Shale Boomtowns: The Economic and Social Impacts of Gas Drilling
Resources from May 7, 2015 Forum in Bensalem, Pa.
At recent forums in Pennsylvania, the Multi-State Shale Research Collaborative has presented its findings from studies looking at how intense levels of drilling activity impact the communities that host them. View the PowerPoint presentation from the May 7, 2015 forum in Bensalem, Bucks County. When it comes to the community changes that result from the arrival of a new industry and an influx of new workers, the results are mixed. The upside? Employment and income have risen in high drilling-activity counties. The downside? These communities have seen higher rates of crime, sexually transmitted diseases, and traffic fatalities as well as increased housing costs and homelessness. Researchers have also found that Boomtown communities are ill-prepared for busts.  |
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