Keystone Energy Forum Will Work to Educate Pennsylvanians on Marcellus Shale Development

The Forum will address all issues surrounding the Marcellus Shale play in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two major energy trade associations announced today the creation of an alliance to create a better understanding of the important issues related to the safe development of Pennsylvania's domestic energy resources. The American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA) have formed the Keystone Energy Forum (KEF), a new partnership that will serve as a forum for factual information about the development of the vast energy resources that are found in Pennsylvania.

"The Keystone Energy Forum is designed as a venue for concerned citizens, coalition groups and partners who are committed to improving the public's understanding of, and support for, both the many opportunities and challenges presented by the Marcellus Shale natural gas development here in Pennsylvania," said KEF Director Bill Stewart.

"We have experts working throughout the state, speaking directly with our fellow Pennsylvanians to bring verifiable facts to the conversation on energy in the Commonwealth," Stewart said. "Promoting informed dialogue is the only way to ensure that our elected officials can create sound policies to promote a strong economy and energy security. Part of this dialogue includes a lot of listening. We want to hear from all citizens, coalition groups and partners who are being directly and indirectly affected by the development of Marcellus Shale."

"We look forward to continuing the dialogue between our members and the Keystone Energy Forum," said Ted Onufrak, President of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen Clubs. "The Energy Forum provides a great opportunity to engage in regional and local dialogues and connect our members to local, state and national energy experts.  We have been working in conjunction with the Forum since the end of 2010 and have found the Forum to be very responsive to our needs and our questions regarding responsible energy development and that interaction with Pennsylvania's rich sporting heritage."

"The development of the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania presents unique challenges to our Commonwealth's community banks," said Nick DiFrancesco, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers (PACB). "Our member institutions will finance the housing, infrastructure and business needs of this booming industry, and the Keystone Energy Forum offers us the information and resources that will help us to make smarter financial decisions for all Pennsylvanians."   

The KEF is focused on energy production in Pennsylvania, which forms part of API's coordinated nationwide program on oil and natural gas priority issues. The Energy Forum will serve as a resource for making local opinions count. The Forum will be available to Pennsylvanians as a venue to help create balanced energy policies in Pennsylvania and to help this nation achieve long-term economic and energy security.

Visit www.keystoneenergyforum.com/ to participate in the forum and for facts on the Marcellus Shale, hydraulic fracturing and other Pennsylvanian and national energy issues.

About Keystone Energy Forum

The Keystone Energy Forum (KEF) was formed in order to generate a public understanding of the economic development, job growth and energy independence opportunities presented to the nation by the vast Marcellus Shale natural gas reserves that underlie Pennsylvania and the other Appalachian Basin states.

The Keystone Energy Forum is an extremely diverse consortium of Pennsylvanians who recognize the potential this industry has on their communities and want to help educate their neighbors and fellow citizens on natural gas development within the Marcellus Shale region.  The Forum, which includes members from all corners of the state with interests as varied as sportsmen to low income housing advocates, hopes to generate open dialog, expand knowledge and educate Pennsylvania's diverse communities on the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania.

Everyone with interests, concerns, curiosity and ideas is welcome and encouraged to join the Keystone Energy Forum and share their input with the natural gas industry and the millions of people in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation who will benefit from it.

SOURCE Keystone Energy Forum