Shale energy driving economic boom...

... in Bee County, Texas.  Barber Louis Sanchez says traffic is up:

“Traffic is crazy here in the mornings,” Sanchez said. “I’ve seen a lot of welders and a lot of guys in suits. Business is up 30 percent to 40 percent from the first half of the year.”

Busy Beeville restaurant

There's no shortage of information on the potential hazards of shale gas drilling in the Finger Lakes.  Once again, we are allowing our elites are to control the discussion.  Daily press releases detail the horrors sure to occur if we allow any energy production in the Marcellus Shale.  "No Fracking" signs have replaced "Bush Must Go" on the front lawns of right-thinking homeowners (may of whom heat with natural gas).  Frequent educational forums provide exposure for diverse drilling opponents and righteous advocates of economic decline.  Dismissed from the discussion is the possibility that the everyday Finger Lakes schlub might benefit from a little prosperity for a change.

Vacant Finger Lakes restaurant

Drilling in the Eagle Ford shale deposit, near Dallas, has injected a dose of prosperity into Bee County, reports the Corpus Christi Caller.   Centered in Beeville, a drilling boom is driving business to restaurants, hotels, and construction firms.  These are the institutions that provide immediate employment to to the non-credentialed, non-tenured workers who suffer the most in times of depressed economic activity.   

 And when the oil and gas industry employees come to town, they need places to eat and places to sleep. By noon on weekdays, people wait in line for the buffet at The Lodge at Shorty’s Place.

Owner Ralph McMullen knows most of his customers. But lately, as his business picked up 25 percent, the customers aren’t as recognizable.

"This is a small community, and when you see tables with guys you don’t know wearing Halliburton shirts, well, you just know,” McMullen said. “Most people in the service or hospitality industries have seen their business gone up across the board. They’re saying it could go on like this for the next three years. Who knows? But I’ll take what I can get.”

After a long day, home for most oil and gas workers has become places like the El Camino Motel, where oil and gas companies book rooms for months at a time. Owner Raj Gandhi said he’s doubled his staff to four to keep up

“Some of the guys will come in for four days, then they’re relieved by a new set of guys for four days,” Gandhi said. “The cycle continues until the job is done, which I haven’t seen happen.”

Should New York at least consider the economic benefits of shale gas production, or is the case closed?  Your comments are welcome: