The writer claims that the information used by Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo to support the proposed PennEast pipeline is incorrect.
By Jeffrey R. Shafer
Stockton
To the editor:
I recently learned that Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-14th), chairman of the General Assembly's Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in support of the proposed PennEast gas pipeline.
Unfortunately, the facts on which he bases his support reflect PennEast statements that are misleading, irrelevant and false. I'd like to set the record straight because, the fact is, this pipeline is not needed.
Energy industry expert, Skipping Stone, has concluded that there already exists nearly 50-percent more natural gas capacity than needed to meet even the most severe winters, like the Polar Vortex of 2013-14.
Assemblyman DeAngelo seems unaware that recent FERC rule changes to increase the efficiency of existing pipelines have been effective, so a new pipeline is not needed. The Skipping Stone study also found that consumer costs would likely increase, not decrease as alleged by DeAngelo and PennEast.
Federal review of pipeline delayed
I'd also like to address the "The Great PennEast Jobs Mystery."
As an economist from Princeton and Yale with 25 years' experience using economic analysis to make public policy, I reviewed PennEast's claims and found that the employment from construction would be an annual employment gain of about one-tenth of that claimed by the company.
An analysis by The Goodman Group experts also showed many fewer jobs, with half or more going to out-of-state workers and only 10 permanent jobs.
I urge Assemblyman DeAngelo look beyond PennEast's public relations spin to the real facts and withdraw his support for this project that is ill conceived and will result in irreparable harm to our communities.