Natural Gas
Advancing America

Fast
Facts

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Households that use natural gas for heating, cooking and clothes drying save an average of $1,132 per year compared to homes using electricity for those applications.

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America's natural gas utilities invest $33 billion each year in enhancing the safety of natural gas distribution and transmission systems.

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Emissions from the natural gas distribution system have declined 70% since 1990.

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More than one new residential customer signs up for natural gas service every minute, and approximately 80 businesses begin new natural gas service every day.

Reimagined Energy Future

Natural gas and its delivery systems will play a crucial role in helping the U.S. reach a cleaner energy future.

More than 189 million Americans and 5.6 million businesses use natural gas because it is affordable, reliable, safe and essential to improving our environment.

The American Gas Association is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through smart innovation, new and modernized infrastructure, and advanced technologies that maintain reliable, resilient and affordable energy service choices for consumers.

Portrait of the chair of the AGA board, Jerry Norcia

A Message From the AGA

Chair of the Board

“Natural gas is an essential cornerstone of America’s energy portfolio and will continue to play a vital role in meeting our nation's energy needs and environmental goals.”

Natural gas is an essential cornerstone of America’s energy portfolio and will continue to play a vital role in meeting our nation's energy needs and environmental goals. Natural gas and the critical infrastructure used to deliver it also play an important part in ensuring a safe, reliable, affordable and increasingly cleaner energy mix for consumers across the country. The natural gas we deliver brings value to customers big and small — fueling the kitchens that prepare food to nourish friends, families and neighbors; keeping our homes safe and warm in the winter and cool in the summer; and energizing an advanced manufacturing revolution. We are proud of our industry’s and employees’ commitment to providing dependable energy that meets customers' needs and advancing community progress by contributing to our nation’s economic and environmental ambitions.

Jerry Norcia

Chair, American Gas Association,
Chairman and CEO, DTE Energy

Portrait of the chair of the AGA board, Jerry Norcia

A Message From the

AGA Chief Executive Officer

“We are growing and innovating — delivering energy 24/7/365 while investing in a bold vision for a clean energy future. We are proud to add nearly 2,000 new gas customers daily, demonstrating that natural gas is affordable and reliable for all Americans.”

Amidst changing global demands, natural gas remains a steadfast and integral building block of America’s and the world’s economic and national security and our environmental progress. We have been there for our customers on the coldest and the hottest days when they need us most and have proven to be an invaluable ally to our friends in Europe.

We are growing and innovating — delivering energy 24/7/365 while investing in a bold vision for a clean energy future. We are proud to add nearly 2,000 new gas customers daily, demonstrating that natural gas is affordable and reliable for all Americans. Our commitment to delivering safe and resilient energy to our customers is proven in the statistics in this Playbook, including reducing emissions by 70%. Natural gas is advancing America today, tomorrow and well into the future.

Karen A. Harbert

President and CEO, American Gas Association

Essential Energy

Natural gas is an essential foundation for our economy.
In a series of studies, AGA examines how eliminating natural gas would impact businesses, customers' communities and our economy.

Natural Gas Lowering the Cost of Medicine

At one-third the cost of electricity, natural gas helps keep America’s drug costs more affordable, ensuring that necessary prescriptions and products are accessible to those who need them most.

Critical Feedstock

Natural gas is a critical feedstock for producing active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as plastic packaging and bottles for final products.

Fueling Manufacturing

Pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities use natural gas to maintain stable heating and temperature control, a critical factor in storing pharmaceuticals.

The pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chain consumes approximately the same amount of natural gas delivered to the state of Missouri with a population of more than 6.1 million.

Natural Gas Fuels America's Healthcare

The U.S. healthcare sector consumes more than 271 billion cubic feet of natural gas, more than the annual consumption of 14 individual states.

Reliable Energy

74% of U.S. hospitals use natural gas for space heating and water heating.

The Healthcare Sector in the U.S. Supports

  • 17.5M Direct Jobs
  • 7M Indirect Jobs
  • 12.4M Induced Jobs

Without Natural Gas?

Higher Costs for Patients

The cost of mandated electrification for the healthcare sector would total $16.3 billion through 2050.

America's Hospitality Sector Depends on Natural Gas

Natural gas supports restaurants, lodging and amusement parks nationwide. The U.S. hospitality sector and its supply chain consume 387 Bcf of natural gas per year.

Natural Gas Consumption

Texas, California and New York consume the most natural gas for the hospitality industry.

Without Natural Gas?

Higher Costs for Businesses

Mandated electrification in the hospitality sector would result in increased fuel expenditures of $23.2 billion through 2050, threatening an industry that supports 17 percent of all U.S. jobs.

Natural Gas Growing, Fertilizing, Feeding

The availability of affordable natural gas — an important feedstock for many key agricultural inputs — has directly benefited the U.S. agriculture sector. Those benefits extend to farms, ranches and beyond through jobs and tax revenue.

Benefits Through Jobs

  • 5M Direct U.S. Agriculture Jobs

Benefits Through Tax Revenue

  • $225M in federal, state and local tax revenues

The U.S. agriculture sector and its suppliers make up almost 15% of all U.S. commercial and industrial consumption, making it one of the largest consumers of natural gas.

Without Natural Gas?

Natural gas helps the U.S. economy produce agrochemicals like fertilizer, which increases crop yields. The agriculture sector would be in a precarious position if it were to lose access to natural gas.

The Benefits of the Gas System

  • Affordable

    American Families Use Natural Gas Because it is Affordable

    Households that use natural gas for heating, cooking and clothes drying save an average of $1,132 per year compared to homes using electricity for those applications.

    Get the Facts on Affordability
  • Reliable

    Natural Gas is There When You Need it Most

    Through natural disasters and extreme weather events, the industry’s underground delivery system provides reliable energy Americans can count on.

    Get the Facts on Reliability
  • Safe

    Safety is Our Top Priority

    America’s natural gas utilities invest $33 billion each year in enhancing the safety of natural gas distribution and transmission systems.

    Get the Facts on Safety
  • Environment

    Proven Emissions Reduction Track Record

    Natural gas utilities are cutting emissions from their operations, helping customers shrink their carbon footprints and working with other industries to reduce their environmental impact.

    Get the Facts on Environment
  • Innovative

    Ambitious Innovation Agenda

    The gas system's ability to integrate high-value energy sources, such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen, is a critical component of our nation's ability to reach ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals.

    Get the Facts on Innovation