The South Texas Energy and Economic Roundtable (STEER) represents the largest operators in the Eagle Ford Shale region. STEER members recognize the multiple benefits of using natural gas in our homes and day to day lives. It’s important that we all look to recognize the multiple benefits of natural gas including economic and environmental benefits. The oil and gas industry in South Texas continues to implement new technology and programs to develop the needed energy resources for the world in a safe and responsible manner and we will continue to support the use of natural gas.
Natural Gas Benefits
- Natural gas delivers energy savings directly to consumers. In Texas, consumers saved nearly $60 billion from 2006-2016 thanks to cheap and abundant natural gas. (Accompanying post: Report: Natural Gas Saved Texas Consumers Nearly $60 Billion Over 10 Years)
- Natural gas helps conserve water – natural gas power generation uses considerably less water than coal fired generation. Since 2014, water withdrawals from thermoelectric power plants have steadily decreased. (Accompanying post: Report: America’s Power Plants Using Far Less Water – Thanks to Natural Gas)
- Shale gas has lowered costs for the U.S. manufacturing industry, allowing companies to take on more projects and hire more workers. The American Chemistry Council identified 333 new projects (valued at $202.4 billion cumulatively) that were started or completed since 2010, which are directly connected to low-cost shale gas. (Accompanying post: Report: Affordable Natural Gas — Made Possible by Fracking — Has Bolstered U.S. Manufacturing)
- Increased natural gas production leads to job creation. In 2018, natural gas extraction added 17,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, on top of the 6.7 million Americans that the energy sector already employed. (Accompanying post: New report: Energy sector outperforming the economy on job creation)
Article originally submitted to SHALEmag.com for the March/April 2019 issue.
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