E-mail from T. Boones Pickens:
I have great news to share with you!
Today, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) introduced the NAT GAS Act of 2011 to encourage the use of domestic natural gas to fuel vehicles. The legislation is the Senate's version of H.R. 1380, which has broad bi-partisan support in the House with 181 co-sponsors.
It is so encouraging to see Republicans and Democrats come together to put America first. I salute Senators Menendez, Burr, Chambliss and Majority Leader Reid for recognizing that we need a fiscally responsible energy policy that cuts dependence on foreign oil while creating American jobs, lifting our economy, enhancing our national security, and protecting our environment.
I hope the Senate will do what is unquestionably in America's best interest: seize this unique and powerful opportunity and pass this bill. I'll be in touch soon with next steps.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Bloomberg Speaks
Bloomberg speaks out on Cuomo's position on hydrofracking
By Dana Rubinstein
2:13 pm Oct. 27, 201111Add a comment
Mayor Michael Bloomberg strongly defended Governor Andrew Cuomo's current position on hydrofracking.
"I think the governor, our governor, has it just right," said the mayor, during a press conference at Rothman's, a men's clothing store on Union Square. "Governor Cuomo said he didn't want fracking in the watershed. I agree with that. But you shouldn’t walk away from an energy source that we need."
The mayor was at a men's clothing store in Union Square to annouce an initiative called Building Blocks for Neighborhood Retail, designed to improve the health of the city's struggling retail corridors, which comprise a core component of the city's economy. (The retail industry employes more than 300,000 people in New York.)
The intitiative includes the creation of a centralized website that will offer merchants information on storefront vacancies and demographic data; a Neighborhood Pop-Up Store Competition designed to fill vacant storefronts and foment new retail ideas; and leadership training for active local merchants.
Bloomberg was joined at the press conference by his frequent public companion, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, as well as city Small Business Services commissioner Robert Walsh and American Express C.E.O. Ken Chenault, who was simultanetously launching American Express’s second “Small Business Saturday.”
The mayor's gesture of support for Cuomo came in response to a question asking Bloomberg about plans for a new natural-gas pipeline that will run from Staten Island to New Jersey and then terminate in the West Village.
The New York Times this morning reported on the pipeline plans, which have drawn opposition from West Village residents and Jersey City mayor Jerramiah Healy. Because the pipeline would carry some natural gas derived using the controversial hydrofracking extraction method, it has also drawn opposition from fracking opponents like actor Mark Ruffalo.
The mayor was having none of that.
"This is a gas line that we desperately need," he said. "Only about 20 percent of the gas, incidentally, that comes through that line will go to New York City. It goes north, south, east, west, all around. It’s a regional thing. And the controversy is that there will be some gas that’s taken out of the grounds through a fracking process."
The mayor then gave a small speech about the practice formally known as hydraulic fracturing, and its place in the context of energy and the environment.
"My understanding is there’s virtually no natural gas anymore, almost none, that’s not done with fracking," he said. "If you think about it, what shale is, that holds gas, is just sort of like petrified mud. And it holds all the gas. And so you want to get the gas out of it. And the way they do it is they drill in and then they burst it open a little bit with high pressure water and sand that holds it open and it’s just so much more efficient.
"Almost all gas throughout the country comes from that. And there’s no free lunch. You're gonna have choices. You want more nuclear? Do you want more coal? Do you want more natural gas?"
"Coal," continued the mayor, "kills 13,000 people a year in the United States with the pollutants that it puts in the air. About 800 of those are in the New York region. Stopping coal-fired plants is one of the highest priorities we have. In fact, my foundation, as you remember, made a big gift to the Sierra Club that’s trying to do just that. But we have to have an alternative source. And the alternative source that’s the most practical at the moment is not solar, wind, someday maybe, but for the moment it is natural gas."
Hydrofracking has become a hot-button issue in New York State, with energy interests battling environmentalists for state approval to drill in the Marcellus Shale.
Yesterday, state Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner Joe Martens said it was taking longer than expected to produce oversight and enforcement guidelines for the hydrofracking process, and that issuance of drilling permits would, therefore, take longer than anticipated.
