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What happens to natural gas when data centers land in the largest power market in the US? We mapped every operating and planned natural gas plant in PJM — using EIA-860, the federal power-plant registry — on a 10-year horizon. The queue points to a heavy gas buildout through the mid-2030s, concentrated where data-center load is landing hardest: the eastern PJM and Dominion zones. That's the same demand behind the $11.8 billion in new transmission PJM approved this year through its 2025 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP), nearly double 2024. Not all of it will be built. In PJM's own constructability review of its 2025 projects, many rated medium-to-high risk — with land acquisition for greenfield sites cited most often as the constraint. How large the gas buildout could run, and what separates the proposed queue from the projects that actually clear — this week's Energy Infra newsletter. #natgas #PJM

Over the next five years, Arbo is tracking 12 natural gas pipeline projects that could increase Permian takeaway capacity by over 15 Bcf/d. Additional capacity out of the basin would help relieve congestion, support continued production growth, and move more Permian gas toward demand centers along the Gulf Coast, Mexico, LNG export facilities, and broader interstate markets. But not all planned capacity should be treated equally. These projects are at different stages of development, with varying levels of regulatory, commercial, and construction progress. Some are already moving through permitting or construction-related milestones, while others remain as mere proposals. At Arbo, we forecast when these projects will be placed into service using a variety of independent datasets that provide visibility into all development stages. If you want to learn more about our forecasts, please reach out. #PermianBasin #natgas #energy

The D.C. Circuit applied the Supreme Court’s recent Seven County decision, granting deference to FERC’s approval of the Cumberland pipeline. Cumberland is among the first pipeline cases to run Seven County through hot-button issues like downstream emissions, alternatives, and connected-actions. The decision trims “flyspecking” of agency NEPA decisionmaking in these areas, cementing agency deference. Cumberland’s last litigation hurdle is the challenge to TVA’s NEPA analysis of the plant.

Since President Trump took office, a series of rulemakings, executive orders, and court decisions continue to reshape the regulatory ground FERC operates on. These actions collectively outline the policy landscape the new leadership now inherits, in gas, power, and environmental regulation. For the new chair and her team, the challenge isn’t launching new reforms so much as sustaining those already in motion amid rising workload and fewer hands to carry it. Commissioner David Rosner recently noted that staff levels are down 11% through attrition, underscoring the strain on capacity. Durability, whether recent reforms will hold through future administrations or amid shifting priorities is another concern. Commissioner Lindsay See has called for flexibility with respect to what FERC views as "just and reasonable" in order to adapt to rapid load growth, but without losing statutory discipline. The goals — faster interconnections and a more reliable grid — are broadly bipartisan, but the path forward still runs through complex questions of state and federal jurisdiction, pricing, and implementation, among others.

The early months of Trump’s second term show modest signs of acceleration in terms of FERC pipeline projects proposed. The annualized pace — about 3.5 projects per year and 1.8 Bcf/d of capacity — remains low by historical standards, but represents an uptick from the Biden years. Roughly 93% of filings are expansions, with about 7% involving new construction. What’s different now? The regulatory landscape and greater demand. 1️⃣ Seven County reaffirmed agency discretion under NEPA, while CEQ’s rescission of its binding regulations replaced them with non-binding guidance. Those moves reduce procedural uncertainty and narrow opportunities for litigation, at least under NEPA. 2️⃣ FERC’s leadership has increasingly emphasized efficiency, aligning its agenda with broader administration goals of energy abundance and infrastructure deployment. 3️⃣ LNG, coal to gas shifting, and emergent data center demand have also changed market fundamentals. It’s too early to call this a new buildout, but the data suggest the conditions for one are re-emerging. The next phase will hinge on whether these early projects, once approved, can withstand shifting litigation tactics. Opposition groups remain active, and although the NEPA path narrowed, there are other federal hooks and state-level claims that may gain traction.

Tuning into a packed FERC mtg with a very interesting agenda. Chair Laura Swett says her priorities are: 1️⃣ keeping the lights on at a reasonable cost 2️⃣ ensuring data centers can connect as quickly and durably as possible 3️⃣ streamline regulations so our processes encourage maintenance and construction of desperately needed MORE infrastructure 4️⃣ cutting regulatory red tape to incentivize investment