By David Blackmon,
posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
Last week I participated on a panel discussion about development
of the Eagle Ford shale sponsored by KLRN, San Antonio¹s local PBS
affiliate, and the San Antonio Clean Energy Coalition. The
70-minute discussion provided us, the eight member panel, with the
opportunity to discuss the critical role the business, civic and
technology community in the San Antonio region can play in
establishing the Eagle Ford shale play as a national model of
sustainable development. Mayor Julián Castro's opening
remarks titled, "San Antonio: Positioning to become the new Energy
Hub of Texas," were right on target. The development of the Eagle
Ford shale in South Texas represents the biggest opportunity Texas
has had so far this century to completely transform one of its
major cities into a hub of innovation, education and technology
development.
The Eagle Ford shale already has brought 5,000 jobs to San
Antonio, and continued oil and gas development will likely bring a
total of 10,000 more jobs to the city within the next three years.
The creation of well-paying jobs in economically depressed areas of
South Texas is particularly heartening in these difficult times.
However, ensuring that this great opportunity is managed properly
by both business and civic communities is of critical
importance.
Throughout our panel discussion we exchanged thoughts as to how
San Antonio can manage and lead this remarkable development in a
responsible and sustainable manner. Leodoro Martinez, executive
director of the Middle Rio Grande Development Council, emphasized
the growing importance of groups like the Eagle Ford Shale
Workforce Consortium, as well as local community colleges in
improving educational and training opportunities and ensuring that
the appropriate investments are made to ensure that local
communities and small businesses benefit from this shale
boom.
Drew Nelson, clean energy project manager at the Environmental
Defense Fund, emphasized his organization's concern with drilling's
environmental impact, as well as the impact of heavy truck traffic
on local infrastructure. NuStar Energy CEO Curt Anastasio offered
up a solution to Nelson's concerns reassuring him that more
pipelines are being built in the area by his company and others to
help reduce truck traffic and air emissions from trucks.
The Eagle Ford promises to transform San Antonio in the same way
that Spindle Top did Houston. As San Antonio moves forward in
taking advantage of this "once in a century" moment, it is
important that vested stakeholders across San Antonio's civic and
business communities work together to make the most of this
important opportunity.
Highlights of the discussion will be edited into an hour-long
production that will air on all Texas PBS affiliate stations on
January 12.
Check your local listings for time.
David Blackmon is Sr. Advisor for Government and
External Affairs at El Paso Exploration & Production