Unlocking Appalachia’s Next Chapter: EQT’s Strategy for the Marcellus, Utica, and America’s Growing Natural Gas Demand: Livestream Webinar: Summary and Review (July 29, 2026)

    Sarah Fenton, EQT’s Executive Vice President Upstream, conducted the webinar along with Hart Energy’s Nissa Darbonne. She first noted that EQT is the largest natural gas producer at 8BCF/day gross. They are a vertically-integrated company that owns a significant amount of its gathering systems and pipelines, including transmission pipelines. They have stacked resources on their acreage: Marcellus, Utica, and, as I know, Upper Devonian Burket as well. All of its wells must compete for capital. Thus, they drill their best wells first. In most cases, that means Marcellus, which remains the company’s growth engine. They plan to grow with commercial-backed agreements.

     They recently drilled the world’s longest lateral section in a well. The lateral section was over 29,000 feet. It was geosteered within an 8-10 ft target window. Longer laterals reduce infrastructure needs as well as land footprint, etc. The well has not been completed yet. They will use a standard EQT design. The toe is treated a little differently than the heel in long laterals.  

     They utilize Patterson Drilling and its EcoCell energy management system, which integrates lithium‑ion battery storage with automated engine control logic to optimize power supply in drilling rigs to reduce emissions and can drill with natural gas.

     Longer laterals do have technological limits, and current records are near those limits. Thus, they plan for the longest feasible laterals. Acreage availability and continuity are also factors in Appalachia that affect the ability to drill long laterals.

     Compression capacity increases have led to significant production increases. Compression brings down baseline pressure so wells can flow better, and it allows wells to produce better and more efficiently. It is a way to improve production without drilling. The base production after compression improvements has been 3% above plan, and new wells are 8% above plan. Thus, compression reduction and compression investment can pay out very well. The key is that you have to be in control of the gathering systems and the pipelines. EQT’s vertically integrated position allows it to do these production-enhancing compression improvements.

     EQT’s sustainability report details its environmental efforts. Its methane emissions reduction program has been very successful, with an industry-leading 0.017% methane emissions rate. I detailed in a past post in 2023 the company’s efforts to replace its pneumatic valves and controllers to reduce methane emissions. EQT recycles 95% of its water, aided by expanded water pipelines, which eliminate thousands of truck trips and are safer, less risky to the environment, and emit less pollution and carbon emissions. The company achieved Scope 1 and II net zero for the second year in a row.

      EQT has a stellar future inventory, with millions of acres and 30-plus years of inventory. They plan to grow through value creation and remain disciplined and not grow just for growth’s sake. They follow demand signals and are developing offtake agreements for data centers, etc. They recently quipped that their peers in Appalachia may have trouble producing economically in the future as core acreage availability shrinks. They won’t be affected as much.

     Forecasts for gas growth in Appalachia are for an additional 20BCF/day potential in-basin demand in five years. She cited gas turbine backorders as evidence. The basin currently produces 30-40BCF/day. Productive capacity could get them from 8BCF to 12BCF/day. It could be more. Reservoir and compression management will be needed to get there.

     EQT’s midstream developments include new access to New England for rail-delivered propane to New England, which can offer residents and businesses there a cheaper and cleaner fuel source than the fuel oil that is still commonly burned there. 60% of its propane is sold to New England via Blackline Midstream. 95% of EQT’s production is dry gas. They tout an overall $2 per MCF breakeven. The Mountain Valley Pipeline proved to be vital last winter. Demand was there this winter and saved people in the Southeast a lot of money. MVP Southgate, a 32-mile extension to North Carolina, is expected to be finished by the end of this year, making it available this winter. This creates more outlets for Appalachian supply.

     EQT’s vertical integration, low breakeven, and scale-up potential with inventory can supply the forecasted demand growth in Appalachia. The primary constraint that they see is infrastructure and execution timing. Both are required for connecting the supply to the needed demand.

     The company’s LNG Growth plan involves contracted LNG access. The Gulf Coast LNG advantage indirectly strengthens Appalachian fundamentals. They can get LNG exposure without every molecule actually getting to the Gulf. Currently, they have 6 million tons per annum (mtpa) in LNG agreements.

