The Cost of New Jobs

The State of Pennsylvania in the northeast of the USA is famous for its beautiful countryside. However, in 2004, an energy company discovered natural gas under the ground. Since then, this discovery has changed many people’s lives – in good and bad ways. Many people have found new jobs but it has also changed the environment. Here are the opinions of some of the local people:

The farmer

Donald Roessler has lived on his farm for most of his life. He hasn’t earned much money from farming but two years ago an energy company wanted the gas under his farm. They offered Donald a regular monthly income and he signed the contract immediately.

The teacher and the accountant

Chris and Stephanie Hallowich built their ‘dream house’ in the middle of the Pennsylvania countryside in 2007. But at the same time, gas companies moved into the area. Since then, Chris and Stephanie have found chemicals in their drinking water and pollution in the air. They want to move but they haven’t sold their house yet.