The U.S. is now a global economic magnet with more than $180 billion of planned new investment. Access to vast, affordable new supplies of natural gas from previously untapped shale deposits is one of the most dramatic domestic energy developments of the past 50 years.
A web report was generated by American Chemistry and Energy. The key points in the report included the following:
Energy is used to generate hear, steam, pressure and electricity at facilities using Fuel and Power and raw materials are used by Feedstock. Shale Gas leads to Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) which is used as Cracker giving us Chemistry Solutions. In the U.S., NGLs especially ethane are the main feedstock of chemistry. In a Cracker Plant, energy molecules are separated and recombined to make chemistry products. These include clothing & footwear, electronics, food packaging, medicines, aerospace equipment, automotive parts.
Shale Gas is a Game Changer. Plentiful & affordable natural gas /NGLs in the U.S. are attracting increased global chemical company investment.
Chemistry fuels our economy
It generates 810, 000 skilled American jobs in the chemistry industry. And 6 million jobs generated elsewhere in the U.S. economy. It has $93 billion R&D investment by business of chemistry in 2015. It is $797 Billion industry which is one of America’s largest manufacturing industries. 14% of U.S. exports take place by the chemistry industry. The total value was $184 billion in 2015. More than 96% of all manufactured goods are directly touched by business of chemistry (according to 2013, U.S. census data, Annual Survey of Manufacturers). The industries that are supported are Automotive, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Food & Beverage, Computers & Electronics, Medical Equipment and Supplies, Health Care Services, Household Appliances and many others. Many energy efficient and renewable materials and technologies are made possible by the products of chemistry. For example, High performance building insulation and windows, solar panels and wind turbines, energy efficient lighting and appliances, lightweight packaging and vehicle parts. Since 1974, the U.S. chemical industry has improved its energy efficiency by 49%. The chemistry industry is a leader in the use of combined heat and power, also known as cogeneration, which means that the production of electricity and heat comes from the same sources. Plastics which have high energy content can be converted to electricity, synthetic gas, fuels and feedstock. Recovering this abundant energy reduces the waste sent to landfills and complements plastics recycling.
Shale Gas is a Game Changer. Plentiful & affordable natural gas /NGLs in the U.S. are attracting increased global chemical company investment.
