| | | | | |

Cornell Student Publishes “Study” Warning Marcellus Drilling in NY Will Impact Tourism in Finger Lakes

Yet another study from Cornell University about the effects of shale gas drilling. The Appalacian Regional Commission awarded a $7,000 grant to Cornell doctoral student Andrew Rumbach to write a term paper author a study on the potential impact of drilling on the tourism industry in the Southern Tier of New York—specifically in the Finger Lakes region of the state. The “study” predictably warns about heavy truck traffic, scenic destruction and the “industrialization” of our little piece of paradise. One of the the biggest threats? Our tourism “brand” will be tarnished.

Continue reading

| | | |

WV Gov. Tomblin Signs Executive Order 4-11 Creating “Temporary” New Marcellus Shale Drilling Rules

Yesterday, West Virginia Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed Executive Order 4-11 directing the state Department of Environmental Protection to immediately draft and implement temporary new regulations controlling Marcellus Shale drilling in the state. Temporary in this case means the rules will be in place for up to 15 months—until the WV legislature can craft a set of permanent laws. Below is the press release issued by Gov. Tomblin’s office, along with a full copy of EO 4-11.

Continue reading

|

Chesapeake Energy Will Invest $1 Billion over 10 Years on New Alternatives to OPEC Oil

On Monday, Chesapeake Energy, the second largest producer of natural gas in the United States and a major player in the Marcellus Shale, committed to investing $1 billion over the next 10 years in technologies “that will replace the use of gasoline and diesel derived primarily from OPEC oil with domestic oil, natural gas and natural gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuels.” Chesapeake has created a venture capital fund, called Chesapeake NG Ventures Corporation (CNGV), that will invest in companies offering alternatives to OPEC oil—ie, technologies that use natural gas.

Continue reading