What unites labor, business groups, Democrats, and Republicans in Western Pennsylvania? Energy and the generational opportunity to grow good-paying manufacturing jobs critical to a thriving middle class. Remarks from Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto last week to halt future development of petrochemical manufacturing facilities across the region drew swift response from a diverse set of voices […]
Families, Manufacturers Save Billions Annually Thanks to Domestic Natural Gas Development
November 1, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
American consumers are saving billions of dollars annually thanks to domestic natural gas production, two recently released studies confirmed. The separate reports from the White House Council of Economic Advisors and ShaleCrescent USA attribute savings to the significant growth in domestic natural gas production – the majority of which has taken place in the Appalachia […]
SHALE INSIGHT™ Focuses on Region’s Energy Opportunity
October 28, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
President Trump: “You’ve helped make America the number one producer of oil and gas. Number one by far.” With clean, American natural gas, our economy is stronger, our nation more secure, manufacturing is on the march, and the U.S. is a global clean air leader, President Trump said during headline remarks during the ninth annual […]
Five Can’t-Miss Events at SHALE INSIGHT™ 2019
October 18, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Celebrating its 9th year, SHALE INSIGHT™ returns to Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center next week. One of the leading conferences on American energy development, the event will feature the engaging panels, innovative technologies and top-notch networking opportunities that participants have come to value, as well as a few exciting original aspects—including keynote remarks from […]
No Known Environmental Causes of Rare Childhood Cancer Form, State Health Experts, Doctors Say
October 9, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Ewing’s sarcoma expert with UPMC to lead new genetics research into the rare disease form An analysis of cancer data in Washington County and the Canon-McMillan School District does not show incidence rates of Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare childhood cancer, consistently and statistically higher than the rest of the state, top Pennsylvania health officials and […]
Exponential Growth of Natural Gas Contained in Appalachian Basin, USGS Report
October 4, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Report confirms long-term opportunity to develop clean, affordable natural gas. Estimates of natural gas held in the Appalachian Basin have sharply increased from 2 Tcf in 2002 to 214 Tcf today, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s updated analysis. This significant increase from previous projections in 2011 and 2012, which estimated 84 trillion cubic feet […]
Hydraulic Fracturing Ban Jeopardizes Environmental Progress, Devastating to Pa. Economy
September 24, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
For more than a decade, natural gas development has generated unprecedented opportunities to provide sustainable and broad-based economic and environmental benefits to our region and the nation. A few politicians, however, have proposed to ban the safe technological process of hydraulic fracturing. As the candidates continue to push this misguided, dangerous policy, voters, elected officials, […]
U.S. Natural Gas Supply Hits Record High – Report
September 12, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Led by growth in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays, the United States has a record future supply of natural gas, according to the latest biennial report from the well-respected Potential Gas Committee. This assessment of the nation’s technically recoverable natural gas assets is the highest in the committee’s 54-year history and represents a 20% […]
President Trump’s Beaver Co. Visit Highlights Energy-Enabled Rust Belt Revival
August 13, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
President Trump’s visit to the ethane cracker plant under construction in Beaver County today highlights the energy-enabled Rust Belt Revival taking hold across Appalachia. Thanks to abundant, low-cost natural gas, regional manufacturers have a cost-competitive advantage to invest and create good-paying local jobs. Set to be completed in the coming years, the Shell Petrochemicals Complex […]
ICYMI: Unrealistic Energy Policies Sting American Consumers
July 31, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Governor Cuomo’s energy blockade is a punch in the gut for northeast consumers, as policies blocking new pipeline development increase costs and jeopardize energy reliability. It’s ironic that the United States is world’s natural gas production leader, but New York City residents, who live just across the border from the second-largest natural gas producing state, […]
Natural Gas Industry to Gov. Wolf: Commitment to Health, Safety “Exceptionally Personal” for Local Workforce
July 26, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
For the tens-of-thousands of local Pennsylvanians who produce clean, abundant energy, there’s no higher responsibility than the protection and improvement of our environment, leaders of the Commonwealth’s three oil and natural gas trade associations wrote in a letter to Governor Wolf this week. The letter details the “exceptionally personal” commitment to responsibly producing the energy […]
Post-Gazette Continues to Peddle Junk Science
July 26, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Cites convicted federal felon who illegally pushed drugs into community as “trusted, expert” voice Unoriginal. Loose (at best) with the facts. Totally predictable. The Post-Gazette’s latest broadside attacking Pennsylvania’s natural gas workers and their commitment to protecting public health and our environment was effectively a CliffsNotes of anti-energy activism “research” that’s been previously blogged about […]
