Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson
says he favors exporting Marcellus shale natural gas to countries like China that do not have free trade agreements with the United States.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_733052.html#ixzz1K4Ick5U2
Wow. That's an astonishing statement in and of itself. What do we have free trade agreements with other countries for if not to 'open up' trade with our own country?
China hasn't exactly opened up its economy to our products for some time now. Meanwhile, the United States permits any number of products from China into our country which has accomplished one thing and one thing only. A huge trade deficit between China and the United States.
The United States fares no better with countries with which it has engaged in so-called free trade agreements. Massive trade deficits!
Yet this U.S. Congressman not only wants to export our gas from Marcellus Shale drilling based on a projected 'probable' 'surplus,' he wants to do so with China because it has not entered into any free trade agreement with the United States.
If this isn't the most ludicrous train of thought what is?
a major problem with the idea to export any surplus is the way in which issues have been handled or rather a lack of handling of issues such as the absolute, not probable, safety of Marcellus Shale drilling in the state.
In addition, according to a local (Carmichaels, Fayette County, PA) Municipal Water Authority (unelected) board official, there are far more than an acknowledged seven water treatment plants across the state that are reportedly unable to handle any potential or real contamination situations that occur with the hydrolic fracturing after-flow.
Now one of our illustrious FEDERAL legislators is willing to publicly announce exporting to China is the way to go because, because... there "probably" will be a 'surplus' of gas that we need to sell and sell elsewhere to China. the reason to sell to China, he says: they are not a free trade participant!
Is this man out of his mind?
So our infrastructure is lacking, now.
Yet, any surplus drilling in the state produces will be shipped off to China, rather than held in reserves for our own state.
Oh what is the slogan of our state: State of Independence
There is a ray of hope as noted in comments by Two major industry groups cited in the article.
CLIP
The American Public Gas Association, with over 700 members in 36 states, wrote the Department of Energy that "the export of natural gas is inconsistent with a policy of energy independence."
And the Industrial Energy Consumer of America, which represent manufacturing companies with a combined $800 billion in annual sales word the DOE that exporting gas "has the potential" of increasing manufacturing costs which could "result in loss of manufacturing jobs."
Read more: Pa. Congressman backs export of shale gas - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_733052.html#ixzz1K4PIeUwT
Exporting of natural gas = inconsistent with a policy of energy independence
Could not be any more logical of a conclusion, something even a Fifth Grader could answer very adequately on an essay test.
What must we do to ensure this does not happen with PA gas from Marcellus Shale drilling?
1. Don't be anti-drilling or expect a moratorium on drilling
2. Hold our legislators and regulators accountable for non-enforcement of existing regulations
3. Lobby to enable localities to benefit directly from the gas production by divving up the gas to all homes and businesses within a county jurisdiction
4. Protest to stop the flow of our natural resource to China.
5. Instead of an 'export' center build a gas reserves center with any surplus.
Every home and every business should get a tax credit for converting to gas and the cost should be fair for such conversions.
While we oppose any new and burdensome gas extraction tax and support Gov. Tom Corbett's recent remarks regarding such, we cannot accept no imminent action on the part of Gov. Corbett to demonstrate the PA water treatment facilities are or will shortly be made to be able to handle any contamination situations if and when those are shown to occur.
Net the Truth Online
Pa. Congressman backs export of shale gas
By Lou Kilzer
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson says he favors exporting Marcellus shale natural gas to countries like China that do not have free trade agreements with the United States.
Thompson -- whose Fifth District is the state's largest in area and sits squarely atop the massive Marcellus fields in northern and central Pennsylvania, acknowledges in a Tribune-Review interview that this position on exporting might appear to contradict his previous statements favoring Marcellus shale exploration so that America can secure its energy future and wean itself from foreign dependency.
But the congressman says that's only because the situation with exploration has rapidly changed. He said he now believes the United States could eventually find itself with a surplus of gas with no place to go.
"The fact is, we have a bountiful amount of it (natural gas)," he said. "We could probably be in a position to meet our energy needs and, if need be, be able to export."
Thompson and 15 other members of Congress signed a letter late last year encouraging President Barack Obama to allow exporting 16 million metric tons per year of U.S. liquefied natural gas from Sabine Pass in Louisiana to countries who don't have free trade pacts with America...
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Thompson said he supports a similar export facility under consideration at Dominion Energy's Cove Point LNG terminal and port in Maryland. That terminal could be used to export Marcellus shale gas.
"We are in a global economy today and exports are a part of that," Thompson said. He noted that "China will obviously be the largest consumer of energy."
Thompson's comments to the Trib appear to differ from what was displayed Tuesday on his congressional Web page. The page includes comments like these from a February press release: "Situations like that in Egypt continue to underscore the need to cease America`s reliance on foreign energy. Our prosperity as a nation is dependent upon access to sustainable, low-cost energy and I will continue to push for a comprehensive energy plan that meets these demands, promotes American energy and builds a foundation for long-term economic growth and security."
In another release, he said: "affordable energy is vital to our economy and national security. High energy costs slow job growth, increase the costs to industries and of products and squeezes household budgets."
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John Noel Bartlett, a retired 62-year-old from Oil City, said he "had never thought of exporting" natural gas obtained beneath the state's soil. "I think most residents of Pennsylvania believe this was being done for energy independence and didn`t think of it as exporting," he said.
Bartlet said those willing to compromise on environmental issues for America's energy independence might rethink their position if the nation becomes a mass exporter of natural gas. He added that not taxing the gas is "foolish."
There are presently no gas exporting facilities in the lower 48 states. The Department of Energy says its decision to allow or not allow the Sabine Pass port to start operating would set a precedent for the United States.
Anticipating approval, the operator of Sabine Pass, Houston-based Cheniere Energy Inc., has already signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese company to send it 1.5 million tons of LNG per year.
"We are excited to participate in supplying natural gas to China," said Chiniere CEO Charif Souki in a news release.
In all, six American companies are considering exporting natural gas, according to a report by Barclays Capital released last week in New York.
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Two major industry groups disagree with any decision to export gas.
T
he American Public Gas Association, with over 700 members in 36 states, wrote the Department of Energy that "the export of natural gas is inconsistent with a policy of energy independence."
And the Industrial Energy Consumer of America, which represent manufacturing companies with a combined $800 billion in annual sales word the DOE that exporting gas "has the potential" of increasing manufacturing costs which could "result in loss of manufacturing jobs."
Read more: Pa. Congressman backs export of shale gas - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_733052.html#ixzz1K4EUfMvp
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