Ohio GOP Bait-and-Switch on Revenue from Fracking Under State Parks
Republicans in the Buckeye State (Ohio) are treading on thin ice with a proposed change in the upcoming state budget. When GOP members began advocating for drilling under (not on) state-owned land and state parks in 2011, one of the arguments was that the revenue it would generate would improve state parks. A change in plans is underway with the latest two-year state budget, which would shift those revenues from park improvements to general operations instead. Is this a bait-and-switch? Read More “Ohio GOP Bait-and-Switch on Revenue from Fracking Under State Parks”
The Republicans in Congress have not wasted any time in addressing the ongoing tragedy of states (and municipalities) banning fracking or the right to choose which energy source (like natural gas) to use. We happened to spot details about two new bills just introduced in Congress, one by New York Rep. Claudia Tenney, which targets states like her own that ban fracking by denying the state federal funding as long as the ban remains in place. The other bill was introduced by West Virginia Senator Jim Justice (and Babydog!) along with Nick Langworthy (from NY) in the House to prohibit states or local governments from banning an energy service’s connection, reconnection, modification, installation, or expansion based on the type or source of energy to be delivered. Essentially, you can’t ban the use of natural gas either statewide or locally. 
Three years ago, in May 2022, MDN brought you the surprising news that ethane, propane, and butane (NGLs) were being exported from a facility in Gibbstown, NJ, located along the Delaware River, at a former DuPont dynamite factory site (see 
Two days ago, RBN Energy reported that ethane and butane exports for Enterprise Products Partners and possibly other NGL exporters were in doubt following a notice received by Enterprise from the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) flagging such exports to China as a security risk (see 
During a webinar in April, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced it would use a new state General Air Quality Permit to implement Biden-era federal oil and gas facility methane reduction requirements (see 
A few weeks ago, MDN brought you the news that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is laying the blame for a series of low-level earthquakes in southeastern Ohio on fracking at an Encino Energy shale well in Noble County (see 
Last week, MDN told you about House Bill (HB) 15, which makes significant changes to state energy policy to encourage the development of more in-state electric generation by making it easier (and more cost-effective) to build gas-fired power (see 
On June 2, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) latest Environmental Justice newsletter announced that the PennEnviroScreen tool is now “fully integrated within the DEP permitting and programmatic review processes.” The tool draws maps to identify areas of “greater environmental justice (EJ) exposures” and potential effects by analyzing “environmental, health, and socioeconomic burdens across the Commonwealth.” It’s like a video game that shows users pretend areas where there are more minorities and poor people on the theory that they’re too stupid or poor to hire lawyers to resist new infrastructure, like gas wells, compressor stations, or pipelines. 
Corporate welfare—the transfer (theft) of money from taxpayers to uber-wealthy corporations, like Kraft Heinz, is particularly loathsome and disgusting. However, it’s widespread, unfortunately. In an effort to undermine fossil energy, the Biden administration shoveled money out the door to corporate cronies so fast nobody could keep track of it all. Biden’s “free money” included a $170 million grant to Kraft Heinz, which would have helped the food manufacturer install heat pumps, solar, biogas, and other loser “renewable” energy solutions at 10 of its facilities in New York, Virginia, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, and Illinois. Kraft Heinz received $5.9 million of the promised funding in December. It won’t see another dime. 
On May 20, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued notices of violations to XTO Energy, Inc. (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil) for failing to restore five multi-million gallon shale gas freshwater impoundments it used to support fracking operations in Butler County. The impoundments are required to be restored, which includes liners removed and the area regraded to the original contours, within nine months of their last use. 
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is a typical liberal Democrat politician. He pretends to be moderate and a supporter of the Marcellus industry in the Keystone State. He is neither. Shapiro claims his proposed energy programs will cut costs for Pennsylvanians. The reverse is true. But we’re not just making blanket, unprovable assertions or opinions about Shapiro’s energy plans. A new study from the Commonwealth Foundation estimates that Shapiro’s energy policies, 
The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its less functional and irresponsible counterpart, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals and consumptive use for responsible and safe shale drilling. The SRBC published a notice in the May 31 Pennsylvania Bulletin that the Executive Director of the SRBC renewed 45 general water use permits in April for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Blair, Bradford, Lycoming, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Tioga counties in Pennsylvania. The director also approved new water withdrawals for the 146-megawatt gas-fired Hunlock Creek power plant in Luzerne County. 