Pennsylvania State Rep. Phyllis Mundy (Democrat, Kingston) recently reintroduced several pieces of legislation designed to stop drilling in the Marcellus Shale in PA. Not that it will make much of a difference since Republicans now control the governorship, the Senate and the House in PA.
It appears the constant drumbeat that hydraulic fracturing is evil (coming from extremist environmental groups) is having the desired effect. At least on Democrat state politicians. Now it looks like Maryland may ban drilling in the Marcellus Shale that runs under a tiny section of that state:
Maryland state Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery County), is preparing legislation to ban drilling in the state until it is determined that it will not taint water. “We expect robust support,” she said. “The fuel source isn’t bad, we’re just concerned about the extraction method.”*
*The Washington Post (Feb 6) – Maryland county caught up in fight over energy extraction method
Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw from Williamsport is proposing several bills that will address ongoing concerns from landowners about drilling in the Marcellus Shale in PA. Among the items he is proposing:
Triana Energy is stepping up its commitment to drilling in the Marcellus Shale by entering into a partnership with Marathon Oil. From the official press release:
Two landfills in South Central Pennsylvania—the Cumberland County Landfill and IESI Blue Ridge Landfill—have state approval to accept drill cuttings from Marcellus Shale gas drilling operations. Drill cuttings are the leftover dirt, rock, mud and lubricants that come out of the bore hole.
Those opposed to natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania have an uphill battle with a new governor (Tom Corbett) who is pro-drilling, and with pro-drilling majorities in both the Senate and House. So they pick and chose their battles. Some groups want an outright ban or moratorium (a moratorium being nothing more than a prelude to an outright ban). Others opposed to drilling, like Jan Jarrett, the president and CEO of statewide environmental group PennFuture, are concentrating on small victories now, hoping for bigger ones later when the political climate changes. And the political climate will one day change again—that much is certain. So what is on Ms. Jarrett’s to-do list for 2011?
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finally close to launching their much ballyhooed study on hydraulic fracturing, according the EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. Jackson spoke before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today.
Here’s what the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had to say about the use of diesel fuel as a fracking fluid in PA as alleged by Congressional Democrats in their letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson two days ago:
Read More “PA DEP Not Aware of Any Companies Using Diesel Fuel in Fracking Fluids”
In 2004, US Airways stopped flying from Williamsport, PA to Pittsburgh, leaving only flights to Philadelphia to tie the Williamsport airport with the rest of the world. And in 2008, US Airways announced they would even stop those flights. Things looked pretty bleak for the airport. Then it all changed.
Read More “Marcellus Shale Drilling Saves the Williamsport, PA Airport”
EQT Corporation is reducing it’s commitments to other gas exploration and concentrating on the Marcellus Shale over the next few years:
Read More “EQT Plans to Drill 86 Wells in the Marcellus in 2011, Adding More Midstream Infrastructure Too”
A landowner group in Columbiana County, OH is looking to form a second group with new members interested in leasing their land in the Marcellus Shale. An organizational meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 3rd:
Read More “Columbiana County, OH Landowner Group Looks to Expand, Accepting New Members”
India’s largest private sector company, and one of the world’s largest energy companies, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), is in a bidding war with Chevron to buy Atlas Energy. A primary motivator for both companies is the large number of net acres Atlas controls in the Marcellus Shale region. Just last year RIL and Atlas formed a joint venture, a deal that would have been worth $3.5 billion over ten years. Now that Atlas is on the block, RIL wants to tie the knot permanently. But another suitor has arrived and is vying for Atlas’ affections by offering $4.3 billion:
Read More “Reliance Industries of India in Bidding War with Chevron to Buy Atlas Energy”
The Platts energy news service has already unearthed some problems with the statements made yesterday by Congressional Democrats Henry Waxman, Edward Markey and Diana DeGette that claim some energy services companies are injecting “millions of gallons” of diesel fuel into hydraulically fractured wells, violating the Safe Drinking Water Act. It seems (surprise!) some of the so-called facts they shared with the EPA are not quite accurate according to the agencies which actually regulate drilling in their states:
Read More “Update: State Regulators Dispute “Findings” of Congressional Democrats Concerning Diesel Fuel Used in Hydraulic Fracturing”
A group of investment managers who belong to an organization called The Investor Environmental Health Network have banded together (some might call it collusion) to put pressure on energy companies who engage in natural gas drilling by using hydraulic fracturing. Their aim? To stop fracking of course, but that’s not what they say in their press statement. They’re just little ‘ole investors encouraging companies to “do the right thing” …
Read More “Group of Investment Managers Target Drilling Companies Who Use Hydraulic Fracturing”
MarkWest Energy announced that today they closed on the previously announced acquisition of EQT’s natural gas processing complex in Langley, Kentucky and an associated natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline for $230 million.
Read More “MarkWest Continues Ramp Up in the Marcellus with Purchase of Natural Gas Processing Plant and NGL Pipeline”
A new landowner coalition, The Loretto Landowners Group, is forming in Cambria County, PA on February 2. Their hope is to negotiate a lease with gas companies looking to drill in the Marcellus Shale.
Read More “New Landowner Coalition in Cambria County, PA Gets Started Feb 2”