U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Philadelphia, sees great economic potential for the local area from the Marcellus Shale and believes the gas industry can help ensure drilling does not adversely impact the environment.
The longtime federal lawmaker was in Lycoming County to meet with local officials as well as environmental and gas drilling groups.
Natural gas, he noted, represents a bridge between fossil fuels and renewable energy resources.
"If we find a way to free ourselves from OPEC oil, that would be great," he said. "It will be an economic opportunity for Williamsport."
A severance tax levied on gas, he said, is an issue for the state to decide.
But if enacted, it is something that officials should proceed with cautiously, and needs to include some type of revenue sharing between the state and counties where drilling occurs.
Specter said he sees the Senate race between Republican Pat Toomey and Democrat Joe Sestak, who defeated him in the primary, as a "horse race" and too early in the process to predict.
He said the existing political climate is rife with partisanship.
The dissatisfaction with government, he said, reached a flashpoint during one of his town hall meetings in August 2009.
Such events, which normally drew between 100 and 125 people, ended up attracting 1,000 people to his Lebanon town hall gathering, many of them upset about pending health care reform legislation and perception over government intrusiveness, he recalled.
"That was the kick-off of the tea party," he said.
Specter, who voted in favor of the federal stimulus package, said the billions of dollars given out by the federal government were needed to spur the economy. Otherwise, the country would have found itself in another economic depression similar to the 1930s.
He said Pennsylvania benefited enormously, including funding it received for road projects.
Specter, soon to give up his seat following five terms in office, was asked what he'll do next.
"George Mitchell (former Senate Majority Leader) says, 'take your time.' So I'm going to take my time," he said.
He said there are a lot of interesting things he can do.
Specter said he does not regret switching parties last year to run unsuccessfully as a Democrat.
"I don't believe in Monday-morning quarterbacking," he said.
