ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Energy
Environment
Drilling & Hydraulic Fracturing
Natural Gas & Hydraulic Fracturing in the Media
FAQ
ENERGY
ENERGY
Natural gas is a fossil fuel. It is a reliable and resilient energy resource that generates power needed by millions of homes and businesses across the United States. It is clean, abundant, safe, and affordable.
opens in a new window The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates natural gas to be the world's fastest growing fossil fuel with world natural gas consumption expected to increase 43% between 2015-2040. As the country continues to leverage our abundant shale gas resources, U.S. energy dominance will eliminate dependence on imported fuels from unstable regions of the world, positively affecting foreign and domestic policy.
Currently, natural gas produces more electricity in the United States than any other fuel. Natural gas combustion releases significantly less carbon dioxide than competing energy sources and is driving down U.S.carbon dioxide emissions. Natural gas has also played a key role in a opens in a new window 74% reduction of six criteria air pollutant emissions since 1970. Since 2012, methane emissions have decreased per unit of natural gas production in Pennsylvania.
| Year | PA Unconventional Production (mcf) | CH4 Emissions (tons) | Tons CH4 / MMcf produced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,041,739,360 | 122,589 | 1.5 |
| 2013 | 3,102,835,427 | 107,817 | 0.87 |
| 2014 | 4,051,427,002 | 107,737 | 0.66 | tr>
| 2015 | 4,603,364,119 | 112,128 | 0.61 |
Natural gas is a naturally ocurring hydrocarbon formed from the remains of prehistoric plants and animals, hence the name: fossil fuels. Energy producers continuously identify new fossil fuel reserves and develop new technologies that enable the recovery of oil and gas from deposits previously deemed inaccessible. According to the opens in a new window Institute for Energy Research, it estimated that there is enough natural gas to provide the United States with electricity for 575 years at current generation levels, or 857 years at current residential usage rates.
The opens in a new window United States Environmental Protection Agency stated, "Natural gas plays a key role in our nation's clean energy future. The U.S. has vast reserves of natural gas that are commercially viable as a result of advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies enabling greater access to gas in shale formations. Responsible development of America's shale gas resources offers important economic, energy security, and environmental benefits."
Energy touches every part of our daily lives. It makes modern life possible and it is unrealistic to suggest that we can meet future energy needs without fossil fuels. Even wind and solar power are intermittent and require the energy from fossil fuels to build turbines, panels, and as a backup source. For comparison, it has been estimated that wind is 12 times more expensive 
than natural gas and requires 60 times the surface area, while solar is 37.5 times more expensive and requires 750 times the surface area than natural gas does.
Energy is critical in providing:
- Transportation (cars, trucks, freight, planes, subway, ships, roads)
- Electricity (lighting, refrigerators, water heaters, computers, phones, washer/dryer, internet, TV)
- Cooking (ovens, stoves, microwaves, grills)
- Heating (homes, businesses, warehouses, vehicles, public spaces)
- Manufacturing (lubrication, packaging, processing, delivery)
- Agriculture (farming, ranching, food products)
- Products
