When it comes to energy, 2015 has been a good year for Pennsylvania — and the future outlook is just as promising.

Marcellus Shale has led Pennsylvania to become the second-largest natural gas-producing state in the nation, behind only Texas, driving the Keystone State toward recognition as an energy hub.

Sitting atop the Marcellus Shale — one of the most abundant and lucrative shale reserves in the nation — has offered us numerous benefits. To name a few:

Lower energy prices

Not only for natural gas customers, but also for electric customers. Prolific, efficient production has contributed to natural gas prices that are 38 percent lower than they were one year ago, and electricity prices are declining. PPL Electric Utilities’ Price-to-Compare dropped 17 percent on Dec. 1, attributed to dropping wholesale prices, due to — you guessed it — lower gas prices.

An overall healthier economy.

Not only have we seen jobs in the industry, but Pennsylvania also has made the switch from being a natural gas importer to a natural gas exporter. Pipelines are now being reconfigured to send gas to other regions, rather than to receive supply. This means that not only can Pennsylvanians directly benefit from our proximity to natural gas supply, but our economy gets a boost from these exports. And as additional pipeline infrastructure is built, additional opportunities for in-state uses will increase.

Reduced CO2 emissions.

We are using 20 times more gas to generate electricity in Pennsylvania compared to 15 years ago. Natural gas is a much cleaner-burning fuel, and carbon dioxide emissions within the PJM electric grid footprint have steadily declined — down by about 23 percent since 2005.

Marcellus Shale sources the majority of the gas delivered by Pennsylvania’s major gas utilities. It accounts for 90 percent of UGI’s product, 85 percent of PECO’s supply, 61 percent for Columbia Gas and 50 percent for Peoples Natural Gas.

Thanks to Marcellus Shale, for the first time in more than 50 years, in 2013 the PUC approved a brand new natural gas utility. Leatherstocking Gas Company now allows residents in Susquehanna County and surrounding areas to take advantage of natural gas cost savings and environmental benefits. Leatherstocking’s goal is to exclusively use Marcellus Shale gas; their motto is, “Local gas for local people.” I recently participated in an event in Susquehanna County to highlight success stories like Leatherstocking — and other stories are being repeated across Pennsylvania.

With so much gas — and gas byproducts such as propane — available, we need more infrastructure to deliver it. Limits in pipeline capacity are an issue, underlining the importance of projects like the Mariner East pipeline, which helped to deliver much-needed propane to Pennsylvanians during sustained cold and peak demand in the winter of 2014.

Likewise, there are Pennsylvania residents who currently do not have access to the resource because they are not in close vicinity to pipelines. It can be costly for residents and businesses to connect; “extension costs” can run in the tens of thousands of dollars when paid up front.

Increasing access and affordability across the state is a priority at the PUC, and we have pushed utilities to design innovative programs for consumers to manage these costs. The majority of our major natural gas utilities have now implemented aggressive pilot programs aimed at extending natural gas service to unserved or underserved areas in cost-effective ways.

Moving forward, these programs and stories are only going to advance Pennsylvania’s reputation as an energy hub, providing more gas to more consumers for a lower price.

The Commission recognizes that all of this new construction places increased importance on safety oversight. In fact, safety has always been a high priority for us. Through Act 127, the Commission has been tasked with enforcing federal pipeline safety laws throughout Pennsylvania.

The PUC’s Gas Safety Division employs a highly trained team of inspectors and engineers to oversee pipeline safety — for both regulated utilities and other pipeline operators. Additionally, PUC Chairman Gladys Brown serves on Governor Wolf’s Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force, leading the task force’s Pipeline Safety and Integrity workgroup.

Natural gas has been a game changer for Pennsylvania, but the fact remains that in order for more residents and businesses to be able to take advantage of this clean burning resource, we need more pipeline infrastructure. To help advance that goal, the PUC looks forward to furthering the accessibility, affordability and environmental benefits of gas, through the construction and oversight of new natural gas infrastructure and the implementation of innovative extension programs.