landowners vow to work together in fight against natural gas developer

Good follow up article from Alaina Potrikus of the Post Standard recapping this evening's meeting in Lebanon. 50+ attended...Madison county residents met to discuss the recent letter from Norse gas to 16 Madison County land owners, unexpectedly voiding the lease provision for "free" gas from wells drilled on their land. Although gas officials attributed the change to liability and safety concerns, according to the article, the leases clearly place the risk on the landowner. Norse has promised to replace the free gas with a payment and make arrangements to convert heating systems to propane. The controversy over the contract change is one of many issues driving citizens to band together to negotiate with natural gas companies interested in exploring and drilling on their land. Resident Mike Khoury said neighbors should have joined forces years ago. “Anybody that tries to go it alone is a dead man walking,” Khoury http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/lebanon_landowners_vow_to_work.html