State College, PA — Dec. 10, 2019
State College, PA – Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, Southwestern Energy, Glenn O. Hawbaker, Dawood Engineering and the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County hosted a Think About Energy Briefing on Tuesday, December 10 at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College, Pa.
Today’s briefing featured Representative Kerry Benninghoff and continued the multi-year series efforts conducted across Pennsylvania since 2013 and the series first stop in the State College area.
The State College session provided information to attendees on the supply and availability of natural gas; workforce and business development opportunities; and an update on legislative policies from Harrisburg, among other topics.
George Stark, Director of External Affairs at Cabot Oil & Gas, highlighted Pennsylvania’s strong natural gas production, the industry’s sustained focus on education and the impact of technology within the natural gas industry.
“Just 12 years ago there was no natural gas production in Susquehanna County,” Stark said. “However today, Susquehanna County is the top producing county of dry natural gas in the state. This has helped drive energy bills lower, provide more job opportunities and will continue to provide affordable natural gas to the regional markets that need it.”
Stark went on to discuss how technology is driving the industry.
“Technology and data are the driving force behind the shale revolution. Year-over-year natural gas production is increasing, and it is becoming more efficient and prolific and it will continue to do so,” said Stark. “Cabot uses the same technology that steers the space shuttle to steer our drilling bits. Technology drives us.”
“We have an opportunity today to have an open dialogue about energy. Energy drives every one of our lives,” concluded Stark.
Mike Narcavage, Senior Government and Community Affairs Manager at Southwestern Energy highlighted the company’s commitment to the environment and how they are utilizing technology to reduce emissions.
“Utilizing natural gas in power generation has helped reduce carbon emissions. We continue to look at ways we can further minimize emissions through technology,” Narcavage said. “We met the Paris Accord in carbon production, which is great, but if the government starts putting regulations on companies, that gives us a goal to get to,” Narcavage said. “Let us get there on our own.”
Narcavage highlighted how his company’s production of methane — a strong greenhouse gas — is very low. At a .055 rate, he said the Environmental Defense Fund recognized the company’s accomplishment.
Concluding his remarks, Narcavage discussed how the industry strives to be good neighbors. “When we lease property, we are their guests. Our goal is to leave it better than we started,” said Narcavage.
Hal Gee, Vice President of Energy Development for Glenn O. Hawbaker, highlighted the economic and environmental impacts the industry has had on GOH.
“The Shale gas revolution has made Hawbaker increase our safety awareness and programs,” Gee said. “Not only has the industry helped make us better as a company, but we take these practices home with us.” Gee went on to discuss how the company has significantly increased its employment and footprint as a result of the natural gas industry.
Nick Brien, Vice President of Transportation for Dawood Engineering addressed the business growth and need for engineers.
“In 2005, we had 80 employees. Now, as a result of the natural gas industry, we have grown to over 200 employees,” Brien said. “However, we are competing for employees like every other industry. We need more engineers.”
Majority Whip for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Kerry Benninghoff closed the session discussing how technology and energy play vital roles in everyday lives of people all around the world.
“Energy independence is about national security,” said Benninghoff. “Energy is always evolving. We take energy for granted. Turn the switch, energy is there.”
Representative Benninghoff said one of the best methods in finding solutions to better use energy is by having a dialogue.
“Government officials need to be proactive and less strict when it comes to building relationships with the community and industries,” Benninghoff said. “At the end of the day, we need to be excited about this, we need a dialogue. As a government official, we need to be partners in these initiatives, but not punitive ones.”