FACT CHECK: Post-Gazette’s Narrative on Natural Gas Conflicts with Facts
July 24, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Latest “Human Toll” series stories centered on activist research; ignore objective science Since the Post-Gazette’s “Human Toll” series recently launched (two more stories attacking the natural gas industry are set to run soon, we understand), we have fact-checked the paper’s reporting, which centers mainly on shoddy and flawed research funded by anti-natural gas activists and […]
Record Impact Tax Revenues Directly Benefit Communities
June 28, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Pennsylvania’s natural gas impact tax generated a record $251.8 million in 2018, bringing the seven-year total to $1.7 billion in new revenue for communities and statewide environmental and conservation programs. “Local governments rely on impact tax revenues to fund a host of priorities, including enhancing road and bridge infrastructure, flood mitigation and prevention, emergency response […]
Post-Gazette’s Claims on Childhood Cancer Unsupported by Medical Experts, Science
May 14, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
As an industry focused on enhancing public health and safety, we’re deeply disappointed in the Post-Gazette’s continued efforts to sensationalize tragedy through unsubstantiated claims regarding regional childhood cancer cases. “Our hearts break for anyone battling cancer,” MSC’s David Spigelmyer told the paper. “Given our industry’s deep commitment to protecting the health, safety and environment […]
This Earth Day, Celebrate Natural Gas
April 22, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Earth Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the meaningful environmental progress made possible through the production and use of clean, abundant American natural gas. As Environmental Protection Agency administrator Andrew Wheeler told the SHALE INSIGHT audience in October, thanks to natural gas, “we are the global leader in clear air progress.” For the tens […]
MSC Member Profile: Shale Development Propels Central Pennsylvania Engineering Firm into National Player
April 15, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
“I’ve got to be part of that,” top Dawood leader says of America’s shale revolution. As part of MSC’s Member Profile series, we recently sat down with Jim Rodgers and Nick Brien of Dawood, a central Pennsylvania-based engineering firm that’s seized the opportunity of the shale revolution to grow into a national firm. This interview […]
President Trump’s Executive Orders Advance American Energy Dominance
April 11, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Pennsylvania’s energy job-creators joined manufacturers and top building trades union leaders, among others, to applaud President Trump’s signing yesterday of two executive orders that will help expand and modernize America’s energy infrastructure. The Executive Orders are expected to streamline federal permitting and ease unnecessary regulatory roadblocks for new pipeline construction and LNG export terminals. Joining […]
Pa. Leads Nation in Clean, Affordable Natural Gas Power Generation Growth
March 11, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Pennsylvania accounted for one-quarter of the growth in highly efficient, clean natural gas power generation last year, according to new federal data released this morning. In fact, more than 60 percent of the electric generating capacity installed in the U.S. in 2018 was fueled by clean, domestic natural gas. Specifically, facilities like Tenaska’s Westmoreland Generating […]
Radio Recap: Natural Gas a “Winner for the Region”
February 8, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Natural gas is driving manufacturing job growth, consumer savings, and clean air progress, all “winners for the region,” MSC’s Dave Spigelmyer said during radio interviews across the Commonwealth this week. Here’s a few key highlights from radio row: On a Generational Manufacturing Opportunity “We’ve got a petrochemical facility being built in the west that […]
Report: Marcellus, Utica Shale Plays Drive Domestic Natural Gas Production Growth
January 24, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Domestic natural gas production and use – especially in power generation and manufacturing – will expand significantly over the next three decades, the federal Energy Information Administration reported today. The agency projects in its 2019 Annual Energy Outlook that natural gas will experience the largest production increase of all fossil fuels, with the Marcellus and […]
Pa. Produced Energy Drives High-Tech Manufacturing Job Growth
January 15, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Energy development is giving rise to Pennsylvania’s next manufacturing chapter, fueling a wave of high-tech jobs and economic growth in communities across the Commonwealth. As the nation’s second largest natural gas producing state, Pennsylvania manufacturers can leverage low-cost, abundant natural gas feedstocks into a competitive advantage. In Beaver County, for example, along the banks of […]
2019 Outlook: Steady Energy Growth to Drive Pa. Economic Expansion, Environmental Progress
January 3, 2019 | Filed Under: Blog
Pennsylvania is blessed with an enormous energy advantage that gives our region the ability to compete and win economically, grow good-paying local jobs and improve our environment, MSC’s Dave Spigelmyer said during a series of year-end press interviews. “We’ve gone from a period of cautious optimism to now living an energy renaissance,” Spigelmyer told the […]
Pa. Energy Producers Hold ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ Outlook
August 21, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
With rig counts steadily rising, key infrastructure projects coming online, and production increasing, Pennsylvania’s energy producers have a cautiously optimistic outlook, MSC president David Spigelmyer told reporters recently. During a swing through local papers across the north central and eastern parts of the state, Spigelmyer provided a state of the industry update for the second-half […]
