Energy Blog & Insights

Every spring and fall, refineries across the US undergo planned maintenance called "turnarounds." These multi-week shutdowns allow operators to inspect equipment, replace catalysts, and upgrade processes. During turnarounds, regional fuel supply tightens and prices often spike 10-25 cents per gallon.

The US has about 130 operating refineries with total capacity of 18.4 million barrels per day. When a major Gulf Coast refinery (some process 500,000+ barrels/day) goes offline, the supply impact is immediate for the Southeast and Midwest markets that depend on pipeline deliveries.

Why spring is worse: Refineries also switch from winter to summer fuel blends in March-May. Summer blends require more processing steps and use more expensive additives to reduce smog-forming emissions. This transition temporarily reduces output even at refineries that are not in turnaround.

Consumer tip: If you see news about a major refinery fire or unplanned shutdown in your region, expect prices to rise within 48-72 hours. Fill up your tank early to avoid the worst of the spike.

The clean vehicle debate often pits hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) against battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Both produce zero tailpipe emissions, but the similarities largely end there.

Battery EVs have the advantage today: lower purchase prices, an expanding charging network (60,000+ public stations in the US), and electricity available everywhere. Home charging means most owners never visit a public station for daily driving.

Hydrogen FCEVs offer faster refueling (5 minutes vs. 30+ minutes for DC fast charging) and longer range for heavy vehicles. But hydrogen stations number fewer than 100 nationwide, almost all in California. Green hydrogen production is still expensive and energy-intensive.

The likely outcome is not either/or. Battery EVs will dominate passenger cars, while hydrogen finds its niche in long-haul trucking, shipping, and industrial applications where battery weight and charging time are impractical. For most consumers in 2026, a battery EV is the more practical zero-emission choice.

When an oil or gas well stops producing economically, it must be properly "plugged and abandoned" (P&A). This involves filling the wellbore with cement, removing surface equipment, and restoring the land. A single well costs $20,000 to $150,000 to decommission, depending on depth and complexity.

The problem: an estimated 3.4 million abandoned wells dot the US landscape, many dating back decades. About 2 million are classified as "orphaned," meaning no solvent operator exists to pay for plugging. These wells leak methane (a potent greenhouse gas) and can contaminate groundwater.

Federal response: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $4.7 billion to plug orphaned wells on federal, state, and tribal lands. As of 2026, states have used these funds to plug about 40,000 wells, making progress but barely denting the backlog.

Environmental impact: orphaned wells emit an estimated 280,000 metric tons of methane annually, equivalent to the emissions of 1.5 million cars. Proper plugging eliminates these emissions while creating skilled jobs in the communities where the wells are located.