PA Needs “Sensible Regulation” to Attract AI Data Centers
Continuing on our data center theme, a new article by MDN friend Gordon Tomb, a senior fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation, makes the case that Pennsylvania needs more energy and sensible regulation to lure data centers. There is a stark contrast to what PA legislators are offering. On the Republican side, legislators are offering a bill that would expedite permits for data center projects that meet or exceed federal standards (see New PA Bill Coming to Build Data Centers & Gas Power Faster, Cheaper). On the Democrat side, legislators offer a six-bill package that would frustrate and block data centers (see PA Dems Intro Multiple Bills to Block AI Data Centers in the State). Tomb sorts through the noise to find the signal that PA needs to build data centers… Read More “PA Needs “Sensible Regulation” to Attract AI Data Centers”
We have to (immodestly) say that we spotted the environmental left’s opposition to AI data centers a mile away. We were the first to alert you to PA green groups lining up to oppose data centers based on an irrational hatred of the fossil energy that powers them (see 
More “noise” that will discourage data center development in Pennsylvania: PJM Interconnection’s market monitor, Monitoring Analytics, filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging that large data centers be barred from connecting to the grid unless they can be reliably served. The monitor argues that PJM’s consideration of allowing loads that might necessitate periodic blackouts violates its reliability obligations and is unjust. While Monitoring Analytics is independent of PJM, they are usually on the same “side.” Not this time. 
Two weeks ago, Pennsylvania finally passed a budget, four months late. As part of the deal struck between Democrats and Republicans, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) carbon tax scheme was permanently ash-canned (see 
According to Reuters, U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports hit a new all-time monthly high in November for the second straight month, driven by cooler weather and robust output from the country’s two largest producers. Even so, the Trump administration is considering further steps to speed up the buildout of LNG export infrastructure. For example, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is considering a blanket permit rather than assessing each new project individually before approving its construction. 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Colorado PUC finalizes plans to push natgas out of home heating to hit 100% decarbonization; NATIONAL: Natural gas turns positive amid mixed weather trends; US natural gas futures hold near 35-month high on record LNG flows and colder forecasts; Natural gas price forecast – new long-term trend high established; USA Compression announces strategic acquisition of J-W Power Company; Energy affordability has become the kitchen-table issue of the 2020s; Your Thanksgiving turkey has a carbon footprint; Nuclear-generated electricity overshadows government-subsidized wind and solar; Ignoring EV pollution for fake climate crisis; INTERNATIONAL: Crude ends higher despite glut fears; China shale oil output outlook improving; Why is the price of gas falling in Europe in the middle of winter. 
The number of new permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica from November 17 – 23 was 23, down from 31 issued the prior week. Pennsylvania issued 13 new permits, down 1 from the prior week. Ohio got skunked, issuing no new permits. Must be the ODNR staffers went on vacation early for Thanksgiving. West Virginia made up for Ohio’s poor performance by issuing 10 permits, down 2 from the prior week. 
Wow! The price of natural gas, both for futures contract trading and for spot prices (at least here in the Marcellus/Utica), continues to soar. Not two months ago prices were struggling to stay above $3/MMBtu. As of last Friday, the NYMEX front-month futures price gained 29.2 cents (6.4%) to close at $4.85/MMBtu. The NYMEX price for the month of November gained 72.6 cents per MMBtu, up 17.6%. And get this: The overall average for all physical/spot trading hubs in the M-U region closed at $4.03 on Friday. That’s huge! Cold weather is the primary factor, although new record-high demand coming from LNG export facilities also helps. 
In September, MDN told you that two major Kinder Morgan pipeline projects that will flow Marcellus/Utica molecules in the southeastern U.S. took a big step forward at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with FERC actively working on an environmental impact statement (EIS) for both projects (see 
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order on November 25 directing PJM Interconnection and Constellation Energy to keep Units 3 and 4 at Pennsylvania’s Eddystone Generating Station (near Philadelphia, in Delaware County) operational through the winter. Effective from November 26, 2025, to February 24, 2026, the mandate aims to ensure grid reliability following PJM’s record winter demand in January 2025. This directive follows two previous orders that kept the aging, dual-fuel units online to support energy security during summer heatwaves. The DOE asserts that despite planned retirements, these 380-MW units remain essential for stabilizing the regional power supply. Big Green is unhappy. 
A couple of weeks ago, we told you that a pending lawsuit had stalled the implementation of the All-Electric Buildings Act (passed in 2023), which was supposed to require that any new home or business being built in New York could not (by law) connect to natural gas (see 
Last week, the Baker Hughes U.S. national rig count got wacked good, losing 10 rigs from the previous week. The national count went from 554 to 544 (as of Wednesday, when BH reported the numbers). Bummer. It had gained rigs for each of the prior three weeks. Rigs in the Marcellus/Utica remained the same last week after gaining one rig the week before. Pennsylvania has held at 18 for two weeks in a row. Ohio was the same at 13 rigs, which it has operated since September 26. West Virginia maintained its 7 rigs, which it has operated since May 30. There were 24 rigs targeting the Marcellus and 14 targeting the Utica, for a combined 38 rigs in the M-U. 
In the space of two months, the NYMEX “front month” natural gas futures contract went from bumping around under $3/MMBtu (million British thermal units) to the mid-$4 range. It’s been an amazing ride. And it would be easy to think “we’ve arrived” and can kiss $3 territory goodbye. That would be a mistake. While we earnestly hope the price will remain where it is, in the $4 range, analysts, including EBW Analytics Group, caution that for U.S. natural gas prices, “immediate-term volatility risks remain high into December expiration.” Volatility means the price can swing wildly at a moment’s notice. Where is the NYMEX and spot/physical price now? And where might prices go over the next couple of weeks? 
In June 2023, Dominion Energy announced plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County near Richmond (see 
Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) will hold a meeting on Tuesday, December 9, to consider whether or not to accept a petition by radical green groups, including the Clean Air Council and Environmental Integrity Project, to “study” the issue of increasing setbacks for shale drilling so far that it would ban ALL new Marcellus/Utica drilling in the Keystone State. The EQB tabled a decision on accepting the petition back in April (see