U.S. Energy Headlines
Trump Approves Intelligence Sharing with Ukraine
President Donald Trump approved the use of U.S. intelligence to help Ukraine carry out missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. According to The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, the move could extend to Kyiv’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. These weapons would target power stations, refineries, and pipelines—facilities that provide Moscow with revenue to fund its war.
Meta Builds AI Data Center in Rural Louisiana
In a Louisiana farming community of only 20,000 people, Meta is building a 4-million-square-foot artificial intelligence data center. While the project is expected to provide jobs and infrastructure investment, communities in Georgia have already reported water shortages linked to a similar facility that began construction in 2018. Locals now fear Louisiana could face the same environmental pressures.
Policy Changes: Wind, Coal, and Pipelines
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The University of Maine canceled its annual floating offshore wind conference, citing changes in federal energy priorities.
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New England’s last coal-burning plant, the Merrimack Station in New Hampshire, officially shut down after 65 years of operation, marking the end of coal in the region.
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North Dakota’s attorney general stated the state cannot sue South Dakota over its eminent domain law for carbon pipeline projects.
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A West Virginia fracking company is pushing Ohio regulators to allow drilling on 1,460 acres of state-protected wildlife area.
Global Energy Developments
The Israeli Navy intercepted the latest flotilla attempting to break the maritime blockade around the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and took Greta Thunberg and other activists into custody.
Footage from the scene on the Mediterranean shows the navy vessels intercepting the 47 boats that make up the Global Sumud Flotilla, which organizers say is carrying more than 500 activists, including climate advocate Thunberg.
Ukraine Strikes Push Russia Into Energy Crisis
Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on Russian refineries have crippled 16 of the country’s 38 refineries since August. The destruction has become so frequent that social media users have created “refinery bingo cards” to track the attacks. The strikes are creating a fuel crisis inside Russia.
Chernobyl and Nuclear Threats
Ukraine reported that its defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant lost power after shelling hit a nearby substation. Backup diesel generators are keeping the damaged reactor’s containment structure stable, according to the UN atomic watchdog.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned he could order strikes on Ukrainian nuclear facilities if Kyiv continues attacks on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya plant.
Asian and European Energy Shifts
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Taiwan imported $1.3 billion worth of Russian naphtha in the first half of 2025, despite sanctions and political opposition to Moscow’s war.
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South Korea boosted nuclear generation by 8.7% in early 2025, nearly tripling its target growth.
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France detained senior crew from a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker linked to sanctions violations and drone flights near Denmark.
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Source: Edited for clarity by Oklahoma Energy Today from WSJ, Reuters, Politico, AFP
