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The Faces of 90.5 WESA

Erika Beras
Erika Beras
Behavioral Health Reporter
Noah Brode
Noah Brode
Weekend Host & General Assignment Reporter
Deanna Garcia
Deanna Garcia
General Assignment Reporter
Kevin Gavin
Kevin Gavin
Director of Internships & Training
Paul Guggenheimer
Paul Guggenheimer
Host, Essential Pittsburgh
Mark Nootbaar
Mark Nootbaar
Senior News Editor
Larkin Page-Jacobs
Larkin Page-Jacobs
Reporter/Host, All Things Considered
Josh Raulerson
Josh Raulerson
Host, Morning Edition & Speaking Volumes
Bob Studebaker
Bob Studebaker
90.5 WESA Production Director; Host & Operations Manager for JazzWorks
Helen Wigger
Helen Wigger
90.5 WESA Operations Manager & JazzWorks Host
Mary Wilson
Mary Wilson
Capitol Reporter

Poland Explores Its Shale Gas Future

Poland has the same kind of shale gas deposits found throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. Erika Beras traveled to Poland to see how they are handling similar economic and environmental concerns surrounding shale gas there. This story was made possible through funding from The International Center for Journalists.

Environment & Energy
2:39 pm
Sun September 30, 2012

Poland Hopes to Frack Shale Deposits

A map showing major shale gas basins around the world.
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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Ask Poles how they feel about fracking for natural gas and responses are mixed. They hope for big money and free flowing gas. They recognize legal, environmental and societal concerns, but ask them why fracking for homegrown gas is important and the answer is the same: energy independence.

Poles from all walks of life say if they can get to the natural gas that geologists and energy companies say is trapped deep underground, Poland would be free from reliance on its neighbors to the east — Russians.

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Environment & Energy
2:25 pm
Sun September 30, 2012

A Test Drill in Lesniowice

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Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
A test drill for shale gas was done by Chevron in Lesniowice earlier this year.
A family in Lesniowice, Poland, where Chevron conducted a test drill for shale gas earlier this year. As Lesniowicians, they are against shale drilling, an industrial process in their agricultural community. As Polish citizens they are for shale drilling
The grocery store in Lesniowice.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
The Municipal Building in Lesniowice.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Wieslaw Radzieciak is the Mayor of Lesniowice. He is excited about the economic prospects of shale drilling in his community.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
A field in Lesniowice
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Matgoizata Dzealziclia, a resident of Lesniowice, is against shale drilling in her community.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
A field in Lesniowice.
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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Poland has the same kinds of natural gas shale formations we have here in Pennsylvania. Many Poles hope hydraulic fracturing technology and the resulting release of natural gas will bring the country energy independence and a financial boom, but also like here in Pennsylvania, a number of Poles have a not-in-my-backyard attitude toward the developments. 

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Environment & Energy
2:18 pm
Wed September 5, 2012

Looking Forward For Poland

Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
A field near where a gas well was drilled earlier this year.
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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Poland has seen many changes in the last 30 years – democracy has come to the country, Poles have embraced capitalism the nation has forged relationships with multi-national corporations and it has entered the European Union.

At the same time, there has been a growing focus on finding for cleaner forms of energy.

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Environment & Energy
2:22 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

A Trip To The Northern Province

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Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
A test drill in the Northern Province of Poland.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Signs at the test drill site in the Northern Province.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Security Guard at Test Drilling Site in the North.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
The road leading into town.
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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Poland has the same kind of shale gas deposits found throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. Poland’s government hopes to tap into their deposits to fulfill the country’s future energy needs but, like in the United States, it comes with a great deal of controversy. 

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Environment & Energy
2:23 pm
Fri August 31, 2012

Zurawlow and Chevron

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Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Andrezj Bak and his wife Barbara, residents of Zurawlow, read a letter Chevron sent the residents of the community.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
A sign on the road into Zurawlow reads, Yesterday Chernobyl, Today Chevron, referring to the nuclear reactor disaster in neighboring Ukraine and what residents think might be a fraught future.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Janusz Katek, a farmer in Zurawlow, has leased some land out to Chevron.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Every Spring, 25 percent of the 325,000 white storks that breed in Europe, return to Poland from Africa.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Zurawlow is in the southeast of Poland.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Bak's house has signs that read, "Don't Poison Our Soil. "
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Andrezj Bak keeps folders with neat files of Poland laws, European Union regulations and correspondence with local government.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Andrezj Bak worries shale drilling might contaminate his well water.
Credit Erika Beras/90.5 WESA
Photo taken when local townspeople called authorities in to stop preparation of the land for shale drilling.
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Friday, August 31, 2012

You might miss Zurawlow as you drive the narrow roads that weave through the gentle rolling hills of Southeastern Poland.  A small sign is all that indicates a small town is just up ahead, along a dirt and gravel road.  

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