American Gas - April 2014 - (Page 18)

state watch P e n n s y l va n i a Counting Their Blessings Shale gas brings jobs, savings to the Keystone State HarriSBUrG, pa -In January, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett released a comprehensive state energy plan-titled "Energy = Jobs"-that covers the full range of energy sources. But the new plan focuses strongly on the economic benefits that the shale gas revolution has brought-and continues to bring-to the state. The report notes that Pennsylvania's natural gas production more than quadrupled to more than 1 trillion cubic feet between 2009 and 2011, and then went on to top 2 trillion cubic feet in 2012-an amount equal to nearly 10 percent of the total U.S. natural gas needs. The state has gone from importing 75 percent of the natural gas it uses to being a net exporter of natural gas, a milestone reached in June 2011. The economic benefits have been significant and far-reaching, the plan says. For example, the increased use of natural gas in electricity generation has led to a reduction of more than A Leading Provider of Pipeline Solutions 40 percent in wholesale electricity prices in the past five years, saving the average Pennsylvania household nearly $1,000 a year. The report also highlights the shale revolution's impact on employment in the state. The drilling of just one well, it says, requires more than 400 people in about 150 types of occupations. More than 240,000 Pennsylvanians now work in core and ancillary jobs associated with the oil and gas industry. Wages for core jobs in the industry average $84,388, compared to the statewide average of $48,824. Looking ahead, the plan says that: * Continued shale gas development could bring another 570,000 jobs to the state by 2020. * The total contribution to the state's economy by shale gas from 2010 to 2035 is expected to increase nearly six-fold to more than $42 billion annually. * By 2020, shale gas development is expected to bring nearly $14 billion in economic activity to Pennsylvania and generate nearly $5.6 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. Shortly after the release of the energy plan, Gov. Corbett summed up the benefits in his annual budget address. "Big things are in motion, and shale gas is the power behind it all," he said. "It's great for Pennsylvania, and even greater for the United States." -P.H. * Engineering * Survey/GIS * Pipeline Integrity * Field Services * Project Management ContACt uS At... 616-392-5938 | HollandEngineering.com A Natural Gas Distribution Management Company Project Development * Asset Acquisitions Engineering and Constructions * Project Finance Account Administration * Compliance Operations and Maintenance * Gas Supply Management Marketing * Customer Service * Billing and Collections 4100 Holiday Street NW Suite 201, Canton Ohio 44718 P: 1.330.498.9130 * F: 1.330.498.9137 1.888.863.0032 Offices: Holland, MI * Southfield, MI * Ft. Collins, CO 18 AmericAn GAs april 2014 AmericanGas_"Leading_Provider"_ad_final.indd 1 2/28/14 12:01 PM www.utilitypipelineltd.com http://www.utilitypipelineltd.com http://www.HollandEngineering.com http://www.HollandEngineering.com http://www.utilitypipelineltd.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - April 2014

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American Gas - April 2014