Michael Krancer, former Department of Environmental Protection in Pennsylvania, recently wrote about how he was often asked by his fellow Philadelphians, “What’s in it for me?” regarding shale energy development in the state. This is a great question for a city that has seen energy production and economic development occurring throughout the Northeast and Western parts of Pennsylvania, but not in Philadelphia.
However, there is a great answer to this question: it means jobs. Luckily for Philadelphia, the shale boom has the potential to create more economic opportunities for the city and more jobs for our neighbors. From the future opportunities stemming from the potential sale of the Philadelphia Gas Works to companies located in the city, such as Braskem America, that are benefiting from low energy costs, Philadelphia is poised for an economic rebirth centered on new opportunities in the energy industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Philadelphia County’s unemployment rate in April was 6.8%, almost three percentage points lower than a year ago. Even with this positive news there are still many hardworking Philadelphians that have been out of work and are still struggling to make ends meet for their families. To help with these tough economic times, State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams, whose district included large parts of Philadelphia, recently said: “The best antidote to urban blight, crime and violence and the best way to turn around a city and make its citizens happy and successful is to give them good family sustaining jobs.” Read more at PBJ.com
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