No Change: M-U Rig Count @ 40; Haynesville @ 52; Nat’l Count @ 551
On Friday, Baker Hughes reported that the U.S. rig count remained unchanged at 551 active rigs. That’s three weeks in a row at the same number (pretty much unheard of). Two weeks ago, the Pennsylvania Marcellus added another rig, bringing the total to 20 active rigs, the most it has operated in well over a year. PA kept its new/higher total last week. Both Ohio and West Virginia remained at 13 and 7, respectively. The combined M-U count was 40 rigs last week, the most operated rigs in well over a year, now for a second week in a row. The M-U’s primary competitor (for attention and money), the Haynesville, added 2 rigs two weeks ago and kept them last week, operating 52 rigs (12 more than the M-U). Read More “No Change: M-U Rig Count @ 40; Haynesville @ 52; Nat’l Count @ 551”
DT Midstream is an owner, operator, and developer of natural gas interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, compression, treatment, and surface facilities, including major assets that are in (or flow molecules from) the Marcellus/Utica. Last week, the company issued its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 update. The update showed the Marcellus and Utica (Northeast) regions remain a core growth engine for the company, particularly as a supply source for the Upper Midwest and LNG demand corridors. Driven by a spike in natural gas demand, DTM has expanded its five-year organic project backlog by 50%, bringing the total to $3.4 billion. 
The Texas Eastern Transmission Pipeline (TETCO), operated by Enbridge, is a major 8,580-mile interstate natural gas system connecting Gulf Coast/Texas supplies to the Northeast US. Originally designed for northbound flow, it now heavily supports bidirectional, southbound, and regional supply, including Marcellus/Utica gas. A short 5.3-mile section of TETCO (actually four separate pipelines that make up TETCO) running through Greene County, PA, needs a fix to protect it from coal mining activities set to begin directly underneath the pipeline in that area. 
Last Tuesday, President Trump unveiled the first projects under a $550 billion trade deal with Japan, including a $36 billion investment in U.S. energy and minerals (see 
In January 2026, New England experienced record-high natural gas prices triggered by an intense cold snap. On January 27, wholesale electricity costs reached $441.8/MWh, a significant jump from the previous January’s average of $135.08/MWh. The problem is not enough natural gas pipelines. But that’s not what the dunderheads who run the blue states of New England believe. They think natgas is the problem and that more unreliable renewables are the solution. You can’t fix stupid, but you can vote it out of office. 
A recent article by David Blackmon (writing for Forbes) argues that critics unfairly blame rising U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports for high domestic energy costs. While narratives suggest exports drain supply and spike prices, Blackmon highlights data showing that inflation-adjusted natural gas prices have trended lower or remained stable as the LNG industry has grown. He attributes regional price hikes not to exports but to infrastructure roadblocks (a lack of pipelines) in specific states. Furthermore, he contends that gas price volatility is a long-standing market characteristic unrelated to LNG. 
It’s not often MDN gets to report on something happening in our own (relative) back yard. This is a treat! Construction has begun on an eight-megawatt natural gas fuel cell system at the Huron Campus in Endicott, NY, to support future redevelopment. Developed by Bloom Energy and managed by Phoenix Investors, the facility will supplement existing power from the local utility substation to meet the energy needs of upcoming tenants. The project is located on a site recently cleared of former IBM buildings and is expected to be operational by April or May. This infrastructure investment aligns with ongoing efforts to attract new business to the campus, ensuring reliable utility capacity for the modernized industrial space. Natural gas to the rescue! 
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Pittsburgh region should make way for more data centers; Residents call for protections against proposed data centers in WV; Applications for Ohio oil and gas scholarship program open; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas gains ahead of chilly weekend; New U.S. electric generating capacity expected to reach a record high in 2026; Blue state lawmakers risk worsening affordability crisis with environmental crime bills; Clearing up some misconceptions about the DoE report; What is the correct CO2 concentration?; INTERNATIONAL: Oil holds near six-month high; Surging oil tanker rates tipped to go even higher; UK plans to cut carbon costs for refineries after closures; India builds a fossil future one coal plant at a time.