A recent Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) report is showcasing the incredible economic benefits of natural gas infrastructure. The CEA report estimates Pennsylvanians to have saved over $30.5 billion between 2006 and 2016 from lower natural gas prices following the boom in the Marcellus Shell region.
CEA reports that savings are distributed evenly between commercial and residential natural gas users. Beyond savings, the expansion of the natural gas industry has created 21,000 new jobs from 2006 to 2016.
As Mike Butler, CEA’s Mid Atlantic Executive Director, says:
“This report highlights the benefits Pennsylvania’s communities are receiving as a result of the state’s role in the U.S. energy revolution and investment in our state’s energy infrastructure…From the small family farms sprinkled across rural western Pennsylvania to the sprawling urban industrial areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, lower fuel prices have helped Pennsylvanians save over $30 billion in the past decade.”
Natural gas pipeline opponents frequently contend that infrastructure benefits seldom help the local area where the pipelines reside. Facts again prove that local consumers stand to benefit greatly from natural gas infrastructure.
As Mariner East 2 nears completion this report is encouraging news for Pennsylvanians. Affordable and reliable energy is here to stay.