$10B Data Center Coming to Former Bruce Mansfield Power Plant Site
Last July, President Trump and PA U.S. Senator Dave McCormick attended a meeting in Pittsburgh to announce an amazing $92 billion of private (no taxpayer funding) investment in the Keystone State, mainly in the data center sector (see Pittsburgh Energy Event Truly Mind-Blowing, $92B+ Investments for PA). One of the projects announced at that meeting is the Shippingport Power Station, a $3.2 billion conversion of the former Bruce Mansfield coal power plant in Beaver County into a natural gas power station and data center site (see Frontier Group Converting Coal to Gas-Fired Plant, NatGas from EQT). We have more/new details about the gas-fired power plant and about a proposal for a new data center at the site. Read More “$10B Data Center Coming to Former Bruce Mansfield Power Plant Site”
In December, MDN reported that pipeline giant Williams, through its new subsidiary, Will-Power, plans to build a third gas-fired power plant to power a Meta (Facebook) data center complex in Bowling Green, OH (see 
In 2015, MPLX (i.e., Marathon Petroleum) bought out and merged in the Utica Shale’s premier midstream company, MarkWest Energy, for $15 billion (see 
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Is Pennsylvania running out of electricity?; What PA’s battle over climate change can teach the nation; MSC statement on Gov. Shapiro’s budget proposal; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Commonwealth LNG announces 20-year LNG supply agreement with Mercuria; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures pick up after selloff; Google is spending big to build a lead in the AI energy race; How natural gas delivered during Winter Storm Fern; CO2 border tariff? Don’t even think about it, DOE!; INTERNATIONAL: Oil ends day higher after drone incident; USA flagged oil tanker harassed by Iranian ships in Hormuz; The looming LNG glut and what it means for global energy prices; Russia’s pipeline gas exports to Europe jump 10% in January on year. 
As rumored last week, Devon Energy and Coterra Energy are merging to create a shale drilling giant. The headlines say it’s a “$58 billion deal.” Beneath the headlines, you’ll learn that Devon is buying, Coterra is being acquired, and that Devon is paying (in stock only) $21.4 billion for Coterra Energy. The two companies combined into one will be worth (market capitalization) around $58 billion, which is where that headline number comes from. The merger is expected to take place in the second quarter of this year. The new company will keep the Devon Energy name. Coterra will be no more, just like Cabot Oil & Gas was no more after it merged with Cimarex Energy to form Coterra in October 2021 (see 
Natural gas futures suffered a historic 26% collapse—the steepest one-day percentage drop since 1995 (over 30 years!)—as the most-active “front month” contract plunged over a dollar to close at $3.237/MMBtu. This dramatic retreat was fueled by forecasts of “well above normal” temperatures across the Eastern U.S. and a recovery in production following recent freeze-offs, both of which point toward a looming inventory buildup. Although analysts at NatGasWeather.com suggest the market may have overshot the actual data, the combination of a thawing climate and stabilizing supply clearly spooked investors enough to trigger this record-breaking slide. 
Two pipeline kingpins are engaged in a deathmatch with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to get their competing pipeline projects approved. One is Williams’ Transco Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SESE), the other is EQT’s MVP Southgate project (see 
West Virginia Senate Bill (SB) 706 proposes reducing the state’s severance tax from 5% to 3% for new natural gas and oil wells drilled after June 30, 2026, that meet specific production thresholds. This reduction applies only to future projects, leaving existing wells at current rates. While severance taxes provide vital but volatile revenue—ranging from $98 million to $588 million in recent years—this legislation seeks to adjust the fiscal landscape for one of the state’s most profitable resources. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining and awaits further legislative approval. 
Pipeline giant Williams is going on a PR offensive to pressure New York State to approve the 125-mile (99 miles in NY) Constitution Pipeline from the prolific gas fields of Susquehanna County, PA, into and through New York State, to Schoharie County, where it would connect with two other interstate pipeline systems to flow molecules to New York City and New England. On its blog site, Williams recently published a post titled “Winter storms underscore why infrastructure is needed,” with the subtitle “Severe cold underscores need for Constitution Pipeline.” 
The Marcellus/Utica rig count gained 1 rig eight weeks ago in the Ohio Utica, bringing the regional total to 39 rigs. The combined number of 39 remained the same last week, however, there was an important change. The Pennsylvania Marcellus picked up one rig last week, while the Ohio Utica lost a rig. PA is now operating 19 rigs, OH is operating 13 rigs, and WV maintains its 7 rigs, which it has operated since May of last year. There were 25 rigs targeting the Marcellus and 14 targeting the Utica last week. The national count gained 2 rigs last week, bringing the national total to 546 active rigs. 
Last week, CNX Resources issued its fourth quarter 2025 update. In 3Q25, the company did not drill, frack, or complete any new wells (see 
The CEO of French company DataOne recently held a town hall in Vineland, New Jersey, regarding a 2.4 million-square-foot AI data center currently under construction. Residents expressed frustration over being consulted only after the project was nearly finished, citing concerns about noise, transparency, and environmental impact. The CEO defended the facility, claiming its “breakthrough” technology ensures near-zero emissions for its gas-fired power and zero water consumption while protecting local utility rates. Despite promises of private funding and a community vertical farm, skepticism persists.