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PA’s Switch from Coal to NatGas Netted at Least $500B in Benefits

The switch from coal to natural gas in power generation has led to historic emissions and air pollutant reductions equaling $450 billion to $1.04 trillion in public health benefits for Pennsylvanians, according to a Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) analysis. The analysis leverages emissions data from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) and applies U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methodologies to assign a dollar value to each ton of NOx and SOx reduced. As shale gas development became prevalent across PA and in-state natural gas electric generation increased from 5% to 59% between 2005-2022, criteria emissions contributing to respiratory ailments — nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx) — are down 81% and 93%, respectively, yielding a range of $7.9-$18.4 billion in NOx and $445.1 billion – $1.02 trillion in SOx cumulative public health benefits for Pennsylvanians.
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Dog Research Debunks Link Between Fracking and Cancer

Last year, University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) researchers released three studies commissioned by the State Dept. of Health supposedly investigating whether or not there is a connection between shale drilling and childhood diseases, including cancer (see Pitt Releases Fake Research, Claims PA Fracking Linked to Kid Cancer). It was fake research, as we pointed out in a follow-up post (see Serious Flaws Revealed in Pitt’s So-Called Fracking/Cancer Studies). A new set of researchers with access to real data about cancer rates in dogs decided to see if a connection exists between dogs with cancer and their nearness to fracking operations. The new research finds no such correlation.
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PA Sen. Yaw Calls for Refund of $2.5M Spent on Pitt Fracking Study

In August, University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) researchers released three studies commissioned by the State Dept. of Health supposedly investigating whether or not there is a connection between shale drilling and childhood diseases, including cancer (see Pitt Releases Fake Research, Claims PA Fracking Linked to Kid Cancer). From the beginning, when Pitt received $2.5 million with instructions to investigate a single cause (shale drilling), our position has been that this is not real science. Not when an abandoned uranium dump in the area (which there is) is ignored as a potential source. Not when other potential environmental factors are ignored. After combing through the studies, both Energy in Depth and the Marcellus Shale Coalition penned superb articles that destroyed Pitt’s so-called studies (see EID, MSC Destroy Pitt Fake Study Tying Fracking to Cancer in Kids). Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw, Chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, says Pennsylvania taxpayers deserve a refund from Pitt for producing sloppy research.
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PA DEP O&G Head Responds to Fake Pitt Studies on Fracking & Cancer

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania State Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) provided updates for various issues to the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board (TAB) at a meeting held in Harrisburg and online. TAB’s mission is to increase transparency and communication about regulating the shale drilling industry in PA. TAB is authorized under the 2012 Oil and Gas Act to advise DEP in the formulation, drafting, and presentation stages of all regulations relating to unconventional oil and gas extraction. Kurt Klapkowski, DEP Deputy for Oil and Gas Management, spoke to the board on several issues. He was asked to comment on the recent fake studies released by University of Pittsburgh that purport to show a link between fracking and certain health conditions (see Pitt Releases Fake Research, Claims PA Fracking Linked to Kid Cancer). Perhaps without meaning to, Klapkowski undermined the claims of those who cite Pitt’s so-called research.
Read More “PA DEP O&G Head Responds to Fake Pitt Studies on Fracking & Cancer”

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Shapiro Admin Invites PAers to Submit False Fracking Health Claims

Three weeks ago, University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) researchers released three studies commissioned by the State Dept. of Health supposedly investigating whether or not there is a connection between shale drilling and childhood diseases, including cancer (see Pitt Releases Fake Research, Claims PA Fracking Linked to Kid Cancer). From the beginning, when Pitt received $2.5 million with instructions to investigate a single cause (shale drilling), our position has been that this is not real science. Not long after this fake research was issued, several organizations analyzed and destroyed it (see Serious Flaws Revealed in Pitt’s So-Called Fracking/Cancer Studies). Now, the leftwing PA Dept. of Health is inviting Pennsylvania residents to file complaints online if they feel fracking has negatively impacted their health. It’s all a huge setup by sleazy lawyer Josh Shapiro (who happens to be the Governor of PA) to launch lawsuits against the shale industry. Mark our words–it’s coming.
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Serious Flaws Revealed in Pitt’s So-Called Fracking/Cancer Studies

Two weeks ago, University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) researchers released three studies commissioned by the State Dept. of Health supposedly investigating whether or not there is a connection between shale drilling and childhood diseases, including cancer (see Pitt Releases Fake Research, Claims PA Fracking Linked to Kid Cancer). Our position from the beginning, when Pitt received $2.5 million with instructions to investigate a single cause (shale drilling), is that this is not real science. Not when an abandoned uranium dump in the area (which there is) is ignored as a potential source. Not when other potential environmental factors are ignored. The media has been whipping up local residents into a frenzy, who are now calling for a total ban on fracking in PA. It’s all a manufactured crisis, and the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) is doing the heavy lifting of exposing the lies.
Read More “Serious Flaws Revealed in Pitt’s So-Called Fracking/Cancer Studies”

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EID, MSC Destroy Pitt Fake Study Tying Fracking to Cancer in Kids

Earlier this week, University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) researchers released three studies commissioned by the State Dept. of Health supposedly investigating whether or not there is a connection between shale drilling and childhood diseases, including cancer (see Pitt Releases Fake Research, Claims PA Fracking Linked to Kid Cancer). Our position from the beginning, when Pitt received $2.5 million with instructions to investigate a single cause (shale drilling), is that this is not real science. Not when an abandoned uranium dump in the area (which there is) is ignored as a potential source. Not when other potential environmental factors are ignored. After combing through the studies, both Energy in Depth and the Marcellus Shale Coalition penned superb articles that destroy these so-called studies. We also have some insightful comments from PA State Sen. Gene Yaw on the matter.
Read More “EID, MSC Destroy Pitt Fake Study Tying Fracking to Cancer in Kids”

