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Clean-burning Marcellus Shale gas production continues to strengthen region’s economy, local workforce

The responsible and environmentally sound development of clean-burning natural gas from the Marcellus Shale continues to have a potent impact on our region’s economy and its workforce. This production is creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, a robust and growing supply chain network, tremendous amounts of economic opportunity, while at the same time helping to deliver affordable supplies of homegrown energy to consumersthroughout the Rust Belt.

“The potential is limitless,” says Gov. Ed Rendell, who underscores the fact that the “economic benefit of drilling in the Northern Alleghenies is welcome news in the midst of a sluggish economy and weak job market.”

Marcellus development is helping to buck otherwise bleak regional economic and job growth trends. This development has been – and continues to be – a boon for energy consumers, the environment, local businesses, and even for Pennsylvania’s state parks. In short, clean-burning Marcellus Shale gas is providing benefits to each and every one of the 12 million folks that call Pennsylvania home, in one way or another.

Call it a “Commitment to the Community.” Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) president Kathryn Klaber writes this under that headline in the Lock Haven Express yesterday, highlighting the steps shale gas producers are taking each day:

We are committed to working tirelessly each day to be good stewards of our land and waterways. We are also taking steps to ensure our operations minimize disruptions and risks in and near energy-producing communities. After all, our families live in these areas too.

While modern shale gas production involves intricate engineering technologies and techniques, our industry’s top priority is far less complex: Safely developing these clean-burning, job-creating resources in a way that benefits all Pennsylvanians – and protects the environment.

And while Marcellus development is still in the early stages, many of these benefits are already being realized. According to a recent study released by researchers at Penn State, our industry will help create nearly 212,000 jobs across the Commonwealth over the next decade. Last year alone, Marcellus development was responsible for the creation of 44,000 jobs.

And like our industry’s commitment to responsible development, we take very seriously our efforts to create job opportunities for locally trained and hired workers. As Marcellus production continues to expand, these opportunities will, too. Under the headline “Making good on a promise; Halliburton plant creates jobs,” the Williamsport Sun-Gazettehighlights this promise in a story this week:

When ground was broken last August on a cement mixing plant owned by Halliburton off Route 405 in Clinton Township, company officials promised they would bring jobs to this area. The company is making good on that promise, said Perry A. Harris, senior district manager for Halliburton’s northeast U.S. operations. “By year’s end we’ll have 75 to 100 (employees) and (add) another 100 to 150 next year,” Harris said during a recent tour of the plant.

Harris said the company plans to develop another 55 acres nearby that will be home to other Halliburton gas field support operations. “Between the two sites, we’ll (be hiring) 400-plus people over the next two to three years,” Harris said.

And local training programs continue to offer and plan for coursework needed to equip the area’s workforce to join our fight for a cleaner and more secure energy future:

• Educators Tailor Courses For Marcellus Drilling Job Demand. “Local educators are creating additional courses commonly required in the Marcellus Shale drilling industry as the number of rigs is expanding across the Northern Alleghenies. Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology secondary education director Todd Taylor told WJAC-TV that there’s been a recent spike in adult students completing commercial driving license classes to drive vehicles used to haul equipment and liquid in and out of drilling sites. CPI officials plan to add an emerging energy course and expect to see of local job-seekers landing drilling rig jobs. (WJAC-TV, 8/9/10)
• Johnson hopes to build gas drilling workforce. “As development of natural gas from the state’s Marcellus Shale continues, the demand has now increased for skilled welders. Johnson hopes to meet that demand through an initiative by the Center for Sustainability at Johnson College, which is dedicated to offering industry-driven curriculum related to clean, green, and sustainable energy concepts. (Times-Leader, 8/10/10)
• Roustabout training offered. “Information on free training for workers seeking jobs as roustabouts in the natural gas drilling and production industry will be available from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 12 in Founder’s Hall, Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood. (Pittsburg Tribune-Review, 8/5/10)
• SCCC may train gas-drilling work force. “Now count Sullivan County Community Collegeamong the institutions planning for a future that could include natural-gas drilling. Workforce Development Dean Stephen Mitchell is researching the kinds of jobs gas drilling would make available and what skills those jobs would require. The research could underpin a new job-training curriculum at the college. (Times Herald-Record, 8/3/10)

