-Enhanced understanding by municipalities of the array of possible impacts and strategies for mitigation and monitoring.
-Organized and implemented a successful New York Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Education Summit.
-Responded to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's draft supplemental "Generic Environmental Impact Statement."
-Initial outreach efforts on workforce development have been effective in spurring additional research and collaboration among participants on Marcellus Shale-related workforce development opportunities within local colleges and universities.
-Developed a platform for working with municipalities and local officials on community energy planning.
impact statement issue
Intensive gas drilling activity is likely be introduced to large regions of New York over the next several decades. Legislative, regulatory, and judicial authorities have not yet specified the extent of public controls that will govern future natural gas development.
This issue has opened up a wider discussion of how communities are to get their energy needs met. Related issues have to do with the capacity of local governments; energy literacy; and policy considerations.
impact statement response
-Worked to compile and disseminate a variety of materials that support informed dialogue and decision making on the natural gas development process and associated impacts.
-Enhanced naturalgas.cce.cornell.edu website.
-Developed a core group of faculty and staff to work directly on this issue.
-Supported academic research at Cornell University that targets development impacts and mitigation strategies; research funding has been secured for two complementary projects.
-Enhanced communications with faculty at Penn State and West Virgina University to share outreach and research.
-A Cornell team developed a white paper on a systems approach to energy transitions.
-Started a dialogue with Town of Caroline about the possibility of working with them as a pilot for energy transitions.
-Community and energy inservice offered for extension educators and energy-smart community coordinators.
-"Community and energy" workshop offered at the Cornell Municipal Clerks Institute.
-Provided support to Cornell Cooperative Extension associations and educators dealing with Marcellus Shale issues.
impact statement summary
In keeping with its core principles and long-standing commitment to education and outreach, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) is responding to a variety of stakeholders who seek a scientific, economic, and environmental understanding of the issues associated with Marcellus Shale natural gas exploration and drilling. In 2010 we focused more heavily on Marcellus Shale community task forces and local government officials and provided enhanced, targeted outreach to communities. More faculty and students have become involved in this issue.