Training Programs Prepare Pennsylvanians for High-Demand Energy Careers
July 23, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
New workforce training programs have launched throughout the region to meet growing local demand for skilled workers across the energy supply chain. In Armstrong and Greene Counties, for example, free month-long training courses focused on pipeline construction and maintenance begin in August. These programs, as the Observer-Reporter reports, are hosted through a partnership with the […]
Acting EPA Administrator Visits Western Pa., Credits Shale Industry’s “Innovation”
July 18, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Commonsense policies and smart regulations that encourage natural gas development will help ensure further environmental and public health improvement, acting EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler discussed during a visit to Washington County this week. Just a week after assuming his new position, acting administrator Wheeler met with MSC member Range Resources and sat down with the […]
Natural Gas Drives Pa. Manufacturing Resurgence
July 12, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Western Pennsylvania manufacturing is on the comeback thanks, in large part, to the region’s abundance of natural gas. From the Shell ethane cracker facility under construction in Beaver County to the growth of Lawrence County’s steel industry and a resurgent plastics industry in Erie County, affordable, abundant natural gas is driving the region’s manufacturing comeback. […]
Pa. Natural Gas Impact Fee Generates $209M+, Proceeds Benefit All Counties
June 22, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Communities across Pennsylvania will receive more than $209 million in new impact fee revenue, Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced yesterday. Since 2012 the impact fee – Pennsylvania’s drilling tax – has generated nearly $1.5 billion for communities in all 67 counties. This natural gas impact fee is working as designed, generating hundreds of millions […]
Gov. Wolf’s Energy Tax Hike to Harm Pa. Jobs, Consumers
May 2, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Governor Wolf threw his support behind an energy tax increase this week, marking the fourth year in a row the governor put forth a plan that harms Pennsylvania families, small businesses, and consumers. Just like previous proposals, this latest tax increase is a step backward and will make Pennsylvania less competitive for job-creating investment. Natural […]
On Earth Day, 5 Reasons to Thank Natural Gas
April 20, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Earth Day provides an important opportunity to celebrate the meaningful environmental progress that our nation and the Commonwealth continue to make thanks to natural gas. Local production of abundant, clean-burning natural gas means we don’t have to choose between environmental progress and economic growth. We can and do have both – and Pennsylvanians are realizing […]
Five Fast Facts on Misguided Court Ruling
April 19, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
A recent Pennsylvania Superior Court ruling upends more than a century of settled property law and injects uncertainty to safe, responsible oil and gas development, the Marcellus Shale Coalition and Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry said in court filings this week. The court’s recent decision involving the “rule of capture” departs from past precedent […]
On Clean, Job-Creating Natural Gas, Gov. Wolf Says One Thing, Does Another
April 18, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Governor Wolf’s rhetoric doesn’t match his policies when it comes to clean, job-creating natural gas. On one hand, Gov. Wolf talks about supporting further development of abundant, low-cost natural gas as key to consumer savings, environmental progress and manufacturing growth. Yet, his policies tell a different story, as higher taxes, unnecessary regulations, and outright bans […]
Allegheny Co. Executive: Fracking “Saved the Airport”
April 10, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Natural gas development enabled Pittsburgh International Airport to expand flights and plan a $1.1 billion renovation, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, a Pittsburgh Democrat, said during a recent interview with the Pittsburgh Business Times. In 2013, the airport authority partnered with Consol Energy – now CNX Resources – to develop natural gas under the airport’s […]
VIDEO: Natural Gas Drives Pennsylvania’s Manufacturing Resurgence
April 3, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Natural gas development is positively transforming Pennsylvania’s economy and environment, MSC’s Dave Spigelmyer said during Sunday’s PMA Perspective program on PCN-TV. As the nation’s second largest natural gas producing state, we’re realizing a resurgence in manufacturing, meaningful energy savings, and clean air progress. In case you missed Sunday’s program on Pennsylvania’s energy leadership, here are […]
Study: Marcellus, Utica Production Gives Appalachian Manufacturers Advantage
March 21, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
A new petrochemical manufacturing facility in the Appalachian Basin will be four times as profitable to similar projects along the Gulf Coast, a new report released yesterday from IHS Markit concluded. While Shell Chemicals’ ethane cracker – currently under construction in Beaver County – is the first major petrochemical facility to be built outside the […]
Pipeline Safety Expert: “Pipelines are Safe and Getting Safer”
March 20, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Pipelines are safe, efficient and a critical piece of the nation’s infrastructure that connects consumers with abundant, affordable energy resources, a former official with the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration told state lawmakers today. Keith Coyle, who currently chairs the MSC’s Pipeline Safety Workgroup and served on Gov. Wolf’s Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force, […]
