PA Marcellus News Digest
November 29, 2012
Releases
GE's
Gas Engines Powering First LNG-Fueled Drilling Rigs in Giant Unconventional Gas
Field
Wallaby
Business Wire Nov 27 PITTSBURGH -To reduce the environmental impacts and
improve the economic performance of their U.S. unconventional gas production
activities, energy developer Seneca Resources Corp. and drilling partner Ensign
Drilling have installed two of GE's (NYSE: GE) Jenbacher gas engines to power
the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled drilling rigs of their kind in the
Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania. Link: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2012/2012112781.HTM
52
Organizations Demand Delaware River Basin Commission Review of Pipeline Projects
Wallaby
Nov 26 West Trenton, NJ: Fifty-two organizations have signed the Petition to
the Delaware River Basin Commission asserting the agency has an obligation to
exercise its jurisdiction over the proliferation of pipelines being constructed
and proposed within the boundaries of the Delaware River watershed. According
to the Petition, pipelines are a significant source of waterway degradation
and, according to DRBC's Rules of Practice and Procedure as well as the
Delaware River Basin Compact itself, should be subject to DRBC jurisdiction,
docketing, and oversight. Link: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2012/2012112792.HTM
State
Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams discusses real impact, benefits of Marcellus Shale
Wallaby Nov 27 HARRISBURG – State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams focuses his
upcoming Capitol Update on the numerous issues surrounding Marcellus Shale and
consumer energy education. Joining him in the dissection of the issues and to
offer additional expertise on the 30-minute cable television show is Wayne
Gardner, a member of the state Public Utilities Commission. Link: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2012/2012112775.HTM
SIERRA
CLUB RELEASES NEW REPORT ON NATURAL GAS EXPORTS Report disputes DOE arguments
against a full study on LNG and fracking
Washington,
D.C. – Today Sierra Club released a new report highlighting the significant
risks of exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), and calling on the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) to take a careful look at the dangerous effects of
increased fracking on Americans' water, air, land and health.
The
report, titled "Look Before the LNG Leap," cautions against the
rubber stamp approval of proposed liquefied natural gas export facilities, and refutes
the Department of Energy's claim that it cannot predict where new fracking will
occur as a result of approved LNG exports. The DOE has been using this argument
as its main reason against performing a thorough environmental impact statement
to study the full effects of exporting natural gas. The report shows that DOE's
own energy models can and do make those predictions.
"The
Department of Energy should look at the full picture of what exporting LNG will
mean for Americans' health, communities and check books," said Deb Nardone,
Sierra Club's Beyond Natural Gas campaign director. "If we blindly move
forward with LNG exports, the American people will be left footing the bill
while natural gas companies rake in more cash with zero accountability for
their toxic pollution."
Shipping
natural gas to foreign countries would increase dirty, dangerous fracking in
Americans' backyards, drive up energy prices for American families and put
Americans' health and our climate at risk – while doing nothing to address our
nation's energy challenges. DOE must do the right thing and begin an open,
public environmental impact assessment before we blindly transform the energy
landscape and communities across the country.
"This
new report underscores the urgent need to move beyond all fossil fuels,"
saidNardone. "An economy based on energy efficiency and clean energy sources
like wind and solar is the only safe and responsible way to achieve true energy
security while putting Americans to work."
Read
the report here: http://www.sierraclub.org/naturalgas/downloads/LOOK-BEFORE-YOU-LEAP.pdf
DEP
Announces Opening of Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program Applications Due Feb. 1,
2013
DEP
Newsroom Nov 29 HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection
announced today it will begin accepting applications Dec. 1 for its Natural Gas
Vehicle Grant program, which will provide up to $20 million over the next three
years to help pay for the incremental purchase and conversion costs of
heavy-duty natural gas fleet vehicles. Link: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=1
9765&typeid=1
9765&typeid=1
Articles
As
Shell studies plant project, Beaver County officials wait with hope
Pitt
Trib Timothy Puko Nov 29 No news is good news for everyone hoping oil giant Shell
builds a petrochemical plant in Beaver County. Link: http://triblive.com/business/headlines/3038488-74/shell-officials-plant-stat
e-company-project-local-site-beaver-build#axzz2De6y3MR0
e-company-project-local-site-beaver-build#axzz2De6y3MR0
More
of nation's gas coming from Marcellus Shale
Post-Gazette Erich
Schwartzel Nov 28 The Marcellus Shale region now accounts for 26 percent of the
country's shale gas production, according to the latest report from the U.S.
