Caution: Big Splash of Irony
When you examine regional anti-gas movements like Gas-Free Seneca, it quickly becomes apparent how ironic, maybe even hypocritical, things have become. Last weekend, for example, an event titled “Big Splash Seneca” was held at the Hector Fair grounds on Seneca Lake to launch attacks on the proposed Inergy LPG storage facility as a means of indirectly targeting natural gas development, even though the two are unrelated. Attendees, after paying $10, were treated to a mix of stylized music (some sort of bluegrass, folk, and up tempo blues). They were also treated to a re-hashing of unsubstantiated claims about natural gas development spliced together with speeches by Dr. Sandra Steingraber and Dr. Robert Howarth. For a complete debunking of each click here, here and here. It was an extremely ironic event, indeed a “big splash of irony.”
Let’s count the ways:
#1 Many of the residents and vineyards throughout the region use bottled gas, yet somehow think it arrives without any need for storage and distribution facilities. Take a look at this picture in particular. Notice how directly under a sign (that states “defend our water & air”) there is a huge propane storage tank in the distance.
Taken outside Hazlitt Winery from Hector Fair grounds, Hector NY.
Obviously, homeowners and businesses rely on propane for heating, cooking, clothes drying, hot water heating and grilling to name a few. What many people do not realize is that local farms and vineyards also use propane for crop drying, irrigation, flame weeding, and most importantly, to protect vineyard and orchard crops during unexpected cold spells. In spite all of this, these folks are protesting a propane storage facility that will simply reuse existing infrastructure. All in the name of creating a wedge to block natural gas development
#2 Seneca Lake has long been famous for more than wine. Many do not realize that, aside from the beautiful scenery, fertile land, and unique climate – all of which combine of course for excellent wine – the Seneca Lake area is also famous for another natural resource – salt. However this essential nutrient could not have been discovered without the Watkins Oil Well Company (founded in 1882) which , not surprisingly, was looking for oil when it found salt. Since than salt has been produced at Seneca Lake for over a century and has been a mainstay of the local economy.
The process of salt mining is quite simple and requires hot water to be pumped underground where it mixes with the salt deposit before being pumped back to the surface. This extremely salty water mixture is then distilled, leaving behind pure salt. Over the life of a salt mine, a cavern develops, which in this case, because of the unique geology of New York and the impermeability of salt, makes a great storage facility for liquefied propane.
In fact, Seneca lake over the years has been home to many different storage facilities and currently has one operating near the proposed US Salt site. Not only will the LPG storage facility proposed by Inergy be a great benefit to those who use propane regularly through out the Seneca Lake region, it will also create jobs and of course raise the local tax base.
Of course the anti-development crown are chanting this storage project will impact the local community’s water supply. Nothing could be further from the truth. For example, here is the Village of Watkins Glen 2010 water supply report that shows no abnormalities. They have had similar projects for decades.
#3 Gas-Free Seneca is inflating the opposition to the project. Earlier this week, a petition was presented at the Watkins Glen Village Board meeting. The actual petition had something like 4,000 signatures on it. However, when the presenter was asked how many were residents of Watkins Glen no answer could be supplied. Why? that’s a great question. Wineries have, over the last few months, been soliciting signatures from tourists visiting the region. Anecdotal information and baseless speculation have been used to convince patrons to sign these conveniently placed “petitions” – usually by the cash registers and doors. Here is one such example.
Petition found inside restaurant at Seneca Lake
#4 There is no correlation with natural gas development in Pennsylvania or New York. The misconceived connection between natural gas development and this propane storage facility is the result of deliberate mixed messaging on the part of anti-gas groups. Throughout New York, many of these groups have tried to blur reality to promote their cause. We have seen the same thing in Chenango and Delaware Counties, where NYRAD has continually attempted to rally anti-gas support by misleading everyone to believe the Leatherstocking distribution pipeline (6 inches) is really a transmission line (30 inches) and that everyone in the proposed project area will lose their property to eminent domain. At “Big Splash,” Gas-Free Seneca used the same tactic. Again, neither of these things could be farther from the truth.
The ultimate decision on this project lays in the hands of the New York DEC, not the Village of Watkins Glen. This type of project has been done safely many times and could bring cheaper propane to the region in addition to jobs and an improved tax base. That is why many of the residents in the region support this project and anything these anti-gas groups say must be taken with a grain of salt.
