Category Archives: Politics
Posted in Alternative Energy | Communities | Current Events | Economic Development | Leadership | Marcellus Shale | Politics | Sustainable Design | Water/Wastewater by Marty Muggleton (VP Client Development & Marketing) on March 29, 2011
A couple of major media sources have tried their best to show the worst of the Marcellus. For what my view is worth, it’s been done on purpose. Most notable is the recent work by the New York Times (2/27/11) and an item carried by the Associated Press.
I’m an employee of Larson Design Group, and you would be correct to gauge my objectivity. But when it comes to the work by Ian Urbina of the New York Times, PA DEP Acting Secretary Krancer, and former PA DEP Secretary John Hanger offered up some major corrections. I know a bit about John and trust his rebuttal.
I have affection and respect for the media and I’ve worked with these folks for years, but I question the media’s action when they focus on historical practices, downplay increased compliance, use quotes that are out of context, and can’t get the facts correct or in the proper order. The diplomat in me would say the truth lies somewhere in middle. But in this situation, I think it’s closer to Krancer and Hanger than the New York Times. For a quick summary, see this letter to the Editor of the New York Times. Even Tim Gough’s graphic that accompanies this letter is misleading. Nice.
> Read the rest of this article
Posted in Communities | Current Events | Economic Development | Politics by Steve Muller (Client Development Representative) on January 26, 2011
Image: © Svilen Milev
There are a lot of ‘economic forecast’ events happening this time of year. One year is ending, another one is beginning, and we have the added interest of new politicians taking office in 2011 as well. While there are many views on where the economy is, where it will be going, and whether we will all thrive or merely survive in 2011, I’ve been compelled by one overriding thought: economic growth comes from certainty.
While I know that statement to be true, in my gut, I heard it convincingly shared by an economic development leader in our area several months ago, and it really struck me. That’s it… that’s the solution we need to turn our economy back toward growth, increased employment and prosperity. In a word: certainty. He expanded on the thought to say that all economic development is local, and where there is certainty, there is growth and economic development. Where there is uncertainty, there is economic stagnation with no growth or activity.
> Read the rest of this article
Posted in Communities | Current Events | Marcellus Shale | Natural Gas | Politics | Transportation | Water/Wastewater by Marty Muggleton (VP Client Development & Marketing) on November 29, 2010
Our region will always try to define the Marcellus experience. Some think it’s good; some see an irreversible threat; some think of it as both. What we need is a commitment to make Marcellus development better and safer. While not everyone may be on board, there is a clear swing towards improving operations and technology to make development better and safer. I thought I would share two recent items.
Last week, I was involved in a conversation with some folks that weren’t convinced any improvements or progress are being made to reduce the impact of Marcellus Shale development. I thought I would share how this conversation went.
“There are still problems with gas companies destroying local roads. How are taxpayers going to handle that?”
No doubt that development activity is hammering local roads. There are lots of heavy trucks traveling on roads that were never built to handle the use. But there is a change underway to make this work better. This summer PennDOT issued guidelines primarily for the gas industry, but also for other heavy haulers. These guidelines included mandatory roadway maintenance and repair strategies. These strategies have to be submitted to PennDOT within 24 hours of a report of critical road condition. The strategies outline the contractor to be used, what materials will be used to repair to road, if the material will be replaced prior to June 30 following the winter, and so on. All actions relating to the strategies will be paid for by the gas companies. An article by John Beauge in the September edition of Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal describes how Chesapeake Energy has spent $15 million since spring repairing roads in Lycoming, Sullivan, Bradford, and Tioga counties and their plan is to spend another $15 million before the end of 2010. The inconvenience of a damaged road isn’t avoided; but the cost is being passed from the tax payer to the gas company. A good and necessary step I think.
> Read the rest of this article
