Living on Earth: Natural Gas and Greenhouse Gasses
June 29, 2011
Gas Drilling Turning Quiet Tourist Destination into Industrial Town | SolveClimate News
May 19, 2011
Gas Drilling Turning Quiet Tourist Destination into Industrial Town | SolveClimate News.
Gas Drilling Turning Quiet Tourist Destination into Industrial Town
Gas drilling rig/Credit: Ari MooreEditor’s Note: SolveClimate News reporter Elizabeth McGowan traveled to Northeastern Pennsylvania in late March to find out how the gas drilling boom is affecting the landscape and the people who call it home. This is the sixth in a multi-part series. (Read parts one , two, three, four and five).
MONTROSE, Pa.—Lynn Senick’s cozy clapboard house is just steps away from state Highway 29, which basically serves as Montrose’s Main Street.
Founded as a center for abolitionists in 1824 — its lore claims it harbored escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad — the county seat has a New England-quaint feel with a prominent town green bookended by a handsome county courthouse and a welcoming library.
Even though Montrose is nowhere near the beaten track, diligent and dedicated organizers put the town on the local map by drawing flocks of visitors to popular annual events such as the Fourth of July parade and festivals celebrating the apple and blueberry harvests, as well as the production of wine and chocolate.
Senick, who educates the public about hydraulic fracturing via an online forum she launched three years ago, is also affiliated with a local group called the Montrose Restoration Committee.
Committee volunteers have played off the success of Montrose’s signature happenings by focusing on attracting and retaining an organic restaurant, book shop, health food store and farmers market. Several years prior, members of the organization had noticed their county’s natural resources, hard by the New York State border, were attracting a different type of resident.
Vibrant young people intent on making their living off the land had started to migrate to this area with the nickname “Endless Mountains” that reflects its continuous up and down geography.
North-South Interstate 81, which roughly bisects the county, is the sole major highway, and the recent arrivals recognized their land and freshwater needs could be easily met in a county with a mere 43,000 people rattling around in 800 square miles. The largest population centers are Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, to the south, and Binghamton, N.Y., to the north.
Recognizing this influx, Susan Griffis McNamara started stocking organic seeds and other affiliated paraphernalia for these small-scale growers at the hardware store side of her business that has been in the family for four generations. Other merchants followed suit.
Now, however, Senick, McNamara and other committee members fear narrow rural roadways clogged with the never-ending grind of drilling-related trucks, and landscapes marred with gas wells, will be a turnoff to tourists and artisan farmers.
“I don’t think this is going to be the quiet little tourist destination we thought it could be,” says Senick, who works at the local food bank. “This is going to become an industrial town.”
While she knows that some property owners will no doubt make money from their oil leases, she wonders how the have-nots she encounters daily will hang on as landlords realize they can raise their rent prices and offer accommodations to well-paid, out-of-town specialists employed by the gas exploration and drilling companies.
“Not everybody always got along here, but this was a stable community,” Senick says. “But this has fractured our community. It has really tossed everybody’s future into the air.”
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See Also
DEP Fines Chesapeake More than $1 Million
May 17, 2011
*COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection*
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/17/2011
CONTACT:
Katy Gresh, Department of Environmental Protection
*DEP Fines Chesapeake Energy More Than $1 Million*
Penalties Address Violations in Bradford, Washington Counties
HARRISBURG — The Department of Environmental Protection today fined Chesapeake Energy $1,088,000 for violations related to natural gas drilling activities.
Under a Consent Order and Agreement, or COA, Chesapeake will pay DEP $900,000 for contaminating private water supplies in Bradford County, of which $200,000 must be dedicated to DEP’s well-plugging fund. Under a second COA, Chesapeake will pay $188,000 for a Feb. 23 tank fire at its drilling site in Avella, Washington County.
