WHEREAS, The natural gas industry in Pennsylvania is experiencing strong growth due to the significant development of Marcellus Shale during the past five years; and
WHEREAS, Marcellus Shale has contributed to bringing down wholesale electricity costs in the northeastern U.S. by 40% and the shale natural gas industry in the Commonwealth is supported by 50,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect jobs; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, Marcellus became the most productive shale gas play in the United States and has transformed the Commonwealth from an importer of natural gas to a net exporter for the first time in over 100 years; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia is well positioned to take advantage of and expand to new markets for natural gas such as transportation and international export by leveraging the City's infrastructure, capabilities in manufacturing, and specialized talent in research, engineering, and technology; and
WHEREAS, There are already 19 proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export facility projects with the Department of Energy, including the Dominion Cover Point located on the Chesapeake Bay in Lusby, Maryland, south of Baltimore, that place them in a competitive position to benefit from the global demand for natural gas from countries like Japan, India, and South Korea; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia can no longer delay actions that will create good paying, family sustaining jobs by taking advantage of natural gas development in Pennsylvania, including LNG export licenses and permits, in which Philadelphia is already behind 19 other applicants for a very limited number of federal certifications; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Calling upon the Administration to take action to fully explore opportunities presented by natural gas development in Pennsylvania to stimulate the local economy thereby creating family sustaining jobs and revenue for the City of Philadelphia.
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