Project #1

Understanding the environmental, social, and economic impacts of gas exploration and drilling in the Marcellus Shale
 


This three-year project (initiating October 1, 2009) explores the ecological-economic-social impacts of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale region, emphasizing the southern tier of NYS, but including also the northern Tier of Pennsylvania).  Marcellus Shale development differs from traditional gas drilling in New York State: it is more industrially intense, requiring more land, water, labor, and time than the traditional development. This development has wide implications for land and water.  This development may also have important impacts on the well-being of the rural communities in the region.  Drilling is increasing in Pennsylvania, and such activity is expected to occur in NYS once regulatory approval is granted.  Our work includes both research and extension objectives. Our research will: explore the impacts of gas drilling in other related areas; apply these impacts to the Marcellus context; develop a preliminary framework for impact assessment; conduct preliminary assessments in kind; and identify information needs for landowners and municipal officials. Our extension will include: integrating up-to-date information from above with outreach efforts; hosting an annual New York Natural Gas Drilling Summit, starting in November 2009, to provide information to stakeholders; and train CCE Educators and other parties to provide outreach to landowners, municipal officials, and other concerned citizens, and organize an efficient dissemination system.

Project #2

The Impact of Green Energy Development on Rural Community Sustainability

 
This one-year project develops an analytical framework for examining the joint impacts of multiple forms of green energy development (energy initiatives intended to reduce carbon emissions, boost domestic energy security, and foster local economic development).These initiatives are rapidly gaining momentum throughout the United States. There has been relatively little research overall on the impact to rural communities of green energy initiatives; existing research has utilized case-by-case analysis instead of examining the simultaneous and cumulative impacts of multiple energy developments across multiple types of communities. Our work develops a framework for assessing the cumulative regional economic, social, and ecological impacts of green energy-based initiatives (including forest and injection-based carbon sequestration, wind power, biofuels, and natural gas) in the southern tier of New York State and the northern tier of Pennsylvania. We will create typologies and develop impact scenarios based on (a) specific forms of green energy development; (b) drivers such as price/demand); and (c) local community attributes that will affect how these forms of development are experienced locally.  Our group will review the literature; create a matrix of community typology attributes; and  collect and organize meta-data that underlies the typology. Outreach efforts will engage local and regional stakeholders who are struggling to react to opportunities and threats afforded by these recent developments.