As we know, and as the MSC’s Steve Forde wrote recently in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Protecting and enhancing our environment or growing our economy is a false choice. We can, and must, achieve both.” Here’s what others are saying about safe, tightly-regulated shale development, which is enhancing air quality and growing our economy:

  1. MIT professor and former CIA director John Deutch: The risk of drinking water contamination is “extremely minimal.” … The technique allows the United States to reduce its dependency on imported oil and provides other economic benefits, including creating jobs, and lower energy prices for the consumer, he said. … “Unconventional oil and gas represent a staggering change to the nation’s energy outlook,” Deutch said. (Jersey Journal, 11/5/13)

  2. Steve Forbes: “The natural gas industry has brought tremendous economic benefits to Pennsylvania. In recent years, this growing industry has invested billions of dollars in the commonwealth to develop an environmentally responsible way to harness natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica shale rock formations. The overall impact of this effort has been dramatic — bringing affordable energy solutions to consumers; creating thousands of high-paying jobs; generating nearly $2 billion in tax revenue for the state; and restoring economic prosperity to many Pennsylvanians.” (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review op-ed, 11/4/13)

  3. Petroleum Geologist Gerry Calhoun: “After transforming the Rust Belt in only five years, what lies ahead for natural gas and the people it serves? Generations yet to come will enjoy moderately priced transportation, heating and electricity. Carbon dioxide levels will decline.” (Tennessean op-ed, 11/5/13)

  4. Wheeling Park Commission James Gardill: The Wheeling Park Commission and the city of Wheeling are beginning to reap the financial rewards from a 2009 drilling deal signed with Chesapeake Energy. … “It is great because they are accessing the gas, while there is no impact to the park at all.” (Wheeling Intelligencer, 11/3/13)

  5. Northeast Utilities Vice President of Energy Supply James Daly: [Massachusetts’] two largest utilities have signed preliminary agreements to transport additional supplies of natural gas on the principal interstate pipeline serving Boston, a crucial step in expanding a constrained gas delivery system and lowering energy costs in New England. … “It’s an attractive opportunity for us to add capacity to the systems [and] allow customers to have more access to cheaper shale gas.” (Boston Globe, 11/5/13)