Letter to the editor: Finding energy solutions that work

The birthplace of America’s oil industry was Titusville in 1859. Today, Pennsylvania is again an energy powerhouse as the nation’s second-largest producer of natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica shale basins.

We have the primary building block of all successful economies — abundant and inexpensive energy. We have a growing energy infrastructure. Recent buildouts like Energy Transfer’s Mariner East pipeline project and others play an important role in getting vital and valuable natural gas liquids (NGLs) to market.

Add to this our academic institutions, research and development, highly skilled workforce and below national average energy prices and we are uniquely positioned to be a hub of critical manufacturing post-pandemic.

The electric power sector only consumes about a third of the natural gas or NGLs produced. Another third goes to industrial applications and as a raw material in the manufacturing of critical products such as medical equipment, telecommunications components and products, security products and literally thousands more.

We will progress and develop means to better protect the environment while benefiting from this great resource. It cannot and should not be all or nothing on either side. Rational, balanced thought based on applied science is what can bring us to an energy solution that protects the environment and the economy and allows us to be independent of reliance on foreign suppliers for critical products. Our energy industry will be an invaluable asset as we move forward.

Jeff Nobers

Green Tree