Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel

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    PA Big Green Groups Fully Unmasked – Want to Ban All Fossil Fuels

    Just when you thought the nutty anti-drillers couldn’t get any nuttier–they have. An op-ed running in a major Pennsylvania newspaper, the York Dispatch, penned by the heads of two radical green organizations (PennFuture and Conservation Voters of PA) calls for Pennsylvania “to move with deliberate speed to a zero-carbon economy that relies on clean energy and energy efficiency to power our future.” This is certifiable insanity–like bring out the straitjackets time. The letter writers believe that it’s time to dump the use of all fossil fuels as energy sources. The problem is, there are a whole lotta stupid people who will read it and agree–people who are totally ignorant of how the world works–in particular how energy works and how fossil fuels have led to the best conditions mankind has ever experienced on Planet Earth. By the way, three top lieutenants in the PA Gov. Tom Wolf administration are from PennFuture–so that gives you an idea of why his administration is crashing and burning…
    Read More “PA Big Green Groups Fully Unmasked – Want to Ban All Fossil Fuels”

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    Paris Climate Treaty Signed by Obama NOT Binding on U.S.

    On Saturday, our illustrious president, Barack Hussein Obama, claims to have committed the United States into giving up its national sovereignty in the name of so-called man-made global warming. Obama and nearly every country of the world signed a climate agreement/treaty that commits the nations of the world to lower carbon dioxide emissions. You know, CO2–the stuff you exhale with every breath you take. Yeah, that stuff is supposedly warming up ole Mom Earth–catastrophically. Except it’s not. There is no empirical data that shows the earth is heating up–only doctored computer models. Satellite data shows the opposite–the average temp of Mom Earth is not heating up and hasn’t been for 18 years–how many times do we have to HOLLER this for it to get through? But facts aren’t what the Paris agreement is about. We can tell you what the agreement is about in two simple points: (1) transferring massive amounts of hard-earned wealth away from America to other countries, via a carbon tax; (2) banning the use of all fossil energy–asap. No, this is not hyperbole. It’s not overstating the case. This is EXACTLY what the Paris Climate Conference was all about…
    Read More “Paris Climate Treaty Signed by Obama NOT Binding on U.S.”

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    Anti-Pipeline Loons March on Concord Today – Play the Bagpipes!

    Break out the bagpipes! It’s time to get blasted and stumble down the streets of Concord, New Hampshire to show your love of Mother Earth and that you object to that evil, vile Northeast Energy Direct (NED) pipeline that will bring carbon-reducing, clean-burning, fracked natural gas to the Granite State. Protesters will assemble at the corner of Storrs and Theatre Street in Concord at 10:00 am this morning, and then stumble along for a half-mile while (no lie) bagpipers and drummers play. The goal–if they make it that far–is the State House where a bunch of “dignitaries” will deliver hate speeches against natural gas and pipelines and Big Oil and Gas and Satan and Donald Trump and whatever else they feel like railing against. Should be a real fun time…
    Read More “Anti-Pipeline Loons March on Concord Today – Play the Bagpipes!”

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    FERC Confirms “Intervenors” Slowing Down Pipeline Approvals

    As we’ve previously warned, anti-fossil fuel kooks are being effective in slowing down new pipeline projects by using a sleazy strategy of individually filing as “intervenors” in pipeline applications. An intervenor is supposed to be someone with a legitimate interest in a project who wants to provide data, information, opinion–and also someone (typically a group) that should be kept informed each step of the way what is happening with a pipeline application. Intervenors are usually towns, utility companies, large businesses, etc. In a scam and abuse of the system, antis are attempting to get all of their crazy followers–including children–to register as intervenors (see Delaware Riverkeeper Scams FERC in Review of PennEast Pipeline and Coordinated Attack? MassPLAN Uses Riverkeeper Pipeline Delay Tactic). It overloads the FERC system and slows down the approval process. Want proof? It comes directly from the mouth of a sitting FERC commissioner, Tony Clark…
    Read More “FERC Confirms “Intervenors” Slowing Down Pipeline Approvals”

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    Phys.org, Others Run 3 Yr-Old New York Frack Study as New News

