Interesting report in the Boston Globe about how a ripple of economic benefits from shale natural gas development is reaching a non-energy state, Massachusetts.

Clean Harbors, Inc., a Norwell, Mass., company that delivers environmental services, estimates that demand for its know-how from shale-rich Pennsylvania generated 25 percent of its $2 billion in revenues last year – a number it expects to grow this year. “We just see a tremendous market that needs all of the services we provide,” says Chief Executive Alan McKim, who figures his company’s shale-related business is growing about 25 percent a year. “In the U.S., there’s huge potential,’’ McKim says. The Globe adds:

“Clean Harbors is just one example of how the unlocking of natural gas reserves hundreds of miles away promises... more »

Editor’s note, 5/3: The event has concluded; see below for the archived videos.

There’s not a better venue for a high-level discussion of energy, jobs and economic growth than Ohio, where energy-driven expectations are soaring – given the growth from shale development in neighboring Pennsylvania and accelerating work in Ohio’s own Utica Shale play. Thus, today’s “Ohio Energy Jobs Summit” is well located.

Hosted by The Hill newspaper and sponsored by the Coalition for American Jobs, the summit has an array of speakers and panelists scheduled including Gov. John Kasich, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Ohio and API President and CEO Jack Gerard.

Ohio voters certainly have strong expectations for shale exploration and development. A Quinnipiac poll in January showed they overwhelmingly belie... more »

Howard Feldman, API director of scientific and regulatory affairs, spoke with reporters today about proposed rules for oil and natural gas air emissions.  This is what he had to say.

EPA's proposed rules for the oil and natural gas sector, which address sources of air emissions including those associated with hydraulic fracturing, are due to be finalized in the first week of April. The rules are important because they would over time affect hundreds of thousands of natural gas development operations.

A new study conducted by Advanced Resources International, which we are releasing today projects the rules as proposed would significantly slowdown drilling, resulting in less oil and natural gas production, lower royalties to the federal government, and lower tax payments to state gover... more »

Steve Maley calls it The Big Energy Lie, the continued use of reserve estimates by those who want to end the use of hydrocarbons in the United States.  Maley explains:

"Reserves have been around 10 years of production ever since I can remember. That’s because energy companies measure their success by their ability to 'replace production' – that is, if they produce a million barrels, they need to replace it with a million barrels of reserves. It’s like a current inventory.  Or like a checking account. Imagine if you had $3,000 in your checking account. If you spend $1,000 per month, does that mean you will run out of money in 3 months? Only if you stop working. And only if you have no other assets."

To illustrate Maley’s example let’s look at EIA’s estimates for natural gas reserv... more »

In Carrollton, Ohio, it’s all business – the businesses around town and across Carroll County that are experiencing a renaissance because energy-rich deposits of shale that have brought oil and natural gas development to eastern Ohio.

Donna Saur, restaurant owner:

“I moved back home after 16 years of being gone. I needed a job. People starting coming into town, and we started hearing about shale.  I would say we’ve seen a 30 percent increase in business over the last year, which 30 percent is – big.”

Bill Newell, owner of a realty and auction business:

“We’ve seen an increase in our business here through this past year with the oil and gas workers coming.”

Tom Wheaton, Carroll County commissioner:

“It’s the first time we’ve been under 10 percent unemployment in, go... more »