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Consumers from the Tristate Region Saved More Than $107.5 Billion Thanks to Affordable Natural Gas

Family eating dinner

Consumer Energy Alliance Examines Energy Production’s Benefits to Pennsylvania’s, New Jersey’s and New York’s Families, Small Businesses and Industries in Updated Report

Trenton, NJ – Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey families and businesses saved more than $107.5 billion from 2008-2018 thanks to low-priced natural gas, created by a combination of increased energy production and strong, safe infrastructure to deliver it, according to three new Mid-Atlantic reports from Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA).

More specifically, the newly released reports for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York breaks down how these significant savings were realized, finding that affordable natural gas saved tristate residential users almost $52.9 billion from 2008-2018; while small businesses and industries from those states, including construction, plastics and steel manufacturing facilities, and chemical and electronic product manufacturing, saved more than $54.6 billion.

The need for affordable, reliable energy is more important than ever as these tristate economies emerge from COVID-19. As small businesses and manufacturers across the region reeling from the economic downturn, CEA’s reports detail how production of American natural gas helps consumers by helping to lower daily costs and adding to savings for tristate families, small businesses and industries.

Thankfully low energy costs and energy infrastructure activity could help provide relief for struggling families and small businesses as well as create demand in the manufacturing and industrial sector, according to CEA’s recent report, “How Pipelines Can Spur Immediate Post-COVID Economic Recovery.”

Mike Butler, CEA Mid-Atlantic Director, said, “These new reports tell an important story about the incredible impact affordable, cleaner natural gas is having on the lives of everyone across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. However, continued investments in energy infrastructure projects are a critical component in helping to fuel economic recovery and support America’s supply chains.”

Butler added: “Consumers stand to benefit when we strengthen our energy industry and American supply chains, while at the same time, being committed to driving a cleaner, more environmentally responsible and more prosperous tomorrow.”

Additional highlights from the report include:

  • Cultivating industries that create jobs is vital for the region – especially for tristate residents living in poverty and the nearly 499,000 New Jerseyans, 649,000 Pennsylvanians and 1.2 million New Yorkers currently suffering from unemployment
  • According to a 2017 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the oil and natural gas industry supports 723,000 jobs across the tristate area and generate almost 101.3 billion for the region’s economy. That translates to:
    • 142,200 jobs across New Jersey and generates almost $21.0 billion for the state’s economy.
    • 322,600 jobs across Pennsylvania and generates almost $44.5 billion for the state’s economy.
    • 258,500 jobs across New York and generates almost $35.8 billion for the state’s economy.
  • Nationwide, the oil and gas industry contributes 10.3 million direct and indirect jobs – 5.6 percent of all employment.

CEA’s Tristate Energy Savings Reports are updates to previously released reports for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, which examined energy savings from 2006 to 2016 and the benefits and growth potential that all energy production, especially natural gas, brings to families, farms, businesses and manufacturers throughout the tristate region.

In Face of ‘undeniable’ Climate Change, Here’s What Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana Is Doing

Offshore energy production in the Gulf of Mexico

Consumer Energy Alliance’s Louisiana emission analysis which found emissions had fallen by as much as 66 percent since 1990, even as the state’s energy demand has increased and its gross domestic product grew 150 percent, was recently discussed at the first meeting of Gov. Edward’s Climate Initiative Task Force.

Tyler Gray, president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association and a member of the task force, pointed out during the meeting that the state’s oil, gas, electricity and petrochemical industries already have made great strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the past 30 years, citing a study by the Consumer Energy Alliance that said key pollutants were reduced in the state by 17 to 71% during that time.

Read more – The Times-Picayune

Anti-energy Extremists Litigating Us Into Environmental Catastrophe

Construction Workers Talking

CEA Midwest’s Chris Ventura looks at the dangers of blocking every type of energy development or infrastructure project – for the environment and for economic growth.

Here’s one of the most enduring contradictions of a particular brand of anti-energy activism to which some state attorneys general and certain ideologically motivated interests groups are subscribing: blocking every energy infrastructure project — be it wind, solar, oil, gas or nuclear — by litigating it into oblivion and ignoring its notable environmental improvement, without offering an alternative to meet the most basic energy needs of our communities; and then complaining about the exact situation their litigation created: higher energy prices for low-income communities, fewer employment opportunities, and slower progress toward shared environmental goals.

Read more – Duluth News Tribune

OGA Companies Taking the Offense in Defending Natural Gas

Mom cooking with children

CEA’s Chris Ventura provided an overview of the amount of savings Ohio’s energy consumers – from individual families and farmers to local businesses and large manufacturers – as a result of increased natural gas production in Ohio.

