Pennsylvanians deserve a full and honest conversation about our energy future – one grounded in facts, not ideology. Unfortunately, recent attempts by the Marcellus Shale Coalition to set the record straight in response to opinion pieces published by The Philadelphia Inquirer and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette were rejected. Since those rebuttals didn’t make it past editorial gatekeepers, we’re sharing them directly here.
These responses, authored by MSC President Jim Welty, push back on misleading claims and offer a reality check on the critical role natural gas continues to play in delivering environmental progress, energy security and economic growth for Pennsylvania. If the Commonwealth’s largest newspapers won’t publish our perspective, we will.
Read both pieces in full here:
Natural Gas Critical to Pennsylvania’s Energy Future
Jim Welty
For nearly two centuries, American energy has been the engine behind the world’s leading economy, powering our homes, businesses, and hospitals, as well as supplying the essential building blocks for everything from smartphones to lifesaving medical equipment. Today, clean and abundant domestic natural gas is also positioning America to win the global AI race while enhancing our environment and lifting up our communities.
Despite this opportunity to strengthen our national security while also providing significant economic and environmental progress, some critics continue to peddle stale and baseless talking points about natural gas and our industry. Facts are stubborn things, and when it comes to natural gas development and use, the facts are clearly on our side. Pennsylvania produced natural gas has and continues to deliver real environmental progress, energy security and economic prosperity.
Let’s start with air quality.
Harmful pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides have fallen dramatically over the past two decades. And Pennsylvania has experienced a significant drop in electricity-related carbon emissions – equivalent to taking 12.5 million cars off the road. Why? Because natural gas continues to displace higher-emitting sources of energy, producing electricity more efficiently, affordably, reliably and with far fewer emissions.
What’s more, a recent health savings analysis of state and federal data found improved air quality from the use of natural gas delivered between $491 billion to $1.13 trillion in public health benefits to Pennsylvania residents between 2005-2023.
This meaningful progress didn’t require taxpayer handouts or market-meddling mandates.
At the same time, natural gas has saved Pennsylvania consumers and families billions in home energy costs – nearly $10 billion just last year compared to pre-Marcellus prices in 2008. Behind only Texas in natural gas production among all states, our Commonwealth’s strong natural gas position has enabled Pennsylvanians to enjoy some of the lowest home heating costs nationally, while eliminating our reliance on importing natural gas from the Gulf of America and other distant regions.
Reliability isn’t optional.
While natural gas keeps hospitals running and factories operating through every season, intermittent sources of taxpayer- subsidized renewable energy simply can’t provide power on scale and on demand. When the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow – and even when it does – natural gas generation is still necessary to back these sources up. Reliable electricity is not a part-time job or a “nice to have,” and we’re already hearing power grid operators sound the alarm about reliability risks.
Removing natural gas from the equation isn’t a step forward; it’s a blackout waiting to happen.
Let’s also not be misled by cherry-picked polling. Of course people support clean air, public health and transparency. Who wouldn’t? But ask those same voters if they’re willing to pay significantly more for their energy, suffer through constant blackouts, or risk job losses and economic pain in exchange for vague political promises, and the numbers start to change.
Tell them natural gas can do all that and already has demonstrable facts that show unprecedented improvements to the environment, and the support for more natural gas is unsurpassed. Responsible energy policy can’t be based on push polls, but rather should be based in reality.
Natural gas is reducing emissions, lowering energy costs and providing the firm foundation Pennsylvania needs to build a resilient energy future. That’s not just a talking point – it’s measurable, provable progress. And it happened not in spite of natural gas, but because of it. The single biggest improvement in air quality over the past twenty years is directly attributable to the use of natural gas.
Pennsylvanians don’t need a lecture about energy from groups that oppose the very technologies that have delivered for our families. We need to keep doing what we know works – expanding access to clean-burning natural gas, investing in infrastructure, and maintaining the energy reliability and affordability that every Pennsylvanian depends on.
Natural gas is propelling Pennsylvania and America toward global energy and economic dominance. It’s time to stop apologizing for success and start building on it.
Natural Gas: The Cornerstone of PA’s Future
Natural gas isn’t a step backward – it’s the engine driving Pennsylvania’s future and we’re seeing it unfold right before our eyes.
Unlike the grim picture painted in a May 29 op-ed by a manager at the activist group DeCarbonize Middle America, the proposed power generation and data center campus in Washington County isn’t about clinging to the past – it’s a smart investment in what works. It taps our natural gas strength to power advanced manufacturing and attract the industries of tomorrow, while delivering around-the-clock power.
Talk of alternative energy trends sounds promising, but it dodges reality: renewables can’t provide always-on energy, especially for entities demanding constant, reliable fuel. Missing from last week’s commentary is the fact renewables heavily rely on natural gas to back up intermittency. And to address the concern over aligning with climate action plans on paper, natural gas is why the U.S. has already surpassed many of the emission reductions goals set by political leaders. In less than two decades, natural gas has driven a 46% decline in PA’s power sector carbon emissions.
But in the world of anti-natural gas extremists, wind and solar are the only way forward. Never mind the fact Pennsylvania natural gas development has created thousands of jobs, driven billions in tax revenue and pushed Pennsylvania – and America – to be a global energy leader.
Knocking collaborative partnerships like Fort Cherry’s are out of touch with what businesses and consumers actually want – affordable, reliable energy. Natural gas is key to that future. Not a bridge, not a backup, but a cornerstone. This isn’t about holding on to the past. It’s about building on what works.
Jim Welty, Robinson Township
