This page was last updated on June 16, 2017.
Group urges governor to assure safety with Shell plant; Terrie Baumgardner & B. Dave Smith; Beaver County Times; June 16, 2017. According to the BCT, “This letter was also signed by nine other members of the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Committee.”
Ms. Baumgardner (TB) used to be an “instructor in communications, arts and sciences at Penn State Beaver.”
Previous TB letters are “Shell repeatedly failed to be a ‘good neighbor’” and “Gas-drilling boom mocks promised prosperity.”
The “Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Committee” (BCMAC) has something like an “interlocking directorate” relationship with “Progressive Democrats of America – PA 12th Congressional District Chapter” (BCR).
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“We’d like to thank Governor Wolf for coming to visit our community this week. Here in Beaver County, we live with the growing presence of petrochemical development.”
[RWC] Before I get into the review, it’s important to remember the hubbub about the Shell plant is all about the religion of manmade global warming and the left’s desire to ban natural gas production regardless of its source. Shale opposition groups couldn’t stop fracking directly (except in NY), so now they’re trying to block processing plants and pipelines. You can read more in my review of “Shell can afford an environmentally friendly plant.”
Does TB know Nova Chemicals has “a chemical plant” adjacent to the Shell property and it’s been in operation since 1942?
“Many of us have worked this past year to educate our neighbors on the impacts that this petrochemical facility will have on the health and safety of our community and for the risks to our air and water.
“We appeal to you, Gov. Wolf, to ensure the safety of our community by requiring that the facility be built and operate at the highest safety and environmental performance, so that it will be a showcase to the world.
“We would like you to require industry to install the best available technology (real-time, full-spectrum monitoring) so that during operations -- and accidents -- emissions will not harm us. We want health protective standards that define top excellence in industry performance.”
[RWC] TB appears to believe the PA Constitution grants the governor the power to force businesses to do things our laws don’t require. If true, what’s the purpose of the General Assembly?
By no stretch of the imagination does TB want the Shell plant to “be a showcase to the world.” “The best available technology” will never be good enough and no level of “safety and environmental performance” will be acceptable. Think Charlie Brown, Lucy, and a football.
“With that we’d like your assurance that the state will pursue meaningful recourse when systems exceed limits and standards.”
[RWC] I expect all government levels to enforce our laws. “Meaningful recourse” likely means something else to TB, however.
“These modest demands are the least that the community deserves, given the $1.7 billion tax subsidy the state has provided for 600 permanent jobs.”
[RWC] I don’t like so-called tax breaks. The problem is everyone likes to tax businesses until the cows come home, then those same people wonder why new businesses don’t view PA favorably. Get rid of so-called “business taxes” and tax breaks go away.
“Moving forward, the state would be wise to plan for a complete transition from fossil fuels within 20 years. Look at New York state as a model. This week, Gov. Cuomo launched a $1.5 billion investment program to create 40,000 clean/renewable energy jobs that avoid long term negative health outcomes from pollution.”
[RWC] TB failed to mention using “New York state as a model” includes a fracking ban.
According to WAER, “New York State is seeking $1.5 billion dollars of private investment to increase the state’s renewable energy production.” That’s fine, but why would businesses get in bed with NYS to spend $1.5 billion they would not otherwise spend? Follow the money.
What NYS thinks is right for them isn’t necessarily right for us.
“The residents of Beaver, and Pennsylvania, deserve this.”
[RWC] Blah, blah, blah.
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