"Natural-Gas Windfall Wanes"

"MANSFIELD, La.—The brilliant green artificial turf on high-school football fields here serves as a vivid symbol of the natural-gas boom that brought prosperity to this traditionally poor corner of northwest Louisiana.

But the foundation of this wealth has started to crumble. The price of natural gas has plunged to a 10-year low, prompting a flight of energy companies from gas fields across the country.

Here in DeSoto Parish, the 2008 discovery of the Haynesville Shale—a layer of rock infused with natural gas 10,000 feet underground—has been a windfall for local governments."

Daniel Gilbert reports for the Wall St. Journal March 13, 2012. (While this article is normally subscription-only content, you can get an "Article Free Pass" by entering the headline into the Google search field and clicking on the resulting links.)

SEE ALSO:

"OHIO: How Many Jobs Will Shale Boom Create? Depends on  Whom You Ask" (EnergyWire)