Take Action Against Fossil Fuel Pollution
Marcellus Shale will be in Erie on September 22 and 23.
The Marcellus Shale Coalition is, for the fourthyear, holding its Shale Insight conference at the Bayfront Convention Center.
Who is the Marcellus Shale Coalition and why should we be concerned?
• The Marcellus Shale Coalition is the most powerful fossil fuel trade association or lobbying entity in Pennsylvania and the region – advocating for a continued reliance on fracked, methane gas. This year, their focus is on building data centers that waste huge amounts of water.
• Pennsylvania remains the 4th largest emitter of carbon dioxide by US State and the second largest producer of fracked gas.
• We are not on pace to reach the emissions reduction goals in Pennsylvania’s Climate Action Plan, and the Marcellus Shale Coalition is at the center of advocacy for maintaining this status quo and expanding natural gas usage.
• Fracking produces huge amounts of toxic wastewater, pollutes groundwater and surface water, emits huge amounts of methane, threatens the health and safety of workers and communities, and releases toxic air pollutants. Studies, including in PA specifically, showed associations between proximity to fracking and adverse health outcomes like pregnancy complications, cancer, and asthma.
•The unfortunate irony is that this conference is taking place right on our waterfront. Lake Erie and its ecosystems are negatively impacted by climate change right now, whether it be from lack of ice cover, longer lasting and larger harmful algal blooms, or extreme weather and heavy rain leading to more polluted runoff.
What You Can Do In Response:
There are several opportunities to join with others who are opposed to this conference's aims.