UNITED NATIONS Sustainable Development Goal #7

From an Article by Mary Anne Hitt, Sierra Magazine, January – February, 2021

My friends,

It takes my breath away to write these words, but we did it. Rooted in our deep love for this planet and one another, we stepped back from the cliff of irreversible climate change. Families around the globe, including mine and yours, no longer face the specter of fleeing their homes because of ever-worsening climate-driven disasters. The fossil fuel industry no longer controls the levers of power to corrupt democracy. And we’re building a world where everyone has clean air and clean water and access to nature.

As we rolled up our sleeves to prevent a climate emergency, our solutions prioritized investments in those communities most harmed by fossil fuels and pollution and those long excluded from economic opportunity. We needed to build so mu6ch clean energy infrastructure to avoid a climate apocalypse, and we didn’t just build it; we built it with family-sustaining jobs and with an eye toward restitution and reparations. Thanks to you, our kids will be raising their sons and daughters in vibrant, resilient communities full of opportunity. This is how we arrived here:

>>>> BEHOLD THE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE …

First, we powered the country with 100 percent clean energy. An electric grid powered by clean energy was the foundation for turning the corner on climate, and the dirty power plants that were the worst contributors to environmental injustice were the first to go.

Building on a decade of grassroots advocacy, President Biden introduced and Congress finally passed a national 100 percent clean energy standard that put us well on our way to phasing out coal and gas by 2035 while ensuring that vulnerable communities experienced the benefits of the transition.

Big states such as California and New York then set even more aggressive goals, making it clear that a clean energy transition of speed and scale was possible. And since decisions about how we produce electricity are largely made by states, we continued our 50-state energy-transformation push for a decade.

To support communities with economic ties to fossil fuels, Congress included a robust economic transition for fossil fuel workers and community-led economic development. Congress also passed innovative measures like a moratorium on utility shutoffs for households and support for energy-saving home improvements for families spending a high percentage of their income on electricity bills (known as a high energy burden).

Renewable energy kept getting cheaper, and that allowed the Department of Energy to accelerate local clean energy solutions like microgrids—which are reliable during climate-driven extreme-weather events—in vulnerable and underserved places like the Navajo Nation and Puerto Rico.

We finally harnessed the power of offshore wind along the Atlantic coast and solar across the Southeast and Southwest, while scaling up new energy-storage technologies to make clean energy available when it’s needed most. Altogether, we made a quantum leap in the scale and scope of the energy transition, produced millions of jobs, and sparked the creation of thousands of new businesses.

>>>>> Part B is scheduled for tomorrow on FrackCheckWV.net.

This Article appeared in the January/February edition of SIERRA with the headline “A Love Letter From the Clean Energy Future.”

Vice Provost Wendy Wolford opens conference

Edited from an Article by Tom Fleischman, Blaine Friedlander, Susan Kelley, and Krishna Ramanujan, Cornell Chronicle, November 14, 2018

As a pre-eminent research institution and New York’s land-grant university, Cornell is uniquely suited to tackle “grand challenges” like the ones discussed at the November 8 – 9 Global Grand Challenges Symposium, according to Wendy Wolford, Cornell vice provost for international affairs.

University President Martha E. Pollack, who kicked off the event, concurred. “As a university, Cornell is both distinguished and distinctive,” she said. “We have a reputation and a presence that is global, with some of the best faculty and resources of any university anywhere.”

Today’s challenges “require a commitment to engagement, a drive to continue reaching out in a time when connecting across difference is more critical … than just about anything else,” Pollack said.

Wolford organized the symposium, at which panelists from across campus, plus keynote speakers from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the University of Notre Dame, laid out some of the most pressing issues of our times, as well as possible paths to solutions.

One of the goals of the symposium was to identify themes to be considered for Cornell’s Global Grand Challenge 2019-20, a yearlong dedication to a topic through new curricular, scholarly and engaged work across campus. The Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs will announce the selected grand challenge early next year.

Opening Plenary: ‘Bridging Divides’

Wolford, who is also the Robert A. and Ruth E. Polson Professor of Global Development in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and interim director of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, moderated the opening plenary. She invoked the words of Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her remarks: “[T]here is no single story. There is no single challenge that stands above all others, and there is no single solution. Indeed, one person’s solution can be another person’s problem.”

