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SpaceX Plans to Power $16.8B Terafab Without the Grid by Shane Snider

William Attardi on August 12, 2026

SpaceX plans to power its massive Terafab semiconductor and advanced-computing campus in Grimes County, Texas, with onsite generation and battery storage rather than electricity from the grid, according to a fully executed tax-abatement agreement with the county.  The agreement states that the facilities, once operational, “are expected to be powered by electricity generated by on-site power plant(s) and are not expected to use electricity from the grid.”  SpaceX plans to build natural gas-fired power plants and large battery arrays. SpaceX Plans to Power $16.8B Terafab Without the Grid

The US Sets Record Energy Production in 2025

William Attardi on May 14, 2026

Total energy production in the United States increased to a new record of 107 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2025, a 3.4% increase from the previous record set in 2024, according to new data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest Monthly Energy Review. Total production was driven by record-high production in natural gas, crude oil, natural gas plant liquids (NGPLs), and renewables. This was the fourth consecutive year in which the United States set a record for total energy production. Coal accounted for 10% of domestic energy production in 2025. The US Sets Record Energy Production in 2025 – tEDmag

Dallas Fed Survey: War Uncertainty Capping Firms’ Ambitions by Geert De Lombaerde

William Attardi on March 27, 2026

Seven out of 10 oil-and-gas executives surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas think the price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), which flirted with $100 in the last 2 weeks, will finish 2026 below $80. But with the war with Iran “wreaking havoc” in commodity markets, most firms aren’t rushing to overhaul their 2026 production plans.Fed researchers’ quarterly survey of industry players from about 130 companies in Texas and parts of Louisiana and New Mexico showed that the average WTI price forecast for year-end is around $74. That’s up significantly from the $62 outlook from 3 months ago and well below the roughly $94/bbl at which WTI was being priced during the Fed’s survey period earlier this month. At $74, WTI would also be at a price high enough for most production to be profitable. Executives are more positive about the mid- and longer-term price outlook for natural gas than they are for oil. Dallas Fed survey: War uncertainty capping firms’ ambitions | Oil & Gas Journal

For more details from the survey, click here.

US Energy Department Reorganization Signals Major Policy Shift to Nuclear and Gas

William Attardi on January 24, 2026

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a significant shift in its energy policy, moving away from renewable energy sources like solar and wind and towards baseload power sources such as natural gas and nuclear power. This decision involves the reorganization of nearly $84 billion in loans and conditional commitments, with approximately $9.5 billion in subsidies for wind and solar projects being eliminated. The DOE’s new focus is on supporting the private sector through energy projects that provide consistent power rather than intermittent generation. This shift is part of a broader policy to enhance energy security and domestic production, as outlined by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. US Energy Department Reorganization Signals Major Policy Shift to Nuclear and Gas → Energy

Coal Plant to be Transformed into Gas-Powered Data Center Campus

William Attardi on April 10, 2025

 Homer City Redevelopment (HCR) and Kiewit Power Constructors Co. (Kiewit) announced the future of the former Homer City Generating Station. Homer City – previously the largest coal-burning power plant in Pennsylvania – will be transformed into a more than 3,200-acre natural gas-powered data center campus, designed to meet the growing artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) needs of the innovative technology companies shaping America’s digital future. GE Vernovawill provide seven high-efficiency 7HA.02 hydrogen-enabled, gas-fired turbines, with the first deliveries expected to begin in 2026.  Coal Plant to be Transformed into Gas-Powered Data Center Campus – electrifiED

The Creator of Baby Ruth Actually Sued Babe Ruth –The Baby Ruth candy bar was created by the Curtiss Candy Company in 1920 — the same year that baseball legend Babe Ruth hit a then-record 54 home runs. But the Great Bambino was irked that the company was selling a candy bar with such a similar name to his own without offering him any royalties. Rather than take the Curtiss Candy Company to court, the Sultan of Swat decided to make his own candy bar, and in 1926 he debuted Ruth’s Home Run bar. The Curtiss Candy Company responded by turning the tables and taking Ruth to court. They accused the slugger of trying to steal their trademark and capitalize on the success of their brand. In a 1931 deposition, Curtiss founder Otto Schnering insisted the candy was named after “Baby Ruth” Cleveland — the daughter of President Grover Cleveland.  He also attested that the company came up with the name in 1919 before the baseball player had become a household name and that the name was merely coincidental. While the validity of those claims is disputed to this day, the court nonetheless ruled in favor of the candy company, forcing Ruth to end his foray into the world of candy.