Sen. Nick Gautreaux, Aubrey McClendon, CEO Chesapeake, Ginger Adam, Rep. Jane Smith, Gov. Bobby Jindal & Natural Resources Sec. Scott Angelle

The Haynesville Shale play is considered to be potentially the United States’ largest Natural Gas field spanning over 3.5 million acres in Northwest Louisiana and East Texas, including Bossier City. Industry experts estimate that this epic discovery will produce approximately 245 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas making it the 4th largest natural gas field in the world. Current Haynesville Shale area and well location maps, educational information and simulated drilling can be found at the Department of Natural Recourses (DNR) and Louisiana Oil and Gas Association (LOGA) websites.

Benefits to Bossier City, Bossier Parish and its residents include lease bonus payments, royalties, taxes and employment opportunities. According to the 2008 Louisiana Economic Impact Analysis issued by Loren Scott and Associates, the Haynesville Shale has:

• Generated approximately $2.4 billion in new business sales within the state of Louisiana.
• Created nearly $3.9 billion in household earnings.
• Generated an increase of 32,742 new jobs within the state in 2008.
• Increased state and local tax revenues by at least $153.3 million due to the extraction activities in the Haynesville Shale.

You can view the complete DNR report here (.pdf).

Representative Jane Smith was proud to author House Bill 110 (Act 469) during the 2009 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. This legislation retroactively became effective on January 1, 2009 and creates some of the most attractive income tax incentives in the nation to convert or buy a vehicle that runs on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and to build CNG fueling infrastructure. “We have a terrific opportunity with this legislation to help our citizens and businesses use clean-burning Louisiana natural gas as an affordable fuel for their vehicles,” said Smith. “The environment will be better for it, and jobs will be created to convert and service vehicles. This legislation will also help continue the long-term investment being made in our state from the companies exploring and producing this truly American fuel. The opportunities are as abundant as the natural gas.” For information regarding Act 469 see ‘recent news.’

Representative Smith said, “the benefits of this abundant fuel source for Louisiana and the nation are many including easing the impact of energy-price hikes, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, reducing ‘greenhouse gas’ and toxic emissions, and all at a reduced cost compared to its oil and coal counterparts. Natural Gas will play a very important role in the nation’s energy supply by powering electricity and fueling natural gas vehicles.” For more information on the future of natural gas, please visit, CleakSkies.com, and CNGNOW.com.