The Hill News

All eyes will be on President Obama Thursday night as he rolls out another plan to solve the unemployment conundrum.  Based on reports, we’ll probably hear about incentives for “green” industries, new infrastructure projects, extension of unemployment benefits and a payroll tax holiday, among other things.   But what’s likely to be missing, and what’s been missing from nearly every recent “jobs” plan, is a specific mention of one of the most promising developments for new American manufacturing jobs in at least a decade â€" shale gas.
 
By now, many Americans may have heard of shale gas.  They may even appreciate that a new abundant supply of domestic natural gas means we’re more energy secure and our electric and heating bills could be lower in coming years.  What most Americans don’t realize is that these new affordable natural gas supplies from shale have kick-started our nation’s manufacturing sector and revitalized America’s ind! ustrial heartland.

Read more...