Rising production of natural gas is increasing U.S. competitiveness, promoting growth and jobs, and bolstering the economy with lower, more-stable pricing.

In the past decade, technological innovations have sparked a huge, unanticipated increase in estimates of North America's recoverable natural gas resources. This new reality of abundant, domestic natural gas supplies at lower prices has already made significant positive impacts on the U.S. economy.

Increasing U.S. Competitiveness

Plentiful, secure and affordable, our nation's supply of natural gas is enhancing the global competitiveness of U.S. industry, adding tens of thousands of well-paying jobs in the U.S. and expanding the nation's capacity for generating clean, affordable electric power.

Leaders of manufacturing and electric-power generation companies now view natural gas as a cleaner, reliable and lower-cost source for new power generation than other generation options, such as coal, nuclear power or renewable energy sources like wind and solar. That's why more than 85 percent of new electrical generation capacity built in the U.S. over the last decade uses natural gas.

Promoting Growth and Jobs

Natural gas is promoting economic growth, creating new jobs and generating U.S. government revenues. Activities related to developing natural gas contributed $385 billion to the U.S. economy in 2008, according to the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), whose members produce and market about one-third of the nation's total natural gas supplies. Royalty payments by the natural gas industry to the U.S. government amounted to $4.4 billion between 2005 and 2010.

Surging shale gas production already has helped revive areas impacted by the economic downturn in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Montana, North Dakota, Arkansas and other states. The natural gas industry directly employs 622,000 Americans, plus another 2.2 million people in supporting industries, according to IHS Global Insight.

Bolstering the U.S. Economy

Residential, commercial and industrial customers have benefited from lower, more stable natural gas prices. The broader economy gets a lift as well when customers reallocate money once spent on energy supplies to other purchases or investments.

No other energy source can match the ability of natural gas to deliver energy quickly, reliably, cleanly and affordably and thus drive economic growth and job creation. The accelerating use of natural gas has many economic benefits. This is another reason we believe natural gas should be an important part of America's energy future.