Shale Justice hosted John Hanger, former Pennsylvania DEP Secretary on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013 for a lively discussion. WATCH THE VIDEO
Invites had been extended to all the Democratic Candidates for PA Governor.
KUDOS to Mr. Hanger for graciously accepting.
Contrary to the Marcellus Drilling News, Shale Justice did not gate crash or protest their own event.
Shale Justice extended the invitation, arranged for the date, time, location and even provided some light refreshments.
The event began with Mr. Hanger making a few remarks. Given the mission of Shale Justice and the interests of those attending, the remarks and ensuing discussion centered on energy issues, specifically natural gas in Pennsylvania.
THE UGLY CHOICES
Hanger describes the current energy source menu of Coal, Oil, Nuclear, and Natural Gas as “UGLY CHOICES”.
He explained that each of these ugly choices have their downside, but he wants to “Minimize the Risk and Maximize the Benefit”.
He repeated both of those phrases a number of times in the course of the evening. If he was crowd testing them for his campaign stumping, the crowd wasn’t buying. The crowd wasn’t there for the fruit & veggie platter, they were there for real answers. Most if not all, have been involved in the issue of natural gas drilling for a number of years, well versed with the issue and are able to spot sound bites and prepared talking points.
Hanger took a few swipes at Corbett by pointing out Corbett not only wants to turn Pennsylvania into “New Texas” via gas drilling, but also wants Pennsylvania to be the “New Mississippi” by cutting funding to schools.
The audience was encouraged to check out his position on Energy at his website - hangerforgovernor.com.
So I did.
Information on his plans are in two different places. Click here for ENVIRONMENT, and click here for ENERGY.
Please take time, and read them. 
Hanger mentioned several times that he is the only candidate with a strong position on energy/environmental issues, the only one with an aggressive platform for renewable energy and that the natural gas people in Harrisburg are saying “anyone but Hanger for Governor”.
This past July, Hanger penned an article for the Guardian.
The first 6 paragraphs are in praise of natural gas.
He gets into the ugly parts of natural gas around paragraph 7, then back to praising natural gas.
I know it’s a lot to ask, but go read the Guardian Article.
Overall the meeting and discussion went as expected. There were no huge revelations, nothing earth-shattering, the answers given were predictable.
Where does that leave us? Well, we have a few ugly choices, and by ugly choices I am not talking about coal, oil, nuclear or natural gas. I’m talking about the ugly choices at the ballot box for the Democratic Primary.
None of the candidates are acceptable to those fracktivists who are working towards an all out ban or at the least a moratorium.
Hanger is in favor of stopping future drilling in state forests, but the rest of the state, (like your back yard) would still be up for fracking. It’s one of the ugly choices.
Rep. Allyson Swartz thinks a moratorium is misguided, except in her district.
Another former PA DEP Secretary, Kathleen McGinty thinks PA could become the “blue collar Silicon Valley” with Natural Gas.
CRYSTAL BALL
A few people have asked me who do I think will win the Democratic primary and eventually the Governor’s race.
Both are still a number of months away and much can change between now and then, but based on the current political climate I’ll throw out my prediction. I reserve the right to change my prediction as events unfold in the coming months.
Schwartz will win the primary, and unless there is some horrendous “October Surprise”, it will be Schwartz taking the Governor’s seat.
Wish there was a “NONE OF THE ABOVE” box on the ballot, or at least an option to “try before we buy” for filling political offices, but there is neither and we are left with the ugly choices and uglier consequences.
Related:
(C) 2013 by Dory Hippauf
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
The “lesser of two evils” is still evil. Advance the renewables and phase out the fossils. It’s inevitable anyway. Too bad BIG MONEY stands in the way of real progress.
{ 2 trackbacks }