Copyright Marcellus Shale Coalition’s (MSC)

Working alongside the State Fire Academy, industry takes safety training to next level

Canonsburg, Pa. – As natural gas production from Pennsylvania’s portion of the Marcellus Shale – considered by experts to be the world’s second largest natural gas field once fully developed – continues to increase, helping to create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs across the Commonwealth, the industry is working closely with the emergency response community to ensure environmental and worker safety, a top industry-wide priority.

Launched in May, a partnership with the industry and the State Fire Academy will expand training that responders receive, adding new components targeted specifically at shale gas production. Trainings will cover a host of issues, from what to expect upon arriving at a well site, to how best to coordinate with on-site industry personnel.

“Safety is our industry’s top value, and we recognize the opportunity that the environmentally-safe and effective development of the Marcellus Shale’s clean-burning natural gas represents,” said Kathryn Klaber, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC). “Preparing our first responders, and putting in place the best possible communication, training and educational tools is critical to ensuring that. And that’s exactly why we’re focused on proactively implementing commonsense practices that will benefit all Pennsylvanians.”

The industry’s engagement, education, preparation and outreach ranges from emergency responders to individual citizens and land owners, as well as with local and state government administrators and officials. The Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), as well as the Lycoming County Gas Exploration Task Force, continue to work in tandem with the MSC to jointly develop training curriculum for the State’s Emergency Response Communities.

These comprehensive training plans will help give Pennsylvania’s first-responders the tools needed to effectively respond to the broad range of unlikely scenarios associated with the production of these clean-burning resources. For more information on this program and future training opportunities, visit www.osfc.state.pa.us, or call 717.248.1115, to register.

Copyright Marcellus Shale Coalition’s (MSC)

Gov. Ridge: “The development of the Marcellus Shale will benefit all of the citizens of our state, our region, and our nation”

Canonsburg, Pa. – The Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC), representing the majority of those responsible for the development and transportation of clean-burning shale gas throughout the Commonwealth, is pleased to formally announce that former Gov. Tom Ridge has joined the group as a strategic advisor.

“I am pleased to work with the members of the Marcellus Shale Coalition to ensure that this clean and abundant natural gas resource is developed for the full benefit of my home state of Pennsylvania and the nation. Joining the planning effort at this early stage will allow my voice to be added to efforts already underway to ensure worker safety and environmental protection, and to encourage the fullest economic benefit for our state, our communities, and the entire workforce involved in this transformational effort,” said Gov. Ridge.

“The responsible development of the Marcellus Shale represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen our region’s economy and our nation’s security,” said Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the MSC. “We are honored to have Gov. Ridge working alongside our organization to help ensure that Pennsylvanians fully recognize our industry’s commitment to environmental and workforce safety, as well as the positive and overwhelming economic benefits that responsible shale gas development continues to generate across the region.”

“Pennsylvania, Penn Woods, is rich in natural resources and has led our nation in energy development. We have learned from the past that we must develop our resources safely and efficiently. During my term as Governor, we grew our economy by providing incentives for economic growth and always by ‘Growing Greener.’ The development of the Marcellus Shale will benefit all of the citizens of our state, our region, and our nation. Not only can the environmental and economic benefit be transformational for generations to come, our homeland security will be forever strengthened.,” added Gov. Ridge. “There is much work to be done to maximize the benefits of these abundant and domestic resources, and I’m looking forward to help lead this important effort.”

Before becoming Pennsylvania’s 43^rd governor, serving as the Commonwealth’s chief executive from 1995 to 2001, Gov. Ridge represented northwestern Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 10 years. Following the tragic events of September 11^th, 2001, Gov. Ridge became the first Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and, on January 24, 2003, became the first secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Copyright Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC)