Earlier this week, a natural gas-fired power plant project in Bradford Co. received clearance to move forward from the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection. More on that announcement and the project, which will create 500 jobs, here. The Marcellus Shale natural gas-fired power plant – which “will be powerful enough to light up nearly 800,000 homes” – is understandably being “met with excitement” across the region (here’s a news report, with video, from WNEP-TV).
And 24-hours later, on the other side of the Commonwealth, a similar project was announced in Lawrence Co. This from the Post-Gazette, with others – including the Associated Press, New Castle News, Beaver Count Times, Pittsburgh Business Times, and the Tribune-Review – reporting:
A New Jersey firm has announced plans to build a natural gas-powered power plant in Lawrence County. LS Power of East Brunswick said the $750 million, 900 megawatt facility will open in 2016 or 2017 and will be fueled by natural gas that comes from a pipeline out of Tennessee that also transports gas from nearby Marcellus Shale wells. The plant is expected to create about 500 jobs in the construction phase and then 25 full-time positions.
This is great news for our region and for the country, and further proof that the safe, tightly-regulated development of clean-burning American natural gas from the Marcellus Shale continues to benefit each and every one of us. In a must-read editorial today, the New Castle News writes this under the headline “Power plant plan is one of keys to shale gas success,” touting the project as “welcome news for the area”:
This type of expanded natural gas use is something of a trend. Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced it had given its approval to the first natural gas-fired power plant in the state. This one is in Bradford County, which has considerable shale gas activity. With what’s anticipated as expanded shale gas production in many parts of the United States, we envision an array of industrial changes designed to take advantage of the plentiful and inexpensive fuel source. That includes some companies converting fleets of vehicles to natural gas use. And because this gas is being produced in and around Lawrence County, we anticipate the North Beaver Township power generation plant to be just the first in a series of local projects designed to take advantage of this new economic opportunity.
As Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley said yesterday while visiting a local business that’s been positively impacted by the Marcellus Shale industry in Centre Co.:
“Marcellus Shale is putting Pennsylvanians back to work; and not just at the drill sites. Family-sustaining jobs are being created thanks to natural gas. Governor Corbett and I believe we must do more than just drill for gas here in Pennsylvania. We need to use the gas here in Pennsylvania. Graymont is a perfect example of how affordable, natural gas is helping companies grow.”
Have questions about how American natural gas is produced from the Marcellus Shale? Please visit LearnAboutShale.org, and join the conversation online: #LearnAboutShale. We hope to hear from you.
