While focus shifted to Venezuela and oil at the end of the year, electricity prices remained the biggest topic in December. This included an increase in human-interest stories that highlighted the impacts on ratepayers from load growth and the need for transmission buildout. National outlets increasingly framed AI and data centers as a transformative force in the power sector, as they’re determining grid upgrades, new generation, environmental considerations, and energy policy discussions.

While energy sources, from oil and gas to solar to nuclear, saw fluctuations driven by policy shifts and project news, coverage in 2025 evolved beyond the basics of different generation types to focus on economic and consumer impacts, like broader concerns around electricity prices, energy supply, and security. Geothermal saw its highest SOV at 3%, while nuclear coverage declined over the year, underscoring its reliance on policy support and project validation. The data center demand for faster speed-to-power also played a role.

Overall, energy trade coverage leaned into concrete project progress and near-term developments, with more reporting tied to specific project buildouts and milestones. Publications also continued reflecting on 2025 and how data center growth is reshaping planning and operations across the sector. A notable shift this month was stronger attention on energy storage, with capacity expansion framed as a key lever for reliability and meeting rising demand. Throughout 2025, grid reliability, transmission, and storage capacity gained momentum as core solutions for rising demand.

Energy social conversations spanned affordability, geopolitics, and AI. U.S. energy prices remain volatile, with gas below $3 per gallon while electricity costs (up nearly 90% in California since 2013) strain affordability. Geopolitical risks are rising as the U.S. intercepts sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments and Europe moves to phase out Russian gas, turning to U.S. LNG. Meanwhile, AI-driven data center demand pressures aging grids, sharpening political debate over renewables, nuclear investment, and deregulation ahead of the U.S. 2026 midterm elections.

Within energy hashtags, Canada’s energy debate is unfolding against a rapidly shifting global backdrop. While countries worldwide accelerate renewables, nuclear investment, and energy-security partnerships, Canada faces criticism over tanker bans, governance gaps, and politically driven project cancellations that sidelined $100B+ in investment. Rising costs and foreign oil reliance contrast with global moves toward energy independence, prompting calls for Canada to better leverage its resources and compete in an evolving energy and economic landscape.