HARRISBURG – America must boost liquified natural gas (LNG) exports in the coming decade to prevent a reversal of the monumental emissions reductions we’ve achieved over the last 20 years, said Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23).
“What was already an issue was amplified 20-fold with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline last month,” Yaw said. “We can prevent an energy and food supply crisis just by exporting more LNG across the world, and the Marcellus Shale is a key piece of that strategy.”
Foreign and domestic industry experts testified before the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee today that boosting American LNG exports has the potential to reduce harmful emissions at a rate equivalent to electrifying every car in the country, installing solar on every home and doubling our wind capacity – combined.
“As long as we are going to wear clothes, as long as we are going to eat food, as long as we are going to drive cars – even electric ones – the demand for natural gas will not disappear, here or in Europe,” Yaw said. “And how blessed are we here in Pennsylvania to be one of the top producers of natural gas in the world? We should be doing more with it.”
Pennsylvania produces roughly 22% of all domestic natural gas production and could replace nearly three-quarters of Russian gas currently imported into Europe. American LNG is produced using cleaner, more efficient technology compared to other exporting countries.
The state is also home to extensive pipeline infrastructure that could be easily expanded to meet international demand – and the skilled workforce to build and maintain it. According to some industry experts, ramping up production could create an additional 200,000 jobs in the Appalachian region over the next decade.
“There is no carbon-neutral future without natural gas in the present,” Yaw said. “We have the power to produce and export the world’s cleanest LNG, while keeping emissions low and freeing European countries from Russia’s energy stranglehold. It seems pretty clear to me what our next steps should be.”
CONTACT: Nick Troutman