New Power Plant Fueled By Natural Gas: Asylum Township, PA

One of the latest developments in the on-going "progress" associated with the natural gas industry- a power plant fueled by natural gas- is planned for a location in Asylum Township on Route 187 just outside of Wysox and not far from Wyalusing which is across the Susquehanna River.  Groundbreaking ceremony will be in May.  At a time when we should be looking toward sustainable sources of energy,  the corporate powers continue to pursue the wrong avenues for energy development, thus contaminating our planet more and more for the monetary profits, nothing more.

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/natural-gas-just-the-beginning-1.1659394#.UzhDQiSLDv8.facebook

A blog post I wrote in 2010:
http://dearsusquehanna.blogspot.com/2011/06/major-gas-fired-power-plant-proposed.html

An EPA article mentions quite a few negative aspects of natural gas powered power plants.
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/natural-gas.html

I have seen a few pictures of such facilities, and they all look like monstrocities.  This plant in Asylum Township is being built in a former corn field, or something akin to it.  I imagine the former owner of the land made quite a bundle on the sale.  But in the long run, I don't think the effects will be good.

Living In Gasland: New Milford, PA

Published on Mar 28, 2014

Vera Scroggins writes:
This is what a friend of mine in New Milford, Pa., on route 492 , has to hear across from her on a gas well pad with only one gas well in production and Southwestern Energy started with this small, noisy, smelly flare the past two days and why??? are they having problems with pressure and need to relieve it !! This gas pad is on her neighbors property and it's within 400' of the neighbor's home....

Yesterday they did this for about an hour from 9am to 10am, then again around noon. This has been in production for 8 months now so I have no idea why they would be doing this, but they just started again today at about 5pm. Thought I'd share it...

Carol responds:  This noise is unacceptable near residential areas.  The air pollution from flaring is also significant and should not be tolerated near people's homes.

Asylum Township, PA: A Gasland In Progress

Susquehanna River, Asylum Township, Bradford County, PA
Photo:  Carol Manuel

Asylum Township is located in Bradford County, PA.  Population (2010 census): 1058.  This township is comprised of a mere 26.4 square miles.  How many gas wells are located within this small area?  Forty active wells, 28 with reported production values!  There are 112 approved well permits as well.  The newest permit was issued this month: John Barrett BRA 5H. 

A very small area with 40 active gas wells says it all.  This is a GASLAND.  This is a beautiful rural, farming area turned industrial.  Gas drilling has literally overtaken the lives of the people who live there.  Water has been poisoned.  The air is poisoned.  The soil is poisoned.  And the prognosis is more of the same.  Will it be habitable in the future?  I doubt it. 

Vera Scroggins Speaks Out At Press Conference in Montrose, PA

Vera Scroggins vs Cabot Oil & Gas Hearing 3/24/14 


More information here.

A Dear Sister In the Fight: Reflections on Living In a Gasfield

My friend writes:

I live in Susquehanna County, but I will not shop here or participate in their Stepford wives activities-especially there free hot dog give aways. I drive the extra distance for everything now. Yes, I must pay taxes if I want to keep my home. I am torn between just giving them our home-who else would buy it? Would you move your family to a gasfield? Would you pay a price for a beautiful contemporary timberframe in the middle of all this? We moved here with the intent of participating and living in a lovely quiet part of the world. We saw art and artists. We saw organic farming and a few nice looking farms. The roads were quiet and the nights were heaven under the stars. We made friends, enjoyed neighborhood barbeques, hikes in the woods. I walked fearlessly and happily for miles each day with my big handsome dog. Now I will not walk these roads or woods. I do not know who lives in many of the places and many are empty. My community scorns me for keeping them from their gas wells. Sit down with the folks who maligned me and called us liars? What I know to be true of this place now is that the folks do not care about quality of life or truth or honor. They laugh at folks who care about clean streams and protected wetlands and wildlife. They ignore the science on air pollution. They do not want to know because I believe they have made their deal. They serve a different god and it is the gas lords.

Fracking Fluids Sprayed on NYS Roads

Did you know that New York State uses frack fluids as a de-icer and dust suppressor on roads?  Pennsylvania allows this, too.  It should be banned.

http://nyenvironmentreport.com/post/78775102444/as-snow-melts-movement-builds-to-ban-use-of-drilling