​JANUARY

• US gas exports quadrupled in 2017.
• 2017 was the last year that China was not the top natural-gas importer: Japan averaged 11 billion cubic feet per day; China imported on average 5.6 bn cubic feet per day.
• In 2017, the US had the capacity to store 1,000 megawatts of power for one hour.  That total is projected to double in 2018; meanwhile, the US rooftop solar industry contracted in 2017 - after 16 straight years of gains.

​FEBRUARY​

• US uranium production at its lowest.
  
• Federal legislation mandates sale of US Strategic Petroleum Reserve crude oil.
  
• US imports of solar photovoltaic modules from Asia reaches peak.

​MARCH

• There are about 40 active shale plays in the continental US.
• White House Chief of Staff John Kelly blocked efforts to host a public "red-team / blue-team" debate about the science around climate change.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger - former Terminator and California governor - sues the oil and gas industry for 'First Degree Murder.' 

APRIL

• Congress passed a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill and the DoE is a big winner - it gets $35 billion, a $3.8 billion increase over fiscal 2017.
  
• April 21, shooting in the Saudi Royal Palace in Riyadh injures Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 
  
• Saudi Arabia begins construction of the largest solar farm in the world - a staggering 200 GW solar farm.

MAY

•  Global renewable energy capacity, energy demand, and energy-related CO2 emissions all increased.
  
• Energy Secretary Rick Perry told by President to "prepare immediate steps" to bail out economically struggling coal and nuclear power plants in the interest of national security. 
  
• President Trump asks ethanol farmers and oil refiners to call a truce over federal RFS biofuel mandates. 

JUNE

• On June 9, the Pope has a private meeting with a few O&G executives and energy influencers.
• June 29, 2017, President Trump announces that his administration will pursue "energy dominance".
• Germany misses its target of cutting carbon emissions by 40% ... again.

JULY

• All G20 Energy Ministers unanimously adopt Communique: "natural gas is key for a clean and sustainable future," and all nations should increase investment in natural gas.
  
• President Trump visits Germany and Russia to make clear that the US opposes the development of the proposed Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.
  
• Most species are devastated by warmer global temperatures, but some thrive, such as: Arctic mosquitoes, Pine beetles, Southern gray-cheeked salamander, and cats.
  
• Scott Pruitt, the Administrator of the EPA, has resigned; Andrew Wheeler becomes acting-Director of the EPA.

AUGUST

• Curious economic conditions for global natural gas market: demand growing, prices dropping.
  
• Energy companies no longer have to pay the federal government "compensatory mitigation" fees to offset damage to public land.
  
• "Urban heat islands" reach record temperatures in the US; Phoenix is the hottest US urban heat island.

SEPTEMBER

• The United States surpasses Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world's largest oil producer. 
  
• California signs a new law: the world’s fifth largest economy commits to achieving net-zero carbon emissions in 25 years.
  
• US/China trade war focused entirely on Iran's oil exports (US sanctions vs. Chinese demand).
  
• Every country in the world except the US supports the COP21 Paris Climate goals, but no major developed country is on track to meet them.

OCTOBER

• Coal barely holding on as top source for generated electricity (38% of global total).
• Growth rate of renewable energy in India surpasses growth rate for the European Union.
• The Saudi economist who criticized the Aramco IPO has been charged with terrorism.

NOVEMBER

• President Trump nominates Andrew Wheeler as the new Director of the EPA.
• US Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke fights to save his job.
• Toshiba cancels its Moorside nuclear project in the UK while Ukraine unveils solar plant in Chernobyl.

DECEMBER

• The 408th consecutive month that temperatures were above the 20th-century average.
• Hydraulically fractured horizontal wells account for a majority newly drilled oil and natural gas wells.
• For the first time, the US achieves net-positive export of crude oil and petroleum products.