PA’s Act 13 Shale Law has Led to Huge Investments in the State
The Marcellus Shale Coalition, in a recent blog post, highlights Pennsylvania’s Act 13 of 2012 as a landmark energy law demonstrating how a comprehensive regulatory framework can guide natural gas development and investment while delivering tangible community benefits. We were there to chronicle the debate and passage of this critically important law 14 years ago (see Gov. Corbett Signs New Marcellus Drilling Law). Central to the success of Act 13 is the Impact Fee, a unique production tax (rather than a severance tax) that has generated over $3 billion statewide, providing hundreds of millions annually to local governments. These funds support diverse projects, including road improvements, water infrastructure upgrades, emergency services, and economic development, particularly crucial for rural areas. Read More “PA’s Act 13 Shale Law has Led to Huge Investments in the State”
As we report in today’s lead story, Williams held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Transco Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project in New York City yesterday (see Groundbreaking Ceremony for NESE Pipe in NYC an All-Star Event). One of the speakers at the event, the master of ceremonies, was Williams CEO Chad Zamarin. One of the comments he made at the event that deserves its own post here on MDN was news about the Constitution Pipeline project, a 124-mile greenfield pipeline from the Marcellus gas fields of Susquehanna County, PA, to Schoharie County, NY, to move Marcellus gas into New York State and New England. 
The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its highly dysfunctional and irresponsible counterpart, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals and consumptive use for responsible and safe shale drilling. The SRBC also tells shale drillers when to stop withdrawing if low water flow (i.e., drought) conditions exist. That’s what the SRBC did yesterday. The agency, via its Hydrologic Conditions Monitor, warned shale drillers that, at 15 listed locations (all in Pennsylvania), they must stop water withdrawals until streamflow reaches a specific “trigger flow” target (different for each location). Another 9 locations are approaching restrictions. 
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) announced a $14 million project to test enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) in Pennsylvania. Led by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the initiative will leverage existing oil and gas infrastructure, specifically the Appalachian Utica Shale, to explore the efficacy and scalability of EGS in the eastern U.S. This project aims to convert a horizontal shale gas well for geothermal use, assessing optimal well placements and fracturing techniques. If successful, it could provide a replicable model for expanding reliable, cost-effective geothermal electricity nationwide, utilizing abundant underground heat resources. 
The Philadelphia Gas Commission postponed a vote on Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) $182 million proposal to replace and expand its natural gas liquefier (LNG plant) in Port Richmond. The commission’s staff and the Public Advocate recommended rejecting the project, arguing it was oversized and could burden customers with unnecessary debt. They also cited incomplete plant and project designs. PGW argued the upgrade is crucial for safety and affordability, preventing potential harm to customers during cold winters and avoiding the need to truck in liquefied natural gas. 
Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum visited Lackawanna College yesterday to observe how students are trained for energy-focused careers in natural gas, petroleum, and robotics. He emphasized that these students will contribute to the growth of key industries, creating significant career opportunities. Burgum, joined by Congressmen Rob Bresnahan and Dan Meuser, commended the college’s programs and shale industry-donated equipment, highlighting their role in an American renaissance driven by energy, innovation, and manufacturing. He also discussed how data centers, or “AI manufacturing,” could utilize Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale natural gas to generate electricity, bringing economic benefits and lowered utility costs, drawing parallels to his experience in North Dakota. 
Last week was status quo for the rig count. The Marcellus/Utica combined count maintained the same number of 37 active rigs, the third week in a row after Pennsylvania lost two rigs in March (see 
Despite being the nation’s leading electricity exporter and a top producer of natural gas, nuclear power, and coal, Pennsylvania residents pay significantly more for electricity — 45% more per kilowatt-hour than in 2018. Why? Sleazy politicians blame “greedy” utility companies and AI data centers, even though the rise in electric prices predates the current data center boom. If you dig just a little, you will find the real answer: it’s due to the policies put in place by the same sleazy (Democrat) politicians who blame others. 
The Marcellus/Utica region received 22 new drilling permits last week, Mar. 30 – Apr. 5, up 3 from the 19 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 6 of the permits. Ohio issued 8 new permits. West Virginia also issued 8 new permits last week. The drillers who received new permits last week included Ascent Resources, EOG Resources, EQT, Expand Energy, Jay-Bee Oil & Gas, and Laurel Mountain Energy. 
We believe this is the end of the legal road for the Briggs family’s lawsuit against Southwestern Energy (now part of Expand Energy) in a case that centers on whether hydraulic fracturing constitutes a trespass if it forces gas from a neighbor’s property, even if no fluid enters that neighbor’s specific property layer. In January 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favor of Southwestern, retaining the “rule of capture” in the Keystone State (see 
Here’s something you don’t hear about often: A Democrat who supports fossil energy and pipelines. It’s especially noteworthy when the Democrat is the former head of the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania. In an eloquent guest editorial published in the Harrisburg Patriot-News, T.J. Rooney, former Chairman of the PA Democratic Party and a former member of the PA House, discusses (bemoans the fact) that it’s next to impossible to build a new natural gas pipeline in the Keystone State. He makes a full-throated plea for permitting reform to change that. 
Much as the Marcellus Shale boom revolutionized Pennsylvania’s economy, a wave of data center development is poised to drive Pennsylvania’s digital future. At a Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce panel, experts from PPL Electric Utilities, Amazon Web Services, and the government discussed the immense power demands of this transition. With AWS investing $20 billion in two Pennsylvania-based data centers, the state is racing to catch up to neighboring states in the lucrative data center market. Unfortunately, it has already fallen behind. 
The Trump administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget would establish four Centers of Excellence at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), focusing on oil and natural gas, coal, critical minerals, and geothermal energy. Pittsburgh’s South Park facility will house the oil and gas center, while Morgantown, West Virginia, will host the coal center. NETL’s infrastructure funding will rise 2% to $58 million, but research operations will face an 8% cut to $80 million. Programs supporting coal-impacted communities and clean hydrogen hubs would be eliminated. Industry groups, including the Marcellus Shale Coalition and Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, praised the administration’s energy-focused direction.