The Battle for a Prevailing International Order: Civilizationalism vs. Universalism and Enforcement vs. Tolerance

Civilizationalism vs. Universalism

     The analysis from this section of my post comes from an article in Jacobin, a fairly far-left publication associated with the Democratic Socialists. Though I am no fan of Socialism, including Democratic Socialism, the article is thought-provoking and offers an interesting analysis of conservative political trajectories and positions. The author of the article is Michael C. Williams, who teaches politics at the University of Ottawa and is a research fellow at Queen Mary, University of London. According to the article, civilizationalism is:

“…the idea that world politics revolves around culturally bounded civilizations led by great powers.”

     The article notes that the U.S. 2025 US National Security Strategy (NSS), released in December 2025, was praised by Russia and China and dismissed by the Europeans. Those should be red flags right there. The NSS sees politics as regional great powers ruling their spheres of influence, something China and Russia would naturally prefer. This is one reason why Putin felt justified in invading Ukraine. The article explains that civilizationalism is bound by cultural homogeneity.

“At its core, the NSS lays out a civilizational view of world politics. The world should be seen as a series of civilizational complexes centered around great powers that anchor their civilizations and exercise hegemony in their regions. The West is not just a geographic location: it is a distinct historical and cultural sphere. Crucially, this civilization is threatened less by external military threats than it is from dangers within — the corrosive culture and politics of liberalism and the economic and social dislocations and depredations of market globalism. This is a strikingly divergent and, in many ways, troubling vision of world politics. The universalism underpinning liberal globalism and human rights is explicitly rejected. Developing ties between sovereign states united by a common civilization and exclusionary cultures is its priority.”

     The author states that civilizationalism is the dominant geopolitical discourse of radical conservatives in the U.S. and in Europe. The difference between civilizationalism and universalism is that the latter advocates for “universal values open in principle to all,” while the former exalts the value and lineage of so-called “Heritage Americans” above others. He also notes that Europe’s radical right is embracing civilizationalism:

“On the continent, assaults on “globalist EU elites” and calls to reassert exclusive national identities, values, and interests have been a staple of right-wing political rhetoric for years. However, appeals to Western civilization now play a prominent role in attempts to reconcile nationalism with Europeanness, offsetting charges of unrealistic national autarky by crafting an alternative Christian or Enlightenment-based European civilization. This vision provides a degree of international unity while excluding its civilizational others, particularly Islam.”

     We see this in paranoid fears in the “Great Replacement” theory that says diluting the dominant civilization and its world views is weakening it in favor of having no dominant civilization and world view, or of other worldviews. I have written elsewhere about the idea of “Western” values. Many non-Western countries, like South Korea, Japan, some Latin American countries, and facets of many other countries, also exhibit those same values. Thus, it is probably no longer correct or useful to continue to call them Western values. I prefer the term Free World.

     Williams notes that currently, universalism has been degraded, and appealing to civilizationalism is a currently popular political tactic on the right:

“In sum, what we are seeing across right-wing politics is not an expression of a civilization or civilizational state that already exists in any simple sense. Rather, it is the use of civilizational claims in political struggles at home and abroad, alongside the development of novel transnational strategies that seek to influence political identity, electoral politics, and foreign policy.”

     The current U.S. government seeks to influence Europe and venerate those powers in Europe that see things the same, namely, Hungary and Slovakia, which Marco Rubio visited after his somewhat conciliatory speech at the last Munich Security Conference. Hungary’s government controls its press, and both countries’ current governments favor capitulation to Russia.

“The strength of the Right’s civilizational narrative is reinforced by the fact that a traditional liberal response to a counter-civilizational argument based on universalism has been undermined not only by the Right, but also by critics on the Left and in the Global South, who connect it with Western imperialism. The difficulties faced by the EU Commission in attempting to craft a counternarrative demonstrate the challenge, as well as the risk, that pursuing such a path may inadvertently amplify the civilizational arguments of its opponents. Civilizationalism is suddenly everywhere in the rhetoric of international affairs. That alone should alert us to the likelihood that its popularity is not innocent.”

     Of course, the migrant issue has been huge and has powered the right in the U.S. and Europe. While leaders like Angela Merkel may have been inspired by compassion to let in migrants, the particular qualities of some of those migrants have been problematic, and in places, they have not integrated well. Do we want to bring in religious fanatics? In the U.S., the problem is perhaps more about criminals.

     While civilizationalism may have some appeal, especially when we consider so-called Western values, it also has several potential downsides, including unfairness, possible racism, and a kind of cultural arrogance. That cultural arrogance can lead to military adventurism, ala Putin, or radical anti-immigration sentiment. It also carries the danger of aligning with religious fanaticism. Those dangers make it unstable as a worldview or as a basis for international order. While the UN is not in vogue these days, I think we should continue to venerate basic ideas like the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This might be seen as a document in favor of universalism, which also seems to favor a secular approach to world problems.  

 

Enforcement vs. Tolerance: The Challenges of Policing the World

     This section of my post involves how we deal with the breaking of rules, norms, and basic human rights assurances. It is my own analysis. The U.S. has often been hailed and/or condemned as the world's policeman, the chief enforcer of those rules, norms, and rights assurances.

