As often as we’ve editorialized about the interconnectedness between affordable energy and the successes and opportunities American families may enjoy, world events unfortunately can bring that interconnectedness into sharper focus.

An article in Thursday’s edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette in which an official with the Marcellus Shale Coalition demonstrated that.

“Global instability is a stark reminder that energy security is national security,” Pat Henderson, vice president of communications and government affairs at the Marcellus Shale Coalition, said. “America, and Pennsylvania in particular, is uniquely positioned to lead with abundant, responsibly produced natural gas that keeps energy reliable and affordable at home while supporting our allies abroad.”

As the coalition and other sources for the article noted, as the prices of gasoline, diesel and home heating oil fluctuate — often alarmingly — natural gas prices have seen greater stability.

“As Politico recently reported: The reason the price is so low and stable in the United States is fracking — specifically, the combination of hydraulic fracturing and directional drilling that revived domestic oil and natural gas production after nearly 40 years of decline,” the Thursday article reports.

Beyond its potential to keep the prices of heating and powering our homes and businesses affordable and reliable, developing natural gas supplies creates jobs. It created jobs and economic opportunity in our own region, and, if our lawmakers and officials heed the words of the Marcellus Shale Coalition and support construction of a Philadelphia liquified natural gas terminal, clould further create jobs in our state.

We hope our elected officials are mindful, when listening to the coalition and other voices in the gas industry, what this economic sector can do for the future prosperity of our region.