Wolford encouraged diverse thinking and participation: “By definition, we have to work together to build a just, sustainable and connected world, where differences are valued, where inequality is mitigated and exchange is encouraged.”

Mariët Westermann, executive vice president for programs and research at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, delivers the opening plenary keynote address.

The keynote was delivered by Mariët Westermann, executive vice president for programs and research at the Mellon Foundation. Her talk, “International Education in an Age of New Nationalisms,” was a history lesson, a report on the state of democracy and higher education, and a call to action.

“If the specter of World War III no longer motivates international education as it did in the 20th century,” she said, “today we have violent threats and economic inequality as drivers of mass migration and enmity to take the place of that specter. International education can be a bulwark against these kinds of threats today.”

Rachel Dunifon, interim dean of the College of Human Ecology, identified “the war on facts” – or the notion that facts don’t matter or perhaps may not even exist – as a challenge to be tackled. She suggested three steps that universities can take in the defense of facts: greater engagement in policymaking; improved communication of research; and giving researchers “time, funds and knowledge to collaborate with policymakers and practitioners.”

Daniel Fitzgerald, director of the Center for Global Health and professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, sees education as the grandest of challenges. “[W]e need to increase access to education for all children, all the way through adolescence, so that they can all develop to their full potential as adults,” he said.

Lorin Warnick, Ph.D. ’94, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, closed the opening plenary by identifying “planetary health” – including issues of disease transmission, mass extinction, sustainable food production – as a major challenge facing humanity. Cornell and the education of its students, he said, can be a big part of the solution.

“We should pursue our research and outreach projects that have value in their own right,” he said, “while always remembering that those activities provide an essential foundation for education programs. It’s through the education and work of our graduates that we’ll have our biggest and most enduring impact.”

Plenary 2: ‘The Way Forward’

“Today we are experiencing a kind of national narcissism that ignores the global nature of the major issues facing our globe,” Provost Michael Kotlikoff said in his opening remarks. “The remedy for this condition is facts, research and education. … This symposium brings us together toward that goal.”

Keynote speaker Raymond Offenheiser, director and Keogh School Distinguished Professor of the Practice at the Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development, University of Notre Dame, and former president of Oxfam America, said a grand challenge should “assume a 20-year timeline.” He outlined five areas that he said were fundamental to human existence: taming technology – including artificial intelligence and robotics – for the workforce; mitigating climate change; managing the migration of people brought about by climate change and political, economic and other upheavals; feeding 9 billion people by 2050; and values: “To embrace agency, voice, equity and inclusion,” Offenheiser said.

Eduardo Peñalver ’94, the Allan R. Tessler Dean and professor of law at Cornell Law School, said migration is an issue where law will play a major role, and solutions will require international agreements. “Law is really the matrix that weaves everything together,” he said.

Kathryn J. Boor ’80, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean and professor of food science in CALS, responded to the need to feed the world. The challenge will be to provide an “adequate, safe and nutritious food supply to meet the needs of a growing global population and to do so without a parallel and commensurate increase in inputs to grow that food, and also to do so without degrading our environmental conditions,” she said.

Panelist David Erickson, associate dean for research and graduate studies and the Sibley College Professor of Mechanical Engineering, named a number of key challenges facing engineers. These included developing carbon sequestration methods, restoring and improving urban infrastructure, providing access to clean water, securing cyberspace, engineering better medicine and advancing personalized learning.

Plenary 3: ‘The View From the Regions’

Keynote speaker Kaushik Basu, the Carl Marks Professor of International Studies and professor of economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, said technological advances are creating challenges, such as global inequality and the erosion of global democracy, on par with those posed by the Industrial Revolution. “We are probably at a juncture of that kind,” he said.

These challenges stem from labor-linking technology that allows workers to be employed by companies in other countries. While this technology has resulted in higher wages, workers now receive a smaller overall share of profits.

On the other hand, technology offers an opportunity for developing countries with digital connectivity and the rule of law. The economies of Rwanda, Ethiopia and Bangladesh are growing at 7 to 8 percent per year, he noted.

With one-seventh of the world – nearly 1 billion people – living below the poverty line, Cornell must offer not only top-tier research ideas but also a moral commitment to lessen global inequality, he said. “You’re serving a common human interest,” he said.

