Pittsburgh, Pa. – The American economy continues to limp along, as “unemployment rates rose in 18 U.S. states in May, the most in nine months,” according to the USA Today. And while there’s no denying the very real challenges our nation’s economy faces, there’s also no denying the benefits tied to the safe, responsible development of America’s abundant natural gas resources: tens of thousands of private sector jobs, a manufacturing rebirth, cleaner air, strengthened national security. In short, tightly-regulated domestic natural gas production is Building a Stronger, More Secure America. Here’s what they’re saying.

Clean-Burning American Natural Gas “Is The Future”

  • Shale Gas Benefits “Cannot Be Denied”: The benefits from natural gas cannot be denied: a cheap, clean burning fuel that can help America on the path to greater energy independence while creating solid jobs. … Natural gas is the future, and they should want to be a part of it. Go for it, New York. (Houston Chronicle editorial, 6/21/12)
  • Marcellus Shale Gas Creating More Consumer Savings: Just as the region enters the hottest months of the year, Peco Energy Co.’s residential price for electricity is set to decrease 14.7 percent on July 1, the lowest price the Philadelphia utility has charged since market rates went into effect 18 months ago. … The price of natural gas is very low because of overproduction from new resources such as Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale. Natural gas prices directly affect the price of electricity. “What you’re seeing are decreases because natural gas prices are lower,” said Cathy Engel-Menendez, Peco’s spokeswoman. “Natural gas is used to generate electricity, and lower wholesale prices for electricity are being passed on to customers.” Without lifting a finger, a typical Peco customer who uses 9,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year is paying $115 less a year on an annualized basis than at the beginning of 2011. (Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/24/12)
  • Thanks to “Cheap Natural Gas, U.S. Cuts Greenhouse Gases”: A curious thing is happening to the air in the United States. It’s getting cleaner. … The main and most surprising reason: cheap natural gas. “The primary reason by far is low natural gas prices,” said Robert Stavins, director of the environmental economics program at Harvard. Natural gas prices are so low largely thanks to hydraulic fracturing. … It’s unleashed an energy boom in the United States that’s taken gas prices to their lowest levels in a decade. (CNN Money, 6/22/12)
  • Marcellus Shale Strengthening Pa. Housing Market: Home sales in the Pittsburgh market jumped 18.1 percent in May, compared to a year ago, marking the eighth month of increased sales, said a report released on Tuesday. … Roger Dolanch, broker/owner of C21 Frontier Realty in Peters, said natural gas companies drilling Marcellus shale helped to boost the housing market. (Tribune-Review, 6/19/12)
  • Top White House Energy Advisor Backs MSC-Endorsed FracFocus.org: President Obama’s top energy adviser today endorsed FracFocus.org, the industry’s favored way of disclosing hydraulic fracturing chemicals, as the best method of disclosure for the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies. “As an administration, we believe that FracFocus is an important tool that provides transparency to the American people,” Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate change. (E&E News, 6/21/12)
  • “Natural Gas Boom Reshaping America is Rocking Russia”: The U.S. no longer needs Russia’s gas. … Shale production allowed the U.S. to overtake Russia as the largest gas-producing nation in 2009 after explorers began employing hydraulic fracturing. (Bloomberg News, 6/22/12)
  • “Economists: Gas Boom for Real, Gives U.S. Edge”: The abundance of natural gas from the Utica and Marcellus shale plays will provide U.S. manufacturers with a sizeable competitive advantage – low prices and reliable supplies close by, the chief economist of ConocoPhillips, Marianne Kah, says. … By 2025, the $11.5 billion U.S. manufacturers are projected to save annually by burning gas should allow them to make other investments and create as many as a million more jobs, said Robert McCutcheon, the U.S. industrial products leader at PriceWaterhouse Coopers. … Natural gas should lead to “a renaissance for U.S. manufacturing,” McCutcheon predicted. (Youngstown Business Journal, 6/22/12)
  • Congressman Mark Critz, Co-Chair of the Marcellus Shale Caucus: “Imperative That Facts Are Presented Instead of Overhyped Fears”: The EPA recently announced that after conducting its own analysis of drinking water in Dimock…no wells with unsafe levels of contamination were tied to hydraulic fracturing. … It is imperative that the facts are presented instead of overhyped fears. Instead of continuing down a path of misinformation that threatens to hinder development of this promising resource, we need to focus on working together to have fact-based discussions that will lead to safe, realistic solutions. With the huge strides made by the DEP over the last few generations, there are clear indications that Pennsylvania’s hydraulic fracturing regulations are working. … EPA should avoid stepping into an area that the DEP has a long history of overseeing. With so much at stake, now is the time for fact-based discussions that will lead to safe and realistic solutions. (Tribune-Review op-ed, 6/23/12)
  • “Ferry Systems Look to Switch to Natural Gas”: Hoping to limit fare increases, a British Columbia regulator, ferry system Commissioner Gord Macatee, is recommending that ferries be converted to natural gas “as soon as reasonably possible.” Other ferry systems, from Staten Island, N.Y., to Washington state, are exploring similar changes as a way to reduce costs. Ferry operators…are also hoping to capitalize on the enormous discoveries of natural gas in shale-rock formations throughout North America. … New Yorkers may soon have their first experience with LNG ferries. (Wall Street Journal, 6/24/12)