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Pitt Releases Fake Research, Claims PA Fracking Linked to Kid Cancer

We now have the perfect example of how the government corrupts science. In 2020, Pennsylvania’s then-Gov. Tom Wolf gave $2.5 million (via his Dept. of Health) to the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) with instructions to research whether or not a single cause, shale drilling, is linked to a small cluster of rare childhood cancers in southwestern PA (see Pitt Researchers Get $2.5M for Fake Study to Link Shale & Kid Cancer). As we said from the beginning, that’s not real science. Real science does not focus on a single cause. Pitt’s remit was to FIND a link, no matter what, and they received millions to do so. Guess what? They found a link. Isn’t that a coincidence?
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PA Dept. of Health to Release $2.5M Study on Shale & Kid Cancer

In December 2020, then-Gov. Tom Wolf announced a $2.5 million contract had been awarded to the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) Graduate School of Public Health to “conduct research on the potential health effects of hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania” (see Pitt Researchers Get $2.5M for Fake Study to Link Shale & Kid Cancer). As we have pointed out from the beginning, to study a single potential cause for cancer (fracking) and not any other causes (like a nearby abandoned uranium dump) is not real science. Next Tuesday, August 15, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health and Pitt researchers will unveil their “research” in an in-person and online extravaganza.
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We Now Know Why Pitt, DOH Pulled Out of Fracking/Cancer Update

On Monday, MDN told you that the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) Graduate School of Public Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) had “suddenly” pulled out of an event scheduled for yesterday to update the public on Pitt’s research on the potential health effects of hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania (see First Signs Appear that Cancer/Fracking in Kids Study in Trouble). The update session was organized by virulent anti-fossil energy groups, which prey on the emotions of parents who have lost their precious children to cancer, blaming it on fracking. Until recently, Pitt and the DOH were scheduled to participate, but then they disappeared. Why?
Read More “We Now Know Why Pitt, DOH Pulled Out of Fracking/Cancer Update”

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1,100 Scientists & Experts Form Group to Combat Climate Extremism

Here’s something you won’t hear about or read in the Big Legacy Media…A group of 1,100 scientists and policy experts from around the world has joined together to establish a new group called Climate Intelligence (Clintel for short). The new group operates from the Netherlands. The tagline and mission of the group is this: “There is No Climate Emergency.” The group says climate science should be less political, and climate policies should be more scientific. Amen!
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Penn State Studying Potential Link re Fracking & Water Contamination

Penn State has launched a new research project to see if it can prove there is a link between water contamination in southwestern Pennsylvania and fracking. We’ve seen this movie before…or have we? In 2018 PA Gov. Tom Wolf, a liberal Democrat who sometimes supports the shale gas industry (as long as he can tax it) caved to demands from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to launch a “study” in a bid to “prove” cases of rare childhood cancer in southwestern PA can be tied to shale drilling in the region (see PA Spending $3.9M on Flawed Studies to Link Fracking with Cancer). So far we’ve heard nothing from that effort. The Penn State research project, while similar, appears to be different.
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Big O&G Companies Force Some Employees to Get COVID-19 Vaccine

You can’t miss the breathless headlines, many of which are misleading, that big oil and gas companies are beginning to force employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19. What’s missing from the headlines, especially those touting Chevron’s new vaccine mandate, is the all-important word “some,” as in “some” employees who work in tight quarters for long periods (like offshore platforms) are being required to get vaccinated.
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Fossil Fuels Save Millions of Lives During Coronavirus Outbreak

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MDN previously made comments scattered over several posts pointing out that without plastics, which come from oil and gas, the world (in particular the U.S.) would have already experienced mass deaths from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic far worse than what we have. In other words, the world can thank frackers and the petrochemical industry for saving lives. We spotted a column by Dan Markind, a Philadelphia attorney who publishes columns about the Marcellus/Utica on the Forbes magazine website, noting that the world has “turned to fossil fuels” in order to fight the coronavirus. Dan does a great job of pulling all the threads together to make the case that oil and gas and the plastics created by them have helped save the world from an even worse fate.
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Recycled Pap: Yale Study Says Fracking Causes STDs in Mult. States

What is it about Yale University researchers and their obsession with sexually transmitted diseases? It seems like an unhealthy obsession to us. The same Yale brain trust that brought us a sham “study” in 2018 that said fracking causes STDs in Ohio (see Yale Study Claims Ohio Utica Fracking Causes STDs) has just published a new “study” to say the same thing happens in Colorado, North Dakota, and Texas too. Another “f” word certainly can cause STDs, but not fracking. Perhaps the “researchers” got their semantics mixed up?
Read More “Recycled Pap: Yale Study Says Fracking Causes STDs in Mult. States”

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PA Spending $3.9M on Flawed Studies to Link Fracking with Cancer

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a liberal Democrat who sometimes supports the shale gas industry (as long as he can tax it) has caved to demands from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to launch a “study” in a bid to “prove” cases of childhood cancer in southwestern PA can be tied to shale drilling in the region. A pair of studies, actually. The studies won’t be completed for three years, after Wolf is out of office, so he gets credit for caring, but he won’t be around for the fallout when it happens.
Read More “PA Spending $3.9M on Flawed Studies to Link Fracking with Cancer”