In an Aug. 16 article, State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, correctly acknowledges the fact that “There’s no denying people are getting jobs in the gas industry.” In this case, he’s absolutely right. However, in a recent column, referenced in the story, White claims that “the conventional wisdom from within the [natural gas] industry is most locals can’t pass a drug test or lack the necessary work ethic, both of which may be more rural legend than verifiable fact. The industry has been highly resistant to the ready and qualified workforce provided by organized labor, presumably for financial reasons.”
The facts, however, do not support these unsubstantiated claims. I had the opportunity to testify about the positive job-creating impact associated with safe Marcellus Shale development at a State House of Representatives hearing this week. First, according to state government data, nearly 240,000 jobs are supported by natural gas development in the Commonwealth many of them in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Further, at this week’s hearing, Chris Petrone of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 66 one of the largest trade unions in the region testified that his organization is close to full employment, thanks to responsible natural gas development.
Pennsylvania’s workforce is second-to-none. And our industry is proud of the economic growth and continued job creation we continue to help create across the region, especially given the fact that, according to an Associated Press report this week, our nation is experiencing “the feeblest economic recovery since the Great Depression.”
Steve Forde
Pittsburgh
Editor’s note: The writer is vice president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition
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