Ben Geman
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Energy reporter w/@Axios. Former stops incl. National Journal, The Hill, E&E, Boston Phoenix (RIP). I tweet about running too. Tips/feedback: ben@axios.com
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Articles by Ben Geman
Drones have created a new energy security landscape Original
Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photos: Bettmann and Interim Archives via Getty Images The wars in Iran and Ukraine show how the drone tech revolution makes it easier — and cheaper — to interrupt energy supplies by striking refineries and oil tankers. Why it matters: It's an important reason why oil traded at $100 per barrel this week and gasoline and diesel fuel are so expensive these days.
Oil tops $90 as Middle East fighting escalates
Ben Geman Data: Financial Modeling Prep ; Chart: Ben Geman/Axios Oil prices jumped above $90 per barrel Sunday in the first major trading since the deaths of three U.S. service members and escalating Middle East hostilities. Why it matters: Higher oil prices could quickly translate into more expensive gasoline for consumers and diesel for freight carriers while increasing inflation risks worldwide.
Oil tops $90 as Middle East fighting escalates
Russia launches largest missile barrage at Ukraine's Kyiv since start of war Russia launches what Ukraine says is one of the largest barrages of missiles at Kyiv since the start of the war.
Oil tops $90 as Middle East fighting escalates
Markets brace for return to all-out war in Iran amid rising U.S. death toll, while former NATO commander warns Suez Canal could be next Stock futures were mixed Sunday evening and oil prices continued to climb as the deaths of American service members over the weekend added more fuel …
Pawlenty's theory of the case for solar success
Ben Geman Tim Pawlenty, the new head of the solar industry's lobbying group, sees his gig through lenses that are purple and green. Why it matters: Minnesota's former GOP governor arrives at the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) at a time of huge political problems for renewables under Trump 2.0. But there are some tailwinds, too. Rising demand and AI put a premium on energy that can come online fast, and affordability is the political buzzword of the moment as electricity bills rise.
Oil jumps as Trump claims new Hormuz blockade on Iran
Data: Financial Modeling Prep; Chart: Ben Geman/Axios Oil prices surged about 9% Monday to roughly $83 per barrel after President Trump claimed the U.S. was reinstating a naval blockade on Iran, adding to gains already driven by renewed hostilities over the weekend. Why it matters: Higher oil prices typically feed into higher gasoline prices, potentially pushing the national average back toward $4 per gallon.
The Iran war's limited boost for energy transition
The oil economy's surprising flexibility and countries' plans to cut reliance on the Strait of Hormuz could together limit how much the war boosts the global energy transition. Why it matters: Energy crises have long-term consequences — like the 1970s oil shocks that brought U.S. gasoline mileage rules for cars, and the country's turn away from burning oil to make electricity. The U.S. has been relatively insulated this time, though the crisis raised gasoline prices.
A renewables playbook for the rest of Trump 2.0
A top renewables and storagegroupsees openings for progress onCapitol Hill as it looks to build more nationwide power on the political right. Why it matters: Trump officials are targeting wind power, which the president overtly despises, and last year's GOP budget law phased out tax credits for wind and solar generation projects.
Oil jumps after Trump's Iran ceasefire comments
Data: Financial Modeling Prep ; Chart: Ben Geman/Axios Oil markets are taking President Trump's claim that the Iran ceasefire is "over" seriously, but not literally. Why it matters: The price jump is big, but even now, there are signs that the markets aren't expecting a complete return to war.
A renewables playbook for the rest of Trump 2.0
Science 4 hours ago NASA's New Horizons probe just woke up from hibernation 6 billion miles away beyond Pluto. What's it doing out there? space.com - Brett Tingley • 4h "All these discoveries from pioneering missions like Voyager and New Horizons teach us how little we know about what lies beyond." NASA's New Horizons … Climate 3 hours ago How Long Do Solar Panels Last With Proper Maintenance? bgr.com - By Briley Kenney • 3h Solar panels for your home are a fairly costly investment upfront.
Oil jumps after Trump's Iran ceasefire comments
World News 1 hour ago Iran signals defiance as Trump fumes over Strait of Hormuz strikes Al Jazeera - By Maziar Motamedi • 1h Iranian officials insist Tehran will not give up control over the waterway as US attacks and the withdrawal of sanctions waivers threaten fragile truce.
"Glass half full" on carbon cuts despite IRA losses
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"Glass half full" on carbon cuts despite IRA losses
Data: MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy; Chart: Ben Geman/Axios The U.S. is still projected to achieve two-thirds of the emissions cuts from power generation that would have occurred without the rollbacks of the Biden-era climate law and regulations, a new study concludes. Why it matters: It puts an exclamation point on what we explored yesterday: low-carbon energy is surviving, in weakened form, despite the 2025 GOP budget law that slashed renewables subsidies.
Clean energy hurt but resilient one year after GOP budget law
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Clean energy hurt but resilient one year after GOP budget law
The GOP budget law that President Trump signed a year ago has darkened the outlook for several clean energy sources, but stopped far short of strangling low-carbon tech. Why it matters: It's part of a broader attack on Biden-era climate policies, along with Trump's executive moves to kill regulations and slow permitting of renewables projects.
July 4 gas prices will be the highest since 2022
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July 4 gas prices will be the highest since 2022
5 hours ago Earlier this week, JD Vance revealed that Donald Trump told the envoys tasked with negotiating a peace deal with Iran to “use the [memorandum of understanding] to refill the world’s oil economy, refill some stocks and then to see where the hand is,” by which he meant that the administration is …
The world is suddenly awash in oil — for now
Wait, what? The ink is barely dry on the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, and somehow the market is swimming in oil. Why it matters: Middle East oil transit and production have resumed faster than many analysts predicted, helping push down prices. Reality check: The market could tighten again, and prices could rise anew — and plenty depends on security in the Strait of Hormuz. How it works: The June 17 deal effectively freed many loaded tankers that had been stranded.
Oil transit is rebounding — but fresh hurdles arrive
Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are resuming faster than many analysts predicted, but fresh hostilities in recent days are threatening the trend. Why it matters: The rebound in shipments is good news for the tight oil market and is helping push prices lower. The speed since the June 17 U.S.-Iran deal is just the latest example of the 2026 oil crisis repeatedly defying conventional wisdom over the last four months.
Charging concerns overtake costs in Uber's electric car push Original
For the first time, Uber drivers see charging access as a greater barrier to going electric than vehicle costs, a 13-country survey shows. Why it matters: Public and residential infrastructure are persistent hurdles for the ride-hailing giant, which is behind on its electric vehicle targets. But its annual survey has bright spots, with drivers' concerns about EV prices consistently dropping.
How Trump's nuclear loans could move the needle
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How Trump's nuclear loans could move the needle
Here are early conclusions and things to watch in the Energy Department's plan to loan utilities billions of dollars to buy equipment for large new reactors. Why it matters: DOE envisions 10 Westinghouse AP100 reactors — enough to power about 10 million homes — under construction across five two-reactor projects by 2030. That's an aggressive timeline in the slow and expensive world of developing big new U.S. nuclear plants.
Trump threatens DOJ probe of oil companies Original
President Trump says he ordered the Justice Department to probe whether oil companies are gouging consumers. Why it matters: It shows a new level of Trump's frustration with prices at the pump — and introduces a new wild card for oil companies, depending on what the Justice Department decides to do with the president's overnight Truth Social post.
Energy regulators push for faster AI data center grid connections Original
Federal regulators on Thursday ordered grid operators across a vast swath of the country to show how they will speed connection of AI data centers to transmission systems. Why it matters: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's orders aim to enable the AI boom, but without making power grids less reliable or raising consumer costs. The move takes place as tech giants are thirsty for power to fuel AI, but political and community backlash to massive new data centers is growing.
Carbon removal group boosts spending, adds Anthropic
Frontier, the group of big companies trying to jump-start carbon removal, just unveiled $915 million in new purchase plans and added AI heavyweight Anthropic to its roster. Why it matters: New or accelerated ways of pulling CO2 from the atmosphere could become a weapon against global warming — but massive scale-up is required to move the needle. Today's announcement nearly doubles the group's pledged contracting with companies trying to commercialize carbon-removal technologies.
How the Iran war energy crisis defied expectations
With large-scale oil shipments potentially resuming soon, let's take stock of how the energy shock has bucked conventional wisdom. Why it matters: What market watchers and participants got wrong could help inform responses to geopolitical upheaval in the future. Here's what surprised analysts (and journalists) during the conflict: 📃 Futures market behavior. Predictions of $150 per barrel or even $200 were common in the early days, and prices — while painful — never got close.
Oil prices sink on announcement of Iran deal
Crude oil prices fell over 4% to their lowest levels in over three months Sunday after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire extension that could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Why it matters: Severe restrictions on oil traffic through the strait since the conflict began in late February have created an unprecedented energy shock that's a drag on the global economy.
Oil prices sink on announcement of Iran deal
World News 20 hours ago Trump Celebrates While America Capitulates The Atlantic - By Tom Nichols • 20h The peace deal with Tehran is an Iranian victory. President Trump has announced that the United States and Iran have reached a deal to end their war. “Congratulations to all!” he said in a posting on his Truth Social site this evening.