     She notes that Appalachia is developing into an integrated energy hub and is exhibiting disciplined demand pool growth. Completion designs, longer laterals, and compression investments can produce and deliver more gas. She also notes that vendor innovation helps improve operations.

 

Q&A

     The Western Marcellus region into Eastern Ohio is shallower and oilier, thoughts? EQT has a bigger footprint in dry gas. Shallower means lower pressure, so there may be a need for artificial lift of liquids. Dry gas is generally their best rock, and most of it is in PA and WV.

     How long did the longest lateral take? 48-hour record = nearly 21,000 ft. It took 3-3.5 days to drill the lateral section.

     Firm transportation portfolio? They utilize FT contracts and commercial agreements, which include the direct sale of gas molecules.

     How many wells are needed to support 20BCF/day of in-basin growth, given new longer lateral lengths? Think of it not in the number of wells but in footage. 2BCF/day of their 8BCF/day production is used to maintain flat. Maintain flat production of 1.5 million lateral feet, so multiplying that by ten for 20 BCF yields 15 million lateral feet.

     I calculated that if the average lateral lengths were at 20,000 feet, then that would require an additional 750 wells. Assuming a single rig could drill 30 of those long wells per year, it would require an additional 25 rigs. Looking at the latest Baker Hughes rig count, which for West Virginia and Pennsylvania combined is at 25 rigs (plus 11 in Ohio), and since most of the production growth will be in WV and PA, that means doubling the rig count in those two states.

 

  

References:

 

Investor Presentation Q2 2026 Results. EQT. EQT Q2 2026 Earnings Presentation

 

 

Sustainable Aviation Fuel and E-Naphtha are Being Produced from Captured Carbon at Plant in Washington State

      Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is being produced at a plant in Washington state from captured carbon. A company called Twelve is running the facility in Moses Lake, Washington. 

     According to an article about the project by Jim Giles in Trellis:

“The technology inside AirPlant One uses renewable energy to transform CO2 and water into a synthetic crude oil that can then be refined to produce eSAF and other products. Twelve claims that the lifecycle emissions associated with its eSAF are up to 90 percent lower than conventional fossil-based jet fuel. It’s also considerably more expensive: Nicholas Flanders, Twelve’s CEO and co-founder, declined to share the cost, but industry estimates peg eSAF as five to 10 times more expensive than conventional fuel.”

     The project will produce a small amount of SAF, just 50,000 gallons annually, about 4.5% of the jet fuel used in 2025 by offtaker Alaska Airlines.

     Giles reports that employees of Microsoft and Shopify will be able to use the eSAF to lower business-travel emissions. The premium costs of the fuel will be taken on by companies such as Microsoft and other buyers, who will receive credits that can be counted against their Scope 3 emissions.

“The eSAF industry will also soon have regulatory support. Under the European Union’s RefuelEU aviation program, airports in the bloc were required to use 2 percent SAF in 2025, rising to 70 percent in 2050. A separate sub-mandate for eSAF will begin at 1.2 percent in 2030 and reach 35 percent by 2050.”

“Scale will be critical if eSAF producers are to cut costs and become competitive with other forms of SAF. Flanders said that Twelve, which closed a $645 million funding round in 2024 and has a contract to supply five European airlines with 260 million gallons of eSAF, is planning an AirPlant Two facility that will produce tens of millions of gallons annually.” 

     CO2, water, and renewable energy are used to produce the eSAF. Electrolyzers produce the hydrogen needed for the process from water. The project will also produce e-naphtha, which is a feedstock for many products.

     Twelve notes on its website:

"Twelve partners with brands to produce E-Made products made with E-Naphtha, providing an upstream solution for decarbonizing everyday products without compromise. To date, the company has delivered proof-of-concept projects to global manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz (interior automotive components from CO2-based polymers), PANGAIA (CO2Made® polycarbonate sunglass lenses), and Procter & Gamble (CO2-based ingredients for Tide laundry detergent).”

