CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

Researchers say earlier studies overestimated the economic impact of Marcellus Shale drilling in Pennsylvania.

The study released Monday by the Marcellus Shale Education and Training Center found the burgeoning natural gas industry created about 23,500 jobs in the state in 2009.

A previous study suggested drilling was responsible for 20,000 more jobs, but the authors of the latest analysis say those figures failed to consider some mitigating factors.

The new study estimates about half the land where drilling took place in 2009 was owned by people or companies based elsewhere in Pennsylvania or out of state. The authors say that means much of the economic benefit from leases wasn’t spent locally.

The Marcellus Shale Education and Training Center is a partnership between the Pennsylvania College of Technology and the Penn State Extension.

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