Five Energy Market Trends to Track in 2026, The Year of the Glut
Energy markets enter 2026 in a downbeat mood as geopolitical uncertainty clouds the outlook and increasing signs of swelling oil and gas supplies threaten to sink prices.
This past year was a wild one for the oil and gas industry, punctuated by the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June, U.S. President Donald Trump's trade wars, the intensified targeting of energy infrastructure in Russiain its war against Ukraine, OPEC’s often perplexing production decisions and the recently threatened U.S. blockade of Venezuela.
So what’s in store for next year? Here are five trends likely to shape the energy landscape in 2026 and beyond.
The Year of the Glut?
Investors will keep a razor-sharp focus on signs of swelling oil inventories next year after crude prices fell nearly 20% in 2025 to about $60 a barrel on fears of significant oversupply.
Global oil output has surged over the past year. The U.S. - the world’s biggest oil producer – ramped up production, as did Canada and Brazil, while the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, reversed years of cuts.
The International Energy Agency forecasts supply will exceed demand in 2026 by a head-spinning 3.85 million barrels per day (bpd), the equivalent of around 4% of global demand.
Yet OPEC analysts see a largely balanced market next year, creating one of the sharpest forecast divergences in decades.
To continue reading, click here to view the full article on CoalZoom.com.
CoalZoom.com - Your Foremost Source for Coal News.
How Trump Transformed Energy, Environmental Policy This Year
Since President Trump’s inauguration in January, the administration has embraced fossil fuels while eschewing renewable energy, climate actions and regulations.
Here are some of the major ways the administration has shaken up energy policy over the course of 2025.
All in on fossil fuels, nuclear energy
The Trump administration has embraced fossil fuels, as well as nuclear energy. It has sought to funnel money toward these energy sources and cut down red tape.
On his first day in office, the president declared an “energy emergency” — part of an effort to jumpstart production from energy sources the president supports.
That day, he also ordered his administration to open up more drilling in Alaska — something his administration has since proposed to do — and review policies that “burden the development of domestic energy resources.”
Since then, his administration has proposed axing regulations on coal and gas power plants. It also exempted dozens of coal plants from stricter standards for mercury, lead, nickel and arsenic emissions ,and moved to delay other rules that aimed to curtail coal plant pollution.
To continue reading, click here to view the full article on CoalZoom.com.
CoalZoom.com - Your Foremost Source for Coal News.
Trump's Sweeping Energy Policies Dominated Wyoming Energy Headlines in 2025
Wind turbines continued to sprout across Wyoming this year as legacy oil and natural gas industries weathered bumps in the market, uranium mines resumed operations and coal companies held out hope for brighter days.
It was also the year that a vast majority of Wyomingites woke up to climate change, according to a University of Wyoming survey that showed 86% believe it is happening and they are alarmed at what it portends for the state’s scant water resources.
But Wyoming’s most significant energy headlines of 2025 — even beyond the proliferation of data center plans that would double the state’s electrical demand and intense debate over nuclear energy projects — were President Donald Trump’s sweeping, incessant slashing of federal regulations to boost fossil fuels and orders to rebuff renewable energy.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (left), Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western discuss energy and economies in Laramie.
Photo: Dustin Bleizeffer/WyoFile
Sweeping federal policy
On his first day back in the White House, Trump signed the “Unleashing American Energy” executive order, which, among other things, directed federal agencies to repeal “all ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions standards for the power sector,” as well as Biden-era Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. The order also directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to “reconsider” the landmark 2009 endangerment finding that determined greenhouse gases cause harm and compelled past administrations to curb their emissions.
The president tapped Wyoming’s own Cyrus Western, a former Wyoming lawmaker, to lead the EPA’s Region 8 office overseeing much of the Rockies Region, including Wyoming.
To continue reading, click here to view the full article on CoalZoom.com.
CoalZoom.com - Your Foremost Source for Coal News.
NIPSCO Ordered to Keep Coal-Burning Units Open
NIPSCO’s plan to scale back coal production at the Schahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield, Indiana has been interrupted by a federal order requiring the plant’s continued operation for at least 90 days beyond its scheduled retirement date of Dec. 31, 2025.
The U.S. Department of Energy issued the order last week, requiring NIPSCO and CenterPoint Energy near Newburgh, Indiana, to keep their generating plants operating despite preparations to close them at the end of December. The order is seen as President Donald Trump’s attempt to boost the coal mining industry.
The 90-day order states that two coal-burning units set for closure at NIPSCO’s plant in Wheatfield and one at CenterPoint’s Culley Generating Station along the Ohio River must remain “available to operate” until at least March 23.
“We are reviewing the overall impact to our customers and company and will comply with this order, and any subsequent orders, if received,” said Vince Parisi, NIPSCO president and chief operating officer. “We recognize the importance of both reliability and cost management for our customers, and we will continue to engage with federal, state and local stakeholders as we adapt to evolving regulatory requirements.”
The Energy Department said the orders were needed because the “reliable supply of power from these coal plants is essential for keeping the region’s electric grid stable.”
To continue reading, click here to view the full article on CoalZoom.com.
CoalZoom.com - Your Foremost Source for Coal News.
Stable 2026 Start for US Steam Coal
US thermal coal markets are ending 2025 on a stronger footing than when they started the year, with producers expressing cautious optimism about 2026.
Prices for most US thermal coal were at their highest levels since April-May 2023 in September and October. While steam coal prices have slipped in more recent weeks, they remain well-above year-earlier levels.
US coal markets began to recover near the end of 2024, in response to a blast of colder-than-expected weather and higher natural gas prices. Coal-fired generation in at least some of the US continued to be above expectations through the third quarter of this year. This unanticipated boost offset lackluster seaborne coal pricing, leading US coal producers to focus their sales on US markets.
Some producers expect to continue to favor domestic shipments over international markets in the coming year, given that US customers continue to be willing to pay more than international buyers.
"We're still in negotiations for additional business next year," Core Natural Resources chief financial officer Mitesh Thakkar said on 6 November. "We certainly could increase some more volumes and get them exported. But I would say domestic is going to be year-on-year improved."
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) is expecting coal-fired generation to decrease next year largely because of continued power plant retirements. But generation may still be higher than in 2024.
Some market fundamentals suggest generators could run remaining coal units at relatively elevated rates during peak demand seasons. Profit margins for running coal units in December, January and the first quarter of 2026 have been running higher than year earlier levels. In some cases, coal-fired generation also has been more profitable than power dispatch from some natural gas plants.
To continue reading, click here to view the full article on CoalZoom.com.
CoalZoom.com - Your Foremost Source for Coal News.
