The United States’ reliance on fuel imports has negatively impacted the economy for decades, but the new gas “boom” is expected to produce massive amounts of economic growth.

With natural gasA naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases beneath the earth’s surface – often in association with petroleum. being extracted from underground shaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock. deposits, the price of natural gasA naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases beneath the earth’s surface – often in association with petroleum. in the United States has been virtually slashed in half – making it some of the cheapest energy in the world. 

The United States is also expected to become a net exporter of many fuels in the next decade. “It certainly gives the U.S. a clear competitive advantage,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, chief economist at General Motors.  Higher oil outputs and fewer imports will have many growing affects on the United States economy.

In the trucking and plastics industry, the shaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock. gasNatural gas trapped in a shaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock. formationA body of earth material with distinctive and characteristic properties.. revolution’s presence is apparent.  Many truck stops around the nation are adding tank stations of super-cooled natural gasA naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases beneath the earth’s surface – often in association with petroleum., as it is cheaper than diesel fuel.  “When we call up trucking companies now, it’s one of the first things they ask about,” said Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J, one of the country’s largest truck stop chains.

The U.S. crude oil production has declined within the past few decades, but the shaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock. gasNatural gas trapped in a shaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock. formationA body of earth material with distinctive and characteristic properties.. boom has forced the numbers to steadily increase within the last 3 years.  The U.S. Energy Information Administration believes that the U.S. will still import twice the amount of energy as it exports in 2035, decreasing the country’s dependency on foreign oil supply.