“It is important to me and to this administration that natural gas drillers are stewards of the environment, take very seriously their responsibilities to comply with our regulations, and that their actions do not risk public health and safety or the environment,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “The water well contamination fine is the largest single penalty DEP has ever assessed against an oil and gas operator, and the Avella tank fire penalty is the highest we could assess under the Oil and Gas Act. Our message to drillers and to the public is clear.”
At various times throughout 2010, DEP investigated private water well complaints from residents of Bradford County’s Tuscarora, Terry, Monroe, Towanda and Wilmot townships near Chesapeake’s shale drilling operations. DEP determined that because of improper well casing and cementing in shallow zones, natural gas from non-shale shallow gas formations had experienced localized migration into groundwater and contaminated 16 families’ drinking water supplies.
As part of the Bradford County COA, Chesapeake agrees to take multiple measures to prevent future shallow formation gas migration, including creating a plan to be approved by DEP that outlines corrective actions for the wells in question; remediating the contaminated water supplies; installing necessary equipment; and reporting water supply complaints to DEP. The well plugging fund supports DEP’s Oil and Gas program operations and can be used to mitigate historic and recent gas migration problems in cases where the source of the gas cannot be identified.
The Avella action was taken because on Feb. 23, while testing and collecting fluid from wells on a drill site in Avella, Washington County, three condensate separator tanks caught fire, injuring three subcontractors working on-site. DEP conducted an investigation and determined the cause was improper handling and management of condensate, a wet gas only found in certain geologic areas. Under the COA, Chesapeake must submit for approval to the department a Condensate Management Plan for each well site that may produce condensate.
“Natural gas drilling presents a valuable opportunity for Pennsylvania and the nation,” Krancer said. “But, with this opportunity comes responsibilities that we in Pennsylvania expect and insist are met; we have an obligation to enforce our regulations and protect our environment.”
For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us <http://www.depweb.state.pa.us
>.
New Report: The Truth About Natural Gas Supply, Costs & Environmental Impact May, 2011
May 12, 2011
New Report: The Truth About Natural Gas Supply, Costs & Environmental Impact –
For Release 12 May 2011Tod BrilliantPOST CARBON INSTITUTEtod@postcarbon.org707-823-8700 x105
New Report: The Truth About Natural Gas Supply, Costs & Environmental Impact
San Francisco, CA (May 12) A detailed new energy report argues that the natural gas industry has propagated dangerously false claims about natural gas production supply, cost and environmental impact. The report, “Will Natural Gas Fuel America in the 21st Century” is authored by leading geoscientist and Post Carbon Institute Fellow J. David Hughes.
The most significant of the natural gas industry’s claims – one that has been bought hook, line and sinker by everyone from the Energy Information Agency (EIA) and the Obama Administration, to leading environmental groups – is that the United States has a 100-year supply of cheap natural gas. The report shows this to be a pipe dream. Natural gas would require higher costs and unprecedented drilling efforts to meet even baseline supply projections. In fact, the U.S. faces a decline in domestic gas supplies in the very near future unless drilling rates quickly increase.
Also debunked is the perception that shale gas is better for the climate than coal. Building on other recent analysis, the report shows that shale gas is worse than coal over a 20-30 year timeframe, even after efforts to mitigate fugitive methane emissions. This should have major implications for those who have touted natural gas as a near-term bridge to a clean energy future.
Download the report at: http://bit.ly/pcinatgas
Report author David Hughes will present his findings and participate in a Q&A session next week.
| LINK: | http://bit.ly/jZfykT |
| TELECONFERENCE ONLY: | Toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-469-3239 Access Code: 492 172 835 For international toll free access: http://bit.ly/jgcUWx |
Post Carbon Institute’s report concludes that we face serious, and heretofore unacknowledged, production constraints with shale gas that mean the following three things are very unlikely to happen:
- Meeting the Energy Information Agency’s projections for natural gas to 2035.
- Replacing significant amounts of coal-fired electricity with natural gas (not included in EIA projections).
- Transitioning significant % of the vehicle fleet to burn natural gas (also not included in EIA projections).
