Joanne Martin – 6/15/17

 


This page was last updated on June 15, 2017.


Business leaders reckless in inviting Shell to area; Joanne Martin (JM); Beaver County Times; June 15, 2017.

Below is a review of the subject letter.


“In Jared Stonesifer’s article, “A Year Later, Shell Has Forever Altered Landscape of Beaver County,” the leadership of Beaver County is disregarding positive healthy cultural trends.”

[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.”

“New York State recently announced a $1.5 billion initiative that will generate 40,000 clean energy jobs.  That Pennsylvania is extending a similar amount to Shell for 600 jobs is, at a minimum, an irresponsible decision from a community health and economic perspective.  Closer to home, City of Pittsburgh leaders are aiming for 100 percent renewable energy by 2035.  Beaver County’s October 2016 five-point Community and Economic Development Plan claims to aspire for sustainable growth, but the environment is not one of the five points and is clearly undervalued.  The business leaders who have invited Shell to this region are shortsighted, reckless and not operating in the long-term best interests of the community.”

[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.

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 a business get in bed with NYS to spend $1.5 billion the business would not otherwise spend?  Follow the money.

Good for NY and Pittsburgh, but what they think is right for them isn’t necessarily right for us.


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