Robert Bryce: Five Reasons Not to Bomb Iran’s Power Plants

    As exemplified by the war between Russia and Ukraine, the bombing of civilian targets such as power plants is a war crime. While Ukraine bombs Russia’s energy production facilities that power and finance its war effort, Russia bombs Ukraine’s power plants to cause pain to the general population, i.e., civilians. They have bombed hydroelectric dams, natural gas production, coal plants, and natural gas plants, and many parts of the electricity grid, such as substations. It is an undignified way to conduct warfare. Ukraine is to be commended for avoiding similar behavior, although they come close at times. Russia does not play fair. Neither does Iran. That does not mean the U.S. should revert to such behavior.

     I have read Robert Bryce’s book, A Question of Power: Electricity and the wealth of Nations, which details the characteristics and the importance of power grids and access to electricity. He focused on different power grids in several places, their strengths and vulnerabilities.

     It should also be noted that power grids of different countries are often connected together. Just this week, Russia bombed out a power line connecting Ukraine and Moldova, through which Ukraine exported electricity to Moldova. As a result, Moldova is currently under a power emergency. I also know that Iran exports a significant amount of electricity to neighboring Iraq, although Iraq is in the process of moving away from that arrangement, in part by capturing natural gas at its oil fields to power natural gas plants. Thus, bombing Iran’s power grid could affect electricity access in Iraq. Trump has threatened to bomb Iran’s power plants and has received threats in return to bomb salinization plants in the Gulf states. Each is threatening war crimes.

     In a Substack post, Bryce gives five reasons why Trump should not bomb Iran’s power plants. The first is simply that power plants are not considered to be a legitimate military target, but civilian infrastructure. He also notes that doing so does not advance the stated war aims of degrading nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

     Secondly, bombing the power plants could result in mass civilian death since electricity powers and supplies necessities like freshwater, wastewater treatment, communications, and hospitals. This could create a humanitarian disaster.

     Third is simply that it invites tit-for-tat retaliation, which Iran can do with its drones, even if only 10% are getting through, against similar civilian infrastructure in targeted countries. Indeed after Trump made the threat, the Iranians proposed doing just that.

     Fourth, he notes, is that if the power infrastructure is bombed it could lead to the next rulers, friendly or not, being rendered unable to manage its society. He notes that Iran also exports electricity to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

     Fifth, he cites what the University of Chicago’s Robert Pape calls the escalation trap, where the original attacker starts out with escalation dominance but without immediate success decides to escalate further and consider more risky approaches to achieve strategic goals.

     I don’t always agree with Bryce but I usually do and in this case I do as well.

  

 

References:

 

Don’t: Five reasons why Trump should not bomb Iran’s electric grid. Robert Bryce. Substack. March 22, 2026. Don't. - Robert Bryce

Hormuz Chokepoint Exemplifies a Vulnerable Global and Regional Energy Delivery System as Well as a Sanctions Evasion System

     The Strait of Hormuz, formed from the geological processes that shaped the gigantic South Pars Natural Gas Field (see paywalled Scientific American article), has given us an example of both a global and regional delivery system for hydrocarbons and related products. It has also been acknowledged for half a century that Iran could develop leverage over it. Indeed, they have been fortifying it heavily with a military presence. Closing the Strait, which is considered to be international waters under international laws, is, of course, a breach of international law. Hitting commercial shipping with military force is a war crime.

     As I write, Iran is reportedly charging ships as much as $2million to go through in what has been termed a toll booth and compared to a mafia shakedown. This is also highly illegal in international waters, although it allows the ships to pass through its territorial waters while keeping the international waters and those of the territories of the Gulf States across the Strait under threat of attack. This won’t be tolerated for long, I suspect. As of yesterday – March 23 – about 20 ships have gone this route. This new revenue stream combined with the U.S. temporarily un-sanctioning some Iranian oil is also a boon but is only a one-month reprieve to ease markets. Iran is also reportedly requiring payment in Chinese yuan with some ships already enroute to China and India. An article by Max Meizlish in the Washington Examiner recommends disrupting this pay for transport scheme by targeting  Larak Island, which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is reportedly using to monitor vessels transiting the “safe” route. Then they should track down the finances of the Chinese and Indian sanctions-evading ships for enforcement actions.

“Washington should aggressively sanction Chinese businesses and financial institutions that have historically facilitated Iranian sanctions evasion — and that are well positioned to process any yuan-denominated payments linked to the corridor’s operation. These firms and the schemes they operate have been detailed at length by the press and research institutions.”

“The Treasury Department should impose sanctions on the Chinese financial intermediaries most likely servicing Iran’s accounts, sending a clear signal that there are consequences for helping to solidify the regime’s control over the strait. The Trump administration has thus far shown little appetite for such coercive action directed at Beijing. Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz may shift that strategic thinking.”

