is not a point guard for the Houston Rockets. It is a rich vein of natural gas that runs under Pennsylvania. Metropolis is running
series on the potential and perils of drilling operations. The ying and yang of Marcellus Shale development was encapsulated in a
story today (Jan 13) about an auction held by the state over the rights to lease 32,000 acres of state-owned forest land for drilling. Gas companies were expected to bid about $2,000 an acre. They bid $4,020 per acre. The auction will bring in $128 million into the state's coffers -- double what was expected. This has state officials worrying out loud about a land rush that could envelop the state's forests.
