Energy
The grid is the ‘most complicated machine’ ever built, and AI is stressing it out
News release from The Deep View
| At the beginning of the year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) found that, in 2022, data centers consumed around 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy, or around 3% of global electricity use. The IEA further predicted that this number will likely more than double to around 1,000 TWh by 2026 — roughly the equivalent of Japan — due, at least in part, to the energy demands of artificial intelligence. |
| Many of the massive investments being made around the world in AI have to do with building more data centers, even as existing data centers are consuming more energy than ever before. What this means for carbon emissions is complicated (since it depends on the cleanliness of the grid at each data center location), but today, we’re talking about the grid. |
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| What’s going on here is that, driven by spiking data center demand, electricity demand is currently experiencing a prolonged surge. Mariko McDonagh Meier, the chief revenue officer for energy storage developer Convergent, told me that this is significant, as energy demand had been relatively flat for the past 20+ years. |
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| The details: Grid operators, according to Meier, have the basic charge of ensuring the grid is reliable. This means managing electricity supply and demand in real-time. If a massive machine — or data center — comes online and its accompanying demand hasn’t been properly accounted for, it could “break a lot of stuff.” |
| The reality, according to Meier, is that “the grid is the most complicated machine that’s ever been built, truly, because it is an interconnected machine.” The reason behind this interconnection has to do with built-in fail-safes; local problems can be solved by drawing on power from other places. This enhances the reliability of each interconnected grid (the U.S. and Canadian power grids, for example, are connected at 37 different points for this very reason). |
| The result of this interconnection — coupled with a lack of storage capabilities built into the grid — is that the grid has to be constantly balanced. This data center-driven increase then poses a significant challenge to grid operators, resulting additionally in delays for new data centers to come online. |
| In order to meet this surging demand, and in order to keep the grid reliable, the retirement dates of environmentally damaging coal plants are being pushed back in the U.S. |
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| A big solution to this rather complex mess, according to Meier, involves solar plus storage tech (something that Convergent offers). Depending on the size of the solar array in question, the combination can be enough to power a data center, perhaps with a minimal connection to the grid — the result is cheaper, sustainable energy production that doesn’t impact grid reliability. |
Energy
B.C. Residents File Competition Bureau Complaint Against David Suzuki Foundation for Use of False Imagery in Anti-Energy Campaigns
From Energy Now and The Canadian Newswire
A group of eight residents of Northeast British Columbia have filed a formal application for inquiry with Canada’s Competition Bureau, calling for an investigation into the David Suzuki Foundation’s (the Foundation) use of false and misleading imagery in its anti-energy campaigns.
The complaint alleges that the Foundation has repeatedly used a two-decade-old aerial photograph of Wyoming gas wells to falsely depict modern natural gas development in B.C.’s Montney Formation. This area produces roughly half of Canada’s natural gas.
Key Facts:
- The misleading image has been used on the Foundation’s website, social media pages, reports and donation appeals.
- The Foundation has acknowledged the image’s true source (Wyoming) in some contexts but has continued to use it to represent B.C. development.
- The residents claim this materially misleads donors and the public, violating Section 74.01(1) of the Competition Act.
- The complaint is filed under Sections 9 and 10 of the Act, asking the Bureau to investigate and impose remedies including ceasing the conduct, publishing corrective notices, and returning proceeds.
Quote from Deena Del Giusto, Spokesperson:
“This is about fairness and truth. The people of Northeast B.C. are proud of the work they do to produce energy for Canada and the world. They deserve honest debate, not scare tactics and misleading imagery used to raise millions in donations. We’re asking the Competition Bureau to hold the David Suzuki Foundation to the same standard businesses face: tell the truth.”
Background:
Natural gas development in the Montney Formation supports thousands of jobs and fuels economic activity across the region. Accurate public information is vital to informed debate, especially as many Canadians live far from production sites.
SOURCE Deena Del Giusto
This article supplied by Troy Media.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s chaotic foreign policy is unravelling years of pressure on Iran and fuelling a surge of Iranian oil into global markets. His recent pivot to allow China to buy Iranian crude, despite previously trying to crush those exports, marks a sharp shift from strategic pressure to transactional diplomacy.
This unpredictability isn’t just confusing allies—it’s transforming global oil flows. One day, Trump vetoes an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Days later, he calls for Iran’s unconditional surrender. After announcing a ceasefire between Iran, Israel and the United States, Trump praises both sides then lashes out at them the next day.
The biggest shock came when Trump posted on Truth Social that “China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran. Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the U.S., also.” The statement reversed the “maximum pressure” campaign he reinstated in February, which aimed to drive Iran’s oil exports to zero. The campaign reimposes sanctions on Tehran, threatening penalties on any country or company buying Iranian crude,
with the goal of crippling Iran’s economy and nuclear ambitions.
This wasn’t foreign policy—it was deal-making. Trump is brokering calm in the Middle East not for strategy, but to boost American oil sales to China. And in the process, he’s giving Iran room to move.
The effects of this shift in U.S. policy are already visible in trade data. Chinese imports of Iranian crude hit record levels in June. Ship-tracking firm Vortexa reported more than 1.8 million barrels per day imported between June 1 and 20. Kpler data, covering June 1 to 27, showed a 1.46 million bpd average, nearly 500,000 more than in May.
Much of the supply came from discounted May loadings destined for China’s independent refineries—the so-called “teapots”—stocking up ahead of peak summer demand. After hostilities broke out between Iran and Israel on June 12, Iran ramped up exports even further, increasing daily crude shipments by 44 per cent within a week.
Iran is under heavy U.S. sanctions, and its oil is typically sold at a discount, especially to China, the world’s largest oil importer. These discounted barrels undercut other exporters, including U.S. allies and global producers like Canada, reducing global prices and shifting power dynamics in the energy market.
All of this happened with full knowledge of the U.S. administration. Analysts now expect Iranian crude to continue flowing freely, as long as Trump sees strategic or economic value in it—though that position could reverse without warning.
Complicating matters is progress toward a U.S.-China trade deal. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters that an agreement reached in May has now been finalized. China later confirmed the understanding. Trump’s oil concession may be part of that broader détente, but it comes at the cost of any consistent pressure on Iran.
Meanwhile, despite Trump’s claims of obliterating Iran’s nuclear program, early reports suggest U.S. strikes merely delayed Tehran’s capabilities by a few months. The public posture of strength contrasts with a quieter reality: Iranian oil is once again flooding global markets.
With OPEC+ also boosting output monthly, there is no shortage of crude on the horizon. In fact, oversupply may once again define the market—and Trump’s erratic diplomacy is helping drive it.
For Canadian producers, especially in Alberta, the return of cheap Iranian oil can mean downward pressure on global prices and stiffer competition in key markets. And with global energy supply increasingly shaped by impulsive political decisions, Canada’s energy sector remains vulnerable to forces far beyond its borders.
This is the new reality: unpredictability at the top is shaping the oil market more than any cartel or conflict. And for now, Iran is winning.
Toronto-based Rashid Husain Syed is a highly regarded analyst specializing in energy and politics, particularly in the Middle East. In addition to his contributions to local and international newspapers, Rashid frequently lends his expertise as a speaker at global conferences. Organizations such as the Department of Energy in Washington and the International Energy Agency in Paris have sought his insights on global energy matters.
Troy Media empowers Canadian community news outlets by providing independent, insightful analysis and commentary. Our mission is to support local media in helping Canadians stay informed and engaged by delivering reliable content that strengthens community connections and deepens understanding across the country.
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