From construction to production, responsible shale development continues to present enormous opportunity for our economy, especially as it relates to our region’s skilled manufacturing workforce. To be sure, as critical infrastructure investments expand to safely transport our abundant and clean-burning natural gas supplies to consumers, manufacturers and other end-users, employment, tax revenues, and the overall long-term outlook for Pennsylvania continues to grow stronger.

Here’s what they are saying:

Shale Reignites Pennsylvania’s Economy

  • PennEast Pipeline to Create 12K Jobs, $1.62B in Widespread Economic Impact: The planned PennEast Pipeline will create 12,000 jobs within a six-county area and have a $1.62 billion impact on Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to a economic impact study. … Residents will also see lower utility bills as more natural gas enters the market, providing an increase in disposable income spending. … “The pipeline will have a significant ripple effect on the economy,” Vibhas Madan, professor of economics and director of the School of Economics at Drexel University, said. … Pete Terranova, chairman of the PennEast Pipeline board of directors, said contractors will be looking to local union halls to meet their hiring needs. “We plan on using local services as much as possible,” Terranova said. (Times-Leader, 2/9/15)
  • Study Projects $11M Income Tax Boost to Pa.: Building and operating the PennEast pipeline proposed to pass through Northampton County could bring considerable economic benefits to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to a study released Monday. Constructing the 114-mile natural gas pipeline would create more than 12,000 jobs and provide a one-time impact of $1.6 billion for the economies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to the analysis, performed for the company by Philadelphia firm Econsult Solutions Inc. and Drexel University. … In the study, researchers projected a combined $17.5 million income tax revenue boost in Pennsylvania and New Jersey during the construction period, with $11 million of that heading to the commonwealth’s tax coffers. (Morning Call, 2/9/15)
  • PennEast Pipeline will have a “Ripple Effect” Through Economy: Construction of the proposed PennEast Pipeline connecting Marcellus Shale to southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey will have an economic impact of about $1.6 billion, according to an economic study released as pipeline developers make an economic case for the project. … “This will impact the supply of energy and natural gas, prompting lower prices and consequent savings,” said Vibhas Madam, Ph.D. professor of economics at Drexel, adding that the savings by individuals and corporations will have a ripple effect through the economy. Those savings, about $10 million, make an economic impact of $13.5 million and support 90 other jobs, he said. (Post-Gazette, 2/10/15)
  • FirstEnergy Makes $35 Million Upgrade to Support “Fast-Growing Marcellus Shale Industry”: FirstEnergy Corp. said Monday it is investing nearly $35 million in new electric transmission projects to support the Marcellus Shale gas industry in Western Pennsylvania, with the lion’s share of the outlay to be spent in Washington County. … “Our investment in new transmission facilities directly supports the fast-growing Marcellus Shale industry,” said Carl Bridenbaugh, FirstEnergy’s vice president of transmission. “This industry continues to generate jobs and economic prosperity across Western Pennsylvania, and we are working quickly to upgrade our system to continue providing our customers access to safe, reliable and affordable electric power.” (Observer-Reporter, 2/9/15)
  • National Association of Manufacturers’ CEO Touts Shale’s Job-Creating Benefits: “If we develop this [shale] resource correctly, we can create a million new American jobs over the next 10 to 15 years,” [Jay] Timmons said. (Industry Week, 2/8/15)

Shale Strengthens Communities, Creates New Opportunities

  • Range Resources Honored for Conservation Efforts: Range Resources employees have another feather in their caps – or hard hats. The company received a statewide corporate conservation award from the National Wild Turkey Federation for its initiative to establish wildlife habitats in Cross Creek County Park last year. “This conservation award is something very special to Range and all of our employees, many of whom are avid outdoorsmen and women,” said Mike Mackin, stakeholder relations manager at Range. … Bob Eriksen, a wildlife biologist with the turkey federation, said the locations were perfect for the type of project that Range proposed. … “Our objective and Range’s objective was to leave that site better than they found it originally.” … Mackin credited the park staff, county commissioners and county planning commission for working cooperatively with Range on the project. “We can show that energy development and habitat improvements can coexist,” he said. (Observer-Reporter, 2/7/15)
  • Shale “Gas Fees Expected to go to Sensory Garden”: Lycoming County commissioners Thursday are expected to approve $18,000 of gas drilling impact fees for a sensory garden project that will be at the Lysock View Complex on County Farm Road in Loyalsock Township. … The garden will be available to the public, and will be tailored for individuals with special needs, providing a multisensory experience for educational purposes. It also will serve as a location for gardening workshops and programs. (Sun-Gazette, 2/4/15)
  • Shale Impact Fee Taxes Benefit Environmental Initiatives: Grants totaling almost $84,000 from unconventional gas well impact fees are being allocated by Crawford County toward environmentally related projects around the county. However, more than $500,000 in additional fees earmarked for bridges and other projects won’t be allocated for at least another month. … Crawford County commissioners Thursday unanimously agreed to allocate a total of $83,942 to four different environmental initiatives. The largest grant is $43,000 for three bridges for a proposed extension of the Ernst Trail recreational trail into Meadville. … The second grant is $20,552 for Conneaut Lake for redevelopment of the Water Street business district. The grant will go toward engineering of stormwater management, Rodriguez said. The third grant, $3,500, is for the Meadville Area Recreation Complex for development of a handicapped accessible trail on the complex grounds off Thurston Road. The final grant is $7,500 for the Titusville area for an Oil Creek Water Trail feasibility study on the viability of developing a marked trail on the creek for canoeing and kayaking. (Meadville Tribune, 2/6/15)
  • “I Can Thank Marcellus” for Bringing Me Home: The oil and gas business took Kirby Walker around the world before bringing him home to Western Pennsylvania. “I can thank the Marcellus for that,” said Walker, 45, of Sewickley, a Freeport native and veteran petroleum engineer who last month went to work at Cecil-based Consol Energy Inc. … A job with Houston-based Schlumberger, the world’s largest oilfield services company, brought Walker a decade of travel for work in Russia, Venezuela, Alaska, Texas and West Virginia. He became a team leader in Pittsburgh in 2006 when shale drilling began to take hold here. Returning home allowed him to marry fellow Freeport native Daniell. They have two sons. … “The part that brought me here was the people,” Walker said. “That’s where it is — enjoying the people you work with.” (Tribune-Review, 2/8/15)

Shale is a “game changer” for Pennsylvania’s economy. “Like” the MSC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@MarcellusGas) for more information on America’s manufacturing renaissance powered by shale.