• Marcellus production “is creating jobs and boosting local economies”

• “Farmers are making investments in farms that were just dreams before the Marcellus Shale”

• “The opportunity for growth, job creation has not been seen since the late 1800s”

Mighty Marcellus “Boosting Pa. economy”: “Forum panelist Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, detailed how the gas drilling industry is creating jobs and boosting local economies, making special note of the steel and rail industries in the state. She also addressed how the industry is working to safeguard public health and the environment and noted that the industry supported the state Department of Environmental Protection significant increase of permit fees to fund the hire of more oil and gas inspectors. (Times-Leader, 8/22/10)

Responsible Marcellus development “could yield millions for Pittsburgh”: “A solution to some of Pittsburgh’s money problems could be just below the surface. Leasing the drilling rights to natural gas trapped in a portion of the Marcellus shale formation under Pittsburgh’s 2,000 acres of parks could net the city $6 million to $16 million in one-time access fees and potentially millions more in royalties if officials make deals similar to those struck elsewhere in Western Pennsylvania and Texas. (Tribune-Review, 8/20/10)

MSC president in-studio on ‘Corbett’s Corner’: “I’m already seeing people hiring in communities where the drilling is happening, all down the supply chain. We see restaurants that are opening that have lines outside, we see suppliers. I’ve had a unique opportunity, as our industry continues to expand, to see businesses who are increasing their top line and revenue and bringing on new people. (WILK-FM, 8/19/10)

“Marcellus Hope”: “I also see the hope that Marcellus Shale brings to these farm families. The relief from financial stress and their ability to make much needed improvements to their farms is a new way of life and is in fact insuring thousands of acres will continue in agriculture for future generations. … Farmers are making investments in farms that were just dreams before the Marcellus Shale. … I see a rebuilding of the Northern Tier agriculture infrastructure that was at risk. … Marcellus Shale will be an important part of America’s energy future as well as an important part of production agriculture’s future in the northern tier. (Williamsport Sun-Gazette LTE, 8/22/10)

Heroic Marcellus worker helps rescue woman, pet from house fire: “A gas industry worker who recently moved to Wellsburg from Oklahoma got an unusual opportunity on his birthday Monday: the chance to save a life. Billy Watts, who turned 37 Monday, was driving home on South Broadway from Troy at about 6 p.m. when he saw black smoke in the air. Watts, a hydrofracturing operator for Cudd Energy Services in Pennsylvania, pulled over and helped a volunteer firefighter at the scene before any fire trucks arrived. … “It’s important for people to stop and try to help out,” Watts said. (Star-Gazette, 8/23/10)

More jobs headed to southwestern Pa.: “Universal Pegasus International, a Houston, Texas, company that provides engineering and project management services to the oil and gas industry, has opened an office at 601 Technology Drive, Southpointe. During brief ribbon-cutting ceremonies Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer John Jameson said the office employs 12 people but is expected to grow to between 50 and 70 employees within the next 18 months. (Washington Observer-Reporter, 8/26/10)

“It’s economics 101”: “Kathryn Klaber, the president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, countered that the shale development will bring “lots of economic activity” but only if the tax is structured to encourage drillers’ continued investment in the state. “It’s economics 101,” she said. “The more you tax something, the less you get of it.” (Times-Tribune, 8/22/10)

Ph.D. in petroleum seismology says “hydraulic fracturing can work for NY”: “Hydraulic fracturing – sometimes called “fracking” – involves injecting fluid into tight formations at very high pressures to create artificial fractures. … Fracking has made production from the Marcellus Shale possible and created thousands of jobs. … New York is well able to regulate fracking while at the same time allowing development of natural gas and enjoying the jobs and revenue it brings. (Syracuse Post-Standard, 8/25/10)

Marcellus production “has brought an influx of jobs, business, money to Williamsport”: “The positive impacts include the arrival of new companies, job opportunities and property owners getting lease and royalty checks. “In the past 18 to 24 months, 60 to 70 companies of varying sizes have opened in Lycoming County as a direct result of the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry,” said Vincent J. Matteo, president and CEO of the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce. “I have been in economic development for 30 years and have never seen anything that comes close to what we are experiencing,” he said.The opportunity for growth and job creation has not been seen since the late 1800s, when Williamsport was the lumber capital of the world, he said. Halliburton alone projects hiring up to 300. “We estimate, to date, more than 1,500 jobs have been created and thousands more will be. … We are looking at a generational opportunity that will be creating jobs and wealth for decades to come.” (Patriot-News, 8/24/10)

Marcellus producers educate local business leaders: “[EnCana’s Don] McClure and Brian Grove, Chesapeake’s director of corporate development for the Eastern Division, spoke ofeconomic and environmental benefits of natural gas production – creating jobs, using less water than any other energy-production method and producing cleaner-burning energy than coal or oil. … “So there is clearly a job creation impact associated with the industry. … We’re happy about that,” [Chamber President Todd] Vonderheid said. (Times-Leader, 8/26/10)

Marcellus Multiplier: “Task force works to link businesses to gas industries”: “The Clinton County Natural Gas Task Force juggled a large number of issues Tuesday evening. … Estimates by Penn State University experts suggest the Marcellus might contain more than 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Using some of the same horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing methods previously applied in the Barnett Shale of Texas, perhaps 10 percent of that gas (50 trillion cubic feet) might be recoverable. That volume of natural gas would be enough to supply the entire United States for about two years. (Lock Haven Express,8/25/10)

Marcellus production bringing an “industrial boom to Pennsylvania”: “All agreed that the gas – with an estimated worth of $1.2 trillion – contained in the Marcellus Shale formation underlying a good portion of the state could bring industrial boom to Pennsylvania. To date, gas extraction has created 88,000 jobs, $800 million in local and state tax revenue and $8 billion in economic value for Pennsylvania. (Beaver County Times, 8/27/10)

NY landowners continue to rally for Marcellus opportunity: “The Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development and supporters of natural-gas drilling struck back Thursday during a meeting of the county’s full Legislature. One by one, Partnership officials and county property owners stood up to defend the organization’s position on drilling and to criticize environmental groups for opposing an industry supporters say will boost Sullivan County out of its economic malaise. … Drilling supporters also value the land, he said, and“realists” understand the economic benefits of drilling. (Times Record-Herald, 8/20/10)

Marcellus development in NY could be “incredible”: “The economic benefit to New York could be “incredible,” says Brad Gill, executive director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association. In Pennsylvania towns where drilling has begun, he says, “the motels are filled, the restaurants are filled. It’s flourishing.” … Fracking is “absolutely” environmentally safe, he says. “I would never do anything to destroy my property.” A lucrative gas lease would change everything, he says. “To farm without debt — what a dream that would be.” (USA Today, 8/24/10)

Another local govt. backs responsible Marcellus development: “The supervisors of Lehman Township expressed their support of the industry at Monday night’s meeting. Several township residents were boisterous in their support as well. Carl Kern, who owns trucks that provide service to drillers in Bradford County, said the public should listen to the positive side of drilling. … For example, the companies are maintaining the roads they use, Kern said. … Township Chairman Dave Sutton concurred, adding that if the township must repair a road in an emergency situation, it will be reimbursed for the cost by the drillers. “It’s nice to hear something positive,” Sutton said. (Dallas Post, 8/22/10)

Copyright: Marcelluscoalition.org