All of three of these would require much higher levels of drilling and higher prices than projected by the EIA. At least 35,000 new wells will need to be drilled each and every year to meet EIA projections. More still to provide more natural gas-fired electricity and far more than this number to transition the vehicle fleet.
Bottom line, we will be living with less domestic natural gas in the future, not more, unless we are prepared to pay higher prices and tolerate a major scale up of climate and other environmental impacts. This is a major challenge to the nearly ubiquitous assumption that we will have abundant, cheap, and “clean” natural gas to power our future.
ABOUT J. DAVID HUGHES
J. David Hughes is a geoscientist who has studied the energy resources of Canada for nearly four decades, including 32 years with the Geological Survey of Canada as a scientist and research manager. He developed the National Coal Inventory to determine the availability and environmental constraints associated with Canada’s coal resources. As Team Leader for Unconventional Gas on the Canadian Gas Potential Committee, he coordinated the recent publication of a comprehensive assessment of Canada’s unconventional natural gas potential. He is a board member of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas – Canada and is a Fellow of the Post Carbon Institute. He is currently president of a consultancy dedicated to research on energy and sustainability issues.
ABOUT POST CARBON INSTITUTE
Post Carbon Institute provides individuals, communities, businesses, and governments with the resources needed to understand and respond to the interrelated economic, energy, and environmental crises that define the 21st century. PCI envisions a world of resilient communities and re-localized economies that thrive within ecological bounds.
In addition to Senior Fellow Richard Heinberg, Post Carbon Institute Fellows include Bill McKibben, Sandra Postel, Wes Jackson, David Orr and 24 others.
POST CARBON INSTITUTE
Tel: +1.707.823.8700 • Fax: +1.866.797.5820
http://www.postcarbon.org • media@postcarbon.org
H.R.1380 Latest Title: New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011 (Natural Gas Act)
May 11, 2011
The latest from The Library of Congress Thomas Site
The NATGA$ myth across the party and political $pectrum.
178 cosponsors in only 3 weeks
NY and PA reps are highlighted. No doubt I missed a couple.
Bill Summary & Status
112th Congress (2011 – 2012)
H.R.1380
Cosponsors
Item 1 of 1
H.R.1380
Latest Title: New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011
Sponsor: Rep Sullivan, John [OK-1] (introduced 4/6/2011) Cosponsors (178)
Latest Major Action: 4/6/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
COSPONSORS(178), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] – 4/7/2011
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] – 4/6/2011
Rep Barletta, Lou [PA-11] – 4/15/2011
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] – 4/6/2011
Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] – 4/6/2011
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] – 4/6/2011
Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] – 4/12/2011
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] – 4/6/2011
Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] – 4/12/2011
Rep Bono Mack, Mary [CA-45] – 4/6/2011
Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7] – 4/6/2011
Rep Brady, Kevin [TX-8] – 4/6/2011
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Bucshon, Larry [IN-8] – 4/13/2011
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] – 4/7/2011
Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] – 4/6/2011
Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] – 4/7/2011
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] – 4/7/2011
Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] – 4/7/2011
Rep Cassidy, Bill [LA-6] – 4/14/2011
Rep Chandler, Ben [KY-6] – 4/6/2011
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] – 4/14/2011
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] – 4/6/2011
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. “Gerry” [VA-11] – 4/12/2011
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] – 4/6/2011
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Critz, Mark S. [PA-12] – 4/6/2011
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] – 4/7/2011
Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] – 4/6/2011
Rep Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] – 4/6/2011
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] – 4/12/2011
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] – 4/7/2011
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] – 4/7/2011
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] – 4/12/2011
Rep Denham, Jeff [CA-19] – 4/14/2011
Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] – 4/6/2011
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] – 4/7/2011
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] – 4/7/2011
Rep Farenthold, Blake [TX-27] – 4/15/2011
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] – 4/7/2011
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] – 4/7/2011
Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] – 4/6/2011
Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24] – 4/6/2011
Rep Gardner, Cory [CO-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] – 4/8/2011
Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] – 4/14/2011
Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] – 4/7/2011
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] – 4/6/2011
Rep Griffin, Tim [AR-2] – 4/12/2011
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] – 4/7/2011
Rep Grimm, Michael G. [NY-13] – 4/6/2011
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Hanabusa, Colleen W. [HI-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Harper, Gregg [MS-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] – 4/7/2011
Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] – 4/7/2011
Rep Himes, James A. [CT-4] – 4/12/2011
Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] – 4/7/2011
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] – 4/7/2011
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] – 4/6/2011
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] – 4/7/2011
Rep Hunter, Duncan D. [CA-52] – 4/14/2011
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] – 4/6/2011
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] – 4/12/2011
