The Rock that Powers Pennsylvania's Economy
Incredibly, the power we need to help transform Pennsylvania's economy is right here beneath our feet. It's called the Marcellus Shale, an immense stretch of rock that runs deep underground through parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia. This rock is rich in natural gas.
Scientists have known about the Marcellus Shale formation for a long time, but it wasn't until recently that they realized how productive it could be. Modern drilling techniques that have been proven over the last 30 years across the United States make it possible to harness much more of this clean-burning energy source - enough, in fact, to make Pennsylvania one of the leading energy-producing states in the future.
Just how much natural gas is deep underground? Nobody knows for sure, but experts believe the Marcellus Shale could be one of the largest known natural gas fields in the world. One thing is certain: There is enough natural gas here to fuel our nation's energy needs for generations. And that means a better way of life for everyone in Pennsylvania -and cleaner energy -for many years to come.