Industry Panel
Power Hungry: A.I., Data centers, and
the new world of energy markets
As artificial intelligence and data centers rapidly expand, so does the demand for energy, and with the continued development of gas-fire power plants and the emerging LNG market, traditional supply & demand markets for natural gas and other fuels continues to evolve rapidly. This panel dives into the growing demands of data centers and other electrification markets and what it will take to keep the lights (and servers) on around the clock. Panelists will unpack the staggering power needs behind AI infrastructure, the environmental considerations of meeting that demand, and the critical energy system upgrades required to keep pace. The urgency is underscored by a warning from the U.S. Department of Energy, which projects that blackouts could increase by 100 times by 2030 if the country continues to retire reliable power sources without adding new firm capacity.
Beyond the technical challenges, the conversation will also explore the oil and gas industry’s evolving role, not just as an energy provider but as a strategic partner in innovation. It will examine how the industry can shift public perception to highlight its relevance and responsibility in powering the future of a data-hungry world.
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The panel will close with a Q&A session featuring questions submitted by meeting participants during the conference and live questions from those in attendance.
Matt Cybulski
Managing Director - Shale Energy & Petrochemicals, JobsOhio​
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Matt Cybulski has over 20 years of economic development experience spanning throughout Appalachia and the Midwest, including projects in West Virginia, Illinois, and Ohio. Matt joined JobsOhio in 2011 as one of the company’s first employees and has held various roles within the organization, eventually being named Managing Director of the sector in 2020. His previous experience includes an economic development position at American Electric Power (AEP).
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Matt has focused primarily on helping existing Ohio companies grow by accessing newly produced natural gas and natural liquids while also also helping to attract new companies across various industry sectors to Ohio through site selection, identifying necessary infrastructure needs, assisting companies through permitting processes, and developing complex financial incentive packages. These efforts have led to the generation of over $20 billion in capital investment and over 30,000 new jobs while at JobsOhio.
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Matt holds both a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s in Public Administration from West Virginia University and currently resides in Dublin, OH.
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Kyle Flanagan
Manager of Pipeline Integrity & Compliance, Greylock Energy
Kyle Flanagan serves as the Manager of Pipeline Integrity and Compliance for Greylock Energy’s Midstream group in Charleston, West Virginia. In this capacity, he leads all integrity and compliance functions for Greylock’s midstream pipeline infrastructure, with a focus on maintaining regulatory adherence and operational excellence. Since joining Greylock Energy in November 2017, Kyle has contributed significantly to bolstering the company’s midstream operations and compliance standards.
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He has been a key contributor in several direct-to-end-user natural gas infrastructure projects—including those servicing industrial clients, power generation facilities, and manufacturing plants—by collaborating with Greylock Midstream to develop and manage customized pipeline solutions tailored to these critical energy users’ specific needs.
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He holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a Master of Arts in Theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He’s a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Petroleum Engineering and holds the AMPP CP Level 1 certification.
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Jeffrey Nehr
Senior Vice President of Gas Supply & Development, Hope Gas
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Jeff Nehr has more than 35 years experience specializing in Pipeline Hydraulic Design, Gas Supply and Gas Measurement, Marketing, and Corporate Development. He joined Hope Utilities in 2022, and as senior vice president of Corporate Development for Hope Gas and Hope Utilities, Jeff is responsible for leading the sales, marketing and government affairs teams.
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He is directly involved with Hope’s larger-scale commercial, industrial and institutional development projects including data centers projects in Ohio and West Virginia. Jeff is leading the Residential Fuel Cell Program with WATT Fuel Cells. This project creates efficient, environmentally responsible power systems for residential homes. He is also leading the efforts on renewable natural gas and hydrogen initiatives at Hope.
Before joining Hope Utilities, Jeff worked for both Peoples Natural Gas and Equitable Gas and has held positions of Manager, Director and Vice President of Commercial Operations and Senior Vice President Gas Supply and Corporate Development. He has focused his energies on increasing producer and customer opportunities, mergers and acquisitions, and managing a progressive team focused on marketing, producer services, gas supply and gas measurement.
Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in petroleum and natural gas engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.
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Moderator:
Susan Howes​
President, Subsurface Consultants & Associates, LLC
2027 SPE President
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C. Susan Howes, PE, PHR, is the President of Subsurface Consultants & Associates, LLC, where she leads the firm’s consulting, recruitment, and training services with a commitment to technical excellence. She brings extensive leadership experience from her tenure at Anadarko and Chevron, where she held roles of increasing responsibility in reservoir engineering, business development, human resources, organizational capability, and reservoir management.
A dedicated member of the SPE since receiving a scholarship in high school, Howes has made significant contributions to the organization. She has served in key leadership positions, including Chair of the SPE Gulf Coast Section (2004–05), Gulf Coast North America Regional Director on the SPE International Board of Directors (2006–09), Distinguished Lecturer (2019–20), founding Chair of the Management Technical Section (2022–23), and Chair of the 2024 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Program Committee. Her outstanding service has been recognized with numerous honors, including the 1997 SPE Young Member Outstanding Service Award, 2003 SPE International Distinguished Service Award, 2016 SPE DeGolyer Distinguished Service Medal, and the 2018 SPE Honorary Member Award.
Howes is actively involved in academia, serving on advisory boards for petroleum engineering programs at Montana Tech, Colorado School of Mines, and the University of Texas (UT), where she is also a member of the Geology Foundation Advisory Council.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering (cum laude) from UT in 1982 and was named a 2024 Distinguished Alumna of the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering at UT.