Unconventional Gas Development in the U.S. States: Exploring the Variation

Abstract

<jats:p>This article examines the large interstate variation in levels of unconventional gas development in the U.S. states. The following hypotheses are advanced to predict whether a state will be predisposed toward development: (H<jats:sub>1</jats:sub>) the availability of unconventional gas reserves; (H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>) the availability of infrastructure to support development; (H<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>) a recent history of conventional oil and gas development; (H<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>) Republican party control of the Governor's office and state legislature; (H<jats:sub>5</jats:sub>) relatively low sensitivity to environmental issues; (H<jats:sub>6</jats:sub>) regulatory systems that treat UGD as a variant of conventional gas development; (H<jats:sub>7</jats:sub>) a pressing need for economic benefits as indicated by state and local measures of household income, unemployment and poverty; (H<jats:sub>8</jats:sub>) and public opinion supportive of development. To various degrees, each of the hypotheses is supported but important exceptions and surprises are uncovered in the qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses. Future research should continue the effort to explain the variation of development by expanding the geographical scope of inquiry and enlarging the sample of jurisdictions.</jats:p>