     I think perhaps that several issues are testing the current international order and its health. These include the effects of oil sanctions and the sanctions-evasion networks that have been developed to circumvent them. Stronger enforcement is now beginning to take effect, and we will see how it plays out. This is one example of the struggle between enforcement and tolerance. Ukraine’s Zelensky has recently advocated for seizing shadow fleet tankers. After all, Russian oil is a prime funder of the war against his people. He has called the tankers Moscow’s “floating purse.”

“Russia operates like a mafia organization, and the response must match that reality. If they reject the rules for the sake of war, the rules must foresee a clear and firm answer.”

     Although I am generally against the idea of civilizationalism that the Trump administration seems to embrace, I am in favor of enforcement, which the Trump administration also embraces. Why make and have rules if they can’t be enforced? Why tolerate violent narco-traffickers and the Mexican cartels? Why tolerate massive human rights abuses and the killing of civilians by armed government assassins? Why tolerate organized crime networks? We should work to fix these problems even if it won’t be easy. We need to act against brutality. We need to be wary of military buildups and militantism, especially by what have become known as “bad actors.” Those folks need to be called out at the UN rather than coddled and being projected as legitimate. Back in 2022, when Russia commenced its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there were very few countries that supported them, even by abstention in UN votes. That was somewhat encouraging. It was also annoying that some countries like India, China, and South Africa were not condemning the Russians enough. Sadly, the U.S. abstained on the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion to condemn the invasion. The tally was 107 in favor, 1 opposed, and 51 abstentions. I don’t know the actual wording, but I find it shocking that we would fail to condemn Russia.  

     The whole notion of BRICS and the unholy alliance of Russia, Iran, and North Korea are offered up as alternatives to the current international ways of doing things in service to some kind of multipolar order. It is nonsense. It was annoying to me to hear that Russia and especially China were giving Iran cyber-capabilities to shut off domestic dissent through controlling communication, and that China was set to make a deal to give Iran hypersonic missile capabilities. I am not happy that India and China are profiting immensely from Russian and Iranian oil sanctions through buying sanctioned oil. I am not happy that Brazil is importing lots of Russian wheat and petroleum distillate products from Russia. Is some of that wheat coming from occupied Ukraine?

     Positions in favor of tolerating the rulebreakers often involve “not poking the bear,” or not risking worse outcomes of inadvertent suffering. But, as we have seen over the years as oppressive regimes build up and expand their capabilities, the results suggest to me that we need to act. We have seen what happened when Israel lowered its guard to the threat of Hamas. We have seen what happens when Iran encounters protestors. We see how Russia treats its people and soldiers and how it conducts warfare. We know how poorly its residents, as well as those from Iran, North Korea, China, and other oppressive regimes, are treated. We know who is profiting from sanctions. We know the Mexican cartels have been buying guns and ammo from U.S. big box stores and that they possess drones and rocket launchers. It has also been reported that cartel members have volunteered to fight for Ukraine in order to develop their drone warfare capabilities. There are good arguments for enforcement, while most arguments in favor of tolerance are geared toward limiting collateral damage.

     We have evolutionary relics at play within us that are no longer useful. We also have religious prayers and edicts that are not merely un-useful but also potentially harmful. Examples are Islamic prayers calling for the death of infidels, or roughly, ‘non-believers,’ and Evangelical Christians praying for the deaths of those with whom they disagree. In a way, these are like relics, too, no longer applicable. Of course, cultures have long had those who used religion and magic against their adversaries. Religious justifications, edicts, and prophecies have long influenced militantism. The Shia Islamo-fascist theocracy of Iran utilizes the apocalyptic al-Mahdi prophecies to prefer martyrdom to failure. The Sunni mujahedin (holy warriors) have a similar ethos. Christian evangelicals also often cite Biblical prophecies. It has been noted that those with strong religious convictions also develop strong wills and fearlessness. Islamic Jihadist suicide bombers are an example. Their religious convictions guide them to blow themselves up in order to kill others, to commit mass murder, probably the most un-religious thing a human can do. They are deluded by their fanatical religious convictions. 

     The U.S. armed forces are not officially or operationally religious, but it has been noted that sometimes there are strong religious elements present. Apparently, many of our American warriors, including those bombing Iran, are apocalypticists as well, believing they are fighting for the return of Jesus. They are supported from the top by Pete Hegseth and his cultish version of Christian evangelicalism. Consider the following from Jonathan Larsen at Substack:

“A combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers at a briefing Monday that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that Pres. Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” according to a complaint by a non-commissioned officer.”

“From Saturday morning through Monday night, more than 110 similar complaints about commanders in every branch of the military had been logged by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).”

“The complaints came from more than 40 different units spread across at least 30 military installations, the MRFF told me Monday night.”

“The MRFF is keeping the complainants anonymous to prevent retribution by the Defense Department. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to my request for comment.”

     This is one reason among several that I believe Pete Hegseth is not a good leader. He has put evangelical Christianity at the highest levels of the U.S. military. How is such a Christian “end times” eschatology any better than that of the Shia eschatology? It’s bullshit. We don’t need Christian mujahideen. Replacing one set of religious fanatics with another is not a solution.

