Natural Gas Boom by Jim Parks on Creators.com

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Natural Gas Boom

Wellsboro is a rural town in the northern part of Pennsylvania with a population of about 3,200 — mostly farmers who have been struggling to survive. But not anymore. It seems that Wellsboro is situated on the Marcellus Shale, a formation running from West Virginia to New York that has the potential to supply the entire United States with natural gas for some 20 years, according to experts.

Leasing their land to gas companies for drilling, local farmers are receiving fat checks in return. East Resources Inc. — the largest driller in the area — drilled 42 wells in 2009 and will add another 200 wells by the end of 2010.

True, there are concerns about road damage, water quality and the quicker pace of a booming economy, but the hotels and restaurants are full and gas stations, realtors and movie theaters are cranking.

And it's good to see farmers putting money in the bank.

Questions can be sent to Jim Parks at jrparks@mac.com. To view the online "Today's Green Minute" videos, go to http://todaysgreenminute.com/. To find out more about Jim Parks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.