Cassidy: Natural gas development can empower economy

Domestic natural gas can pave the recovery road for America’s economy and manufacturing sector, according to an op-ed recently written by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.).

“Natural gas is a safe, clean burning energy source, and America has the potential to produce as much of it for ourselves and the world market as the Middle East does crude oil,” Cassidy said.

Northwest Louisiana is home to the Haynesville Shale, an area that holds large quantities of natural gas. Efforts to extract the gas have been limited due to its depth beneath the earth’s surface. Cassidy said hydraulic fracturing would solve the problem and release gasses that would “create entire new industries and thousands of jobs almost overnight.”

America will soon begin exporting liquefied natural gas. Cassidy said the exportation would lead to an increase in demand from the natural gas industry. The new demand, he said, would appease environmental groups since the energy being used in developing countries is from the purest fossil fuel possible.

Hydraulic fracturing also provides an affordable and abundant feedstock for the manufacturing sector that lowers the costs for companies and allows them to spend their budget on expanding and hiring, according to Cassidy.

“We have seen that developing local energy resources is good for middle class Americans,” Cassidy said. “For example, Texas, an energy rich state, is the fastest growing state in the country. In Louisiana, the Houma/Thibodaux corridor, the home of Louisiana’s offshore drilling industry, is at near full employment and looking for more workers every day.”