     One might ask what is being enforced. Is it a rule, a norm, an assurance of rights? Or is it an ideology, a certain moral code, or a biased and not universally agreed-upon rule? One would expect the detractors to argue that it's ideological, and the Russians and Iranians typically do when dismayed. In most cases, the criterion for breaking the rule is the causing of harm, which in many cases is clear-cut. It is often easy to see who is the oppressor and who is oppressed. Shooting unarmed civilians is an example. The current war against the Iranian regime is justified in my opinion due to the mass execution of up to 40,000 unarmed protestors over a two-day period – January 8 and 9, 2026. The regime is a murder cult and must be held accountable. Thus, enforcement is also justice. Without it, justice is not served.   

     It can be argued that Europe has been excessively tolerant of dictators like Putin and the Iranian leadership. Part of the reason for that is that they have reveled in the “Peace Dividend” after the Cold War ended. That all came tumbling down when Russia invaded Ukraine, and the Europeans have let their military apparatus fall into disrepair even as Russia continued its militancy. Europe is now doing what they need to do in building up its military, but it will take time. Europe’s inability to confront Putin without the U.S. is a testament to the failure of tolerance as a strategy for international order. It is no strategy at all. If you want to have a rules-based order, the rules must be enforced. Strongly worded statements won’t work.

     The Russian Foreign Ministry recently commented about the attack on Iran, saying that the goal of the campaign was:

"to destroy the constitutional order and destroy the leadership of a state they do not like, which has refused to submit to forceful dictate and hegemonism."

     This is Russia complaining that they do not like the rule and ‘refuse to submit’ to it. However, they would be outnumbered in a UN vote of countries. Of course, it would be better if the UN did not coddle countries that routinely break the rules. Then again, the U.S. has broken some rules as well, arguing that the rules are nonsensical. I agree with the current U.S. government that several of the UN agencies are compromised by obviously trying to punish the wrong parties in several cases. In both the cases of Russia and the U.S., both are complaining that they are unfairly being forced to be subject to rules, but in the Russian case, the preference is for tolerating human rights abuses and in the American case it is more for stretching the rules a bit here and there, which suggests that it is the rules that are the real issue for the Americans. While there are some human rights abuses in America and perpetrated by America, they are very small and mild compared to countries like Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea. Those are the countries that should be coerced into respecting human rights. The anti-Israeli sentiment and the coddling of dictatorships and authoritarians have permeated some UN agencies. They can be quite vulnerable in some cases, as the UNRWA fiasco in Gaza showed.     

 

 

References:

 

The Right’s Civilizational New World Order. Michael C. Williams. Jacobin. February 21, 2026. The Right’s Civilizational New World Order

Zelenskyy proposes confiscation of Russian shadow fleet vessels. Oleksandra Bashchenko. RBC Ukraine. March 1, 2026. Zelenskyy proposes confiscation of Russian shadow fleet vessels

U.S. Troops Were Told Iran War Is for “Armageddon,” Return of Jesus: Advocacy group reports commanders giving similar messages at more than 30 installations in every branch of the military. Jonathan Larsen. March 2, 2026. U.S. Troops Were Told Iran War Is for “Armageddon,” Return of Jesus

Nurdle Patrols Lead to Nurdle Pollution Containment in Pennsylvania, the Shell Ethane Cracker’s Air Pollution Exceedances and Possible Sale: The Appalachian Petrochemical Hub Has Not Manifested as Predicted

     Back in January 2018, more than eight years ago, I wrote in my previous energy blog about the evolving Appalachian petrochemical hub, which was set to include plastics feedstock production, related industries, and underground storage of ethane and other natural gas liquids. Much of what was planned has not been built, including two of three potential ethane crackers, ancillary industries, and underground NGL storage.

     The Shell Ethane Cracker in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, has been operational for a few years but has also faced many fines for exceeding air pollution allowances, along with other violations. Shell has recently expressed interest in selling the facility in order to focus on other priorities.   

     Ethane crackers and other plastics facilities often emit tiny plastic beads, known as nurdles, into the environment. They are very light and hard to contain and often are released through outfalls of wastewater. One such facility near Shell’s facility, Styropek, produces polystyrene beads for Styrofoam. It was found to be the source of numerous beads that entered the environment through outfalls and traveled into a tributary of the Ohio River to be deposited nearby. It is a legacy company, owned and operated since 2020 by Styropek.

     Environmental organization Three Rivers Waterkeeper led “nurdle patrols” in 2022 by boat to look for and map the distribution of nurdles and to find the source. They were supported by PennEnvironment and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The data collected resulted in a lawsuit against the company, which plans to shut down very soon. They were fined $2.6 million and agreed to make technological upgrades that would monitor for and prevent nurdle releases. Nurdles tend to be a problem where they are produced, and better containment to keep them out of the environment is needed. They have negative effects on wildlife and water quality.

     Since opening in 2022, the Shell Ethane Cracker has received 45 notices of violation from state regulators for air and water contamination. In 2023, it paid the state $10 million and admitted that it had routinely exceeded its emissions allowance.

