Pittsburgh, Pa. – As the eastern seaboard emerges from yet another major snow storm, America continues to be blanketed by a storm of new jobs, revenue, opportunities, positive environmental benefits tied to the safe development of clean-burning natural gas. Global business leaders, like General Electric chief executive Jeff Immelt, recognize that shale gas development is a “game changer” for the United States.

Facts are crucial as this historical opportunity continues to take hold, bettering the lives of Americans all along the way. As the MSC’s Steve Forde writes in the Beaver County Times, “While there is much interest and debate surrounding Marcellus shale development, it’s a conversation that must be grounded in fact and science.” So here are some facts, by the numbers.

3 generations

 Steve Duran’s Robinson Township farm has been in his family for three generations, and he hopes to pass the property on to his daughter. But unless natural gas drilling take place on his property, Duran doubts that will be possible. Duran and nearly 40 other natural gas leaseholders in Robinson Township met this week to discuss the benefits of gas drilling and their frustration that the industry has stalled in Robinson. … Without royalties from natural gas drilling, property owners say they are unable to replace aging farming equipment, pay fuel costs or their taxes. (Observer-Reporter, 2/1/13)

 

100 years

 

 Dr. Robert W. Chase, chair and professor of the Department of Petroleum Engineering and Geology at Marietta College: America’s gas bounty is so great that the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates there is enough of the clean-burning fuel to last more than 100 years at the current rate of consumption. (Marietta Times, 2/5/13)

 

125 laborers

 Semi-retired engineer Frank Nachman said he spent his career helping maintain the Southern Tier’s infrastructure, only to see his children move out of the state in search of better job opportunities than the region could offer. “Is gas going to be developed here? I hope so,” the Town of Maine resident said. “Because I’ll tell you, we need it.” Nachman was among about 125 laborers who packed the headquarters of the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 112 Thursday for a fiery rally alongside Southern Tier political and union leaders in favor of natural gas drilling in New York. … “It’s time. It’s past time,” said Jim Rounds, business manager for the Local 112. “Our state, our county, our local communities (and) our school districts will all benefit through increased tax base and energy independence.” (Press & Sun Bulletin, 1/7/13)

 

500 construction jobs

 Following a two-hour public hearing Monday afternoon, [North Beaver Township] supervisors unanimously approved a conditional use for a $750 million [natural gas] electricity generating plant to be built off Route 551. … He projected the new plant would create 500 construction jobs and 20 full-time jobs once it is in operation. (New Castle News, 2/5/13)

 

$375,000 in revenue for school

 

 Connellsville Area School Board on Tuesday voted to enter into a lease agreement with a natural gas company that could bring more than $375,000 to the school district. The board voted during a special 5:30 p.m. session. Directors Kevin Lape and Francis Mongell voted against entering a lease agreement with Chevron for feasibility studies on school district land. (Tribune-Review, 2/5/13)

 

1,700,000 American jobs

 Daniel Yergin: The United States is in the midst of the “unconventional revolution in oil and gas” that, it becomes increasingly apparent, goes beyond energy itself. Today, the industry supports 1.7m jobs – a considerable accomplishment given the relative newness of the technology. That number could rise to 3 million by 2020. In 2012, this revolution added $62 billion to federal and state government revenues, a number that we project could rise to about $113 billion by 2020.2 It is helping to stimulate a manufacturing renaissance in the United States, improving the competitive position of the United States in the global economy, and beginning to affect global geopolitics. (Congressional testimony, 2/05/13)

 

$100,000,000 in new payroll

 A $750 million plant in Lawrence County, powered by Marcellus shale gas, could begin generating electricity by 2016, officials said. LS Power Development LLC received North Beaver supervisors’ approval this week to build a 900-megawatt plant along the Mahoning River at the site of a former American Cyanamid Co. explosives manufacturing plant. … [Project manager Casey] Carroll said 500 workers would be needed to build the plant, with an estimated payroll of $100 million. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 2/6/13)

 

$500,000,000 in airport revenue

 Allegheny County Airport Authority board members approved a half-billion dollar deal with Consol Energy Inc. this morning to clear the way for shale gas drilling at Pittsburgh International Airport. The agreement with CNX Gas Co., a Consol affiliate, calls for $50 million in upfront lease bonus and surface rent payments and an estimated $450 million in royalty payments over the 20-year life of the lease. … The authority intends to use the money from drilling lower costs to the airlines in hopes of attracting more flights, to make capital improvements and to prepare land for development. Besides the upfront and royalty payments, Consol also will invest $500 million in drilling related infrastructure, bringing the total deal to $1 billion, county Executive Rich Fitzgerald said. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2/8/13)

 

$1,200,000,000 to Pa. farmers

 Private landowners are reaping billions of dollars in royalties each year from the boom in natural gas drilling, transforming lives and livelihoods. … In Pennsylvania alone, royalty payments could top $1.2 billion for 2012, according to an Associated Press analysis that looked at state tax information, production records and estimates from the National Association of Royalty Owners. For some landowners, the unexpected royalties have made a big difference. “We used to have to put stuff on credit cards. It was basically living from paycheck to paycheck,” said Shawn Georgetti, who runs a family dairy farm in Avella, about 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. (Associated Press, 1/27/13)