PUC Report: Natural gas-fired power generation will rise in Pa.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Natural gas-fired power generation is expected to increase in Pennsylvania over the next few years, according to the state Public Utility Commission’s (PUC’s) Electric Power Outlook for Pennsylvania 2018-2023 report released in August.
The PUC’s report expects gas-fired power generation will account for as much as 45% of the state’s installed capacity by the end of 2022. Coal plants will account for 24% and nuclear power will account for 17% by the end of 2022.
Currently, natural gas-fired power generation accounts for 34% of Pennsylvania’s installed capacity.
Learn more: Power > Report: Gas-Fired Generation Will Rise in Pennsylvania as Coal, Nuclear Decline
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.