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Nat’l Rig Count Drops 7 @ 547; Marc. Even @ 24, Utica Even @ 12

It’s bloody. It’s brutal. Last week, for the ninth consecutive week, the Baker Hughes U.S. rig count declined (by seven rigs) to its lowest level since October 2021, ending the week at 547 active rigs. The national rig count continues in a free fall. For the fifth week in a row, the Marcellus/Utica count remained the same, at a combined 36 active rigs. The Pennsylvania Marcellus operated 18 rigs. The Ohio Utica operated 11 rigs. And West Virginia operated seven rigs. So, at least there’s some good news with respect to the M-U. Read More “Nat’l Rig Count Drops 7 @ 547; Marc. Even @ 24, Utica Even @ 12”

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PA DEP Publishes Proposed NESE Permits for Chester, Lancaster Cos.

Following President Trump’s quid pro quo deal with New York Governor Kathy Hochul in which Trump is allowing a $5 billion offshore wind project to proceed in return for Hochul allowing two Williams gas pipeline projects, Williams wasted no time in restarting one of the two projects, the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project (see Williams Files Request Asking FERC to Reissue NESE Cert in NY, NJ). Some of the work (of which we were previously unaware) must be done in Pennsylvania—in Lancaster and Chester counties. Two weeks ago, we informed you about a pipeline loop that is scheduled to be built in Lancaster County (see Williams NESE Project to Build 10-Mile Loop in Lancaster County, PA). The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) published notices in the June 28 PA Bulletin related to permits and approvals needed for the work in both Lancaster and Chester counties. Read More “PA DEP Publishes Proposed NESE Permits for Chester, Lancaster Cos.”

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Range Proposes 2 New Wells in Anti-Drilling Cecil Township

Cecil Township, Washington County, PA

Range Resources filed an official notice that it intends to drill two new wells on two existing well pads in Cecil Township (one on each pad). You may recall that last November, three of five supervisors in Cecil Township (Washington County), PA, voted to ban all new drilling and fracking via a new setback (distance from well to nearest structure) requirement of 2,500 feet (see Cecil Twp Supervisors Pull the Trigger on Frack Ban Via Setbacks). Range challenged that new zoning policy, but the town board voted to dismiss the challenge, claiming the case wasn’t “ripe.” It may be ripe now! Read More “Range Proposes 2 New Wells in Anti-Drilling Cecil Township”

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Big Green Challenges Order to Keep Philly Gas-Fired Peaker Running

One day before Constellation Energy’s Eddystone Generating Station in Delaware County, PA, was due to close its remaining two units, the Trump Department of Energy (DOE) stepped in and ordered the plants to remain active based on Trump’s declaration of an energy emergency across the country (see Trump DOE Order Blocks Gas-Fired Peaker Near Philly from Closing). The plant, which began operations in 1960, is located just south of Philadelphia. Eddystone can burn either natural gas or (in a pinch) oil. The Trump order keeping it open at the last minute caused the environmental left to lose its collective mind. Now, a group of leftist groups has colluded with National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) attorneys to challenge the edict to keep the plant running. Can you imagine the outages around Philadelphia last week if this plant were offline? Read More “Big Green Challenges Order to Keep Philly Gas-Fired Peaker Running”

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Massachusetts Voters Demand More Natural Gas, Constitution Pipeline

A new poll of registered Massachusetts voters shows they are fed up with the liberal policies of the Democrats running the state when it comes to the sky-high cost of energy. Natural gas prices have increased 93 percent over the last decade, while electricity costs have risen 65 percent. For many families, energy bills now consume a disproportionate share of household income. Massachusetts households paid 76.34 percent more than the U.S. average for electricity and 71.45 percent more than the national average for natural gas. The poll showed nearly 6 in 10 voters (59 percent) support building the Constitution Pipeline, which would deliver affordable natural gas from Pennsylvania to New England. Another 28 percent are neutral or have no opinion on the Constitution. Only a tiny 13 percent are against building the Constitution Pipeline. Read More “Massachusetts Voters Demand More Natural Gas, Constitution Pipeline”

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More Oil Than Wind/Solar Kept Lights on in New England in Heat Wave

How much longer will gullible Americans continue to believe the FICTION that somehow solar and wind are taking over electricity generation and displacing natural gas and other fossil energy sources? How much longer before we DEMAND that crooked mainstream media come clean and tell the truth? The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that electricity demand in the Eastern United States surged during the heat wave last week, reaching multi-year highs. ISO-NE, the grid covering New England, hit peak load last Tuesday. On Tuesday, 47% of ISO-NE’s electricity generation came from natural gas, 12% from electric imports (Canada), 13% from nuclear, 12% from petroleum, 1% from coal, and 4% from renewable sources, including wind, batteries, and solar. Yes, just 4% of electricity came from so-called renewables, while burning oil (petroleum) produced 12% of the region’s electricity, keeping the lights from going out. Read More “More Oil Than Wind/Solar Kept Lights on in New England in Heat Wave”

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FERC Chair Warns Grid Operators Came “Close to the Edge” Last Week

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Mark Christie says grid operators, including those along the East Coast (PJM and ISO-NE), dodged a blackout bullet last week (our words, his sentiment). Christie warned that we are not building new power generation fast enough, and blackouts are on the horizon. With respect to the extreme heat last week, Christie said, “Some of our systems really came close to the edge.” He also said, “You never know about the next time, and there’s going to be a next time.” Unfortunately, Christie is being replaced (see “Bittersweet” – Trump Replacing GOP FERC Chair Mark Christie). It looks like his departure date will be July 24. Read More “FERC Chair Warns Grid Operators Came “Close to the Edge” Last Week”

MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, Jun 30, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Impact fee just part of gas industry’s success; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas prices rise 3% as LNG feedgas edges higher; From JFK to Zohran Mamdani…what caused the decay of the Democrat Party?; Shattered Green Dreams – The Environmental Costs of Wind and Solar; INTERNATIONAL: Oil steady as OPEC+ weighs output hike; Are we heading to sub-$60 oil?; European Council, Parliament reach deal on gas storage rule extension; Who is the upstream industry’s most admired explorer? Read More “MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, Jun 30, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]”