Civic Issues Blog #3: The Benefits of Marcellus Shale

Last post, I covered the environmental dangers of blindly pursuing Marcellus shale drilling and its other associated negative consequences. However, this week we will take a look at the benefits that this new natural gas drilling industry has for America. When the steel industry left America, the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania were hit hard. Combined with the slowly dying coal industry in these states and West Virginia, many people have lost employment and small coal towns have become crippled economically. With Marcellus Shale drilling coming to these areas, a new breathe of economic life has saved many families and businesses. Now, men can work for a business that is booming, and will continue to be economically viable for many years to come, due to the massive amounts of gas that have been surveyed in the shale.

Not only will thousands of jobs be created by this new energy industry, but the state of Pennsylvania will also benefit as a whole. In 2008, the state of Pennsylvania imported nearly 75% of the natural gas it used. It is projected that by next year, the state will become a net exporter of natural gas, due to shale drilling. Penn State University projected that $10.1 Billion would be generated from Marcellus shale drilling. From this, $1.1 in tax revenue would be generated. Of course, if this money is used efficiently, the state will greatly benefit. Along with the tax revenue, the businesses like restaurants and family stores in these otherwise depressed towns are already seen economic growth, from out of state well drillers moving to Pennsylvania and spending their money here. My Dad and I would look at the different license plates of frack trucks whenever we’d drive to drilling sites for my experiments, nearly all of the come from Texas. These men are estimated to spend nearly $350 million in local businesses. Opponents to drilling commonly make the misinformed point that fracking is not creating new jobs, but men from Texas are working on these new wells. Though that is not the case, if it were, there would still be economic growth and job creation from drilling.

And lets not forget the largest benefit from natural gas drilling, the gas itself. Natural gas burns much cleaner than other fossil fuels, and by using it the United States can eliminate the importation of foreign fossil fuels. We can also sell it to other nations, by constructing pipelines. By now some of you may be thinking: “But what about the environmental problems caused by hydraulic fracturing?”. Well, the number of accidents on wells has gone down. Not only that but the industry is constantly working to make the hydraulic fracturing process much safer for the environment. Companies like Range Resources and Consol Energy have local investments and are located in the Western PA area. They are looking to keep a good public image otherwise, it won’t be called the “Consol Energy Center” anymore (For those of you who are unfamiliar, the arena where the Pittsburgh Penguins and concerts play in Pittsburgh is sponsored by Consol Energy). These energy companies will take necessary precautions to keep the environment safe. However, out of state companies have less investment in the area, and have been observed to be the culprits of drilling pollution more often than not. So with such valid points on both sides, what should we do about Marcellus shale drilling? Next we will finally answer that question.

 

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