American Natural Gas = Good-Paying Jobs

  • Marcellus Multiplier in Action: “Local Companies Drill Into Natural Gas Industry”: Sales of manufactured gas-development materials help companies in the [Scranton] area diversify and tap into the lucrative energy-development market. “Drilling is here to stay, there is money to be made and the opportunity is definitely there,” said Teri Ooms, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, a regional research and analysis agency. “It’s creating jobs and putting money back into the area.” … Linde Corp., a Honesdale-based utility and heavy-construction contractor, has grown into a major industrial support player in the region’s gas industry. Linde had no involvement in gas development in 2007, company spokesman Kevin Lynn said. “Last year, 90 percent of our revenue was from Marcellus,” he said. “It has completely redefined our business.” … The trickle from gas development runs across many sectors, including transportation, engineering and business services, Ms. Ooms said. “There’s multiple levels of impact,” Ms. Ooms said. “It’s huge.” (Times-Tribune, 6/25/12)
  • Safe Marcellus Development “Creating Good Paying Jobs For Our Younger Generation”: There are safe and environmentally compatible ways to extract natural gas trapped in shale. … In my opinion, not only will this benefit our community economically by creating good paying jobs for our younger generation, it will also reduce our dependence on oil imports. This is a big winner for the Somerset County community, as well as our nation. (Daily American op-ed, 6/24/12)
  • Former Top EPA Official: Natural Gas Providing “Energy Security, Jobs” and a “Cleaner Energy Future”: The United States is in the midst of an energy revolution. A huge increase in domestic oil and natural gas production is reshaping our energy future. … This new production is providing increased energy security, reduced energy costs and tens of thousands of jobs across the country. … Drilling in [Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale] has become an economic lifeline. Since 2006, natural gas production has generated $1 billion in local and state tax revenues. Between late 2009 and early 2011, oil and gas companies created 75,000 new jobs in the state. … Shale gas production has been the real game changer. … The shale gas revolution has provided a cost-effective means to reduce U.S. emissions while powering economic growth. … Increased oil and natural gas production can provide energy security and jobs, and it can be a key participant in a cost-effective and cleaner energy future. (Birmingham News op-ed, 6/24/12)
  • “Marcellus Shale is Going to Solve the United States’ Economic Problems”: Active drilling in the Marcellus shale is going to solve the United States’ economic problems, and Janney Montgomery Scott knows why. Not only Janney, but other large financial planning firms, banks, businesses and even the housing market. Trickle-down. … “This can help to be a game changer in the United States,” said Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist for Janney Montgomery Scott. … Large companies find their industry in a region, they relocate, they hire and they spend. The money trickles down from the CEO to the local driller, who then goes on to buy a house, a car, coffee in the morning. This local driller becomes a consumer, making and spending money, to stimulate everything from General Motors to Dunkin’ Donuts. (Beaver County Times, 6/25/12)
  • “America’s Bright Spot: Oil and Natural Gas”: In Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale, tens of thousands of jobs have been created, opening opportunities for unskilled laborers to obtain training and earn excellent wages. According to the state’s Department of Labor and Industry’s Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, jobs for drill operators are expected to grow by nearly 85 percent this year, while the growth rate for jobs of types is projected to be 2.6 percent in Pennsylvania. … For many American families, struggling to make ends meet in the jobless recovery, energy development is an answer to a prayer. (The Hill op-ed, 6/25/12)
  • New Yale Study Highlights “Enormous Societal Benefits” of U.S. Shale Gas: Cheaper supplies of fuel and feedstocks benefits U.S. industry, especially manufacturers and chemicals makers which have been reinvesting in the U.S. Homeowners benefit from cheaper heating and cooling and electricity. Drilling for gas has created hundreds of thousands of jobs during this economic malaise and it’s generated billions of dollars of lease payments and royalties to landowners. … A group of Yale economics graduates…were curious about whether they could quantify the economic benefit that shale gas has on America. … They’ve released their findings in a paper called “The Arithmetic of Shale Gas.” … Their conclusion: the benefits of continued shale gas development are enormous. (Forbes.com, 6/22/12)
  • “Drilling Firms: We Need Workers”: Jobs paying starting salaries as high as $42,000 per year – such as a mud logger – are available for those with nothing more than a high school diploma, providing career seekers are willing to travel with gas drilling rigs for Empirica. … “I am very excited to get into this industry. If you are willing to do the work, the work is out there,” Barbara Porter said. … “I am looking for an environmental health and safety position,” said Dana Sempierek. “My last job wanted me to move to Chicago. I hope to get something in the local area.” … “We hope to hire as many of our employees locally as we can.” (Herald-Star, 6/21/12)

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