Other panelists – directors of Cornell’s regional studies programs – discussed the lessons gleaned from across the globe on issues such as income inequality, the diminishment of democratic institutions, language extinction and climate change.

Closing Plenary: ‘Grand Challenges’

Plant breeder Ronnie Coffman, the Andrew H. and James S. Tisch Distinguished University Professor, suggested two challenges to address: localizing food systems as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and pushing back on science misinformation.

Sustainability, itself, is a grand challenge, said David Lodge, the Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future. “Research, the main product that universities have to offer in the sustainability arena, is often – at best – going to contribute a small part of a solution. We need to speak more boldly and more loudly and more publicly about what we know,” he said.

Wolford ended the symposium with remarks that punctuated a day and a half of ideas. “Why do we care about the many challenges facing the world today?” she asked. “We heard two types of answers: We care because we can; we care because we should.”

Global Warming & Climate Change are Primary

Corda Sustainable Plant on Schedule for Completion and Operation in 2017

Croda International Plc, manufacturer of speciality chemical ingredients that enhance everyday consumer and industrial products, today held a ceremonial groundbreaking on a $170 million capital investment through to 2017 that will solve the age-old dilemma for many companies … performance OR sustainability.

The Need to Choose Is Over

Croda is creating the first North American plant that will lead to 100-percent sustainable non-ionic surfactants, active emulsifying agents that help keep oil and water together, which are used in a range of products from face creams to toothpaste to paint to laundry detergent.

Earlier today, Croda International Plc Group Chief Executive, Steve Foots, and President, Personal Care and Actives, Kevin Gallagher, were joined by Delaware Governor Jack Markell and other officials at Croda’s facility in New Castle, Del., for the ceremonial groundbreaking event. The new plant will be located at the company’s Atlas Point facility in New Castle.

“This investment represents a tidal shift, especially for consumer goods manufacturers who are striving for sustainability and performance,” said Foots. “At Croda, sustainability is fundamental to who we are and what we do, and we’re proud to be launching this first-of-its-kind initiative here in North America.”

The expansion of Atlas Point’s operation will enable Croda to produce non-ionic surfactants from bio-ethanol while maintaining performance standards. By using bio-ethanol, Croda will reduce its use of fossil fuels by moving away from traditional petrochemical derived ingredients, taking yet another step to meet the growing needs of its customers for sustainable options that perform as well as non-sustainable options.

“Once again, Croda is leading the way in finding innovative solutions to meet customer expectations, and we are encouraged by their drive for renewable options,” said Foots. Croda officials are working with local leaders on the permitting details for the project and are encouraged by the collaborative process.

While not a consumer brand itself, Croda’s ingredients are found in many popular consumer products, such as personal care products, textiles, detergents and cleaners.

These new sustainable ingredients will be used in countless ways, including lubricants, seat foams and coatings in the automobile industry; air- and floor-care products in the cleaning industry; and drilling fluid in the oil industry; as well as cosmetics and hair care products in the personal care industry.

Track Record of Sustainability

Croda has a longstanding commitment to investing in sustainability and putting innovation into action. Wherever possible, the company uses renewable raw materials and environmentally sensitive processes to help improve the sustainable credentials of end products.

As one of the company’s 54 operations across 34 countries, Atlas Point experiences this commitment first hand time and again. In 2013, Croda invested $2.3 million in solar panels, which generate 5-percent of the site’s electricity. That’s equivalent to the average power consumed by 130 homes per year. In 2012, Croda invested $8 million in a renewable energy project using landfill gas to generate electricity and steam. The results of this project reduced Croda’s annual CO2 emissions by 11,600 tons. These projects combined generate more than 60 percent of the site’s energy.

Earlier in 2012, Atlas Point achieved a 78-percent reduction in landfill waste by increasing the use of solid waste as fuel and increasing recycling opportunities.

Local Benefits

Croda’s Atlas Point facility has been a longstanding, positive corporate citizen and active member of its community. Croda will bring more than 250 construction jobs to Delaware to build this new section of the Atlas Point facility. In addition, Croda will create approximately 30 new, full-time manufacturing positions at the site.

