US energy company EQT settles lawsuit for $167.5 Million
According to a filing made by plaintiffs in federal court on Thursday, U.S. Energy Company EQT has agreed to pay $167.5 Million to settle a lawsuit brought by investors who alleged that EQT had overstated its benefits from its $6.7 Billion merger with Rice Energy. Officials from EQT did not respond to a request for comment immediately. The case includes the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Annuity Fund (the plaintiff), the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Pension Fund (the defendant) and the Cambridge Retirement System.
Amazon will invest $13 billion over 5 years in Australia's Data Center Infrastructure
Amazon announced in a Saturday blog post that it will invest A$20 Billion ($12.97 Billion) between 2025 and 2029 in Australia to expand, maintain, and operate its data center infrastructure. This investment is expected to boost the country's artificial-intelligence capabilities. Amazon has made its largest technology investment in Australia. The funding will be used to support new server capacity, as well as generative AI workloads. It added that the company will also invest in three new solar farm in Victoria and Queensland. The three farms will have a combined power of over 170 megawatts.
CEO Seeking to Build Philadelphia LNG Terminal Meets with White House
The CEO of a company seeking to build a liquefied natural gas terminal near Philadelphia told Reuters on Wednesday he met officials at the White House this week to "provide intelligence" about the project in the works for years despite local opposition.Penn America Energy Holdings wants to export 7.2 million tons a year of LNG from a site near Philadelphia to markets in Europe and Asia. Franc James, the CEO, said he had a meeting at the White House on Tuesday and that the company is considering several locations other than the original site in Chester, Pennsylvania.A source close to the talks also said James met with White House personnel.
The White House meets with the CEO of a company seeking to build a Pennsylvania LNG terminal
The CEO of the company that wants to build a terminal for liquefied gas near Philadelphia said on Wednesday that he had met with officials at the White House in this week to provide "intelligence" about the project, which has been in the works despite local resistance. Penn America Energy Holdings plans to export 7.2 millions tons of LNG per year from a facility near Philadelphia to European and Asian markets. Franc James said that he met with the White House Tuesday, and the company is looking at other locations than Chester, Pennsylvania. James also met with White House staff, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
EIA: US crude oil production hit a record high in March while demand fell
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported in its Petroleum Supply Monthly Report on Friday that U.S. crude output reached a record monthly high in March while the demand for oil products fell to the lowest level in a full year. The U.S. crude output increased to 13,49 million barrels a day in March. This is up from the previous all-time record of 13,45 million bpd, which was set in October 2024. EIA data show that crude oil production in Texas, which is the top oil producing state in the United States, increased by 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) from February to 5,71 million bpd, the highest level since November 2024.
EIA reports that US oil production rose in February, as New Mexico set a record.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that the total crude oil production in the United States increased slightly in February, as Texas and New Mexico, two of its top producers reversed recent declines by pumping more barrels. The data revealed that the oil output of the world's largest producer, Saudi Arabia, rose by about 29,000 barrels a day in February. The data revealed that Texas, the top oil producing state, increased its output by 41,000 barrels per day (bpd) in February, bringing it to 5.62 millions bpd. This was the first increase since October.
EQT will spend less and produce more US natgas by 2025
EQT Energy, the second largest natural gas producer in the United States, will reduce its capital expenditure but increase energy production by 2025. Range Resources, on their part, said they would keep both output and spending relatively constant from 2024. Companies released their first quarter earnings reports and spending plans on Tuesday. The U.S. Gas Prices are forecast to increase in 2025. This year, companies will likely pull out record amounts of gas. EQT plans to spend between $1.950 and $2.70 billion in maintenance capital by 2025, producing approximately 6.03-6.30 BCFED per day.
Capital Power expands in PJM market with $2.2 Billion deal
Capital Power Corp, a Canadian power producer, announced on Monday that it will buy two natural gas-fired power plant operators in the PJM Market for approximately $2.2 billion. The agreement comes as electricity prices in PJM (the largest power market in the United States) are increasing rapidly, and demand for electricity is continuing to rise due to the proliferation of energy-hungry AI data centers, and the electrification and modernization of buildings and transportation. Capital Power announced that it had agreed to buy the power plant operators Hummel Station Intermediate Holdings III…
GE Vernova will supply turbines for a planned natgas plant in Pennsylvania by 2026
GE Vernova is helping to transform Homer City Generating Station, a coal-powered power plant in Pennsylvania, into a campus of natural gas powered data centers by providing seven turbines that will produce almost 4.5 gigawatts. The project should begin generating power in 2027. It will be the largest natural-gas power plant in the U.S. once it is completed. This surpasses Florida Power & Light West County Energy Center's capacity of almost 3.8 GW. Homer City Redevelopment, the company in charge of this project, released…
US oil production dropped to an 11-month low, according to data.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on Monday that U.S. crude production dropped by 305,000 barrels a day in January to 13,15 million bpd, its lowest level since Feb. 2024. The data revealed that this was the largest monthly decline in U.S. crude oil production since January 2024. The EIA lowered their estimate of U.S. record oil production for December by about 40,000 barrels per day to 13.45million bpd. The oil output in Texas, which is the largest U.S. state for oil production, dropped by 105,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 5,58 million bpd. This was the lowest level of the last three years.
