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Gov Wolf to Veto Bill Attracting Cracker-Type Investment to NEPA

Pennsylvania House Bill (HB) 1100, aimed at attracting NEW petrochemical investment to the state, is due to be voted on (and passed) by the PA Senate this week. Gov. Tom Wolf (liberal Democrat) has vowed to veto the bill–denying the state billions of economic stimulus it could receive. Why the veto? Your guess is as good as ours. Likely because it will encourage more use of PA’s abundant natural gas supplies, and that doesn’t sit well with radicalized enviro types.
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DRBC Miffed that PennEast Withdrew Application for Permission

Yesterday we received a somewhat strange note from the Delaware River Basin Commission. We’re subscribed to receive communications from the DRBC relating to the PennEast Pipeline project. The DRBC note says that PennEast has withdrawn their application seeking permission from the DRBC to use or discharge water from the basin during the construction of the pipeline project. DRBC doesn’t quite know what to make of the request and says they are “currently reviewing the letter” and have “no additional comment at this time.” Oooo…chilly.
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SEPA Union Workers Eager to Return to Work on Mariner East Pipe

In January the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) finally, after more than a year, allowed Energy Transfer to restart the final bits of construction needed to complete the Mariner East 2 (ME2) pipeline project (see PA DEP Slaps Energy Transfer Again – $2M Fine re Mariner East 2). No one is happier to restart construction than the union members of Steamfitters Union Local 420.
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Penn State Gets $1.2M DOE Grant to Design Better NGV Fuel Tank

T.C. Mike Chung

T.C. “Mike” Chung, a professor of materials science and engineering in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State University has just received a three-year, $1.12 million federal grant to develop materials that allow natural gas to be stored at lower pressures, which in turn could lead to better fuel tanks for NG powered vehicles.
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EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2020 Says Gas Under $4/Mcf Thru 2050

According to our favorite government agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the price of natural gas will, on average, remain below $4 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) for (gasp)–the next 30 years. You read that right. Lower for longer is, according to EIA, the reality for the next full generation. EIA recently released its “Annual Energy Outlook 2020” (full copy below). In addition to low gas prices, EIA predicts that so-called renewables will eclipse natural gas in electricity production by 2050. We say: When pigs fly.
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Crazy Bernie & AOC Intro Bill to Ban ALL Fracking in 5 Years

Sanders & AOC – two nutty peas in a pod

Vermont U.S. Senator “crazy” Bernie Sanders along with New York Congresswoman Alexandria “occasional-cortex” Ocasio-Cortez introduced a breathtakingly fascist bill last Friday meant to strip away personal freedom and property rights by banning ALL hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas everywhere. Some of the ban would happen immediately–on all federal lands. The ban is complete and total on all private land within five years–by Jan. 1, 2025. Need we say more about whether or not you should vote for *any* Democrat in 2020?
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MDN on the Radio! Jim’s Top Concerns for M-U Shale in 2020

Last Thursday MDN editor Jim Willis had the pleasure of pre-recording an appearance on the radio program Shale Gas News, co-hosted by Jim’s friend Bill desRosiers (from Cabot Oil & Gas). We have the recorded segment below. In the interview, Jim offers up the main “threats” that he sees for the Marcellus/Utica (indeed all shale drilling) in 2020.
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Shale Energy Stories of Interest: Tue, Feb 4, 2020

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Philly refinery’s former owner, Sunoco, files formal objection ahead of bankruptcy sale; Sanders’ proposed fracking ban would cost him Pennsylvania and probably the election; Veolia Water Technologies may close Moon Township office; Cabot to provide lunch at Susquehanna County Ag Day; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Kean, Thompson slam Gov. Murphy’s energy master plan to shut off natural gas by 2050; Flurry of changes continue in Texas Gulf Coast gas markets; NATIONAL: U.S. crude oil and natural gas production increased in 2018, with 10% fewer wells; Elizabeth Warren’s gas royalties; US natural gas prices continue freefall this winter; Natural gas waits for spring; INTERNATIONAL: Natural gas won’t decarbonize shipping, but the fuel is here to stay; Cruise ships switching fuel to cleaner liquefied natural gas.
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