A $17 billion natural gas power plant is slated for construction in southwestern Pennsylvania, a project touted by the White House as bolstering energy security and creating jobs. The facility, details of which emerged this week, will be directly connected to pipelines drawing from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations, according to a source within the administration who spoke to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The Marcellus Shale, a vast geographic area encompassing 104,000 square miles across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and western New York, has become a critical energy source for the eastern United States. Once considered to have inconsequential natural gas potential prior to 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey now estimates it holds 214 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable natural gas. Production from the Marcellus Shale overtook the Haynesville Shale in Louisiana as the leading producer of shale gas in the U.S. By September 2012.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulates the exploration, development, and recovery of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale, focusing on protecting the commonwealth’s natural resources and the environment. The DEP reviews and issues drilling permits, conducts inspections of drilling operations, and responds to complaints related to water quality. Inspections are both routine and unannounced, covering drilling sites and wells statewide. The agency also provides guidance to well drillers and operators on best management practices for environmental control and waste management.
The reliance on the Marcellus Shale for energy supply is particularly acute in New England, where electric power prices are significantly higher – 55% higher than in Pennsylvania – due to limited pipeline access. The Constitution Pipeline, though not yet in service, was designed to provide direct access to Marcellus Shale gas for consumers in New York and New England, securing long-term commitments for the supply.
The depth of the Marcellus Shale varies considerably across the region. Near Clearfield, Pennsylvania, it can be found as deep as 9,000 feet below the surface. Generally, the formation becomes shallower, reaching depths of around 2,000 feet toward northwest Pennsylvania. The thickness of the organic-rich, gas-producing layers also varies, ranging from less than 5 feet to over 250 feet.
The surge in drilling activity since 2008 has generated both economic benefits and controversy. The process of extracting natural gas from shale formations requires hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” a well completion method used to allow gas to flow to the well bore. The chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing are documented in a registry maintained at FracFocus.org.
As of February 2014, Marcellus gas wells produced 14.0 billion cubic feet per day, representing a 42 percent increase over the previous year and comprising 21 percent of all dry gas produced in the United States. By 2015, this increased to 14.4 BCFD and 36% of all shale gas nationwide. Production continued to grow through 2018.
The White House has not yet announced a specific timeline for the commencement of construction on the $17 billion power plant, and no further details regarding the project’s environmental impact assessment have been released.
