The conversation around energy, technology, and America’s economic future came to Erie this month at the 15th annual Shale Insight conference, where nearly 900 attendees and an impressive speaker lineup – ranging from leading executives of companies active throughout the basin to U.S Interior Secretary Doug Burgum – reinforced one underlying message: Pennsylvania’s natural gas is the backbone of America’s strength, security, and global competitiveness.

“Western Pennsylvania is emerging as an integrated energy and technology hub — fueled by homegrown natural gas and backed by the region’s skilled workforce, building trade partners, industrial know-how and globally recognized research capabilities,” Marcellus Shale Coalition President Jim Welty wrote in the Erie Times-News ahead of the conference.

Those strengths were on full display over the three-day conference, where a packed agenda of breakout sessions, an overflowing exhibit hall, and energized attendees captured the conference’s significance as a national forum for energy, policy, and industry innovation.

“Pennsylvania by itself has become one of the largest energy producers in the country. That’s truly remarkable. U.S. shale gas is foundational to this Administration’s priorities to unlock American growth,” said Secretary Burgum. “You cannot separate energy policy from our domestic prosperity. They go hand in hand.”

Secretary Burgum and other regulatory and government officials called for policies that unleash domestic energy production, ensure energy reliability, and keep costs affordable – all priorities deeply reflected in the conference discussions and sessions. Attendees heard from a slate of leaders across the industry value chain, including:

  • Executives from Expand Energy, Southern Company Gas, EQT, Repsol, MPLX, PennEnergy Resources, and National Fuel Gas
  • PHMSA’s Acting Administrator, Ben Kochman
  • PJM Interconnection’s Asim Haque, Senior VP of Government and Member Services
  • American Gas Association VP of Planning, Dan Lapato
  • Marcellus Shale Coalition Chair Lisa McManus of Pennsylvania General Energy

As in previous years, the Technology and University Research Showcases featured cutting-edge advancements in methane mitigation, pipeline safety, offsets and digital monitoring technologies. Students and faculty from leading regional universities – including Penn State University, West Virginia University, Ohio State University, Washington & Jefferson College and Franklin University – shared forward-looking research around the issues shaping the energy sector in the years ahead.

The Exhibit Hall was packed with over 80 booths featuring demonstrations, startup showcases, and networking opportunities, reinforcing Shale Insight as a launchpad for innovation and collaboration.

On behalf of the MSC, thank you to all our speakers, sponsors, university partners, and attendees for making this year’s conference another incredible event, and for reaffirming what we’ve always known: domestic energy security and economic growth all begin with natural gas development in the Appalachian Basin.

Here’s a snapshot of what people were saying on stage:

“What we are doing with energy in the United States matters. It matters on a world stage.” — Nick Dell’Osso, CEO, Expand Energy

Dell’Osso and other leading operators, including EQT Corp.’s Sarah Fenton and National Fuel’s Donna DeCarolis underscored the global importance of U.S. natural gas, pointing to LNG exports, AI-driven data centers, and advanced manufacturing as opportunities that depend on Appalachian energy production. With record-setting drilling efficiency and scale, Appalachia remains the cornerstone of U.S. competitiveness and keeping energy affordable for Americans.

“Grid reliability is job number one.” — Asim Haque, PJM Interconnection

Acting PHMSA Administrator Ben Kochman and PJM’s Asim Haque highlighted the natural gas solution to the global challenge of meeting unprecedented electricity demand growth from data centers and AI. PJM warned that developers may need to “bring their own power” to avoid straining the grid, opening new opportunities for natural gas to anchor reliable baseload generation. Bottom line: natural gas is the most efficient, near-term solution to keeping energy affordable and reliable.

“Generate the electricity where you’ve got available gas. Turn the electricity into intelligence, ship the intelligence out on a fiber cable.” — Doug Burgum, U.S. Interior Secretary & Chair, National Energy Dominance Council

Secretary Burgum emphasized the speed and efficiency of co-locating data centers with natural gas power, calling it the fastest way to deliver reliable electricity for the AI-driven economy. As the second largest natural gas producing state in the nation with a world-class labor force, there’s no place better suited to meet this moment than Pennsylvania.

“Affordable and reliable energy is essential for stronger communities, new industries, and a healthier environment.” — Jim Welty, President, Marcellus Shale Coalition

Welty drove home the message that Pennsylvania’s energy advantage benefits everyone: When Pennsylvania leads, America benefits.

Read more from the conference: