StateImpact recently reported on the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the release of its World Energy Outlook 2016. According to the report, global demand for natural gas is projected to increase between 2014 and 2040:
Higher demand will spur growth in production, two thirds of which will initially come from the United States – where the Marcellus Shale of Pennsylvania and surrounding states is the biggest play.
The report goes on to note that the Paris Climate Agreement could serve as a catalyst for the rise in demand for natural gas, which is cleaner-burning and emits less carbon than other fossil fuels:
[T]here’s a “very strong case” for gas as a “relatively clean and flexible source of energy” especially for countries such as the U.S. that have significant resources easily accessible.
Demand for this energy resource clearly shows no signs of slowing in the near future. To meet this trend, the construction of midstream infrastructure will be increasingly crucial to safely transport natural gas to end markets throughout the region. Projects like the Rover Pipeline stand to usher the Midwest into the next era of energy generation in a responsible, efficient manner. CEPI encourages FERC to approve Rover in a timely manner.