Radicals Sue FERC for Reissuing NESE “Zombie” Pipeline Certification
In May, pipeline giant Williams filed a 246-page request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to expedite the reissuance of a certificate for the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, a billion-dollar-plus project designed to increase Transco pipeline capacity and flows of Marcellus gas heading into New York City and other northeastern markets (see Williams Files Request Asking FERC to Reissue NESE Cert in NY, NJ). In late August, FERC did just that (see FERC Reissues NESE Pipeline Project Certificate for NY, NJ). Radical anti-fossil fuel groups asked FERC for a “rehearing” to reconsider the decision. FERC didn’t agree to rehear its decision, resulting in a lawsuit. Read More “Radicals Sue FERC for Reissuing NESE “Zombie” Pipeline Certification”
Cayuga Station, owned by Duke Energy, is a three-unit coal-fired power plant built between 1970 and 1993 in Vermillion County, Indiana. The existing plant produces up to 1,040 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Earlier this year, Duke filed a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) for permission to build two new gas-fired units at the Cayuga site to replace the coal-fired units (see 
Yesterday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and JobsOhio (a private nonprofit economic development corporation) launched the $100 million JobsOhio Energy Opportunity Initiative, a five-year fund to bolster economic development through energy production. The initiative will provide grants and low-interest loans to qualifying companies to offset costs related to natural gas, power generation, and nuclear power, specifically Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). 
The Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (NESE), part of the mighty Transco pipeline system, is alive once again. A decade after Williams Cos. first proposed the $1-billion-plus natural gas pipeline and a year after the company scrapped it, the 400 MMcf/d capacity expansion for New York City and Long Island has been revived. This revival, primarily attributed to a shift in Washington’s political climate, resulted in a new FERC approval. Now, state regulators in New York and New Jersey are deliberating on the necessary water-quality permits. Once both NY and NJ issue those permits, it will be (more or less) smooth sailing to the construction and completion of the project. 
Representatives from Clean Air Council, Earthworks, Environmental Health Project, Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), and Protect PT, some of the worst of the worst radical “green” groups in the Keystone State, rallied at the Pennsylvania State Capitol yesterday to demand (they always demand) that Pennsylvania’s Environmental Quality Board (EQB) accept their petition to consider drafting a new setback regulation in the state that would effectively ban all new shale drilling. 
LNG exports continue to be an exceptional (and very hungry) customer for domestic U.S. natural gas. Over the past week, feedgas flowing to LNG facilities set a new all-time high record. We achieved a new record of 17.4 Bcf/d (billion cubic feet per day) of feedgas for LNG last Sunday, surpassing the previous record set the day before at 17.3 Bcf/d. Another record, the monthly average, is also set to fall. April 2025 is the current reigning champ for average LNG feedgas use at 16.0 Bcf/d. October is on track to surpass it, averaging 16.6 Bcf/d as of October 27 (with just a few days left in the month). 
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), introduced the Natural Gas Export Expansion Act to significantly streamline the federal approval process for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG). The legislation aims to expedite non-free trade agreement (FTA) export permits by treating them the same as FTA countries, ensuring faster approval. According to Senator Cruz, the bill will enhance American energy dominance, create jobs, and drive investment by ensuring Texas-produced gas can be sent to allies globally. 
The current king of U.S. data centers is Virginia. As we wrote about earlier this month, Pennsylvania has the opportunity to grab that title away from Virginia, IF PA doesn’t screw it up (see 
Here’s a neat company we haven’t written about in 4 1/2 years: 
A new Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Poll found that New Jersey voters support the construction of new natural gas power plants by a 3-to-1 margin (64% in favor), viewing them as a bridge solution to quickly lower energy prices until renewable options are ready (which will be never). Yes, in deeply blue N.J., both Republicans AND Democrats favor building more gas-fired power plants. The support is partisan, with Republicans overwhelmingly backing new construction (89%) compared to Democrats, who are less enthusiastic but still favor the plants (46% support vs. 33% oppose). 
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro oscillates between acting like an adult and a petulant child regarding rising electricity costs in his state, costs that are due in part to his own policies (see 
We’ve noticed something that, in our opinion, is very unusual. In reviewing the most recent NYMEX natural gas futures prices and comparing spot (physical) prices at various trading hubs in the northeast, we discovered that over the past week, the spot price in the Marcellus/Utica has risen by roughly $1.00 per MMBtu. Current spot prices in the M-U are now within 25 cents of the Henry Hub spot price, the “benchmark” for all natural gas prices nationwide. 
Vallourec Star, a steel pipe manufacturer in Youngstown, OH, serving the shale and other industries, was approved yesterday by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority for a seven-year job creation tax credit. It means the company will create 40 new full-time positions. The tax credit supports Vallourec Star’s plan to expand its current operations to manufacture a new line of high-quality steel pipe.