Colombus, U.S.A. – The U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy on July 17 launched a major new campaign focused on building support for utilizing shale energy resources in Ohio.

The “Shale Works for US” campaign is a national effort designed to build support for the vast economic and energy security benefits of natural gas and oil produced from shale. The Institute for 21st Century Energy is the energy policy arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business organization.

“Shale energy has the potential to be an economic game changer for America and for Ohio,” said Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the Energy Institute. “Ohioans are already beginning to see the benefits of shale development, but much more shale energy sits below the surface.  The Shale Works for US campaign will help educate the public and the business community and demonstrate the ways in which increased shale production will benefit communities across the Buckeye state.”

Almost twenty percent of the Marcellus shale formation — one of the world’s largest — is in Ohio. Development of shale energy is expected to bring more than 65,000 jobs; contribute $4.86 billion to Ohio’s economy; and result in $3.3 billion of labor income (an average of $50,225 per job) by 2014, according to the Ohio Shale Coalition.

“Oil and natural gas production in Ohio is not new, but recent advances in technology will allow for vast quantities of recently discovered shale energy to be produced in a safe, environmentally responsible way,” said Linda Woggon, executive director of the Ohio Shale Coalition and executive vice president of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. “This production will not only create jobs for Ohioans, but generate new revenues for localities throughout our state, meaning more money for education and public safety and lower residential property taxes.”

Nationally, the Shale Works for US campaign will build a network of communities, businesses and policymakers throughout the states and at the federal level to support the economic, job creation and energy security benefits generated by shale energy.

The Shale Works for US campaign will include extensive grassroots recruitment, advertising, and educational outreach to businesses and community groups. Initially, similar efforts are underway in Pennsylvania and West Virginia with plans to expand across the country.

The mission of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy is to unify policymakers, regulators, business leaders, and the American public behind a common sense energy strategy to help keep America secure, prosperous, and clean.

Through policy development, education, and advocacy, the Institute is building support for meaningful action at the local, state, national, and international levels.

The article New Energy Initiative Focuses on Benefits of Shale appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Oscar-nominated films “The Warriors of Qiugang” and “Gasland” will screen as the next installment in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 30th annual “Contemporary Documentaries” series on Wednesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Admission to all screenings in the series is free.

Directed by Ruby Yang, who produced the film with Thomas Lennon, “The Warriors of Qiugang” follows the villagers of Qiugang, China, as they fight for a safer living environment when a chemical company begins to poison their air and water. The film earned a 2010 Academy Award nomination for Documentary Short Subject.

When director Josh Fox was approached by a company requesting to drill for natural gas on his property, he began a disturbing investigation into the environmental repercussions of the process. “Gasland” documents evidence of serious pollution and contamination across the United States caused by drilling methods that have been exempted from the standards required by the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.

Fox produced the film with Trish Adlesic and Molly Gandour. “Gasland” earned a 2010 Academy Award nomination for Documentary Feature. Editor Matthew Sanchez will be present to take questions from the audience following the screening.

The 30th annual “Contemporary Documentaries” series continues through May 30, showcasing feature-length and short documentaries drawn from the 2010 Academy Award nominations, including the winners, as well as other important and innovative films considered by the Academy that year.

All films will screen at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Academy’s Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.  Doors open at 6 p.m. Seating is unreserved. The filmmakers will be present at screenings whenever possible.

Image Courtesy of    http://www.warriorsofqiugang.com

The article Screening of Academy Environmental Docs appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Gasland documentary director, Josh Fox, was arrested on Wednesday, February 1, for what he claims is practicing his First Amendment right. According to usnews.com, the Wayne County filmmaker was arrested in the U.S. Capitol Building after attempting to film a congressional hearing linked with hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking.

Fox says that after he filed for permission to film the hearing, he never received a response, which prompted him to attempt to film anyway. Capitol Police reported his arrest under unlawful entry, while Fox stated that he was only practicing journalism, according to media reports.

“I was not expecting to be arrested for practicing journalism. Today’s hearing in the House Energy and Environment subcommittee was called to examine EPA’s findings that hydraulic fracturing fluids had contaminated groundwater in the town of Pavillion, Wyoming.

I have a long history with the town of Pavillion and its residents who have maintained since 2008 that fracking has contaminated their water supply.” Said Fox regarding the arrest and congressional hearing, “I was arrested today for exercising my First Amendment rights to freedom of the press on Capitol Hill.”

During an interview, MSNBC host, Ed Schultz, discovered that the filming was being done in order to be featured in a follow-up documentary called Gasland II, also directed by Fox, which is said to be close to completion.  Also during the interview, Fox said that the hearing was going to be led by a Republican subcommittee and that he believed they were going to be attacking the EPA.

Fox was originally inspired to create Gasland after receiving a request to lease his land out for drilling. His website, www.gaslandthemovie.com, claims that after receiving the request, he then traveled up the coast, visiting various different fracking sites and the communities within the surrounding areas. He documented the fracking process and the possible effects the process takes on communities’ drinking water.

Fracking, as the website defines, is the act of drilling for natural gas extraction, utilizing  millions of gallons of water, sand, and proprietary chemicals blasted into deep wells. This process causes the rock and shale to fracture, thus emitting the gases within. For every frack that is completed, anywhere from 80-300 chemicals can be used.

However, due to the Haliburton Loophole, the companies involved in the drilling do not have to disclose the chemicals that are used. The website also claims that there have been over 1,000 reports by courts and governments of contaminated well water within communities surrounding fracking sites.

Fox has become a conflict ridden character within Wayne County, his home. Where some people see him as an activist, others claim he is merely using Gasland as his ride to fame and fortune. The trailer for the film here  may help you base your own opinions.

The article Gasland Director Josh Fox Arrested appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.