U.S. energy companies are eyeing a resurgence in natural gas pipeline construction in the Appalachian shale formations, fueled by President Donald Trump's pro-energy policies and an anticipated surge in demand. 

This move could unlock vast reserves in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, areas currently hampered by insufficient infrastructure, to meet the growing demand, which is expected to surge over the coming years. 

While the U.S. is the world's leading gas producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), many consumers in the Northeast still lack access to gas, relying instead on more expensive heating oil. 

The limited access to gas supplies is attributed to inadequate pipelines and past regulatory hurdles that have only made it challenging for the country to tap into the full potential of the nation's largest gas reserves: the Marcellus and Utica formations in Appalachia.

Growth in the region, which accounts for roughly one-third of U.S. gas output, has stagnated as companies previously lost billions on delayed or canceled projects.

However, with Trump's stated aim to roll back regulations to allow many energy projects to be implemented, firms including Williams Cos., Boardwalk Pipeline, DT Midstream, and EQT are now proposing new or expanded infrastructure in the Northeast. 

Amy Rogers, a spokeswoman for EQT, the nation's second-largest gas producer, emphasized the need for increased pipeline capacity to "unlock Appalachian supply," as the demand for gas is expected to climb, driven by new LNG export terminals and electric generation facilities powering artificial intelligence data centers. 

Analysts project U.S. power and gas demand to reach record highs in 2025 and 2026. While Appalachian output has grown since 2009, its pace slowed significantly between 2020 and 2024 due to pipeline constraints.

The Trump administration's support has already led Williams to revive two previously canceled projects: the Constitution Pipeline to New York and the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) to New Jersey and New York. 

These projects are considered "essential" by Williams to address gas supply shortages in the Northeast, which have led to higher energy costs for consumers. During the 2024-2025 winter, heating with oil cost roughly twice as much as with gas in the region.