New 1,520-MW Gas-Fired Power Plant Announced for SW Indiana
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), an American Electric Power subsidiary, announced Monday plans for a 1,520-megawatt (1.5 GW) natural gas plant in Rockport, Indiana, dubbed the Rockport Energy Center. Called one of the largest utility construction projects in the state, the combined-cycle facility would create roughly 1,200 construction jobs and 30 to 40 permanent operational roles. I&M has sought approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, anticipating a decision in early 2027, with construction starting that year and operations beginning in summer 2030. The plant addresses power demand expected to more than double by the early 2030s as Rockport’s aging coal units retire. Is this another new customer for Marcellus/Utica molecules? Read More “New 1,520-MW Gas-Fired Power Plant Announced for SW Indiana”
Despite rising Northeast gas demand from retiring coal plants and new data centers, plus added Appalachian pipeline capacity, production growth isn’t guaranteed—operators prioritize capital discipline, debt reduction, and shareholder returns over volume. Appalachia has held flat at roughly 33-36 Bcf/d since 2020. Can anything tempt Marcellus/Utica drillers to drill and produce more than they are now? According to RBN Energy, sustained Henry Hub prices above $4/MMBtu (versus the current $3.50-$3.60 long-dated curve) and better takeaway infrastructure could be enough of a temptation. 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: New York imports more electricity from Canada after high-voltage transmission line opens; One resource, two vastly different fortunes; Blakeman criticizes state’s all-electric buildings law, vows to restore natural gas if elected; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures settle lower; U.S. LNG growth exceeding all expectations, Yergin says; Further proof that climate cataclysms are just fearmongering; INTERNATIONAL: Brent nears $90 on conflict risks; Incoming UK Prime Minister to support renewed North Sea oil and gas drilling. 
Last week was (once again) noteworthy for the Baker Hughes rig count. Although the Marcellus/Utica count hasn’t budged for 10 weeks in a row, holding at a combined 36, the national count increased by 7 rigs, reaching its highest level since April 2025. The national count has risen over the last five weeks by a robust 25 rigs. The new national count was 588. Baker Hughes said oil rigs rose by seven to 452 last week, the highest since May 2025, while gas rigs held at 126 and other miscellaneous rigs held at 10. The M-U’s chief competitor, the Haynesville, maintained its count of 55 active rigs, operating 19 more than the M-U’s 36. 
Thanks to the work of David Hess at the PA Environment Digest Blog, which tracks Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) notices published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, we know of two water pipeline projects (for EQT and Expand Energy) approved by the DEP related to drilling new shale wells in two different northeastern PA counties: Lycoming and Bradford. Water is used for fracking. New water pipelines mean new fracking is on the way in those locations. 
A new wrinkle to report in the case of a South Carolina pipeline, the Elba Express Pipeline, and its quest to build an extension to a gas-fired power plant in Colleton County. In June, we told you that Kinder Morgan, the builder, had been forced to sue some 55 (of the 185) landowners along the proposed route to allow simple access to their property for a survey (see 
Diversified Energy and real estate firm Maverick Holdings have secured an option on 100 acres at Letcher County’s Gateway Industrial Park near Jenkins, aiming to use an existing natural gas compressor station to fuel an off-grid, 100-megawatt power plant that could attract data centers or manufacturers. The Appalachian Industrial Development Authority signed an 18-month joint development agreement in March, though some board members were asked to sign NDAs. Local officials remain cautiously optimistic, citing potential tax revenue and infrastructure funding, but stress the project is still in early, unproven stages. 
Despite claims by anti-fossil-fuelers that the Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station in southwestern PA would spread disease and death if it were built, it’s been up and running since 2018, producing power and generating revenue for both its builders and the community. Oh, and everyone is in good health. However, the plant has been operating under a state permit since it opened. It needs a federal Title V permit for long-term operation. The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issues such a permit. Good news! The DEP recently issued the Title V permit for this power plant. 
The Marcellus/Utica region received a piddly 7 new drilling permits last week, July 6 – 12, down 21 from two weeks ago. Last week, Pennsylvania issued just 1 new permit. Ohio issued 5 new permits. And, West Virginia issued 1 new permit. The drillers who received new permits included: Antero Resources (1), Expand Energy (3), and Gulfport Energy (3). 
In February, FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison announced they had selected a 35-acre site in Maidsville (Monongalia County), West Virginia, for a new 1,200-megawatt natural gas power plant (see 
In June, members of the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) approved a revised project proposal to build a 1,020-megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant in the state’s Lowcountry, in Colleton County (see 
In June, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro took credit for brokering a really huge deal for Amazon to invest $20 billion in three data center locations across the state (see