Cuomo supports ending a moratorium on hydrofracking on private land in New York State, but has said the practice should be banned within watersheds serving New York City, Syracuse, and other municipalities.
By Dana Rubinstein
2:13 pm Oct. 27, 201111Add a comment
Mayor Michael Bloomberg strongly defended Governor Andrew Cuomo's current position on hydrofracking.
"I think the governor, our governor, has it just right," said the mayor, during a press conference at Rothman's, a men's clothing store on Union Square. "Governor Cuomo said he didn't want fracking in the watershed. I agree with that. But you shouldn’t walk away from an energy source that we need."
The mayor was at a men's clothing store in Union Square to annouce an initiative called Building Blocks for Neighborhood Retail, designed to improve the health of the city's struggling retail corridors, which comprise a core component of the city's economy. (The retail industry employes more than 300,000 people in New York.)
The intitiative includes the creation of a centralized website that will offer merchants information on storefront vacancies and demographic data; a Neighborhood Pop-Up Store Competition designed to fill vacant storefronts and foment new retail ideas; and leadership training for active local merchants.
Bloomberg was joined at the press conference by his frequent public companion, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, as well as city Small Business Services commissioner Robert Walsh and American Express C.E.O. Ken Chenault, who was simultanetously launching American Express’s second “Small Business Saturday.”
The mayor's gesture of support for Cuomo came in response to a question asking Bloomberg about plans for a new natural-gas pipeline that will run from Staten Island to New Jersey and then terminate in the West Village.
The New York Times this morning reported on the pipeline plans, which have drawn opposition from West Village residents and Jersey City mayor Jerramiah Healy. Because the pipeline would carry some natural gas derived using the controversial hydrofracking extraction method, it has also drawn opposition from fracking opponents like actor Mark Ruffalo.
The mayor was having none of that.
"This is a gas line that we desperately need," he said. "Only about 20 percent of the gas, incidentally, that comes through that line will go to New York City. It goes north, south, east, west, all around. It’s a regional thing. And the controversy is that there will be some gas that’s taken out of the grounds through a fracking process."
The mayor then gave a small speech about the practice formally known as hydraulic fracturing, and its place in the context of energy and the environment.
"My understanding is there’s virtually no natural gas anymore, almost none, that’s not done with fracking," he said. "If you think about it, what shale is, that holds gas, is just sort of like petrified mud. And it holds all the gas. And so you want to get the gas out of it. And the way they do it is they drill in and then they burst it open a little bit with high pressure water and sand that holds it open and it’s just so much more efficient.
"Almost all gas throughout the country comes from that. And there’s no free lunch. You're gonna have choices. You want more nuclear? Do you want more coal? Do you want more natural gas?"
"Coal," continued the mayor, "kills 13,000 people a year in the United States with the pollutants that it puts in the air. About 800 of those are in the New York region. Stopping coal-fired plants is one of the highest priorities we have. In fact, my foundation, as you remember, made a big gift to the Sierra Club that’s trying to do just that. But we have to have an alternative source. And the alternative source that’s the most practical at the moment is not solar, wind, someday maybe, but for the moment it is natural gas."
Hydrofracking has become a hot-button issue in New York State, with energy interests battling environmentalists for state approval to drill in the Marcellus Shale.
Yesterday, state Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner Joe Martens said it was taking longer than expected to produce oversight and enforcement guidelines for the hydrofracking process, and that issuance of drilling permits would, therefore, take longer than anticipated.
Cuomo supports ending a moratorium on hydrofracking on private land in New York State, but has said the practice should be banned within watersheds serving New York City, Syracuse, and other municipalities.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
90 % of NY's Nat Gas--IMPORTED
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York regulators say natural gas prices are expected to be 4 to 6 percent lower this winter and utilities have plenty of supply to get through the season.
The Public Service Commission says Thursday its staff assessed the status of companies serving the state's 3.9 million gas heating customers and found they have adequate supply to meet demand during severe winter conditions.
The price drop is based on a review of market conditions, the cost of gas already stored by utilities and contracts for future purchases.
The PSC regulates what utilities charge to deliver gas, but not the price of the commodity itself.
