Natural Gas Industry Encourages Vehicles to Use Its Fuel
istockanalyst.com
(Source: The Times-Tribune)trackingBy Josh Mrozinski, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
Aug. 13--Newspaper board hears industry reps
As companies recover natural gas from the Marcellus Shale, the companies involved also plan to encourage the use of the fuel by fleet vehicles.
Speaking during a Times-Tribune editorial board meeting Wednesday, Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Committee representative Dave Spigelmyer said "the technology is here" for fleet vehicles such as buses or delivery services, including mail carriers, to use natural gas with central fueling points.
Natural gas as a fuel for vehicles was one of several topics discussed by Marcellus Shale Committee representatives Wednesday. The group, which was formed last year to represent the industry, also spoke about the state of natural gas drilling in the region, infrastructure, the environment, water treatment and proposed state legislation, among other subjects.
Natural gas is "something we could consider," County of Lackawanna Transit System Executive Director Bob Fiume said Wednes- day. He said COLTS is focused on adding hybrid vehicles.
Although the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania is in its infancy, in five years the state can become a net exporter of natural gas, Mr. Spigelmyer said.
At peak production, the natural gas industry expects about 3,000 wells will be drilled a year.
Gathering lines and other infrastructure will have to be constructed, Mr. Spigelmyer noted. He added jobs will be created and local businesses, such as hotels, will benefit from greater use.
Already, Fortuna Energy Inc. attorney Mark Scheuerman said his company is producing 40 million cubic feet of natural gas a day in Bradford and Tioga counties.
"That sounds like a lot," Mr. Scheuerman said. "That's just the beginning."
Technologies to dispose of wastewater are being developed as companies attempt to reuse as much water as possible, Mr. Scheuerman said.
He noted there has been no contamination of groundwater caused by hydraulic fracturing, a process used to break up shale to release natural gas.
In Dimock, Susquehanna County, however, an investigation into how and why methane migrated from Cabot Oil & Gas wells to private water wells continues, according to state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Mark Carmon.
Contact the writer: jmrozinski @timesshamrock.com
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