Pro-Energy Policies Necessary to Unlock Economic Growth, Environmental Gains in Northeast PA
WILKES-BARRE, PA – April 27, 2023 – Northeastern Pennsylvania has benefitted greatly from increased natural gas development in the region, touted industry, building trades and elected officials at an energy focused briefing held by the Marcellus Shale Coalition in Wilkes-Barre today.
The Natural Gas: Powering Northeast PA luncheon highlighted how the clean, abundant energy source can drive more economic growth and environmental gains in the state. An audience of community and business representatives heard from public officials including Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, as well as local building trades leaders, the President of Lackawanna College and members of the industry.
“Pennsylvania is a national energy powerhouse thanks, in part, to many of the people in this room and the abundance of clean natural gas beneath our feet,” said David Callahan, President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition. “We’re here today to talk about the benefits natural gas has created and to collaborate on the unique ways to use this incredible resource to move our state and nation forward.”
Panel discussions included community perspectives, insights from area manufacturers and workers, and natural gas companies with operations in northcentral and northeastern Pennsylvania.
“Looking around the world makes it so clear why energy independence should be one of America’s top priorities,” Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity said. “We have one of the most abundant reserves of natural gas right below our own feet. There is no reason to put ourselves in harm’s way by relying on resources from dangerous countries who would rather hurt our people than help us, and Northeastern Pennsylvania has always played a vital role in powering our country.”
“The Marcellus Shale took us to a place where we needed to be in Pennsylvania, and that was low energy prices. We’re so happy we’ve moved from a state that was importing electricity to a state that’s now exporting about 30% to other states,” said PUC Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille. “Natural gas must remain in the process in terms of ensuring reliability for the electric grid.”
Local workforce development and the investment opportunities generated by industry activity were other key points of discussion. As Dr. Jill Murray, President of Lackawanna College said, “I think this industry has had an impact beyond what any of us understood was possible. For us at the College, your support has been tremendous both in terms of generosity to support programming, equipment, staffing, but also to support scholarships to help our students find pathways they otherwise wouldn’t have.”
Members of area building trades and economic development organizations, including United Association Local 524, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Sheet Metal Workers Local 44, and Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Association, emphasized the family sustaining wages and blue collar jobs up and down the natural gas value chain.
“For our people to be able to take those paychecks home every week, put food on the table, and actually have a good life for their family – it’s unbelievable,” said Patrick Dolan, Business Manager, United Association Local 524. “So where would we be without this over the years? I’d say some of us would have lost membership, but instead we have a steady increase in membership.”
Additional partnering organizations include the Back Mountain Chamber, Central Bradford County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Hazleton Chamber, Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Penn’s Northeast, and Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce.