     Of course, doing this might be seen as counter to stabilizing the market and Trump’s recent actions to allow India to buy sanctioned Russian oil and now India, China, and others to buy Iranian sanctioned oil at premium prices. In any case, allowing Iran to control who goes through and who doesn’t won’t be and should be tolerated for long.  

     Meiklish continues:

“Washington should also consider broader coercive options. Richard Haass has proposed an “Open for All or Closed to All” policy, which would establish a defensive line across the Gulf of Oman to prevent Iranian vessels from reaching their final destinations until Tehran unconditionally reopens the strait. The approach would force the countries buying Iranian oil — China, India, Pakistan, and Turkey — to pressure Iran directly. It is worth serious consideration.”

“Iran’s “safe” corridor is a protection racket. The U.S. has the military assets, sanctions authorities, and diplomatic leverage to shut it down. What it needs is the will to act before Iran’s control over the strait becomes the status quo.”

     Meanwhile, due to the effective embargo, things have changed on the ground in several Asian countries due to the sudden unavailability of crude oil and refined fuels. About 90% of the fuels that pass through the Strait are sold to Asian countries. A national emergency has been declared in the Philippines due to high fuel costs. China has limited a plan fuel price hike. Other countries are implementing emergency energy conservation measures. Shorter work weeks and work-at-home plans have been implemented. India’s ceramic industry can’t buy or afford natural gas so much of it has shut down. There is also a widespread shortage of LP Gas, which has become an important fuel in India and other Asian countries, and a cleaner replacement for wood, charcoal, and dung for cooking fuel. Hotels and schools have also been shut down or working on limited hours.

     When prices skyrocket, people are affected. The difference between profit and loss becomes smaller, and lives are upended. Perhaps Trump should have considered that before going ahead with the war, although I understand the goal of hitting the sinister regime, which has been a growing threat in the region and the world.  

     Apparently, Europe is also on the verge of fuel shortages. By next week, there will be energy conservation measures enacted in EU countries, according to an article in The Telegraph. However, others have argued that Europe would only be affected if the closure lasts into summer. Along with 20% of the world’s oil, about 20% of the world’s LNG trade passes through the strait. The International Energy Agency has recommended energy conservation measures. Europe is currently competing with Asia for U.S. oil and LNG supplies. As in Asia, high energy prices are a big concern for people.

    

 

References:

 

Everyday life in Asia is being upended by Iran war fuel crisis. Koh Ewe and Flora Drury. BBC. March 24, 2026. Everyday life in Asia is being upended by Iran war fuel crisis

Iran’s shakedown in the strait. Max Meizlish. Washington Examiner. March 24, 2026. Iran’s shakedown in the strait

The reason the Middle East has so much oil is the same reason it’s all stuck there now: A continental collision trapped oil within what is today Iran. The same collision explains why that oil is trapped behind the Strait of Hormuz now. Stephanie Pappas. edited by Andrea Thompson Scientific American. March 6, 2026. A quirk of geology explains Iran's oil—and why it's stuck in the Persian Gulf | Scientific American

Europe facing fuel shortage within days, warns Shell boss. Matt Oliver, Connor Stringer, and Emma Taggart. The Telegraph. March 24, 2026. Europe facing fuel shortage within days, warns Shell boss

High Payment Delinquency Rate for Anaerobic Digestor Loans for Farmers Leads to USDA Pause

     The USDA just paused loans for anaerobic digestors for U.S. farmers due to a high delinquency rate for loans. The pause, announced in late January, is for up to 90 days while USDA investigates delinquencies and project underperformance, according to Jacob Wallace at Waste Dive. The loans were under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is (or was) a very generous subsidized program. The Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBCS) announced the pause after a letter from 34 agricultural and environmental groups included a petition to end federal grants for on-farm digestors. The petition noted that $257 million of the $3.2 billion dispersed from REAP, which is 8% of the program’s dispersals from 2021 to 2025. They also noted that the average grant for these was much higher than for REAP-subsidized solar or wind projects.

     The goals of funding digestor projects are to reduce emissions and to help farmers, but the groups argued that the environmental benefits of digestors were nullified by their detriments. They also argued that the loans were helping larger consolidated farms, i.e., factory farms, rather than the small farms they were intended to benefit. Biogas and RNG groups disagreed with that assessment. They also argued that the digestors reduce emissions, provide a revenue stream for farmers, and lower their cost of fertilizers. Another complaint by those opposed to the digestor loans is that they have allowed large dairy farms to increase the size of their herds, and that digestate storage leads to higher ammonia production. Ammonia is an air and water pollutant. Digestors also yield more water-soluble nitrogen and phosphorus, increasing runoff. They noted several unauthorized discharges by large digestor operations into local water bodies. They cite chronic discharge of runoff and leachate.

