Energy Transformation and Growth: Reliability, Market Shifts, and Demand-Driven Recovery

Charles McConnell is a seasoned energy industry leader with over 48 years of experience, spanning global markets, business development, and policy leadership. He has held senior executive roles driving the growth of multi-million-dollar businesses and served as a Presidential Appointee as Assistant Secretary of Energy. Currently, he leads the Center for Carbon Management in Energy (CCME) at the University of Houston, while also serving on multiple industry boards focused on energy transition, carbon capture, and sustainability, contributing to advancements in CCUS, hydrogen, and carbon value chains.

In his session, he will explore the evolving landscape of energy transformation and market growth, focusing on how reliability, shifting supply-demand dynamics, and global energy demand are reshaping the oil & gas sector. The discussion will highlight key trends including rising Canadian oil exports to the U.S., sustained pressure on Permian gas prices, and improved gas-electric market coordination. He will also examine how NGL production growth, renewed competitiveness of dry gas basins, and increasing LNG and power demand are strengthening market economics. The session will further address how export demand and petrochemical expansion are driving recovery, while reliability challenges continue to influence system resilience and regional market dynamics.