EIA reports that US oil and natural gas production reached a record high in December.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on Friday that U.S. crude and natural gas production set records in December and oil demand reached multi-month highs. The EIA reported that crude oil production reached 13,491 million barrels a day (bpd), up from 13,314 million in November, and surpassing the previous all-time record of 13.436 in October. EIA reported that oil production in the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico Region increased 12.3% to 1.86m bpd in December, marking the highest level since October 2023.
EQT's profit for the fourth quarter beats estimates due to higher natural gas prices and sales
EQT's fourth-quarter profit exceeded analysts' estimates on Tuesday as the natural gas company benefited from increased prices and sales. The natural gas price rose during the first quarter of this year, reaching a peak that has not been seen in two years. This was due to an increase in gas flow to export plants for liquefied gas. Prices were also boosted by the forecast of more cold weather for January, which will increase heating demand. EQT realized an average price of $3.01 per 1,000 cubic feet equivalent during the third quarter, up 9.5% from the previous year.
NextEra advances toward Iowa nuclear plant restart
NextEra Energy CEO John Ketchum said on Friday that the company has been in contact with regional grid operators about a potential restart of the Duane Arnold Nuclear Power Plant located in Iowa. Nuclear power in the United States has been on the decline for decades, but now is a sought-after electricity source by Big Tech's AI Data Centers. Nuclear power's ability, in the past year, to provide vast amounts of energy around-the clock that is almost carbon-free, has helped boost shares of nuclear plant companies. Three plants are currently attempting to restart a fully-shut U.S. reactor. Duane Arnold is one of them.
US PJM electricity demand hits preliminary winter records during winter freeze
PJM Interconnection, a power grid operator in the United States, said on Wednesday that it had set a preliminary winter record with a peak load exceeding 145,000 megawatts. It also exported 8,000 MW due to extreme cold across the country. This record is higher than the previous one of 143.700 MW, set in February 2015. Data verification will be conducted by PJM. PJM serves 65 million people across 13 states, from Illinois to New Jersey. Mike Bryson said that PJM senior vice president for operations is expecting a high demand of nearly 140,000 MW on Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning.
US NatGas Demand Could Hit Record High
U.S. spot natural gas and power prices soared to multi-year highs in several parts of the country with extreme cold expected to boost gas demand to a daily record high on Tuesday.Extreme weather has created havoc for power and gas markets in recent years as demand has come close to outpacing supply.In February 2021, a freeze in Texas killed more than 200 people and left millions without power, water and heat for days after extreme cold caused gas supplies to drop by freezing oil and gas infrastructure, known as freeze-offs.The nation's biggest power grid…
Winter storms in the US could lead to power outages and a reduction of natgas supplies
According to energy analysts, the next few weeks could see massive power outages across the U.S. and a spike in natural gas demand. As a result of the "freeze offs" of oil and gas pipes and wells, the demand for gas is expected to increase. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gas is responsible for 43% of America's electricity generation and 45% of its homes are heated by it. Prices could rise next week due to a combination of a surge in demand and fewer supplies. Analysts at the energy consulting firm Gelber and Associates warned that temperatures below zero could cause production to freeze.
Pennsylvania Governor complains about PJM power market rules to regulator
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has filed a complaint against PJM Interconnection with a federal energy regulatory agency on Monday. He argues that the U.S.'s largest power grid operator, PJM Interconnection, must change their market rules to avoid escalating electricity prices. PJM Interconnection has been under increased scrutiny since July when it announced that its annual capacity auction will result in record-high payment to power plants within its system. In a complaint filed to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission…
US AI Task Force co-chair requests FERC support for co-located Data Centers - Letter
According to a Dec. 5 letter, a co-chair of Congressional Artificial Intelligence Task Force in the U.S. urged federal energy regulators to support the creation of data centers that are directly connected to power stations, citing national safety and competition to dominate global AI. U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte stated that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) should act quickly in crafting rules to encourage the expansion and use of AI, which requires large amounts of energy. This includes clearing the way for co-located AI Data Centers.
EIA reports that US oil production fell by the most in September since January.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) data showed that the crude oil production in the United States fell by 157,000 barrels a day (bpd), month-over-month, to 13,20 million bpd during September. This was the biggest decline since January. As Hurricane Francine, and Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Gulf of Mexico in September, many oil and gas facilities were forced to close for extended periods of time. EIA data released on Friday showed that output from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore fell by 12% in September, to 1,58 million bpd. This is the lowest level in three years.
Blackstone buys pipeline stakes in EQT from EQT at $3.5 billion
Blackstone, an alternative asset manager, said Monday it would purchase minority stakes in certain of EQT's pipelines through a joint-venture for $3.5 billion. The sale will help EQT reduce its debt after it purchased Equitrans Midstream for $14 billion in July. In premarket trading, shares of EQT rose by 3.9%. Blackstone and EQT will form a joint venture worth about $8.8 Billion. This joint venture would include EQT’s ownership interests in the Mountain Valley pipeline and the Hammerhead pipe. The company would be able to leave 2024 with a net debt of about $9 billion.
