Exit polling and accompanying results following last Tuesday’s General Election underscore how critical energy issues were as a motivating factor for voters, with continued domestic natural gas development and use viewed as a key solution to easing concerns all Americans have regarding energy affordability, economic prosperity and national security.
“This election cycle made it crystal clear that voters care about and understand the importance of access to clean, affordable and domestic energy resources,” said Dave Callahan, President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) following the results.
Indeed, CNN exit polls showed 55% of Pennsylvania voters said they support natural gas development and believe it is critical to America’s energy advantage.
This exit polling comes as no surprise given Pennsylvanians’ strong support for using home-grown energy resources to help reduce energy costs, emissions and address grid reliability concerns. With 75% of PA voters backing increased energy development and 74% favoring more natural gas infrastructure, there is a clear recognition investing in domestic resources generates significant consumer benefits.
As emphasized throughout the campaign season, natural gas isn’t just an energy source – it’s a major economic driver across the country and especially for the people in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvania looms large as the swing state to win to secure the White House…In Pennsylvania, fracking supports about 123,000 jobs, and more than $41 billion in economic activity is at stake,” Forbes reported just before the election.
Candidates that made natural gas a key part of their campaign strategy and were vocal about their plans to advance the industry overwhelmingly outperformed their opponents.
When FOX News’ Laura Ingraham ask U.S. Senator-elect Dave McCormick about the driving factors behind his victory, he referenced a strong desire for change and that voters are “deeply distressed with skyrocketing prices [and] with the war on fossil fuels.”
“We need the pipelines, we need the energy source to create great paying jobs, we need it to be energy dominant from a national security perspective and that natural, beautiful, clean natural gas is the key to reducing carbon emissions around the world,” McCormick continued.
A powerhouse energy producer, Pennsylvania is also a key playmaker in global stability by catalyzing America’s energy leadership to aid our allies in advancing both environmental progress and the security of democracies around the world. Our ability to export LNG is crucial to America’s diplomatic strategy and national security efforts, providing “freedom gas” to allies everywhere.
As the leading global provider of LNG, averaging 11.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) last year, the American energy industry is the backbone of a durable global economy.
In a separate vein, while climate change wasn’t on voters’ minds as much as in previous election years, American voters appreciate the ability of natural gas to strengthen our economy while helping lead to historic reductions in air emissions. Natural gas is also critical to diversifying our energy portfolio, supporting the development of hydrogen resources and the significant capital investment and jobs it can attract.
These undeniable gas-driven advantages realized by every American is why even voters in anti-gas states – California and Washington – flipped on measures seeking to further restrict gas use.
Voters in Berkeley, California rejected a measure that would have imposed a tax on natural gas. Opposition came from the city’s small businesses and nonprofits fearing financial struggle under the proposed levy. Similarly, in Washington state voters rejected a government-imposed ban on natural gas. Once again, citizen concerns stemmed from high energy costs and noted a ban would amount to emission reductions that are “barely measurable.”
With new leadership in the White House and the 119th Congress promising real change for the American people, natural gas will – and must – remain a key part of the conversation. Its role in affordability, job creation, economic development and environmental progress domestically, as well as advancing environmental progress, security and our leadership on the world stage, should remain top of mind for policymakers.
“We thank all candidates for their willingness to serve their communities and congratulate those elected to serve in office. All Americans want an affordable economy, a clean environment and a secure nation,” Callahan further stated.
“Safely developing Pennsylvania’s natural gas resources helps to achieve each of these objectives. We encourage all those entrusted to serve to work collaboratively and advance these common goals.”