    

 

References:

 

Jet fuel made from captured carbon begins to flow from new plant: Microsoft and Shopify are among the buyers of credits from Alaska Airlines, one of the first carriers to use the new fuel from startup Twelve. Jim Giles. Trellis.  June 12, 2026. Jet fuel made from captured carbon begins to flow from new plant

AirPlant™ One Opens in Moses Lake: America’s First Commercial E-Jet® Fuel Plant Begins Operations. Twelve. AirPlant™ One Opens in Moses Lake: America’s First Commercial E-Jet® Fuel Plant Begins Operations

A New Solar-Powered Cobalt Processing Plant in Arizona Confirms Adequate Deep Groundwater Source and Plans to Recycle 70% of the Water: It Will Process Cobalt from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

     A $450 million cobalt processing plant is being developed in Arizona to be powered by a 28 MW 150-acre solar farm. It will process cobalt metal, cobalt hydroxide, and cobalt sulfate from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It will be the first facility of its kind in the U.S. The solar array will be built through 2027. Company EVelution Energy is developing the project. Earlier this month, its President & CEO noted:

“Today’s groundbreaking marks another important milestone in our effort to rebuild America’s domestic critical minerals processing capability, and we’re proud to be taking that next step here in Yuma County,” said Navaid Alam, President & CEO, EVelution Energy.

“The piles going into the ground mark the beginning of the renewable energy system that will power the first cobalt metal and cobalt sulfate processing facility in the United States. We’re equally proud that we’re building this project around 100% American-made structural steel, American engineering and American manufacturing,” Alam added.

     When the facility reaches full commercial operation by the end of 2029, it will process 24,000 metric tons of raw cobalt hydroxide feedstock each year. That amounts to about 20,000 metric tons of battery-grade cobalt sulfate and 3,000 metric tons of alloy-grade cobalt metal. It is expected to meet 40% of the projected U.S. cobalt demand.

     The project is expected to use U.S. labor and materials exclusively and provide up to 6200 jobs over its lifespan. The plant will also be powered by battery storage of excess solar generation. Ground was broken for the construction of the solar farm earlier this month, and the plant is expected to be operational in 2029.

     The project is dependent on a reliable water supply. That supply has been obtained according to the results of drilling and testing a deep groundwater aquifer recently. The new water source removes one of the project’s biggest technical uncertainties. The company noted that hydrogeological testing confirmed aquifer zones that can supply the project’s expected water needs throughout its operating life and could also support future production expansion.

     Interesting Engineering notes:

“Hydrogeological consultant BasinWells Associates supervised drilling to a depth of about 1,500 feet beneath the project site. Engineers carried out aquifer testing, groundwater sampling, and geological analysis before confirming sufficient groundwater capacity for the planned operation.”

     The water was tested at high salinity and will be treated before use.

“The company expects the results to inform the final design of production wells, water treatment systems, and recycling infrastructure as work continues on its Bankable Feasibility Study. The project site sits outside one of Arizona’s Active Management Areas, where groundwater withdrawals face stricter regulation. Although the site’s wells must still comply with state registration and reporting requirements, they are not subject to volumetric pumping limits.”

     The company plans to deploy a closed-loop water management system and recycle the water. They expect to recycle about 70% of the process water and eliminate on-site process-water discharge. Tailings will not be stored onsite but transferred to licensed facilities for disposal.

“Net freshwater demand is expected to average about 34 acre-feet each month, or roughly 408 acre-feet annually. According to the company, that is comparable to the annual irrigation needs of about 70 acres of farmland in Yuma County.”

“Engineers also plan to use enclosed material handling systems and modern emissions controls. Together, those features aim to make the facility one of North America’s most water-efficient critical minerals processing plants.”

     The Export-Import Bank of the United States is expected to support the project. Construction on the processing facility is set to begin in early 2027. The project is expected to generate $1.2 billion in annual economic activity. This project is important as a domestic mineral processing project that relieves some dependence on China, the world’s leader in mineral processing.

     

 

References:

 

First US commercial-scale solar-powered cobalt plant targets 70% water recycling. Aamir Khollam. Interesting Engineering. July 27, 2026. First US commercial-scale solar-powered cobalt plant targets 70% water recycling

28 MW solar project underway to power America’s first commercial cobalt refinery: This 150-acre solar site will power the company’s planned $450 million cobalt processing facility. Mrigakshi Dixit. Interesting Engineering. July 2, 2026. 28-MW solar plant to power cobalt processing facility in the US

How Climate Models Underpin Climate Policy Despite Uncertainties and Why Scientific Plausibility Should Be Emphasized: Echoing Economics Professor Stephen Lewarne’s Piece in the Washington Examiner

     Stephen Leawarne, an economics professor at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, wrote what I think is a well-explained article about climate models, how they influence climate policy, and how they are tweaked for political advantage. It was published today in the Washington Examiner.

     Leawarne first notes that it is widely acknowledged that climate policy has receded or been strongly toned down by the Trump administration. I might add that in the case of climate modeling, it too has been toned down by the recent CMIP-7 designations of the three highest emissions climate model scenarios as scientifically implausible. However, as I have noted elsewhere, those implausible models are still being cited and used, even in scientific papers. I should point out that Leawarne does not mention the CMIP-7 designations or the IPCC’s decision to abandon the three highest emissions scenarios.

     Leawarne writes:

“Over the past decade, climate models have become embedded throughout government, shaping regulatory analysis, infrastructure planning, financial supervision, and international commitments.”

     He sees them as entrenched in agency procedures, and if and when the administration changes to one more in favor of stronger climate policies, they will easily reemerge as policy supports.

     Below, he gives what I think is a very good, concise explanation of the intended functions, limitations, dependence on assumptions, and the main uncertainties that affect climate modeling. I bolded the three main uncertainties of climate models.

“Climate models are indispensable tools. They were designed not to predict the future but to explore possible futures under different assumptions. Every major climate model depends on several scientifically defensible assumptions whose precise values remain uncertain. Three are especially important: climate sensitivity (how much temperatures rise as atmospheric carbon dioxide doubles), aerosol forcing (the cooling effect of airborne particles), and cloud feedbacks (how clouds amplify or dampen warming). Small differences in these assumptions — well within ranges accepted by climate science — can produce materially different long-run projections. This is not a flaw. It is the unavoidable consequence of modeling an extraordinarily complex system.”

     Below, he continues about how those uncertainties can be exploited to show much different but still scientifically plausible conclusions that can have profound policy implications. The point is that the range of plausible conclusions is wide enough to allow promotion of quite different and widely ranging policy recommendations.

“These uncertainties create institutional opportunity. When several scientifically plausible parameter values exist, policymakers face a range of possible futures. Regulatory institutions need not depart from accepted science. They need only select among scientifically defensible assumptions. The resulting policies can still be described as science-based, even though materially different policy recommendations would have emerged from equally plausible assumptions.”

     Below, he notes that model assumptions underpin not only the models themselves, but also the policy decisions based on the models. The wide range in scientific plausibility simply allows for a wide range of policy decisions.

“Scientific uncertainty becomes institutional choice once one set of scientifically plausible assumptions is adopted for regulation. Differences in scientific assumptions become differences in public policy. The scientific question has not been settled; it has been institutionalized.”

     He goes on to explain in some detail how climate policy frameworks remain embedded regardless of which party is in power. These frameworks are utilized for planning in many government agencies. He also explains how carbon is quite amenable to being regulated.

“Governments have historically preferred tax bases that are broad, measurable, inexpensive to administer, and difficult to avoid. Carbon dioxide possesses all four characteristics. Nearly every household and business consumes energy directly or indirectly, and associated emissions can be estimated through existing fuel and energy reporting systems.”

     Next, he explains how climate models fit into this picture. He explains that carbon regulation is “institutionally attractive,” and why it became “a central organizing concept in modern environmental regulation.”

“Climate models, therefore, perform two functions. They estimate the long-run damages associated with emissions while also providing the analytical foundation for regulating — or taxing — one of the broadest potential tax bases available to modern governments. Unlike wealth taxes or financial transaction taxes, carbon emissions are closely tied to observable energy use, making administration comparatively straightforward and avoidance relatively difficult. That institutional attractiveness exists independently of the scientific debate itself. It helps explain why carbon became a central organizing concept in modern environmental regulation. Larger projected damages strengthen the apparent case for broader regulation and taxation.”

     With the loss of the three most implausible climate model scenarios, those “larger projected damages” will, or at least should, be much harder to justify and harder to make that "case for broader regulation and taxation.” Simply put, we should not be basing policy decisions on scientifically implausible assumptions.

