The Philadelphia Inquirer has an interesting article illustrating another mechanism activists are using to attack shale development - pressuring customers to use alternative sources of supply. "Philadelphia Gas Works is not currently buying natural gas that comes from Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale, but a PGW executive suggested Tuesday that a proposal to ban future purchases might put the utility at odds with regulators." (Emphasis ours.)
That proposal came from anti-drilling activists, according to the article.