The Intelligencer has another interesting article looking at the fee legislation proposed in West Virginia. "Now, the fee is $650, but would increase to $10,000 for the first well and $5,000 for each additional well on the drilling pad, if the legislation is ultimately signed into law by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin." The bargaining chip? Well, at least for one legislator - it looks like hiring more WV organized labor: "State Sen. Orphy Klempa is prepared to push for a higher natural gas severance tax if drilling companies do not prove to him that they plan to hire more West Virginia workers. *** Klempa, D-Ohio, is affiliated with organized labor as co-chairman of Project BEST. He is a member of the Legislature's Joint Select Committee on Marcellus Shale, which passed a bill for the full Legislature's consideration that, among many changes, would increase the permit fee to drill a Marcellus well in West Virginia substantially."
Come to Ohio!