     In addition to the environmental issues, they also noted that the projects often do not recoup their costs. Their analysis shows that 17% of large subsidized digestors have shut down, often for financial reasons.

     Wallace writes:

“In the letter, RBCS disclosed 21 loans to digestor projects totaling $386.4 million are seeing a delinquency rate of 27%. The pause also applies to “controlled environmental agriculture,” a category that includes vertical farming and hydroponics, which have a reported 43% delinquency rate.”

     It was noted in the petition that costs to taxpayers for digestors were too high compared to solar projects, and they generated less energy per dollar, noting that:

“…digestor projects needed almost three times more money to generate over four times less energy per dollar” than solar projects.

     Biogas and RNG groups have argued that on-farm digestors provide revenue for farmers and a cost-effective solution to manure management. The American Biogas Council notes that there are more than 600 anaerobic digestors on U.S. farms, and some digest food waste along with manure. They also noted that the high delinquency rate was unknown to them and requested more information about it.

"We look forward to learning more about what USDA claims are delinquent loans. The most important thing for Americans and rural communities is to help farmers recycle their manure into renewable energy and soil products," Serfass said in an emailed statement.

     Wallace notes that REAP funding was accelerated under the Biden administration and downsized under the Trump administration, along with the common rewording, dropping any references such as those to climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Last June, the USDA paused REAP applications due to overwhelming response and continued popularity.

     In conclusion, it appears that the environmental and agricultural groups want the program to provide more bang for the buck, and the USDA appears to agree.

 

    

References

 

USDA pauses on-farm digestor loan agreements amid high delinquency rate. Jacob Wallace. Waste Dive. January 22, 2026. USDA pauses on-farm digester loan agreements amid high delinquency rate | Waste Dive

Environmental groups petition to end federal grants for on-farm digestors. Jaco Wallace. Waste Dive. January 15, 2026. Environmental groups petition to end federal grants for on-farm digesters | Waste Dive

Jones Act Waiver May Help Gasoline Prices A Little, but Effects Will Be Limited

      The U.S. government issued a 60-day waiver of the 1920 Jones Act on March 18 which allows foreign-flagged tankers to transport crude oil and refined products between U.S. ports. The goal is to keep gasoline prices low, but its effect on prices might not be enough to notice, say some. The original goal of the law was to protect the U.S. shipping and shipbuilding industry and to ensure a reliable merchant fleet for national defense and emergency response.

     According to RBN Energy’s Lisa Shidler:

“In the energy sector, the Jones Act fleet breaks down into five main vessel types: smaller inland barges that typically carry about 10 Mbbl or 30 Mbbl of crude or refined products on rivers and coastal canals; regional offshore tank barges (such as those in New York Harbor) with capacities of 50 Mbbl to 135 Mbbl; coastal barges, including larger articulated tug barges (ATBs) with capacities of roughly 142 Mbbl to more than 320 Mbbl; product and crude tankers that run in coastal and international trades and generally carry around 330 Mbbl; and large crude tankers dedicated to the Alaskan trade.”

“According to Bloomberg and RBN data, there are currently about 101 Jones Act-eligible ships in the market today. That number was as high as 400 ships in 1950, with the count largely flat but edging lower over the past decade.”

     The Jones Act is costly for the U.S. and transport using non-U.S. ships could lower costs.

“We’ll note that by far the largest Jones Act refined product movements occur between various Gulf Coast ports and destinations on both coasts of Florida (>700 Mb/d), which aren’t served by pipelines.”

     White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted the rationale for waiving the requirement for 60 days:

“This action will allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to flow freely to U.S. ports for 60 days, and the administration remains committed to continuing to strengthen our critical supply chains.”

     This is not the first time a Jones Act waiver has been issued. RBN’s Shidler explains:

“Most recently, after Hurricane Fiona in 2022, the Biden administration approved a temporary waiver allowing one foreign-flagged tanker carrying about 300 Mbbl of diesel to deliver fuel to Puerto Rico, easing concerns about generator supplies. In 2017, during Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, President Trump authorized and DHS issued a 10-day waiver covering goods shipped to the island to support emergency relief. During hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017, a temporary waiver was also granted, allowing foreign ships to carry refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast. In 2005, DHS issued an 18-day waiver allowing foreign-flagged tankers to move petroleum and petroleum products between U.S. ports after Gulf Coast pipelines and refineries were disrupted by Hurricane Katrina, followed by a similar waiver after Hurricane Rita a few weeks later.”

