Natural Gas Benefits for Massachusetts’ Economy and Environment Highlighted in New Report

Growing demand among homeowners and businesses drives job creation,
economic activity, and reduction in greenhouse gases

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Massachusetts’ natural gas distribution companies have added 200,000
residential customers since 2000, employ more than 4,000 workers
directly and pay over $100 million annually in city and town property
taxes, and have cut their greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds since
1990.

These are some of the key findings from a new Northeast Gas Association “2017
State of the Industry Report: The Economic Benefits of Natural
Gas in Massachusetts,’’ which is being released today and available
at http://www.northeastgas.org/reliability_awareness.php.

The 32-page report is intended as a synopsis of the natural gas economy
in Massachusetts and is based on macroeconomic data derived from various
consumer, infrastructure, environmental, and industry reports. The
report, part of the Association’s Massachusetts Energy Reliability
Awareness Campaign launched earlier this year, summarizes publicly
available information to highlight the role of natural gas within
Massachusetts’ economy.

Northeast Gas Association president & CEO Thomas Kiley said, “This
report documents and reaffirms an important reality: Natural gas is good
for Massachusetts. Every day natural gas delivers enormous benefits to
our state’s economy and environment.’’

Some of the report’s other findings:

• The percentage of homeowners choosing natural gas for heat has soared
  in Massachusetts from 38 percent in 1990 to 51 percent now, reflecting
  its competitiveness with heating oil on price, performance,
  cleanliness and convenience
• 65.4 percent of all electricity generated in Massachusetts in 2015
  came from power plants fueled by natural gas, a number that will only
  rise with the June shutdown of the Brayton Point plant in Somerset and
  the June 2019 shutdown of Pilgrim Station in Plymouth
• Natural gas utilities and distribution companies employ members of 23
  union locals affiliated with the International Brotherhood of
  Electrical Workers, United Steelworkers, and Utility Workers Union of
  America, and, beyond their dedicated union employees, support hundreds
  of additional jobs at vendors and contractors
• Natural gas distribution companies support dozens of charities and
  local nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts with financial
  donations and volunteer time
• Natural gas systems now account for just 1.1 percent of all greenhouse
  gas emissions in Massachusetts, down from 2.6 percent in 1990, due to
  the utilities’ actions to replace older pipe and make other efficiency
  gains
• Massachusetts accounts for 1.6 percent of the natural gas consumed in
  the United States–but 13.3 percent of all natural gas efficiency
  program spending, reflecting the robust, successful Mass Save program
  offerings, which are sponsored by the gas and electric utilities.

Kiley added, “This report further bolsters what businesses, employers,
and consumers all across the Commonwealth know: Continued, reliable
access to adequate gas supplies, as part of an all-of-the-above energy
strategy, is critical to ensure that Massachusetts has an affordable,
reliable, and ever-cleaner energy supply. Natural gas has an important
role to play for many years to come within a balanced, diversified
energy portfolio.’’

Copies of the report are available at http://www.northeastgas.org/reliability_awareness.php

About Northeast Gas Association

The Northeast Gas Association is a regional trade association that
promotes education and training, technology research and development,
operations, planning, and increased public awareness of safe, reliable,
efficient, and environmentally responsible delivery of natural gas.

Contacts

Northeast Gas Association
Stephen J. Leahy, 617-899-0748
or
Denterlein
Scott
Farmelant/Peter Howe, 617-482-0042