Ingenious OH Law Blocks “Sue and Settle” by Environmentalists
Last week, MDN told you about House Bill (HB) 15, which makes significant changes to state energy policy to encourage the development of more in-state electric generation by making it easier (and more cost-effective) to build gas-fired power (see OH Passes Bill (Now Law) to Encourage More Gas-Fired Power Plants). The bill was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine. We touted the aspects of the bill that aim to boost power generation, specifically dispatchable power (natural gas), in Ohio while improving affordability for ratepayers and increasing reliability within the state’s electrical grid. What we missed and now bring you is that the bill (now law) shuts down a favorite lawfare tool of the radical environmental movement known as “sue and settle.” Read More “Ingenious OH Law Blocks “Sue and Settle” by Environmentalists”
On June 2, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) latest Environmental Justice newsletter announced that the PennEnviroScreen tool is now “fully integrated within the DEP permitting and programmatic review processes.” The tool draws maps to identify areas of “greater environmental justice (EJ) exposures” and potential effects by analyzing “environmental, health, and socioeconomic burdens across the Commonwealth.” It’s like a video game that shows users pretend areas where there are more minorities and poor people on the theory that they’re too stupid or poor to hire lawyers to resist new infrastructure, like gas wells, compressor stations, or pipelines. 
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Alternative energy proposal presses on, clears PA House panel; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Glenfarne announces over $115 billion of strategic partner interest for Alaska LNG; Chevron confirms job cuts to Rigzone; US Energy Secretary issues emergency order for Midwest; NATIONAL: US LNG exports decline in May from April’s record; Gulf Coast LNG interruptions persist as natural gas futures tread water; Crude below $65 squeezes U.S. shale, even as drivers celebrate; Natural gas price outlook – natural gas continues to see range; Siemens Energy, Eaton partner on offgrid natural gas power plant for data center sector; Wall St. is all in on A.I. data centers, but are they the next bubble?; Green fairy tales are coming soon to your inbox; INTERNATIONAL: ‘Europe’s largest’ hydrogen-based e-fuels plant inaugurated in Germany; Oil extends gains as Canada wildfires offset OPEC+ output hike; Japan’s gas industry allows gas with carbon capture in 2050 net zero plan. 
Corporate welfare—the transfer (theft) of money from taxpayers to uber-wealthy corporations, like Kraft Heinz, is particularly loathsome and disgusting. However, it’s widespread, unfortunately. In an effort to undermine fossil energy, the Biden administration shoveled money out the door to corporate cronies so fast nobody could keep track of it all. Biden’s “free money” included a $170 million grant to Kraft Heinz, which would have helped the food manufacturer install heat pumps, solar, biogas, and other loser “renewable” energy solutions at 10 of its facilities in New York, Virginia, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, and Illinois. Kraft Heinz received $5.9 million of the promised funding in December. It won’t see another dime. 
Alice, get ready to go down the rabbit hole into litigation Wonderland. This post is about a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision issued on May 30, 2025. In the case Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Game Commission v. Thomas E. Proctor Heirs Trust, the PA Supremes addressed a question from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals regarding whether a 1908 tax sale of an “unseated” (undeveloped) parcel of land, the Haines Warrant, constituted a “title wash” that divested the subsurface estate owners of their ownership interest. We think the case has broader implications for landowners and drillers with respect to who owns mineral rights that have been separated from surface rights. 
On May 20, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued notices of violations to XTO Energy, Inc. (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil) for failing to restore five multi-million gallon shale gas freshwater impoundments it used to support fracking operations in Butler County. The impoundments are required to be restored, which includes liners removed and the area regraded to the original contours, within nine months of their last use. 
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is a typical liberal Democrat politician. He pretends to be moderate and a supporter of the Marcellus industry in the Keystone State. He is neither. Shapiro claims his proposed energy programs will cut costs for Pennsylvanians. The reverse is true. But we’re not just making blanket, unprovable assertions or opinions about Shapiro’s energy plans. A new study from the Commonwealth Foundation estimates that Shapiro’s energy policies, 
RBN Energy is reporting that ethane and butane exports for Enterprise Products Partners and possibly other NGL exporters are in doubt following a notice received from the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) flagging such exports to China as a security risk. Specifically, ethane and butane exports pose an “unacceptable risk of use in or diversion to a military end use.” RBN’s blunt assessment is this: “The BIS decision has the potential to ruin the U.S. ethane market and disrupt global flows.” 
In February, MDN brought you the rumor that Canadian pension fund CPP Investments, the majority owner of Encino Acquisition Partners (aka Encino Energy), was considering either a sale of the company or possibly an initial public offering (see 
Last week, for the fifth week in a row, the Baker Hughes U.S. rig count dropped, down another three rigs to its lowest level since November 2021. There were changes among the Marcellus/Utica states, too. The combined M-U count dropped by one to 36 active rigs. The Pennsylvania Marcellus gained one rig, now at 18 rigs. The Ohio Utica dropped one of the two rigs it picked up two weeks ago and now stands at 11 rigs. West Virginia also dropped a rig and now runs only seven rigs. 
The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its less functional 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 published a notice in the May 31 Pennsylvania Bulletin that the Executive Director of the SRBC renewed 45 general water use permits in April for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Blair, Bradford, Lycoming, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Tioga counties in Pennsylvania. The director also approved new water withdrawals for the 146-megawatt gas-fired Hunlock Creek power plant in Luzerne County.