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Philly Refinery to Close Following Massive Fire – 1,020 Jobs Lost

Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES), which operates the East Coast’s largest refinery on the banks of the Delaware River, was already wobbling because of onerous federal regulations that require refiners to blend in biofuel with gasoline and diesel, or purchase very expensive credits. PES can’t blend, so they must buy the credits, which put them under water financially, forcing them into bankruptcy last year (see Philadelphia Refinery Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy). Following a series of explosions and a massive fire last week (see Massive Explosion, Fire at Philadelphia Refinery), PES has announced it will be closing down over the next two weeks, throwing 1,020 people out of work.
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Atlantic Coast Pipe Officially Asks US Supreme Court to Hear Case

In February MDN told you that Dominion Energy planned to appeal a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit blocking an important permit for Atlantic Coast Pipeline to drill under the Appalachian Trail directly to the U.S. Supreme Court (see Dominion Appealing Atlantic Coast Pipe Case to U.S. Supreme Court). Dominion was waiting on the U.S. Solicitor General to prepare an appeal as well, which would strengthen the likelihood that the Supremes will accept the case. On Tuesday both Dominion and the Solicitor General filed their requests.
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Mass. Retirement Fund Sues EQT for Plummeting Stock Price

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The Cambridge (Massachusetts) Retirement System is not happy with their investment in EQT shares of stock, so they’re suing the company. They hope to turn the lawsuit into a class action on behalf of other shareholders. Cambridge claims EQT made false and misleading statements about their purchase of Rice Energy–claims about cost efficiencies that never materialized, and claims about the location of Rice leases that were not as close to EQT’s acreage as claimed. In a word, Cambridge is alleging fraud on the part of EQT.
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Antis Try to Block Baltimore Power Plant from Converting to NatGas

Global warming fundamentalists (our new term for radical environmentalists who irrationally hate all fossil fuels) are ramping up to oppose a plan to prevent a now-closed coal-fired electric power plant in Baltimore from reopening powered by natural gas. Because you know, global warming. And because we MUST dump the use of all fossil fuels by 2050 (the new “it” date) or earth will explode. This plant would have a useful life much longer than 2050. Can’t have that.
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New Report: Cuomo Damaging Environment by Blocking Pipes

The Manhattan Institute, a leading free-market think tank based in the Big Apple, has just published a new report (full copy below) that shows by blocking new natural gas pipeline projects, NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo is actually causing MORE harm to the environment. How? Blocking natural gas means building owners and power producers will continue to rely on oil, which emits 27% more carbon dioxide than natural gas. The report also shows lack of pipelines is forcing energy prices in the northeast to rocket skyward, which in some cases already exceed the national average by more than 90%.
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100+ Union Members Protest Dela. County Council Mtg re ME Pipes

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More than 100 union members packed a Delaware County, PA Council meeting yesterday to send the loud and clear message they are not happy with council members who have asked PA Gov. Tom Wolf to impose a moratorium on all of the Mariner East pipelines that pass through the county. Two weeks ago the council passed a resolution asking Wolf to block all of the pipelines, those already built and those under construction. This is what third world, tinpot dictatorships do–not the U.S.A. Union members were at the meeting to remind council members they vote, in large numbers, and they’re willing to toss them out of office if they continue with this chicanery.
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Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Jun 27, 2019

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Frackers go electric as negative gas prices spur switch; NATIONAL: Williams releases 2018 sustainability report; Williams pipeline support highlights Environmental Defense Fund’s long, cozy relationship with fracking pseudoscience; As coal fades in the U.S., natural gas becomes the climate battleground; Jones Act changes could disrupt offshore oil and gas sector; INTERNATIONAL: Why climate activists threaten endangered species with extinction; Fracking has enhanced the U.S. strategic position in the Persian Gulf region; Loosening Russia’s stranglehold on European natural gas.
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