    We found this one kind of amusing, and instructive, illustrating how anti-drillers unthinkingly get their “news.” On September 26, 2012 (yes, over three years ago) Syracuse University issued a press release about a program begun earlier in 2012 called Project SWIFT (Shale-Water Interaction Forensic Tools). The aim of the research project was to baseline test water wells for homeowners in New York State so when/if fracking arrives, there is solid scientific evidence for the condition of water before and then after fracking. The study also, as it turns out, innovated a few new techniques, including a method to measure salinity in water, the use of iodine as a tracer when testing, etc. Here’s the thing–the study was concluded in 2014 and of course in 2014 Gov. Cuomo banned fracking for the foreseeable future in the Empire State. So it’s all over and done with. No need for more testing. The project ran its course. But what’s this? Several authoritative “science” sites all of a sudden re-ran the original Syracuse University press release about Project SWFIT–with this week’s date on it! Word for word, same press release as 3+ years ago–slapping a new date from this week on it. One of the sites was EurekAlert!. Another was Phys.org. Their postings created a cascading or domino effect with a number of enviro sites picking it up and running it as new news. Egg on face anyone?…
    Read More “Phys.org, Others Run 3 Yr-Old New York Frack Study as New News”

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    Virginia Anti Groups Pressure Gov McAuliffe to Shut Down Fracking

    A group of virulent anti-drilling groups, including Clean Water Action, the Virginia Sierra Club and Shenandoah Riverkeeper, are pushing Virginia’s Democrat Governor Terry McAuliffe to halt any new fracking permits in the state until they can muster enough public support (through their lying public relations campaigns) to permanently shut down fracking in the Old Dominion, like has been done in the Empire State (i.e. New York). Said groups, which always position their “requests” as even-handed and really the only wise thing to do–have pulled this stunt in state after state after state. Fracking is a miracle. Fracking is safe. Fracking produces jobs. Fracking does not pollute water, air, land, etc. But you wouldn’t know that by the propaganda issued by these disgusting groups. We hope McAuliffe doesn’t cave to their pressure the way man-child Andy Cuomo did…
    Read More “Virginia Anti Groups Pressure Gov McAuliffe to Shut Down Fracking”

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    Paris Climate Change Hoaxers Stick Fingers in Ears, Holler La La La

    More news from Paris and the COP21 Climate Conference going on there. You might think scientists would want to know if other scientists have evidence that your hypotheses and theories need to be modified a bit–challenging your theories based on real, actual science. Any good scientist welcomes such a challenge because in the end, either your theory was off-base and you can make it better/more accurate, or your theory was correct all along and you can show the world such is the case. However, the so-called scientists at the Paris Climate Conference want to revoke the credentials/pass to attend for anyone who does not “believe” as they do in the theory that mankind is catastrophically causing Mother Earth to warm up. Can you believe that?! This has gone so far beyond science it’s no longer funny. This is the equivalent of the Catholic Church persecuting Galileo for abandoning the geocentric (earth-at-the-center) view of the solar system for the heliocentric (sun-at-the-center) view. The warmers are the Catholic Church of the Fifteenth Century. If you cross us, if you disagree with us (and use science to do so), you are dirt. You are nothing. You will be expelled. In fact, some of these zealots want to put those of us who don’t believe in man-made global warming in jail (see RIT Professor Says Jail Those Who Don’t Believe in Global Warming). It’s like these climate change hoaxers stick their fingers in their ears and holler, “La la la la la, I can’t HEAR you!” Here’s the latest from Paris, where everything BUT science is being discussed…
    Read More “Paris Climate Change Hoaxers Stick Fingers in Ears, Holler La La La”

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    Spoiled Rotten Kids Disrupt Paris Climate Conf over Fracked Gas

    Captain PlanetThe United Nations COP21 Climate Conference in Paris is attracting some of the craziest of the climate crazies. And they’re from the northeast, no less! A group of college kids–know-nothings–interrupted a panel discussion that included Vermont’s Democrat Governor Peter Shumlin because, they say, the guv is supporting a pipeline that will bring “fracked gas” to the state. We call them clinically insane. If they knew how many pipelines already exist beneath Vermont soil that flow natural gas, we expect they would have an aneurysm. During the panel two of the know-nothings stood up and unfurled a big banner that said Fracked Gas = Climate Change, complete with a kindergartenish drawing that depicts fractures reaching up into the water table (which doesn’t happen–ever). In our day and age of blaming your asinine actions on your parents, or your teachers, or even on cartoons–we’ll blame it on the cartoons. We expect these kids grew up watching Captain Planet on Saturday mornings and believed it hook, line and sinker. Here’s the story of spoiled rotten kids behaving like…spoiled rotten kids….
    Read More “Spoiled Rotten Kids Disrupt Paris Climate Conf over Fracked Gas”

