Marker unveiled for first Renz Well Mt. Pleasant Twp. well helped launch natural gas industry in SWPA
“Happy Renz-iversary,” said Range Resources Vice President of Operational Planning Tony Gaudlip at a celebration held Tuesday at the company’s Southpointe headquarters.
Gaudlip and others gathered to mark the 20th anniversary of the drilling of Renz Well #1 in Mt. Pleasant Township, which helped launch the natural gas industry in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Since the well was drilled in 2004, Marcellus shale, considered one of the largest natural gas fields in the world, has reshaped the U.S. energy landscape – and Pennsylvania has become the second-largest natural gas-producing state, trailing only Texas.
During the event, Clay Kilgore, executive director of the Washington County Historical Society, unveiled a historical landmark plaque commemorating Renz Well #1 that will be installed at the wellsite sometime in the spring of 2025.
The Historical Society has partnered with Washington County Promotion Agency and Range for the landmark program. The McGugin Gas Well, which for a time provided the largest flow of natural gas in the world and provided Pittsburgh with most of its natural gas needs (starting in the 1860s), also will be honored with a historical marker.
“This is also a celebration of Washington County’s history,” said Kilgore, noting Range’s partnership with the historical society’s Running of the Wools, which showcases the wool and farming industry in the region and highlights downtown Washington businesses and community partners. “In two years, we have become one of the premiere festivals in Washington County, and (Range) is the presenting sponsor of it. And we are lucky enough that we are going to get to continue to partner with them, with the historical marker program.”
Gaudlip noted that 20 years ago, when Renz Well was first drilled, Usher’s “Yeah!” topped the U.S. Billboard Charts, the New England Patriots handily beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game, and the Pittsburgh Penguins finished the 2003-04 regular season with the worst record in the NHL and were a year away from drafting Sidney Crosby.
“And, the U.S. was not energy-independent, and we couldn’t keep up with our own demand,” said Gaudlip, who said the country was importing 9 billion cubic feet a day of natural gas and noted coal accounted for 50% of U.S. power generation, compared to the 18% that natural gas accounted for at that time.
Twenty years later, natural gas accounts for 43% of the power substack, while coal accounts for 16%, he said.
“And that well in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, transformed the global energy picture. Global. Not just in the region, not just Pennsylvania, not just the United States, but global,” Gaudlip said.
Additionally, over the past two decades, Range Resources has paid $5 billion in impact fees, royalty and lease payments, and charitable contributions benefiting Pennsylvania communities, he said.
According to Gaudlip, the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania generated $40 billion in economic activity and accounted for more than 120,000 jobs in the commonwealth.
He said the impact fee has paid Washington County and its municipalities about $207 million over the years, and in 2023 alone raised $385,000 for the company’s Good Neighbor Fund through its annual golf outing and clay shoot.
“So, what has the Renz Well meant to all of us? Well, it means something different to every individual,” said Gaudlip, “but for me, it’s meant bringing my family home to Pennsylvania and raising them in the best place in the world…it’s been a huge impact.”
Jeff Kotula, president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, said natural gas has impacted the county, the state and the United States.
He said Range Resources has partnered with local community groups from the United Way to local food banks “to ensure that the wealth, that the benefit of natural gas is dispersed among everyone, regardless of if you are in the industry or not.”