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EQT Plaza in Downtown Pittsburgh May Convert to Residential

EQT Plaza

Is EQT getting ready to leave downtown Pittsburgh? The office building in Pittsburgh that bears the company’s name, EQT Plaza, has 32 floors and is the 13th largest office building in the city. In October 2019, MDN told you that EQT was looking to sublease space in its mammoth downtown office building (see EQT Looks to Sublease HQ Space – Leaving Downtown Pittsburgh?). The company shrunk its use to just 15 floors. Then, in February 2020, EQT announced it was shrinking its use of the building again, down to a piddly five floors (see EQT Subleasing Most of its Downtown Pittsburgh Office Building). Given the City of Pittsburgh’s hostility to the shale industry (and given various rumors we had heard), we theorized that EQT was getting ready to leave downtown. However, the company has a lease until 2024 (EQT does not actually own the building). EQT Plaza’s owner, Highwoods Properties, recently spoke to the Pittsburgh Business Times about potential plans for the building.
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Federal EPA Approves 2nd Injection Well in Plum Borough, PA

Penneco Environmental Solutions wants to site a second injection well in Plum Boro, next to an existing one. Penneco’s first wastewater injection well in Plum finally opened for business in mid-2021, overcoming all sorts of smears, slanders, and lawsuits by the enviro-left (see Plum Boro Injection Well in SWPA Now Open for Business!). In September 2021, Penneco announced plans to build a second wastewater injection well in Plum, located next to the first one (see 2nd Shale Wastewater Injection Well Planned for Plum Boro in SWPA). It didn’t long for Big Green to begin colluding and coordinating the attack to block the second well (see Big Green Mounts Big Effort to Stop 2nd Plum, PA Injection Well). Last Thursday, the federal EPA issued a final permit to Penneco for its Sedat #4A wastewater injection well located in Plum.
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Plum, PA House Explosion that Killed 6 NOT Caused by Local O&G Wells

Two firefighters stand on the debris around the smoldering wreckage of the three houses that exploded in Plum, Pa., on Aug. 12, 2023. (AP)

In mid-August, a house exploded in Plum, PA, causing two neighboring houses to burn to the ground. Plum is located in Allegheny County near Pittsburgh. Five people died in the initial blast and fires. However, a sixth person later died from his injuries. We grieve with the families and friends of those who died or were injured. The incident is under investigation. The house is part of a development built on abandoned mine land surrounded by shallow oil and gas wells, some of which have been abandoned. Two wells still producing gas are about 1000 feet from the home. So, to be thorough, the state Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched its own investigation to see if nearby wells (active or inactive) or the pipelines that connect them could have contributed to the tragedy (Plum, PA House Explosion Investigation Expands to Local O&G Wells). On Friday, the DEP said its investigation has found that “stray gas” from area wells and/or pipelines is NOT the cause of the explosion.
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Range Res. Gets Permit for 5th Well Pad in Frazer, Near West Deer

Funny how a couple of miles can make all the difference. In West Deer, a township in Allegheny County, PA (near Pittsburgh), Olympus Energy faces organized opposition to every project it proposes. Some Olympus well pads get approved, and some don’t. Every Olympus pad is vigorously opposed by anti-fossil fuelers. Yet in the township immediately next door, Frazer (also Allegheny County), Range Resources appears to have no opposition. We hope we don’t jinx it for them! Range has just received a permit for the company’s fifth multi-well pad. No hew and cry from the crazy left–no nothing. Just business as usual.
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Olympus Applies to Build Compressor Stn at West Deer Well Pad Site

Olympus Energy (formerly Huntley & Huntley) drills in the Greater Pittsburgh region, in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Olympus owns a pipeline subsidiary called Hyperion Midstream that builds gathering lines to the company’s wells. Hyperion applied to build a compressor station on a recently approved Olympus well pad in rural West Deer Township (Allegheny County). The PA State Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold a public hearing on Sept. 26 about the proposal. Grab the popcorn.
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Plum, PA House Explosion Investigation Expands to Local O&G Wells