     Below, she explains potential effects of the waiver on U.S. refiners:

“It makes it more expensive to move crude and products between the U.S. coasts, which can prop up East Coast prices and cap how many barrels from the Gulf Coast can flow there. Dropping that coastwise premium could widen the outlet for Gulf Coast barrels and help refinery economics there, making it easier and cheaper to push more light crude and products into domestic coastal markets rather than exports. For East Coast refiners, it’s more of a double‑edged sword. Their costs might improve with more Gulf Coast light sweet crude potentially able to move coastwise at lower cost, but competition from Gulf Coast refineries on the product side would also intensify.”

     She also explains how California’s refinery closures have led to a situation where the Jones Act requirements have been circumvented in recent years via a “two-step movement of gasoline blendstocks from Gulf Coast refineries to the Bahamas on foreign-flagged vessels, where a very modest “manufacturing/blending operation” takes place and then is re-shipped to U.S. West Coast markets.” The waiver could allow the trip to the Bahamas so that a more direct and much cheaper route could deliver refined products from the Gulf Coast to California.

     She also notes that the Renewable Fuel Standard increases fuel prices even more than the Jones Act:

“Before we close, we should note another government policy that impacts fuel prices: the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. This very complex policy, which mandates that refiners include specified minimum amounts (on a percentage basis) of renewable components (ethanol, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF) into their overall production, adds significantly more costs at the pump than any other government program (including the Jones Act).”

    

    

References:

 

Me and Mrs. Jones – White House Issues Jones Act Waiver, But Market Impact Could Be Limited. Lisa Shidler. RBN Energy. March 18, 2026. Me and Mrs. Jones – White House Issues Jones Act Waiver, But Market Impact Could Be Limited | RBN Energy

Solutions to the Druzhba Pipeline Are Emerging: Czechia Offers to Reverse Flow to Supply Slovakia, Hungary and Slovakia Plan Pipeline to Link Refineries, and Ukraine Agrees to Fix Damaged Pipeline with EU Help

      Potential solutions to the damaged Druzhba Pipeline are emerging. Czechia has offered to reverse the pipeline to supply Slovakia. Karel Havlíček, Czech Minister of Industry, noted:

“We offered Slovakia the possibility of using the ‌reverse ⁠flow of the Druzhba. In other words, we are ready to start investing in technical measures so that oil can be supplied from the Czech Republic to Slovakia.”

     Initial investments are estimated at about $47 million, and the volume delivered could be tens of thousands monthly (50,000 tons monthly = 600,000 tons annually) and, within two to three years, be bumped up to 2-3 million tons annually. Czechia had been interested in the idea before the Druzhba Pipeline was bombed and damaged by Russia on January 27. Czechia ended its reliance on Russian oil via Druzhba in 2025 after expanding the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL) from Italy to Germany.

     Hungary and Slovakia plan to build a 127-kilometer product pipeline by mid-2027 linking the Bratislava refinery (Slovakia) and Százhalombatta refinery (Hungary), both owned by Hungarian company MOL, to transport up to 1.5 million tons of diesel and gasoline annually. This should ensure more reliability and system resilience, as well as increase the immediate availability of supply. It is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027. It is expected to supply up to one-third of Hungary’s diesel fuel. The pipeline is also expected to have environmental and logistical benefits since it will replace oil product transport via rail and the Danube River. There is already a crude oil pipeline connecting the two refineries. Now the finished products can be transported via pipeline as well, which means less river and rail traffic, less pollution, less carbon emissions, and cheaper transport costs.  

Slovakia’s Energy Ministry said the supply disruptions had “highlighted the vulnerability of energy infrastructure and the need to diversify supply routes and sources.”

“The new pipeline should therefore improve supply flexibility and enable more efficient fuel transfers between refineries in both countries,” it said.

     After the pipeline was bombed near Lviv, Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of not wanting to repair the pipeline, and indeed Ukraine said it is both dangerous for technicians, potentially costly, will take time, and reminded that the pipeline feeds profit for its invading enemy. After the EU agreed to help fund the repairs. Ukraine previously offered to sell Ukrainian oil, putting it in the pipeline further downstream as a temporary measure.  Ukraine says the pipeline will be fixed within six weeks.

     Slovakia suspended emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, and Hungary has blocked a €90 billion ($103 billion) EU loan to Ukraine in retaliation for perceived political stonewalling on the repairs.

