Low-Cost Hydrogen Becomes Commercial Reality at WV Power Plant
Quantum Pleasants has successfully completed a year-long validation of its Omnis Quantum Reformer (OQR) technology at the Pleasants Power Station in West Virginia. This breakthrough ultra-high-temperature pyrolysis technology produces hydrogen on-site at half the cost of existing methods by utilizing the state’s coal and natural gas resources. Independent evaluations confirmed the system’s safety and economic viability, paving the way for the 1,300 MW facility to become the world’s first large power plant to operate on 100% hydrogen fuel. Right here in the heart of the Marcellus/Utica! Read More “Low-Cost Hydrogen Becomes Commercial Reality at WV Power Plant”
PJM Interconnection recently proposed reforms to its retail BTM (behind-the-meter) generation rules to support data center colocation. The filing, responding to a FERC mandate, introduces a 50-MW threshold for BTM facilities and three new transmission service categories. Under the plan, new loads exceeding 50 MW would be ineligible for “netting,” a process that currently lowers grid charges by balancing on-site generation against consumption. While existing contracts are grandfathered, industrial trade groups warn that removing netting rules threatens the economic viability of combined heat and power facilities, potentially discouraging manufacturing investments while aiming to address regional grid reliability and grid cost-shifting concerns. 
The far-left Southern Environmental Law Center, representing three radical nonprofits, has appealed the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) approval of Dominion Energy’s $1.47 billion natural gas plant in Chesterfield County. The challenge is the first under both the Virginia Environmental Justice Act and the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Antis argue the 1,000-megawatt facility would disproportionately “harm” marginalized communities through increased pollution and significant health risks, including premature deaths. Critics maintain that Dominion failed to prioritize renewable alternatives or demonstrate a genuine threat to grid reliability, potentially placing unnecessary financial and health burdens on the public. 
This seems kind of….odd. We’ve been tracking and reporting on what will be the country’s (and possibly the world’s) largest gas-fired power plant, coming to Portsmouth (Scioto County), Ohio. Last week, 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 
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. 
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! 
President Donald Trump’s proposal for a $33 billion, 9.2-gigawatt gas power plant in Ohio—funded by Japanese investment, including SoftBank—aims to address soaring energy demands from data centers (see 
Despite political rhetoric scapegoating data centers for rising electricity costs, EIA data reveals that electricity price hikes began long before the data center industry’s expansion. States with high concentrations of data centers, such as Virginia and Texas, maintain residential electric rates below the national average, while Vermont has the fewest facilities but significantly higher costs. An excellent article appearing on RealClearEnergy identifies systemic issues—including aging infrastructure and regulatory inertia—as the true drivers of rising bills. Rather than blaming data centers, the article argues for modernizing the grid and aggressively increasing energy production to meet growing demand. Technology can actually create a more efficient, lower-cost electrical system. 
J.P. Morgan recently facilitated a $5 billion financing package for VoltaGrid, a U.S. energy company specializing in advanced natural gas and behind-the-meter microgrid solutions (think small gas-fired power generators). This funding, comprising $2 billion in senior secured notes and a $3 billion asset-based loan, supports VoltaGrid’s goal to deploy 4 gigawatts of power by 2028. These decentralized energy systems address surging electricity demands from AI and data centers by providing resilient, on-site generation that reduces grid strain. And yes, there is a connection to the Marcellus/Utica region. 
President Donald Trump unveiled the first projects under a $550 billion trade deal with Japan yesterday, including a $36 billion investment in U.S. energy and minerals. In exchange for a 15% reduction in tariffs on imports, Tokyo will fund initiatives in Texas, Ohio, and Georgia to revitalize the industrial base. The centerpiece is a record-breaking $33 billion natural gas power plant in Piketon (Pike County), Ohio, operated by SoftBank’s SB Energy. This 9.2-gigawatt facility—the largest in U.S. history—is designed to create thousands of jobs and support the surging energy needs of data centers and artificial intelligence applications. It will produce enough electricity to power every single home in Ohio! It’s massive. 
This is disappointing. The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) held a press conference yesterday in Charleston, WV, to oppose new natural gas power plants in West Virginia, citing concerns over coal job losses and community instability. UMW International President Brian Sanson criticized proposed projects by Mon Power and FirstEnergy, arguing that these gas-fired facilities threaten thousands of mining careers while providing only “temporary” construction jobs and minimal permanent staffing. He is urging state and federal lawmakers to enact codified legal protections for the coal industry. 
Pipeline giant Williams issued its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 update last week. The company forecasts 2026 profits exceeding analysts’ expectations, driven by surging natural gas demand from AI data centers and crypto mining. Williams is aggressively expanding its footprint, with 7.1 Bcf/d of pipeline projects currently underway and new gas-fired power plants such as the $1.3 billion “Socrates the Younger” project. The company plans to invest up to $6.7 billion in 2026 capital spending to capitalize on the sustained, long-term need for gas infrastructure and power growth. 
In June 2023, Dominion Energy announced plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County near Richmond (see