MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Jan 22, 2026 [FREE ACCESS]
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Wyoming should ditch green hydrogen boondoggles; NATIONAL: Offshore wind lawsuit confusion abounds; Devon Energy – a Coterra deal is the good move; US propane reaches 14-month low against WTI amid supply surplus; Money to ‘decarbonize’ more useless than gym memberships, extended warranties; INTERNATIONAL: Crude gains as IEA lifts demand outlook; EU hydrogen matchmaking platform opens for buyer expressions of interest; A young Canadian helping shape the future of energy; Mexico’s planned gas-fired plants, LNG export capacity driving pipeline projects; British climate crusade creates economic disaster. Read More “MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Jan 22, 2026 [FREE ACCESS]”
Old Man Winter has proven once again that he is the one in charge of natural gas prices. A cold blast now entering the Midwest and Northeast, which is moving in until early February (at least), is the reason for a dramatic jump in the NYMEX front-month futures contract price, rising 80.4 cents per MMBtu (26%) in one day, yesterday, to a closing price of $3.9070 MMBtu. It is the largest one-day percentage gain in four years, since January 2022. The price continued climbing this morning (Wednesday) and looks like it might flirt with $5.00! 
The Mahoning Valley is entering a “Utica 2.0” era as advanced drilling technologies revitalize oil production in previously dismissed regions of Ohio. While energy companies once abandoned Mahoning and Trumbull counties, record-breaking yields from new wells in Columbiana and Mahoning counties have triggered a surge in leasing and permits. Improvements in horizontal drilling and fracking fluids now allow operators like EOG Resources and Hilcorp to extract significant oil from formations once considered unprofitable. This industrial renaissance, punctuated by EOG’s $5.6 billion acquisition of Encino Acquisition Partners, signals a transformative phase of exploration poised to expand further north in the Utica. 
Infinity Natural Resources, Inc. announced yesterday that it has acquired Chase Oil Corporation’s working interest in Infinity’s South Bend field in Pennsylvania in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $36 million. The assets are located in Armstrong and Indiana counties. The transaction has an effective date of January 1, 2026, and represents the company’s first use of stock currency to execute its post-IPO growth strategy. Infinity is in the process of buying Antero Resources’ Ohio Utica assets (see 
On Friday, the White House joined with the 13 governors whose states in whole or in part are served by the PJM Interconnection electric grid, the largest grid in the country, to propose a solution that “protects consumers” from soaring electric rates due to the addition of new AI data centers (see 
As MDN reported, on Friday, the Trump administration officials joined several governors from states that are part of the PJM Interconnect grid to outline a broad plan they say will ensure customers of the grid (the country’s largest grid), will not face skyrocketing electric prices due to new AI data centers getting built in the region (see 
The Marcellus/Utica rig count gained 1 rig six weeks ago in the Ohio Utica, bringing the total to 39 rigs. For the past six reports in a row, the M-U has maintained that count—the most rigs it has operated in more than a year. Pennsylvania has held at 18 active rigs for nine consecutive weeks. Ohio has operated 14 rigs for six straight weeks (its highest in over a year). And West Virginia maintained 7 rigs, which it has operated since May 30, 2025. There were 24 rigs targeting the Marcellus and 15 targeting the Utica. The national count lost 1 rig last week, bringing the total down to 543 active rigs. 
We recently became aware of an Ohio Supreme Court decision that affects producers (i.e., drillers) and, by extension, potentially affects royalties for landowners and rights owners. In E. Ohio Gas Co. v. Croce, the Supreme Court affirmed that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has exclusive jurisdiction over claims brought by natural gas producers against Dominion Energy. The producers alleged conversion and unjust enrichment, claiming Dominion sold their excess gas without compensation. The producers tried to litigate the matter in the courts. But the Supreme Court ruled that, in these types of cases, PUCO has primary jurisdiction—not the courts. 
Wow, talk about strange bedfellows! On Friday, the White House joined the 13 governors whose states in whole or in part are served by the PJM Interconnection electric grid, the largest grid in the country, to propose a solution that “protects consumers” from soaring electric rates due to the addition of new AI data centers. While some of the ideas discussed were good, others (such as an anti-capitalist price cap) were not. We’ll explain. 
Last week, the EPA proposed a new rule (copy below) to restrict states’ and Native American tribes’ ability to block major projects, such as pipelines and data centers, by abusing the Clean Water Act. By narrowing Section 401 reviews to focus solely on direct water pollution, the Trump administration seeks to accelerate fossil fuel infrastructure and AI development through increased regulatory predictability. This move reverses Biden-era policies that allowed for never-ending environmental evaluations. While administration officials argue these constraints prevent unnecessary delays, environmental radicals contend the proposal undermines local authority to protect drinking water and ecosystems. A final rule is expected this spring. 
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts U.S. electricity generation will reach 4,423 billion kilowatthours by 2027, driven by steady annual growth. That’s up 3.7% from 4,260 billion KWH in 2025. While natural gas remains the primary power source, its market share is slipping alongside coal, which is declining 5% annually due to plant retirements. Dispatchable (on-demand) sources of electricity generation (natural gas, coal, and nuclear) accounted for 75% of total generation in 2025, but EIA expects their share to fall to about 72% in 2027. EIA expects the combined share of generation from solar and wind power (unreliable renewables) to rise from about 18% in 2025 to about 21% in 2027. Renewables are still minuscule compared to dispatchable natural gas and coal—which is as it should be if you care anything about energy security. 
Since it is a stock exchange holiday and to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., MDN is taking today, Monday, Jan. 19, off. Full-strength MDN will return Tuesday!