PENNSYLVANIA ENERGY: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Pennsylvania has a diverse energy portfolio that reflects its similarly diverse geology. It is one of only 3 states that supplies more than 8% of our nation’s energy. In 1761 the first bituminous coal mining industry started outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s unique geologic history produced a rarer, more carbon rich coal called anthracite. Anthracite production in Pennsylvania began in 1775 and spiked in 1840 upon the ability to ignite it on a residential scale. Bituminous and anthracite production peaked in 1918 during World War I and then again in 1944 during World War II. Following these years, coal production across the United States declined steadily due to heavier uses of natural gas. The world’s first oil well opened in Pennsylvania in 1859 in Titusville. Pennsylvania was the nation’s sole supplier of oil until the late 1800s when large deposits of oil were discovered in Texas and Oklahoma. Oil production is ongoing but currently represents less than 1% of national supply and most of that is used as lubricant. Natural gas was discovered and used in Pennsylvania at the same time as crude oil, however it was not drilled for on a large scale until the late 1800s. Production increased significantly with unconventional drilling of the Marcellus Shale in 2010 and production is still on the rise. Pennsylvania was site of the nation’s first nuclear energy plant which began production in 1957 and currently ranks 2^ndin the nation in nuclear energy production. Nuclear energy has steadily increased in Pennsylvania since the 50s due to new plants and advances in technology. More recent development of renewable energy resources in Pennsylvania comprise 3% of the state’s energy production. The dominant renewable energy sources include wind, biomass, hydroelectric, solar, and geothermal energy. Graphs of historic uses of energy sources indicate that future Pennsylvania coal production will continue to decrease while natural gas production will continue to increase. Nuclear energy and crude oil production are predicted not to change. Renewable energy production, led by wind and biomass sources, will increase in the next decade driven by Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard bill and an ideal topography and climate.