Last Saturday, a house exploded in Plum, PA, causing two neighboring houses to burn to the ground. Plum is located in Allegheny County near Pittsburgh. Five people died in the blast and fires. However, a sixth person died yesterday from his injuries. We grieve with the families and friends of those who died or were injured. The incident is under investigation. Initial reports said the house that exploded had been “having hot water tank issues” (the hot water tank used natural gas). However, the house is part of a development built on abandoned mine land surrounded by shallow oil and gas wells, some of which have been abandoned. Two wells still producing gas are about 1000 feet from the home. So to be thorough, the state Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has launched its own investigation to see if nearby wells (active or inactive) or the pipelines that connect them could have contributed to the tragedy.
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31 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jul 17-23

New shale permits issued for Jul 17-23 in the Marcellus/Utica saw a nice increase. There were 31 new permits issued last week, up from the 23 issued the previous week. Last week’s permit tally included 13 new permits in Pennsylvania, 8 new permits in Ohio, and 10 new permits in West Virginia. The top permittee for the week was Coterra Energy, receiving 8 permits in Susquehanna County, PA. Coming in at a close second was Antero Resources, with 6 permits in Ritchie County, WV.
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Olympus Energy Proposes New Well Pad & Pipe in West Deer Twp, PA

Olympus Energy (formerly Huntley & Huntley) drills in the Greater Pittsburgh region, in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. In 2021, Olympus applied to build a new well pad in a rural part of Allegheny County, in West Deer Township. So-called “concerned citizens” got amped up to oppose the project. They succeeded when town supervisors rejected the Dionysus well pad (see West Deer Township Denies Olympus Permit to Build Shale Pad). The “concerned citizens” then attempted to block a second well pad, the Leto pad, proposed by Olympus in another West Deer location (see West Deer Antis Try to Block 2nd Olympus Shale Well Pad). However, West Deer supervisors approved the Leto pad in June (see West Deer Approves Olympus “Leto” Well Pad, Antis Pledge to Sue). Now comes word of another proposed well pad and an associated pipeline.
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Radicalized Groups Challenge Proposed Allegheny Gas-Fired Plant

In January 2016, Invenergy announced its intention to build a natural gas-powered electric plant in Elizabeth Township, in Allegheny County, PA (see Invenergy Eyes SWPA for Second Marcellus-Powered Electric Plant). It took a few years, a lawsuit, and a new location, but eventually, Elizabeth commissioners approved Invenergy’s plan in December 2018 (see Elizabeth Twp in Allegheny Co. OKs Invenergy Gas-Fired Plant). In June 2021, the Allegheny County Health Department’s permitting section held a hearing to discuss potential emissions from the plant. The Health Department subsequently issued an installation (but not an operating) air permit. A mishmash of Big Green groups promptly challenged the installation air permit (see Anti Groups Challenge Permit for Invenergy Gas-Fired Plant in SWPA). A hearing before the health department’s hearing officer began yesterday.
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Olympus Drops W Deer Well Pad Case After 2nd Pad is OK’d by Town

Olympus Energy (formerly Huntley & Huntley) drills in the Greater Pittsburgh region, in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. In 2021, Olympus applied to build a new well pad in a rural part of Allegheny County, in West Deer Township. So-called “concerned citizens” got amped up to oppose the project. They succeeded when town supervisors rejected the Dionysus well pad (see West Deer Township Denies Olympus Permit to Build Shale Pad). Olympus appealed the rejection, and a county court judge upheld the town’s rejection. So Olympus appealed it to Commonwealth Court. Last week Olympus suddenly filed a request to drop the appeal. Why?
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Invenergy Gas-Fired Plant in SWPA Given Extra 18 Mos. to Build

