If the argument over the Keystone XL pipeline sounds the
same as the argument over fracking permits, that’s because it is, chapter and
verse. It’s the same people making the
same argument using the same tactics to enforce the same agenda. They want to shut
down all hydrocarbons.
It doesn’t matter that hydrocarbons are organic. [Think Mother
Earth’s compost heap.] It doesn’t matter
that they are local and cheap. It doesn’t
matter that burning them dates to the caveman or that nearly 90% of the world’s
energy is hydrocarbon. It doesn’t matter that should the US not develop
its gas, Russia and the Middle East most certainly will. They want what they want and they will not
stop until they get it.
The lead editorial in today’s Wall Street Journal, “No More Keystone Excuses,“ does a fine job of
explaining how these people work. I took the
liberty of paraphrasing today’s editorial — replacing President Obama with
Governor Cuomo and Keystone pipeline with New York fracking permits, while changing
little else — and all becomes clear. While they
may not have science, they do have a script.
***
‘On Friday fracking
permits received another boost when the another study [aka … life as we know it] found there is no dire impact associated with shale development. All of which means Governor Cuomo has run out
of excuses to keep delaying an approval of millions of dollars of investment
that would provide thousands of jobs.
The study, the fourth
such study in four years, found once again that oil and gas development via
hydraulic fracturing does not impact those who live nearby. Appalachian shale is among the world’s
largest hydrocarbon resources, and Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia have
already moved to develop it. If New York
doesn’t develop its gas, other states will.
Thus the issue is not whether the gas will flow but how much New Yorkers
will benefit.
All this was known two
years ago, but Mr. Cuomo delayed fracking permits in 2011 and again in 2012 to
appease his green financial donors while contemplating a run for
President. His labor supporters favor
development, which will provide thousands of union jobs. His green supporters don’t much care about
jobs because they are already rich. They
are also impervious to evidence like that in the study because global warming
is their religion.
“Mother Nature filed
her comments last year — the hottest year in American history; the top climate
scientists in the US have already chimed in, “ said Bill McKibben in reaction
to the report. He’s the leader of the
anti-fossil fuel forces who was arrested last month after chaining himself to
the gates of the Governor’s Mansion.
The opponents’ goal is
to shut down all fossil-fuel production, one step at a time. They’re on the way to destroying the US coal industry,
and the Sierra Club and others have made shale-gas drilling its next political
target. They want the world economy to run on windmills and solar panels. And these are the folks who denounce the
Republicans for ignoring science.
The larger issue is
whether the New York wants to continue to be considered a serious economic state
with rising living standards and a modern energy supply. If Mr. Cuomo turns
down fracking permits, neighboring states will be laughing as they sell their
gas into New York markets and build their economic power, while New York adapts
to the Sierra Club’s preferred future of the state as Vermont.'
Till Next Time,
Energy Mom
New York City
New York City
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