“I applaud Croda’s continued investment in Delaware, both environmentally and economically,” said Delaware Governor Jack Markell. “Croda has made substantial investments in upgrading and enhancing the facility to benefit the local community and the environment, and we’re proud to have such a forward-thinking, positive company in our state.”

Once the permitting process is complete, Croda will build the new plant over the next two years; it is projected to begin operations in 2017. Throughout construction, Atlas Point will continue as one of Croda’s main manufacturing sites for non-ionic surfactants.

“Croda’s plan to develop additional infrastructure in New Castle is welcome news,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “Not only will this provide permanent jobs, but it will add to the sustainability initiatives the company has already invested here in Delaware, such as the solar power installation and electricity from landfill gas.”

Development Partners

Croda has partnered with Scientific Design Company Inc., a leading licensor of chemical process technologies worldwide, to design the new plant.

Walbridge Process Engineering and Construction will serve as the project’s construction manager; Walbridge is one of Engineering News-Record’s “Top 50” U.S. construction companies in the country.

Middough Inc., which provides a full-range of engineering, architecture and management services as well as traditional and specialized design, technical and management services worldwide, will complete the detailed engineering and equipment specification.

About Croda

Croda is a specialty chemical manufacturer who, through the imaginative and practical use of science, creates ingredients and technologies that improve people’s lives by enhancing everyday products. They are the name behind the high-performance ingredients in some of the biggest, most successful brands in the world, creating products that are relied on by industries and consumers worldwide.

Croda has 3,500+ employees work across 18 manufacturing sites and in offices in over 34 countries. In the wide ranging business sectors that they serve, its focus is on developing and delivering innovative ingredients for; Personal Care; Crop Care; Home Care; Health Care; Geo Technologies; Industrial Chemicals; Polymer Additives; Coatings and Polymers and Lubricants.

See also:  www.FrackCheckWV.net

Consider Aspiration (Fossil Free) Investing?

Letter on Aspiration Investing from the Sierra Club dated September 13, 2016

Dear Friends:  Do you know what your investment dollars are supporting?

Our choices, large and small, can work toward keeping dirty fuels in the ground, and creating a more sustainable world. And our business partnerships program gives Sierra Club supporters opportunities to make everyday choices that support our mission and environmental goals.

Sustainable investment strategies have been around for a long time, and investors have a number of options to choose from. Until now, most sustainable investment strategies have required significant minimum investments and, as a result, are out of reach for most Americans.

Aspiration is a new kind of financial firm that offers an investment strategy available to a wide range of individuals. Aspiration is committed to investing in sustainable businesses that are leaders in their industry when it comes to environmental practices.

Here is how investing with Aspiration works:

• Aspiration offers a 100% fossil-fuel free strategy that includes only companies that do not produce, refine, or distribute fossil fuels.
• Sustainable investing with a minimum investment of only $500.
• Aspiration allows its clients to “pay what is fair” for its services (including zero).
• Aspiration donates 10% of its revenue to social mission nonprofits.

Learn more about Aspiration and its sustainable investing strategy.

Aspiration will make a donation to support the Sierra Club’s work for each member or supporter who invests in Aspiration’s sustainable investment strategy. When you open an account with Aspiration, the details about this donation will be included in materials provided to you by Aspiration.

By divesting your dollars and supporting a sustainable future, you can make a difference and help grow the Sierra Club at the same time.

Thank you for all you do, Michael Brune, Executive Director, Sierra Club

 Disclaimer: In addition to the donations to support the Sierra Club, the Sierra Club may receive other payments from time to time as part of Aspiration’s participation in the Sierra Club’s business partnership program (including marketing or advertising expenses). Payments to the Sierra Club (including Aspiration’s donations) will have no impact on any fees you may pay in connection with any investments you make or on any other aspect of your account with Aspiration. The Sierra Club is working to raise awareness of sustainable investment strategies, but the Sierra Club is not an investment adviser or a securities broker. It has no expertise in the evaluation of investments, and is not qualified to make (and is not making) recommendations to any person regarding investments (including whether you should invest with Aspiration). You should evaluate a potential investment with Aspiration based on your personal financial situation and goals, in consultation with your own advisers.

See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net

Could you manage fracking fluid hoses?