     The article in Capital & Main notes:

“Communities around Shell’s facility have complained of foul smells from the facility, and feared the health risks that come from exposure to its emissions, like particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. Exposure to these pollutants has been linked to cancers and respiratory, cardiovascular, liver and nervous system damage.”

     There was a fire at the plant in June 2025 that released smoke.

     Meanwhile, Shell and other oil majors are reevaluating their commitment to plastics and petrochemicals. Shell is seeking partnerships or a possible sale of facilities, including its plant in Beaver County.

     The Appalachian Petrochemical Hub has not manifested as envisioned. Styropek was not able to remain economical, has ceased production, and laid off workers. More support industries were expected to aid the region, adding jobs and synergies. By one estimate, a mere 400 permanent jobs were created by the Shell plant. The Gulf Coast ethane crackers and massive petrochemical industry complexes can currently outcompete the fledgling Appalachian hub.

     Underground ethane storage, thought to be imminent in 2018, was delayed. In 2023, there was some revitalization of the idea to be codeveloped with the ARCH2 hydrogen hub, a Biden-era project that is still in play, though scaled down by the Trump administration. ARCH2 is largely subsidy dependent. The petrochemical hub also benefits from tax credits and other business subsidies. Shell got record tax benefits for the cracker. However, the petrochemical industries can turn a profit, although that has been difficult in competition with the Gulf Coast, which led to the slowing of petrochemical hub development. The hydrogen hub may never be profitable and stay reliant on some government and private support. Another competitor in the region, due to the same availability of cheap natural gas, is data centers.

 

 

    

References:

 

Pennsylvania Spent Big on a ‘Petrochemical Renaissance.’ It Never Arrived. Audrey Carleton. Capital & Main. February 16, 2026. Pennsylvania Spent Big on a 'Petrochemical Renaissance.' It Never Arrived.

The Evolving Appalachian NGL Storage Hub and Petrochemical Hub. Kent Stewart. Blue Dragon Energy Blog. January 19, 2018. Blue Dragon Energy Blog: The Evolving Appalachian NGL Storage Hub and Petrochemical Hub

Oil & Gas E&P Accounting Methods: Full Cost vs. Successful Efforts: Effects on Earnings, Asset Value, Depreciation, and Depletion: RBN Energy Analysis

     This post is a summary of a post on the RBN Energy Blog by Nicholas Cacchione. I don’t have much familiarity with or knowledge of this subject. He first notes that when comparing different oil & gas exploration and production (E&P) companies, one might compare their annual reports. However, this is complicated by the fact that there are two differing accounting methods generally used to value the companies. He compares the two methods: Full Cost (FC) and Successful Efforts (SE), to different tax accounting methods approved by the IRS. The goal for those comparing companies is to get an accurate idea of the real value of the company. Such valuations can inform possible merger and acquisition decisions.

     He notes that while both methods are permitted under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), they offer different opinions, particularly of exploration successes and failures. He also explains how methods used changed after the shale revolution, where shale is a “resource play” tapping a continuously present, repeatable resource, while mainly vertical pre-shale wells had significant dry hole risks not encountered in shale drilling.

“These differences influence reported earnings, asset values, depreciation and depletion rates, impairment behavior and, ultimately, how companies are perceived by the market. For decades, FC and SE accounting methodologies were viewed largely through the lens of conventional exploration. In that Pre-Shale Era, dry holes were common, exploration risk was high, and accounting methodology played a major role in determining financial results. FC tended to smooth results by spreading failures across large cost pools, while SE forced companies to recognize losses immediately.”

“Today, the most important differences between FC and SE appear in impairment timing, depreciation profiles, reserve revisions, and the way capital costs are embedded in balance sheets over time. However, it is important to recognize that despite whichever accounting methodology a company subscribes to, cash flow and cash flow-related metrics will still tell the economic truth about a company’s financial fortunes.”    

     Pre-shale oil & gas was high risk and high cost. Shale drilling is low risk and high cost. The Successful Efforts (SE) method ensures “project-level accountability and rapid recognition of failure.” This method is transparent and conservative. The Full Cost (FC) method does not operate at the project level, but pools capitalized exploration and development costs into larger portfolios, typically by country.

“Proponents of FC argue that this approach better reflects the long-term economics of resource development. Individual failures are expected to be offset by future discoveries, and capitalizing costs smooths earnings over time. In their view, expensing dry holes immediately creates excessive volatility that does not reflect underlying business value.”

     He gives some history of these methods. In the 1960s and 70s they were hotly debated. Large integrated oil companies, the “majors,” generally favored SE, while smaller independent producers often preferred FC. FC serves to reduce short-term earnings volatility and enable better access to financing.

     As noted, shale drilling brought repeatability and is largely seen as developmental drilling rather than exploratory drilling. The geologic risks are much lower with shale. Shale also benefits, he notes by the density of drilling, which provides much more geological data and information, which further lowers risks.

     The graph below depicts different companies and the accounting method used alongside capitalized costs. Those in red use FC and those in black use SE.

     He notes that in the Shale Era, what has changed mainly is how impairments, or cost write-downs, are accounted. He explains that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires the “full cost ceiling test” to limit excessive asset capitalization under FC accounting.

