Over the past decade, natural gas has overtaken nuclear and coal to become Pennsylvania’s main fuel source for electric power generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

As of October 2024, natural gas accounted for 57 percent of the electricity produced in Pennsylvania, up from 26 percent in October 2013. Natural gas surpassed coal-fired generation in 2016 and nuclear power in 2019, according to the EIA.

Pennsylvania is home to the Marcellus shale gas formation, one of the most prolific production areas in the U.S. for “dry” gas –which is mostly methane and used for home heating or power generation. Pennsylvania generates more electricity than it consumes and in 2023 sent 83.4 million megawatt-hours across state lines, more than any other state.