US-based Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy are reportedly close to signing a merger deal to form an enlarged company with a valuation of around $17bn. The deal could be announced as early as this week, with the potential to establish a company surpassing EQT as the largest natural gas-focused exploration and production firm in the US in terms of market value. This comes as shale companies are seeking scale and efficiency within the energy sector. A potential deal involving the acquisition of Southwestern was reported last October, with discussions reportedly in the initial stages. Currently, Chesapeake is focused on producing natural gas from the Haynesville and Marcellus shales for domestic and international use.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