Energy Information Administration. Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/more-of-nations-gas-coming
Conservationists
fight to save one of PA's gem streams
Groups
point out that state has authority to protect Rock Run, but fear that it won't.
Bay Journal December 2012 Karl Blankenship Brook Lenker aimed the van along a
dirt road that wound though a narrow valley filled with hardwood trees that had
gone largely undisturbed for decades. Waterfalls poured down the mountainside
in places, and hemlocks provided a touch of green along streams as leaves of
other trees adopted their autumn orange and yellow hues. Link: http://www.bayjournal.com/article/conservationists_fight_to_save_one_of_pas_
gem_streams
Democrat
John Hanger offers himself as the anti-Tom Corbett in announcing his candidacy
for governor in 2014
Patriot-News
Jan Murphy Nov 28 In announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in
the 2014 governor's race, Harrisburg lawyer John Hanger distinguished himself
in many ways from Gov. Tom Corbett who he hopes to make a one-term governor. Link:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/11/democrat_john_hanger_offe rs_hi.html#incart_river
Official
says Pennsylvania working on energy policy
Observer-Reporter
Michael Bradwell Nov 28 Pennsylvania is on the verge of creating an energy policy
that one state official believes could become a template for the federal
government to use. Link: http://www.observer-reporter.com/article/20121128/NEWS01/121129215/-1/news#.
ULfcW-TpeSp
ULfcW-TpeSp
Fracking
Our Food Supply
The Nation
Elizabeth
Royte Nov 28 In a Brooklyn winery on a sultry July evening, an elegant crowd
sips rosé and nibbles trout plucked from the gin-clear streams of upstate New
York. The diners are here, with their checkbooks, to support a group called
Chefs for the Marcellus, which works to protect the foodshed upon which
hundreds of regional farm-to-fork restaurants depend. The foodshed is
coincident with the Marcellus Shale, a geologic formation that arcs northeast
from West Virginia through Pennsylvania and into New York State. As everyone
invited here knows, the region is both agriculturally and energy rich, with
vast quantities of natural gas sequestered deep below its fertile fields and forests.
Link: http://www.thenation.com/article/171504/fracking-our-food-supply#
DCED's
Alan Walker on why coal's not dead, solar's not hot, and all that gas
Pittsburgh
Business Times Anya Litvak Nov 28 Alan Walker, Secretary of Pennsylvania's
Department of Community and Economic Development, thinks the state's on the
verge of its first state energy policy. "And it's going to be a good
one," he promised. "It's going to be so good" that the feds may
want to copy our homework. Link: http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/energy/2012/11/dceds-alan-walker-
on-why-coals-not.html?page=all
on-why-coals-not.html?page=all
What
They're Saying: Natural Gas Creating "Significant" Environmental Benefits,
Sparking "a Manufacturing Renaissance"
Wallaby
Nov 27 Pittsburgh, Pa. – The clear, undeniable environmental and economic
benefits tied to the safe development of clean-burning American natural gas continue
to cascade across our region – as well as throughout local, national and international
news outlets. Here's what they're saying about the responsible development of
job-creating shale gas, which is Powering an American Renaissance: Link:
DEP,
Tennessee Gas continue talks about fines Gas company has corrected about 90
percent of the violations
Pocono
Record Beth Brelje Nov 27 The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection continues discussions with Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. to determine
fines owed for hundreds of environmental violations. Link: http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121127/NEWS/2112703
20/-1/NEWS
20/-1/NEWS
Community
College Faculty Angry Over New Marcellus Training Center
NPR
State Impact Susan Phillips Nov 28 Link: http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2012/11/28/community-college-faculty
-angry-over-new-marcellus-training-center/
-angry-over-new-marcellus-training-center/
Bradford