Center For Sustainable Shale Development Certifies Fourth Appalachian NatGas Producer

From an Article by Jamison Cockling, NGI Shale Daily, April 19, 2016

The Pittsburgh-based Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD) said Monday that it has issued its fourth certification to EQT Corp., confirming that the company’s Appalachian Basin operations are in compliance with its 15 performance standards for oil and natural gas development in the region.

EQT’s certification is now valid for two years. It demonstrates that the company’s operations either meet or exceed a set standards that were established by state regulators and industry participants when the CSSD was formed.

“EQT Corp. is now the fourth major operator in the Appalachian Basin to demonstrate it meets CSSD’s 15 performance standards,” said Executive Director Susan LeGros. “In each of these 15 areas, EQT’S Appalachian Basin operations meet or exceed state and federal air and water management regulatory requirements. EQT’s certification, and the other operators who have qualified for certification and continue to maintain conformance to CSSD’s standards, reinforces the importance and value of responsible voluntary actions and transparency that goes beyond simple compliance.”

During the two-year certification, CSSD continually monitors the companies for compliance and they are subject to at least one assurance audit to make sure compliance with the standards is maintained. The CSSD, for example, requires green completion equipment and more efficient flaring systems.

The evaluation and verification process for EQT was conducted by the audit firm Bureau Veritas. The firm conducted a pre-audit to determine if the company was prepared for the process. In July 2015, the full-scale audit began with document reviews, staff interviews and field inspections. Bureau Veritas visited 18 of the company’s active operating sites in the region.

After the audit was completed, a report was sent to CSSD, whose certification committee determined eligibility. None of the committee members were affiliated with the company.

EQT has been operating in the basin for more than 125 years. It owns 3.4 million gross acres, including 630,000 in the Marcellus Shale. It produced 603.1 Bcfe in 2015 and was Pennsylvania’s fifth largest gas producer last year.

Consol Energy Inc. was certified by the CSSD in April 2015 just after Royal Dutch Shell plc’s operations were fully certified in March 2015. Chevron Appalachia LLC was the first to be certified by the center in September 2014. CSSD also said Tuesday that all three of those companies had successfully completed assurance audits to maintain their certifications.

The CSSD was established in early 2013. It brought together environmental organizations and energy companies to ensure that shale gas resources are safely developed in the basin. Industry participants include Chevron, Consol, Shell and EQT. It’s unclear if the CSSD is working to certify any non-participating producers. The center does not comment about pending applications until they are approved and announced.

The Clean Air Task Force, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council are also among the center’s partners.

See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net

Former Senator John D. Rockefeller IV

Building a Resilient WV by Taking Control of the Mountain State’s Future

Article by Duane Nichols, FrackCheckWV.net, April 9, 2016

On April 8^th, the WVU Center for Energy and Sustainable Development in the College of Law sponsored their “National Energy Conference 2016.”  These conferences are video recorded and made available on the world-wide-web. Program information is available at: http://energy.law.wvu.edu/conference2016

The “keynote speaker” was former US Senator and former Governor John D. Rockefeller, IV, who came to WV as a VISTA Volunteer in 1964. Senator Rockefeller described his optimism and hope for the economy and well being of the residents of the State.  He continues to work to advance the health and welfare of everyone.  And, education is an essential component of this.

Samuel Petsonk, Attorney with Mountain State Justice, spoke on “Current Federal Policy Proposals for Coal-Reliant Community Support.”  He summarized the POWER + Plan now underway in West Virginia.  This program is administered under the WV Hub organization.

What is the Hub?

The WV Hub is a statewide, non-profit organization that helps communities come together to set goals for their future and connects them to the rich network of resources they need to meet those goals. In our network there are resources for:

Convening community conversations, Training community leaders, Recruiting volunteers, Building infrastructure, Reclaiming abandoned buildings, Sustaining healthy food production, Teaching political action, Developing small businesses, Adopting healthy lifestyles, Finding funding for projects, Fostering community life …

> > > > > > > > > > >

What is POWER +?

POWER + is the second phase of the POWER Initiative.

POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization), is a coordinated effort among multiple federal agencies to provide coordinated investments in communities negatively impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector.

