HARRISBURG -- The Marcellus shale gas industry has already hired three top advisers from Gov. Ed Rendell's administration, but today they landed a really big name, retaining former Gov. Tom Ridge as a "strategic adviser.''

"I am pleased to work with the members of the Marcellus Shale Coalition to ensure that this clean and abundant natural gas resource is developed for the full benefit of my home state of Pennsylvania and the nation,'' Mr. Ridge said in a statement.

"Joining the planning effort at this early stage will allow my voice to be added to efforts already underway to ensure worker safety and environmental protection and to encourage the fullest economic benefit for our state,'' he added.

Coalition President Kathryn Klaber said, "We are honored to have Gov. Ridge working alongside our organization.''

It isn't known yet whether Mr. Ridge's political clout and skills as a lobbyist will be used in upcoming discussions with state officials over whether the Legislature should enact a new tax on the thousands of cubic feet of natural gas that are being pumped from deep underground areas of Marcellus shale.

Mr. Rendell is trying to persuade legislators to enact such a tax this September, to help the state with its budget problems and to provide revenue for municipalities who need to repair roads used by heavy drilling equipment and correct environmental problems.

Mr. Rendell and some legislators, such as Rep. David Levdansky, D-Forward, think that $100 million to $200 million could be generated from such a tax, but some drilling firms are resistant, claiming a tax would prevent them from developing as many new jobs as possible.

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