Texas is facing an unprecedented rise in electricity demand as a result of the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and growth of data centers. So, it comes as no surprise that as the largest source of fuel for the American power grid, natural gas continues to be the focus of conversations about keeping up with the skyrocketing electricity requirements; more so as natural gas is still a critical and complex issue under intense global scrutiny.
To explore the evolving role of natural gas in today's world, UH Energy brought together energy leaders, policymakers, and academic experts for a timely and thought-provoking symposium, “The Future of Natural Gas”, on October 9, 2025. This high-profile event examined natural gas through the lenses of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), and sustainability.
The evening opened with remarks from Chuck McConnell, Executive Director of Center for Carbon Management in Energy, who reiterated UH Energy’s mission to ensure that its work is relevant, impactful, and aligned with industry and market needs. McConnell then handed over the proceedings to Ramanan Krishnamoorti, Vice President of Energy and Innovation at UH, who underscored the timely nature of the symposium:
“Natural gas continues to be the backbone of America’s energy system and demand for it is only increasing driven by rising electricity demand, data centers and AI infrastructure. Natural gas exports as LNG are of strategic importance and are anticipated to grow significantly over the next decade. Texas is the nation’s leader in both production and consumption of natural gas. As demand accelerates, natural gas will remain essential in meeting our energy needs while supporting innovation and economic growth.”
This was followed by a panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges facing the natural gas industry featuring three distinguished energy leaders:
- Jason Lanclos, Director of State Energy Development and Planning at Louisiana Economic Development
- Pete Sheffield, Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer at Enbridge
- Gina Dorsey, Director of EHS Project Permitting at Kinder Morgan
Together, they unpacked the technical, policy, and investment dimensions shaping the future of natural gas, with the discussion revolving around such topics as the Gulf Coast’s role in global energy transitions and the changing ESG and policy landscape.
Pointing to future energy demand, Lanclos said, “AI and LNG, along with other things are converging to create an unprecedented draw on our natural gas resources.” Giving an example of how the exponential growth of data center load was going to affect power demand in future, Lanclos mentioned the Meta facility in Louisiana, the largest announced data center in the world, with its power load expected to be between 2.2 and 3.2 gigawatts “That’s one project that is eclipsing the power load of the city of New Orleans.”
Sheffield emphasized the strong and expanding role of natural gas in the U.S. energy landscape, noting that “75% of Enbridge’s current $32 billion investments in capital expansion projects is tied to natural gas.” He highlighted the “generational” level of growth anticipated in the power sector, alongside continued opportunities in residential, commercial, industrial, and LNG export markets. Calling natural gas a “versatile fuel and feedstock” with advantages in reliability, affordability, and lower emissions, he also stressed that future progress depends on efficient permitting and partnerships among governments, communities, and developers to ensure sustainable and competitive energy development.
Dorsey offered insights from a permitting and operations perspective, underscoring the complexity and importance of permitting in energy infrastructure development, including natural gas. Dorsey emphasized that “every permit is different” and can take “anywhere from weeks to over a year depending on the project’s size, location, and agency requirements.” She highlighted that there had been recent improvements in permit timelines, partly due to Executive Order 14156, which, she mentioned, “declared a national energy emergency and directed federal agencies to expedite permitting and interagency coordination.” While acknowledging progress, Dorsey did caution that challenges remain, including staffing shortages and government shutdowns. Ultimately, she stressed that “maintaining ongoing long-term agency relationships” was vital for keeping projects on track.
With this most recent iteration of the very popular and ongoing Energy Symposium Series, UH Energy continues its commitment to developing and evaluating scalable energy systems that can meet this growing demand without straining existing resources or compromising reliability. This takes The Energy University® one step closer to its goal: a secure, flexible energy future that supports both population growth and industrial progress.