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- A Lot of Hot Air in Watkins Glen | Energy In Depth – Northeast Marcellus Initiative
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Nice work Bill the pictures to back it. I have been obtaining copies of these petitions and every single one of them should be challenged by the town boards receiving them.Their largest petition to date, ” Ban Natural Gas in NY 9022 signatures” is as bogus as they came with people signing 3 or 4 different times. but what really makes you wonder is why are the signatures coming from other countries. There are 185 pages to this petition with the exception of the first couple of pages they all look like this
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/NY-Statewide-Ban-On-Natural-Gas-Drilling/
signature # location & date
# 9,021
11:08, Sep 04, Annie -, Ireland
# 9,018
10:24, Sep 04, janet mcintyre, PA
# 9,011
01:55, Sep 04, W Louw, South Africa
# 8,996
05:39, Sep 03, Maria Prascak, PA
# 8,993
23:57, Sep 02, Michael Kensinger, CA
# 8,989
18:32, Sep 02, Name not displayed, PA
# 8,987
17:55, Sep 02, Name not displayed, CA
# 8,983
04:52, Sep 02, Helen Ngobeni, South Africa
# 8,982
08:18, Sep 01, Ria Miller, South Africa
# 8,977
11:17, Aug 31, Inge Malan, South Africa
# 8,975
07:39, Aug 31, Erika Prinsloo, South Africa
# 8,974
06:15, Aug 30, G Pieterse, South Africa
# 8,963
02:44, Aug 28, Jackie Malan, South Africa
# 8,961
13:51, Aug 27, Susan Selbin, NM
# 8,952
08:20, Aug 25, Henri Andre Fourroux III, LA#
8,950
00:00, Aug 25, Name not displayed, CA
# 8,949
20:43, Aug 24, Kristi Janzen, MD
# 8,947
10:40, Aug 24, Thomas Doig, OR
# 8,946
07:57, Aug 24, R Pieterse, South Africa
# 8,944
16:46, Aug 23, Bethany Brown, ME
# 8,938
13:59, Aug 22, Katherine Earle, NH
# 8,936
12:24, Aug 22, Bridget Foy, Ireland
# 8,935
11:25, Aug 22, P Pieterse, South Africa
# 8,934
02:26, Aug 22, C Francis, Namibia
# 8,931
14:37, Aug 21, Jonathan Coveyduck, Canada
# 8,929
07:06, Aug 20, M Stuart, Namibia
# 8,928
06:29, Aug 20, Pierre M, Botswana
# 8,927
05:23, Aug 20, Irene S, South Africa
# 8,926
04:24, Aug 20, Lisa Malan, South Africa
# 8,918
04:46,Aug 18, Paula Prinsloo, South Africa
# 8,917
01:16, Aug 18, Marlese M, South Africa
# 8,909
08:19, Aug 17, Barry Bennett, AR
# 8,908
07:59, Aug 17, F Jansen, South Africa
# 8,907
20:38, Aug 16, Name not displayed, DE
# 8,905
17:36, Aug 16, Gemma Watson, United Kingdom
# 8,901
08:33, Aug 16, Samantha Lum, FL
If you scroll down through all the signatures on NYRAD and Toxic targeting web site you will see about 35 – 40 percent of the signatures they collected are from out of state or even out of country. See the above example taken from just 120 signatures or two pages. I have scrolled through the petition and was fascinated by the outside interest who were signing this petition.
Just why are these petitions concerning NY receiving so many signatures from South Africa,
I know they produce a lot of Natural Gas.
Victor Furman
Certainly people around Seneca Lake use propane and natural gas. Some of them might eat bacon, too. But they probably would not want a hog-rendering facility on the shore the lake.
The analogy isn’t perfect, but LPG storage on the scale proposed by Inergy in its DEC filings – and to its shareholders (present and future) in its IPO for the storage of natural gas – add up to the construction and operation of a massive industrial project where there are mostly fields.
That’s what’s being objected to.
The analogy isn’t perfect and neither is your rationale about DEC filings and shareholders (present and future?). Furthermore your comments, which prove my 4th point, deceive the reader into thinking this project is about natural gas. Again, this project is for propane storage. Salt caverns, created during salt production, are great for storing propane. In fact propane has been stored at Seneca Lake for decades and there is a facility already storing propane close to the proposed site. This project will bring jobs, cheaper propane, and a larger tax base to the area.
