More and more straightforward, fact-based information continues to mount in support of safe, clean-burning American shale development. In fact, the “safe, recognized process” of shale development is creating “uplifting news” across the Commonwealth and the nation — job creation, consumer savings, energy security — and has been lauded as “one of the strongest engines for the U.S. economy.”

Here is what they’re saying about how shale is Powering an American Renaissance:

SAFE SHALE DEVELOPMENT STRENGTHENS AMERICA

  • “When it Comes to Oil and Gas Job Growth, Pennsylvania is Tops”: Raymond James analysts crunched the numbers, and between 2005 and 2012 almost 90 percent of the job growth in Pennsylvania at that time came from oil and gas jobs in the upstream and midstream. That’s the highest percentage of any state, according to analysts Pavel Molchanov and J. Marshall Adkins, who based the math off data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Behind Pennsylvania, the next highest percentages were Louisiana and New Mexico at about 70 percent. (Pittsburgh Business Times, 10/16/13)
  • Safe Shale Development Drives Job Growth in Pa.: Domestic energy employment is one of a few bright spots on the horizon for the U.S. economy, according to a new analysis from Raymond James & Associates Inc. The research note draws from data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a recent report from IHS Inc. that found the unconventional oil and gas industry could account for as many as 3.8 million jobs by 2025. Raymond James predicts the energy sector will be responsible for the U.S. economy’s climb out of the recession. … Raymond James researchers also analyzed the geographic footprint of oil and gas jobs and found that Pennsylvania saw the most jobs growth — 90 percent — from upstream and midstream oil and gas jobs. (E&E News, 10/16/13)
  • Daniel Yergin: “Why OPEC No Longer Calls the Shots”: This boom in domestic output increases energy supply, and combined with shale gas has a much wider economic impact in jobs, investment and household income. As these tight-oil supplies increase, and as the U.S. auto fleet becomes more efficient, oil imports have declined. Imports reached 60% of domestic consumption in 2005, but they are now down to 35%—the same level as in 1973. As the U.S. imports less oil it also produces more to the benefit of energy security. … Today, abundant natural gas is the default fuel for new electricity generation. The lesson is that markets and price signals can work very efficiently, and surprisingly swiftly, even in crises, if they are allowed to. (Wall Street Journal op-ed, 10/14/13)
  • “Hydraulic Fracturing is a Safe, Recognized Process”: Fear has become the principal means of directing public opinion away from the facts, and in this case, it is occurring with a well-known and historically accepted process associated with recovering energy from the Earth — hydraulic fracturing. … Fracturing rock has always been the essence of drilling for oil and natural gas. … Fact: Hydraulic fracturing does not cause earthquakes. … Fact: Using water under pressure to fracture rock is not new. Hydraulic fracturing has been used in this country since 1947. There are more than 20,000 wells in Illinois that have been hydraulically fractured with no adverse impact. … Hydraulic fracturing is a safe, recognized process. (Crain’s Chicago op-ed, 10/14/13)
  • Responsible Shale Production a “Gift” and “Global Win” for the U.S. Economy: Never in a million years. That’s the gist of what Adam Sieminski had to say about the news that the United States is about to pass Russia as the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas – if it hasn’t done so already. … In July, the U.S. produced 22 million barrels per day of oil, natural gas and related fuels, according to the International Energy Agency. That was just above Russia’s production of 21.8 million per day. Experts expect the trend to continue. …This is a global win for what amounts to our hometown team. Hydraulic fracturing is the rich gift of years of dogged effort by the late George P. Mitchell. … We hope the president takes notice, as we extend our congratulations to the domestic oil and natural gas industry. (Houston Chronicle editorial, 10/11/13)
  • “Natural Gas Industry Can Reinvigorate the Wheeling Area”: West Virginia University officials believe the burgeoning Marcellus Shale natural gas industry can reinvigorate the Wheeling area. … “Wheeling is in the middle of an economic miracle,” said Jose V. “Zito” Sartarelli, dean of the WVU College of Business and Economics, regarding the leasing, drilling, fracking, pipelining, processing and other economic actions associated with the natural gas business.  … [John Deskins, director of the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research] expects construction to be one of the strongest areas for job growth over the next several years, partially due to the ongoing need for additional natural gas processing and pipelining infrastructure. “Continued drilling and extraction of oil, natural gas and byproduct liquids across the Marcellus and Utica shale plays found in the West Virginia and Ohio portions of the metro area bode well for the sector’s outlook,” Deskins’ report states. Sartarelli also believes the oil and gas business is an economic engine for West Virginia. (Intelligencer, 10/16/13)
  • Shale “One of the Strongest Engines for the U.S. Economy”: Shale gas exploration has become one of the strongest engines for the U.S. economy. U.S. natural gas production has increased by one-fourth in the past five years, according to the EIA; it has created 600,000 jobs since 2009 and helped drive down gas prices for millions of Americans. Moreover, the U.S. is now in a position to export gas. This surplus creates opportunities for the U.S. to again be a geopolitical player in Europe. … [LNG exports] creates a win-win situation. … This is a historic moment. The U.S. has the chance to become a key player in international exports of natural gas. If Washington expands export opportunities, the results would include strengthened domestic production, enhanced global energy security, expanded market opportunities, lower global prices and stronger transatlantic alliances. (Washington Post op-ed, 10/10/13)
  • Emergence of Affordable, Abundant Shale Gas “Makes Exports Economical”: Kinder Morgan, the pipeline company that operates the facility, is trying to get approval from the U.S. Department of Energy to export natural gas to countries with which the U.S. doesn’t have free trade agreements. Kinder Morgan Vice President Norman Holmes told the Southern States Energy Board on Monday that approval could spark as much as $8 billion of investment at the plant. … “Export facilities like this are really going to unlock the true value of these new sources of energy,” said Doug Domenech, Virginia’s secretary of natural resources. … In the last decade, eight U.S. facilities including Pascagoula were built to import natural gas from other countries, with the expectation that North American supplies were dwindling. But, natural gas is much cheaper in North America than it is in many other parts of the world, making exports economical. “The emergence of shale gas is what happened,” Holmes said. (Associated Press, 10/14/13)

POWERING OUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS

  • “Trucking Fleets are Converting in Droves” to CNG: Natural gas is plentiful…and manufacturers are collaborating on heavy-duty engines that can power big rigs, Hausladen said. … It’s cleaner-burning and cuts carbon-dioxide and other emissions. … Convenience store chain Kwik Trip, which has converted 50 of its 350 light-duty and semitrailer trucks to CNG and LNG, has added natural gas pumps at 17 of its 430 fueling stations. More are on the way. …“We’re transitioning our fleet to natural gas,” he said. “Its cost and environmental benefits … natural gas is a domestic, cleaner-burning fuel.” … Republic, which also installed a local natural gas fueling station, projects that each new CNG-fueled truck reduces ozone-forming emissions by as much as 80 percent. Republic operates a fleet of more than 1,400 CNG vehicles and 26 natural gas fueling stations nationwide. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 10/12/13)
  • Homegrown Natural Gas Creates Savings For Local Schools: Alternative fuels such as CNG and propane are making the ride to school cleaner and cheaper. Valley Lines Inc. in South Buffalo Township is among a growing number of transportation companies and schools turning to alternative fuels such as CNG and propane in Pennsylvania and across the country. … “There’s no doubt that the cleaner air is attractive to school districts,” said Bill Clepper, president and CEO of Valley Lines. … “School districts are fighting for every buck, and this is something that can help decrease their fuel cost,” said Clepper. … Butler Area School District, which has been running Valley Lines’ CNG buses…expects to save between $50,000 and $75,000 on fuel this school year, according to Brenda Collins, supervisor of transportation at Butler Area School District. … The bounty of natural gas in the region, particularly the promise of natural gas contained in Marcellus shale, appears to be driving the technology and lower fuel costs. There is traction now in the CNG market as new facilities are springing up monthly in the region, according to Rick Price, executive director of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities. “This is a great success for the area because we are using homegrown fuel, which creates energy security…and it’s right under our feet.” (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 10/13/13)

BROAD REGIONAL BENEFITS AND HUGE SAVINGS

  • Shale Continues Pumping New Life into Western Pa.: The Marcellus Shale preceded the founding of Pittsburgh by a good 350 million years. … Now it all but defines the region. Pennsylvania has been an oil and gas producing state since the late 1800s. Thirty years ago, gas wells in Pennsylvania pumped out a respectable 118 billion cubic feet of gas in a year. Now, more than twice that much flows out of shale wells in southwestern Pennsylvania in six months.… Shale operators such as Range Resources Corp., Talisman Energy Inc., Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. established regional headquarters in the Pittsburgh area… When the operators arrived, their contractors — firms with hefty names such as Halliburton, Schlumberger, Weatherford — followed suit. Gas processing companies such as MarkWest Energy Partners, have come here and pumped more than $1 billion into pipelines and plants that separate the natural gas liquids found in this area’s gas stream. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10/13/13)
  • “Pa. is Becoming Like the New Gulf Of Mexico”: The company managing the Marcellus Shale gas pipeline that runs through Luzerne Co. is poised to expand the line again. … Williams’ application for the project, the Southeast Expansion, is an important milestone in the filing process that began in January. … “The project will provide firm market access to new sources of gas supply being developed in North Central Pennsylvania, which is experiencing a dramatic increase in natural gas production,” the application states. … “Pennsylvania is becoming like the new Gulf of Mexico,” he said. … The company estimates the loops in Luzerne and Monroe counties will require a workforce of 767, with construction starting in March 2014 and lasting seven to 10 months. The company also estimates 154 jobs will be needed for nine months at the three compressor stations in Luzerne, Columbia and Lycoming counties. Transco anticipates that at least half of the construction workforce will consist of local labor hired by union contractors, according to its application. (Citizen’s Voice, 10/15/13)

For more fact-based information about responsible, job-creating shale development and please visit LearnAboutShale.org and our blog. And please follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook!