For 2008, the Natural Gas Supply Association estimates there were approximately four million Americans who are employed either directly or indirectly by the natural gas industry -- America's "Blue Jobs." Using a different set of parameters, in 2009 America's Natural Gas Alliance placed the number at closer to three million Americans working as a result of natural gas production, delivery, and usage.
In contrast in 2008:
- The coal industry had 122,930 direct jobs and positively influenced 555,650 jobs. (See the National Mining Association report here.)
- The renewable power sector had 127,246 jobs in the United States. (See the U.S. Conference of Mayors report here.)
- The nuclear industry employed approximately 100,000 people.
Huge Positive Impact to the American Economy
Natural gas heats nearly 60 million American homes and generates over 20 percent of America's electricity. Approximately 30 percent of America's natural gas is used by virtually everyone because natural gas molecules are a key ingredient in the products made by U.S. industry. For example, natural gas is a chemical building block in manufacturing everything from detergent to trash bags, insulation to paint, film to toys, pantyhose to antifreeze, swimming pool liners to food containers. The newest carbon-fiber wings of America's newest fuel-efficient jets are made possible by chemical elements from natural gas.
The combined economic impact of natural gas development, exploration, production and usage to the U.S. economy in 2008 was $385.5 billion.
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.
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.
States earning money 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 from natural gas companies.