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] – 4/6/2011
Rep Kelly, Mike [PA-3] – 4/12/2011
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] – 4/6/2011
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Landry, Jeffrey M. [LA-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Lankford, James [OK-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14] – 4/14/2011
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] – 4/14/2011
Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] – 4/7/2011
Rep Lucas, Frank D. [OK-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Lujan, Ben Ray [NM-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Lummis, Cynthia M. [WY] – 4/6/2011
Rep Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3] – 4/14/2011
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] – 4/12/2011
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] – 4/6/2011
Rep Marino, Tom [PA-10] – 4/15/2011
Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] – 4/12/2011
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] – 4/7/2011
Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] – 4/6/2011
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] – 4/14/2011
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] – 4/7/2011
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] – 4/6/2011
Rep Meehan, Patrick [PA-7] – 4/15/2011
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] – 4/12/2011
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] – 4/7/2011
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] – 4/14/2011
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] – 4/6/2011
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Nugent, Richard [FL-5] – 4/15/2011
Rep Olson, Pete [TX-22] – 4/8/2011
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] – 4/6/2011
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] – 4/15/2011
Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] – 4/14/2011
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] – 4/6/2011
Rep Peters, Gary C. [MI-9] – 4/6/2011
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] – 4/14/2011
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] – 4/14/2011
Rep Posey, Bill [FL-15] – 4/14/2011
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] – 4/12/2011
Rep Reed, Tom [NY-29] – 4/13/2011
Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] – 4/6/2011
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16] – 4/12/2011
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] – 4/12/2011
Rep Richmond, Cedric L. [LA-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Rigell, E. Scott [VA-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] – 4/7/2011
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] – 4/6/2011
Rep Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [MP] – 4/6/2011
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] – 4/7/2011
Rep Scalise, Steve [LA-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep Scott, Austin [GA-8] – 4/8/2011
Rep Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [VA-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] – 4/6/2011
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] – 4/6/2011
Rep Sewell, Terri A. [AL-7] – 4/14/2011
Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] – 4/12/2011
Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] – 4/6/2011
Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] – 4/7/2011
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Smith, Lamar [TX-21] – 4/8/2011
Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-12] – 4/12/2011
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] – 4/6/2011
Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Thompson, Glenn [PA-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep Thornberry, Mac [TX-13] – 4/7/2011
Rep Tipton, Scott [CO-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Tonko, Paul [NY-21] – 4/6/2011
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] – 4/12/2011
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] – 4/12/2011
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] – 4/6/2011
Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] – 4/12/2011
Rep Wilson, Frederica [FL-17] – 4/12/2011
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Young, Don [AK] – 4/14/2011
Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] – 4/7/2011
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] – 4/6/2011
Rep Barletta, Lou [PA-11] – 4/15/2011
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] – 4/6/2011
Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] – 4/6/2011
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] – 4/6/2011
Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] – 4/12/2011
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] – 4/6/2011
Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] – 4/12/2011
Rep Bono Mack, Mary [CA-45] – 4/6/2011
Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7] – 4/6/2011
Rep Brady, Kevin [TX-8] – 4/6/2011
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Bucshon, Larry [IN-8] – 4/13/2011
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] – 4/7/2011
Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] – 4/6/2011
Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] – 4/7/2011
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] – 4/7/2011
Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] – 4/7/2011
Rep Cassidy, Bill [LA-6] – 4/14/2011
Rep Chandler, Ben [KY-6] – 4/6/2011
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] – 4/14/2011
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] – 4/6/2011
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. “Gerry” [VA-11] – 4/12/2011
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] – 4/6/2011
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Critz, Mark S. [PA-12] – 4/6/2011
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] – 4/7/2011
Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] – 4/6/2011
Rep Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] – 4/6/2011
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] – 4/12/2011
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] – 4/7/2011
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] – 4/7/2011
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] – 4/12/2011
Rep Denham, Jeff [CA-19] – 4/14/2011
Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] – 4/6/2011
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] – 4/7/2011
