Two Rivers, No Justice! It’s Time to Overturn the DRBC’s Frack Ban
Shale drilling in Wayne and Pike counties in the northeastern tip of Pennsylvania has been blocked since 2010 (16 looooong years), denying landowners in those counties the right to benefit from leasing and drilling on and under their land. Those counties (parts of them) are within the Delaware River Basin, and the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) implemented a moratorium in 2010 to block shale drilling. The moratorium became a full-blown, permanent ban on fracking in 2021. The DRBC added a prohibition on the disposal of oil and gas wastewater to the permanent ban in 2022. It’s time to overturn the ban. We have a petition for you to sign to show your support for overturning the ban. Read More “Two Rivers, No Justice! It’s Time to Overturn the DRBC’s Frack Ban”
A supposed “group of rural Ohioans” in Adams and Brown counties is seeking a constitutional amendment to ban data centers exceeding 25 megawatts, citing concerns over resource consumption and a lack of local control. The “rural Ohioans” argue these massive facilities drain electricity and water supplies while providing few permanent jobs, often facilitated by secretive non-disclosure agreements between tech companies and officials. After submitting initial signatures to the Ohio Attorney General, supporters must gather approximately 413,000 more by July to reach the November ballot. Because modern AI-driven facilities typically require over 200 megawatts of power, this amendment would effectively ban large-scale data center expansion across the state. In its reporting, the media left out an important part of the story. 
An unidentified natural gas driller has applied to open over 8,300 additional acres of the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area for fracking, potentially making it Ohio’s largest fracking operation on public land. This request follows a January decision that already opened 4,400 acres of the 18,000-acre preserve, which is primarily used for conservation, hunting, and fishing. While the state’s Oil and Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) has historically favored industry requests despite significant public opposition, environmentalists and some Democratic lawmakers argue that the expansion exploits public resources and threatens local ecosystems. A public comment period remains open until April 27. 
We spotted a pair of press releases from M-U driller Infinity Natural Resources (INR), with the first announcing the company is floating $500 million in “senior notes” (IOUs) due in 2031, and the second, issued a short time later, revising the amount to $550 million (because of strong demand). What does it mean? Is this somehow tied to the company’s recent purchase of Antero Resources’ Ohio Utica assets (see 
New Fortress Energy (NFE) owns and operates natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure, along with an integrated fleet of ships and logistics assets, to rapidly deliver turnkey energy solutions to global markets. At one point, NFE planned to build an LNG liquefaction facility in Wyalusing, PA, to chill locally extracted Marcellus gas, which would be shipped by rail to a port on the Delaware River for export. Never happened. NFE announced yesterday that it has entered into a voluntary UK Restructuring Plan, which is roughly equivalent to a U.S. prepackaged bankruptcy. NFE will split into two companies, diluting existing shareholders’ stock ownership to roughly one-third of its previous value. 
Here’s a question: Do you want the government to be able to control your thermostat (turning it down in the winter, or up in the summer), controlling your water heater (making it cooler), or controlling your “smart” refrigerator (raising the ambient temp inside), or controlling other so-called smart appliances, bypassing *your* preferred settings? Would you like the government to be able to grab stored electricity from solar panels on your roof or from the battery in your charged-up EV during times of electric grid “stress”? That’s what Democrat members of the Pennsylvania state legislature want to do. It’s called a “virtual power plant,” and it’s being sold as a quick solution to power shortages without having to build new gas-fired power plants (or new windmills, solar farms, etc.). Creating a virtual power plant just takes a little software and a lot of apathy from citizens to make it work. 
Governor Kathy Hochul warns that a recent court ruling requiring New York to meet strict 2030 greenhouse gas mandates could trigger a dramatic spike in energy costs. Justice Julian Schreibman ruled that state agencies must strictly adhere to the Climate Act’s deadlines, despite official concerns regarding feasibility. While state energy officials predict a “cap-and-invest” (better called a cap-and-tax) program could cost households thousands annually, environmental advocates are open to settling the case to avoid “draconian” economic impacts. To reach these goals affordably, Hochul is pushing to adjust emission accounting methods to a 100-year standard, extending the compliance timeline while maintaining the state’s commitment to clean energy. 
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: PA Senate passes bill to protect vehicle choice; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Response to Democrat Senator’s letter to Hochul re Climate Act; Japanese firm unveils proposal to import LNG to Hawaii; New energy policies in California threatening America’s national security; NATIONAL: Natural gas climbs as traders watch headlines; The market wants more oil, shale may not deliver; U.S. LNG feedgas demand rebounds; Big Tech needs Trump’s energy agenda; US energy realism pays off in Iran crisis; U.S. E&Ps increasingly see LNG as way to get a piece of the arbitrage pie; INTERNATIONAL: Oil settles higher on supply threats; JP Morgan flags oil price ‘misalignment’; Hormuz choke point displays ‘green’ vulnerabilities and US power. 
The Energy Cooperative (TEC) has proposed a 24-mile-long, 24-inch natural gas pipeline across Licking County, Ohio, stretching from Bennington Township to the New Albany International Business Park. Estimated at $150 million, the project is designed to supply energy to a specific, unnamed data center, which will fully fund the construction. (We think we’ve identified the “unnamed” data center, which we’ll do below.) While TEC maintains the pipeline will enhance system reliability and stabilize pressure for its 58,000 members, the project faces scrutiny from local landowners. Concerns involve the potential use of eminent domain and the environmental impact on agricultural land. 
In 2025, U.S. marketed natural gas production reached a record average of 118.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). This growth was largely driven by a 60% increase in Henry Hub spot prices, which averaged $3.52/MMBtu. The Appalachia (Marcellus/Utica), Permian, and Haynesville regions collectively accounted for 67% of total production and 81% of the annual increase. Appalachia remained the top producer, aided by the new Mountain Valley Pipeline, accounting for 31% (36.6 Bcf/d) of marketed natural gas production. However, the Permian is nipping at our heels. 
Students at Allderdice High School launched the Dice Well Done Club to combat mythical climate change by plugging abandoned oil and gas wells. Led by junior Lucy Hurowitz, the group partners with the Well Done Foundation to address methane leaks, which supposedly contribute to Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions. After raising $5,000 (out of $15,000 needed) in 2025 to seal a well near Erie, the club is targeting another $5,000 to raise this year for a local project. By turning student-led fundraising into tangible environmental action, these teenagers are providing a blueprint for schools nationwide to tackle the massive problem of orphaned wells. 
The INGAA Foundation’s 2025 North American Midstream Infrastructure Report highlights the critical need for over $1 trillion in natural gas pipeline and related infrastructure investments through 2052 to meet rising energy demands in the United States and Canada. Driven by increased electricity demand from data centers and growing LNG exports, the study projects a need for 37,000 miles of new transmission pipelines and 103,000 miles of gathering lines. Even under a low-carbon scenario, natural gas remains foundational. 
Two weeks ago, the Marcellus/Utica saw a realignment in rig counts, at least in Ohio and West Virginia. Pennsylvania kept the 20 rigs it has had since early February. Ohio lost two rigs, from 13 to 11, the fewest active rigs in the Buckeye State since last September. And West Virginia picked up one rig, from 7 to 8 rigs, for the first time since last May! Overall, the M-U region had a net loss of one rig two weeks ago, going from 40 to 39 active rigs. The same numbers for the M-U held last week—no changes. One thing we didn’t mention last week (we just noticed this week) is that, along with the change in rigs between OH and WV, came a shift in Marcellus-focused and Utica-focused rigs. The Marcellus gained one rig (now runs 27), and the Utica lost two rigs (now runs 12).