Analyzing the future of energy infrastructure in the U.S. and Canada
This month, the INGAA Foundation released its 2025 North American Midstream Infrastructure Report which evaluates energy needs across the United States and Canada and outlines the midstream infrastructure investment required to meet projected demand through 2052.
The analysis, conducted by experts from the University of Houston (UH), Wood, and ESMIA Consultants, models outcomes under two scenarios: a Reference Case reflecting current federal, state and provincial policies as of April 1, 2025, and a Low Carbon Scenario which assumes more aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction efforts in North America and globally.
Key drivers: Natural Gas, LNG Exports, and data centers
The report finds that natural gas remains a foundational component of the North American energy system under both scenarios. Rising electricity demand, particularly from data centers, along with continued growth in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, drives the need for significant infrastructure expansion.
Investment requirements for a reliable energy system
To meet projected demand through 2052, the study concludes that North America will require:
- More than $1 trillion in new midstream capital investment, averaging $40–$48 billion per year across natural gas, oil, natural gas liquids, hydrogen,and CO₂ infrastructure. At least 37,000 miles of additional natural gas transmission pipelines, including approximately 33,800 miles within the United States, to move energy from producing regions to growing areas of demand.
- Approximately 103,000 miles of new natural gas gathering pipelines to connect upstream production to processing facilities and long-haul transmission systems.
- An estimated 12-24 million cumulative jobs over 25 years (including 2-4 million direct, 4-8 million indirect, and 6-12 million induced jobs), or roughly 414,000-828,000 jobs annually throughout the study period, varying with investment.
“Meeting energy demand is a critical challenge right now, and this report, by the experts at the University of Houston, Wood, and ESMIA, quantifies the necessary midstream infrastructure and corresponding development dollars needed to meet that demand,” said Hebe Shaw, Executive Director of the INGAA Foundation. “Meeting the energy needs of North America will require sustained investment and development, which must begin now to ensure a safe, reliable, and affordable energy system.”
Expert perspectives: the consortium behind the report
The UH team was led by the Division of Energy and Innovation, with support from faculty and staff at the C.T. Bauer College of Business.
Wood provided key project management leadership as well as domain expertise for the midstream sector.
ESMIA contributed a detailed economy-wide energy system model, emphasising midstream infrastructure for natural gas. Their team also provided expertise in the analysis and interpretation of the model results.
“The University of Houston was pleased to lead the consortium that conducted this analysis,” said Paul Doucette, Principal Investigator of the report. “The consortium worked closely with a team of industry experts as well as university faculty and staff to evaluate the market forces shaping North America’s energy future. The final report draws on decades of experience and equips industry leaders and policymakers with the clarity and confidence needed to plan, permit and build the infrastructure required to power a growing economy through 2052.”
“We were proud to bring our deep technical and commercial midstream expertise to the modeling process for this study. Long-range forecasts are only as strong as the assumptions that underpin them, and this study ensures that infrastructure projections are grounded in real-world engineering, cost, and operational considerations. By anchoring the modeling in our infrastructure experience across natural gas, liquids, hydrogen, and CO₂ systems, we have ensured that this study accurately reflects what can realistically be built, financed, and operated.”
Nishadi Davis, Director of Strategic Advisory for the Americas at Wood
“Using our integrated energy system modeling approach for the INGAA Foundation’s North American Midstream Infrastructure Report, we worked with the consortium to apply the NATEM framework to assess long-term natural gas demand and infrastructure needs,” said Anna Cybulsky, Head of Energy System Integration at ESMIA. “Our team translated complex modeling results into clear insights on infrastructure requirements, market dynamics, and policy interactions to provide a transparent, data-driven foundation to help industry and policymakers plan for the future with confidence.”