It says almost 90 percent of natural gas used in the state is imported, mostly from the Gulf of Mexico and Canada.
The Public Service Commission says Thursday its staff assessed the status of companies serving the state's 3.9 million gas heating customers and found they have adequate supply to meet demand during severe winter conditions.
The price drop is based on a review of market conditions, the cost of gas already stored by utilities and contracts for future purchases.
The PSC regulates what utilities charge to deliver gas, but not the price of the commodity itself.
It says almost 90 percent of natural gas used in the state is imported, mostly from the Gulf of Mexico and Canada.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Marcellus Impact--Bigger Than We Thought
Marcellus Shale Economic Impact, Bigger Than We Thought Study shows increase in jobs, revenue, and GDP
Penn State recently finished its third study documenting the development of the Marcellus Shale and its economic impacts on Pennsylvania and the United States. The report shows that the Keystone State is on track to be adequately prepared with enough natural gas to power everything from a home, to an office building, to consumers in other states. A summary of the report’s findings are as follows:
A Lucrative Investment - private companies are on track to continue investing billions of dollars in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus natural gas. According to the study, $5.3 billion was spent on drilling activities in 2009, an estimated $11.5 billion will be spent in 2010, and on pace to $12.7 billion in 2011.
Increases GDP, Jobs, and Revenue - $11.5 billion spent in 2010 generated $11.2 billion in additional value. The employment in the state jumps to +336,000 jobs for 2011-2012. And $2.6 billion generated in additional tax revenues during 2011-2012.
This dramatic increase in Marcellus drilling greatly surpasses conventional gas wells. Penn State found that natural gas production from the Pennsylvania Marcellus will average 3.5 billion cubic feet (BCF) per day during 2011 and will most likely surpass 6 BCF during 2012. When at the same time approximately 0.5 BCF per day of production is generated from conventional gas wells.
That’s not all. This study projects that Marcellus gas production could expand to over 17 BCF a day by 2020. Lastly, the study finds Marcellus Shale will greatly increase domestic energy production, and reduce government deficits.
Despite the good news, gas development costs in Pennsylvania are relatively higher than other regions due to more regulations. We all must do our part to make sure the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania lives up to the expectation s cited in this study. So, please contact Pennsylvania’s legislative leaders to let them know you support the production of Marcellus Shale and that overregulation is severely holding back an industry that matters to us all and that calls for a punitive tax on the industry need to be rejected.
Penn State recently finished its third study documenting the development of the Marcellus Shale and its economic impacts on Pennsylvania and the United States. The report shows that the Keystone State is on track to be adequately prepared with enough natural gas to power everything from a home, to an office building, to consumers in other states. A summary of the report’s findings are as follows:
A Lucrative Investment - private companies are on track to continue investing billions of dollars in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus natural gas. According to the study, $5.3 billion was spent on drilling activities in 2009, an estimated $11.5 billion will be spent in 2010, and on pace to $12.7 billion in 2011.
Increases GDP, Jobs, and Revenue - $11.5 billion spent in 2010 generated $11.2 billion in additional value. The employment in the state jumps to +336,000 jobs for 2011-2012. And $2.6 billion generated in additional tax revenues during 2011-2012.
This dramatic increase in Marcellus drilling greatly surpasses conventional gas wells. Penn State found that natural gas production from the Pennsylvania Marcellus will average 3.5 billion cubic feet (BCF) per day during 2011 and will most likely surpass 6 BCF during 2012. When at the same time approximately 0.5 BCF per day of production is generated from conventional gas wells.
That’s not all. This study projects that Marcellus gas production could expand to over 17 BCF a day by 2020. Lastly, the study finds Marcellus Shale will greatly increase domestic energy production, and reduce government deficits.
Despite the good news, gas development costs in Pennsylvania are relatively higher than other regions due to more regulations. We all must do our part to make sure the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania lives up to the expectation s cited in this study. So, please contact Pennsylvania’s legislative leaders to let them know you support the production of Marcellus Shale and that overregulation is severely holding back an industry that matters to us all and that calls for a punitive tax on the industry need to be rejected.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)