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Senate Environmental Committee Holds Sept. 25 Hearing On Foreign Influence On Natural Gas Development In PA

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing September 25 to discuss foreign influence on natural gas development in Pennsylvania.

The Committee expects to receive comments from--

-- Thomas B. Murphy, Director, Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research;

-- Kevin J. Mooney, Reporter, The Daily Signal (a news platform from the Heritage Foundation);

-- Thomas J. Shepstone, Shepstone Management Company, Inc. and publisher of Natural Gas Now.

Background

In June, The Caucus/LancasterOnline.com published a lengthy article on allegations Russia, which depends on natural gas exports to Europe for cash, tried to preserve its dominance by sowing discord and opposition to the development of natural gas in the United States, Pennsylvania and to specific projects like the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The article follows a report by the Republican staff on the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space And Technology released in March of this year that concluded, “Russian agents were exploiting American social media platforms in an effort to disrupt domestic energy markets, suppress research and development of fossil fuels, and stymie efforts to expand the use of natural gas.”

The Caucus/LancasterOnline.com article pointed to a series of stories published by the RT website, which is owned by RTTV America, Inc. a registered foreign agent with the U.S. Department of Justice, that highlighted protests to natural gas development in the state.

The example articles included “Pipeline To Move Fracked Gas Across Pennsylvania As Critics Cry Foul” and “Protesters Resisting Mariner East 2 Pipeline In Pennsylvania Feeling Intimidated.”

Caucus/LancasterOnline.com also cited the story by Amy Sisk, a reporter for StateImpact PA, as she recounted how a photo she took at the Dakota Access Pipeline demonstrators site was used by Russia’s Internet Research Agency to illustrate a story on the U.S. House Committee staff report on Russian influence in the energy sector.

Sisk’s found out about the use of the photo from a story in the Washington Post on how Russian Internet trolls sought to inflame the debate over climate change, fracking and the Dakota Pipeline.

David Masur from PennEnvironment was quoted in the Lancaster article as saying, “Certainly the case against fracking is clearly supported by the facts and doesn’t need ‘fake news’ or any foreign interference to know that dirty drilling is bad for our air, water, health and environment.”

He added he hadn’t heard of Russian interference in the energy debate before a reporter emailed him.

Click Here to read the Caucus/LancasterOnline.com story.

The hearing will be held in Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building starting at 10:00. Click Here to watch live.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov. Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7105 or sending email to: yudichak@pasenate.com.

(Photo: Mariner East 2 Pipeline construction in Lancaster County, LancasterOnline.com.)

Background NewsClips:

PA Natural Gas Boom Falls In Russia’s Crosshairs, Amplifies Discord In American Politics, Energy Sector

How A Reporter’s Photo Wound Up In The Russia Investigations

National Republicans Brewing Russian Scandal To Target Greens

Russian Trolls Sought To Inflame Debate Over Climate Change, Fracking, Dakota Pipeline

NewsClips This Week:

Treating Protest As Terrorism: U.S. Plans Crackdown On Keystone XL Activists

Cusick: Cumberland County Criticizes Mariner East 2 Pipeline For Dodging Safety Questions

Cumberland County Wants Mariner East 2 Pipeline To Address Citizens’ Safety Concerns

Crable: Did Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Bulldozing Detention Basin Cause Mount Joy Mobile Home Park Destruction?

Only 11% Of PA’s Natural Gas Pipelines Are Mapped For The Public