Think about this statement for a moment: “Pipelines connect natural gas supplies to end users.” Why would I focus on something seemingly so obvious?

Because this simple reality seems to have been lost on many as the focus in the Marcellus Shale region moves toward building much needed infrastructure. Low natural gas prices, coupled with a growing demand for cleaner energy sources, are driving up the demand for natural gas in established markets and creating new ones across the country. Yet, it’s in these established markets where the most opposition to building infrastructure and developing this resource is seen. It’s an interesting phenomena we’ve covered in our, “There ought to be a law series…” (Part 2, Part 3).

Why so much opposition when they bring so many benefits?

As someone sitting on top of the resource, yet unable to tap into it to heat my own home, I have a difficult time understanding this mentality. Like my neighbors, I support the building of infrastructure, even if it means exporting natural gas across the state line, and hope to one day have a nearby distribution network to tap into enabling us to say goodbye to the days of wood with oil back-ups. Given the transmission pipeline projects on the horizon, that day may be closer than we think.

A number of pipeline projects are designed to deliver Marcellus Shale gas to nearby markets, rather than competing for the space currently taken by other natural gas plays, such as the Gulf of Mexico.  This is really important because these “bullet” pipelines should save utility customers a lot of money.  For example, when our local utility pays less to get gas from upstate Pennsylvania (rather than the Gulf of Mexico or Canada), utilities pass the cost savings to customers. We’ve covered this before as well.

Let’s look at a few of the transmission projects under development.

Marc-1
Constitution
Commonwealth

Read more at: http://eidmarcellus.org/marcellus-shale/pipelines-much-needed-infra...