Pittsburgh moves ahead with controversial gas drilling ban

[Klukie]

Pittsburgh City Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a ban on natural gas drilling in the city, with members saying they're ready to defend it in a possible legal fight with Marcellus Shale producers.

Citing concerns about drilling explosions and pollution, council voted 8-0 for a controversial bill that Councilman Doug Shields introduced in August. Supporters predicted that council's action will encourage other communities to defy the gas industry.

"I can't vote any other way," council President Darlene Harris said.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition, a Cecil-based trade group that previously predicted the city would have a difficult time preventing property owners from developing their mineral rights, expressed disappointment



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10314/1101992-53.stm#ixzz14tNE7tHZ

[SidDithers]

1. K&R...nt

Sid

[Junkdrawer]

2. The new Republican majority in the state government will fight this tooth and nail....

and it looks like the Federal gov't will side with the state.

As I live in Pittsburgh, I'm hoping the city wins this one, but I'm not optimistic.

[Klukie]

3. Some more info

Chevron nabs U.S. shale gas acreage

SAN RAMON, Calif., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- A deal to acquire U.S. energy company Atlas Energy Inc. adds trillions of feet of shale gas to Chevron's portfolio in the United States, the supermajor said.

Chevron announced that it would acquire Atlas for $3.2 billion in cash and $1.1 in assumed debt. The acquisition gives Chevron access to natural gas deposits in the Marcellus Shale play in southern Pennsylvania.

Chevron Vice Chairman George Kirkland said the deal gives his company around 9 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves with the bulk of that locked in American shale deposits, including 100,000 acres of shale in Michigan.

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/11/10/Chevron-nabs-US-shale-gas-acreage/UPI-40631289397427/

[Klukie]

4. and some more

Range Resources, EQT, Ultra May Be Targets After Chevron Deal


Range Resources, EQT, Ultra May Be Targets After Chevron Deal
By Jim Polson and Mike Lee - Nov 10, 2010 12:33 AM ET Tweet (22)LinkedIn Share
Business ExchangeBuzz up!DiggPrint Email .Range Resources Corp., EQT Corp. and Ultra Petroleum Corp. are among companies that may attract takeover bids because of their holdings in the Marcellus Shale formation, where natural gas output has exceeded forecasts, analysts said.

Investors expect more deals to follow yesterday’s agreement by Chevron Corp. to buy Atlas Energy Inc. for $3.2 billion in cash to gain access to natural gas in Marcellus. The deal is worth $4.3 billion including assumed debt, which would make it Chevron’s biggest since it bought Unocal Corp. in 2005.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-10/range-resources-eqt-ultra-may-be-targets-after-chevron-deal.html

[haikugal]

6. We Fought Back Against The Power Line And Won....

back in the 90's. If we are able to organize and stand firm we may be able to save our state from this atrocity.

[Klukie]

8. organization requires a shared passion

and without awareness and knowledge this passion will never rise up. Spread the word. Oh and challenge those who are leasing their land to make a few bucks at the possible expense of our water supplies!!

[Klukie]

5. Is this what we can look forward to as the vultures descend?

Pa. agency votes to aid owners of contaminated wells


Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20101110_Pa__agency_votes_to_aid_owners_of_contaminated_wells.html#ixzz14tSnGrBO
Watch sports videos you won't find anywhere else

[Klukie]

7. Tax free status...YAY!!

Tax on Marcellus shale gas extraction fails to pass in PA legislature

By Rona Kobell
A proposed tax on the natural gas industry is dead in Pennsylvania and may not be revived anytime soon.

Gov. Ed Rendell blamed Republicans in both chambers of the Pennsylvania Legislature for failing to compromise on a fee for the gas extracted by the myriad companies drilling in the Marcellus Shale, a rock formation rich in natural gas that spreads across Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York.

"With little time left to enact the severance tax, the Senate and House Republicans' adamant refusal to advance a meaningful counterproposal speaks volumes about their intentions," he said. "They clearly desire to put costs of natural gas drilling on the backs of Pennsylvania taxpayers, rather than on the large multinational oil and gas corporations who stand to reap enormous wealth from our state's resources."

Pennsylvania is the only state with significant gas extraction that has not yet passed a tax. Since 2008, citizens and environmentalists have been pushing for a tax, saying the revenue generated could be used to hire more inspectors and mitigate some of the damage associated with drilling.

http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=3962

[Klukie]

9. some current research...

'Fracking' Mobilizes Uranium in Marcellus Shale


Scientific and political disputes over drilling Marcellus shale for natural gas have focused primarily on the environmental effects of pumping millions of gallons of water and chemicals deep underground to blast through rocks to release the natural gas.

But University at Buffalo researchers have now found that that process--called hydraulic fracturing or "fracking"--also causes uranium that is naturally trapped inside Marcellus shale to be released, raising additional environmental concerns.

The research will be presented at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Denver on Nov. 2.

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/21321

[Klukie]

10. Kick for the evening crowd