The Houston Chronicle has an interesting article on recent chemical plant expansions resulting from increased domestic natural gas production: "'This' is not only low natural gas prices but also the huge reserves of shale gas released by hydraulic fracturing technology, which have given chemical plants a steady source of fuel, as well as the raw material for the staples of modern life, from plastic bags and milk cartons to medical supplies. *** That has local governments scrambling to provide more housing, more roads and more workers to build and operate the expanded plants. *** 'It's a new industrial revolution,' said Dan Borné, president of the Louisiana Chemical Association, which is in the midst of its own boom."
