The Natural Gas Association recently published its 2016 Playbook, which provides analyses of the current and future role natural gas will play in providing clean, affordable and environmentally friendly energy.
New drilling technologies have played a large part in the reduction of natural gas prices in the past few years, with the average household saving approximately $840 a year when natural gas was used for heating, cooking and drying laundry, rather than electricity.
In the last four years, U.S. natural gas users have saved nearly $69 billion, thanks to lower prices. Natural gas companies also have created 622,000 jobs directly tied to the industry, plus 723,000 more with indirect ties through manufacturing and agriculture.
In addition, the natural gas industry has cultivated a culture of safety. With over 2.5 million miles of pipeline across the U.S., utilities collectively spend $22 billion annually to improve gas transmission and distribution infrastructure. The industry’s “Call 811” initiative has reduced the number of excavation damages by approximately 50 percent since 2004.