City Water Authority Allowed To Withdraw More Water
Bradford
Era Nov 27 The Bradford City Water Authority announced during their meeting Tuesday
that the state Department of Environmental Protection is allowing them to
withdraw more water each day. Link: http://www.bradfordera.com/news/local/article_34dafe7c-3912-11e2-84ce-001a4b
cf887a.html
cf887a.html
In
brief: Crews extinguish natural gas fire in Lower Yoder Township
Tribune-Democrat
Nov 27 The small flare-up occurred Sunday after a pressure regulator failed at
the gas well and escaping gas was ignited by a burner used to warm gas produced
by the formation below, T&F Exploration spokesman Dave Mashek said. Link:
http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x942836388/In-brief-Crews-extinguish-natur
al-gas-fire-in-Lower-Yoder-Township
al-gas-fire-in-Lower-Yoder-Township
First
Dem to announce intent for guv seat has a long road ahead
Inquirer
John Baer Nov 28 OK, BIRTHERS, listen up: You now have a Democrat seeking high
office who admits to being born in Kenya. Link: http://articles.philly.com/2012-11-28/news/35412773_1_john-hanger-public-edu
cation-fund-public-schools
cation-fund-public-schools
D.C.-based
governors' associations provide back door for corporate donors
Center
for Public Integrity John Dunbar Oct 18 It was no secret in the 2010 race for
governor of Pennsylvania that Republican Tom Corbett, the state's attorney
general, was the favorite of the burgeoning natural gas industry. Link: http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/10/18/11503/dc-based-governors-associati
ons-provide-back-door-corporate-donors
ons-provide-back-door-corporate-donors
Today
I Announce My Candidacy For Governor of Pennsylvania
John
Hanger's Facts of The Day Blog Nov 28 I announce today my candidacy for
Governor of Pennsylvania and will be doing press conferences in Philadelphia
and Harrisburg. Tomorrow, I will be in Pittsburgh for a press conference there.
Link: http://johnhanger.blogspot.com/2012/11/today-i-announce-my-candidacy-for.html
Pa.'s
former enviro chief to run for governor
E&E
News Ellen M. Gilmer Nov 28 (full text below) The state official who led
Pennsylvania through the start of the Marcellus Shale boom is launching a bid
for governor.
John
Hanger, a Democrat who headed the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
from 2008 to 2011, said he will announce today his plans to challenge
Republican Gov. Tom Corbett in the 2014 election.
Hanger
is known as a champion of both natural gas and renewable energy, having served
previously as DEP secretary, head of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
and founding president of the environmental group PennFuture.
"[A]
major challenge remains maximizing the benefits and minimizing the costs of gas
production for Pennsylvania and the country," Hanger wrote on his blog
last week. "More can and must be done to do both. And doing so will
increase public acceptance of gas drilling across the Commonwealth and the
nation."
Several
natural gas industry sources said they view Hanger as a fair regulator who
during his time at DEP encouraged shale development for its economic benefits
but worked to establish a foundation of regulation to lessen drilling's
impacts.
"Given
his background, the easy road for him on the shale issue would have been to
just ignore the science and indulge the activists and hucksters up there who
wanted to see all development stopped, period," said Chris Tucker of
Energy In Depth, an arm of the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
"But
he didn't do that, and probably lost a few friends as a result," Tucker
added. "I think what he gained, though, is the respect of others who saw
someone who takes science seriously and wasn't afraid to speak up when he
thought it was being distorted or abused."
Hanger
currently works as an attorney in Harrisburg and as an energy consultant. He
regularly comments on national and state energy issues in news interviews and
on his blog: http://johnhanger.blogspot.com/
He
said he plans to talk more about his vision for natural gas in Pennsylvania
after his bid is officially announced during news conferences in Philadelphia
and Harrisburg today.
