There are very few opportunities available to New York State with the same jobcreating potential as exploring and developing the Marcellus Shale formation. The safe and sustainable development of the Marcellus can help to transform the economy in New York’s Southern Tier. The effects of the recent global recession are still resonating in much of the state, and it would be unreasonable to disregard the substantial economic benefits that would come with utilizing this valuable natural resource. We need only to look south into Pennsylvania, where 48,000 private sector jobs in Marcellus Shale-related sectors were created in 2010, to see how development of this resource has positively affected their citizens and businesses.