States across the country are in the throes of determining future winners and losers in the energy marketplace, considering and enacting measures that restrict consumer choice and removing the word “free” from “free market” that most Americans take for granted.

The energy demand curve across parts of the United States, including demand for natural gas, usually takes a dip in September as many end users turn off the air conditioners, open the windows to enjoy cooler temps and consider getting a pre-season maintenance check on their heating system before winter sets in.

August means one important thing for many families: time to get kids ready to go back to school. The month finds many people packing up their outdoor adventure or water gear – much of it derived from the processing of oil and natural gas – and trading it for new clothes and supplies for children to report to orientation and the first day of classes.

The challenges facing infrastructure development to move natural gas out of the Appalachian Basin to markets where it is urgently needed through the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) arose yet again with the July 11, 2023 stay issued by a panel of judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The days are numbered for the iconic Homer City Generating Station in Indiana County, a development caused by a number of factors, including stringent environmental regulations, coal pricing and the increased use of natural gas to produce electricity.

PIOGA’s March 23 conference, held at the Rivers Casino, proved again that what we believe we know is taking place in the oil and gas industry is always less than the what is occurring in real time, and is always changing. The conference offered attendees updates and facts about important issues emerging in Pennsylvania and beyond.

Taking a broader look at the intersection of several forces shaping energy development choices in underserved nations, including a lack of financing being driven by a reluctance to support needed electric generation facilities in those countries. Geopolitical factors, the most prominent being Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are also at the heart of some decisions being made by countries dealing with energy poverty or the need for additional generating capacity.

PIOGA released its formal response to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PADEP) 2021 Oil and Gas Annual Report and HB 2644 Lapsing Statement Report, issued December 29, 2022, which purport to provide an accurate snapshot of the conventional industry’s recent operations.

The drumbeat of ill-advised efforts by governments at different levels to take away consumers’ rights to choose energy sources is continuing, with the most recent count being about 80 local governments – most in California – passing ordinances that require or urge property owners to use electric rather than natural gas appliances, with a primary focus on new construction or renovations.