Natural Gas Working for Texas


Newly accessible supplies of natural gas trapped in shale formations across America and Texas are spurring an energy revolution - the U.S. now has enough natural gas to power our country for generations to come. Texas is home to a number of these shale plays, including Barnett, Haynesville and Eagle Ford. The shale gas revolution started in Texas with the Barnett Shale, which supplies seven percent of U.S. natural gas.

Thanks to these shale plays, our nation is now the world's largest producer of natural gas and Texas is the number one natural gas producing state in our union. Natural gas development is at the center of the Texas economy - an industry that contributes revenues to our state, city and local coffers, and supports twelve percent of Texan jobs. The homegrown abundant supplies of this clean energy source stand ready to meet Texas' energy needs today and for future generations.

 

Texas Needs:

  • Cleaner energy
  • Improved air quality
  • Enhanced domestic resources
  • More jobs & economic development
  • Increased tax revenue without raising taxes

Natural Gas Delivers:

Texas Jobs

Texas ranks first in the country in total natural gas employment - natural gas already provides nearly 1.3 million jobs in our state. That's twelve percent of total employment. In fact, that's more than the number of people employed in San Antonio, Austin or El Paso, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.


Within the natural gas sector there are a diverse range of job opportunities from exploration and production to distribution and marketing. The jobs that natural gas brings to communities extend far beyond the drilling pads. Jobs from shale production create a unique workforce situation offering a demand for a wide range of careers from commercial drivers and heavy equipment operators to engineers, office workers, hotel workers, waitstaff and small business owners.

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texas shales

Texas Economy

Not only does the industry create jobs, it adds tremendous value to the economy. In 2008, Texas' economy was supported by over $60 billion in total labor income generated from natural gas employment. The total state and local fiscal impact from the natural gas industry was nearly $10 billion in state taxes and royalties in 2008 and local ad valorem taxes assessed at $107 billion.

 

What's next for Natural Gas in Texas?


Next up, is more development across Texas as natural gas companies produce more domestic natural gas to put to work for both the Texas and U.S. economy and clean energy future. In fact, thanks to further expansion and development, it is estimated that the Barnett Shale could produce a third of total U.S. gas supply by 2025. Newfound natural gas supplies in the area are expected to add one million years of employment and $100 billion to Texas' economy through 2015. Additionally, companies are now able to tap the vast resources of the Eagle Ford Shale - a wide geographic area stretching from the Mexican border in South Texas into East Texas. Although the Eagle Ford is a relatively new Texas shale play, figures suggest it may be one of the largest onshore oil and natural gas discoveries in the past half century - at least as large as the Barnett Shale, and maybe even larger.