Are you tired of being misled?
The other day I heard a news broadcast on one of the pro industry television stations explaining how many new jobs will be created if the United States builds a pipeline from Canada to New Orleans. The same news cast stated that this pipeline would lead the United States to energy independence. While listening to this same old rhetoric, I must admit I felt a certain anger building inside of me. After three years of researching the whole idea of how fossil fuels will bring us jobs, provide energy independence, and solve our clean air problems, I found this news cast to be just plain “bunk.”
The proposed pipeline (Keystone) from Canada to New Orleans is not being built for our energy independence. If the pipeline oil was for the U.S. consumption, the pipeline would end in the mid-west. The refinery would be built in a central location so the distribution of the finished products would be less costly. It would be much easier to send products to market from Nebraska than New Orleans, but New Orleans has deep water ports for export to the world market. By exporting the product to the world, it keeps prices up. As a former C.E.O. of Exxon Mobil stated, “We are a world company not a company of the U.S.” Then why does the U.S. government (House and Senate) still vote to subsidize this company? Do you think it might have something to do with who holds the most stock in these companies, and how that group can influence the way the representative’s vote?
The news also reported that the pipeline would generate 42,000 new jobs in its construction, as well as creating countless jobs for pipeline maintenance. I wonder how many new jobs would be created if a refinery would be built in the mid-west and how many jobs would be created to maintain the plant? Are we again being misled?
Let us come closer to home. In a study released this last November, the actual new jobs created by Marcellus Gas exploration in five northeast states was 23,618; of these, 5,611 were ancillary jobs (Mauro, Nov. 2013). This is a far cry from the projection of early industry-backed and our state government-supported research that 300,000 new jobs would be created. Are we being misled again?
If you break down these facts, it can be proven that only half of one percent of the new jobs created in Pennsylvania comes from the Marcellus and related industries. One question we should all be asking ourselves is this: Is the creation of 23,618 jobs worth the environmental damage southwestern Pennsylvania is experiencing? Large industries are supplying the world market while our water and air quality is being highly compromised for 23,618 jobs. Close to 1,000,000 people depend on the Monongahela River for drinking water each day. What is more important, jobs for 23,618 people or drinking water for one million people? As for energy independence, well, let us look at the big picture. If the U.S. really wanted to be energy independent, there would be a long range energy plan for the country. To my knowledge, there is no such long range plan. If we really want to be energy independent, then why are we sending gasoline to Europe? And why is the majority of our natural gas production being sold and sent overseas? An example and caution is the Ukraine situation. At present, Russia is selling natural gas to the Ukraine at three times the going rate in the U.S. I wonder if the economic sanctions the U.S. plans to use against Russia will include a plan to supply the Ukraine with natural gas? Could it be that the reason the large gas companies have applied for permits to build 16 new deep water ports along the east coast be to export natural gas? This exportation will keep home natural gas prices up. This action will further the U.S.’s march toward oligarchy (when only a few control the government). The new Supreme Court’s ruling now permits no limit for campaign donations; how long will it be before wealth controls this country (oligarchy)? Let us hope this never happens!
As for cleaner burning gas, the latest research shows that this may not be the case. The greenhouse effect of methane gas is approximately 32 times greater than carbon dioxide from coal burning. That means that one pound of methane gas emissions has the same greenhouse effect as 32 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. Also, recent studies have shown that the estimated release of natural gas during drilling has been grossly under estimated by the E.P.A. There is a recent publication entitled, “Toward a better understanding and quantification of methane emissions from shale gas development” (Dana R. Caulton: et.al Sept 2013), which expresses the significance of the report. From this research study, the author states, “We identified a significant regional flux of methane over a large area of shale gas wells in southwestern Pennsylvania in the Marcellus formation and further identified several pads with high methane emissions. These shale gas pads were identified as in the drilling process, a preproduction stage not previously associated with high methane emissions. This work emphasizes the need for top-down identification and component level and event driven measurements of methane leaks to properly inventory the combined methane emissions of natural gas extraction and combustion to better define the impacts of our nation’s increasing reliance on natural gas to meet our energy needs.”
The paper goes on by stating that from the seven well pads studied in southwestern PA, it was found that a two to three higher order of emissions were found than previously estimated by the E.P.A. In that article, Mohr and Evans further state that globally, 23 trillion cubic feet per year more methane gas will enter our atmosphere (Energy Policy 2011).
I can go on citing many more articles, but I think that you get the gist of this article. We have been and are being misled by the propaganda of the big business extraction industry. Do not believe all the advertisements on how safe the drilling industry has been. As of now, it has not been proven to me that the drilling process is safe.
Before I end, are you aware that Range Resources had a major rip in a frack impoundment pond in Amwell Township in Washington County next to the Greene County line? I wonder how this will affect the North Branch of Ten Mile Creek?
As always, educate yourself and trust in a higher power to guide you.