David Blackmon

Commentary: Big Tent Ideas US Natural Gas In A Dominant Position For Decades To Come David Blackmon June 15, 2026

Politics Why The Iran Peace Deal Is Really An Oil Deal (Screenshot/Truth Social/@realdonaldtrump) David Blackmon

Make no mistake about it: The peace deal between the U.S. and Iran is, at its heart, an oil deal.

Commentary: Big Tent Ideas Solar Doesn't Use Much Farmland — Until You Define What ‘Much” Really Means

The answer I found might surprise the folks at the Solar Energy Industries Association.

I have to admit that I laughed out loud – almost spewing coffee on my keyboard – Friday morning when I read this headline from a competing platform’s energy-related newsletter: “SOLAR DOESN’T USE MUCH FARMLAND: Solar occupies less than 1% of farmland in the U.S., according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.”

America's electricity grid is at a crossroads, with independent power producers actively expanding generation in response to market signals, exemplified by hundreds of gigawatts proposed in PJM. However, the critical challenge isn't generation, but the severe bottleneck in transmission and distribution infrastructure, plagued by long lead times, permitting delays, and escalating costs. While some utilities push for guaranteed returns in generation, arguing for more supply, this approach is seen as misdirection. Competitive markets already drive efficient generation and consumer savings. The real focus should be on utilities demonstrating how future T&D investments will efficiently deliver power, rather than undermining competition or seeking a return to less competitive systems.

Commentary: Big Tent Ideas Chevron And Microsoft Chart A New Path To Power In Landmark Data Center Deal Unsplash/ Domaintechnik Ledl.net

In a move that could send the net-zero zealots scrambling for the smelling salts, Chevron inked a massive 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft.

In a move that could send the net-zero zealots scrambling for the smelling salts,