To Drill or Not to Drill?

The Barnett Shale is a large geologic formation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that could possibly be one of the nation’s largest onshore natural gas fields. Future prospects of the field are looking optimistic since one company, XTO Energy, has invested just over three billion dollars in property acquisitions since July. This field can predictably affect three parties: government, corporations, and residents of Texas. Residents in the immediate area must determine if there should be boundaries and limitations established early, and, if desired, what measures can be taken to prevent corporations such as XTO Energy and Fort Worth Energy from leaving a figurative footprint in their almost literal backyard.

A very former Texas Railroad Commissioner, Elizabeth A. Jones has recently advocated tapping into domestic natural resources and cites the Barnett Shale as a perfect example that can produce great benefits for our economy. Although monetary gains for local economies are obvious, Jones understands that disrupting Artic National Wildlife Refuges and residential neighborhoods might not go over so smoothly with some people; therefore, she offers further support for her stance by mentioning advantages such as increased national security, energy independence, and the creation of funds that could be dedicated for alternative energy research.

When two very big entities such as government and large, multi-billion dollar corporations stand to post significant gains, residents in the immediate vicinity of a future drill site might feel intimidated or be so discouraged as to believe that they can not have an impact on such a considerable development in their neighborhood. While a complete victory for residents may be unlikely, a compromise such as the one that neighborhood leaders near Eighth Avenue in Fort Worth achieved is a perfect example of how determination and action can make a difference in a local community.

The new Fort Worth skyline