“Just in the past 10 or 11 years or so, in Ohio, residential users have saved $20.3 billion” thanks to natural gas development in our region, says Chris Ventura of Consumer Energy Alliance. “That’s well over $2,000 for every household that uses gas.” Commercial and industrial users saved even more, Ventura adds.

Read more – OGA Pipeline

CEA’s Top 5 Favorite Energy Stories This Week – November 6

While ballots continue to be counted across various battleground states, some analysts are suggesting that whether Republican Donald Trump is re-elected as president of the United States or Democrat Joe Biden wins, neither candidate would bring a complete win for the energy market. Meanwhile, some midstream companies recently stated that they plan to see a positive outlook positive regardless of election outcome.

As the world awaits the U.S. 2020 election results, OPEC and Russia are weighing additional cuts in oil production to support prices, but additional coronavirus lockdowns have prompted reconsideration.

On the climate front, we saw headlines this week about Putin ordering his government to try to meet Paris climate goals, at the same time as a new International Energy Agency analysis outlined the opportunities and challenges of China’s pledge to become carbon neutral by 2060.

Finally, if you are still trying to adjust to daylight savings time like us, you may be wondering if it actually helps to conserve energy. If you need help falling asleep or reading material when you are up earlier than normal this weekend, here are our five favorite stories to help you this weekend!

Oil derricks in daytime

5U.S. energy risk seen at lowest level in 50 years

Stemming from strong domestic oil and gas production, last year the United States enjoyed the greatest level of energy security since at least 1970. Natural Gas Intel breaks down how a new report, based on 37 different metrics, including geopolitical, economic, reliability, and environmental risk factors, the nation’s measure of overall domestic energy risk has declined more than 30% since 2011’s record high risk score of 100.9, to 70.1 in 2019.

Cold Winter Weather

4Natural gas prices increasing this winter

The winter season plus so many people working from home or attending virtual classes have increased natural-gas prices to more than double their summer lows. Wall Street Journal reports on how the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that average daily gas consumption will be 5% more this winter than last due to colder temperatures and people burning more than usual to heat and power their homes.

Window Installation

3Coming to you in the future: An energy-saving ‘liquid window’

Scientists developed a liquid window panel that can block the sun to regulate solar transmission, while trapping thermal heat that can be released through the day and night. Science Daily shows how this new technology helps to reduce energy consumption in buildings.

Wind turbine with workers

2Floating offshore wind turbines may be coming soon!

Floating wind turbines have been catching more headlines lately since they can be used in deeper waters than existing ones, which opens more areas of coasts to wind power. E&E News reports on how a second phase of offshore wind development is about to get underway in the U.S., starting in Maine, with this new type of turbine.

Pipeline connections

1New sensors can help to detect gas leaks fast

Researchers announced that that a natural-gas leak-detection tool that uses sensors and machine learning to locate leak points at oil and gas fields. Science Daily explains how this new technology can be used to help detect methane and ethane, as well as promising affordable sampling across vast natural gas infrastructure.

Wind Energy Across the U.S. Can Help Lift the Country Into a Cleaner, Cheaper Energy Future

Wind energy across the U.S. is already giving the country nearly 7.3 percent of its electricity generation, and it couldn’t come at a better time to help provide additional sources of power for our nation’s energy consumers.

As of October 2020, there were more than 65,000 wind turbines capable of cranking out 108,942 Megawatts (MW) of electricity all over the country, from the bluebonnet fields of Texas to the windswept plains in the Midwest and out to Rhode Island’s coastal waters.

Together, these turbines with an average capacity of 1.66 MW can generate enough electricity to power roughly 29 million homes each month, according to calculations based on U.S. government data. It takes the average turbine 95 minutes to capture enough wind energy to power the average home for a month.

With all of this capacity, it is no surprise that the U.S. is home to some of the largest wind farms in the world, and is second only to China for wind power, according to the Global Wind Energy Council.

While most of the wind power we have is onshore, the first commercial offshore wind farm in the U.S. began operations in 2016 off of Block Island, RI, which produces 30 MW of wind. Though this is the first of its kind in the U.S., there have been record-setting federal lease sales for offshore wind development in parts of the Mid-Atlantic which, once constructed, are expected to generate roughly 4.1 Gigawatts of power.

Based on current trends, the U.S. Department of Energy projects that there will be roughly 224 Gigawatts of installed wind capacity – more than tripling wind production by 2030. If this production is done in conjunction with improvements being made every day to large-scale transmission infrastructure, that will lead to the creation of power for close to 84 million homes, according to our estimates.

Moreover, elected leaders in states across the nation have pledged to move their public utilities to cleaner sources of energy.

