NORWICH – Energy companies have been eyeing the 174,000-acre strong Central New York Landowners Coalition to lease its mineral rights, hints the group’s president, but no firm offers are on the table.

The possible interest comes on the heels of a second offer made last week for 3,200 acres of Broome County land. Denver-based Inflection Energy LLC has reportedly proposed $2,250 to $2,750 an acre and 20 percent royalties to extract natural gas from the county’s Marcellus Shale reservoir. (An earlier deal was voted down by Broome’s legislators.)

To relay details of the oil and gas industry’s inquiries, the Central New York Landowners Coalition, based in Chenango County, plans a series of six regional meetings this fall.

The meetings are also designed to help fill in land blocks that would give the group greater negotiating power when the time comes, said Brian Conover, CNYLC president.

“Our true coalition strength is flexed through contiguous acres. More than just land to drill, the industry also needs right-of-way to get the gas out, which is why contiguous acreage is what they are most interested in,” Conover said.