“A ceiling test write-down occurs when a FC company’s net capitalized oil and gas costs exceed the present value of its proved reserves (PV-10), requiring the excess to be written off immediately. These write-downs are often triggered by lower commodity prices or reserve revisions rather than changes in underlying operations.”

     He suggests that SE accounting is more accurate in the sense that it flushes out failures more quickly with the resultant asset valuations being more accurate. The implication is that delaying impairments can be deceiving. He explains that SE accounting is especially more accurate in that asset valuations will better match inventory quality. This is especially important for maturing shale plays.

“In mature shale plays — where core inventory is gradually depleted and development moves outward — this distinction becomes increasingly important. Companies with significant net capitalized costs may appear well-capitalized while facing deteriorating drilling economics.”

     On the other hand, companies involved in exploratory drilling projects, such as those in the Gulf and in offshore plays around the world, must invest large amounts of money in projects that take years to develop. For those companies, FC accounting is most apt.  

     Below, he reiterates that accounting method differences mainly affect the timing of expense recognition and that cash flow is the best indicator of financial performance.

“Because accounting policy primarily affects the timing of expense recognition rather than underlying economics, cash flow remains the most reliable indicator of performance. Investors and analysts evaluating upstream companies should emphasize operating and free cash flow, reinvestment rates, finding-and-development (F&D) costs, reserve replacement efficiency, payout ratios and capital returns. These measures are less distorted by accounting treatment and more closely reflect economic reality.”

     The table below compares the differences between FC and SE accounting in a hypothetical scenario. The result is mainly a difference in profit declared due to the difference in impairment timings. Note that cash flow is the same in both scenarios.

“Shale development narrowed the most visible historical differences between FC and SE by reducing traditional dry-hole risk, but it did not eliminate the importance of accounting methodology. Instead, it shifted the battleground toward impairment timing, DD&A profiles, reserve revisions, and the accumulation of embedded capital on balance sheets.”

“Accounting determines when results are recognized, but cash flow determines whether value is created. In the end, cash flow — not accounting methodology — is the only true measure of success or failure in the upstream oil and gas business.”

     Thus, cash flow is king. I am glad to have learned a little about this topic. The author notes plans for RBN Energy to augment its reporting of year-end reserve reconciliations in future blogs based on accounting methods.

   

 

References:

 

You Go Your Way, I’ll Go Mine – Why Accounting Methods Matter. (No, Seriously, You Gotta Read This). Nicholas Cacchione. RBN Energy. Blog. February 26, 2026.  You Go Your Way, I’ll Go Mine – Why Accounting Methods Matter. (No, Seriously, You Gotta Read This) | RBN Energy

AEP Ohio Plans to Deploy a Fixed-Wing Drone With a 12-Foot Wingspan and LIDAR to Inspect for Potential Power Line Tree Damage

    This post comes from my local power provider, AEP Ohio, via its monthly newsletter, The Wire. Below, AEP Ohio Project Manager Principal Jake Reed explains the new fixed-wing drone deployment plan, which is equipped with LIDAR and a twelve-foot wingspan and intends to inspect power lines, particularly in rough terrain. We have some of that here in the Appalachian foothills of Southeastern Ohio.

“This year, we’re deploying an innovative fixed-wing drone with a 12-foot wingspan —the largest in our fleet — to inspect vegetation along the power lines that bring electricity to homes and businesses. What sets this drone apart is its high-resolution camera and lidar sensors.”

     The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes LIDAR as follows:

“Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne system — generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.”

“Lidar systems allow scientists and mapping professionals to examine both natural and manmade environments with accuracy, precision, and flexibility.”

     AEP Ohio’s Center for Customer Reliability plans to use the data generated from the LIDAR measurements to “identify vegetation — down to a single tree branch — that may be too close to equipment and needs trimming to prevent future outages.” The goal is to prevent outages before they happen.

     AEP employs certified drone pilots who have completed advanced training and are familiar with all FAA regulations.

     According to the newsletter:

“The fixed-wing drone enhances our capabilities, flying up to 400 feet, reaching speeds of 45 miles per hour and staying airborne for up to two hours while collecting critical data. That information helps crews make proactive repairs before outages occur. This year, the fixed-wing drone will travel roughly 8,000 miles of our distribution power lines, capturing images and data on vegetation within our rights of way.”

“The fixed-wing drone is supported by a mobile command center, where crews operate the aircraft autonomously while a certified pilot monitors each inspection remotely.”

     AEP Ohio also employs traditional, or multi-copter, drones for powerline inspection. Drone inspections improve safety by reducing the need for field personnel to work at heights, “minimizing the risk of accidents and injuries, and allow large areas — especially challenging terrain — to be covered more quickly than with traditional methods.” 

     The newsletter also notes that AEP Ohio is utilizing AI image processing along with LIDAR to map out power lines.

 

 

 

References:

 

Faster, Farther, Stronger: Fixed-Wing Drones Increase Reliability. AEP Ohio. The Wire. February 2026. Faster, Farther, Stronger: Fixed-Wing Drones Increase Reliability - AEP Ohio Wire

What is lidar? Lidar — Light Detection and Ranging — is a remote sensing method used to examine the surface of the Earth. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. What is lidar?

