Libous pushes N.Y. role for gas-drilling industry | Press & Sun-Bulletin | pressconnects.com

Libous pushes N.Y. role for gas-drilling industry | Press & Sun-Bulletin | pressconnects.com. Feb. 18, 2011

BINGHAMTON — Sen. Thomas W. Libous has seen the region’s economic future: Drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale.

The era when Broome County could lure significant economic development to the region from other states is over, the senator told members of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce on Thursday during a chamber-sponsored legislative dialogue with state elected officials.

“This is an opportunity,” Libous said of drilling in the Marcellus Shale, a portion of which lies beneath Broome County. “Let’s not blow it.”

Libous, along with Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo, D-Endwell, and Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford, were quizzed Thursday on a variety of topics, including a state-proposed 2 percent property tax cap, pension reform and a proposal from Gov. Andrew Cuomo to create statewide Economic Development Councils.

Libous, a Binghamton Republican who is also deputy majority leader in the Senate, said about 88,000 jobs connected with gas drilling have been created so far in Pennsylvania. Libous said he recently spoke to a trucker from Texas who he met by chance at Greater Binghamton Airport.