Natural gas is replacing coal as America's main source of power and is fueling major economic benefits across multiple industries. Cheap and abundant natural gas has led to lower carbon emissions, increased employment in the energy industry by over 2 million jobs, and average household energy savings of $725 in 2012 that are projected to rise to $1,217 by 2020. The natural gas boom is also generating billions for federal, state, and local governments as well as private landowners through tax revenues, royalties, and lease bonuses. Industries like manufacturing and transportation are investing heavily in natural gas due to its low cost, creating additional jobs and economic growth. The reduced reliance on foreign energy sources has helped shrink America's trade deficit.

1. How Natural Gas Is
Changing America’s Future
Photo credits: Chesapeake Energy, Apache and Clean Energy Fuels

2. Carbon Dioxide Emissions Plummet
U.S. emissions are at
their lowest levels since
1994.
• Cheap, abundant,
clean natural gas
is replacing coal
as America’s
power-generation
fuel of choice.
Photo credit: Atlantic Power Corporation

3. Employment Skyrockets
In 2012, the energy
industry supported 2.1
million jobs.
• The energy boom has
fueled a 41% increase
in energy-related jobs
since 2008.
• Another 1.1 million
jobs are expected to
be created by the end
of the decade.
Photo credit: Apache Corporation

4. Energy Savings Increase
Falling energy prices
put more money in
your pocket.
• Low natural gas
prices saved
American households
an average of $725 in
2012.
• That figure is
expected to nearly
double to $1,217 by
2020.
Photo credit: Flickr/Andrew Magill

5. Money Flows Into Government Coffers
Industry pays its
taxes and royalties.
• The industry added
$75 billion to federal
and state revenues.
• Marcellus Shale
production put $987
million into
Pennsylvania’s
treasury in 2011.
Photo credit: Flickr/DonkeyHotey

6. Manufacturing Is Making a Comeback
We’re seeing an estimated
$100 billion in manufacturing
investments.
• Dow Chemical is one of
the many companies
investing to take
advantage of cheap
natural gas.
• It is investing billions in
three projects that will
create 600 permanent
jobs, as well as 2,000
construction jobs and
35,000 indirect jobs.
Photo credit: Dow Chemical .

7. Natural Gas Becomes a Bridge Fuel
Natural gas is replacing
dirtier diesel in trucks,
buses, and transit vehicles.
• 30% of all new transit
vehicles run on cleanerburning natural gas.
• A massive opportunity
exists to convert our
trucking fleets to natural
gas.
• According to Clean Energy
Fuels, we could save 25
billion gallons of diesel per
year.
Photo credit: Clean Energy Fuels

8. Our Trade Balance Is Improving
The U.S. trade
deficit is falling.
•
•
•
Increased domestic
production has lowered our
trade gap.
Natural gas-fueled
manufacturing could cut our
trade imbalance by $100
billion.
Natural gas exports by
Cheniere Energy are set to
begin next year and could cut
the U.S. trade deficit further.
Photo credit: Flickr/Roy Luck

9. Lease Bonuses and Royalties Generate Billions
Private landowners are
reaping a windfall.
•
•
•
In 2012, natural gas royalty
payments in Pennsylvania
were expected to exceed $1.2
billion.
That’s on top of the billions in
natural gas leases signed over
the past few years.
According to estimates,
Chesapeake Energy paid
landowners a staggering
$31.2 billion to acquire drilling
rights over the past 15 years.
Photo credit: Chesapeake Energy

10. Natural Gas Fuels Profits for Investors
Despite a wild ride,
investors are doing
well.
• While well off the
all-time high,
shares of
Chesapeake
Energy are up
more than
1,800% over the
past two decades.
Photo credit: Chesapeake Energy

11. Three Stocks for the
Next Energy Boom