 

U.S. DOE Gives Out Its Largest Ever Loan, $26.5 Billion to Southern Company for Natural Gas, Nuclear, Hydro, Batteries, and Power Transmission in Georgia and Alabama

   The U.S. Department of Energy just issued its largest-ever loan to subsidiaries of Southern Company for electricity projects in Georgia and Alabama. The loan is for new gas power plants, improvements to existing nuclear and hydroelectric plants, battery storage, and transmission lines. Energy Sec Chris Wright noted that the loan will enable data center buildout and the reshoring of American manufacturing. Southern Company also announced that it will freeze power prices for customers for two years. The loan totals $26.5 billion. Subsidiary Georgia Power would get $22.5 billion, and Alabama Power would get $4.1 billion. Greg Beard, director of the department’s loans office, noted:

“This is the largest investment by the U.S. government ever in a non-crisis time.”

     The loan involves the development and improvement of up to 16 GW of power generation. According to the DOE, the loan aims to lower consumer electricity costs and increase grid reliability. Over the 30-year term of the loan, getting the loan from DOE instead of private sources offers the company about $7 billion in savings. The DOE stipulated that the $7 billion in savings would be delivered to millions of customers in Georgia and Alabama.

     Wright noted:

"These loans will not only lower energy costs but also create thousands of jobs and increase grid reliability for the people of Georgia and Alabama.”

     The Southern Company is planning for about 5 GW of new gas-fired generation, along with 6 GW of nuclear power through upgrades and license renewals for eight existing reactors. The loan will also modernize hydroelectric facilities, develop battery storage systems, and pay for transmission and associated upgrades.

     The state of Georgia has pending legislation to protect ratepayers from power cost increases associated with data centers. The state is also moving to end incentives to attract more data centers. Apparently, they think they are full enough with ongoing projects.

     DOE also noted that the loan will cover over 1,300 miles of transmission and grid enhancement projects.

“Once all funds are received through the program, the loans are estimated to reduce Southern Company’s interest expenses by over $300 million per year, helping expedite lower electricity costs for customers.”

   

References:

 

Energy Department doles out its largest-ever loan: $26.5B for power in Georgia, Alabama. Rachel Frazin. The Hill. February 25, 2026. Energy Department doles out its largest-ever loan: $26.5B for power in Georgia, Alabama

Southern Company awarded $26.5B loan by Energy Department. Alton Wallace. The Center Square. February 26, 2026. Southern Company awarded $26.5B loan by Energy Department

Energy Department Announces Largest Loan in Department History, Delivering Over $7 Billion in Electricity Cost Savings for Georgia and Alabama Customers. U.S. Department of Energy. February 25, 2026. Energy Department Announces Largest Loan in Department History, Delivering Over $7 Billion in Electricity Cost Savings for Georgia and Alabama Customers | Department of Energy

Energy Corps: EQT CEO Toby Rice, Wife Aileen Rice, and Geologist Scott Tinker Launch Non-Profit to Address Global Energy Poverty, Promote Clean Cooking Fuels, and Support Human Flourishing

     EQT CEO Toby Rice and his wife Aileen Rice, along with legendary geologist Scott Tinker, founded Energy Corps to address global energy poverty. The non-profit has goals to advance human flourishing, inspired by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The group seems to be focused mainly on energy poverty and energy access. One might see the name Energy Corps as a possible reference to the Peace Corps, as the work is similar in some ways.

     According to a February 18 press release:

“The organization identifies and tests pathways that enable modern energy to scale, and addresses the policy, financing, and demand-side barriers to energy development.”

“Billions of people are still being left behind without access to clean cooking and reliable electricity—and that is one of the greatest sustainability challenges of our time,” said Toby Rice. “America’s energy industry has a proven track record of delivering affordable, reliable, and lower-emission solutions in the developed world. Now it’s time to focus that same innovation and commitment on the billions who stand to benefit most.”

     The non-profit is also involved in bringing clean cooking fuels to developing countries, where dependence on wood, charcoal, and even dung as cooking fuels has resulted in respiratory issues and premature death for millions of mostly women and children. This issue has existed for a long time and has not been alleviated nearly enough. When Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State in 2009, during Obama’s first term, she led a global clean cooking fuels initiative that was ended by the first Trump administration.

     As shown below, the projects so far are mainly in Africa. The Switch Energy Alliance was founded by Tinker as an energy education project that has resulted in two great movies, an excellent and very informative TV show, Energy Switch, on PBS, and other great projects.

     According to another February 18 press release:

“Energy Corps today announced its role as a founding contributor to the Clean Cooking Accelerator Initiative, a new collaboration with the Clean Cooking Alliance, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet designed to rapidly scale access to modern cooking solutions across Africa.”

     The initiative was announced during the High-Level Dialogue on Advancing Energy Access and Cooking Solutions, hosted by the International Energy Agency. Energy Corps is focused on “mobilizing private sector resources toward clean cooking supply chains.” Access to affordable propane is a main issue. They explain past issues that they hope to resolve:

“Progress has often been constrained by fragmented delivery models, limited investment pipelines, and weak project design. The clean cooking solutions offered through this Initiative will replace polluting fuels like biomass, improve public health, and create economically durable pathways to affordable clean cooking access.”

