By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-825438.mp3
Dallas, TX – Drilling on the Barnett Shale is down about 37% from a year ago, with 40 thousand jobs lost. A North Texas economist blames the falling price of natural gas. But he also says there's a bright side. KERA's BJ Austin reports.
The new numbers are in a Barnett Shale economic impact update commissioned by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. Economist Dr. Ray Perryman is predicting 70 thousand natural gas drilling jobs in 2009 - down from 110 thousand last year. But he's putting a positive spin on it.
Perryman: Today, in the middle of the worst downturn for a long time, it's adding 70 thousand jobs to the economy in this slow year. That tells you just how important this industry is.
Dr. Perryman predicts drilling activity on the huge natural gas reserve will pick up slightly in 2010.
Fort Worth homeowner Debby Stein says there's another side to the impact that's not in the report.
Stein: There are other aspects of it I think they are not taking into consideration, which do cost citizens, such as: roads that are being ruined by trucks, water, environmental, air quality.
Former Fort Worth Mayor Bob Bolen says the city has worked hard to create a viable middle-ground in the debate over urban drilling. Stein believes it's fallen short.