Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel

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    Sandra Steingraber’s Big Gaffe at You Defend It Debate

    A few days ago we gave you our eyewitness account of a debate between John Holko, president of Lenape Resources and Sandra Steingraber, author, erstwhile biologist and Rachel Carson wannabe (see Fracking Debate at Binghamton U: Holko vs Steingraber). It was a good debate to illustrate the utter lack of credibility and facts used by anti-drillers like Steingraber. In writing up our review, we overlooked perhaps the most outrageous and silly thing Steingraber said Monday night. She was pressing home the point she believes it’s time, right now, for New York to flip the switch and end the use of all fossil fuels (yes, she’s that “out there”). Debate moderator Rob Kilmer was somewhat incredulous and asked her if/how we might accomplish such a feat. She responded there is historical precedence–that at one time in our country’s (evil, vile) history, we could not conceive of a national economy without slave labor–and in the same way we overcame that morally abhorrent practice, we can overcome using fossil fuels today–apparently something equally abhorrent for Steingraber. You read that right–she equated burning fossil fuels for energy (something every single person reading this does, including Steingraber) with the enslavement of Africans in our distant past. How twisted is that?

    Our good friend Tom Shepstone from the must-read Natural Gas Now website brings us his view of the debate and recounts Steingraber’s “gilding of the lily” with her slavery comment…
    Read More “Sandra Steingraber’s Big Gaffe at You Defend It Debate”

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    PA’s “Coddling” of the Marcellus Industry & Economic Illiteracy

    It’s now clear that liberals and Democrats (usually the same) in PA are hellbent on imposing an extreme severance tax on the Marcellus drilling industry. Whether the seven townships that sued the state to overturn large portions of the Act 13 law (eventually winning) are part of the tax conspiracy–we don’t know. Whether intentional or not, the lawsuit by the towns has led to the current situation that a wise, circumspect and reasonable impact fee (instead of a tax that redistributes wealth to people who didn’t earn it) is now in jeopardy and likely a goner (see Happy Story Ends Badly Because of 7 PA Towns). So Libs and Dems, or LibDems, are now beating the drums: tax, tax, tax, tax. They’re actually happy that towns will lose out on millions of dollars of impact fee revenue because they want use it as a political issue–as an excuse to tax out the wazoo.

    The sycophantic and slavish media has picked up the meme and LibDem editors are writing op-eds calling for a nosebleed severance tax–like the editors of the Scranton Times-Tribune. The TR editors say the PA state legislature, by not imposing a nosebleed severance tax, has been “coddling” the drilling industry. What they’ve been doing, sychophantic, slavish LibDem TR editors, is fostering an economic miracle happening in PA all around you–an economic miracle that’s the envy of the world! You’re now about to pee all over it and ruin it. Try boning up on an economics course sometime…
    Read More “PA’s “Coddling” of the Marcellus Industry & Economic Illiteracy”

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    NY Attorney General Actively Works Against 70K NY Landowners

    chained dogAs hard as it is to believe, New York’s Attorney General continues to work against his own constituents. We’ve known since his election that Democrat Eric Schneiderman is anti-drilling–what we didn’t know was was how much of an activist he would be, using his office to further his own distorted views on oil and gas drilling. He’s misused the power of the subpoena to go after drillers (see NY Attorney General Schneiderman Subpoenas Shale Drillers). He’s abused the power of his office to investigate town board members in towns that voted to “wait and see” (i.e. not ban) shale drilling (see NY Attorney General Investigates Towns Who Won’t Ban Fracking).

    Now, unbelievably, he has asked the court (and succeeded) in delaying a lawsuit brought by 70,000 New York residents–the people he’s sworn to protect–against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. It seems that Cuomo is the only person in the state Schneiderman wants to protect. He’s Andy’s personal junk yard guard dog–on a not-so-short leash. The Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY) recently sued Cuomo with an Article 78 lawsuit, in essence asking the court to force Cuomo to do the job he won’t do and release new oil and gas drilling regulations (see D-Day: JLCNY Files Lawsuit Today Against Cuomo, Martens, Shah). Schneiderman has gotten the court to delay any action on the lawsuit from March 7 to April 4, to give Schneiderman and his lieutenants, what, more time after 5 1/2 years?…
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    Mass. Anti-Drillers Finally Wake Up, Begin Opposing TGP Project

    About a month ago MDN noted, with some shock, that townships across Massachusetts were reacting to overtures by Kinder Morgan to expand the Tennessee Gas Pipeline across the state (to bring in more abundant, cheap Marcellus Shale gas) with reasonableness and an open mind (see Reaction to TGP’s Planned Pipeline Across Massachusetts). We always thought Massachusetts residents as a whole were slightly left of Vlad Putin. But we were (happily) wrong! We observed it’s funny how a 10x price jump in natural gas had turned New Englanders into a more reasoned, considered bunch.

