Natural Gas Landowner Coalitions in New York State: Emerging Benefits of Collective Natural Resources Management

By: Jeffrey Jacquet, Richard C. Stedman (April 30, 2011)

This article explores the rising trend of rural landowners in New York State banding together to create grassroots organizations with the aim of collectively bargaining with natural gas companies. By acting collectively, these landowner coalitions are potentially in a position to influence the economic, environmental, and community impacts of gas development across expansive tracts of land. The article draws its insights from in-depth interviews conducted with the leaders of these coalitions, exploring their motivations, benefits of membership, and the overall scope of these groups.

The research explores these elements within the context of various frameworks for understanding collective natural resource management. The primary concern of these coalitions appears to be furthering the private benefits of members, while indirect public benefits could potentially accrue from their collective action. Furthermore, group leaders are considering leveraging their collective power to secure direct benefits for the broader community, a strategy that might offer communities a degree of local control over gas development.