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Pres. Trump Targets Marcellus/Utica to Bulk Up PetChem Industry

President Trump is pushing members of his administration to work with state regulators in Appalachia–Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania–to “build the country’s first natural gas and petrochemical hub” outside of the Gulf Coast. According to Energy Secretary Rick Perry, such a plan is in the the country’s national security interests. Members of the Trump team are also having discussions with leftists like NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to try and convince him to allow pipelines into and through the state. If states like NY won’t allow it, Perry holds out the hope/threat that the feds will invoke the Constitution’s interstate commerce clause to make them.
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Ohio Portion of Risberg Pipeline Construction Begins

click map for larger version

In February MDN brought you the news that construction had begun on a relatively small pipeline project, the Risberg Line, a 60-mile pipeline with half of that an existing in-the-ground pipeline that runs from Crawford County, PA to Erie County, PA, and from there across the border into Ashtabula County, OH (see Construction Begins on “Massive” PA to OH Risberg Pipeline). Good news: Construction has just begun on the Ohio side of the border.
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PA Court Denies “Standing” for Grandma Fighting Range Well

A grandmother concerned that if Range Resources were to build a well pad three-fourths of a mile from her granddaughter’s school (in Washington County, PA) instead of building it a full mile from the school, tried to gain legal standing to challenge a permit granted to Range by Mount Pleasant Township. Grandma says her granddaughter has a sensitivity to benzene fumes. Yesterday a Commonwealth Court panel ruled she does NOT have legal standing to challenge the permit.
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PA Sen. Dinniman Intros Bill Requiring Study of “Old” Pipelines

PA State Sen. Andy Dinniman

Pennsylvania Senator Andy Dinniman, leftist Democrat from Chester County (near Philadelphia), continues his mission to try and block all three Mariner East pipelines from achieving or continuing service, flowing natural gas liquids to Marcus Hook. His latest attempt is “pipeline safety” Senate Bill (SB) 677, a bill requiring an all natgas and NGL pipelines over 50 years old to conduct an “end of life” study.
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Texas Court Strikes Down Obama WOTUS Rule

One of the worst examples of regulatory abuse under the Obama Administration was the EPA’s redefinition of what is called Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The Obamadroids redefined WOTUS to mean everything down to mud puddles–and no, we’re not exaggerating (see EPA Power Grab: Redefines Waters of the U.S. to Include Everything). When Trump took office, his EPA tried to rescind the Obama WOTUS damage, but liberal judges in various courts have done their best to protect the swamp (see Fed Judge Revives Obama Waters of US Tragedy in 26 States). We have some progress to report in overturning Obama’s WOTUS.
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Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jun 7, 2019

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Sen. Costa to introduce bill cutting PA carbon pollution from power plants by 90% by 2040; Killion introduces severance tax bill on natural gas drillers; Lisa Baker’s DRBC “taking” bill recommended by Senate committee; PA Senate environmental committee hears ideas on 3rd party DEP permit reviews; NATIONAL: Horizontally drilled wells dominate U.S. tight formation production; INTERNATIONAL: Secretary Perry: U.S. LNG to remain competitive to Russian gas; The global boom in natural gas demand is about to slow, the International Energy Agency says; China’s energy markets feel the squeeze; Australia, a top natural-gas exporter, considers imports to stop blackouts.
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