Three new barriers to Appalachian petrochemical expansion
How Saudi Arabia may cripple the US fracking boom and the Appalachian petrochemical buildout along with it It’s hard to conceive of a worse scenario for the nascent Appalachian petrochemical industry than a world in which the price of oil is chronically low, competition from more efficient producers of ethylene is increasing, and growth in […]
Energy Independent? Not even close
The fate of Appalachia’s natural gas and petrochemical boom depends on despotic regimes, foreign companies we’ve never heard of, and OPEC In a recent speech to an oil and gas conference, CNX Resources CEO Nick DeIuliis joined many in his industry, wrapping themselves in the flag, declaring American oil and gas a force for “energy […]
ORVI Insider #2: Why an Appalachian Petrochemical Buildout Won’t Meet Expectations
The Ohio River Valley Institute aims to circulate our findings as widely as possible, making our research and messaging strategies available to all – beginning with this newsletter.
ORVI Insider #1: Introducing the Ohio River Valley Institute
The Ohio River Valley Institute aims to circulate our findings as widely as possible, making our research and messaging strategies available to all — starting with this newsletter.
Lies, damned lies, and economic impact studies
Why the economic impacts of an Appalachian petrochemical buildout won’t meet expectations A 2017 economic impact study from the American Chemistry Council paints a glowing picture of jobs growth and economic development accompanying a buildout of petrochemical facilities in Appalachia. But, we’ve been here before. We were told the same thing about the Appalachian natural […]
Meeting the Climate Challenge in the Ohio River Valley
Climate change is the single biggest challenge of the 21st century. The global community has just ten years to cut greenhouse gas emissions by half and less than thirty years to build a sustainable, carbon neutral economy that can protect the planet and public health and build shared prosperity so future generations are not left […]
Game Unchanged . . . But, Not Unchangeable
How the greater Ohio Valley can awaken from its natural gas and petrochemical fever dream to an economic future that actually delivers jobs and prosperity “Game-changer” – It’s amazing the word doesn’t stick in their throats. For a decade, policymakers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have been calling the natural gas fracking boom and, […]
Public Opinion is Moving Against Natural Gas and Fracking
Contrary to unsupported assertions from industry boosters, public opinion is trending strongly against the gas industry.
The Macroproblem of Microplastics
Nurdles are too small to be effectively cleaned up once they escape into the environment, yet petrochemical companies ship billions upon billions of nurdles from production sites to factories all over the world.
Nick DeIuliis’ 9 Irrefutable Energy Truths Refuted
CNX Resources Corporation CEO, Nick DeIuliis, is a veritable rock star proponent of what he calls “the natural gas economy”. Videos of his speeches are widely shared within the Appalachian natural gas and petrochemical communities, he is frequently sought out for commentary by reporters, and he is generally regarded as one of the most articulate and […]