AUBURN -- Two heads are better than one. It looks like the city of Auburn and Cayuga County believe this rings true when it comes to natural gas.

The city and county are looking to combine resources in a push toward natural gas exploration throughout Cayuga County. According to officials from both municipalities, a combined effort could be more successful as they try to attract private companies and state or federal grants to move such projects along.

The Auburn Municipal Power Agency met Thursday to discuss the possibilities for the city to drill for natural gas. City officials expressed an interest in working alongside the county when releasing requests for proposals, applying for grants and actually drilling for gas.

Two county officials were present -- Daniel Schuster, chairman of the Cayuga County Public Utilities Service Agency, and Legislative Chairman Roger Mills.

During the meeting, Frank Henderson, a geologist and representative from Virginia-based Appalachian Energy, told attendees there is natural gas potential in the region. A large shale formation holds gas that runs from Marcellus through central New York and Pennsylvania, all the way down to Kentucky, he said.

"The projections are huge for the potential of natural gas that can come out of that slate," Henderson said.

The city-owned landfill and various county properties can be used to tap the gas, Auburn Municipal Power Agency Chairman John Montone said during the meeting.

Eventually, the city and county could become a sort of single energy service provider, and the citizens of each would be able to get better energy rates, Montone said.

For the full report, read Friday's edition of The Citizen.