     Energy Corps is providing $500,000 for the initiative. They go into more detail about how they hope to streamline processes, develop fuel access infrastructures, train people, and coordinate with governments and other NGOs. They also have support from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Global Energy Alliance, and African governments. 

     Another focus is to facilitate private investment in the Clean Cooking Accelerator Initiative and other energy access initiatives. Global Energy Alliance noted that Energy Corps’ private sector expertise can really help fund and manage these kinds of energy access projects. Private sector project management could perhaps make the program more efficient as well. 

     Energy Corps emphasizes its 50-50-50 moonshot: 50 MWh per person per year, 50K GDP per capita, and 50 years of commitment.

     

 

References:

 

A World Where Everyone Has the Energy Needed to Flourish. Energy Corps. Energy Corps - A World Where Everyone Has the Energy Needed to Flourish

Energy Corps Works to Accelerate the Global Shift from Energy Poverty to Energy Prosperity. Energy Corps. February 18, 2026. FRxPLDZRWjSNImlBJwX5OH5oSF0.pdf

Energy Corps Joins Global Effort for Energy Access Through Clean Cooking Accelerator Initiative. Energy Corps. February 18, 2026. 3uxhtXR8jQF6iVPROnSjh4qcWA.pdf

 

 

Druzhba Pipeline in Ukraine Struck by Russian Bombs, but Hungary and Slovakia Blame and Punish Ukraine for not Restoring Service Fast Enough

      It has only been three weeks or so since Russia bombed a pumping station on the Druzhba Pipeline near Lviv, Ukraine. Apparently, Hungary and Slovakia expect Ukraine to prioritize restoring the service of the product that funds the invasion of their country over other concerns. Both countries’ leaders, Viktor Orban and Robert Fico, have also kept up friendly relations with Russia and have blocked sanctions against Russia and funding for Ukraine. I will be glad if both of those leaders are elected out. Orban is facing an election in April and trails in the polls to Peter Magyar. If Orban is re-elected, clearly the EU will have to do something about his ability to stop EU plans, including changing its rules if necessary. These leaders have had four years to diversify their energy supplies and have clearly not done enough to do so.

     Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently visited Orban and Fico, basically to show MAGA's approval of them. In 2019, then Senator Rubio co-wrote an open letter to President Donald Trump, warning him about “the steady erosion of freedom, the rule of law and quality of governance” in Viktor Orban's Hungary and pointed to Budapest’s strategic alignment with Moscow. An article in the Washington Examiner points this out and says the U.S. should stop indulging these leaders. Another important thing said in the article is that while Germany, once also strongly dependent on Russian hydrocarbons, has made significant efforts to find other sources. By comparison, Orban and Fico have dragged their feet as well as getting a reprieve due to their dependence. Hungary still imports 90% of its natural gas from Russia and 92 % of its oil, up from 61% in 2021. That is, frankly, shameful, and a slap in the face to Ukraine and efforts to pressure Russia. Hungary also has other deals and investments with Russia, including a new nuclear plant.  

     Both Orban and Fico have become star performers at CPAC. Orban is credited with stopping immigration into his country, but also has one of the worst economies in the EU and a shortage of labor that immigrants could help alleviate. Others in Fico’s own party do not share his views, apparently. The article describes Fico as a:

“Soviet nostalgist with little genuine affection for the United States.”

“The idea that Hungary and Slovakia, especially under their current governments, should be privileged interlocutors or models for others to follow is laughable. Their size and relative influence aside, the leaders of both countries see the world through lenses that rarely prioritize the trans-Atlantic partnership over other, more transactional ties.”

     Hungary and Slovakia have just announced plans to cut diesel export supplies to Kyiv if Ukraine does not reopen the Druzhba pipeline, which brings Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary.

     Ukraine sent a letter to the EU Coordination Group on February 25, noting:

"Full responsibility for the suspension of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline lies solely with the Russian Federation as a consequence of its terrorist attack against Ukraine's critical infrastructure," the letter says.

Ukraine pointed out in the letter that as a result of targeted Russian attacks on 27 January, key facilities of the main oil pumping station near the town of Brody in Lviv Oblast were significantly damaged, including technological and auxiliary equipment of the Druzhba pipeline.

Quote: "We draw attention to the unacceptability of ultimatums and political pressure by certain member states, including threats to suspend diesel fuel and electricity supplies or to block EU assistance and sanctions against the Russian Federation."

     The letter also explained that they are working to restore service, although one should hardly see that as a priority for a country under attack every day for the past four years:

"the Ukrainian side is interested in restoring transit as soon as possible within the available legal framework".

     As noted below from an article in Ukrainska Pravda, the EU Oil Coordination Group determined that there was no immediate threat to the EU’s energy security as a result of the pipeline being offline. It also notes some of the shameful threats and punishments of Ukraine by these leaders.