   

 

References:

 

Czechia offers to reverse Druzhba oil pipeline for Slovakia. Богуслав Романенко. New Voice of Ukraine. March 19, 2026. Czechia offers to reverse Druzhba oil pipeline for Slovakia

Hungary and Slovakia strike a new fuel pipeline deal to steady regional supplies. Justin Spike. AP. March 19, 2026. Hungary and Slovakia agree to build fuel pipeline | AP News

New fuel pipeline to connect Hungarian and Slovak MOL-refineries. Bálint Szalai. CE Energy News. March 16, 2026. New fuel pipeline to connect Hungarian and Slovak MOL-refineries

Iran War Shows Level of World’s Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Energy Security is Now Front and Center

     One can hardly deny that the Iran War is quickly showing the degree of dependence of basically the whole world on fossil fuels. Pipelines and tankers move oil and gas all around the world in a complex web. When there is disruption, costs go up, and economies are hit. Some people will say that this is a good reason to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels, but such plans have proven to be exceedingly difficult and fundamentally unrealistic.

     Another goal strengthened by the war is that of energy security. Reliance on imports from the region is risky for the countries that are reliant and for the whole world in terms of prices. One aspect of increasing energy security is producing more solar, wind, and nuclear energy, but that is very expensive and, in the case of solar and wind, inadequate for replacing fossil fuels. Diversification of supply away from conflict zones is another strategy. China buys the most Iranian oil. They also get it at a discount due to sanctions. Thus, they benefit from sanctions against Iran as they do from sanctions against Russia. They no longer benefit from sanctions against Venezuela. Sanctions are meant to stop the flow of those products, but only succeed in slowing the trading of them and decreasing profits for the sellers. That they benefit the buyers may be tolerated, or there may be repercussions for the buyers.

     Iran has, or I should say, had a tremendous leverage over global energy trade with its attempted control over the Strait of Hormuz, a Persian Gulf marine zone which is required by international law to be open for ship traffic. By bombing commercial vessels, Iran has effectively declared war on the world, just as its protégés, the Houthis, tried to do by bombing commercial ships in the Red Sea.

     The release of petroleum reserves is an aspect of energy security that several countries, including the U.S., are undertaking to stabilize supply and markets in the short term. Some Asian governments, those most affected by the blocking of Middle Eastern supplies, are asking consumers to conserve. The International Energy Agency has called it the worst disruption to global energy supplies in history. Japan and Taiwan, both heavily dependent on oil and gas that travel through the Strait of Hormuz, are considering reopening closed nuclear plants. China has banned fuel exports to conserve supply. India is rationing LPG cooking fuel, which it gets from the Middle East. Pakistan closed schools for two weeks to conserve fuel. The Philippines has gone to a four-day work week. The article referenced below by Reuters has a pretty large error. They said China’s grid is “more than 50% powered by renewable energy sources.” As can be seen from the graph below from Our World in Data, that is not true. Its grid is powered 60% by coal, and somewhere around 15% by wind and solar, and another 15% by hydro.

    Europe’s situation is different from Asia and China, and much different from the U.S. The continent is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, which is one reason the development of renewables has been pursued intently. However, it has also made several blunders, such as Germany shutting nuclear plants and having to re-open highly polluting lignite coal plants after the natural gas price spikes due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Reducing the share of nuclear in the overall mix of power supplies in Europe over the past 25 years "was a strategic mistake," von der Leyen said.

     The Eu is currently drafting changes to its carbon market to help make energy more affordable for consumers. Europe was once heavily dependent on relatively cheap Russian gas, especially via pipeline, but that proved a geopolitical mistake. It then diversified its supply, which included more LNG from the Middle East, which is now hurting it. While the EU’s push for clean energy may eventually increase energy security, the risk is becoming more dependent on China for needed processed minerals, magnets, and components. That is one geopolitical aspect of wind, solar, and batteries that is hard to circumvent by calling for more renewables. It simply trades one form of energy insecurity for another. Another issue to consider is that China primarily uses fossil fuels to mine and process those so-called clean energy minerals and to build the components for them. China is also not known for its environmental protection.

     The Strait of Hormuz is also a crucial shipping lane for fertilizer, which is made from natural gas. This may even affect U.S. farmers as they get ready to plant for the year in a few months. With fertilizer prices skyrocketing, the U.S. has initiated fertilizer supply diversification, with outreaches to Morocco, the world’s largest phosphate fertilizer supplier, and even Venezuela. The U.S. currently gets about 15% of its fertilizer from the Middle East. The article from Hespress EN noted that we don’t have a “strategic fertilizer supply” like we do for oil.

     

 

References:

 

Analysis - Iran war energy shock sparks global push to reduce fossil fuel dependence. Anna Hirtenstein and Kate Abnett. Reuters. March 18, 2026. Analysis - Iran war energy shock sparks global push to reduce fossil fuel dependence

Iran War Shows That Doubling Down on Fossil Fuels Is ‘Delusional,’ UN Climate Chief Says Price spikes from the war highlight the necessity of the renewable energy transition for stability and national security, the U.N. official says. Keerti Gopal. Inside Climate News. March 16, 2026. Iran War Shows That Doubling Down on Fossil Fuels Is ‘Delusional,’ UN Climate Chief Says - Inside Climate News

US looks to Morocco for more fertilizer as prices soar. Hespress EN. March 18, 2026. US looks to Morocco for more fertilizer as prices soar

 

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are Exploring Gravity, Underground Pumped Hydro, and Compressed Air Energy Storage at Appalachian Mines and Shafts

      Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have done advanced hydrodynamic modeling, including chemical modeling, to assess the feasibility of converting abandoned coal mines into underground pumped storage hydropower (PSH) facilities for energy storage. In September 2025, I wrote about a similar analysis done to evaluate using abandoned mines for PSH. in 2023 in China’s Henan Province. A study of abandoned Appalachian coal mines for use in pumped hydro, gravity, and compressed air energy storage is ongoing.

     PSH involves pumping water up, typically when energy demand and costs are low, and letting it fall back down while powering turbines, when demand and costs are high. Using mines and mine shafts for PSH has the advantage that deeper tunnels can function as the lower reservoir, while the surface or upper shafts serve as the upper reservoir. This creates a closed-loop system that avoids the need to dam rivers or flood natural valleys.

     Compressed air storage is being considered for horizontal mine works where the air is compressed when energy demand and costs are low and depressurized to power turbines when demand and costs are high.

     Gravity energy storage involves using excess grid electricity during low-cost/low-demand times to lift extremely heavy weights toward the top of a mine shaft. When electricity demand rises, the weights are slowly lowered back down the shaft. Their descent spins a generator, producing electricity that flows back into the grid, as depicted below. Company Green Gravity is working with this method. Many of the shafts are deep enough for such systems to work.

“The weights used in these systems are often constructed from recycled steel or dense concrete to maximize mass. Because the process depends on physical motion rather than chemical reactions, the equipment can operate for decades without the performance loss seen in many lithium-ion batteries.”    

     The researchers have developed a tool to rank and grade sites that offer the best circumstances, according to the Daily Galaxy:

“The tool analyzes factors such as shaft depth, geological stability, and proximity to existing transmission lines. Mines that meet these criteria are flagged as potential candidates for future energy storage facilities.”

“Many of these sites already sit near electrical infrastructure built during the mining era. Heavy-duty power lines once supplied electricity to ventilation systems, water pumps, and underground equipment. Reusing this infrastructure could reduce the cost and time needed to connect storage systems to the grid.”

“The research now underway at Oak Ridge National Laboratory focuses on identifying which abandoned coal mines meet the structural and geological requirements for underground storage systems. The laboratory maintains a national database listing mine sites that satisfy the depth, stability, and infrastructure conditions needed for gravity-based and underground energy storage.”

 

  

References:

 

500,000 abandoned US coal mines to become giant underground water batteries with a new storage method. Arezki Amiri. Daily Galaxy. March 12, 2026. 500,000 abandoned US coal mines to become giant underground water batteries with a new storage method

Transforming abandoned coal mines into energy storage solutions: Modeling capabilities evaluate sites for underground pumped storage hydropower. Thien D. Nguyen. Oak Ridge National Laboratory. March 3, 2026. Transforming abandoned coal mines into energy storage solutions

Koloma’s Natural Hydrogen Project Along Midcontinent Rift Zone in Iowa: Wells Show Hydrogen: Next is Confirmation of Trapping Structural Closure

   

     Koloma, based in Denver, Colorado, and Columbus, Ohio, is currently drilling and testing for natural hydrogen, also known as geologic hydrogen,  along the Mid-Continent Rift System in Iowa. Along with exploration along the extensive Mod-Continent Rift System, which traverses several states, the company expanded into Australia in February 2025. In late 2024, the company announced an exclusive partnership with Xcalibur Smart Mapping for aid in exploration. Also in late 2024, they partnered with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japan’s Osaka Gas. Both of those companies have extensive experience with hydrogen. They also developed a partnership in 2025 with the government of the Philippines.

     Koloma has a nice series of animations (click link, then scroll down for animations) about how natural hydrogen is formed and how it is being developed, with the steps as follows: emplacement, burial, deformation, infiltration, serpentinization, formation of the hydrogen gas trap, regional airborne geophysical surveys, zoomed-in geophysical surveys (mainly seismic), and finally accessing the hydrogen through drilling. Below is a summary of Koloma’s steps in exploration.

     The company utilizes several types of geophysical surveys, similar to the oil & gas and mineral industries. These include airborne surveys such as aeromagnetic surveys and gravity surveys, seismic surveys including passive acoustic and active acoustic surveys, and magnetotellurics.

