PA: Bill proposes State funding for marcellus infrastructure

[phantom power]

HARRISBURG - As lawmakers debate requiring that natural gas drillers compensate communities for any damages to local roads, bridges and water supplies through a state severance tax on their production, they are also proposing that state tax dollars be used to develop infrastructure projects to support the industry.

Marcellus Shale projects make their debut in a capital projects bill approved last week by the Senate. These bills, which are considered every two years, give authorized projects a shot to compete for state aid. The state pays for selected projects through the sale of bonds to investors. This measure goes back to the House for a concurrence vote as the legislative session winds down. The projects bill is moving as House and Senate leaders try to reach agreement on a compromise tax rate for a severance tax.

Marcellus-related projects added to the projects bill by the Senate include:

- Carbondale Railyard Transload Facility, $5.4 million. The new railyard is being developed by Honesdale-based Linde Corp. to serve the natural gas industry.

- New rail facility to support shipping of products related to natural gas industry, Northumberland County $5 million.

- Five plants in Clearfield and Elk counties to treat and recycle hydrofracturing wastewater from Marcellus Shale drillers. Each requests state aid in the $4 million to $6 million range.

- Marcellus Shale industrial building at former brownfield site, Clearfield County, $1.2 million.

- Marcellus Shale enterprise center, Clearfield County, $10 million.

- Marcellus Shale learning resource center, Westmoreland County, $2 million.

- Delaware & Hudson Railway, build transload facilities and rehabilitate rail lines on this old anthracite region railroad from the New York State line to Sunbury to accommodate "new commodities and developing markets," $31 million. The railroad extends through Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wyoming and Luzerne counties where natural gas drilling and exploration is occurring.

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/bill-proposes-state-funding-for-marcellus-infrastructure-1.1042284

[AlinPA]

1. I didn't know this. That is some sick legislation. A "learning resource center" to brainwash the

morons in PA about how great that polluting crap is. Pa is going to be so ugly from that drilling that no one will want to live here. Pigs.

[phantom power]

2. The rail developments seem possibly beneficial

Not that they couldn't promote rail development without NG drilling.

[Nihil]

3. State-funded fossil fuel development that, in the process, poisons the people paying for it!

There is a certain amount of twisted genius there ... it's just a shame
that it's happening in real life rather than a cartoon ...
:banghead:

[hootinholler]

4. Those Fracking Bastards!

I can't believe that the Pa. legislature is blind to the issues with the Marcellus Shale gas production.

-Hoot

[Kolesar]

5. ^clever

kick