MSC Earth Day Statement: “Natural Gas Providing Tremendous Environmental Benefits”

Pittsburgh, Pa. – Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) CEO Kathryn Klaber issued the following statement regarding the 43rd annual Earth Day:

“Earth Day not only serves as an important reminder that we must all make collective efforts to protect the environment in our daily lives, but also and perhaps most importantly that we have a societal obligation to ensure that our environment is healthy, vibrant and sustained for generations to come.

“Here in Pennsylvania, the oil and natural gas industry is demonstrating that clean-burning natural gas development is not a choice between safeguarding our environment or growing our economy. We can, and must, achieve both of these shared goals.

“And through the modernization and enhancement of state regulations, along with our Recommended Practices and other industry-leading technologies, the natural gas industry’s commitment to environmental stewardship remains steadfast.”

NATURAL GAS FACTS: 

• LAND. Did you know that horizontal drilling significantly reduces the amount of surface space required to tap the Marcellus formation? And that natural gas producers are working with conservation and sportsmen’s groups when reclaiming well sites? To learn more about the steps Marcellus Shale Coalition member companies take when constructing, maintaining and reclaiming well sites and pipeline right of ways, visit our Recommended Practices for Site Planning, Development and Restoration.

• WATER. Water plays a central role in the responsible development of the Marcellus Shale. Simply put, without it, we could not harvest this clean-burning resource. That’s why coalition member companies have worked diligently over the past few years to pioneer cutting edge water management practices that allow producers to recycle and reuse upwards of 90 percent of water that flows back to the surface for future well development plans. The MSC has also published Recommended Practices on Pre-Drill Water Supply Surveys and Water Pipelines that further demonstrates the commitment of the industry to responsibly manage our water resources.

• AIR. With record volumes of natural gas now being produced here in Pennsylvania and across the country, air quality is improving, as recently noted by the Wall Street Journal. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States are at near 20 year lows, thanks to increased use of natural gas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also cited increased use of natural gas as a driver behind the nearly 14 percent drop in air emissions across the Mid-Atlantic region.

• GLOBAL IMPACT. Domestic natural gas development, and the undeniable environmental and societal benefits associated with this clean-burning resource has also caught the eye of a leading official at the United Nations. Kandeh Yumkella, co-head of the U.N.’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative recently told Reuters that “natural gas, including non-traditional shale gas, should play a major role in cutting greenhouse gases, protecting forests and improving the health and living standards of the world’s poor… Without it, the U.N.’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative will have difficulty meeting goals of ensuring universal energy access, doubling the world’s share of renewable energy and doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.”