What Pennsylvania and New York Teach Us About American Energy
Power The Future is once again putting the economic consequences of energy policy side by side.
In a new report, Pennsylvania and New York: Different Agendas, Different Results, we examine two neighboring states that took different approaches to American energy development.
Pennsylvania embraced its abundant natural gas resources and shale development, while New York banned hydraulic fracturing. According to PTF’s analysis, Pennsylvania’s energy-producing communities have experienced stronger job growth, increased economic activity, lower poverty, and billions of dollars in added benefits.
And this isn’t the first time Power The Future has examined the contrast.
In 2019, PTF released “New York’s Buried Opportunity: Cuomo’s Policy Prevents Prosperity While Pennsylvanians Flourish,” comparing the economic impact of energy development in Pennsylvania with New York’s decision to keep its natural resources in the ground. Years later, we returned to the same comparison to see how those competing approaches have played out.
The latest findings reinforce the same fundamental lesson: energy policy has real consequences for workers, families, and communities.
Pennsylvania allowed its resources to create jobs, generate economic activity, and deliver benefits to communities. Across the border, New York continued down a path of restrictions and missed economic opportunities.
Key findings from the report include:
- GDP Growth: Susquehanna County’s (PA) GDP increased by 211%, while Tioga County’s (NY) GDP grew by only 11%, creating an economic gap of nearly $33,500 per person by 2023.
- Employment: Pennsylvania employment reached a record high of approximately 6.34 million workers in 2024, with unemployment falling to 3.6%. New York saw no commercial shale employment gains, with unemployment averaging about 4.2% in 2024.
- Poverty: The six highest energy producing counties in Pennsylvania cut poverty by an average of almost 2 points while poverty rates climbed in New York. Susquehanna County’s (PA) poverty rate fell from 11.3% to 10.9% while the poverty rate in Tioga County (NY) rose from 9.6% to 12.2%.
- Natural Gas Jobs: Pennsylvania’s natural gas sector supported roughly 123,000 statewide jobs in 2022. New York has no comparable commercial shale sector, despite prior estimates projecting 15,000 to 18,000 jobs in the Southern Tier and Western New York if development had been allowed.
- Economic Activity: Pennsylvania’s natural gas sector generated more than $41 billion in statewide economic activity in 2022. New York’s moratorium and ban left projected output unrealized.
- State Revenue: Pennsylvania collected $164.5 million through its natural gas impact fee for 2024, with nearly $3 billion distributed since 2012. New York received no comparable shale impact-fee revenue.
The full report is available here.
September 23, 2026