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] – 4/7/2011
Rep Farenthold, Blake [TX-27] – 4/15/2011
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] – 4/7/2011
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] – 4/7/2011
Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] – 4/6/2011
Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24] – 4/6/2011
Rep Gardner, Cory [CO-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] – 4/8/2011
Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] – 4/14/2011
Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] – 4/7/2011
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] – 4/6/2011
Rep Griffin, Tim [AR-2] – 4/12/2011
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] – 4/7/2011
Rep Grimm, Michael G. [NY-13] – 4/6/2011
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Hanabusa, Colleen W. [HI-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Harper, Gregg [MS-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] – 4/7/2011
Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] – 4/7/2011
Rep Himes, James A. [CT-4] – 4/12/2011
Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] – 4/7/2011
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] – 4/7/2011
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] – 4/6/2011
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] – 4/7/2011
Rep Hunter, Duncan D. [CA-52] – 4/14/2011
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] – 4/6/2011
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] – 4/12/2011
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] – 4/6/2011
Rep Kelly, Mike [PA-3] – 4/12/2011
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] – 4/6/2011
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Landry, Jeffrey M. [LA-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Lankford, James [OK-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14] – 4/14/2011
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] – 4/14/2011
Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] – 4/7/2011
Rep Lucas, Frank D. [OK-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Lujan, Ben Ray [NM-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Lummis, Cynthia M. [WY] – 4/6/2011
Rep Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3] – 4/14/2011
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] – 4/12/2011
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] – 4/6/2011
Rep Marino, Tom [PA-10] – 4/15/2011
Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] – 4/12/2011
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] – 4/7/2011
Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] – 4/6/2011
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] – 4/14/2011
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] – 4/7/2011
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] – 4/6/2011
Rep Meehan, Patrick [PA-7] – 4/15/2011
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] – 4/12/2011
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] – 4/7/2011
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] – 4/14/2011
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] – 4/6/2011
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Nugent, Richard [FL-5] – 4/15/2011
Rep Olson, Pete [TX-22] – 4/8/2011
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] – 4/7/2011
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] – 4/6/2011
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] – 4/15/2011
Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] – 4/14/2011
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] – 4/6/2011
Rep Peters, Gary C. [MI-9] – 4/6/2011
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] – 4/14/2011
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] – 4/14/2011
Rep Posey, Bill [FL-15] – 4/14/2011
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] – 4/12/2011
Rep Reed, Tom [NY-29] – 4/13/2011
Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] – 4/6/2011
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16] – 4/12/2011
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] – 4/12/2011
Rep Richmond, Cedric L. [LA-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Rigell, E. Scott [VA-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] – 4/6/2011
Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] – 4/7/2011
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] – 4/6/2011
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] – 4/6/2011
Rep Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [MP] – 4/6/2011
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] – 4/7/2011
Rep Scalise, Steve [LA-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep Scott, Austin [GA-8] – 4/8/2011
Rep Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [VA-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] – 4/6/2011
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] – 4/6/2011
Rep Sewell, Terri A. [AL-7] – 4/14/2011
Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] – 4/12/2011
Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] – 4/6/2011
Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] – 4/7/2011
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Smith, Lamar [TX-21] – 4/8/2011
Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-12] – 4/12/2011
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] – 4/6/2011
Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] – 4/6/2011
Rep Thompson, Glenn [PA-5] – 4/6/2011
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep Thornberry, Mac [TX-13] – 4/7/2011
Rep Tipton, Scott [CO-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Tonko, Paul [NY-21] – 4/6/2011
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] – 4/12/2011
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] – 4/12/2011
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] – 4/7/2011
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] – 4/6/2011
Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] – 4/12/2011
Rep Wilson, Frederica [FL-17] – 4/12/2011
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] – 4/7/2011
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] – 4/6/2011
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] – 4/7/2011
Rep Young, Don [AK] – 4/14/2011
Energy Management Resources Reports on the Volatility of Natural Gas Prices
May 8, 2011
Energy Management Resources Reports on the Volatility of Natural Gas Prices.
