Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Taxation

Industry-Backed Ad Turning the Tide Against PA Severance Tax
June 1, 2015June 1, 2015

Must be that new advertisement airing in Pennsylvania warning folks against Gov. Tom Wolf’s Marcellus-killing 15% severance tax is having an effect. How can we tell? Because mainstream media outlets like the ABC affiliate in Harrisburg is manufacturing a false controversy about who’s behind the ads–quoting anti-drillers like Jan Jarrett from the non-transparent partisan group called the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center–to distract people from the effectiveness of the ad. Plus, the pro-Democrat Harrisburg Patriot-News doesn’t even bother manufacturing a false controversy–they just outright criticize and ridicule the ad, not even bothering with a veneer of objectivity…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Outsider Anti-Drilling Groups Celebrate Victory in Maryland Frack Ban
June 1, 2015June 1, 2015

As MDN reported last week, Maryland’s new Republican Governor, Larry Hogan–missing an important piece of his male anatomy–allowed a Maryland bill to become law that bans fracking in Maryland for another two years (see Maryland’s Pusillanimous Gov Allows Frack Moratorium to Become Law). That now gives non-Maryland anti-fracking groups another two years in which to lock down a total and permanent ban on fracking–which is their stated goal. The odious Food & Water Watch and other non-Maryland, outsider anti-drilling groups couldn’t be happier over the victory…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Exxon Mobil | Industrywide Issues | New York | Tompkins County

Park Foundation Resolution Defeated by ExxonMobil Shareholders
May 28, 2015May 28, 2015

It’s not often (enough) that the odious and disgusting Park Foundation suffers a total defeat–so we do a happy dance when it happens. It happened yesterday at ExxonMobil’s annual meeting where shareholders handed the Park Foundation (of Ithaca, NY) a humiliating defeat of their resolution that Exxon compose a cockamamie report every year detailing the so-called “risks” involved with unconventional drilling. Apparently the self-loathing Park Foundation wants Exxon to become self-loathing too–to produce a report that essentially says they’re creeps destroying Mother Earth by fracking. Three-fourths of Exxon shareholders said “no thanks.” Shareholders also voted down an idiotic proposal by a group of Catholic priests from Milwaukee who have lost their first love (Jesus Christ) in favor of a new love (Global Warming) to put a global warming expert on the board of directors. Ah, excuse us Fathers, whatever happened to your vow of poverty? Seems the priests of Milwaukee now have more money than the Lord Himself and want to throw their weight around at shareholder meetings rather than save souls…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland’s Pusillanimous Gov Allows Frack Moratorium to Become Law
May 27, 2015May 27, 2015

What a disappointment Maryland’s new Republican governor, Larry Hogan, has turned out to be. On his way out of office, Maryland’s previous governor, Martin O’Malley (Democrat), created strict drilling regulations that would allow fracking in Maryland THIS YEAR (see Maryland Gets Ready to Frack! Gov O’Malley Files New Regulations). O’Malley was a disaster as Maryland’s governor, and even though he lobbed new fracking regs over the wall in a sleazy political move (he’s running for president), we tipped our hat to him for doing the right thing–even if he did it for his own personal reasons. The prospect of any fracking was too much for the environmentally insane that belong to Maryland’s legislature. They passed a two-year moratorium bill and sent it to Hogan for his signature (see Maryland Closer to a 2-Year Fracking Ban, Will Gov have Guts?). Looks like the pusillanimous Gov. Hogan doesn’t have guts after all. He’s already defeated just a few months into his first term. Last Friday the Baltimore Sun quotes his office as saying Hogan, who supposedly supports shale drilling, will let the bill become law without his signature–a cop out if ever we’ve seen one…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Cuyahoga County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio | Regulation

Broadview Hghts, OH Won’t Appeal Overturned Home Rule Law
May 27, 2015May 27, 2015