     Below, he explains that he believes climate models have been misused, having been given “an authority they were never designed to possess.” This emphasizes that there can be a divide between science and policy that is often ignored.   

“None of this suggests abandoning climate models. They remain indispensable tools. The problem arises when exploratory models acquire an authority they were never designed to possess. Climate models simulate physical processes. They do not model political incentives, technological innovation, institutional adaptation, or changing human behavior with comparable confidence. Yet these factors often determine whether particular policies ultimately succeed.”

     In the paragraph below, he explains that basing regulatory decisions on the assumptions made by climate models without disclosing the wide range of uncertainty inherent in those assumptions is basically projecting a lack of transparency.  

“A more transparent approach would acknowledge both the power and the limits of climate modeling. Agencies should disclose how sensitive major regulatory decisions are to scientifically plausible alternative parameter choices. Policymakers should distinguish between conclusions that remain robust across many assumptions and those that depend heavily upon modeling choices. Such transparency would strengthen confidence by distinguishing genuine consensus from legitimate uncertainty.”      

     It is nice to see a well-written article about climate science and policy that is accurate, concise, detailed, non-biased, and that offers a better approach.

 

  

References:

 

Dial-a-crisis: How bureaucrats rig climate models for unlimited power. Stephen Lewarne, Washington Examiner. July 28, 2026. Dial-a-crisis: How bureaucrats rig climate models for unlimited power

Southeast Ohio Injection Wells Are Unlikely to Contaminate Aquifers, but Continuing High-Pressure Injection into Relatively Shallow and Often Fractured Devonian Shale and the Local Presence of Orphan and Abandoned Wells Can’t Rule It Out

     We know from examples from Texas that injected wastewater can pressure up, making it more likely to move horizontally out in the formation. It could also move upward if there was a route to do so, such as uncased or inadequately cased abandoned wells, or an extensive vertical fracture system. The Devonian Lower Huron Shale in Washington County, Ohio, is relatively shallow at 1900 to 2700 ft below sea level. That puts it at depths from the surface from about 2500 to about 3800 ft below the surface. That puts it about half a mile below freshwater aquifers on average. The Lower Huron Member of the Devonian Ohio Shale is the injection zone for several oil & gas wastewater injection wells in Western Washington County, which have migrated horizontally through the shale in a downdip direction, a few miles and up to 5 miles eastward. That migration is significantly further than modeling, which suggests migration of less than a mile over a longer time period. Higher injection pressures and higher volumes of water injected will increase the rate and distance of migration. 

     Below is a structure contour map from ODNR of the top of the Lower Huron member of the Ohio Shale in Washington County, Ohio, showing depth below sea level. 

     While the Devonian Shale is known to have a vertical natural fracture system, often known as a joint system, those joints are typically sealed with minerals and do not conduct fluids upward or downward. At a certain pressure, those vertical joints could potentially be reactivated, resulting in fluid migrating upward. However, I'm not sure there is any evidence of that having occurred, but there may be, as a 2020 ODNR investigation did say that there was evidence of migration out of the intended injection zone. There is evidence, however, of pressurized fluid leaking up an abandoned well in Veto Lake when it “blew out” in 2021. The well is less than a mile from the Redbird #4 injection well. That fluid was tagged chemically, so it is known that the injection wells are definitely the source. According to a local gas producer of Lower Huron wells, the injection wells flooded his wells, causing them to pressure up and produce water instead of the gas that was previously produced. If this can be proven, which I believe it can, I believe the well owner is entitled to compensation from the company injecting the wastewater. The local gas producer said that the pressure on his wells has continued to increase since 2019, when it was determined that injection water moved horizontally five miles to invade his gas-producing reservoir.

     The following statements are attributed to David Jeffery, a professor at Marietta College.

“The problem with these formations in southern Ohio is that they have very low porosity and permeability, especially these deep formations that are down below.”

“Some of the fractures are letting the toxic fluids travel upwards.”

“You’re trying to push more fluids into an area that is already under high pressure and already has non-compressible fluids in it,” Jeffery said.

“The problem is that there’s no room for the fluids down in that layer. This stuff is coming up through these fractures because that’s the easiest way out.”

