Cabot hosted a CNG Celebration last Thursday to tout the advances and opportunities expanded natural gas usage is having across northeastern Pennsylvania. The event was held at Cabot’s CNG filling station in Springville and featured displays from local and global businesses utilizing natural gas technology and from colleges and universities in the area.
The CNG Celebration commenced with some words from Gary Hlavinka, Regional Operations Manager for Cabot, discussing how the world-class production in the Marcellus has led to Cabot’s opportunity to invest in the region. With 60 dual-fuel CNG vehicles in the county, drilling rigs operating on dual-fuel technology and a demonstration project of hydraulic fracturing on natural gas, Cabot continues to find innovative ways to use this clean-burning, abundant natural resource.
Scott Staruch then spoke on behalf of America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) and covered the national and global implications of natural gas utilization. Many individuals never give thought to where their energy comes from or how the products they use every day are made. ANGA’s Think About It campaign is challenging Americans to consider these questions and how energy impacts their daily lives. With the incredible resource that is the Marcellus Shale, these questions are more important to consider than ever.
After hearing the implications of country-wide and global natural gas usage, Daniel Lapato of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) brought it back to the state level. The DEP has a natural gas vehicle program which makes funding available for the conversion of vehicles to run on natural gas – and not just heavy-duty vehicles but also light-duty, personal vehicles. As vehicle conversions increase at both individual and fleet levels, more fueling stations are also opening across the Commonwealth, including the LT Verrastro station which will be built in Scranton.
With the conversion of technology happening in the area, it makes sense that more job opportunities would be created in new job fields – such as CNG engine mechanics. Mark Volk, President of Lackawanna College, explained that the college was taking advantage of the growing job field and had created or restructured programs with partners in the natural gas industry to ensure that their students would have cutting-edge programs available to them. As a result, Lackawanna College’s New Milford Campus was established as The School of Petroleum & Natural Gas in March and acts as a specialized school to provide top-quality employees for the industry.
Concluding the days remarks was Chad Gorman, President of GasSearch Drilling Services (GDS), who expressed his excitement for future generations in northeastern Pennsylvania who will have the opportunity for employment in a stable industry. Gorman shared his story of leaving home shortly after completing his education due to a lack of opportunities. The natural gas industry’s presence allowed him to return home after spending time in other parts of the U.S. Looking forward, more individuals will continue to have opportunities. From high school graduates to students with Master’s degrees to those just looking for a career change – all will have the chance to make a livable wage without leaving their homes.
With the remarks concluded, the over 90+ individuals who came to the CNG Celebration then were able to visit with the companies and organizations who had set up displays to discuss how natural gas usage was changing their operations.
Cabot would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the speakers from the day and to each company, organization, and school who helped the crowd to visualize just how much of a positive impact natural gas usage is having in the region.
ADMAR, America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), Cleveland Brothers – Caterpillar, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Diaz Companies, FTS International, Johnson College, Kenworth, Keystone College, Lackawanna College, Mike Faillace, Penn State MCOR, Rain for Rent
