I didn't know what shale gas was but apparently it's a form of natural gas and analysts expect that it could supply up to half of the shale gas in the U.S. by 2020. They say natural gas is cleaner form of fuel than oil or coal so it must be ok. However, I'm not writing this to debate clean fossil fuels (quite frankly I don't know enough about them). This entry will be more about the corporate greed that I'm sure will follow.
An article in the NY Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/us/towns-fighting-to-stand-ground-against-gas-drillers.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=pennsylvania%20shale%20gas&st=cse&scp=1, stated that companies are drilling in densely populated areas with little to no regard for zoning issues and all that other stuff. The towns & municipalities want zoning control over the land probably to make a few bucks and to make sure things are done safely. The energy companies and the Pennsylvania State Legislature want to restrict a communities control over the land. You can probably hear the lobbyists for the energy companies opening up their checkbooks to make campaign contributions to he people who run Pennsylvania in in return for favorable legislation that leaves communities in the drilling areas with little to no control over the area and out in the cold. Let us not forget that Pennsylvania tried to sell off PA Turnpike revenue a few years ago but the deal fell through, http://www.planetizen.com/node/22126. On a side note the City of Chicago successfully leased the parking meters (for 70 years!) to a foreign company in exchange for money (lots of it anyway) to cover a budget gap. Experts say that the city greatly undervalued the potential income and now the company that owns the rights can make up the rules as they go along, http://ohmygov.com/blogs/general_news/archive/2008/12/24/chicago-sells-right-to-city-parking-meters-for-1-2-billion.aspx. My other source of the Chicago parking meters was from Matt Taibbi's book Griftopia (a very good read by the way).
The energy companies will talk about how the plants and drilling will create jobs and bring in revenue to the communities because workers will need housing, construction jobs and the economic growth that follows these types of booms. Be advised, the recent discovery of oil in North Dakota will bring similar issues as well. There's no doubt that economic growth will be a beneficial side effect (and the U.S. needs it) but at what cost? Make no mistake, the energy companies DO NOT care about the community, the care about PROFITS! Much like Wall Street during the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008 (for info about that read Griftopia). Sure they'll put on a happy face, hire a big time PR firm to make commercials about what a community orientated company they are (much like to the BP ads that state how everything is fine in the Gulf..."what oil spill? Long term effects, get out of town! Things are great here!").
I do feel that the communities should have some say in this matter to keep everyone honest. There has to be a happy medium somewhere. Hopefully it won't follow the quick-fix trend (like the Chicago parking meters) and people will think about the long term effects. The shale isn't going anywhere, so can't a deal be made where everyone comes up a winner and is environmentally beneficial?
Be advised...I am not against shale gas drilling. America needs to end it's dependency on foreign oil so if it helps then let's get at it. What caught my eye was that Pennsylvania was looking to limit any say these communities had that were going to get these pants near them. Once again it would be a situation where the average person gets left out.
Thanks to all the soldiers who served in Iraq over the last 8 years and who sacrificed so much for their country. In fact, thanks to all the men & women who have served & are currently serving in the U.S. armed forces.
An article in the NY Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/us/towns-fighting-to-stand-ground-against-gas-drillers.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=pennsylvania%20shale%20gas&st=cse&scp=1, stated that companies are drilling in densely populated areas with little to no regard for zoning issues and all that other stuff. The towns & municipalities want zoning control over the land probably to make a few bucks and to make sure things are done safely. The energy companies and the Pennsylvania State Legislature want to restrict a communities control over the land. You can probably hear the lobbyists for the energy companies opening up their checkbooks to make campaign contributions to he people who run Pennsylvania in in return for favorable legislation that leaves communities in the drilling areas with little to no control over the area and out in the cold. Let us not forget that Pennsylvania tried to sell off PA Turnpike revenue a few years ago but the deal fell through, http://www.planetizen.com/node/22126. On a side note the City of Chicago successfully leased the parking meters (for 70 years!) to a foreign company in exchange for money (lots of it anyway) to cover a budget gap. Experts say that the city greatly undervalued the potential income and now the company that owns the rights can make up the rules as they go along, http://ohmygov.com/blogs/general_news/archive/2008/12/24/chicago-sells-right-to-city-parking-meters-for-1-2-billion.aspx. My other source of the Chicago parking meters was from Matt Taibbi's book Griftopia (a very good read by the way).
The energy companies will talk about how the plants and drilling will create jobs and bring in revenue to the communities because workers will need housing, construction jobs and the economic growth that follows these types of booms. Be advised, the recent discovery of oil in North Dakota will bring similar issues as well. There's no doubt that economic growth will be a beneficial side effect (and the U.S. needs it) but at what cost? Make no mistake, the energy companies DO NOT care about the community, the care about PROFITS! Much like Wall Street during the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008 (for info about that read Griftopia). Sure they'll put on a happy face, hire a big time PR firm to make commercials about what a community orientated company they are (much like to the BP ads that state how everything is fine in the Gulf..."what oil spill? Long term effects, get out of town! Things are great here!").
I do feel that the communities should have some say in this matter to keep everyone honest. There has to be a happy medium somewhere. Hopefully it won't follow the quick-fix trend (like the Chicago parking meters) and people will think about the long term effects. The shale isn't going anywhere, so can't a deal be made where everyone comes up a winner and is environmentally beneficial?
Be advised...I am not against shale gas drilling. America needs to end it's dependency on foreign oil so if it helps then let's get at it. What caught my eye was that Pennsylvania was looking to limit any say these communities had that were going to get these pants near them. Once again it would be a situation where the average person gets left out.
Thanks to all the soldiers who served in Iraq over the last 8 years and who sacrificed so much for their country. In fact, thanks to all the men & women who have served & are currently serving in the U.S. armed forces.
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