MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Wed, Sep 24, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear plant ahead of schedule to reopen; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas picks up after string of losses; AI model gives energy traders hourly forecasts 7 months out; LNG exports now dominate U.S. natural gas — where the market is heading; Gas-fired power braces for new AI landscape; Feedgas demand rises despite maintenance at Cove Point; INTERNATIONAL: Oil rises on Russian supply risks; Latest science further exposes lies about rising seas; TC Energy bets on US even as Canada plans LNG expansion.

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION

Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear plant ahead of schedule to reopen
Constellation Energy Corporation
One year after Constellation’s announcement to restart Three Mile Island Unit 1—now renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center—the project is progressing ahead of schedule, with nearly 80% of staffing in place, substantial equipment inspections completed, regulatory filings on track, and grid interconnection accelerated. The 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft underscores growing market confidence in nuclear as clean, reliable baseload power. Economic projections estimate ~3,400 jobs, $16 billion added to Pennsylvania’s GDP, and over $3 billion in tax revenue; the company has also committed more than $1 million in community investments. [MDN: We bring you periodic news of other energy sources, like nuclear, because it competes with natural gas. We’re “all of the above” when it comes to energy, but our strong preference is for natural gas for most energy purposes. After natgas, we like nukes.]

NATIONAL

U.S. natural gas picks up after string of losses
Wall Street Journal
U.S. natural gas futures rise for the first time in five sessions with help from lower production and the October contract expiry at the end of the week, when the higher-priced November gas moves to the front of the curve. “As we start the fall season, the expectation for cold weather has been put off a bit, putting some downward pressure on natural gas,” Phil Flynn of the Price Futures Group says in a note. “While the longer-term fundamentals still look solid, we’re going to need heating demand to be at least average, or the market is not going to fulfill its longer-term bullish expectations.” Nymex natural gas for October settles up 1.7% at $2.853/mmBtu. [MDN: Good. The price stopped its downward fall and began to gain ground again.]

AI model gives energy traders hourly forecasts 7 months out
Bloomberg/N.S. Malik, L. Rosenthal
Amperon Holdings Inc., a Houston-based tech firm, is expanding electricity demand forecasting by offering hourly U.S. power demand projections up to seven months ahead, surpassing traditional 15-day outlooks. Using AI, machine learning, and weather data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting, Amperon integrates historical data, solar and wind conditions, and consumer behavior to produce granular demand curves. The forecasts aim to help utilities, traders, and speculators manage risks and price shocks as grid stress grows from extreme weather, electrification, and surging AI-driven data center usage. Backtests show early accuracy, attracting clients like PG&E, Orsted, AES, and Eversource. [MDN: An interesting development and use for AI in predicting future weather patterns and their impact on electric demand.]

LNG exports now dominate U.S. natural gas — where the market is heading
RBN Energy/Jason Lindquist
The article traces the evolution of U.S. LNG exports from negligible levels a decade ago to a dominant driver of natural-gas flows, beginning with the first LNG cargo’s departure from Sabine Pass in 2016. Thanks to the shale revolution, the U.S. shifted from anticipated gas shortages to abundant supplies, enabling the build-out of export capacity. U.S. LNG has transformed global trade by introducing flexible, Henry Hub–linked pricing, rather than rigid, destination-specific oil-indexed contracts. As exports have climbed—now accounting for about 21% of U.S. gas production—the U.S. market is becoming increasingly integrated with global markets. However, constrained export infrastructure limits price convergence between the U.S. and international gas markets. [MDN: The first in a coming series that will trace the rise of U.S. LNG exports, examine their influence on the global gas trade, and take a closer look at the quirky mechanics of LNG pricing. Read this one while it’s free and open.]

Gas-fired power braces for new AI landscape
Pipeline & Gas Journal/Richard Nemec
The article examines how surging AI-driven demand for data centers is reshaping U.S. power markets, positioning gas-fired generation as a pivotal source to meet new loads. It argues that natural gas plants, when paired with advanced technologies like carbon capture, can deliver reliable and relatively low-carbon power even as renewables expand. Still, challenges loom: high capital costs, uncertainty in power markets, supply chain constraints, and competition from other low-carbon options. Ultimately, the piece contends that gas generation must evolve—technically and commercially—to fit into a future powered by AI. [MDN: An extensive and well-written article that outlines how natgas IS the answer for AI energy demands, but it will have to adapt and evolve to meet the challenge.]

Feedgas demand rises despite maintenance at Cove Point
RBN Energy/Lisa Shidler
U.S. LNG feedgas demand averaged 15.3 Bcf/d last week, up 0.4 Bcf/d from the prior week, with higher intake at Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi offsetting reduced flows at Cove Point. Cove Point shut down September 20 for its annual three-week maintenance and is expected to return in mid-October ahead of peak winter demand. Corpus Christi intake rose but remains below full capacity since mid-August, while Sabine Pass rebounded following pipeline maintenance. Most other terminals are operating fully, with Plaquemines commissioning volumes slightly higher and near record levels, leaving only Corpus Christi, Calcasieu Pass, and Cove Point below full operation. [MDN: Good to see feedgas levels rising. That’s freedom we’re exporting!]

INTERNATIONAL

Oil rises on Russian supply risks
Bloomberg/Mia Gindis, Veena Ali-Khan
Oil prices rebounded after a four-day decline, with West Texas Intermediate rising 1.8% to $63.41 a barrel and Brent gaining 1.6% to $67.63. The rally was driven by mounting threats to Russian energy supplies, including Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries and Moscow’s potential ban on diesel exports, which pushed fuel futures higher. Traders fear tightening global supplies, reflected in WTI’s strongest prompt spread in two weeks. However, gains were capped by news that Iraq may soon resume Kurdish oil exports, adding 230,000 barrels per day. Analysts also warn that oversupply risks persist as OPEC+ and others ramp up production beyond demand. [MDN: The oil price goes up, then it goes down, but it stays somewhere in the $60s, regardless of the news.]

Latest science further exposes lies about rising seas
CO2 Coalition/Vijay Jayaraj
The article argues that while sea levels are rising, they are doing so at a steady, centuries-long pace rather than accelerating due to recent human CO? emissions. It cites a new peer-reviewed study showing that ~95 percent of long-term tide gauge sites show no statistically significant acceleration, and contends that projections by the IPCC overestimate future rise. The piece urges policymakers to shift focus from drastic emissions cuts to locally tailored adaptation efforts, calling sea level rise a manageable phenomenon rather than an existential crisis. [MDN: Once again, real science shows the way. Rising sea levels have been rising slowly and steadily for centuries (long before the industrial revolution and burning fossil fuels), due to the Earth recovering from the last ice age. It seems leftists have lost the ability to think and reason rationally.]

TC Energy bets on US even as Canada plans LNG expansion
Bloomberg/Mia Gindis
TC Energy is prioritizing U.S. investments to capitalize on rising power demand, with CEO Francois Poirier noting that returns are more attractive than in Canada. Speaking at the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit, he highlighted U.S. President Trump’s executive orders supporting AI growth and energy supply expansion as favorable for infrastructure development. The company plans $8.5 billion in U.S. projects over five years, while also targeting Mexico through pipeline expansions from West Texas. Despite this focus, TC Energy remains committed to Canada, where LNG Canada’s Phase 2 would double Coastal GasLink capacity, requiring several billion dollars in additional investment. [MDN: This is a perfect example of how Trump’s policies are attracting billions of dollars of investments to this country. Canada and it’s green mandates is driving away investments, despite all of this big talk about LNG.]