     The Redbird #4 injection well was correctly identified by the ODNR investigation as the source of the brine flooding the gas producer’s wells. According to Bob Wilson, whose gas wells have been affected, he lost production in 50 of his wells at a rate of several per week. ODNR initially suspended injections at 6 of the 7 injection wells near the area of concern.   

     According to Buckeye Environmental Network, there are 17 injection wells in the county, and 8 have had serious issues. ODNR spokesperson Andy Chow noted:

“At the request of the ODNR Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management, operations have stopped at four class II disposal injection wells in Washington County,” Chow said.

“On July 1 and 2, the owners of the wells agreed to voluntarily cease operations after the division notified them that their class II disposal injection wells were suspected to be causing impacts to other nearby wells that produce oil and gas. … While the class II disposal injection wells are voluntarily shut down, the well owners and the division will work towards a plan to address the issues.”

“The division already applies consistent pressure monitoring and reporting standards to these wells,” Chow said. “The division is working on a contract to have a third-party consultant conduct a study of the private water wells near the impacted production wells in Washington County.”

     Thus, I would say ODNR is addressing the issue, and the wells should remain shut down. I think that other injection wells injecting into the Devonian Ohio Shale should also be scrutinized more heavily and shut down if deemed necessary. While I don’t believe aquifers such as those in Marrietta, which I believe are alluvial aquifers below the Ohio River, are in danger like others believe, I do think injections into the Devonian need to stop in the area due to the verified concerns. Wilson has said that his wells continue to increase in pressure and have accelerated that pressure increase since 2023. The reason for the acceleration is not clear, as theoretically they should have been dropping pressure since injection stopped. Is there brine from other injection wells migrating? Is there a barrier near his wells causing them to have continuing rising pressure? In any case, if there is no injection occurring that can migrate, there should be no issues in the future with other gas wells further away or with potential aquifer contamination. Clearly, the injection zone reservoir in the Lower Huron Shale in the area is not suited to long-term high-pressure fluid injection.

     As I noted in a 2023 post on the same issue, SE Ohio injection well wastewater migration, the ODNR stated:

“an Ohio shale injection zone poses a substantial risk” for migration.”

    

 

References:

 

 

‘The precipice of an emergency.’ Marietta residents worry drinking water could become contaminated. Megan Henry. Ohio Capital Journal. July 14, 2026. 'The precipice of an emergency.' Marietta residents worry drinking water could become contaminated. • Ohio Capital Journal

 

 

 

French Companies Plan to Produce Plant-Based 5-hydroxymethylfufural (5-HMF) Molecule in Quantity to Ramp Up Green Chemistry Development

      French companies Michelin and Axens have teamed up to produce a building block molecule for green chemistry applications known as 5-hydroxymethylfufural (5-HMF). Michelin's ResiCare bio-based resin subsidiary has joined with chemical recycler and technology provider Axens to make the bio-based molecule. The goal is to replace petroleum-based chemistry. According to Sourcing Journal:

“Serving as a fundamental building block in the production of resins, polymers and other more sustainable materials, 5-HMF can enable the gradual replacement of specific petroleum-derived molecules. The molecule is bio-based, non-toxic and versatile, able to be used to create resins and adhesives, along with bio-based polymers.”

“Polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a bio-based plastic widely regarded as one of the most credible alternatives to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is an example of material made with the molecule. PEF offers significant opportunities for the textile fiber market as a more sustainable polyester-type material, as well as for food packaging and bottle manufacturing.”

     5-HMF also has potential for use in a range of solvents, intermediates, and products used in fine and specialty chemicals. It could potentially replace fossil-based compounds such as formaldehyde with renewable plant-based alternatives.

"We are convinced that 5-HMF is destined to become a benchmark platform molecule for sustainable chemistry," said Laurent Lemonnier, CEO, Michelin ResiCare. "Our partnership with Axens is a key lever for accelerating its deployment on a global scale and meeting the growing demand for high-performance bio-based solutions. This collaboration confirms both the strong development potential of 5-HMF across a wide range of applications and the performance of the technology we have developed together with IFPEN. It is fully aligned with Michelin ResiCare's commitment to developing innovative solutions that contribute to a safer and more sustainable world."

