A recent op-ed in the Patriot News by former State Senator and Chester County Commissioner, Earl Baker lays out critical points that many news outlets across the state have chosen to ignore and exclude from their commentary. Baker asks us to “keep our eye on the ball” when considering natural gas pipeline infrastructure in the state.
Baker’s case is a compelling vote of confidence for the Mariner East 2 project and subsequent pipeline projects critical to realizing the state’s energy potential.
Baker highlights a key point on the importance of natural gas should be transported through pipelines, which Baker confirmed as “…the safest, most efficient method of transporting energy products…”
Before natural gas pipelines are commissioned they undergo “rigorous, multi-year permitting and approval process that involves local, state, and federal regulators” though pipeline opponents fail to acknowledge this fact.
Lastly, pipeline opponents must understand the economic potential large scale infrastructure projects like Mariner East 2 offer the state. Specifically, “In addition to safely transporting natural gas, it’s estimated the Mariner East projects provide more than $9 billion in economic impact to the Commonwealth and supported approximately 9,500 jobs each year over the six years of construction.”
The Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance supports projects like Mariner East because of the increased benefits it will provide the state.