For 2008, the Natural Gas Supply Association estimated that were approximately four million Americans who are employed either directly or indirectly by the natural gas industry -- America's "Blue Jobs."
Of those 4 million Americans, approximately 1.3 million people were employed directly by the companies that drill, ship and supply natural gas to American consumers, with another 2.7 million Americans employed in supporting positions indirectly created by the development of America's domestic energy supplies.
The combined economic impact of natural gas development, exploration, production and usage to the U.S. economy in 2008 was $385.5 billion.
Blue Jobs -- Paying into the Federal Treasury . . .
At a time when many U.S. companies are looking for a hand-out from the federal government, natural gas companies pay into the U.S. treasury. In 2007, over $2.9 billion non-tax dollars went to the U.S. treasury from royalties, rents and bonuses. In 2008, with higher energy prices, that number more than doubled to more than $7.2 billion.
Blue Jobs -- States earning money too. . .
State governments also benefitted from natural gas production. In 2007 state governments received $1.1 billion from royalties and other payments from the natural gas and oil industries. In 2008, state governments received over $1.4 billion.
Blue Jobs -- Good pay for American workers . . .
America's natural gas and oil workers -- the men and women on the ground -- earned an individual average of over $66,000 in 2004, the last year for which data are available. That's $20,000 more than the combined household income for the average American family.
High paying "Blue Jobs" help employ other Americans in a variety of businesses -- including automobile manufacturing, housing construction, retail sales and more.
Blue Jobs --- More jobs and $1.7 trillion to come if . . .
A study conducted by the highly respected firm ICF International, released in December 2008, reported that America’s vast domestic oil and natural gas resources could generate more than $1.7 trillion in government revenue, create an additional 160,000 new jobs and enhance the nation’s energy security by significantly boosting domestic production -- if Congress will allow it.
To get $1.7 trillion into the U.S. government coffers, America's political leaders need the foresight to allow more resource development of America's coastal areas, as well as allowing more environmentally responsible access in Alaska and a small portion of currently unavailable federal lands in the Rockies.
If responsible development is permitted in those areas, domestic U.S. natural gas production would rise by 10% and U.S. crude oil production would increase by 36% in the next 20 years.