It takes a lot of players to get natural gas from the ground to the marketplace. That was the message of a one-day seminar in Cranberry Township which helped regional businesses learn how to get into the supply chain. Natural gas development goes beyond drilling and extraction; the Marcellus Shale Coalition said more than 400 businesses are part of any one well development.
"There is a lot environmental, water management, land management, manufacturing opportunities, transportation and logistics," said Kathryn Klaber, President of the Coalition.
Some 200 small to medium-sized Pittsburgh-area businesses attended the event and heard from industry leaders as well as some small businesses that have successfully entered the supply chain. Klaber said a big barrier for these companies is a lack of knowledge of the system. She added the ultimate goal is to steer them in the right direction.
"Not to have companies get frustrated because nobody's returning their call only to find out that probably wasn't the right place to be selling their products and services in the first place," she said.
Industry leaders at the event touted the economic benefits of getting more local businesses involved, including an increase in jobs for the region. The seminar was a partnership between the Marcellus Shale Coalition, U.S. Steel Tubular Products and the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance.
