UGI/PennEast pipeline grant

Susan Gallagher, the chief naturalist of the Carbon County Environmental Educational Center, has received some negative feedback for accepting a $5000 grant from UGI/PennEast pipeline people.  The money would be used to create a handicapped nature trail.  She asked for opinions.  Here is what I sent to Ms.Gallagher: 

Dear Susan,

    You asked for feedback on the PennEast $5000 grant to the Carbon County Environmental Educational Center.  Should you take the money?

Here are some other questions to ask.   

1.  If you refused the money, would that change PennEast’s mind about the pipeline?  Would it make the pipeline less likely?

2.  If you accept the money, does that mean you must support the pipeline?

3.  Can the Environmental Center put $5000 dollars to good use, and will it help the environment of Carbon County?

The answer to the questions in #1 is no.

The answer to #2 is no.

The answer to #3 is yes.

If PennEast gave $5000 to the Sierra Club or to Save Carbon County, I would advise those groups to take the money.  I will paraphrase what the former speaker of the California Assembly, Jess Unruh, said about legislators and lobbyists.  If you can’t take their money, drink their liquor, fool around with their women, and look them in the eye and then tell them to go to hell, you shouldn’t be in politics.  I don’t think you have to worry about the liquor and the women, but I do think you can take their money and still tell them to go to hell.  So take the money.

Sincerely,

Roy Christman, 610-377-0235