In January 2016, Invenergy announced its intention to build a natural gas-powered electric plant in Elizabeth Township, in Allegheny County, PA (see Invenergy Eyes SWPA for Second Marcellus-Powered Electric Plant). It took a few years, a lawsuit, and a new location, but eventually, Elizabeth commissioners approved Invenergy’s plan in December 2018 (see Elizabeth Twp in Allegheny Co. OKs Invenergy Gas-Fired Plant). In June 2021, the Allegheny County Health Department’s permitting section held a hearing to discuss potential emissions from the plant. The Health Department subsequently issued an installation (but not an operating) air permit. A mishmash of Big Green groups promptly sued to block the installation air permit (see Anti Groups Challenge Permit for Invenergy Gas-Fired Plant in SWPA). What is the latest news on this project?
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11 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jun 19-25

New shale permits issued for Jun 19-25 in the Marcellus/Utica took another nosedive. There were 11 new permits issued last week, down from 21 the previous week. There’s just no denying that the trend in permits is generally down. Last week’s permit tally included 6 new permits in Pennsylvania, 2 new permits in Ohio (both permits in the Marcellus layer!), and 3 new permits in West Virginia. Olympus Energy scored the most new permits, with 4 issued in Allegheny County, PA. Southwestern Energy had the second most new permits, with 3 permits issued in Marshall County, WV.
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West Deer Approves Olympus “Leto” Well Pad, Antis Pledge to Sue

Olympus Energy (formerly Huntley & Huntley) drills in the Greater Pittsburgh region, in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. In 2021, Olympus applied to build a new well pad in a rural part of Allegheny County, in West Deer Township. So-called “concerned citizens” got amped up to oppose the project. They succeeded when town supervisors rejected the Dionysus well pad (see West Deer Township Denies Olympus Permit to Build Shale Pad). The “concerned citizens” then attempted to block a second well pad, the Leto pad, proposed by Olympus in another West Deer location (see West Deer Antis Try to Block 2nd Olympus Shale Well Pad). However, West Deer supervisors approved the Leto pad last week, which has set off the antis.
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Injection Well Fight Continues in Western PA – Plum, Murrysville

MDN recently reported that after eight years, Pennsylvania General Energy gave up on trying to build an environmentally safe wastewater injection well in Grant Township, Indiana County, PA (see Bad Guys Win: PA General Energy to Plug Grant Twp Injection Well). Yes, the bad guys (CELDF) finally won. However, a proposed injection well project is still alive and progressing in western PA, in Plum Township (Allegheny County). Neighboring Murrysville (in Westmoreland County) isn’t waiting for a company to apply to build an injection well there. The town is working on a new ordinance to ensure no injection wells can get built in Murrysville.
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Anti-Shale Enviro Groups Demand Update on Pitt Cancer Study

Anti-fossil fuel zealots are demanding an update on a $2.5 million “study” awarded to the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health to “conduct research on the potential health effects of hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania” (see Pitt Researchers Get $2.5M for Fake Study to Link Shale & Kid Cancer). The problem is it’s not real research. The study was prompted by an uptick in rare childhood cancers in southwestern PA. Instead of looking for all potential causes of the cancer cluster, only one potential cause was identified–fracking. Ignored is an old uranium dumpsite nearby. The study began (rather, the money was distributed) 2 1/2 years ago. Antis want their ears tickled with half-baked conclusions so they can continue their campaign to smear shale energy. Why doesn’t Pitt help them out?
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Pittsburgh Utilities Experiment with Hydrogen Blend for Customers

We have nothing against using hydrogen as an energy source, other than it will never be able to power your home (see Why 100% Hydrogen Will Never Power Your Home; Why Antis Hate H2). But physics isn’t stopping a couple of utility companies in the Pittsburgh area from trying. NiSource, the parent company of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, and Peoples Natural Gas are working on experiments to introduce hydrogen into existing pipelines and use the blend in existing furnaces and gas stoves.
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