Shell’s ethane cracker, a mammoth plastics plant near Pittsburgh, begins operations
The $6 billion ethane cracker will take ethane from natural gas from fracking in the region to make 1.6 million metric tons of plastic/year.
natural gas
Tom Wolf signs $2 billion tax package that encourages natural gas production in Pa.
Despite the size of the package, lawmakers introduced and passed the bill in just a few hours with no public hearings.
Pa.’s natural gas industry set to get billions in state tax credits
Called a backroom deal by critics, the bill includes nearly $2 billion in tax credits. Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to sign it.
As the election approaches, Wolf and Pa. lawmakers look to push through massive tax incentives for natural gas
The package’s focus on fossil fuels — $80 million a year through 2045 for natural gas production — has raised alarm bells among environmental groups.
Ohio groups petition U.S. EPA to revoke state’s regulation of oil and gas waste disposal wells
The groups say Ohio's failure to enforce regulations is endangering drinking water and burdening low-income Appalachian communities.
DEP fines Shell $670K for erosion, spills during Falcon pipeline construction
Violations occurred numerous times along the Falcon pipeline that will feed ethane to Shell's Beaver County ethane cracker.
Pa. moves natural gas well emissions rule forward, seeks to beat federal deadline
The rule covers conventional oil and gas sites that have already been built or drilled. Reducing VOC emissions is expected to also lower leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Pa. needs to finish emissions regulations for oil and gas sites by December or face sanctions, EPA says
Pennsylvania could lose $500-$750 million in federal highway funds if it doesn't submit plans to EPA by Dec. 16 to reduce VOCs at oil/gas sites.
Researchers find spreading drilling wastewater on Pa. roads can lead to harmful runoff
Wastewater from oil and gas drilling has been used as a cheap dust suppressant in rural Pa. for years, but it can contain toxins.
Allegheny County Council votes to ban fracking in county parks, overriding Fitzgerald’s veto
Rich Fitzgerald, who has supported the industry, opposed the measure despite the fact that there are no current proposals to drill on the county land.