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    Bernie Sanders Energy Plan: Ban Fossil Fuels, Turn Thermostat Down

    We always smile when we hear the name “Bernie Sanders.” He’s a hapless old idiot. A commie. Someone totally out of his league in running for president. But you know, he has a certain appeal–interestingly enough, with young people. The young people who like Sanders were no doubt mis-educated–not taught of the wonders and superiority of capitalism and freedom over communism/socialism/tyranny. But whatever. Bernie has a large following, which makes it somewhat scary when he announces an energy plan that includes banning all fossil fuels. Ole Bernie thinks we can stick up a windmill about every 150 feet, and solar panels on every home’s roof, and that’ll do it. We’ll be able to “save Mom Earth” by ending our “dependency” on evil, nasty fossil fuels. What dopes–Bernie AND his supporters…
    Read More “Bernie Sanders Energy Plan: Ban Fossil Fuels, Turn Thermostat Down”

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    Letter Writing War Erupts Over Jessup, PA Gas-Fired Power Plant

    An interesting back and forth in letters to the editor of the Democrat-run Scranton Times-Tribune over the proposed electric generating plant in Jessup, PA. As MDN has previously chronicled, Chicago-based Invenergy hopes to build what will be the largest (to date) electric generating plant in the state of Pennsylvania powered by natural gas (see Public Hearing on NEPA Proposed Marcellus-Powered Electric Plant). Invenergy hopes to build the 1300-megawatt plant in the borough of Jessup (Lackawanna County), near Scranton. In very basic and simple terms, local Democrat anti-drillers (who hate fossil fuels of any kind) are against the plant, and local clear-thinking Republicans are in favor of this clean-burning, jobs-producing, economy-stimulating project. Recently a ginned-up “controversy” over the plant took to the editorial pages of the Times-Tribune. Here’s the (so far) back and forth between two antis and one pro…
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    Inflection Energy Defeats Delaware Riverkeeper in Lycoming Co.

    It doesn’t happen often enough, which is why we make a big deal of it when it does: An energy company (in this case Inflection Energy) completely, utterly, and humiliatingly defeated THE Delaware Riverkeeper in an important court case in Lycoming County, PA. Less than a month ago we brought you the news that a Lycoming County judge had told an anti-driller, backed by Delaware Riverkeeper and Riverkeeper attorney Jordan Yeager, that the case they had filed to prevent Inflection Energy from drilling a legally permitted well was frivolous. The judge said he would allow the case to go forward, but only if the anti (and Riverkeeper) put up big bucks as collateral for the eventuality that they would likely lose (see PA Judge to Antis Seeking Drilling Delay: Put Up $5.69M or Shut Up). Turns out making these sleazeballs put their money where their mouth is, is good medicine. Riverkeeper and its “client” (the local anti-driller) have bowed out. The case is now closed and can’t be re-opened–and it sets a precedent for similar cases. In other words, the good guys won this time!…
    Read More “Inflection Energy Defeats Delaware Riverkeeper in Lycoming Co.”

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    FANG Protesters Strike RI Compressor Station Again, 8 Arrested

    FANG logoJust like a bad case of gout that keeps returning, or perhaps more relevantly like a flareup of herpes, radical protesters keep using illegal actions to oppose the expansion of a compressor station in Rhode Island–Spectra Energy’s Burrillville, RI compressor station. They used illegal actions in August (see FANG Protesters Chain Themselves to RI Compressor Station Gate). They did it again in September (see FANG Protesters Strike RI Compressor Station Again, 3 Arrested). And they did it yet again this past weekend. This time eight protesters were arrested, including a nun who has forsaken her first love, Jesus, and replaced Him with worship of Mother Earth. The protesters illegally trespassed on Spectra’s property and were arrested and removed. Once again, the protest was organized by the threatening-sounding group that calls itself FANG (yes, that is their logo, not something we made up)…
    Read More “FANG Protesters Strike RI Compressor Station Again, 8 Arrested”

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    Jefferson Hills, PA Antis Oppose EQT Well Near Future School Site

    A battle is heating up in Jefferson Hills (Allegheny County), PA where EQT has (so far) applied to drill a single shale well, near where a new school will be built. Because notifications of the neighbors requires EQT to list the maximum number of wells that may eventually get drilled at the well pad site, EQT has said that eventually that pad may support 20 wells. Note they are not planning on drilling 20 wells at the site. Further note: we’ve never even heard of 20-well site drilled anywhere in the state! Facts don’t matter in this debate. Anti-drilling radicals have latched on to the 20-well number and are raising a fuss, attempting to stop EQT from drilling even a single well. The primary objection seems to be because it will be near a school–a school not yet built…
    Read More “Jefferson Hills, PA Antis Oppose EQT Well Near Future School Site”

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    Anti-Fracking Jackets for Sale at Local Craft Fair in Pittsburgh

    Ever been to a local craft fair? They’re fun. You usually find everything on display and for sale from potholders to original paintings to wooden toys to kettle corn. It’s always eclectic–you never know what you’re going to find at such a show. The one thing we’ve never seen (or heard of), until now, is anti-fracking items for sale. Such a booth turned up at a recent craft fair held in Pittsburgh. It’s just, well, unseemly. Out of place. Kind of like a drunken relative who shows up for a family gathering–someone whom no one wants to be there…
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    Binghamton Newspaper Extreme Anti-Drilling Bias on Display

    This is what passes for “journalism” at the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin (P&SB), MDN’s hometown newspaper. Once upon a time the P&SB had a lefty reporter working for them, Tom Wilber. We’ve highlighted Tom’s anti-fracking articles in the past. Tom is a good writer, and fancied himself an Author, so he left the P&SB to write a book on fracking, “Under the Surface: Fracking, Fortunes, and the Fate of the Marcellus Shale.” Perhaps Tom thought he could retire in style after attacking shale energy. The book bombed. Tom had to get a day job again and ended up working for the P&SB (surprise!). He recently penned a rehashed diatribe against shale drilling in a series on shale energy appearing in the pages of the P&SB. We found it, quite frankly, boring. If we’re bored, you will be too–which is why we didn’t bother to comment on the series. Fortunately, MDN friends Tom Shepstone and others “took one for the team” and analyzed Tom’s latest anti-drilling diatribe (see NGN: Is That All There Is, Tom Wilber?). Tom (Shepstone) deserves hazard pay for reading it all. Our point: Tom Wilber is what the P&SB considers to be a fair, impartial journalist. Well, no they don’t, not really. They know he’s as biased and unfair as the editors at the P&SB, which is why they run his articles. They present his work as impartial journalism. To further highlight just how unfair and biased the P&SB is, we spotted two opinion pieces in the Sunday edition (yesterday). You know how newspapers run side-by-side “for and against” op-ed pieces? This time it was “against and against”–both op-eds were against fracking and shale energy. That’s what passes for “fair” in the P&SB…
    Read More “Binghamton Newspaper Extreme Anti-Drilling Bias on Display”

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    PennEast: The Long, Careful, Deliberate Road to Pipeline Approval

    The latest theme/meme being pedaled by groups like THE Delaware Riverkeeper (Maya van Rossum) and other anti-fossil fuel groups is that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is just a big ole rubber stamp for Big Oil and Big Gas. FERC, they say, never met a pipeline project they didn’t approve. FERC is in the back pocket of the fossil fuel industry. Yada yada yada. Some of the crazier of the crazies took to attending open FERC meetings in Washington, DC and disrupting those meetings (see FERC Clears the Room at DC HQ After Riff Raff Start Mouthing Off). Once they were banned from attending, they began to illegally block entrance to the building (see 24 Anti-Drilling Protesters Arrested by Homeland Security in DC). FERC has been made a kindergartenish bogyman by those who oppose pipelines. To counter some of the nonsense pedaled by these groups (and their willing accomplices in the media), PennEast Pipeline recently published an article to set the record straight. FERC doesn’t simply rubber stamp a pipeline application like PennEast’s–a pipeline proposed to run from Wilkes-Barre, PA to Trenton, NJ. PennEast faces a “gauntlet of approvals”–including 11 federal, state and local agencies that must approve thousands of pages of plans, much of it stringent safety requirements. Approving a pipeline is an intense, detailed, and LONG process in which no stone is left unturned. There is no rubber stamp except in the childish minds of irrational anti-fossil fuelers…
    Read More “PennEast: The Long, Careful, Deliberate Road to Pipeline Approval”