Energy: Backyard Fuel

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Do-it-yourself gas and coal

The nuns of Mount St. Benedict's Priory in Erie, Pa., last year came up with an unusual solution for the common problem of skyrocketing energy prices. After consulting a geologist, they decided to dig their own natural gas well. While the community prayed for divine assistance, the two-man J & L Well Service Co. began drilling for gas on the nuns' 100-acre property. Within four days, natural gas was found; today this private energy source heats the two-story convent that houses 140 Benedictine nuns and a chapel that seats 300 people. The sisters' $105,000 investment—which came from selling stock they owned—has so far saved them $7,000 in heating costs, and geologists are busy surveying for a second well. Says Sister Maureen Tobin, the subprioress of the convent: "We anticipated that we could pay back our investment in ten years. But with costs still rising, we now feel we'll do it in less time."

Pockets of natural gas are scattered throughout the country, but many are too small to attract the attention of big oil-and gas-drilling companies. Rising prices and fears of natural gas shortages, however, have pushed companies, and even some families, into looking for fuel in their own backyards. General Motors is one of nearly 200 companies drilling for gas in Ohio, and today the automaker has 200 wells pumping on property adjacent to its Lordstown plant. American Standard supplies its Swissvale, Pa., switch and signal manufacturing factory with gas from four wells located a scant 40 ft. from the building.

Few companies are moving as seriously into energy as Adolph Coors, the beer company. Home-brewed energy now generates 60% of the beermaker's electricity needs. "It is the company's philosophy to be totally energy independent," says Chairman William Coors. This year the company hopes that its own energy sources will trim $1 million from the $9 million annual fuel budget.

Coors started by drilling 96 natural gas wells in eastern Colorado. Early next year it will begin strip-mining 1,500 acres of coal on land that it has been leasing for four years. This will replace 600,000 tons of coal that the company now buys annually on the open market. Last month, with an eye to profits, the beer company created Coors Energy, a subsidiary staffed with some former Exxon employees. The firm may soon become still more active in that field. Says William Coors: "If the energy business is better, we'll be pushing it ahead of the beer business." To swillers of the Golden, Colo., suds, that could be too much of a good thing.