POWER + will provide investments in communities impacted by changes in the power sector and coal industry, through a competitively awarded series of grants. These funds will help communities to: diversify their economies; create good jobs in existing or new industries; attract new sources of job-creating investment; and provide reemployment services and job training to dislocated workers in order to connect them to high-quality, in-demand jobs.

For West Virginia, POWER + represents a significant opportunity for collaboration amongst regions, sectors and organizations to secure federal funding support for integrated economic development plans and projects.

KEY POINTS:

### The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will provide $50 million this fiscal year for projects that will help rebuild the economies of Appalachian communities suffering from the decline of the coal industry.

### The U.S. Economic Development Administration will have an additional $15 million available for coal-impacted communities across the nation.

### Other federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will also award funds through POWER +.

### It is anticipated the ARC will have an additional $50 million to help rebuild Appalachian communities in FY 2017.

### ARC funding will support a range of economic development planning and implementation activities, including developing entrepreneurial ecosystems, facilitating access to capital investments and new markets, and addressing barriers related to adequate water, sewer, and telecommunication infrastructure.

### Preference will be given to applications that involve regional collaborations and strategic partnerships.

Beginning in 2015, The Hub has served the pivotal role of convening potential applicants and facilitating collaboration between the various agencies, organizations and individuals with a vested interest in diversifying the economy of West Virginia’s coalfields.

That collaboration is actively encouraged by the funding organizations, and will be essential to West Virginia being able to attract the greatest possible share of the available funds, for the greatest impact.

Anyone interested in POWER + funding opportunities is urged to contact The Hub’s Executive Director.

The latest information about POWER +, including the ARC’s funding criteria and call for applications documents, will be made public as soon as they are available.

> > > > > > > > > > >

Appointment of Stephanie Tyree Marks Beginning of New Era at The Hub

From an Article by Hub Staff, www.hub.org, April 8, 2016

Stephanie Tyree was instrumental in organizing the regional POWER information meeting at Hawk’s Nest in 2015.

It gives us tremendous pleasure to announce that Stephanie Tyree is the new Executive Director of the WV Community Development Hub.

Stephanie is a superb choice. She understands and embraces the collaborative culture we have created at The Hub.

We conducted a nationwide search and received dozens of applications from highly qualified and experienced individuals in West Virginia and 13 other states. We were impressed with the diversity of the applicants and appreciative of their interest in and knowledge of The Hub. A number of the out-of-state applicants were hoping that securing this position would give them an opportunity to return to their home state.

The Hub has always embraced change, and continued evolution is necessary for our work to succeed.

The transition of The Hub’s leadership to Stephanie Tyree will officially begin at Hubapalooza, our annual community development network event, on April 28. We encourage each of you to join us there in welcoming her to this new role. Stephanie will move into the role of Executive Director on June 1.

Susan LeGros, CSSD Exec. Dir.

Center for Sustainable Shale Development awarded grant, loses Heinz Endowments funding

From an Article in the Beaver County Times, PA, May 15, 2014

PITTSBURGH. The Center for Sustainable Shale Development announced this week it was awarded a two-year $150,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, but officials also confirmed the center no longer receives funding from the Heinz Endowments, one of its founding members.

The Richard King Mellon grant money will be used to support CSSD’s certification program, community outreach and education, Susan LeGros, the center’s executive director, said Wednesday.

“The support we have received from the Richard King Mellon Foundation will be leveraged to help CSSD fulfill its mission to advance transparent and prudent shale development,” LeGros said. “We are honored and encouraged that one of the country’s leading philanthropic organizations with such a strong heritage in investing in this region has joined us in support of implementing our third-party certification program and our efforts to inform the public about ways to address risk.”

While LeGros did not say why Heinz Endowments was no longer an active contributor to the center, she did say CSSD’s “door was open” to the endowment. The Pittsburgh-based CSSD garnered criticism from both environmentalists and industry sources alike when it came to fruition last year.

The center formed a set of voluntary industry best practices for natural gas companies operating in the Appalachian Basin, standards that focus on the protection of air, climate, water and waste, setting up limitations for drilling flowback, flaring, diesel fuel usage on drilling sites, emissions, storage tanks for flowback, groundwater protection, well casing design, wastewater disposal and impoundment integrity, among others. It also offers a certification process once these standards are met.

