EQT Corp. said it would continue cutting 1 Bcf/d of production as U.S. natural gas prices remain near four-year lows, but management anticipates strong power generation demand in the coming years that has it planning an expansion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP).

After a seven-year battle and a congressional mandate rescued the system from legal and regulatory setbacks, MVP asked federal regulators this week for approval to start service by May 23. EQT, which announced in March it would acquire pipeline owner Equitrans Midstream Corp, said baseload power demand in the Southeast is poised to grow significantly with the data center and artificial intelligence (AI) booms.

“Due to the confluence of LNG facilities pulling gas South on Transco and power demand growth in the...