 million tons of diesel and 1.3 million tons of fuel oil, according to industry sources.Ukrainian drones struck Russia's Rosneft-owned Syzran oil refinery in the Samara region, the Ukrainian military and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on May 21. The refinery halted operations after the attack damaged a primary processing unit, two industry sources said. It had previously suspended oil refining after drone attacks on April 18. The refinery has processing capacity of 8.5 million tons per year, or around 170,000 barrels per day.In 2024, it processed 4.3 million tons of crude into 800,000 tons of gasoline, 1.5 million tons of diesel and 700,000 tons of fuel oil, according to industry sources.Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery in the Black Sea port of Tuapse on May 27, the Ukrainian military's General Staff said. A drone attack caused a major fire at the oil refinery on April 28, officials said, causing the facility, which sells most of its products for export, to halt operations, according to two industry sources. It has a capacity of around 12 million tons per year, or 240,000 barrels per day, and produces naphtha, diesel, fuel oil and vacuum gasoil.Ukrainian drone attacks on July 6 damaged the Baltic Sea ports of Vysotsk and Ust-Luga, a major oil exporting outlet, and caused a power blackout in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, authorities said. A loading complex caught fire in Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after a drone attack, local authorities said on June 8.A fire broke out at the southern Russian port of Temryuk after a Ukrainian drone attack, regional authorities in the Krasnodar region said on May 29. Also on May 29, fuel storage facilities caught fire following a Ukraine drone attack in Russia's Yaroslavl region, Governor Mikhail Yevrayev said. Ukraine attacked Russia's ports on the Baltic and Black seas, including the Primorsk port, oil tankers and military ships on May 3.
