POGAM, IOGA Applaud Scarnati
Commenting on remarks by State Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati regarding the support of Marcellus Shale natural gas development, the Marcellus Shale Committee, the Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania (IOGA), and the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association (POGAM) issued the following statement today:
"We applaud Senator Scarnati and the other elected leaders from both political parties who understand the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity we have to strengthen our Commonwealth's economy and energy independence by supporting the development of the Marcellus Shale, including their public remarks rejecting unnecessary new forms of taxation."
"The development of the Marcellus Shale is not a partisan issue, but an opportunity embraced by people throughout Pennsylvania. We can only begin to understand the potential of the Marcellus when we appreciate the impact of the Barnett Shale in northeast Texas. Through a collaborative approach from the natural gas industry, state and local elected leaders, and the citizens of Texas, in just a few short years the Barnett created 111,000 new high-paying jobs while providing an annual economic impact of $11 billion across Texas. While no one can be certain of the volume of natural gas at our feet in Pennsylvania, the Marcellus Shale is geographically much larger than the Barnett - a shale formation that now produces five percent of all of the natural gas consumed in the United States."
"The Marcellus Shale could someday be the largest-producing natural gas field in the country, but it will not happen by accident and without recognizing that we face fierce competition. Natural gas is an international commodity. Not only is Pennsylvania competing with neighboring states that share Marcellus Shale, we are also competing with other energy-friendly states across the country with large shale fields. At the same time Russia, Qatar and Iran have begun to flood international markets with cheap liquefied natural gas."
"The Marcellus Shale could provide high-paying jobs for potentially tens of thousands or more Pennsylvanians for generations, while infusing billions of dollars into our economy each year. Now is not the time to chase this budding industry away through taxes. The development of the Marcellus is in its absolute infancy and will need broad support, patience and understanding to reach its full potential."
"The United States Energy Information Association and the United States Department of Energy have both indicated that clean-burning natural gas will play a substantial role - if not the leading role - in our nation's energy future over the next several decades. Pennsylvania has an opportunity to become an energy leader through the environmentally responsible development of the Marcellus Shale."
"Enabling new taxes will place a ceiling on the potential of the Marcellus Shale, while supporting the development of Pennsylvania's vast natural gas can set the floor for success. On behalf of the 26,000-plus Pennsylvanians who are employed directly or indirectly by the oil and gas industry, we commend our state's leaders for recognizing the huge potential that is literally at our feet."
Formed in 2008, the Marcellus Shale committee represents the oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania on matters pertaining to the acquisition, exploration, drilling, and development of the Marcellus Shale natural gas resource and provides a unified voice before all state, county, and local government or regulatory bodies. The committee, sponsored jointly by the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association and the Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania, includes independent producers with historical expertise in the Pennsylvania oil and gas fields and national companies dedicated to bringing their industry experience and resources to achieve common goals.
"We applaud Senator Scarnati and the other elected leaders from both political parties who understand the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity we have to strengthen our Commonwealth's economy and energy independence by supporting the development of the Marcellus Shale, including their public remarks rejecting unnecessary new forms of taxation."
"The development of the Marcellus Shale is not a partisan issue, but an opportunity embraced by people throughout Pennsylvania. We can only begin to understand the potential of the Marcellus when we appreciate the impact of the Barnett Shale in northeast Texas. Through a collaborative approach from the natural gas industry, state and local elected leaders, and the citizens of Texas, in just a few short years the Barnett created 111,000 new high-paying jobs while providing an annual economic impact of $11 billion across Texas. While no one can be certain of the volume of natural gas at our feet in Pennsylvania, the Marcellus Shale is geographically much larger than the Barnett - a shale formation that now produces five percent of all of the natural gas consumed in the United States."
"The Marcellus Shale could someday be the largest-producing natural gas field in the country, but it will not happen by accident and without recognizing that we face fierce competition. Natural gas is an international commodity. Not only is Pennsylvania competing with neighboring states that share Marcellus Shale, we are also competing with other energy-friendly states across the country with large shale fields. At the same time Russia, Qatar and Iran have begun to flood international markets with cheap liquefied natural gas."
"The Marcellus Shale could provide high-paying jobs for potentially tens of thousands or more Pennsylvanians for generations, while infusing billions of dollars into our economy each year. Now is not the time to chase this budding industry away through taxes. The development of the Marcellus is in its absolute infancy and will need broad support, patience and understanding to reach its full potential."
"The United States Energy Information Association and the United States Department of Energy have both indicated that clean-burning natural gas will play a substantial role - if not the leading role - in our nation's energy future over the next several decades. Pennsylvania has an opportunity to become an energy leader through the environmentally responsible development of the Marcellus Shale."
"Enabling new taxes will place a ceiling on the potential of the Marcellus Shale, while supporting the development of Pennsylvania's vast natural gas can set the floor for success. On behalf of the 26,000-plus Pennsylvanians who are employed directly or indirectly by the oil and gas industry, we commend our state's leaders for recognizing the huge potential that is literally at our feet."
Formed in 2008, the Marcellus Shale committee represents the oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania on matters pertaining to the acquisition, exploration, drilling, and development of the Marcellus Shale natural gas resource and provides a unified voice before all state, county, and local government or regulatory bodies. The committee, sponsored jointly by the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association and the Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania, includes independent producers with historical expertise in the Pennsylvania oil and gas fields and national companies dedicated to bringing their industry experience and resources to achieve common goals.
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