Marcellus Shale Newswire 07/29/2011
Vol. 2, Issue 20
A Collection of Marcellus Shale and Gas Drilling Articles from Pennsylvania and Beyond
PennEnvironment
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Patrick Henderson: Corbett’s point man on energy
By Angela Couloumbis
July 24, 2011
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20110724_Patrick_Henderson__Corbett_s_point_man_on_energy.html
Patrick Henderson is Gov. Corbett’s energy advisor in Harrisburg and is one of the most powerful people in Harrisburg that Pennsylvania citizens don’t know about. He partnered up with Senator White and their team was known for being conservative but fair. PennEnvironment’s David Masur said, “The door was always open. We disagreed, but it was always civil and on the substance. He’d always hear you out.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Shale panel offers blueprint for future
By Laura Olson
July 23, 2011
http://www.post–gazette.com/pg/11204/1162494-503.stm
Gov. Corbett’s Marcellus shale commission’s report was released with a total of 96 recommendations on how to deal with hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania. Two of the most controversial issues, pooling and an impact fee, were covered by the committee but their recommendations were very broad. The drilling industry commended the report but environmental groups have given mixed reviews.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Dry well: Marcellus shale report comes up short
July 25, 2011
http://www.post–gazette.com/pg/11206/1162724-192.stm
The 137 page report of Gov. Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission has 96 recommendations on how to deal with drilling in Pennsylvania but it seems as if they did not do their job. They backed an impact fee but did not endorse is strongly enough that Gov. Corbett will definitely go for it and they also support the controversial issue of pooling. It seems as if the Commission missed their opportunity to help Pennsylvania to Marcellus shale drilling.
Scranton Times-Tribune
Natural gas use recommendation spurs debate
By Robert Swift
July 24, 2011
http://thetimes–tribune.com/news/natural–gas–use–recommendation–spurs–debate-1.1179562#axzz1T84zjGnS
Among the 96 recommendations by Gov. Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission is a recommendation to include natural gas under Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard. This program requires electric utilities to purchase 18 percent of their power from alternative and renewable energy sources by 2020. Jan Jarrett, president of Penn Future, said that this would hurt market demand for other energy sources, “Right now, natural gas accounts for 25 percent of electric generation. It doesn’t need an incentive.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission report offers fuel for debate
By Sandy Bauers
July 23, 2011
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20110723_Marcellus_Shale_Advisory_Commission_report_offers_fuel_for_debate.html
There is plenty to debate about in the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission’s report even though there were few surprises. The Commission favors an impact fee for the purpose of mitigating and offsetting and the fee should reflect “the ongoing nature of certain impacts.” Senator Scarnati feels that the Commission’s work has only delayed legislative action.
Wilkes-Barres Times Leader
Gas report gets mixed responses
By Matt Hughes
July 24, 2011
http://www.timesleader.com/news/Gas_report_gets_mixed_responses_07-24-2011.html
After the release of Gov. Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission’s report, there were mixed responses. The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors applauded the commission for supporting an impact fee while the Pennsylvania Budget and Policty Center says its a “missed opportunity to examine the broad impacts of Marcellus Shale drilling.”
Politico
Pennsylvania fracking report raises questions
By Talia Buford
July 26, 2011
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59968.html
The release of Gov. Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission’s report raised questions about the actual impact of the commission’s recommendations. Most of them require changes in state law, but the legislature is in recess until September. Environmental groups were disappointed that the report only delayed legislative action regarding drilling. PennEnvironment’s Erika Staaf stated, “To delay implementing much-needed policy in order to regurgitate facts we already had at our fingertips is an abomination.”
Business First
Audubon Society plans Marcellus shale curriculum
By Anya Litvak
July 27, 2011
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2011/07/27/audubon–society–plans–shale–curriculum.html
The Audubon Society of Western Pennyslvania has received a $6,333 grant from the Department of Environmental Protection to design a “Marcellus Shale risk assessment and implication curriculum” for high school students. The Audubon Society will recruit 30 teachers from public schools in Western Pennsylvania to visit well-sites and talk with industry experts and environmentalists to design the curriculum.