Marshall County, WV Feeling the Positive Effects of Marcellus Gas Drilling

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Marshall County, West Virginia is feeling the positive effects of Marcellus Shale drilling as money paid to landowners and workers is spent and creates economic ripples through the local economy.

"We have seen several people in our county become instant millionaires with the signing of the leases and some of [the wells] are already producing. There are rumors that some people are getting as much as $60,000 a month from their gas wells," [Marshall County Commissioner Donald] Mason said.*

Beneficiaries include auto dealerships, recreational vehicle dealerships, hotels, restaurants, trucking operations and other businesses.

In addition to Marcellus drilling operations, the county is also seeing new pipelines and processing facilities built by Dominion Transmission and Caiman Energy. Pipeline workers spend money in the community as well.

Marshall County Commissioner Jake Padlow said he thinks the county deserves to be considered as a location for a billion dollar ethane cracker plant.

*The Charleston Gazette (Jun 12, 2011) – Marshall County feels effects of gas-drilling boom