LeGros took the helm of CSSD in January, replacing interim director Andrew Place, who is also the corporate director of energy and environmental policy at EQT Corp. Around the same time, CSSD officially opened up its application process for drillers.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

First Application Comes To Sustainable Shale Development Center

From PA Environment Digest, May 16, 2014

The Associated Press reported Thursday the Center for Sustainable Shale Development received its first application to be certified under the sustainability guidelines of the Center. Certification is based on the Center’s 15 initial performance standards that were developed to reflect leading industry practices.  Companies can seek certifications in sustainable air, climate, water and waste guidelines. 

Auditors will evaluate the applicant’s operations to the standards that are specific to the certification a company chooses. Evaluations are expected to take three to six months, with a summary of a completed audit report made accessible on CSSD’s website. The review of this initial application is scheduled for early June by the Center’s independent auditor Bureau Vertas, a French global testing and inspection firm.

CSSD’s founding participants include: Chevron; Clean Air Task Force; CONSOL Energy; Environmental Defense Fund;  EQT Corporation; Group Against Smog and Pollution; Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future; Pennsylvania Environmental Council; and Shell.

Click Here to read the entire AP article.  For more information, visit the Center for Sustainable Shale Development website.

EQT Manager Promotes Sustainable Fracking Development

From the Article by Rick Shrum, Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA), June 2, 2013

Andrew Place specializes in diversity. He is an energy company executive in downtown Pittsburgh, a city dweller and a frequent business traveler. He also owns a farm in Greene County, where he and his family are quite comfortable with a less-than helter-skelter pace. “We still call that our home,” he said.
 
And, for another month, he has two jobs. Place’s ability to balance personal and professional lifestyles serves him well, especially in that second job – interim director of the Center for Sustainable Shale Development.

Place, 52, is the corporate director of energy and environmental policy at EQT Corp. After two years of planning and discussions, he and the other coalition members announced the formation of the center March 20. Its offices are in EQT Plaza, the building where Mr. Diversity works at his permanent job.
 
He splits time between jobs, floors and sets of offices, through an agreement with EQT, one of the founding members of CSSD. Place will head the center until June 30, when a permanent director – who hasn’t been selected – takes over. “It was important that I helped launch this,” said Place, who will return to EQT full time in July.
 
His company is one of four oil and gas drilling firms involved with the coalition, which also includes Shell Oil, Chevron and Consol Energy. Others in that brethren may follow, but will have to be certified.
 
“There’s clearly interest, but we have to have the evaluation piece in place,” said Place, explaining that the center is implementing a system to evaluate and certify firms that adhere to high performance standards. “It will take time to expand the pool of operators, but it is important to expand.”
 
The four energy companies participated in CSSD’s founding along with the Clean Air Task Force, the Environmental Defense Fund, Group Against Smog and Pollution, the Heinz Endowments, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the William Penn Foundation.
 
CSSD is funded by the Heinz Endowments, the William Penn Foundation and other coalition participants. The coalition has instituted 15 standards that fall into two categories, air and climate protection and surface and groundwater protection.
 
The first category includes limitations on flaring of wells; use of green well completions and reduced emissions; reduced engine emissions; and emissions controls on storage tanks.
 
The second includes maximizing water recycling; development of groundwater protection plans; closed loop drilling; well casing design; groundwater monitoring; wastewater disposal; impoundment integrity; and reduced-toxicity fracturing fluid.
 
For Place, the coalition is another interesting endeavor in an interesting life. He was born in England, was educated at a Cincinnati high school and Cornell University, and worked in the PA Department of Environmental Protection before arriving at EQT in 2011. Before that, he was a research fellow at Carnegie Mellon University.
 
Then there is that farm 45 miles south of Pittsburgh, where he raises beef cattle and sheep. Place bought it 24 years ago, a 210-acre spread in Washington Township, between Ruff Creek and Sycamore.
 
It has more trees than it had in 1989. Years ago, Place found a rare species of salamander on the farm. Largely to accommodate the critter, and to expand its habitat, the owner planted more than 5,000 hardwood trees on 42 acres. “It was protecting the full footprint of the watershed.” He wanted to enhance and share his home, and did. And in the process, Andrew Place displayed another example of his diversity.