New study explores the potential for natural gas in the Piceance and Uinta basins
ROCKY MOUNTAINS—New attention is being given to the importance and potential of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming natural gas resources.
The Consumer Energy Alliance recently released a study that explored how more production and infrastructure expansion efforts could positively impact the states’ resources, detailing how abundant natural gas in the Piceance and Uinta basins can help regional—and even global—communities thrive both economically and environmentally.
Andrew Browning, the CEA’s chief operating officer, pointed out that the basins are noteworthy for an “abundant and available pipeline export capacity throughout the western U.S.”
According to the study, liquefied natural gas exports produced from the basins could add as much as $92.7 billion in annual gross domestic product through 2050 and as much as $3.26 trillion in cumulative benefits through 2050. Local economies would benefit the most from those kinds of returns, with Colorado potentially expecting an estimated $6 billion in revenue and about 38,000 new jobs. Utah could see $4 billion in revenue and approximately 15,000 jobs.
A newly formed advocacy group, Western States and Tribal Nations, is working to help harness that potential, facilitating conversations among the natural gas industry, LNG exporters, conservation groups, tribes, outdoor recreation groups and other relevant participants. All of these groups “want to learn how more energy production and pipelines can benefit Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, the sovereign Ute Indian Tribe and neighboring states, regions, the nation and other countries—fiscally and environmentally,” Browning noted.
Specifically, the WSTN is emphasizing the need for the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal at Coos Bay, Oregon, to export the product to the Pacific Rim. To make that possible, the Jordan Cove terminal would require the construction of the 230-mile “Pacific Connector” to join the existing Ruby Pipeline in Oregon to the Rocky Mountain supply basins.
If the group’s efforts are successful, the resulting exports could help Asian countries get more access to natural gas to help improve emissions-reduction efforts in that part of the world.