By Stephanie Catarino Wissman
Energy security isn’t just an energy issue – it’s an economic and national security imperative.
Pennsylvania has become one of America’s energy powerhouses, supplying affordable, reliable natural gas that helps power millions of homes and businesses.
As electricity demand is climbing and global instability continues to threaten energy markets, Pennsylvania’s ability to reliably produce abundant energy has never been more important.
Geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions and rapidly growing electricity demand have reinforced a simple reality: America’s energy system must be reliable, resilient and capable of meeting rising demand during periods of uncertainty. Success on that front begins with abundant domestic energy supply supported by modern infrastructure and policies that encourage long-term investment.
Pennsylvania is poised to deliver
The Keystone State is home to one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world.
About two decades ago, modern hydraulic fracturing combined with horizontal drilling unleashed the shale revolution, with Pennsylvania leading the way.
Today, Pennsylvania produces nearly 20 percent of the nation’s natural gas, making it the second-largest producing state.
Natural gas plays a critical role in helping to keep homes and businesses warm in the winter and cool in the summer. As an increasingly important part of Pennsylvania’s power mix, natural gas generates about 60 percent of the state’s electricity, and most air conditioning relies on electricity. Over half of Pennsylvanians use natural gas for home heating.
Recent policy actions are helping to improve access to natural gas and unlock Pennsylvania’s energy potential.
As part of the state budget passed in July, Pennsylvania lawmakers updated the state’s Oil and Gas Conservation Law to match today’s drilling practices and expedite permit reviews for Utica shale wells (deep beneath the Marcellus shale), bringing it in line with Marcellus wells. Modernizing the law will help reduce delays in permit reviews, improve well placement and limit unnecessary surface impacts.
Meeting America’s growing energy needs cannot happen overnight. It requires smart and predictable policy, efficient permitting processes and modern infrastructure to attract and maintain long-term investment.
Supply alone isn’t enough
Energy security starts with supply, but it doesn’t end there.
Energy-rich regions like Pennsylvania provide little benefit if there is not enough infrastructure to deliver energy to consumers. Pipelines, transmission lines, export facilities like a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and other critical infrastructure must be built in a timely and predictable manner.
Too often, however, projects that should take months often take years to navigate overlapping permitting requirements and lengthy legal challenges. Those delays could increase costs, discourage investment and ultimately threaten America’s ability to deliver reliable, affordable energy.
Congressional action on permitting reform remains one of the most important steps to strengthen both affordability and energy security.
Building resilience for the future
Pennsylvania has demonstrated what responsible energy development can accomplish, and recent legislative actions have helped secure a stronger future for Pennsylvania.
Natural gas has strengthened economic competitiveness, generated billions of dollars in impact fee revenue and royalty payments, helped lower carbon emissions in the power sector, bolster grid reliability and supported tens of thousands of good jobs across the state.
But additional progress is needed to prepare America for future disruptions.
The Western Hemisphere now produces 38 percent of the world’s oil and roughly one-third of its natural gas. Strengthening energy ties across the region can diversify supply, strengthen resilience and reduce dependence on vulnerable chokepoints.
The strongest energy systems are built with flexibility, redundancy and multiple paths to market. Resilience begins with abundant domestic supply, modern infrastructure and policies that encourage investment rather than delay it.
As one of America’s greatest energy assets, Pennsylvania can help secure our nation’s future with the right policies in place. Let’s get building!
Stephanie Catarino Wissman is the executive director of American Petroleum Institute Pennsylvania based in Harrisburg.
This originally appeared at Broad + Liberty on July 30, 2026.
Nothing contained here should be considered as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any legislation.
The views expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Susquehanna Valley Center for Public Policy.