 

 

References:

 

Ukraine sends its position on Druzhba pipeline to EU: Ultimatums are unacceptable. Tetyana Vysotska, VALENTYNA ROMANENKO. Ukrainska Pravda. February 25, 2026. Ukraine sends its position on Druzhba pipeline to EU: Ultimatums are unacceptable

The US should stop indulging Hungary and Slovakia. Dalibor Rohac and Ivana Stradner, Washington Examiner. February 25, 2026. The US should stop indulging Hungary and Slovakia

 

Pressure on Cuba is Needed, but a Siege and Oil Embargo is Not the Best Way

      I certainly agree with the Trump camp that we need to put pressure on Cuba to reform and cooperate with international norms, although that has not happened since the 1959 revolution that put Fidel Castro in power. In one sense, Cuba is a satellite state of the former USSR and now a satellite state of the USSR’s heir, Russia. However, it is close enough to the U.S., and we can exert enough leverage to keep it from being a problem. Sure, regime change would be the best outcome for the country and particularly for its people, but that is probably too complicated at the moment. Cuba has also meddled in Venezuela. The U.S has successfully recued that meddling as the interim government announced that the Cuban security apparatus favored by Maduro is leaving the country.

     It is unclear what the current U.S. oil embargo will achieve. It may spur the Cuban government to cooperate and make changes, but many are doubtful. It has already affected trade and tourism as fuel shortages affect the country. I was a bit annoyed to hear that the oil supplied freely to Cuba from Venezuela, or rather, in exchange for that security apparatus, was more than the country needed, and so they sold it to other buyers. They should have built more storage and stored more of it. Mexico has been supplying oil to Cuba for years as a humanitarian gesture, but stopped recently at the request of the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly negotiating with the Cuban government, but not much is known about those negotiations.

     Cuba is also a sore spot in any notion of controlling the hemisphere via the Monroe Doctrine, or as the newly termed 'Donroe Doctrine.' Cuba is basically a bad actor aligned with our adversaries and the world’s other bad actors, particularly Russia, but also Iran and Venezuela. The U.S. has strongly disrupted ghost fleet oil trade in the Caribbean, where sanctioned Russian, Venezuelan, and Iranian crude and diluent were flowing freely. I praise that effort. We should not tolerate it at all.

     The latest potential confrontation in the region involves a ghost fleet tanker currently off the East Coast of the U.S., which is thought to be bound for Cuba with Russian oil. I expect the U.S. will intercept and interdict it. It is exhibiting the usual tricks to disguise its position, country of origin, destination, and the oil was loaded in a ship-to-ship transfer.

     The UN recently condemned the U.S. executive order imposing a fuel blockade on Cuba.

“The U.S. executive order imposing a fuel blockade on Cuba is a serious violation of international law and a grave threat to a democratic and equitable international order,” the experts said.

“It is an extreme form of unilateral economic coercion with extraterritorial effects, through which the United States seeks to exert coercion on the sovereign state of Cuba and compel other sovereign third States to alter their lawful commercial relations, under threat of punitive trade measures,” they said.

     I think that statement goes a little too far, as does the following one.

“There is no right under international law to impose economic penalties on third States for engaging in lawful trade with another sovereign country,” the experts said.

     I would argue that deliveries of internationally sanctioned oil cargoes do not constitute “lawful trade.”

“A democratic international order cannot be reconciled with practices whereby one State claims the authority to dictate the internal policies and economic relations of others through threats and coercion,” the experts said.

     Here, I would argue by asking, “Are not sanctions a method of 'dictating economic relations of others through threats and coercion'?

     Although I disagree with the UN’s wording above, I agree with them about it being a humanitarian issue that needs to be addressed. We should not punish a population for the actions of its government. The UN goes on to say that energy is a basic requirement for many things: electricity, sanitation, transportation, communications, etc. The Trump doctrine of seemingly using every bit of real, imagined, legal, and illegal leverage is probably going too far in this case. The country is in economic despair and has been beset with power outages for years. People need to refrigerate their food and make money to survive. I really think we should allow Mexico to resume its oil shipments to Cuba. We certainly don’t want Russian oil delivered. Well. It looks like the U.S. will allow Venezuelan oil to be delivered to Cuba, so that is good. That also suggests that the U.S. will definitely stop the Russian oil from being delivered, and I hope that does happen.

     AFP reports:

The Treasury Department said it would allow "transactions that support the Cuban people" that include Venezuelan oil for "commercial and humanitarian use."

“To qualify, the exports would need to go through private businesses and not the vast government or military apparatus in the communist state.”

     Caribbean leaders were concerned that a continued blockade would trigger migration from the country and contribute to destabilizing the region.

     Cuba is a communist dictatorship that is allied to U.S. adversaries. It is also very close to the U.S. Thus, it does need to be watched closely. It really is a shame that they can’t evolve enough to have a democratically elected government and join the international community.  

  

 

References:

 

Russian ‘dark fleet’ tanker believed to be delivering oil to Cuba, detected off US coast amid Trump ban. Emma Bussey. Fox News. February 24, 2026. Russian ‘dark fleet’ tanker believed to be delivering oil to Cuba, detected off US coast amid Trump ban

UN experts condemn US executive order imposing fuel blockade on Cuba. United Nations. Press Release. 12 February 2026. UN experts condemn US executive order imposing fuel blockade on Cuba | OHCHR

US eases Venezuela oil ban to Cuba as crisis alarms Caribbean. AFP. February 25, 2026. US eases Venezuela oil ban to Cuba as crisis alarms Caribbean