Energy Management Resources Reports on the Volatility of Natural Gas Prices
Shale continues to take center stage, albeit with mixed opinions, which is adding volatility to the direction of natural gas prices.
ShareThis 
The new drilling technologies that have proved so successful for natural gas may now provide an impact on the world oil supply
(PRWEB) May 03, 2011
EMR – Based on last months New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), Natural Gas prices are holding between $4.20 to $4.30 per MMBtu. Many factors come into play with when pricing commodities on NYMEX; however, all eyes continue to focus on the game changer – Shale Gas. Energy Management Resources is seeing a lot of clients re-analyze their hedging strategies as a result.
Shale continues to take center stage, albeit with mixed opinions, as compared to previous robust projections. These mixed opinions are adding some volatility to the direction of natural gas prices. Yet, it looks like North American producers are scaling back due to economics.
Here are the some facts regarding the economics of shale gas:
- There are 2,300 drilled but yet to be completed wells in the Haynesville, Marcellus, Eagle Ford and Barnett plays alone. As a result, producers have an inventory position whose cost structure will continue to put price caps on future price increases.
- There are potential environmental hazards that can be associated with the process of drilling for shale gas. Consequently, larger investments may be needed to deal with any new regulatory oversight and unanticipated regulations.
- Storage and pipeline capacity limits are being tested, as U.S. dry natural gas production is expected to grow by about 5.4 Bcf/d through 2015 from the 2010 average.
What some know about this game-changer is that the new drilling technologies that have proved so successful for natural gas may now provide an impact on the world oil supply. Oil brings much higher returns than gas, so many investors have already begun to pressure Boards of Directors about their investments. While debt rollovers, new equity offerings, and asset lease sales have financed the shale gas boom, disappointing cash flows are leading some investors to jump off the bandwagon. A thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of U.S. natural gas once sold for a tenth of the price of a barrel of oil, but now that spread has widened tremendously – One (1) Mcf of gas now sells for a twentieth, or less, of the price of a barrel of oil. Major shale producers see today’s gas prices making the economics of shale gas, as well as conventional gas, increasingly unprofitable. Weak cash flows have spurred investor concerns that these companies may no longer be able to meet wellhead break-even costs at those prices.
- Chesapeake Energy Corporation announced they had decided to sell all of its Fayetteville Shale assets and its equity investments in Frac Tech Holdings, LLC and Chaparral Energy, Inc.
- Chesapeake also announced ramped up investments at the Niobrara oil/shale formation, primarily an oil play, situated in northeastern Colorado and parts of Wyoming, Nebraska, and Kansas.
- Voyager Oil & Gas has made similar investment decisions. It will reduce production in its Bakken shale formation and refocus on its Niobrara fields.
- In response to deteriorating, if not negative profit margins, other shale gas producers are suddenly redeploying their rigs to drill for more lucrative oil. That includes the likes of Petrohawk Energy Corporation, EOG Resources, Forest Oil Corporation, and Quicksilver Resources.
Low natural gas prices are the result of many factors and the technology behind shale gas is seen as the central game changer, as it may assume a similar role in oil exploration. Although the potential environmental impacts of producing shale gas are being questioned, shale gas producers are redeploying their drilling dollars to oil targets searching for higher returns. According to Baker Hughes last week, the number of natural gas rigs operating in the US fell for a fifth consecutive week to a ten-month low. By shifting from gas to oil, the technology has lifted hopes of the first significant rise of onshore U.S. oil production in decades. In five to eight years, the technology could add a million barrels of oil a day to U.S. supplies.
