The Wetzel Chronicle reported today that a press conference was held to announce that county commissioners from six Northern Panhandle counties had signed a joint resolution to bring an ethane cracker plant to that panhandle.  Commissioners from Ohio, Tyler, Wetzel, Marshall, Brooke and Hancock counties signed a joint resolution committing to “secure maximum investment for this region of West Virginia to the absolute best of their ability.”   Bayer Corp. has land and facilities at Institute, WV, near Charleston, and at New Martinsville in Wetzel County, and has previously expressed interest in participating in the development of a cracker plant.  The commissioners are concerned that a cracker plant would be built at Institute rather than in the panhandle where the gas is rich in ethane, the raw product converted to ethylene at a cracker plant.

From the Chronicle, “State Sen. Orphy Klempa, D-Ohio, later commended the commissioners for supporting the Northern Panhandle’s natural gas business. “We are in the area of the so-called ‘wet gas,’“ he said. “The Northern Panhandle should be rewarded for having the gas extracted here.” However, Corky DeMarco, executive director of the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, hopes more than one cracker will come to the state. “ I hate to see this become some sort of north-south struggle,” he noted. “We have plenty of room for two or more crackers here.”

In other news from the Northern Panhandle, the Weirton Daily Times reported on July 20 that the Wellsburg City Council had voted on a first  reading to repeal the ban on fracking within the city limits and one mile beyond following the governor’s announcement of emergency rules going into effect.  Chesapeake Energy had threatened a legal challenge to the ban.

Scott Rotruck, Vice President for Corporate Development for Chesapeake Energy, has stated to FrackCheckWV that the pledge for band funding to the Wellsburg Middle School (Brooke Co.) will be honored conditional upon the Wellsburg City Council voting on the second reading on August 9 to repeal the ban.

Strike up the band?  Chesapeake Energy rained on the funding parade in Wellsburg, WV.  Chesapeake, a multinational corporation, has a well-greased public relations department.  From billboards and newspaper advertisements sporting photos of pristine waterfalls to contributions to local civic organizations, Chesapeake typically spends large sums to buy goodwill and encourage cooperation, especially in areas where their drilling rigs are active such as in Brooke County, WV.  According to the Intelligencer (July 14),  Wellsburg Middle School (Brooke Co.) was to have been the recipient of $30,000 in grant money from Chesapeake to subsidize the purchase of band instruments.  But that changed after Wellsburg voted to ban fracking in that community and within one mile of the municipality.  The beneficent Chesapeake revealed a vengeful streak. Now the funding is heading toward Follansbee Middle School, also in Brooke County.

“….(I)t is imperative that we focus our philanthropy where we and our operations are supported by the community and its leaders,” Chesapeake spokesperson (Stacy)Brodak said. “Unfortunately, with the imposition of a ban on our activity for a mile outside the city of Wellsburg, we are not now able to consider the current request for philanthropic gifts in this area. We are hopeful we can work together to eliminate the impediments and opposition to resource development in the area and can once again develop a mutually beneficial partnership with this community.”

On Tuesday evening the Wellsburg City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting natural gas drilling in and within one mile of the city. Mayor Sue Simonetti and City Manager Mark Henne told council and others at the meeting they aren’t opposed to natural gas drilling but are concerned about the city’s water being contaminated by procedures used in the drilling.  The city is supplied by a reservoir and property nearby has been leased by Chesapeake Energy for gas production.

City Solicitor Bill Cipriani acknowledged many have questioned whether the city may exert power outside its borders. But he said such action is permitted through West Virginia Code 8-12-19, which states cities may exert authority within a mile outside their borders if needed to efficiently exercise the powers given them by state code.

City Manager Henne invited Chesapeake officials to participate in a public meeting on natural gas drilling to be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 24 at the Wellsburg Fire Hall.  He encouraged Chesapeake to discuss its procedures and address his and others’ concerns but said other experts on the subject not affiliated with the company also will be invited.

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