A rally organized by the Marcellus Shale Coalition to tout the benefits of shale gas development in Pennsylvania, attracted more than 2,500 participants, according to estimates from the capital police force in Harrisburg, PA, where the rally took place on Tuesday. It was one of the largest rallies the capital has seen in years, police officials said. Before the event, the MSC, which represents hundreds of exploration and production companies, midstream operators and supply chain businesses throughout the state, said the rally would be the largest in its roughly six-year history (see Shale Daily, May 1). A spokesman for the organization said business leaders, local government officials and residents from communities across the state had signed up. Many of the participants were bused to the capital and then marched to the stairs of the statehouse to voice their support for the industry as it faces headwinds from environmentalists and policy proposals calling for increased taxes on production. Local news media reports said dozens of people participated in a small counter-protest. No clashes between the two groups were reported.