American Natural Gas-Driven Energy Security
By David Callahan, Charlie Burd and Robert Brundrett
Amidst returning to post-pandemic normalcy, a horrific war and an energy supply crunch have had devastating effects on consumers across the globe, including here at home – all against the backdrop of historic inflation.
As we celebrate Independence Day, it’s important to understand the critical role American natural gas plays in both ensuring the world has access to affordable, reliable, clean energy and underpinning our own national security.
Europe’s economic and energy policies fostered an environment that resulted in deep and dangerous reliance on Russian energy. The continent is now faced with soaring energy prices and significant reliability concerns. As our strategic allies desperately seek solutions, America’s energy producers are highly focused on safely increasing supplies to loosen Russia’s chokehold, including routing liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes to Europe and signing strategic long-term LNG supply contracts.
But while these international partnerships are a step in the right direction to strengthening Europe’s energy security, policymakers there are faced with grim choices. Germany is one step away from rationing natural gas in response to Russia’s latest actions to curtail delivery of fuel. “We are in a gas crisis,” Germany’s Economy Minister Robert Habeck said. “From now on, gas is a scarce commodity.”
That’s starkly different compared to the U.S. where, as the world’s top oil and natural gas producer, we are much more energy secure due to the abundance of resources beneath our feet.
Additionally, having a plentiful domestic energy supply means we’re able to share the economic and environmental benefits of American energy worldwide. In fact, the U.S. recently surpassed both Australia and Qatar to become the globe’s top LNG exporter.
This is great for American diplomacy, domestic job creation and the environment. Voters, too, want to see more natural gas production at home to increase exports to Europe, a national PEW Research poll found.
As the largest natural gas producing region, with the greenest environmental profile in the country, our three states -Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia- have the tools to solve global energy woes.
Safety, integrity, and a commitment to continuous improvement are values held deeply by the members that make up our respective organizations, and we’re committed to be the driver of America’s clean energy future.
After all, it’s because of technological breakthroughs in our industry that brought America its long-sought net energy export status for the first time since the 1950’s. Not to mention that the U.S. has reduced emissions faster than any country in the world thanks to increased use of natural gas.
However, policymakers must still do more to enable this American energy progress to deliver even more benefits for our economy, our people, our allies and our environment by approving needed infrastructure, expanding export capacity and increasing domestic natural gas production.
Rather than turning to American ingenuity for support, our President would rather turn to cartel leaders to stabilize the market. “Before you visit Riyadh, we invite you to visit Reynoldsville, Pa. It’s the heart of the Marcellus Shale in the state where you were born, one of the most prolific natural gas-producing regions in the world,” U.S. energy industry leaders wrote in a recent letter to President Biden.
“Join us in one of America’s major energy-producing areas which together launched the American energy revolution that ended decades of U.S. energy scarcity and growing dependence on foreign governments,” continued the letter.
Never has it been clearer that access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy is directly tied to security and quality of life. America – led by Appalachian energy – has the opportunity to take the lead in reducing energy scarcity and helping our allies discover new energy and economic growth opportunities. That is something we as Americans should take great pride in this Independence Day.
David Callahan is President of the Pennsylvania-based Marcellus Shale Coalition, Charlie Burd is Executive Director of the Gas and Oil Association of WV, and Rob Brundrett is President of the Ohio Oil & Gas Association.
