Gov. Shapiro Issues Strict Standards for Data Center Tax Breaks
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro introduced new “Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Standards” for data center developers yesterday. These standards aim to tie tax breaks to sustainability and transparency, addressing concerns about energy affordability, pollution, noise, and overall quality of life. Under Shapiro’s GRID plan, data center developers seeking tax exemptions would need to demonstrate that they meet requirements to protect energy affordability, promote transparency and community engagement, support workforce development, and safeguard the environment. Projects would also be required to incorporate so-called clean energy sources and adhere to strict efficiency and environmental protection measures. Read More “Gov. Shapiro Issues Strict Standards for Data Center Tax Breaks”
Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-Bucks/Lehigh) and Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne) have introduced legislation in Pennsylvania to address the rapid expansion of data centers. Their proposed bills aim to repeal a 2021 tax exemption that incentivizes data centers to locate in the state. The bills would also empower municipalities to implement an 18-month moratorium on data center development applications. With all due respect, these two Republicans have lost their way and are out of their minds. 
The Warren, OH, City Council introduced legislation to impose a permanent ban on new data centers, citing concerns about water supply, wastewater infrastructure, utility costs, and the city’s residential character. Sponsored by Democrats, the proposed ordinance argues that data centers place unsustainable demands on city systems, particularly following a costly wastewater plant upgrade. One Council Democrat drew parallels between data centers and past fracking “disappointments” in the region, emphasizing water as the community’s most critical resource. 
Founded in 2001, ArcLight Capital Partners is a leading infrastructure investor focused on critical electrification assets. The firm has owned, controlled, or operated more than 70 GW of assets and 48,000 miles of electric and gas transmission and storage infrastructure, representing over $90 billion in enterprise value. ArcLight invests across power, hydro, solar, wind, battery storage, electric and natural gas transmission, storage infrastructure, and digital power. ArcLight is an investor/owner of a number of key assets in the Marcellus Utica, including gas-fired power plants and pipelines (
The Appalachian Basin, spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, has become America’s premier natural gas province, producing over 35 billion cubic feet daily (Bcf/d) in 2024. Driven by hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus and Utica shales, private mineral rights, and low breakeven costs below $2 per MMBtu, the basin has reshaped *global* energy markets. How? Infrastructure constraints (lack of pipelines) and Mid-Atlantic political opposition prevent local LNG export terminal development. Even so, Marcellus/Utica gas underwrites domestic power markets, fuels digital infrastructure, and indirectly propelled the United States to become the world’s leading LNG superpower by displacing Gulf Coast gas for export liquefaction. 
We spotted a press release by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announcing record “open interest” across its global energy markets in May 2026, reaching 130.5 million contracts. It’s all highly technical financial jargon. We decided to research it to figure out (a) what it is saying, and (b) how/why it’s important for the Marcellus/Utica. We’re glad we did. The press release from ICE—one of the largest financial exchanges in the world—announces that the global energy market is currently seeing a historic amount of financial activity. In short, more energy companies, investors, and utilities than ever before are using financial contracts to lock in future natural gas and electricity prices. 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Town of Rock approves LNG plant permit; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures settle higher; The U.S. is a major energy exporter and importer, especially for petroleum; Amicus briefs urge SCOTUS to end Boulder’s climate lawsuit; Why do we keep wasting money on ‘renewable’ technologies?; INTERNATIONAL: Oil settles below $89 on deal hopes; US strikes Iran military site near Hormuz; BP Chairman says he was fired without explanation; Rage, rage against the dying of the net zero dream; Hormuz in the U.S.–Iran conflict as a strategic game changer. 
Calfrac Well Services Ltd.
Earlier this month, MDN told you that WhiteHawk Energy (undergoing a rename to WhiteHawk Minerals), a natural gas mineral and royalty interest owner in the Marcellus and Haynesville plays, with over 3.4 million gross acres under lease for drilling, was teeing up for an initial public offering (see 
The Virginia Supreme Court issued a ruling last Thursday with far-reaching consequences not only for the plaintiffs who won the case (EQT and Diversified Energy) but also for other conventional and, if it ever develops, shale drillers in the state. EQT and Diversified sued Wise County, VA, alleging that Wise County’s method of valuing their assets in the county overvalued them, resulting in a much higher tax bill. The Supremes agreed and sent the case back to a lower court to rework the valuations. 
The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its dysfunctional and irresponsible counterpart, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals and consumptive use requests for responsible, safe shale drilling. The SRBC published a notice in the May 23rd Pennsylvania Bulletin that the SRBC approved and/or renewed 33 general water use permits in April for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Cameron, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming counties. 
East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) has officially broken ground on Liberty Station, a $500 million natural gas-fired power plant located in Casey County, Kentucky. Expected to be operational in late 2028, this project represents the cooperative’s first new greenfield power plant since the 1980s. The facility will use twelve large generators to produce electricity for approximately 95,000 homes (214 megawatts), significantly improving grid reliability for over 1 million customers across 89 counties. Running primarily on natural gas with ultra-low-sulfur diesel backup, the station will create over 20 high-paying, full-time jobs and deliver clean and reliable energy to rural residents. 
Last week, the combined Marcellus/Utica Baker Hughes rig count maintained its cumulative count of 36 active rigs after dropping 1 rig two weeks ago in the PA Marcellus (see 