Using the devastating California wildfires in an attempt to score political points about Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry is a new low — even for Alison Steele and the Environmental Health Project (“Linking Pa.’s shale gas industry to Calif. wildfires,” Jan. 20, Triblive), a group that has received nearly $2 million in advocacy funding just from the Heinz Endowments and its anti-fossil fuel partners over the past several years.
Pennsylvania is the second-largest natural gas producer in the U.S., with some of the strongest regulations ensuring that we produce clean-burning natural gas safely. Third-party studies show that the Appalachian Basin has the lowest methane intensity ratings of any major producing basin worldwide.
Contrary to Steele’s claims, thanks to increased natural gas use, power generation emissions have dropped as the American economy — and electricity demand — grew significantly. Providing nearly 60% of Pennsylvania’s electricity just last year, and leading to a 46% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in Pennsylvania since 2005, natural gas is the backbone of reliable and affordable electricity across the country. These natural gas air quality improvements have led to nearly $1 trillion in public health benefits for Pennsylvanians.
What is clear is that nothing can be more detrimental to our economy, the safety of our communities and our way of life than denying citizens access to reliable, clean and affordable energy. Natural gas is key to meeting these needs, both here in Pennsylvania and across the nation.
Patrick Henderson
Robinson