     Michelin ResiCare and IFP Energies Nouvelles developed the technology for producing 5-HMF. Michelin ResiCare will operate the first production facility, which is expected to be online in early 2027. It is expected to have a production capacity of nearly 3,000 metric tons per year, supplied in 95% purity as a water solution (65% titration).

     Axens’ vice president of process and equipment innovation, Jacinthe Frécon, emphasized that the project will advance sustainable chemistry solutions.

"This project fully reflects Axens' ambition to transform breakthrough innovations into concrete industrial solutions on a global scale," Frécon said. "By combining a technology developed through leading research collaborations with IFP Energies Nouvelles and our expertise in licensing and engineering, we have the opportunity to accelerate the deployment of key bio-based solutions that will support the transition toward a more sustainable chemicals industry."

     According to Chemical Engineering:

“By combining Michelin’s innovation strength, through the expertise of Michelin ResiCare, with Axens’ industrialization know-how and global deployment capabilities, this collaboration aims to bring to market a solution that is efficient, competitive, and sustainable.”     

     According to Wikipedia, 5-HMF is currently used as a food additive, a biomarker, and a flavoring agent for food products. Some 5-HMF is generated naturally when sugar is cooked. However, its biggest potential is as a building block for other organic molecules, including chemical feedstocks and potentially biofuels.

   

 

     Michelin gives the following information,

 noting that the feedstock for 5-HMF is 

derived from potato or wheat starch. 

References:

 

Michelin, Axens partner for bio-based green chemistry development program. Jennifer Bringle. Sourcing Journal. July 20, 2026. Michelin, Axens partner for bio-based green chemistry development program

Michelin and Axens enter exclusive talks for 5-HMF green chemistry partnership. Mary Bailey. Chemical Engineering. July 13, 2026. Michelin and Axens enter exclusive talks for 5-HMF partnership | Page 1

Hydroxymethylfurfural. Wikipedia. Hydroxymethylfurfural - Wikipedia

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF): A Bio-Based Platform Molecule for Advanced Chemistry. Michelin. 5-HMF bio-based monomer - MICHELIN ResiCare

 

Ohio Residents Struggle to Afford Electricity: 7.7% of Customers Have Power Disconnected In Past Year Due to Non-Payment Amid 53% (Over Five Years) Rise in Power Costs

    

     As reported by Elizabeth Smith in The Cool Down and Canary Media, data for the year ending on May 31 showed that 345,000 power customers in Ohio, both residents and businesses, had their power shut off due to non-payment of power bills. 7.7% of power customers were shut off. Since residences often have more than one person, the cutoffs likely affected around a million people, about 9% of the people living in the state, or nearly one in ten. That number is pretty shocking. The power company typically reconnects people after their outstanding bills have been paid. Nonetheless, it is a pretty high number.

     Ohio customers have had a 53% increase in power costs since 2021. In contrast, the national average rise in power costs was 32%. The amount owed averaged about $558, up from an average of $495. AEP had the highest rate of shutoffs, with 15% of customers having their power shutoff due to non-payment at some point in the year. That number is very high and is more than one in seven power customers. I am an AEP Ohio customer, so I know there have been real cost increases and new increases are still occurring. I know someone who had their power shut off due to non-payment of a deposit that was required for service, but it was restored after they paid. I was pretty ticked off a little over 15 years ago when I used to pay my power bill automatically with my credit card, and when I got a new card and card number due to suspicious activity and charges, I forgot to update my credit card number for the power company. I immediately paid them after the payment wasn’t processed, but they still made me send them a physical check every month for one year. I felt like that was a totally unnecessary punishment for something that was a simple, unintended oversight. I hope they don’t have such a policy anymore.

     Previous recent year shutoff rates ranged from 6 to 7%, so it was not a massive increase, but still significant. According to Canary Media:

“Families are put in an extremely vulnerable position when electric utilities shut off their electricity for a debt,” said Shelby Green, a research and communications manager with the Energy and Policy Institute, a national watchdog group that promotes clean energy. Among other things, no electricity typically means no ability to cool or heat homes, refrigerate food, and turn lights on at night.