    However, some of the nutty bugs have now come crawling out of the woodwork to oppose the pipeline because it will bring that filthy, nasty “fracked” natural gas into the state. It just took them a little longer to come out of their fugue and get organized, but now they have–at least a small handful of them…
    Read More “Mass. Anti-Drillers Finally Wake Up, Begin Opposing TGP Project”

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    Latest Hypocritical Protest of PA’s State Forest Drilling Plan

    A handful of anti-drilling nutters–mostly washed up hippies from the 60s–held a protest rally in Harrisburg at the PA State Capitol yesterday to object to the very thing one of their icons, Ed Rendell (and his DEP Secretary John Hanger) themselves did: allow a little bit of drilling under (not on) state forests for natural gas. The hypocrisy was on full display as a small group, inflated by media reports as some sort of huge, massive movement thing, gathered to get their photo op before retiring to the nearest Starbucks to sip coffee created by machines operating on natural gas in a shop heated with natural gas to discuss how great it feels to relive the good ole days of protesting.

    Here’s how the reliably anti-drilling StateImpact Pennsylvania reported the so-called “rally”…
    Read More “Latest Hypocritical Protest of PA’s State Forest Drilling Plan”

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    Fracking Debate at Binghamton U: Holko vs Steingraber

    Last night MDN editor Jim Willis attended a “You Defend It” debate at Binghamton University between pro-driller John Holko, president of Lanape Resources (Buffalo area), and anti-driller Sandra Steingraber, a so-called “scholar in residence” at Ithaca College and founder of New Yorkers Against Fracking. The debate was on the topic of whether or not New York should allow high volume hydraulic fracturing (shale fracking). The format was interesting and refreshing–NO audience participation allowed. No cat calls or clapping or hooting characteristic of hippie anti-drillers was allowed. Also, the debaters were not allowed to question each other or respond to the other’s arguments. It was the moderator (Binghamton attorney Rob Kilmer) asking them questions in turn–and that’s it. The audience, which MDN would estimate at 250-300 people, heard the best pro and con arguments from both sides. Refreshing. And, enlightening.

    If we could step back and make an observation about the poise and demeanor of the debaters, John Holko was relaxed and worked from no notes. Sandra Steingraber, whom we have perhaps uncharitably called nutty, was nuttier than ever. She looked tense and had many notes and every response to a question started and ended with how fracking leads to an environmental holocaust that’s killing Mother Earth. When grilled by Kilmer as to why fracking doesn’t seem to be creating widespread damage in Pennsylvania the way she portrays it would in New York, she responded (amazingly) it really is. Steingraber maintains “everyone” is hushed up by legal gag orders in PA that don’t allow residents to tell the truth of what’s happening. So you see, she was simply off the rails–yet again…
    Read More “Fracking Debate at Binghamton U: Holko vs Steingraber”

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    3 Anti-Drilling MD Commissioners Want Fracking Delayed…Surprise!

    It’s been a loooong road in Maryland, evaluating whether or not they should, and if so how, to move forward with hydraulic fracturing of shale in two counties in the state. Failed Gov. Martin O’Malley appointed a commission nearly three years ago to study it. A couple of studies have been created with two more still to go–due by August 1st of this year. The two remaining studies are nebulous “heath effects” (sound familiar?) and economic impacts from drilling. MDN has always joked that Maryland was the only state more dysfunctional than New York when it comes to shale drilling. We were wrong–New York is at the bottom of the heap. We think Maryland could actually beat us to the drill bit. Maybe.

    However, we noticed an op-ed written by three members of the Maryland Safe-Drilling Advisory Commission, all three anti-drilling, that argues Maryland should be *more* like New York and delay. They say, in essence, “Ain’t no way those two studies can done in time.” So the answer? Delay. Hey, the delay strategy has worked in spades for NY–why not try it in MD? Here’s the op-ed (and what you get when you appoint anti-drillers to a drilling commission)…
    Read More “3 Anti-Drilling MD Commissioners Want Fracking Delayed…Surprise!”

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    Expect “Frackgate” to be an Issue in Ohio for a While

    Anti-drillers in Ohio, like the Sierra Club, have dubbed the “revelation” that the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) once crafted a communications plan to deal with nutjobs (like them) a scandal, so they’ve take to calling it “frackgate” (see ODNR Ticks Off Anti-Drilling Sierra Club with Drilling PR Plan). Relatedly, we also told you about Gov. John Kasich already throwing in the towel and admitting defeat on the matter of drilling in a single state forest and two state parks (see The Disgusting PR Mess in Ohio – No One Smells Pretty).

