Public Money Being Spent to Court Texas Drillers

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
21 September 2010
By Adam Brandolph

A local economic development group plans to use taxpayer money to fly three people to Texas next month to entice gas companies to drill in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, an offshoot of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, invited 150 Texas gas industry leaders to a recruitment meeting Oct. 27 at the private Petroleum Club of Houston, said DeWitt Peart, president of the alliance.

A $5,775 regional marketing grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development will pay for the room rental, hors d'oeuvres and travelexpenses for Allegheny Conference CEO Dennis Yablonski; natural gas supplier EQT Corp.'s Executive Chairman, Murry Gerber; and Kathryn Klaber, president of the Cecil-based Marcellus Shale Coalition, each of whom will speak at the meeting.

"We're trying to identify gaps where we don't have Pennsylvania companies to do the work," Peart said. "These companies will be coming to the Northeast or the Midwest. Our objective is to make sure they're aware of what we have to offer in Pennsylvania and why they should choose Pennsylvania over Ohio or West Virginia."

City Councilman Doug Shields, who proposes to ban drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus shale within city limits, was outraged the Allegheny Conference would use state money for the trip.

"I certainly don't appreciate all these corporate entities who seem to think they've become the government here using my tax dollars to travel to Texas to bring trouble to Pittsburgh," Shields said.

Peart said publicity from Shields' legislation detracts from any potential economic boon that shale could bring to the region.

Officials with the DCED did not return calls seeking comment.

Experts say natural gas in the Marcellus formation could be worth hundreds of billions of dollars, and proponents of drilling say it would be a boon to the economy. But critics say the water, sand and chemical solutions used at high pressure to break apart rocks 8,000 feet underground could seep into rivers and streams and pollute water sources.

"I can understand the concern over public safety, and things need to be done right and in a safe manner, but from an economic development perspective, we should handle this in a strategic, business-like manner," Peart said.

Adam Brandolph can be reached at abrandolph@tribweb.com or 412-765-2312.