Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Friday, Dec 23, 2011

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:

Tomblin adds signature to W.Va. drilling bill
PageantCast News
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says he has added his signature to a regulatory package governing large-scale drilling for natural gas in West Virginia’s Marcellus shale deposit.

Shale boom may help lead U.S. to energy independence
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The United States could pass its 1970s peak as an oil-and-gas producer in less than a decade. If that happens — and many analysts believe it’s possible — the nation would edge past Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the world’s top energy producer.

First Marcellus shale business conference scheduled
Charleston Daily Mail
The first "Marcellus to Manufacturing-Ethane Development Conference" has been scheduled for March 21 to 22 at the Charleston Civic Center.

Shale turns natural gas into bargain
PittsburghLive.com
Booming natural gas production from shale formations and slowing demand from households, factories and power plants are poised to send prices down for an unprecedented fifth year in 2012, experts said.

Corbett touts Johnstown manufacturing plant
The Daily American
Gov. Tom Corbett visited Johnstown early Thursday evening to tour and praise a growing manufacturing business directly tied to the Marcellus Shale industry.

Moran Industries bids $12.5 million for local rail lines
Planning
John Moran, of Moran Industries, is offering to pay eight Central Pennsylvania counties $12.5 million for a short-line rail system, only weeks after the idea of privatizing the network was made public by Northumberland County commissioners.

Holland, NY plans law on gas drilling
Buffalo News
With fears of natural gas drilling earning headlines both locally and nationally, the Holland Town Board has decided to frame a law that will require drillers to have a special-use permit before any excavation begins.

Shale-oriented businesses target of new aid
The Times-Tribune
A Northeast Pennsylvania loan organization plans to use $1 million in new federal economic aid to help small businesses find opportunities supplying the Marcellus Shale drilling industry.

Park Drilling Cleared
The Intelligencer
The Brooke Hills Park board, at its regular meeting on Tuesday, entered into an agreement allowing for the park to receive royalties for natural gas drawn from nearly 100 acres there.