Hmmm, I wonder why a”publication” that is funded by major oil and gas interests would write such a diatribe? Perhaps, as Upton Sinclair once said, “It is difficult for a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
What is your point? The proposed facility in question has nothing to do with natural gas development. Also the proposed storage of propane in salt caverns is not a new concept in the region. In fact there are facilities that have been operating for decades. This project will bring jobs, cheaper propane (which a large number of residents and wineries already use) and a larger tax base to the area.
The fact that these self rightous pompous a–es feel the need to question anyones employment as releated to posting simple facts out there for non-gas as well as gas employee’s, Let alone the facts on lpg storage or drilling which is off subject btw. are easily accessable on the internet to everyone. Shows there desperation. But only in the credits of O2E propaganda TV presents, by Bill Houston will you find in the credits “Thanks to the generous funding by the Park Foundation, of Ithaca NY this BS is brought to you
Victor Furman
Not natural development – storage, amigo. Or perhaps the SEC filings are not truthful! Tsk, tsk.
Yvonne,
Bill is defiantly promoting for the industry, for clean abundant Natural Gas Harvested here locally under the strictest guidelines in the world . Bills paycheck could be attached but I am sure he sleeps well knowing he had no part in 75000 dead Americans EACH YEAR!.
Bill also sleeps well knowing he is doing the right thing why others protest the harvesting and would prefer to import Natural Gas produced in countries with no regulation contributing to poisoning women and children. Kind of like the wine industry does in our country producing sweet, dry,fruity, ALCOHOL.
So your concerns for this massive lpg plant will take up a lot of land …. and do what kind of damage?
If a large ethanol plant was proposed that by all means would be acceptable. Because it is wine without the grapes more refined of course.
A vineyard on the top of a hill. …Would that have pesticide and fertilizer runoff into the lake?
But that’s ok its wine making Luvie. (alcohol) It just sounds better so much better when someone say Margo has had a little too much wine, shegets so silly.
People accept WINE making, however I have never heard the identifier on the news when a family has been killed by a drunk drive . Its always alcohol related death not, Beer, Liquor or wine.
Research alcohol related deaths, crime, and domestic violence, and then tell me wine has no involvement in the prior. Alcohol Anonymous hhhhhm do they make a distinction Beer, Liquor,or WINE!
You support and contribute to innocent lives taken and all that is attached to producing and ingesting alcohol. WINE! MEAD! HARD CIDER!
And promoting Wine in Wine country is a good thing?
Much better than saying Seneca Alcohol country contributing to 75000 American deaths
each yearand the explosive growth in Alcoholics! CHEERS!
Just isn’t as progressive and upscale sounding.
Let us take a peek at some of Seneca’s history shall we.
Do you know who was the largest employer in the Seneca region from 1941 to 2001?
Seneca is a dump! An underground dump for MUNITIONS to be exact. And your concerned about LPG in the ground?
Research your areas munitions storage history. Impressive to say the least.
LPG and Natural gas at least contributes to positive outcomes. Like heating, Cooling , power, etc.
Also after you have completed the research I have asked to be done look up the definition for hypocrite!
wow Bryant a lil too much wine today…lol. “great points” as always and like Natural Gas Harvesting, Harvesting grapes creates jobs too. and how would the funeral industry survive without drunks on the road…. before you remove wine from the alcohol industry I think an economical social impact study should be completed and that a moritorium should be put in place until completed on all alcohol products. Then we should have public hearings on the findings in places such as Amish country, orphanages, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers for injured accident victims of DWI drivers. Or we can all be responsible for our choices in what we harvest
1) Harvest Grapes for wine and always drink in moderation never driving with alcohol in your blood
2) drill responsibly and harvest natural gas that has saved more lives then Alcohol ever will
American Harvester,
Very well stated ! Dead on ! Magical actually! Would make a fantastic short and sweet editorial.
I have to tell you if I was in the WINE business I would steer a million miles away from siding against the majority wanting to harvest Natural Gas or anything for that matter. Talk about shaking a cage. Not good business to toss grenades in a glass house…………..
Sorry.. Yvonne,
I was a little harsh I did some quick research (“After” )and came across your emotional Horton Hears a Hoo speech. I apologize for the harsh reality. Teachers sometimes forget their paycheck comes from private sector jobs that pay the majority of the taxes. The jobs that make it possible to buy land on a lake like your grandfather passed down for you to enjoy on Seneca. Yes we better hope the majority of the TAXES come from private sector JOBs, like the ones that come with an LPG plant, because when that changes and the scale tilts… then no one gets paid!
Population and JOBS have a direct connection to staffing schools.
