Pennsylvania accounts for 25 percent of US natural-gas power generation

In 2018, Pennsylvania accounted for 25 percent of growth in natural-gas power generation, 4.4 gigawatts, according to a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Nineteen natural-gas power generation projects in Pennsylvania are either under development, under construction or were recently brought online. These projects are the result of $12.6 billion in private capital investment and collectively will generate more than 16,700 megawatts of power.

Two plants recently brought online are Invenergy’s Lackawanna Energy Center, outside of Scranton, and Tenaska’s Westmoreland Generating Station in Westmoreland County. The plants locally source natural gas and generate energy for more than 2 million homes.

The average household using natural-gas power saves $1,100–$2,200 annually, according to Marcellus Shale Coalition.

Natural gas also reduces harmful air pollutants, the group said.

Of the electric generating plants installed nationwide in 2018, more than 60 percent were fueled by domestic natural gas.

Nationwide last year, nearly 90 percent of the 19.3 gigawatts of the natural-gas-fired capacity added were from combined-cycle generators. The generators are the most efficient method of generating power from natural gas.

After Pennsylvania the states with the most domestic natural gas additions were Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. These accounted for approximately 30 percent.