Study details energy cost savings; outdoors store has new name

October 27, 2019

Rick Shrum
Observer-Reporter

Increased production of natural gas in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio over a 10-year period resulted in $1.1 trillion in energy savings, according to a report issued last week.

The analysis – titled Natural Gas Savings to End-Users: 2008-2018, A Technical Briefing Paper – was released by Shale Crescent USA and the Ohio Oil & Gas Energy Program. Production in those three states, known as the Shale Crescent USA region, enabled households that use natural gas to save an average of more than $4,000 over the decade studied, according to the report.

The decade-long analysis also says natural gas users in the three states realized more than $90 billion in savings, and manufacturers and industrial users in the region saved nearly $25 billion.

Rhonda Reda, executive director of the Ohio Oil & Gas Energy Education Program, said in a statement: “If Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia were a country, it would be the world’s third-largest natural gas producer. (It’s) an accomplishment due to technology innovation that is unlocking energy from the Marcellus and Utica shales, and resulting in growth across the region.”