It would be great if our country could sustain on non invasive rainbows, buttermilk falls. If we all had two, three handled moss covered gradunzas in every drive way. We could click our heals and travel to far off places. We could fix everything with pixie dust. I do wish we could all live the song “Hakuna Matata”
And then the alarm clock rings.!!!!!!!!! Followed by the noisy garbage man Beep BEEP BEEPING at the fuel truck. Waiting for the tree trimmers.. Waiting for the local utility guys fixing the
once maintained power grid. Waiting for the road crew to shove dirt that will only hold to the next rain fall because the town are near broke!……. Reality sucks!
This article contains this sentence which contains 3 separate errors: “The process of salt mining is quite simple and requires hot water to be pumped underground where it mixes with the salt deposit before being pumped back to the surface.” The FIRST ERROR is the claim that ‘HOT’ water is needed. Salt will dissolve just fine in cold water too, and it does. Heating injection water is unnecessary, and is NOT PRACTICED by industry. SECOND ERROR is the use of the phrase ‘mixes with the salt deposit’; the error is in using the word ‘mix’; the correct technical term is ‘dissolve’; e.g.: …water pumped to high-enough pressure and injected underground dissolves salt to make heavier saturated brine, which is forced back to the surface by injection-pressure. THIRD ERROR is the use of the phase ‘…before being pumped back to the surface.’ See explanation under second error. While it CAN be PUMPED-back, at least as-practiced by the two Watkins Glen plants, it is FORCED back to surface by injection-pressure. I am Process Engineer at US Salt in Watkins Glen, so have intimate-knowledge of what I write here; and I have modeled those pumping-systems and have save considerable energy with applying a ‘weak pump/strong pump’ concept to a pair of two.
This issue comes down to property rights. Those who own the property want to do something with it-and do it in a manner that the DEC approves of-all the safety practices etc. Those who dont own the property want to usurp or claim those rights-when they haven’t paid anything for them. To do so they inflate or boldy make inaccurate claims in the interest of creating turmoil so those rights will be given to them-e.g. saying the Inergy facility is 74X bigger-when simple math proves otherwise. To wit-2.1 million barrels (inergy) divided by 1.2 million barrels = 1.75X. But lets not let facts get in the way of a good story! This group (Gas Free Seneca) lost their credibility when they had no issue with the Teppco facility across the road from the proposed Inergy facility-saying that was ok and safe. It is separated by literally a 4 lane highway and it does the same thing. I have argued that this concept of “its bad for tourism” doesnt hold water. At the salt company in 1964 there was 3.2 million barrels of storage leased by Teppco until 1984-what happened-tourism grew. Then in 1995-a gas storage facility was built by NYSEG which is still there today (under Inergy ownership as I understand it)-what happened-tourism grew.
are they coming yet, Gilbert?
Good job Bill! I skipped the middle-part of that concert to do yard-work at home (and thus missed all the ‘speeches/tirades’, so am glad you made your synopsis.
Just to keep the record straight, I have now found information from a local resident (Jim L., now avid-golfer) who was directly-involved in the prior storage of LPG in the Salt Cavities, and was eventually former Plant Manger of International Salt/AKZO, before it became US Salt. He tells me that in the 1964-1984 prior ‘salt-cavity’ storage-period the MAXIMUM-STORAGE was 4.0 million barrels (mil bbls) of propane (LPG) distributed as: 3.2 mil bbls in Cavity 1 and 0.8 mil bbls in Cavity 2, for a total of 4.0 mil bbls. So, that is an ‘update’ on the record of what we previously-thought was max-storage.
One additional point: That big Propane Tank in the background is next to Hazlitt Winery, one of the list of ’126 Local Businesses’ that are supposedly against LPG-storage. Remember that next time you want some Red Cat or White Cat wine.
Also, let me clarify about my prior note about 3 erros in the one line of the text, that is not ‘criticism’ of Bill’s message, but rather me just being picky trying to keep the correct technical-terminology and concepts stated, so as to avoid further confusion being introduced.
I am currently the Process Engineer at US Salt (and have been for 10-1/2 years, and take care of technical-aspects of the Brinefield, so am deeply-involved in ‘the details’ of it, as well as the Plant itself.
I recently spoke as ‘first speaker’ at the Public Hearing on Sept 22nd, and was heckled and booed by those ~200 noisy Gas Free Seneca sympahtizers. As a result, I have gained considerable local-notoriety with the Silent Majority, I am proud to say!