“Turning off someone’s power is always a last resort, and we do not disconnect customers during extreme weather,” like heat waves, said an AEP spokesperson via email. The person did not provide their name or answer Canary Media’s question about why the company’s disconnection rate was so high compared with those of Ohio’s other regulated electric utilities.

“Our analysis has shown that areas with high poverty rates do not always align with areas experiencing the highest number of disconnections, making local data important,” explained Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Maureen Willis. ​“This information helps OCC identify trends, target concerns, and advocate for solutions that reduce disconnections and keep consumers connected to essential electric service.”

     High-poverty areas in the cities of Columbus and Canton had the highest disconnection rates. Utility First Energy noted that they are implementing "more flexible payment plans, increased outreach to connect people with assistance, coordination with state and local programs, and expanded protections for vulnerable customers."

     I am guessing many people are not very educated on how to reduce power costs and make their home energy more efficient. Energy efficiency measures like insulating hot water tanks, improving home insulation, using electric space heaters less, heating smaller spaces, and sealing off air leaks can help.

     The article in The Cool Down, citing a report by the Energy & Policy Institute, points out that AEP’s CEO was paid $36 million last year, by far the highest among utility CEOs, and the company has been posting good profits. That report also notes that CEO and executive pay have seen significant increases in the past few years.

 

References:

 

In Ohio, electric bills rose 53%, 345,000 lost power, and utilities still posted big profits. Elizabeth Smith. The Cool Down. July 18, 2026. In Ohio, electric bills rose 53%, 345,000 lost power, and utilities still posted big profits

More Ohioans are getting their power shut off as energy costs surge: Recent data reveals an uptick in households losing power because of unpaid utility bills — yet another sign of the ongoing national affordability crisis. Kathiann M. Kowalski. Canary Media. July 14, 2026. More Ohioans are getting their power shut off as… | Canary Media

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Directing Thermal Energy: New Research with Magneto-Optical Materials and a Phase-Change Material Called GST Can Direct Heat

      An international research team led by Professor Koichi Okamoto and Dr. Shunsuke Murai from Osaka Metropolitan University's Graduate School of Engineering utilized magneto-optical materials combined with a phase-change material called GST to demonstrate that heat energy can be directed. The device was able to break Lorentz reciprocity. 

     Science X staff at Phys.org explain:

“Normally, a material absorbs and emits heat in a linked way: A surface that absorbs heat well at a certain wavelength and direction will also emit heat in the same way. This fundamental relationship, known as reciprocity, limits the ability to independently control heat absorption and heat emission.”

“But if absorption and emission could be separated, engineers could design devices that absorb heat from one direction while emitting it in another. By "steering" thermal energy, they could create more efficient thermal management, energy conversion, infrared sensing and thermal communication technologies.”

     The team created a device that can control the direction of heat radiation, switch the effect on and off, and remember its state even when the power is removed, essentially allowing heat to be programmed like data in a microchip.

"We made heat radiation behave in a smarter way," Murai explained. "Achieving these capabilities in a working model could enable a new generation of efficient infrared emitters, thermal-energy devices, sensors and photonic memory technologies."

     The new device is a big improvement over previous devices, having overcome some significant obstacles.

"Our ultimate goal is to develop compact devices that can actively control heat radiation, much like electronic circuits control the flow of electricity," Okamoto said. "Such devices could be used in smarter infrared sensors, more efficient energy systems and new types of photonic memory that store information using light and heat instead of electrical charges."

     The research was published in the journal Laser & Photonics Reviews.

 

References:

 

Researchers break a fundamental rule to create a new concept: Heat that can be directed and 'programmed'. Science X staff. Phys.org. July 7, 2026. Researchers break a fundamental rule to create a new concept: Heat that can be directed and 'programmed'

Reconfigurable Giant Nonreciprocity at Near-Normal Incidence via Phase-Change Magneto-Optical Metagratings. Ye Ming Qing, Yi Shen, Jun Wu, Shunsuke Murai, Zhaogang Dong, and Koichi Okamoto. Laser & Photonics Review. Vol. 20. No. 14. July 22, 2026. Reconfigurable Giant Nonreciprocity at Near‐Normal Incidence via Phase‐Change Magneto‐Optical Metagratings - Qing - Laser & Photonics Reviews - Wiley Online Library