Fortunately for consumers, costs have come down through these large-scale wind power investments and are expected to come down even further by 2030. Together with increased industrial-scale solar energy investments, the U.S. has an almost boundless wind- and sun-powered potential to pair with existing natural gas and nuclear generation.

It might come as a surprise that wind projects, with all their clean power advantages, face the same kind of anti-energy tactics and activism employed to try and block oil and natural gas projects and pipelines. No matter how you slice a piece of the energy pie, time is of the essence because the demand for energy keeps increasing, and the new charges on customers’ power bills caused by clean energy mandates are going to come sooner than that.

Wind is already a natural occurrence that is owned by all of us, and it should be turned to our benefit as often as possible. With decreasing costs and longer blades, plus the addition of fuel cells and battery storage, large-scale wind – along with oil, natural gas, solar, energy efficiency, and conservation – will be an excellent addition to the nation’s mix of clean energy.

That’s something to tell your friends, neighbors, and elected officials when the conversation turns to clean, affordable energy choices.

How to Winterize Your Home: Top 3 Environmentally Savvy Ways

Detecting heat loss at the house with infrared thermal camera

With colder months quickly approaching, it can be helpful to have a checklist for winterizing your home so you are prepared and unexpected damage doesn’t occur. It’s important to look at all aspects of your property that could be affected by harsh winter weather, from the pipes in your home to the sprinkler system in your yard – make sure you have a head start!

As you go around the house making sure everything is working the way it should, there are some crucial areas to inspect before the winter months including pipes, windows, rooves, gutters, basements, attics, heaters, and thermostats. It’s likely that you may find some areas you can improve upon to make your home more comfortable and more prepared for the upcoming cold months. You may want to make these repairs quickly yourself; but, if the issues are extreme, there are plenty of professionals out there to assist you. For example, if your home’s roof is beginning to leak, you should call a roofer that can do repairs in a quick and efficient manner.

For any repairs you can do yourself, there are always ways you can do them that will be more energy efficient with some simple steps. try doing them in an environmentally efficient way with these three tips.

Winterize Your Home Efficiently

By thinking of ways you can make repairs and do updates with energy efficiency in mind, you are doing your part to save and conserve energy that will be good for your family’s budget and the environment! Almost everything we do at home uses energy and electricity; so the more we can conserve – the better! This year, you can start being more efficient by weatherizing your home.

Here are three ways to weatherize your home that will benefit you, your wallet, and the environment.

Think About Insulation

Insulation (which we’ve talked about before here) is an important piece of the puzzle when you are looking to conserve energy at home. It is what keeps warm air in and cold air out during the winter. Insulation is especially important in the attic and basement. If your insulation is old or damaged, you should get new insulation before the beginning of winter. If your insulation isn’t doing its job, your heating system will need to run more in the winter months, using more electricity than necessary. While the U.S. Department of the Interior says that by reducing the amount of heat and air you use “…almost always outweighs environmental problems associated with certain materials,” in essence, balancing out the pros and cons – you can always use eco-friendly ways to insulate your house to the designated R-value needed to reduce drafts.

  • Sheep’s Wool – This insulation is breathable and fire-resistant. Because it is natural, it soaks up moisture and condensation well on its own.
  • Icynene Spray Foam – this material can expand up to 10 times its volume and is a great impenetrable barrier. It also works well in hard to seal areas, like corners.
  • Denim – With more people turning to clothing donations to get rid of last season’s fashions, organizations are recycling them and creating a renewable product through fabric insulation.
  • Cotton – This insulation is recycled as well as renewable. Though these qualities propel it to the top of the eco-list, it isn’t as efficient as a homeowner might want.
  • Cork – Insulating with cork is not only good at being less penetrable than other sources but it is also good at controlling sound.

Pay Attention to Windows

If your windows are not sealed properly, they are likely to let in a draft. This not only makes your home colder and less comfortable, but the lack of sealant is forcing your heater to run and use more electricity than necessary. Walk around your home and look at every window to make sure there are no cracks in the caulking and that your windows are still strong and durable. If your windows develop condensation between the two panes, that is a sign that there is a leak.

Two quick ways to make your windows more environmentally friendly: reapplying caulk to replace old, moldy, or unfilled areas. Putting in storm windows is also a good idea. They look like traditional windows, but they feature an additional pane between the inside of your home and harsh elements outside. These easy-to-install windows are great for keeping warm air in and cold air out during the winter months. Plus, they will cut down your household’s electricity use and therefore lower your electricity bills. We go into a deeper dive here.

