GAS LEASING COALITIONS

Landowner Natural Gas Leasing Coalition Forms in Schuyler County

Many landowners in the southern tier of New York saw the natural gas industry take an increased interest in the natural gas beneath the surface of their properties in 2008. To help landowners and communities better understand the issues surrounding natural gas development, numerous grass-roots leasing coalitions have emerged throughout the region in recent months.

A coalition has recently been formed in Schuyler County. There is no fee or obligation to sign a lease if you join the Schuyler Land Owner Coalition. To learn more about natural gas development and how the coalition can help you, please attend one of the following meetings, or visit http://schuylerloc.org. Bring your parcel tax identification number to the meeting if interested in joining.

January 27, 2009—7:00 p.m.
Watkins Glen High School

February 4, 2009—7:00 p.m.
Odessa/Montour High School

February 11, 2009—7:00 p.m.
Tyrone Fire Hall

February 25, 2009– 7:00 p.m.
Mecklenburg Fire Hall

March 11, 2009—7:00 p.m.
Monterey Fire Hall

Gas Leasing Coalitions in Schuyler

“Throughout this past fall, a dedicated grass-roots group of Schuyler landowners, with support from Schuyler Farm Bureau and Schuyler CCE, has diligently worked towards forming our first Gas Leasing Coalition. Empire Energy Consultants, which also represents the Steuben County Landowner Coalition, was chosen by the group to represent Schuyler’s initial coalition. The Schuyler Coalition will allow landowners to pool their land into units that can be competitively bid out to legitimate companies. If you choose to sign a lease that is negotiated Empire Energy Consultants, they will receive a fee of $20 per acre for their services, paid directly by the company that you sign with. The collective bargaining power of Schuyler’s coalitions will likely allow landowners to obtain compensations and lease terms that would not otherwise be made available to individuals. However, leasing through a coalition is not a quick process, and consequently may not be an option for some. You can even join the coalition if your land is currently leased, though a new lease generally cannot be signed until the previous one expires.



Starting in late January, there will be a series of five public meetings around the county to present the coalition to interested landowners. For locations and dates, please visit http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/schuyler or http://empireenergyconsultantsllc.org”





Brett Chedzoy
Cornell Cooperative Extension - Schuyler County
Agriculture and Natural Resources
bjc226@cornell.edu
office: 607-535-7161
cell: 607-742-3657