In March MDN told you about the crushing defeat of a home rule law in Broadview Heights, a Cleveland, OH suburb (see OH Antis Handed Crushing Defeat in Broadview Hghts Home Rule Case). A Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judge struck down Broadview Heights’ so-called community bill of rights that bans all oil and gas drilling–including shale drilling. The judge rightly ruled that only the state–and not localities–have the right to regulate oil and gas drilling. That caused the anarchists at the Ohio Community Right to Know Network (OHCRN) to call for an uprising. They “refuse” to recognize the court’s decision (i.e. they’re lawless). Fortunately for the citizens of Broadview Heights, city leaders do still recognize the rule of law. Last week the city announced it will not appeal the decision, because it has no basis on which to appeal it. But that doesn’t stop the nutters from an OHCRN associate group, calling itself Mothers Against Drilling In Our Neighborhoods, from filing yet another frivolous lawsuit, which they’ve done…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | PennEast Pipeline | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide PA

Pittsburgh Newspaper Calls Out Dela. Riverkeeper over Penn East
May 26, 2015May 26, 2015

It’s so unusual we have to highlight it. One of two major newspapers in Pittsburgh, the Tribune-Review, has called out THE Delaware Riverkeeper over its opposition to the Penn East Pipeline. The Penn East, if built, will run 114 miles from the Scranton, PA area to the Trenton, NJ area. An editorial in the Tribune-Review last Friday questions the true motivation of THE Delaware Riverkeeper in their opposition to Penn East and tells the group, in so many words, to put up or shut up. Tell us exactly how the pipeline will “damage” the environment–and if you can’t, go away and leave us all in peace to build a pipeline with tremendous economic benefits in both jobs and lower energy costs for consumers…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide PA | Williams | Wyoming County (PA)

PA Landowners Beware Antis Wanting to “Help You” w/Pipeline Deal
May 21, 2015May 21, 2015

Landowners in northeast and central Pennsylvania should be wary of (and avoid) a new effort to try and recruit them into a “landowner group” that’s really just an anti-drilling group being formed to fight Williams and their much-needed Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project. Two anti-drilling kids (or youths, if you prefer) are spearheading the effort. Alex Lotorto is one of them. Alex has been one of the community agitators against the natural gas fired electric generating plant proposed for Jessup, PA (see Serial Protestor Alex Lotorto Seeks New Venue in Jessup). Alex and another twenty-something anti-driller, Allison Petryk (from New Jersey), recently conducted a meeting for unsuspecting landowners at the Tunkhannock Public Library in Wyoming County…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

Vermont Wackos (Including AARP) Oppose 43-Mile Natgas Pipeline
May 21, 2015May 21, 2015

The fossil fuel hating nutjobs are out in force in Vermont. Anti-drillers who hate fracking because they hate natural gas because natural gas is an evil, nasty “fossil fuel” are trying to stall progress on a 43-mile natural gas pipeline Vermont Gas Systems is laying between Chittenden and Addison counties to deliver clean burning natural gas to Vermonters. Those opposing the pipeline include the wackos from a group called Rising Tide Vermont. But unfortunately, the pipeline is also being opposed by the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association (companies that deliver fuel oil) and opposed by even the socialist Vermont AARP. Who knows why the old farts association is opposing the pipeline–probably because no one paid them off (as others have done in the past). It’s a sad state of affairs, but Vermont Gas Systems is going on the offensive with a PR campaign…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Statewide NY

NY Antis Use Same Strategy for Pipelines: “We Need Health Study”
May 20, 2015May 20, 2015

The anti-drilling nutters in New York are somewhat drunk on their own success. The strategy of “we need to wait until a health study is done” worked so well to delay fracking in NY, the nutters are (predictably) back and now trying to use the same strategy with regard to building new pipelines. It’s no secret that infrastructure–i.e. pipelines–are desperately needed to get Marcellus Shale gas out of Pennsylvania and into markets like New York, New England and beyond. Anti-drillers (actually fossil fuel haters) believe they can now pressure NY officials to delay permits for pipelines in the same fashion they delayed fracking long enough to kill it. The new tactic is to claim pipeline compressor, metering and regulation stations are toxic for those who live near them. In other words, more lying, scare tactics to cover up the fact it is fossil fuel hatred that motivates them and not concern for your health…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Crude Oil | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Riverkeeper Sues Federal DOT Over New Oil Train Regs
May 20, 2015May 20, 2015

The fossil fuel hating New York Riverkeeper–not to be confused with fossil fuel hating THE Delaware Riverkeeper–has just sued the U.S. Dept. of Transportation over rules the DOT recently issued with regard to railroads transporting crude oil (usually Bakken crude) through New York State. Riverkeeper is being joined in their frivolous lawsuit by several other odious anti-drilling, anti-capitalist Big Green organizations: Earthjustice, Waterkeeper Alliance, ForestEthics and the Sierra Clubbers. Riverkeeper says the DOT’s new rules for oil trains won’t protect rivers like the Hudson…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Butler County | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Rex Energy

Martian Arrogance: Town MUST “Protect Us” from Drilling via Zoning
May 19, 2015May 19, 2015

Those trouble-making Martians are at it again. Four virulently anti-fossil fuel parents from the Mars School District in Middlesex Township (Butler County), PA are being assisted–we maintain illegally–with support from THE Delaware Riverkeeper (violating its own charter of operating on the other side of the state in the Delaware River Basin) and by the Philadelphia group Clean Air Council. Riverkeeper’s interference in Butler County invalidates their tax-exempt status. Get this, using money from Riverkeeper and the Clean Air Council, the four Middlesex residents are trying to FORCE locally elected leaders in Middlesex to “protect them” from an activity that’s harmless–drilling a shale well 3/4 of a mile away from the local Mars School. It’s the same type of “sue and settle” being used at the national level, being tried locally. Seven selfish PA townships sued the state (and won) to retain the right to zone where drilling can and can’t take place. Now the Martians want to (ab)use the same Act 13 law to force the town to enact zoning that this small group of residents wants regardless of what a majority of town residents want. In other words, there is only one outcome (for them) allowed under Act 13: no drilling. It is an amazingly arrogant position and needs to be vigorously opposed legally, morally, via popular opinion–in any way possible…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Washington County

Cecil Twp Violates Court Order re MarkWest Compressor Permit
May 19, 2015May 19, 2015

MDN first started tracking the issue of MarkWest Energy’s desire/application to build a compressor station in Cecil Township (Washington County), PA all the way back in May 2011–four years ago (see MarkWest, Range Resources File Legal Appeal Over Denial of Permit for Gas Compressor Station in Cecil, PA). The case goes back even further to the fall of 2010 when MarkWest first filed for the permit. Since that time, Cecil has steadfastly denied MarkWest a permit to build the compressor. It took nearly four years of lawsuits (see our many stories here), but last fall a judge ruled that Cecil could not disallow the MarkWest compressor in an area zoned industrial (see MarkWest Wins Court Case to Build Compressor Station in Cecil, PA). The Cecil Town Board decided not to appeal the decision, but the zoning board has kept it bottled up since last October. The town has now exhausted all legal options and the court, in April, told the town they have 45 days to grant the permit. The clock is ticking and yet the zoning board is still dragging its feet and intends to violate the 45-day court order…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Lebanon County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Sunoco Logistics

Antis’ Zoning Appeal re Mariner East Pump Stn in Lebanon “Moot”
May 18, 2015May 18, 2015

Back in November MDN told you about anti-drillers in Lebanon County, PA who had succumbed to shiny object syndrome and transferred their irrational hatred of fossil fuels from the Williams Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project to the already-in-the-ground but getting repurposed Sunoco Logistics Mariner East pipeline (see New Target for Lebanon, PA Antis: Mariner East Pipeline). As part of converting Mariner East from an oil pipeline to flow natural gas liquids, including propane and ethane, from western PA to the Philadelphia area, some 31 pump and valve stations need to be constructed–one of them in West Cornwall in Lebanon County. Three local residents and an anti-drilling group called Concerned Citizens of Lebanon County filed an appeal with the zoning board to force the town to rescind permits they granted to allow the pump station (see Sunoco Presents on Mariner East Pump Station in Lebanon, PA). Last Thursday the West Cornwall Township Zoning Hearing Board declared “moot” that appeal. The anti-drillers are hopping mad…
Read More “Antis’ Zoning Appeal re Mariner East Pump Stn in Lebanon “Moot””
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Crestwood Midstream | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Schuyler County

Josh Fox Among 21 Arrested at Crestwood Facility in Upstate NY
May 15, 2015May 15, 2015

Thank God we get some comic relief every now and again by the bizarre antics of anti-drillers. Covering the miracle of wholesome, safe and good hydraulic fracturing and the many benefits to society of natural gas is rewarding, but what makes it fun is to point out the hypocrisy and stupid behavior of those who oppose it. On Wednesday a group of mostly old upstate NY hippies staged yet another protest and illegally blocked the entrance of the future underground propane storage facility near Watkins Glen, NY owned and operated by Crestwood Midstream. Getting arrested in front of the Seneca Lake facility to gain media attention is a regular occurrence (see 10 Antis Arrested for Blocking Crestwood Facility at Seneca Lake and NY Protesters Arrested for Blocking NatGas Storage Facility). On Wednesday, the largest number of protesters illegally blocking the facility–a veritable mob–was arrested. There were 21 arrests in all. Among them was Gasland mockumentary maker and minor celebrity Josh Fox…
Read More “Josh Fox Among 21 Arrested at Crestwood Facility in Upstate NY”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

StateImpact Targets Philly Mayoral Candidate for “Ties” to Marcellus
May 15, 2015May 15, 2015

The anti-drilling StateImpact Pennsylvania, an initiative of taxpayer-funded PBS, recently published an “expose” on the race for Philadelphia mayor and how fossil fuel companies–namely the Marcellus Shale industry–are corrupting the race with huge donations to candidates. We mean, it’s just so unbelievable that, well, we don’t believe it! Huge. Money corrupts. Bags and bags of money from those evil, nasty frackers meant to buy off the mayor’s race in the liberal bastion of Philly. It’s absolutely sinister. Oh. How much money is being donated by frackers? Because he’s a state senator, only one of the dozen or so running is required to file financial statements–State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams. So we have the best data on Tony. By the way, Tony’s wife Shari (a fine lady whom we are privileged to have as an acquaintance) works for the enemy–the Marcellus Shale Coalition. StateImpact hates the MSC and by extension, anyone associated with them. So StateImpact poured over the recent financial filing by Williams and this is the huge smoking gun they found…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Regulation

Environmentalists & Government Collude in “Sue and Settle” Cases
May 15, 2015May 15, 2015

There is a practice called “sue and settle” being used by our federal government–financed by us, by taxpayers–that will make your blood boil. It’s not new. It’s been going on for years and is now refined into an art form. MDN first heard about this practice at the Oil & Gas Awards in Oklahoma City last fall when Oklahoma’s excellent Attorney General Scott Pruitt gave the assembled crowd a rundown of how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is attempting to screw the oil and gas industry by using this tactic. Here’s how it works: a far-left radical environmental group like Earthjustice sues a government agency, like the EPA or USFWS to force the agency enact a new rule or regulation supposedly to comply with an existing law. The government agency actually WANTS the lawsuit (colluding with the extremist group to invite it), so they can get a court order “forcing” them to take a certain action. Earthjustice and the government agency, behind closed doors, work out what the action will be. At the conclusion of the lawsuit, the court awards the “winning” party compensation from the “losing” party to cover legal fees. Using that strategy, from 1995 to 2010, Earthjustice received $4,655,425 of taxpayer money. Question: Why hasn’t Earthjustice been exposed as frauds and shut down?…
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