A Drexel University economic impact study estimates design and construction of the proposed PennEast natural gas pipeline will provide a $1.6 billion economic benefit and support just over 12,000 jobs.

The projection, released Monday, includes $740 million in wages, in addition to revenues and investments to regional and state economies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where the natural gas pipeline would be located."Those numbers are up to the point the pipeline is in operation," said Peter Terrenova, PennEast board chairman. "The long-term benefit to the region comes in the form of decreased energy costs, supply reliability and clean burning natural gas."Researchers said the ongoing operation of the pipeline would generate $23 million in annual economic impact, supporting 98 jobs with $8.3 million in wages.The 114-mile pipeline would run from Luzerne County to New Jersey, weaving its way through Penn Forest, Kidder, Towamensing and Lower Towamensing townships in Carbon County."We really can't say how many jobs would be created on a county-by-county basis along the pipeline route," Terrenova said."Our assumption is that we will be hiring union laborers, many who will come out of local union halls. We plan to utilize local services as much as possible."Patricia Kornick, PennEast spokeswoman, said the company is entering six months of a comprehensive review process.It is awaiting approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state governments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.Construction could begin by the spring or summer of 2017 with the pipeline in operation by November of that year.Disruption at the local level is expected, Terrenova said."The normal process prior to construction of any infrastructure is to work with local municipalities to more precisley align routes to avoid disruption as much as possible," he said."It is also to develop plans to deal with disruption as it occurs. That process is in its early stages."Kornick said she couldn't disclose how much PennEast paid for the Drexel study."It's very minor in comparison to the $1.6 billion impact estimate," she said.The complete analysis is available at penneastpipeline.com/economic-impact-analysis.