kimberly dubord follows the energy markets for briefing.com. she thinks these new reserves could play a vital role in our energy future. >> shale gas could provide almost a production buffer for alternative and renewable energy to give it time to become an economically feasible alternative to conventional sources. michigan's latest natural gas boom started just this past winter. calgary-based encana corporation drilled a successful test well about 50 miles north of here, that one well triggered a frenzy to lease mineral rights the likes of which the state of michigan has never before seen. >> reporter: this is a list of bidders who paid millions of dollars at auction last spring to lease mineral rights on roughly 100,000 acres of public land in northern michigan. sid jansma, president and ceo of wolverine gas and oil, was among the buyers. he didn't want to pay more than $1,000 an acre, but the bidding quickly topped that. >> when the auction started, the first or second lease went for $3,000 an acre. i sat there watching it go from the state m