The Observer, February 15, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 17
Editorial: Costs of drilling for natural gas far outweigh potential benefits
If you haven't already, turn to page one and read the story on the proposed drilling for natural gas at Squire Valleevue Farm in Hunting Valley.
Even though Glenn Nicholls and Lara Kalafatis emphasized in an interview that absolutely no action is being taken at this point, we at The Observer don't feel that the subject is even worth deliberating.
"It's a cost/benefit question," said Nicholls. It seems obvious that the costs outweigh any potential benefits in this situation – any potential meaning that there could be absolutely none.
Drilling for natural gas will likely have a negative impact on the diverse ecosystems found at the farm, as Joseph Koonce and the biology graduate students pointed out in letters to various administrators. It will also complicate or destroy research and other academic activities taking place there. Even if we take care to drill in the area of least impact, it will still have an impact.
At best, the resulting well will produce a couple hundred million cubic feet of natural gas over 10-20 years. The university will receive approximately 12.5 percent of the total revenue.
Let's do the math. If the well produces $2 million worth of natural gas over 20 years, the university will receive $250,000. At current undergraduate tuition levels, that's approximately seven students' tuition. In 20 years, that's probably one student's tuition.
Here's another way to look at it: $250,000 is equal to about 0.03 percent of the 2007-08 operating budget.
At worst, the well will produce absolutely nothing. That's zero students' tuition and zero percent of the operating budget.
In taking on this endeavor, therefore, Case Western Reserve University risks hurting the farm's fragile biodiversity for nothing. It also risks angering Mather College alumnae and sacrificing their financial contributions to the university. We don't need another logo situation. It'll be bad enough if the well does produce, but if it's dry and alumnae are still furious? Losing money won't help alleviate the current budget deficit.
This is one of the silliest projects that our administration has considered in the past year. Furthermore, it seems as if it is only a major deliberation because of the fact that one of our neighbors could steal our natural gas. Let them! It isn't worth the trouble.
As your mother would say, don't even think about it. We're with the biology department: throw this idea out right away.
