White House Claims NY Gov. “Caved” on Pipelines, Hochul Says No
We’ve got a “he said, she said” situation between President Donald Trump and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Last week MDN brought you the news that, following several conversations over the previous weekend between Trump and Hochul, that the President had agreed to allow New York to restart a $5 billion windmill project off the coast of Long Island, in return for allowing two pipeline projects to get built in the state, one of them the long-stalled Constitution Pipeline (see Trump Deal Trades NY Offshore Wind for Constitution, NESE Pipes). Trump claims the deal was a quid pro quo—windmills for pipelines. The White House further said that Miss Kathy “caved” on the pipelines. Hochul is now saying that’s not the case, that she never agreed to allow the pipelines to be built, only that she will approve the pipelines IF they meet both federal and state requirements. Which sure sounds like she’s welching on her deal with Trump. Read More “White House Claims NY Gov. “Caved” on Pipelines, Hochul Says No”
Columbia Gas Transmission LLC won its bid for a quick win against Ohio landowners in Hocking County, Ohio, who claimed the company breached certain agreements when deciding to plug a gas well. A federal judge granted summary judgment to Columbia because the landowners failed to show how the company didn’t follow its responsibilities outlined in the relevant lease. We have a copy of the full decision and a summary of it below. 
Last November, the East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC), a nonprofit power generation and transmission electric utility with headquarters in Winchester, Kentucky, announced plans to build two new natural gas-fired power plants and convert its two existing coal-fired power plants to burn natural gas (see 
Using hard facts, a post on the Capital Research Center website proves that the change from burning coal to produce electricity to burning natural gas has resulted in a significant decrease in carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. From 2007 to 2023, American carbon emissions fell by 20 percent from an all-time high, and emissions per person fell by 30 percent. While burning more natural gas between 2007 and 2023 resulted in a 510 million metric ton increase in total annual natural gas–related CO2 emissions, the switch from coal resulted in a 1.4 billion metric ton reduction from reduced coal use. That’s a net decrease of almost a billion metric tons of CO2 emissions. 
On May 22, the International Gas Union (IGU) released its 16th annual 2025 World LNG Report, the world’s most comprehensive public source of information on key developments and trends in the LNG sector (full copy below). According to the report, today’s LNG market is “poised to evolve rapidly” as commercial, political, regulatory, and environmental factors offer opportunities. However, the LNG market is “also fraught with uncertainty.” 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Maryland advocates call for penalties on Washington Gas; NATIONAL: Trump orders accelerated nuclear power development, innovation; Warmer weather forecasts defuse supply angst to lift natural gas futures; INTERNATIONAL: Oil slips despite easing trade tensions; India spurns carbon tax threat, promotes trade and fossil fuels; Trump’s LNG diplomacy and how Asia got caught between gas and tariffs; Nearly 60 LNG carriers stand idle. 
The Baker Hughes U.S. rig count dropped like a rock last week, down 10 rigs to its lowest level since November 2021. It is the first time the count has slumped for four consecutive weeks since 2024. On a happier note, the combined Marcellus/Utica count rose by two rigs to 37 active rigs. However, there was a change between the plays (and states) in the M-U. The Pennsylvania Marcellus lost one rig, now at 17 rigs, while the Ohio Utica picked up two rigs, now at 12 rigs. West Virginia remained the same with eight active rigs. 
The editors of the Pottsville, PA, Republican Herald newspaper in northeastern Pennsylvania raise an important issue that should be considered in light of the flurry of announced (and rumored) data centers planned for northeastern PA. The editors look forward to the massive economic boom such centers would create. However, as with any industry, there are drawbacks, negatives to be aware of and plan for. In the case of data centers, the lack of zoning ordinances may bite municipalities on the backside. It’s time to address these issues now, before these massive facilities are built. 
Net Power, backed by the Rice brothers (of Rice Energy and EQT fame), is on a mission to develop and deploy revolutionary new technology to capture every last molecule of carbon dioxide from natural gas-fired power plants (see 
With heavy doses of false statements littered throughout, there is (somehow) new news in a New York Times article appearing on Saturday. The article proclaims, “E.P.A. Wants to Erase Greenhouse Gas Limits on Power Plants.” The Times says it got its hands on internal documents (someone at the EPA needs to be fired) that show the agency has crafted a draft plan that says carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from power plants that burn fossil fuels “do not contribute significantly to dangerous pollution” and they don’t contribute to so-called climate change because they are a small and declining share of global emissions. 
The murdering thug dictators of the OPEC+ cabal are once again showing their true colors. The last time Donald Trump was in office, OPEC+ 
For the week of May 12 – 18, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica was up five from the previous week. Last week, 31 new permits were issued in the M-U. In the Keystone State (PA), seven new permits were issued. The top permittee was Range Resources, which was issued four permits in Washington County. Seneca Resources scored two permits in two different counties: Elk and Tioga. PennEnergy Resources received a single permit in Butler County. 
Epsilon Energy issued its first quarter 2025 update last week. Epsilon, a relatively small company, used to concentrate most of its effort on developing Marcellus Shale wells. However, over the past few years, the company has expanded into other plays and now owns assets in the Anadarko (Oklahoma and Texas), the Permian (Texas and New Mexico), and most recently, the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (in Alberta, Canada). Epsilon typically does not do its own drilling. The company joint venture partners with (gives money to) other companies, like Expand Energy in the Marcellus, and the other company does the drilling. As for 1Q25, according to Jason Stabell, Epsilon’s CEO, “Our Marcellus business performed very well during the quarter, with all delayed turn-in-line wells now on production.” As a result, natural gas production was up over 50% from the previous quarter, resulting in a 200% increase in cash flow. 
In December 2022, MDN brought you the great news that Coterra Energy (formerly Cabot Oil & Gas) would be allowed to restart drilling in a nine-square-mile area in Dimock, PA (Susquehanna County) following a “no contest” plea deal with PA’s then-Attorney General, Josh Shapiro, on a misdemeanor charge (see