Written by David Callahan via RealClearEnergy,
In today’s highly charged political climate, where heated debates often emphasize our differences rather than our shared values, it often seems that common ground is a rare commodity. As policy solutions are proposed on key issues such as the economy, national security and the environment in the coming months of the election campaign, we are reminded that not everything has to be partisan or divisive.
Natural gas transcends political boundaries and bridges policy divides by generating economic growth, improving America’s energy security, and making significant environmental progress. By recognizing the many benefits of this important energy source, we can forge a path forward that unites perspectives in the pursuit of a stronger America.
Nowhere in the country are this partnership and the opportunities it creates more evident than in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania produces nearly 20% of America’s natural gas and is an example of how natural gas use leads to economic, consumer and environmental advances for generations. In the twenty years since the first horizontal well was drilled in the Marcellus Basin, our state’s natural gas resources have brought new opportunities to our region and boosted existing industries while reducing energy costs, emissions and reliability issues.
Perhaps it is Pennsylvania’s 123,000 well-paying jobs, $40 billion in economic activity each year, and more than $6 billion in royalties paid to landowners that unite political differences.
Another reason may be that natural gas accounted for the largest year-over-year decline in emissions in the state’s energy sector, underscoring the importance of gas for a lower-carbon future.
As Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro told POLITICO, “It’s a false choice to say we have to choose between protecting our planet and protecting our jobs. We can have both.”
Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw, who chairs the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, also said the state’s natural gas industry has been “a great partner in providing consumers with access to the affordable, reliable energy they depend on while creating new jobs and economic opportunities.”
Data shows that natural gas is a “rare, bipartisan issue” in the Keystone State, said pollsters at Axis Research. More than 68 percent of Republicans and Democrats in Pennsylvania support further investment in natural gas.
Industry is strongly supported in the Commonwealth because when Pennsylvania’s natural gas sector thrives, so do its people. A good example of the benefits is the more than $2.7 billion raised through the natural gas production tax and paid out to municipalities in each county, regardless of industry activity.
Consider, for example, that Philadelphia is a direct beneficiary of energy produced in Washington, Lycoming or Susquehanna County, receiving approximately $18 million in infrastructure, community development and emergency preparedness funding since 2012, not to mention the millions generated in annual residential energy savings.
Southeastern Pennsylvania could further benefit from the energy abundance by serving as an LNG export hub, giving the world access to more reliable, less expensive and cleaner natural gas. Finally, natural gas produced under Pennsylvania’s strict environmental regulations, combined with operator best practices and continued innovation, will play an even larger role in global demand for low-emissions energy as international buyers seek a verifiably cleaner product.
Because the Appalachian Basin is the largest and cleanest source of natural gas in the country, if not the world, we are firmly positioned as America’s clean energy leader and have significant potential to create jobs and increase revenue, particularly for construction workers.
To better realize this incredible advantage, America’s elected officials must address the overwhelming regulatory hurdles, governance inequalities and other challenges that hinder the expansion of natural gas production and use.
And as events around the world in recent years have demonstrated, energy and national security are inextricably linked. It is imperative that we develop a forward-looking vision for America’s energy future that leverages our natural gas wealth to ensure our country’s energy security, sustainability, and prosperity.
There should be no debate about this.
From Zerohedge.com
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