The American Petroleum Institute (API) Pennsylvania released a new study today on the “Impacts of the Natural Gas and Oil Industry on the U.S. Economy in 2015.” The study found that in Pennsylvania alone, “the U.S. natural gas and oil industry supported 322,600 jobs in the state and contributed $44.46 billion to the state’s economy in 2015. The study found that all 50 states, whether energy producing or not, continued to benefit from the industry.”
Central Penn Business Journal reported on the study, highlighting that “Pennsylvania’s ranking is driven primarily by the growth of production in natural gas, which soared to more than 5 trillion cubic feet in 2016, up from 573 billion in 2010. The increase has prompted construction of numerous pipelines designed to move product to customers outside of Pennsylvania.”
Correspondingly, API Executive Director Stephanie Catarino Wissman contends that, “Pennsylvania is at the epicenter of America’s energy renaissance.” She continues that, “Supporting 322,600 jobs in Pennsylvania, the oil and natural gas industry continues to be an important part of the state’s economy as a whole. Under pro-growth energy policies, not punitive taxes and regulations, the industry will have the opportunity to grow and benefit generations to come.”
These findings accord with the recent State Energy Data Systems estimates released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which ranked Pennsylvania, Wyoming and Texas as the “top net energy suppliers among the states.” However, this capacity can only be tapped if energy infrastructure projects continue on schedule.
Recent delays on projects like the Mariner East pipelines stagnate economic growth across state considerations of workforce development, energy connectivity and manufacturing capacity. It is crucial to build the infrastructure to transport the Natural Gas Liquids to ensure that Pennsylvanians benefit from the variegated direct and indirect benefits of the energy infrastructure in-state.