Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Thursday spoke about the opportunities for Northeastern Pennsylvania businesses to expand and create jobs by partnering with Pennsylvania's Marcellus shale industry.

Sen. Yudichak was one of the many speakers to take part in the Energy Day in NE PA event at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center in Downtown Scranton. The event gave local businesses an opportunity to interact with industry experts and find out more information on doing business with shale companies and understanding the supply chain process.

"There are few better opportunities to spur economic development and put NEPA families back to work than the ones available in the Marcellus Shale industry," Sen. Yudichak said. "It is estimated that it takes more than 400 individuals within nearly 150 different occupations to complete and produce gas from a Marcellus well – proof that there are many different ways for NEPA businesses to grow along with the industry."

Yesterday, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee approved two bills – Senate Bill 738 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) and Senate Bill 739 (Yaw-R-Lycoming)– which aim to extend and expand natural gas distribution systems to unserved and under-served residential, commercial and industrial sites.

Sen. Yudichak, the Democratic chairman of the committee, voted for the bills but plans to offer an amendment so that the bill reflects more of a public/private partnership to share the cost of natural gas expansion.

"There are great economic and environmental benefits that can result from the increased use of Pennsylvania-produced natural gas but we cannot – as the bill currently reads – make consumers foot the majority of the costs associated with expansion," Sen. Yudichak said. "My amendment would offer financial incentives to natural gas utility companies to encourage the expansion of natural gas lines to under-served areas and to keep the consumer costs down."

Energy Day in NEPA was co-hosted by the regional chambers of commerce; America's Natural Gas Alliance; the American Petroleum Institute; the Marcellus Shale Coalition; and the PA Independent Oil & Gas Association.

5/6/2013