     An article for Azo Clean Tech explains the formation of natural hydrogen.

“Geologic hydrogen is an inorganic resource generated by continuous geochemical processes, distinguishing it from finite fossil fuels. The primary formation mechanism is serpentinization, a chemical reaction that occurs when water interacts with iron-rich rocks such as olivine and pyroxene at temperatures between 200–300 °C.”

“In this process, the water oxidizes the iron minerals and releases hydrogen gas (H₂). These conditions are often found in specific geological settings, such as mid-continent rift systems and ophiolites.”

“A secondary generation pathway is radiolysis, where natural radiation from radioactive elements in the Earth's crust splits water (H₂O) molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation from radioactive elements interact with groundwater, producing hydrogen and oxygen gases continuously in radioactive formations.”

     As of mid-February, Koloma has drilled four wells in the Iowa portion of the Mid-Continent Rift System. The basement rock in the region is basalt, which is favorable for natural hydrogen formation. From what I could gather, drilling has taken place in Northwest-Central Iowa at the Vincent Dome, presumably a possible trap with structural four-way closure, in Webster County. The depth to the Precambrian basaltic basement is just a few thousand feet. However, according  to an Iowa Geological Survey geologist, the total depths are currently proprietary, and he noted:

“The wells that (hydrogen exploration companies) are drilling now are basically the second deepest in the state,” Clark said. “So, we’re talking about very deep wells and an awful lot of information.”

     If that is the case, they are likely drilling pretty far into the basalt.

     Todd Bush of Decarbonfuse notes the interest in exploring for natural hydrogen in Iowa:

“Ryan Clark of the Iowa Geological Survey confirmed that about half a dozen companies have expressed interest in hydrogen exploration in the state. Most have requested basalt core samples, with 11 of 24 available samples located in the Vincent dome region.”

     Below, Bush notes some details about Koloma.

     According to NatH2Investing.org:

“Iowa lawmakers are considering Senate File 546, which would establish permitting, pooling, royalty, and confidentiality rules for hydrogen extraction.”

     The potential and presence of natural hydrogen have been established in Iowa, as it has in Minnesota, Kansas, and Nebraska, but the next thing to determine is trapping via structural closure.

     The USGS published a U.S. map of the potential for natural hydrogen for the first time in January 2025. The map is shown below and shows many potentially prospective areas. Factors for development include depth, properties of basement rocks, presence of olivine-rich rocks, groundwater infiltration to induce serpentinization, and four-way structural closure.

     According to an interview with Koloma CEO Pete Johnson:

“From a market standpoint, there’s probably no better place on earth to discover more hydrogen than the Corn Belt in the United States where you’ve got massive fertilizer demand,” Johnson said.

“Potential hydrogen extracted in Iowa could have other uses, like generating electricity or fueling vehicles, if the infrastructure and demand were put in place. But Johnson said the immediate demand, especially in Iowa, is for domestically produced anhydrous ammonia.”

     Development of natural hydrogen could also include injecting water to stimulate increased serpentinization so that hydrogen continues to be generated or possibly is generated at higher quantities. If the resource was adequate and this could be done, it could bypass the need for structural geologic traps.

     Below are some depictions of Koloma’s Columbus, Ohio lab, where they house and analyze solid, liquid, and gas samples associated with natural hydrogen exploration.

     Incidentally, I once had a dream about working on a drilling project to test a geologic structure in Iowa, which I found odd, since there is very little oil & gas found in the state, and none is commercial.

 

 

References:

 

Powering the Future with Natural Hydrogen. Koloma. Home - Koloma

Koloma Partners with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Osaka Gas to Advance Geologic Hydrogen Exploration. Michelle Brkljacic. October 15, 2024. Koloma. Koloma Partners with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Osaka Gas to Advance Geologic Hydrogen Exploration - Koloma

Uses for Natural Hydrogen: How Natural Hydrogen is Formed. Koloma. Natural Hydrogen - Koloma

How One Company is Removing Barriers to Clean, Natural Hydrogen Production. Abdul Ahad Nazakat. Reviewed by Laura Thomson. Azo Clean Tech. June 20, 2025. Unlocking Clean Hydrogen: Koloma's Groundbreaking Technology

Iowa Moves to Regulate Natural Hydrogen as Koloma Drills Four Wells into Midcontinent Rift Potential. NatH2Investing.com. February 13, 2026. Iowa Moves to Regulate Natural Hydrogen as Koloma Drills Four Wells into Midcontinent Rift Potential - NatH2investing

Iowa's Hydrogen Rush: Can Koloma Strike Gold Before Rules Kick In? Todd Bush. Decarbonfuse. February 23, 2026. Iowa's Hydrogen Rush: Can Koloma Strike Gold Before | decarbonfuse.com

GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCESOF WEBSTER COUNTY, IOWA. William E. Hale. U. S. Geological Survey. 1955. 2014-10-23_09-10-56_wsb-4.pdf

Mapping the Future of Energy: Hydrogen Reserves in the U.S. Todd Bush. Decarbonfuse. January 22, 2025. Mapping the Future of Energy: Hydrogen Reserves in | decarbonfuse.com

Russian Attack on Dniester Hydroelectric Power Plant Leaks “Technical Oils” into the Dniester River, Threatening Drinking Water Quality

     Bombing emits pollution, usually air pollution, with the large amounts of smoke from the combustion of the weapons' propulsion systems, as well as the smoke, debris, and particulate pollution emitted from the explosions. The illnesses from the 911 attack cleanup are a clear example that such emissions can be very dangerous, both immediately and over time. The recent bombing of an oil storage facility in Iran by Israeli jets made a residual oily rain that coated the area. This is no doubt harmful. Other types of bombings can release contaminants into waterways, which is what happened recently when Russia bombed a hydroelectric plant in Ukraine on the Dniester River.

     A Russian attack on the Dniester Hydroelectric Power Plant caused oil products to be spilled into the river, creating an environmental threat to the adjacent country of Moldova. They deployed the army and water testing experts and appealed to the European Union for assistance. “Technical oils” were leaked into the river. Teams from Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, as well as units of the Moldovan National Army, were dispatched to contain oil slicks and to perform water testing. Technical oils used at hydroelectric plants may include lubricants, gear oils, greases, hydraulic oils, and other special lubricants. 

     I recently wrote a post about sabotage that resulted in a leak of approximately 4,900 gallons of non-PBC transformer oil into a creek in West Virginia, and the extensive containment, water testing, and water system purging required to mitigate the incident. Something similar will be required here. 

     According to RBC Ukraine, the Moldovan Prime Minister noted:

"We are requesting support from our European partners for the swift mobilization of specialist teams and the necessary equipment to operate on the Dniester. This includes equipment for capturing, containing, and removing oil pollution from the water, as well as mobile stations for water quality testing," he said.

“Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder warned that settlements in northern Moldova could be left without a water supply. A yellow-level alert has already been declared in the area of Naslavcea village.”

     They also noted that the Dniester River is a major source of drinking water for two major cities:

“The Dniester River is one of the key sources of water supply for the cities of Odesa (Ukraine) and Chisinau (Republic of Moldova), and the contamination poses a serious threat to the population and aquatic ecosystems.”

     The bombing of civilian energy sites, such as the hydroelectric plant on the Dniester, is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention. Russia excels in committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. While the U.S. leadership has complained about so-called “rules of engagement,” for the most part, it follows them.

     According to Wikipedia:

“The Dnister HES (Ukrainian: Дністровська ГЕС, romanized: Dnistrovska HES) is a 702 MW hydroelectric power station at the Dnister near Novodnistrovsk, Ukraine. It was launched in commercial operation in 1981. Both Dnister Hydroelectric Station and Dniester Pumped Storage Power Station are operated by Ukrhydroenergo and compose the Dnister.” Cascade of power stations. Dnister HES-2 is located downstream and has a 40.8 MW capacity.”

     A Microsoft CoPilot AI summary notes:

“The Dniester Hydroelectric Plant plays a crucial role in Ukraine's energy infrastructure, contributing significantly to the national grid. Its operational history, capacity, and recent developments highlight its importance and the challenges it faces in the current geopolitical climate.”  

     Addendum March 17, 2026:

"The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Oleg Ozerov, Russia's ambassador to Moldova, on 17 March and handed him a note of protest in connection with a Russian strike that caused a leak of petroleum products into the Dniester River."

     As shown below, he was also presented with a bottle of water collected from the river.

"The Republic of Moldova strongly condemns this attack, which caused leaks of petroleum products into the Dniester River, creating major risks for the environment and security of the water supply of the Republic of Moldova. The Dniester River supplies water to about 80% of the country's population and 98% of residents of Chişinău," the statement said."

References:

 

Russia poisons river in two countries: Ukraine prepares appeal to UN. Kateryna Shkarlat. RBC Ukraine. March 13, 2026. Russia poisons river in two countries: Ukraine prepares appeal to UN

Dniester Hydroelectric Station. Wikipedia. Dniester Hydroelectric Station - Wikipedia

Moldovan Foreign Ministry summoned Russian representative and handed him bottle of Dniester water – photo. Khrystyna Bondarieva, STANISLAV POHORILOV. Ukrainska Pravda. March 17, 2026. Moldovan Foreign Ministry summoned Russian representative and handed him bottle of Dniester water – photo