Fireworks Aren’t the Only Thing “Sparking a Boom” in Pennsylvania’s Economy This Summer

In a recent opinion editorial published in The Beaver County Times, David Spigelmyer, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition and David Taylor, president of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, discuss how manufacturing is on the comeback in Pennsylvania thanks to the region’s affordable and abundant natural gas supply.

“Pennsylvania manufacturing and the hard-working men and women of the commonwealth that it employs have long been the backbone to our state and nation’s economy.” The energy industry experts attribute the recent manufacturing success to the area’s natural gas development, especially pipeline projects like the Mariner East and the new Shell ethane cracker.

The new Shell ethane cracker is expect to create 6,000 construction jobs and 600 permanent jobs once the facility is complete. Those jobs paired with the Mariner East pipeline project’s additional 30,100 direct and indirect jobs during construction and 300-400 permanent jobs after the project is complete will spark a major boom in Pennsylvania’s economy.

The piece also notes that “additionally, and in some respects even more exciting than the cracker itself, is the potential for western Pennsylvania to attract downstream investment and even more jobs from manufacturers who use the resource to make everyday products.”

It is clear that these energy industry investments bring outstanding positive outcomes to Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. Presidents David Spigelmyer and David Taylor make it simple. They believe “American energy supports American jobs,” and the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance couldn’t agree more.

To read David Spigelmyer and David Taylor’s full opinion editorial click here.