Pipeline jobs

Tonight Linda and I testified at a “scoping” hearing sponsored by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  The hearing is part of the requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act.

A number of representatives from the Laborers’ Union and the Steamfitters’ Union spoke about all the construction jobs the pipeline would create, and at least one mentioned how fracking had helped the economies of northern counties.

The best rebuttal to this came late in the evening from a young woman who is a river rafting guide.  She noted the importance of the tourist industry in Carbon County.  For example, four different companies are involved in river rafting on the Lehigh.  If the pipeline cuts through Lehigh Gorge State Park as planned, tourists might stay home.  If tourists stay home, all kinds of jobs--shopkeepers in Jim Thorpe, river guides, park naturalists, ski instructors--could disappear.

The economic study that projected job growth was sponsored by PennEast, which in itself makes the conclusions dubious.  As one sign pointed out, “The PennEast study on economic benefits is like a tobacco company study on cancer.

We need another study on economic costs and job losses sponsored by a truly neutral body.  I’m fairly certain costs would outweigh benefits, especially if costs to the environment are factored in.