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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has just released data from its 2014 air emissions inventory of the natural gas industry. While there was “a slight (1%) increase in reported methane emissions” from 2013 to 2014, methane emissions have still significantly decreased, almost 12 percent from 2012 to 2014.  That’s all happening as natural gas production ramps up: as the DEP press release explains, “unconventional gas wells increased significantly, from 3.1 trillion cubic feet of gas to 4.1 trillion cubic feet” – that’s a 33 percent increase in production.

The data also show some levels of air emissions during production slightly increasing, but as DEP Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell explains, the bigger picture is that the state’s greater use of natural gas has led to dramatic decreases in air pollution:

“Although the reported emissions from the natural gas sector increased in 2014, overall our air quality continues to improve due to emissions reductions from other point sources such as electric generating units,” McDonnell said. “Between 2011 and 2014, NO_x and SO₂ emissions from electric generating units have decreased by 18 percent (27,246 tons per year) and 17 percent (54,973 tons per year), respectively. We remain committed to developing and implementing the most effective ways to control and reduce emissions from Pennsylvania’s natural gas sites.” (emphasis added)

DEP has previously highlighted that the emission reductions from the state’s increased use of natural gas represent “between $14 billion and $37 billion of annual public health benefits.” Then DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo pointed out:

“It is important to note that across-the-board emission reductions … can be attributed to the steady rise in the production and development of natural gas, the greater use of natural gas, lower allowable emissions limits, installation of control technology and the deactiva...

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