MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Wed, Apr 29, 2026
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Maryland utility co. buying gas-fired electricity from Alpha Gen; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures mixed as May contract expires; Trump cancels more wind leases; Winter storms are a wake-up call for the failures of wind and solar; US has more natural gas than it can use as war chokes global supply; INTERNATIONAL: Oil gains as supply risks persist; Wright says Hormuz can open without clearing all mines; US signs energy and AI deals with Balkan countries as its influence widens. Read More “MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Wed, Apr 29, 2026”
In March, Hull Street Energy (HSE) entered an agreement to acquire two peaking power plants from Rockland Capital, LP, significantly expanding its Milepost Power portfolio (see 
Once again, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is attacking the energy industry, this time setting his sights on utility companies that he falsely claims are “unfairly increasing their rates and needlessly raising costs for Pennsylvanians.” Shapiro has hired a radical National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) attorney to serve as his lapdog (Special Counsel for Energy Affordability) to attack utility companies, forcing them into bankruptcy, particularly by pressuring them to use unreliable renewables instead of cheaper fossil fuels. 
In February 2024, members of the South Carolina Public Service Commission approved a proposed project to build a 1,020-megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant in the state’s Lowcountry, in Colleton County (see 
Twenty-three state attorneys general are demanding explanations from the top ratings agencies, Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P, regarding “ESG-driven” downgrades of fossil-fuel companies. They allege the agencies promote a radical climate agenda, weaponizing credit ratings with flawed methodologies to push woke ideology and UN-backed net-zero goals, rather than providing objective financial analysis. The AGs contend these downgrades contradict stated methodologies, reveal conflicts of interest arising from pledges to integrate ESG, and penalize American energy while potentially favoring entities such as Chinese-owned companies. 
Last week, the combined Marcellus/Utica Baker Hughes rig count remained at 37 active rigs for the fifth week in a row. The M-U’s chief competitor, the Haynesville, added one rig and now runs 56 active rigs, some 19 more than the M-U (bummer). The national count added one rig last week and now operates 544 rigs. Baker Hughes said oil rigs fell by three to 407 last week, their lowest since February, while gas rigs rose by four to 129, their highest since early April. Other miscellaneous rigs held steady at eight. 
In March, the Trump administration announced “South Mon,” a $17 billion natural gas-fueled facility in southwestern Pennsylvania intended to expand domestic energy production (see 
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has extended three temporary air permits for the Shell ethane cracker plant in Monaca, PA, which would have expired on April 28, 2026. The DEP did the same thing in May 2024 (see 
The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its dysfunctional and irresponsible counterpart, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals and consumptive use requests for responsible, safe shale drilling. The SRBC published a notice in the April 25th Pennsylvania Bulletin that the Executive Director of the SRBC approved and/or renewed 46 general water use permits in March for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming counties. 
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is seeking public comment on an Individual Stormwater Permit for a 5.8-mile natural gas pipeline in Indiana County. Serving the proposed Homer City Generation LP 4.5 GW power plant and data center, the 30-inch pipeline will traverse Black Lick, Burrell, and Center Townships, involving several stream and wetland crossings. The DEP will host a public hearing on May 12 from 5 to 7 PM at the Indiana Theater regarding Homer City Generation’s proposed 5.8-mile natural gas pipeline in Center Township. In response to this new project, local anti-fossil fuel groups are actively mobilizing. So-called “Concerned Residents of Western PA” (CROW) is holding a preparation meeting this afternoon to help “citizens” draft their public comments and build speaking confidence. 
You’ve seen the headlines and maybe read the news that “Qatar supplies 20 percent of the world’s LNG.” Iran bombed Qatar’s LNG export facility in early March and took it offline. The world press had a stroke, predicting a natural gas Armageddon without 20% of LNG coming from Qatar. But what’s this? U.S. LNG exporters “have so far offset the drop in shipments from Qatar following Iranian attacks on its facilities” and the closure of Hormuz. We’ve been able to make up for the lost exports from Qatar. 
The Marcellus/Utica region received 22 new drilling permits last week, Apr. 13 – 19, down 15 from the 37 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 11 of last week’s permits. Ohio issued no new permits. And West Virginia issued the other 11 new permits last week. The drillers who received new permits last week included: Antero Resources, Arsenal Resources, CNX Resources, EQT, Expand Energy, JKLM Energy, Range Resources, Repsol Oil & Gas, and Seneca Resources.