By Mark Nale Northcentral Correspondent
Harrisburg — Hunters and anglers have heard the politicians and watched the industry commercials on television touting clean energy, natural gas for 100 years, and energy independence for the United States.However, the industry’s rush to drill has flooded the market and lowered the price of natural gas to the extent that several companies – Chesapeake, Shell and Exxon – have all but dropped out of the Marcellus shale gas extraction business.
In 2011, Dominion received approval to export natural gas. A pipeline constructed to supply a coastal city, such as Philadelphia, is only a few steps away from exporting natural gas to other countries where it will garner a much higher price.
Such projects are already being planned and discussed within the industry – our claimed “100-year supply of energy independence” might be shipped overseas to the highest bidder.
“Energy independence is a good sound bite,” said Mike Wood, research director for the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, a nonprofit think tank.
“However, gas companies are in the business to make money and it looks like exporting is the way for them to make it.”
Pennsylvanians are left to suffer what Wood called the “extraction curse” – disturbed habitat, as well as lower air and water quality.
Much can be learned by “following the money.” While this is always true in TV crime dramas, unfortunately it seems just as applicable to Pennsylvania politics. When it comes to the Marcellus shale gas play, there is a mountain of money to follow. Read More...Troubling: Follow Marcellus money - Outdoor News - December 2013
