Below is a copy of a letter (largely lifted from a Green Party press release) that I sent to my PA state reps regarding the rush to extract natural gas from the Marcellus formation that spans from eastern Ohio to Southern NY. Here is some info on fracking. FYI, House Bill 1 is a massive funding bill that goes to subsidize, promote, and reimburse residential renewable energy installs.
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Please take the time to send this message or a similar one to your representatives.
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I'd like to commend the Congress on passing House Bill 1, these types of incentives will provide for a sustainable future. Please continue to provide and support these types of incentives and funding.
Even though PA is taking a leadership position on these renewable energy issues, I am very concerned about how we are handling the mining and extraction of natural gas from the Marcellus formation. Humans have survived for eons without natural gas, and we will continue to do so once oil and gas supplies are depleted. We cannot live without water, and the extraction technique know as "fracking" will have an incredibly detrimental impact on the state's water supply for generations to come.
Please take the following actions to ensure our water remains clean and usable by all Pennsylvanians:
- Ban all drilling operations that use chemical additives or fracking. Force all drilling operations to comply with the Clean Water Act.
- Current environmental regulations must be strictly enforced, and penalties should be levied so that drillers place a high value on environmental protection.
- Enact a severance tax. When gas rights are sold, the extracted gas is sold on the open market to the highest bidder, and beyond the landowner profits, the residents of PA that are absorbing risk, and losing valuable resources do not see any benefit. A 10% or more severance tax will ensure that all Pennsylvanians are compensated for the costs these operations are externalizing to us. It is shameful that we are one of the only states that do not have a severance tax.
- Prohibit all drilling and extraction activities on public land.
- All drilling plans must have a State approved water use, reclamation and treatment plan. The cost of water degradation and treatment must be shouldered by the drillers, not the residents of PA.
- Use the fees and taxes from these operations to enhance water quality and further promote and establish renewable energy programs.
Thank you.
:Please take the time to send this message or a similar one to your representatives.
---
I'd like to commend the Congress on passing House Bill 1, these types of incentives will provide for a sustainable future. Please continue to provide and support these types of incentives and funding.
Even though PA is taking a leadership position on these renewable energy issues, I am very concerned about how we are handling the mining and extraction of natural gas from the Marcellus formation. Humans have survived for eons without natural gas, and we will continue to do so once oil and gas supplies are depleted. We cannot live without water, and the extraction technique know as "fracking" will have an incredibly detrimental impact on the state's water supply for generations to come.
Please take the following actions to ensure our water remains clean and usable by all Pennsylvanians:
- Ban all drilling operations that use chemical additives or fracking. Force all drilling operations to comply with the Clean Water Act.
- Current environmental regulations must be strictly enforced, and penalties should be levied so that drillers place a high value on environmental protection.
- Enact a severance tax. When gas rights are sold, the extracted gas is sold on the open market to the highest bidder, and beyond the landowner profits, the residents of PA that are absorbing risk, and losing valuable resources do not see any benefit. A 10% or more severance tax will ensure that all Pennsylvanians are compensated for the costs these operations are externalizing to us. It is shameful that we are one of the only states that do not have a severance tax.
- Prohibit all drilling and extraction activities on public land.
- All drilling plans must have a State approved water use, reclamation and treatment plan. The cost of water degradation and treatment must be shouldered by the drillers, not the residents of PA.
- Use the fees and taxes from these operations to enhance water quality and further promote and establish renewable energy programs.
Thank you.
