Protecting balance of industry, environment

Can the fossil fuel industries protect American’s health and their air and water? Some doubt it such as the Pennsylvania Medical Society who urged that priority be put on researching the effects on our health and environment. Others, such as Governor Wolf, think the trade off of business gain in place of protection is worthwhile, in the shortrun. The evidence is growing for a connection between environmental pollution and neurodevelopmental disorders, and since the latter half of the 20th century, IQs have been declining globally. Air and water pollution are associated with brain development disorders and children’s health problems.

Let’s look at our commitment to energy industries. Pennsylvania is the 2nd largest holder of nuclear waste, the 2nd largest producer of nuclear energy, the 4th largest coal producer, and the 4th largest natural gas producer. But what about Pennsylvania’s renewable energy production? Pennsylvania ranks 20th in clean energy production. We must cut our emissions whether it occurs by compliance with federal rules that are now unlikely, energy market competition, or constituent demand. From 2001 to 2014 Pennsylvania achieved a reduction of 1.4% in CO2. Many corporate leaders and the citizenry are ready to achieve more under PA’s Clean Power Plan to reduce CO2 pollution from the coal and gas fueled power plants that generate 58% of PA’s electricity.

As of 2014, Pennsylvania’s embedding of fossil fuel energy pipelines is 7th in the nation (American Gas Association). This energy is sold in other states and other countries, but we take the risks. The Nature Conservancy reported in 2011 that gathering lines are likely to comprise the greatest extent of new large diameter pipeline construction in Pennsylvania in the next 20 years. There will be 10,000 miles (doubling the miles of gas pipeline in PA) to 25,000 miles (quadrupling the miles) of new gathering pipelines by 2030. Impacts of pipelines to the environment will be natural habitat loss and fragmentation, changes in species movement, sedimentation of waterways, and air emissions. Potential jobs lost may not be greater than jobs lost when recreation and wildlands are destroyed. Pipelines will eliminate 60,000-to-150,000 acres of forestlands along with their CO2 and pollution-absorbing capacities. These changes exacerbate the environmental damage caused by global warming.

We need the legislature and Governor to be more definitive in their commitment to solar, wind, and geothermal energy and upgrading electricity grids. We need them to attract green industries to all of Pennsylvania. The Governor’s new plan for solar energy and solar-generated in-state electricity is an important start and needs legislative support. The German plan is very ambitious, and committed to minimizing fossil fuels by reducing energy consumption in addition to renewables. If we kept current fossil fuel generation in reserve for emergency power, and moved more rapidly to renewable energy in Pennsylvania, we could avoid some environmental destruction. Furthermore, our workers need to upgrade their skills, and newly graduating high school students need to have the opportunities to train in competitive environment-friendly industries or to upgrade their trade education with better environmental protection and safety methods. The technology sector is considered one of Pennsylvania’s largest industries. Nationally we are 8th in technology employment, but only 18th in technology wages.

Sunoco Logistics Partners does not monitor their pipelines closely enough to prevent hazardous releases and permanent damage to our groundwater and wells. Of 429 pipeline breaks and explosions in the U.S. in the past 17 years (25/year), 1 in 20 have occurred in Pennsylvania. This is more than our fair share. Sunoco level of monitoring of fossil fuel pipelines is dismal and alarming (e.g., the gasoline spill into a tributary creek of the Susquehanna River on 10/21/16). According to Sunoco, the amount of gas that leaks from the proposed Mariner East II pipeline will be the volume of a 20 inch diameter pipeline over four to six miles. An explosion would destroy a threemile area around the leak.

One element necessary to prevent environmental degradation and decline of societies is political will. Progress on environmental and human health will depend on the political will of the people. If we as a people fail to express our opinions about industrial and governmental actions that degrade the environment, we will have contributed to our own climate-related dangers.