Analysts stress the importance of this switch in exploration activity. Moving from shale gas to oil won’t be without consequences for future gas supply, as the effect of more rigs drilling for oil will have an impact gas prices. The oil exploration industry has already moved to riskier finds, such as Alberta tar sands and deep-water drilling. There probably isn’t a whole lot of “easy oil” left to find. Thus, the oil industry thinks it can benefit from the shale gas technology developed by its siblings in the natural gas sector.
About Energy Management Resources:
Energy Management Resources (EMR) helps energy intensive industrial and commercial companies across North America optimize their energy requirements. The costs, risks and regulatory issues associated with high demand energy consumption are complex. We take the complexity out of the equation to reduce your operating expense and manage your company’s risk.
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Fracking the Future DeSmogBlog
May 7, 2011
Media Centre. Media Resources
“An imperative read for a successful future.”
~LEONARDO DICAPRIO
~LEONARDO DICAPRIO
Clearing the PR Pollution that Clouds Climate Science
Desmog Video
Coal is Clean
Coal is Clean
Media Centre
Tags: media center
Welcome to the DeSmogBlog Media Centre. If you’re looking for information on noted climate change skeptics, or on the use of PR techniques and spin by politicians, scientists, and in the media, you’ve come to the right place.
Since we launched the site in January 2006, we’ve compiled an extensive collection of resources. Please use this media centre to full advantage for your own reporting.
Should you want more information on a particular issue, skeptic or group, and cannot find it here, please feel free to contact us at brendan [at] desmogblog [dot] com.
As always, we’re always happy to receive tips from our readers. Please submit those to editor [at] desmogblog [dot] com. Spin is everywhere, and it’s clouding climate science and confusing the public. Help us in our mission for sound reporting on climate science. After all, you can’t spin Mother Nature.
About DeSmogBlog
DeSmogBlog exists to clear the PR pollution that is clouding the science on climate change. An overwhelming majority of the world’s climate scientists agree that the globe is warming and that the indiscriminate burning of fossil fuels is to blame. We know that the risks are incalculable and, increasingly, we understand that the solutions are affordable and wise choices for many reasons.
DeSmog Research Database
A database of individuals, “think” tanks, PR pros and corporations actively involved in clouding the science on climate change.
Resources and links to climate science websites
The Scientific Consensus
Here is a review by Science magazine that looked at 928 abstracts, published in refereed scientific journals between 1993 and 2003, and listed in the ISI database with the keywords “climate change.” Not one of these studies disagreed with consensus view on climate change.
G8 Climate Statement (PDF)
Here is a 2005 joint declaration on the realities of global warming signed by the heads of the chief scientific advisors for all the G8 countries (China, Canada, Brazil, Russia, United States, Japan, Italy, India, Germany).
IPCC: The Scientific Basis
Here is the latest report issued by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – supported by the world’s leading climatologists.
The Royal Society – A guide to facts and fictions about climate change (PDF)
“This document examines twelve misleading arguments (presented in bold typeface) put forward by the pponents of urgent action on climate change and highlights the scientific evidence that exposes their flaws. … This document has been endorsed by the Council of the Royal Society, and draws primarily on scientific papers published in leading peer-reviewed journals and the work of authoritative scientific organisations, such as the IPCC and the United States National Academy of Sciences.”
RealClimate.org
This is a climate change website run by leading climate change scientists. Here you will find out about the latest climate science, as well as information on the scientific myths on climate change.
The Scientific Case for Human-Induced Global Warming
Here is an article written by renowned author, and DeSmog contributor, Ross Gelbspan, that summarizes the scientific evidence on man-made climate change.
Climate Backgrounder
Here is a backgrounder on climate change written by DeSmogBlog writer Richard Littlemore.
Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions per Country (also check here )
NationMaster GHG and Environment Statistics
Calculate your household’s carbon emissions
Helpful resources for researching the backgrounds of climate change “skeptics” and PR professionals
Exxon Secrets
Run by Greenpeace USA, ExxonSecrets exposes the campaign ExxonMobil has run for more than a decade to fund climate change skeptics and delay action to fix the problem.
PR Watch
Run by the Center for Media and Democracy, this site offers information on PR professionals in all sectors, including the fossil fuel industry and climate change. The CMD is run by John Stauber, author of 5 books on the PR industry, including Toxic Sludge is Good for You and Trust Us, We’re Experts.
Media Matters: Conservative Transparency
Run by Media Matters for America, this website reports the funding received by conservative US “think” tanks.
US Senate Lobby Filing Disclosure Program
A searchable database containing all US lobbyists, who they work for and the policies they are lobbying to change.
Government of Canada Lobbyist Registration
A searchable database containing all Canadian lobbyists, who they work for and the policies they are lobbying to change.
The Legacy Tobacco Documents
This site contains the entire library of documents relating to the Master Settlement Agreement between the US and the tobacco industry. In this searchable database you will find that many of the self-proclaimed climate change “skeptics” were also involved in confusing the public about the harmful effects of cigarette smoke.
DNS Stuff
Type in any website address in the “WHOIS” Lookup and see who really owns a website. We are constantly amazed at the information we find using this site.
Open Secrets
Check out this site for detailed information and analysis of industry donations to US politicians.
Dirty Energy Money
Run by Oil Change International, this site tracks the oil, gas and coal industry money flowing into the U.S. Congress.
Government of Canada Corporate Registry
Find out the who’s who of a corporation or a non-profit registered under Canada’s corporate registry act. For example, we found that the founding directors of a non-profit called The Natural Resource Stewardship Project were also lobbyists for the energy industry.
News Tips and Confidential Information
Have some interesting news stories, or some information that you feel needs to get out? Fill out our news tips form or fax your information to our confidential fax line at (604) 736-9902. Your anonymity is guaranteed.
Democracy is utterly dependent upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.
There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.
DesmogBlog
ashleybraun 10.1 billion people by the end of the century, huh? http://t.co/KcdNXtU yesterday · reply · retweet · favorite
DeSmogBlog Solar struggle feeds into power cost blame game – The Canberra Times http://bit.ly/iuNXxK yesterday · reply · retweet · favorite
greenpeaceca RT @nytimesglobal: Japan to Halt 3 Nuclear Reactors Over Quake Fears http://nyti.ms/mjaKkk 13 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite
greenpeaceca RT @info_activism: Inspiring exhibition touring UK this summer: Jiri Rezac photos tell the story of #tarsands http://ow.ly/4OCBs 13 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite
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Winsor Compressor Application
April 25, 2011
http://www.dec.ny.gov/enb/20110406_reg7.html#703500010600001
From: Betsy Hohenstein <brhohens@gw.dec.state.ny.us>
Subject: Dunbar Compressor Station Air Permit
To: gerriwiley@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, April 25, 2011, 3:10 PM
Hi Gerri:
Thanks for your call. Please find attached the Draft Air permit to which the Notice refers.
The Air Permit is a Type II action under SEQR under provision 6 NYCRR Part 617 .5 (c) (35), which excludes “actions requiring a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need under articles VII, VII or X of the Public Service Law and in the consideration of, granting or denial of any such certificate; “.
The Article VII Certificate for this case is also attached. The PSC web site is: http://documents.dps.state.ny.us/public/MatterManagement/CaseMaster.aspx?MatterCaseNo=10-T-0350&submit=Search+for+Case%2FMatter+Number
Hope this helps. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of other assistance.
Betsy
Betsy Hohenstein
Environmental Analyst
Division of Environmental Permits
NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233
phone (518) 402-9174
GDACC 
