I recently traveled to the 'Utica Capital' to attend the Canton City Council Meeting where residents urged the council to do what they can in preventing oil and gas development in the area:

"This week, Chesapeake Energy announced they will expand their operations by opening a Utica Shale field office near Canton in Louisville.  It’s more good news for the city, one that has seen a multitude of energy or energy service companies like Purple Land Management, Rettew Associates, and Caiman Energy move into the region, invest in the community, and create new local jobs.

And thanks to the demands of the growing oil and gas industry, the greater Canton area is also benefitting from Ohio’s steel resurgence with the Timken Company’s $225 million expansion at their Faircrest Steel Plant.

As one might expect, residents of the northeastern Ohio community are taking notice – and pride – in the growth it is experiencing thanks to the development of our state’s resources in the Utica Shale formation. The increase in businesses moving in to the area prompted Canton Mayor William Healy to dub the city the “Utica Capital”, and recognize not only the benefits development has brought to date, but it’s overall impact on the city’s (and the state’s) future as well.

I believe that the exploration of Utica Shale by the oil and gas industry and how we embrace this industry will be a defining moment in our history. – Mayor William Healy (Mayor dubs Canton the ‘Utica Capital’, 3/1/12)

While most of the region’s residents enjoy the benefits of shale development in eastern Ohio and support the industry, there is a small (but vocal) number of citizens who continue to stand in opposition of responsible oil and gas development at every turn.

As Chesapeake announced it’s expansion – an operation that will bring both construction and long-term Ohio jobs to the area – a small group of activists descended on the Canton streets, and presented the Canton City Council testimony riddled with misinformation.

Energy in Depth – Ohio was on the scene to document these (repeatedly debunked) claims, and present the Council with testimony based in fact rather than fear and falsehoods."

READ MORE: http://www.eidohio.org/know-vs-no-tales-from-the-utica-capital/