An ongoing shift from coal to natural gas in electricity generation will require new pipelines to supply gas-fired plants, but social media is helping to galvanize increasingly vocal public opposition to new energy infrastructure projects.

Natural gas captured a substantial share of the electricity market from coal last year, thanks in large part to low prices caused by the shale gas boom and resulting domestic supply glut. “Gas has been winning the new generation battle,” said Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Philip Moeller at the Platts Northeast Energy Markets Conference on 23 April.

While coal has recaptured some market share as natural gas prices have edged back up above $4.00 per million Btu (MMBtu), impending Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules are expected to further shift power generation from coal to gas, creating the need for new infrastructure that is better suited to a changing power sector.

Read more on Breaking Energy.