The Philadelphia community is resisting our own municipal utility wanting to extend their gas customer base for fracked gas. You can learn more at 350philly.org/NoLNG. The below is testimony of 2 residents against this project on March 21st 2019.
Hello. My name is Emily Davis.
I ask you to please vote down Bill 181063 which would allow the city to enter into a contract for a Liquefied Natural Gas Plant. A time when the city is trying to lower its carbon footprint, is not a time to permit the building of a new facility that supports an energy system based on hydrocarbons.
As we transition away from the use of natural gas in our homes, we will need PGW’s support. So while one part of PGW maintains the old system and shrinks in size, a new part, supporting sustainable energy sources and energy efficiency could be expanding.
We have all heard about the costly results of the extreme weather, like those this week in Nebraska and Mozambique that has plagued the world in recent years. 97% of scientists believe that climate change in caused by humans and know what we humans are doing to cause it. One of those activities is the burning of hydrocarbons. One of the effects of climate change is extreme weather. These weather disasters are very costly – our own government says that “In 2018, there were 14 weather and climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each across the United States.” So Philadelphia is right in wanting to lower its carbon footprint.
The financial advantage of this LNG plant is questionable. The annual budget of the city of Philadelphia is over 4 billion. The income from this facility is projected to be less than 0.1% of that. And, there are questions about the private partner.
I agree that PGW needs help – but this is not it. As we transition away from the use of natural gas in our homes, we will need PGW’s support. So while one part of PGW maintains the old system and shrinks in size, a new part, supporting sustainable energy sources and energy efficiency could be expanding.
Please do not support this bill or any bill that supports new infrastructure for fossil fuels. The costs will outweigh the benefits.
Hello. My name is Meenal Raval.
I’m here today to speak on bill number 181063 – authorizing PGW to enter into a public private partnership with Liberty Energy Trust to develop the Passyunk Energy Center.
How can Council consider a steel fork dangerous, and not consider a large fossil fuel project dangerous?
You must know that gas is a fossil fuel. That adding to our dependency of fossil fuels at this late stage of a planetary climate fever is immoral and dangerous.
Today, as I passed thru security, I was stopped because I had a steel fork in my bag. We aren’t talking about a pitchfork, but a dinner fork from my kitchen drawer. Many of us, keenly aware of our city’s litter problem and our oceans choking with plastic, choose to avoid using single-use plastics. Single-use plastics such as forks, water bottles, straws and check-out bags. Because single-use plastics are made from fossil fuels, which we need to use so much less of. I want to thank Councilman Squilla for leading on reducing our city’s use of single-use plastic bags.
So while my fork waits for me by the security team, I’m here asking… How can Council consider a steel fork dangerous, and not consider a large fossil fuel project dangerous? Please, vote down bill number 181063 when it comes up for a vote.
I’m also here to speak about bill number 181067 introduced December 6, 2018 by Council member Reynolds Brown. This bill calls for public hearings about executing the mayor’s Municipal Energy Master Plan, a plan that calls for all of the city’s municipal facilities to use 100% renewable energy by 2030.
By the way, 12 municipalities in the greater Philadelphia area have passed resolutions to transition their energy use to 100% renewable – community-wide. That’s public as well as private.
We can offer a presentation to any of you who want to learn more about the Ready for 100% renewable energy campaign.
Thank you.
This was written for 350 Philadelphia; found here.
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