Special Briefing Oct. 16 on WV’s Gas-Fired Power Plant Opportunities
In August, newly elected West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced a plan that includes the state growing its electric energy production from a current 16 gigawatts (GW) of generation to a massive 50 GW by 2050—what Morrisey calls the “50 by ’50” plan (see WV Gov. Morrisey Wants 50 GW of PowerGen in State by 2050). Natural gas will play a starring role in accomplishing that objective. At next week’s AI Energy Conference 2, being held in Pittsburgh on October 16, Bryce Custer, founder of Ohio River Corridor, LLC, will deliver a special presentation on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and the rapidly evolving power generation landscape in West Virginia. He’ll discuss Morrisey’s vision to rapidly expand the state’s power generation and how it can be accomplished. Read More “Special Briefing Oct. 16 on WV’s Gas-Fired Power Plant Opportunities”
Commonwealth LNG is developing a 9.5 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal project located near Cameron, Louisiana. In September, Commonwealth announced it had signed a deal with EQT Corporation to provide 1.0 MTPA of LNG for EQT to resell (see 
We finally have all five members in place for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Yesterday, the U.S. Senate, despite the best efforts of Democrats to further delay confirmation votes for *any* Trump appointments, voted to confirm a slate of over 100 new appointments, including two new members of FERC, on a party-line vote of 51-47. In June, President Trump nominated Laura Swett of Vison & Elkins to replace Republican Mark Christie, who had been elevated to Chairman under Trump (see 
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Steptoe & Johnson relocates Southpointe office; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Maryland Supreme Court challenges basis for climate lawsuits; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas price posts back-to-back gains; U.S. propane inventories are well stocked heading into the winter heating season; NGOs “recycle” their anti-industry playbook for plastics; U.S. feedgas demand remains strong; INTERNATIONAL: WTI extends streak amid modest OPEC+ hike; At what point will OPEC+ cut? 
In April, MDN told you about a new greenfield expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Elba Express pipeline into South Carolina to serve growing demand for natural gas in the state (see 
Southwestern Pennsylvania faces a time-sensitive opportunity to capitalize on the AI data center boom, with small and midsized manufacturers positioned to play a key role, industry experts said at a recent conference held in Pittsburgh. The rush to build advanced facilities, which have extensive physical, energy, and technology requirements, demands speed and coordination. Panelists highlighted Pennsylvania’s abundant natural gas and diverse energy potential as critical for powering centers, while noting that regulatory frameworks, workforce capacity, and supply chain readiness are equally vital. With $92 billion in committed investment, the region could leverage this moment if policies, energy costs, and development incentives align effectively. The question is, will SWPA be able to pull it off? 
Energy companies are set to invest nearly $50?billion over the next five years in building or expanding 8,800 miles of U.S. natural gas pipelines to meet soaring domestic consumption, record LNG exports, and growing data center demand, greatly aided by regulatory changes under President Trump. Surging gas production, particularly in the Permian Basin as a byproduct of crude oil output, has outpaced pipeline and processing capacity, resulting in occasional negative Waha prices and production slowdowns. Major operators, such as Kinder Morgan and Enbridge, face record backlogs but continue to expand, especially in Texas and the Gulf Coast, with future gas growth tied to sustained oil prices. 
Last week, FERC voted to sunset 53 outdated and unnecessary regulations to advance the Commission’s core mission of ensuring reliable, safe, secure, and economically efficient energy for consumers at a reasonable cost. The actions respond to President Trump’s Executive Order “Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy” issued in April 2025, which directs agencies to incorporate a sunset provision into their regulations governing energy production to stimulate innovation and deliver prosperity to everyday Americans. Bear in mind, this action comes from the current three FERC commissioners, which include two Democrats and one Republican. 
The Europeans have tried to regulate the U.S. oil and gas industry for more than a year (see 
After gaining rigs for four weeks in a row, last week the Baker Hughes U.S. national rig count stayed even, neither gaining nor (more importantly) losing any rigs. The count remained at 549 active rigs. Sadly, Pennsylvania lost one rig, from 18 to 17, after maintaining its count for 10 consecutive weeks. Ohio kept 13 rigs in the Utica for a second week after gaining a rig two weeks ago. West Virginia kept its seven active rigs, the same number since May 30 (four months). The combined M-U count was 37 rigs, with 23 rigs targeting the Marcellus layer and 14 targeting the Utica. 
What is it about the modern Democrat Party that seeks the total destruction and annihilation of that which they perceive as a political threat? The party, or perhaps more accurately, the radical left elements of the party (which increasingly is all of the party), wants to destroy law and order, including our police departments. Just look at the “protests” (i.e., violent riots) in places like Portland, Oregon. Look at the violence against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) employees in places like Chicago. And look at the dangerous talk of politicians like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is threatening to force the state out of the PJM Interconnection electric grid (see 
Last Thursday, energy and labor leaders gathered for the “All About Propane & Energy Reliability” one-day conference, held in Boothwyn, PA (Delaware County, near Philadelphia). The speakers highlighted the significant economic and employment impact of energy production, particularly at the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex. Speakers noted that Pennsylvania is the second-largest natural gas producer, with 12,000 wells producing 7.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas last year. Marcus Hook, originally a crude oil refinery dating to 1901, now exports propane and ethane globally, supporting hundreds of jobs and generating substantial wages and tax revenue. Projects like the Mariner East 1 and 2 pipelines created millions of man-hours for local trades. Panelists emphasized Marcus Hook’s ongoing growth potential and its central role in local and statewide energy development.