PA Senate Passes Bill to Identify, Promote Gas-Fired Power Sites
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Senate approved Senate Bill (SB) 704, known as the Grid Stabilization and Security Act, sponsored by Republican State Senator Gene Yaw. This legislation directs the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to collaborate to identify suitable sites for natural gas-powered electricity generation. By streamlining site preparation, the bill aims to address critical shortfalls in electricity generation on the PJM grid and attract new investment in baseload power, which has stagnated since 2019. Read More “PA Senate Passes Bill to Identify, Promote Gas-Fired Power Sites”
On February 3, 2026, Pennsylvania’s Environmental Hearing Board (EHB) denied a motion by CNX to dismiss an appeal from James and Barbara Ullom regarding significant water loss on their Washington County property. The Ulloms allege that fracking operations at CNX’s NV110 well pad, located approximately 890 feet from their well, caused their water supply to fail (loss of water). Although the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) initially found no link, the EHB, a special court that hears appeals of DEP decisions, ruled that the Ulloms had established a prima facie case. A central legal issue remains: whether the Oil and Gas Act’s “rebuttable presumption” of liability applies to water loss or strictly to contamination. 
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (far-left Democrat) has a plan to address rising electricity costs by “increasing oversight” of investor-owned utilities, which he claims generate “excessive profits” at the expense of Pennsylvania ratepayers. That’s code for take them over and have the government (liberal Dems) run them. Last time we checked, we still live in the USA, land of the free and home of the brave. We don’t live in the USSR. 
Winter Storm Fern left a historic chill on the energy market, driving natural gas stocks in the Lower 48 down by 360 billion cubic feet (Bcf) for the week ending January 30, 2026—the largest weekly withdrawal ever recorded in the history of the report. This massive dip, fueled by a “perfect storm” of surging heating demand and weather-related production freezes, exceeded the five-year average by a staggering 89% (170 Bcf) and pushed current inventories 1.1% below the five-year average for this time of year. 
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce partners with Expand Energy; Groups demand PA action on 8-year-old greenhouse gas petition; WV House of Delegates forms Natural Gas Caucus; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Colorado regulators may force Civitas to leave Aurora oil in the ground; California lawmakers push new climate lawsuit bill as refiners exit state; New England suffers the cold front of green energy extremism; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures settle higher; Overreliance on renewables leaves Americans out in the cold; Federal science manual – how climate charlatans fool the smartest; Google parent Alphabet spells out spending spree; INTERNATIONAL: Oil settles lower as Iran-US talks ease risk; UK newspaper editorial opposition to climate action overtakes support for first time. 
Despite claims by anti-fossil fuelers that the Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station in southwestern PA would spread disease and death if 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) is the agency that issues such a permit and is proposing to do so, which (of course) has antis’ knickers in a twist. In particular, antis complained that no public complaint sessions were scheduled. They got their wish yesterday. 
In January 2023, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a leftist Democrat, floated a plan to ban natural gas hookups in every single new home and business across the “Empire” State (see 
Yesterday, MDN brought you the big news that Devon Energy is buying out and merging with Coterra Energy, paying $21.4 billion in Devon stock (see 
Not that he isn’t already a very rich man, but Coterra Energy CEO Tom Jorden stands to rake in an additional $6 million to $9 million (possibly much more) from a “golden parachute” if the proposed merger between Coterra and Devon Energy goes through. Based on the reports following the merger announcement between Coterra and Devon, Coterra’s upper management (in particular, Jorden) is protected by substantial “golden parachute” (change-in-control) agreements. These agreements were specifically updated just before the deal was made public to ensure executive retention and fair treatment during the transition. 
In December, MDN brought you the news that Antero Resources, the country’s fifth-largest natural gas producer and largest producer in West Virginia, had cut a deal to buy WV driller and midstreamer HG Energy II for a combined $3.9 billion, paying $2.8 billion for upstream and $1.1 billion for midstream (see