Trending
Pennsylvania holds the answer to domestic and global energy and environmental challenges. We can slash emissions impacting our air quality, sustain job growth, and strengthen our nation's energy and national security.
Natural gas is the solution, as it's ready to be deployed at greater scale here and abroad. But, President Biden's LNG permit freeze and the inability to build critical energy infrastructure in this country - because of environmental extremism - stands in the way.
Bipartisan leaders, including U.S. Senators Casey and Fetterman, and Governor Shapiro, agree: lift the LNG permitting ban to unlock the economic, environmental and national security benefits that Pennsylvania natural gas can deliver.
Consider, the Keystone State is home to some of the nation's top natural gas developers as our state produces ~20 percent of all U.S. natural gas.
A recent hearing in front of the PA House Republican Policy Committee highlighted this reality, noting that the Biden Administration's pause on new LNG export projects is jeopardizing Pennsylvania's natural gas industry's ability to meet growing energy demand- and denying much-needed and critical jobs to our partners in the building trades.
As state Rep. Martina White shared during the hearing, lifting the LNG permit blockade is "not a partisan issue." And, it isn't, as Sens. Casey and Fetterman wrote earlier this year about the industry creating "good-paying energy jobs in towns and communities across the Commonwealth and [playing] a critical role in promoting U.S. energy independence."
Pennsylvania's natural gas industry generated more than $41 billion in economic activity in a year and supports approximately 123,000 jobs. Through royalty payments, impact fees, and direct community investments, the industry contributes billions to family farms, small businesses, critical municipal projects, economic development, and conservation efforts. In fact, nearly $200 million in Pennsylvania royalties alone are tied to LNG exports, according to the American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC).
Simply put -- the natural gas industry provides unparalleled economic benefits for communities across Pennsylvania in addition to the energy and resources that power every aspect of modern life.
Beyond this, Pennsylvania produces the cleanest, most efficient fuel in the world resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions across the energy sector. Between 2018 and 2022, methane emissions across the Marcellus and Utica shales decreased by 37%, or ~1.6 million metric tons. More broadly, Appalachia achieved the lowest methane intensity of all major producing basins, averaging 0.06%.
As a result, when Pennsylvania-produced natural gas is exported across the globe, allies worldwide are able to switch to a cleaner, more efficient and reliable energy source.
In fact, in 2023 a majority of U.S. LNG was exported to our European allies, who are working to decrease reliance on Russian-produced energy. U.S. LNG emissions are approximately 50% lower than those associated with Russian pipeline gas, allowing for substantial emission reductions opportunities along with energy security benefits. Scaled U.S. LNG export is required to both successfully meet growing global demand and stabilize the energy market.
By encouraging further investment, growth and demand opportunities both domestically and abroad for Pennsylvania natural gas, the Biden Administration could see benefits across the energy value chain. Instead, the President has opted to stop permits on the baseless claim that LNG exports raise domestic natural gas costs. However, various studies have demonstrated that LNG exports do not impact domestic natural gas prices, as average pricing prior to the first export in 2016 actually averaged higher than in the years that followed.
Make no mistake: while existing LNG facilities will continue to export energy, this blockade is creating damage by discouraging capital investment here in the United States, and costing countless employees in our building trades from the family-sustaining jobs they need.
Communities across Pennsylvania, and around the world, rely on Pennsylvania-produced natural gas for affordable, clean and essential energy needs, and it remains the most economically viable and sustainable solution. Policymakers must recognize the global importance of U.S. LNG and celebrate Pennsylvania's ability to effectively scale production to protect both American and our allies' national security.
Dave Callahan is president of the Pittsburgh-based Marcellus Shale Coalition. Learn more at MarcellusCoalition.org.