More than 300 Grand Prairie homeowners packed into a sweltering school cafeteria recently, seeking information about natural gas drilling in the western portions of Dallas County's Barnett Shale.
Before companies can start drilling under neighborhoods, they must get approval through leases from a majority of residents. But the firms may face one of their most unlikely obstacles yet: 63-year-old Doranna Corley.
Mrs. Corley is the leader of a grassroots movement to assemble Grand Prairie's underrepresented neighborhoods – some of which haven't organized in decades – to inform residents about gas well drilling. Spurred by a bad experience with a drilling company, she launched her door-to-door campaign, issuing fliers and planting yard signs. The first meeting drew more than 400 people.
Her plan is to organize a committee that will represent Grand Prairie residents who are not in a homeowners association.
"I'm actually working for the underdog right here," said Mrs. Corley, who recalled the unpleasant moment when she was escorted out of a recent lease-signing event after asking questions about her own lease offer. "We have no money behind us; we don't have professionals behind us. We're just out here trying to do the best we can for these people who don't have anybody helping them."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Don't lease! Unless you own a significant amount of real estate the little bit of money you receive won't be worth the loss in quality of life and the risk involved.
We need to switch to renewable sources of energy and find safer ways to produce the oil and gas that's left. That production should be saved for pharmaceuticals and plastics.
Post a Comment