Recent Energy Information Administration (EIA) on domestic natural gas production data emphasizes both the importance of the growing industry to Pennsylvania’s economy, but also the need for the necessary infrastructure.
According to the EIA, across the country, natural gas production continued to increase in 2015, reaching 74.1 billion cubic feet per day. This also equates to the tenth straight annual increase. Production was highest in Pennsylvania and Ohio, due primarily to the Marcellus Shale region.
The numbers don’t lie. Pennsylvania has the capacity to become the new energy hub of the East Coast, with potential global implications. However, we can only take full advantage of our Nation-leading production with the appropriate energy infrastructure. Mariner East II would have an initial capacity of approximately 275,000 barrels a day with the ability to expand to approximately 450,000 barrels a day to carry natural gas liquids such as propane, ethane and butane east from Ohio and West Virginia into Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania can either build a future of economy prosperity and energy security or let the opportunity pass it by.