Saturday, June 9, 2012
Do you support Gov. Tom Corbett's proposal to give Shell Oil a $1.65 billion tax break?
Gov. Tom Corbett wants to give Shell Oil tax credits worth $1.65 billion over 25 years so the company will build a refinery in western Pennsylvania to capitalize on the Marcellus Shale natural gas boom, according to Businessweek. Corbett says the deal could help reinvigorate manufacturing in Pennsylvania and create jobs. Critics say Shell would probably bring its business to the state without the tax incentives. Corbett has also been criticized for cutting social services and school funding. Shell is the world's second largest company by revenue and made profits of $31 billion last year. Tell us your opinions in the comments section.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
A panel of seven judges heard the argument Wednesday morning.
A panel of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court judges Wednesday morning heard oral arguments in the legal challenge to Act 13—the state’s newly passed law governing Marcellus Shale drilling activities. A panel of seven judges heard the arguments from lawyers representing the state, as well as those representing a cluster of communities—including Cecil Township—which filed the constitutional challenge to the portion of the act that eliminated local zoning control. Cecil attorney John Smith, who represents the communities, doctor and nonprofit making the challenge, said Wednesday afternoon that the proceeding went as well as can be expected—and added that the courtroom was standing-room only. “The president judge understood and framed our …
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
'Pre-existing ordinances must remain in effect until or unless challenged pursuant to Act 13 and are found to be invalid,' the order read.
A Commonwealth Court judge on Wednesday afternoon granted a preliminary injunction regarding the state's new Marcellus Shale law, known as Act 13. The order means that implementation of portions of the new law slated to go into effect Saturday will be delayed for 120 days. The order reads: "While the ultimate determination on the constitutionality of Act 13 is not presently before the Court, the Court is of the view that municipalities must have an adequate opportunity to pass zoning laws that comply with Act 13 without the fear or risk that development of oil and gas operations under Act 13 will be inconsistent with later validly passed local zoning ordinances." It continues: "For that reason, pre-existing ordinances must remain in effect…
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Local government leaders speak out against state drilling regulations at a town hall held in Green Tree.
Some were for Marcellus Shale gas drilling and others weren’t, but it was clear Tuesday night that none present supported a combined House and Senate bill that would allow drilling in all municipal zones. Noting concern for the rights of citizens and an interest in keeping the power to make decisions about where Marcellus Shale drilling can take place, local lawmakers from 40 western Pennsylvania municipalities showed up at a packed town hall meeting in Green Tree with the hopes of halting progress of the bill, which combines House Bill 1950 and Senate Bill 1100. Both bills propose to amend Title 58, the state’s Oil and Gas Act. House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, whose 28th legislative district represents Pine and Richland townships, is a…
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Fitzgerald and Raja find common ground on some key issues.
They’ve debated many times, slung a fair amount of mud at each other, and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on advertising, signs and staff. Now, the candidates for Allegheny County Executive -- the Republican nominee, D. Raja, and Democrat Rich Fitzgerald -- are down to the wire in their campaigns. Allegheny County voters get the final say Tuesday. Raja, like any Republican in Allegheny County, faces an uphill battle where Democrats outnumber the GOP by a roughly 3-1 margin. In an apparent attempt to counter the disparity, Raja outspent Fitzgerald by a 2-to-1 margin from June through late October, according to the last major campaign finance reports before the Nov 8 election. Both promise to keep taxes at bay, while improving the …
Friday, October 7, 2011
The public is invited to attend the rally Saturday at the dairy farm in Evans City.
On Saturday, members of the advocacy group Marcellus Outreach of Butler will protest drilling in the Marcellus shale at the Marburger Dairy Farm in Evans City. Dubbed October Outrage, the rally will begin at 11 a.m. at the well pad of the Marburger property on Mars-Evans City Road. Protesters will meet between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at EDCO Park in Evans City to march or join carpools to the site. The public is invited to the rally. Marburger supplies the public and nearly 700 schools — including Seneca Valley — with milk and other dairy products, a statement from Marcellus Outreach Butler said. The group believes the fracking process that accompanies drilling — which pushes a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into wells at high speeds …
Monday, October 3, 2011
An impact fee is among the plans announced Monday.
Gov. Tom Corbett today announced his plans to implement numerous recommendations of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, including changes to enhance environmental standards, an impact fee, and a plan to help move Pennsylvania toward energy independence. “This natural resource will fuel our generating plants, heat our homes and power our state’s economic engine for generations to come,” Corbett said in a statement. “This growing industry will also provide new career opportunities that will give our children a reason to stay here in Pennsylvania. We are going to do this safely and we’re going to do it right, because energy equals jobs.” As a result of the public Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission meetings, there is now a "sensible and …
Stacy
5:47 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
another PR mom, Sorry you feel insulted but how you vote and who you support does say what you stand for in your personal life. Honestly, I find it interesting that you seem so upset by that and I wonder if maybe you are not completely comfortable with what you may be in favor of. I don't like what Corbett is doing to education in PA and I do not like how he seems hell-bent on catering to big … more ›