Switch to LED Bulbs

Another energy-saving hack for this winter: consider switching your home’s light bulbs to LED bulbs, especially if you live in an area that often has temperatures below freezing. Unlike incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, LED bulbs will not be affected by drastically cold temperatures. LED bulbs actually become more efficient as the ambient temperature gets colder.

If you decorate your home for the holidays, you should also think about using LED lights instead of incandescent or fluorescent Christmas lights. You can save money and energy, and you won’t have to worry about the cold temps outside.

LED bulbs are also eco-friendly because they create less waste.

  • You need fewer bulbs over time because they last twice as long as standard light bulbs.
  • LEDs convert about 90% of the electricity they consume into light therefore wasting only about 10% as heat. On the other hand, incandescent bulbs only convert only about 10% of the energy consumed into light.

Create a Weather-Proof Home This Winter While Doing Your Part for the Environment

Before winter sets in, take the time to weatherize your home so you don’t find yourself with moisture indoors, using unnecessary electricity, or with excessively cold air inside your home. Taking steps towards a cleaner environment starts with you, so if you’re looking to do your part it is important to consider home improvements that are eco-friendly and energy-efficient. Not only will this benefit the environment, but it will also benefit your wallet this winter.

 

About the Author
Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey. She is currently writing for Design-A-Castle, a roofing company in Medford, NJ.

Pipelines Essential to State’s Recovery

Pandemic Construction Site

David Holt, CEA’s President, discusses the importance of pipelines to Texas as the state begins to recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As our economy slowly emerges from the staggering shocks of the coronavirus pandemic, the pace of America’s awakening — and Texas’ — hinges on the energy and the pipelines that deliver it provide.

It’s our economic lifeblood, contributing to virtually every good and service we produce. We cannot rebuild our industries, small businesses, services, cities and our lives without the heat, light and power that generate the jobs, homes, food and amenities that make our lives livable. Energy pipelines make that possible — nearly 470,000 miles of them that crisscross the Lone Star State and deliver affordable, reliable energy to Texas’ homes and businesses.

Read more – San Antonio Express News

Gulf of Mexico Energy Development is at Risk

offshore energy funds
Did you know what the offshore energy industry funds?

Just last year, the production in the Gulf generated more than $5 BILLION dollars for the Federal Treasury, Land and Water Conservation Fund, Historic Preservation Fund, and OUR state and local governments.

But now, Gulf of Mexico energy development is at risk and so are the funds that help aide in hurricane and coastal restoration, money for land and water conservation as well as funding for our national parks!

Without long term planning to protect our current energy development – this money and all the jobs associated with offshore oil, gas and wind development could be lost! That’s more than 200,000 people across the Gulf along with the people who feed, train and have businesses in the communities where they live.

Tell your senator why protecting Gulf energy is so important!

Last year alone, $353 MILLION was allocated to the Gulf for hurricane mitigation and restoration! We need this money now more than ever!

Without long term planning in Congress this money and all of these jobs could be lost – but you can help.

Tell your Senator you need their support to protect offshore workers and the money for our communities that comes from offshore development.

They need to hear from you, and here is how you can reach them!

  1. Share on social media using the icons below. This will help to spread the news that we need everyone’s help to save these funds.
  2. Email them at and tell them to support the legislation that keeps rig lease sales going past 2020. Click here to email your senator.
  3. Forward this page via email to your friends and colleagues and ask them to help as well. Just click on the icon below.

Help us keep offshore business and the economic benefits we receive in the Gulf, alive. It takes all of us.

Support Offshore Jobs Along the Gulf Coast

Offshore jobs
How many jobs have been lost in the offshore industry?

Today, more than 200,000 offshore workers from Alabama to Texas help ensure that our homes are warm in the winter and cool in the summer, that our cars have the gas to get us around, and that our country can move closer to energy independence instead of relying on foreign energy.

These same offshore workers rely on local services and training from millions of others whose jobs help fuel our economy and power our communities. They are the safety inspectors, helicopter pilots, tugboat operators, port personnel, company recruiters and so many others.

Thank you for being a part of the industry that keeps us all running!

Right now, these jobs are at risk! Without long term planning in Congress these jobs could be lost – and even more jobs after that all across the community.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. We need jobs like yours. Your Senator needs to know that you need their support to protect offshore workers and the money for our community that comes from offshore development.

They need to hear from you, and here is how you can reach them!

  1. Share on social media via the icons below to get the word out about the importance of offshore jobs and how they can help.
  2. Email your senator and tell them to support the legislation that keeps rig lease sales going past 2020. Click here to contact your senator.
  3. Email this page to your friends and colleagues and ask them to help as well.

Help us keep offshore business and the economic benefits we receive in the Gulf, alive. It takes all of us.

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