Biased, Pandering Rolling Stone Blog Misses Mark…Again
March 14, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Rolling Stone published another deeply biased piece yesterday attacking American energy development. The one-sided story purposefully ignores critical facts and is nothing more than propaganda for fringe activists opposed to safe American energy development. It should be noted Rolling Stone’s owner recently received a $225 million investment from Saudi Arabia. It should also be noted […]
MSC Corrects Pa. Lawmaker’s Blatantly Inaccurate Grandstanding
March 13, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Following the “blatant inaccuracies” Sen. Vincent Hughes shared during recent testimony on natural gas development, MSC’s Dave Spigelmyer sent a letter to the senator that corrects the record. Here’s what you need to know from Spigelmyer’s letter: On the taxing of natural gas development: “In addition to paying every other tax imposed upon Pennsylvania businesses, […]
Natural Gas: ‘Enormous Opportunity’ for Economic, Environmental Progress
March 7, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Natural gas is “an enormous economic opportunity that’s generated tens-of-thousands of jobs in communities across the Commonwealth,” MSC president Dave Spigelmyer said during a TV interview last night. During the half-hour conversation that aired on PCN, Spigelmyer explored how the “most affordable gas on the planet right here in Pennsylvania” is driving broad economic and […]
‘Americans Can Take Pride’ in Leveraging Energy Abundance
February 28, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
As natural gas production continues to rise, a U.S. House Natural Resources subcommittee this week examined the role of LNG exports in strengthening America’s geopolitical standing. With Dominion’s Cove Point LNG export terminal in Maryland scheduled to go into service next month, the U.S. will have additional opportunities to leverage its energy abundance as a […]
U.S. Natural Gas = Consumer Savings, Clean Air Progress, Energy Security
February 22, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
Thanks to the expanded use of local, clean natural gas in power generation, the United States “has already come quite far in reducing carbon dioxide emissions,” according to a new Carnegie Mellon University report. Analyzing government data, CMU researchers concluded that the U.S. “can meet – or even beat” carbon dioxide emissions reductions outlined in […]
Union Leader: Energy Infrastructure Projects a “Godsend”
January 11, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
As the U.S. emerges as a net natural gas exporter for the first time in 60 years, Pennsylvanians are continuing to realize the benefits of responsible energy production here at home. According to an updated economic analysis released this week by Philadelphia-based Econsult Solutions, Sunoco’s Mariner East 2 pipeline project will create $9 billion in […]
Affordable Natural Gas Keeps Pennsylvanians Warm During Arctic Blast
January 5, 2018 | Filed Under: Blog
During this stretch of frigid temperatures across the country, Americans are turning to abundant, affordable natural gas to stay warm this winter. Thanks to local shale development, Pennsylvania is the nation’s second largest natural gas producing state, producing a quarter of America’s natural gas supply. That growth in domestic production – and the infrastructure transporting […]
American Natural Gas Makes the Holidays Merrier
December 22, 2017 | Filed Under: Blog
As we all gather with family and friends this holiday season, it’s a good time to take stock in the positive benefits of natural gas in our everyday lives. From plastic toys to artificial trees, Christmas lights and the electricity that powers it all, abundant, American natural gas and oil makes the holidays merrier. Here’s […]
Energy Companies, Employees Give Back this Holiday Season
December 21, 2017 | Filed Under: Blog
The holidays are a time to enjoy the company of friends and family, but it’s also a time to give back to our neighbors and the communities where we’re privileged to operate. We’re proud of the donations, volunteer hours, and other efforts from MSC member companies and their employees this holiday season who are contributing […]
Fact Check: 5 Key Facts on New Study
December 13, 2017 | Filed Under: Blog
Protecting and improving our environment and public health is a top priority for the natural gas industry, which has a long and clear record of working collaboratively to advance these shared and important goals. We’re also deeply committed to fostering and supporting sound research. Unfortunately – as is too often the case – a new […]
Uncompetitive Policies Jeopardize Energy Savings, Jobs
December 11, 2017 | Filed Under: Blog
Since 2012, Appalachia has driven U.S. natural gas production growth, the federal Energy Information Administration recently reported. Shale gas production across Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia tripled over the past five years, increasing to almost 24 billion cubic feet per day. The growth in American energy production is welcome news for working families, small businesses […]
Here’s What Marketplace Missed on Natural Gas Development
November 15, 2017 | Filed Under: Blog
Taking a hard turn away from business and economics, NPR’s Marketplace – which claims to focus on “raising the economic intelligence of the country” – ran a one-sided attack on natural gas development last night that does more to scare listeners than inform them of science and facts. The story relies on information from environmental […]
Energy Production, Infrastructure Key to Pa. Economic Growth, Environmental Progress
November 14, 2017 | Filed Under: Blog
Two recent reports by anti-natural gas activist organizations – NRDC & Clean Air Task Force – make deeply misleading and downright false claims regarding safe natural gas development, transportation and use. While natural gas is a job creator and environmental winner, some environmental activists continue to push dangerous policies that would threaten this important progress. […]
