ShureLine Construction's business development department attended the all day conference at Temple University put on my Dr. Michel Boufadel, Chair of the Engineering department, in response to the numerous environmental interest groups concerns over the ecological impact that drilling and hydraulic fracturing ("frac-ing") techniques pose to Pennsylvania woodlands, waterways, and the public's drinking water. A panel that was comprised of representatives from the DCNR, PA DEP/EPA, VP of Corporate Development for Chesapeake Energy, Public Affairs liaison for Chief Oil and Gas, geologists, and concerned parties from environmental interests groups such as the Delaware River Basin addressed both current and future threats that the process of procuring natural gas from the Marcellus Shale Line poses. However, a balanced argument by Chesapeake Energy and Chief Oil and Gas was presented that lauded their intention to take a socially responsible approach to drilling and fracing that would both serve to lessen any deleterious environmental impact and give Pennsylvanians current $2 Billion budget deficit and the joblessness rate the shot in the arm it needs to both figuratively and literally "save the farm." Currently, where energy companies are actively doing and proposing exploration and procurement of natural gas, have been in areas within the state that have ironically both spearheaded Pennsylvania's economic boom since the discovery of oil in 1859 and its decline post-industrialism. More specifically, the procurement of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale, the richest of all shale lines discovered thus far in the United States, will bring an estimated 130,000 new and direly needed jobs to the state. This does not include all the ancillary industries, construction and non, that are both involved in the processes and directly effected such as hotels and local stores that were dangerously close to . Although one can argue that the devil is in the details, clearly there is an ethical debate at stake and delicate balance to be struck between economy and ecology. Nonetheless, the economies of scale created within the states the Marcellus encompasses, as well the liberation it offers us from foreign oil, fossil fuel procurement, without reservation, stands to be the "gold rush" of our lifetime. ** If you'd like to discuss the particulars of the conference or share ideas, I'd love to hear from you!
