Pennsylvania natural gas-fired generation grew from just 2% in 2001 to 52% at the end of 2021, new federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) data today highlights.
As technological advancements in the production process unlocked an abundance of natural gas in the Appalachian region, Pennsylvania quickly became the country’s second largest gas producer sitting atop the Marcellus Shale, “the largest natural gas field in the United States,” EIA analysts wrote.
Driven by innovation and operational efficiencies, production across the Commonwealth increased from 0.1 trillion cubic feet (tcf) to approximately 7.6 tcf in just two short decades. That’s enough natural gas to supply 215 million homes for a year. With producers in the state averaging ~20 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, Pennsylvania now accounts for 20% of total U.S. gas production.
Increased access to the clean-burning fuel driven by this production growth heightened interest and investment in building more modern, highly efficient combined cycle natural gas power plants across the region, which reduced wholesale electricity costs and slashed emissions associated with the power sector.
This drove Pennsylvania to become the largest supplier of electricity in the United States, exporting nearly 78 million megawatt hours of electricity to neighboring states in 2020. More than half (52%) of that generation came from natural gas-fueled facilities.
While Pennsylvania is exporting record-levels of affordable and clean power, statewide average natural gas wholesale costs for utilities in 2021 were down nearly three-quarters compared to 2008’s high price environment. In terms of emissions, EIA data indicates carbon emissions declined by nearly 43% since 2008.
These strong indicators underscore the important role of Pennsylvania natural gas in achieving consumer, environmental, and economic gains both in-state and across the country. Prioritizing the continued development and use of natural gas – debatably our nation’s most strategic asset – should be a goal for state lawmakers and Pennsylvania’s new Governor as policies are debated in the state legislature.
Such goals were recently brought to light in the MSC’s latest column in PennLive, “to ensure Pennsylvania is positioned for success for generations to come, we must promote sensible policies and regulations that are competitive and provide predictability in the marketplace,” President Dave Callahan wrote.
“In doing so, we can position the Commonwealth for continued economic growth, expanded job opportunities, and further innovation and entrepreneurship, all while improving the communities in which our industry is proud to live and work.”
