By Regina,
posted on Monday, June 28, 2010.
An impressive group of local community and scientific leaders
gathered together last Thursday to tout the vast economic benefits
of natural gas production in the Southern Tier of New York.
The event, which took place in Binghamton, featured speakers
from Syracuse University, the Laborers International Union of North
America (Local 785), the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, as
well as representatives from Broome Community College and the
Broome County Executive's office.
Don Siegel , a Ph.D. professor in the
Department of Earth Sciences at Syracuse University, sought to
dispel "an enormous amount of misinformation" about hydraulic
fracturing.
The local newspaper, the Press & Sun Bulletin, quoted Siegel
as saying, "This is the first environmental issue that I've thrown
my hat into the ring on…..[a]s a hydrogeologist, I really am almost
offended by some of the opposition that's trying to paint a picture
of what groundwater resources are like that is completely
wrong."
Together, the speakers touted the array of positive ways that
the industry impacts the region and state, including the economic
benefits of job creation and environmental advantages of cleaner
air.
Community leaders such as Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala and Broome Community College President Dr. Kevin
Drumm voiced support for natural gas. Fiala stressed the
economic impact on a region in need of jobs, and Drumm noted his
positive experience with the natural gas community when he was a
college president in Wyoming.
Fiala said she didn't see why a moratorium on hydraulic
fracturing was necessary. "New investments will be made in a region
where multimillion -- and even multibillion -- dollar investments
have not been seen to this level in years…and we can do all this
while protecting the environment," Fiala said.
Dr. Drumm recalled that at his past position
at a college in Wyoming, "our campus was one of the fastest-growing
campuses in the United States, and virtually all of our graduates
were going out into very good-paying energy industry jobs…The
energy industry creates great jobs -- lots of jobs -- and we were
heavily involved in our colleges in training for those jobs."
Alex Parillo of the Laborers International Union of North
America (Local 785) and Binghamton Chamber President & CEO Lou
Santoni also focused on the well-paying jobs and increased revenue
natural gas production could bring to the area.
"Our members need work," said Alex Parillo, Laborers 785. "We
want to partner with the natural gas industry to bring development
here, so that our members and their families can stay here in the
Southern Tier, receive good wages and benefits and keep all of
those associated dollars here in our community and not traveling to
Pennsylvania or elsewhere."
"Our community needs new sources of revenues and this is a
tremendous economic opportunity for our region," added Santoni.
"The job creation and investment couldn't come at a more opportune
time."
At the forum, many speakers noted their positive experiences
with natural gas operators in the past. ANGA members, of course,
are committed to fostering these strong local bonds in the
communities where we do our work.
"We are a responsible industry that looks forward to working
with state, regional and local stakeholders to develop the
Marcellus Shale properly and safely in New York State," said Mark
Scheuerman, Talisman Energy's Director of Government and Media
Relations.
Scheuerman also stressed that the DEC was a key player when it
comes to safety and environmental stewardship in New York. "To do
this, we need to have a well-funded DEC," said Schuerman. "If we are to have a long tenure here, there can be
no tolerance for not doing this safely and correctly."
Various groups from around the region came to hear the good news
about natural gas, including several leaders of local landowner
coalitions, local business leaders, town supervisors, county
legislators and Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan. Many labor members,
specifically plumbers and pipefitters, also attended.
A number of media outlets, including the Press & Sun Bulletin, the Morning Times , and WBNG , covered the event.
Interested in joining the cause? You can find a great list of local coalitions HERE.