    You can expect “frackgate” to continue to be an issue in Ohio for a while because of the upcoming governor’s race. As we previously pointed out, the liberal Dems never let a good manufactured controversy (or crisis) go to waste. They’re now whispering about Kasich’s “enemies list” from the ODNR plan (even though Kasich had nothing to do with authoring the PR plan). By the way–they are enemies–of truth and common sense and reasonableness. Being good libdems, they will continue to harp on the “frackgate” issue, using a sycophantic press. Here’s the latest example of an article with absolutely no new information, the only purpose of which is to keep the story alive and in the minds of voters:
    Read More “Expect “Frackgate” to be an Issue in Ohio for a While”

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    The Disgusting PR Mess in Ohio – No One Smells Pretty

    You have to hand it to Democrats. As Rahm “the Godfather” Emanuel once stated, they never let a serious crisis to go to waste. And if there isn’t a serious crisis? They manufacture one, of course. And that’s what Dems are doing in Ohio. You know MDN is not a fan of RINO Gov. John Kasich and his penchant to raise severance taxes just to give it away to buy votes, and we’re certainly no fans of his jingoistic “foreigner” hunting. But Kasich is being unfairly targeted by Democrats over the recent “revelation” that the ODNR had a public relations plan cooked up to deal with nutjobs (mostly Dems) who would oppose drilling under (not on) one state forest and two state parks (see ODNR Ticks Off Anti-Drilling Sierra Club with Drilling PR Plan). The Dems are now calling for an investigation. (Funny how they never want to investigate our lawless President, isn’t it? But we digress.)

    Kasich now says he doesn’t want any drilling under (not on) that one state forest and two state parks, and hasn’t wanted it for a year and a half–although he never publicly announced it. Translation: the Dems have already won the PR war on this issue and have made Kasich back down. Kasich should have, instead, thrown it in their faces by pushing forward with a plan. Here’s the sad story of a complicit media, hypocritical Democrats, and wimpy RINO Republicans (a disgusting mess)…
    Read More “The Disgusting PR Mess in Ohio – No One Smells Pretty”

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    The Twisted Logic of an Anti-Driller: Blame Natgas for Everything

    If you try to enter the mind of a devoted anti-driller to understand their viewpoint and how they think, you risk going insane. We caution against it.

    Here’s an example of how “logic” works for anti-drillers. There’s a big chemical spill that affects the drinking water for 300,000 West Virginians–caused by the coal mining industry. You no doubt remember the headlines from a month or so ago. Since the coal industry caused the problem, we need new legislation that targets the shale drilling industry. Wait, what??? Yeah, that’s how logic works for an anti-driller…
    Read More “The Twisted Logic of an Anti-Driller: Blame Natgas for Everything”

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    2 OH Anti-Drilling Dems Miffed at Being Fingered in ODNR Memo

    Yesterday MDN told you about the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources’ innovative strategy to deal with the issue of drilling under (not on) a state forest and two state parks. Frankly, the came up with a brilliant public relations plan (see ODNR Ticks Off Anti-Drilling Sierra Club with Drilling PR Plan). But they decided in the end not to pursue the plan, knowing about the loud (and foul) mouthed opposition they would face. Listed by name in the list of dunderheads who oppose shale drilling in the state were none other than OH Rep. Robert Hagan, Democrat from Youngstown, and OH Rep. Nickie Antonio, Democrat from Lakewood (notice a trend here?). The two have called on the Speaker of the Ohio House to launch an investigation into what they creatively call “Frackgate”. It will never happen, but that’s not the point.

    We’d say Representatives Hagan and Antonio are up to their necks in…fracking waste. But then that would be unkind, wouldn’t it? So we’ll just say this is “more of the same” and gives the anti-drilling Hagan and Antonio an excuse to (once again) trot out the same old tired lies they’ve told a thousand times before. Here’s 1001…
    Read More “2 OH Anti-Drilling Dems Miffed at Being Fingered in ODNR Memo”

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    Break the Law in OH, Get an Award – Anti-Drilling Nuttery on Display

    Here’s a life lesson for the kiddies: Start an “organic” farm, and when you don’t get a lot of business because your prices are twice those of everyone else, become a shrill anti-driller and claim Mother Earth is getting poisoned by evil fracking (gets you noticed). Then, take “direct action” against those nasty drillers, which is a euphemism for break the law. And when you’re done, receive an award for it! That’s the brief story of Gilbert (Kip) Rondy, co-owner of Green Edge Gardens in Amesville, OH.

    Rondy is one of the so-called “Athens 8” arrested for illegally blocking access to an injection well site near Athens, OH. To reward his illegal behavior, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association is bestowing on him their Stewardship Award. How nice. We wonder, how would Rondy like it if a group a pro-drillers showed up and blocked access to his organic farm for oh, say a week or so? Would that be worthy of an award too?…
    Read More “Break the Law in OH, Get an Award – Anti-Drilling Nuttery on Display”

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    ODNR Ticks Off Anti-Drilling Sierra Club with Drilling PR Plan

    memoIn August of 2012 staffers at the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) made a boo-boo. They put into writing (in the form of a 13-page memo, embedded below) a draft plan to promote Utica Shale drilling under (not on) Sunfish Creek State Forest (in Monroe County), under (not on) Barkcamp State Park (in Belmont County), and under (not on) Wolf Run State Park (Noble County). The memo begins by saying there will be a communications problem to solve: “An initiative to proactively open state park and forest land to horizontal drilling/hydraulic fracturing will be met with zealous resistance by environmental activist opponents, who are skilled propagandists. Neutral parties in particular — such as ordinary citizens concerned about their families’ health — will be vulnerable to messaging by opponents that the initiative represents dangerous and radical state policy by Gov. Kasich.” (emphasis original) The memo states later on that, “Anti-fracking activists will attempt to legally and physically disrupt or halt the drilling projects, including staging dangerous protests on state lands. (This will require sustained legal countermeasures and crisis readiness by ODNR.)”

    May we translate? Groups like the Sierra Club lie to people about the drilling issue–and they sometimes engage in bullying (and violent) behavior. Of course the Sierra Club liars are just a bit miffed at being called out as liars and bullies–by no less than a state agency charged with regulating oil and gas. So they are on the offensive. The first thing the Sierra Club and similar groups will do (are doing) is to get their buddies in the slavishly devoted mainstream media to pick up their “ODNR are scumbags” meme and run with it. The second thing is they will use the ODNR memo in fundraising letters, which is really what the shale drilling issue is for them–a big, fat fundraiser…
    Read More “ODNR Ticks Off Anti-Drilling Sierra Club with Drilling PR Plan”

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    Cleveland Suburb’s Socialist Model for Restricting Utica Drilling

    Is Utica Shale drilling on the way to the Cleveland, OH area? It is if you listen to the mayor of the Cleveland uppity suburb of Gates Mills. Mayor Shawn Reilly wants landowners in Gates Mills to lock themselves into restrictive land trust deals–you know, to “manage” all that nasty, evil drilling if/when it gets there–in an estimated 10-12 years. This is not your typical landowner coalition being suggested. The good mayor wants landowners to sign over their mineral rights (via deed) to a “trust” managed by people appointed by the village (copy of the proposal embedded below). MDN’s advice to landowners in Gates Mills–run! Absolutely do not assign your mineral rights to a socialist organization that will not have your best interests at heart.

    Here’s an article full of errors–like it takes 200 acres for a horizontal drill pad, when it actually takes about 20 acres…
    Read More “Cleveland Suburb’s Socialist Model for Restricting Utica Drilling”

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    Shame & IgnomiNY: Cuomo Sued by 70K NY Residents over Frack Delay

    The shame and ignominy of being sued by residents of your own state to do you job. That’s what happened to Gov. Andrew “Can’t Make a Decision” Cuomo on Friday when the 70,000-member Joint Landowners Coalition of New York filed an Article 78 lawsuit last Friday (see D-Day: JLCNY Files Lawsuit Today Against Cuomo, Martens, Shah). You might think 70,000 residents suing a governor would be important news–even the whiff of something like that should rate at least a mention in the news, right? If you live in Binghamton (where the JLCNY is headquartered), and your newspaper is a local liberal Gannett newspaper–that answer would be: “wrong.” In the lead-up to the lawsuit being filed, the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin obstinately (and angrily) refused to cover the story. They censored it. It was only after MDN friend and intrepid blogger Andy Leahy, writer of NY Shale Gas Now! prodded and poked and agitated the great dragon did they finally deign to post an article about the lawsuit.

    The article finally appeared in the Saturday, Feb 15 edition (the day no one reads the paper). To their credit, it was a front-page story–“above the fold.” But it was tucked along the right side (see the front page of that issue below). What, you may ask, was the all-important lead news item dominating the front page, taking up more than half of the editorial space? An open house at Binghamton University. Talk about journalistic integrity and keen insight–people with a real bead on what’s important for readers. Those editors at the PSB, there’re a sharp bunch…
    Read More “Shame & IgnomiNY: Cuomo Sued by 70K NY Residents over Frack Delay”

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    Setting the Record Straight on PA Drill Cuttings Going to NY Landfill

    Every now and again it’s necessary to run around and clean up the poopy mess made by reckless and inaccurate claims from anti-drillers. It’s a distasteful but necessary job that needs to be done, otherwise the mental feces they leave strewn all around would begin to pile up.

    With respect to inaccurate claims made by anti-drillers (with faux outrage) over drill cuttings (leftover rock and dirt) from PA shale wells that go to the Chemung County Landfill just across the border in NY, Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli is on clean-up duty. Hey, somebody has to do it, so with plastic bag in hand…
    Read More “Setting the Record Straight on PA Drill Cuttings Going to NY Landfill”