When oil prices could get even worse
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When oil prices could get even worse
Oil prices have defied predictions of even bigger increases than we've seen — but the markets' shock absorbers could easily wear out later this summer unless the Strait of Hormuz opens soon, analysts warn. Why it matters: If the stockpiles run too low and oil prices surge, prices at the pump — which have been falling lately — could spike again as the midterm elections approach. And buffers against economically devastating shortages in major importing countries are also at risk.
How the Iran war aftershocks are hitting oil, coal, climate
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How the Iran war aftershocks are hitting oil, coal, climate
Data: U.S. Energy Information Administration; Chart: Ben Geman/Axios With the Iran war now over 100 days old, here's the latest rolling snapshot of how it's driving changes in energy markets. The big picture: Global oil use is going down (in the short term), UN climate officials are using the crisis to push for clean energy, and coal is getting more use in the Asia-Pacific region.
Exclusive: Environmental group plans to mobilize "energy bill voters"
Rising energy costs are "likely to be a decisive factor in the 2026 elections," per a new League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund memo shared first with Axios. Why it matters: LCV has the environmental movement's most expansive electoral operation. The memo from its super PAC describes a strategy to mobilize specific pockets of voters in House, Senate and governor's races.
Exclusive: Environmental group plans to mobilize "energy bill voters"
Rising energy costs are "likely to be a decisive factor in the 2026 elections," per a new League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund memo shared first with Axios. Why it matters: LCV has the environmental movement's most expansive electoral operation. The memo from its super PAC describes a strategy to mobilize specific pockets of voters in House, Senate and governor's races.
New reports give sobering numbers on data centers' resource needs
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios Data center power demand could triple by 2030, equivalent to the annual electricity use of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria combined. The water footprint of this electricity demand would equal the annual domestic water needs of all 1.3 billion residents of Sub-Saharan Africa. AI infrastructure could generate up to 2.5 million metric tons of e-waste annually by 2030, equivalent to discarding nearly 250 Eiffel Towers every year.
It takes a village to delay an energy disaster
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It takes a village to delay an energy disaster
Photo illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. With summer driving season here, let's revisit two big questions: why isn't the global oil crisis even worse, and how long until economic damage from the Iran war gets even more acute? Why it matters: There's persistent risk of much higher prices and expanding shortages. The big picture: Brent crude futures are under $100 per barrel despite the throttling of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles a fifth of the global oil trade.
States sue Trump administration over offshore wind deal
Seven northeast states sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over its payment of $795 million to TotalEnergies to give up a wind lease in a coastal region off New York and New Jersey. Why it matters: The deal with the French energy giant is among the White House's most aggressive moves targeting offshore wind development.
Nashville gas prices tick down, but remain higher than last year
Note: Monthly gas prices from the first of each month. Data: GasBuddy; Chart: Adam Tamburin/Axios Pain at the pump is easing a bit in Nashville and beyond, but gas remains far more expensive heading into the summer than last year. Why it matters: High gas prices are the most visible economic effect of the Iran war for many Americans grappling with inflation. Driving the news: The average price per gallon in Nashville fell to $4 on Monday, per GasBuddy — down 15 cents over the last month.
Nashville gas prices tick down, but remain higher than last year
Nashville gas prices tick down, but remain higher than last year Pain at the pump is easing a bit in Nashville and beyond, but gas remains far more expensive heading into the summer than last year. Why it matters: …
New climate fund targets "rebuilding the physical economy" Original
Gigascale Capital, the VC firm founded by ex-Meta CTO Mike Schroepfer, just announced a new $250 million fund to back startups "rebuilding the physical economy for climate impact." Why it matters: It marks an evolution of the climate-focused firm Schroepfer launched in 2023 that supports early-stage startups. The new fund is Gigascale's first backed by outside institutions and organizations (which it didn't immediately name).
Gas prices are dropping — but they're still high
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Gas prices are dropping — but they're still high
Data: AAA; Chart: Ben Geman/Axios Pain at the pump is easing, but gas is far costlier heading into the summer than last year — and what comes next is wildly unpredictable. Why it matters: High gas prices are the most visible economic effect of the Iran war for many Americans grappling with inflation.
The new oil order that could emerge from an Iran deal
With a U.S.-Iran deal (maybe?) taking shape in coming days, the oil market that follows will look different than what preceded the war. Why it matters: The emerging deal — which would re-open the Strait of Hormuz while nuclear talks proceed — could return large amounts of barrels to the market. It's not a moment too soon as global oil stockpiles, which have somewhat tempered the crisis, are drawn down at record pace.
The new oil order that could emerge from an Iran deal
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The new oil order that could emerge from an Iran deal
World News 6 hours ago AI is hitting a wall. Here’s how we rethink the hardware to break it World Economic Forum - Kaushik Roy • 6h Artificial intelligence (AI) is running into a physical bottleneck.
Oil prices sink on signs of US.-Iran deal
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