Gubernatorial Nominee Says Marcellus Shale Must Lead to Rapid Job Growth for Pennsylvanians
WILLIAMSPORT: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato today toured the Marcellus Shale Education and Training Center at Penn Tech, discussing how training Pennsylvania’s workforce for Marcellus Shale jobs could lead to rapid economic revival.
“The Marcellus Shale deposits under our state could put tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians back to work,” said Onorato. “We only have one chance to do this right, and I’m the only candidate with a plan which will provide the jobs to Pennsylvanians through workforce development programs and training – while still maintaining high environmental standards and a clean water supply.”
Under Onorato’s leadership, there are more people working in Allegheny County than any other county in Pennsylvania. Allegheny County’s unemployment rate is significantly lower than both the state’s and the nation’s.
“The Marcellus Shale is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Pennsylvania,” said Onorato. “I will work with industry, labor, community and environmental leaders to ensure that Pennsylvanians have access to and are well prepared for the influx of available jobs in the industry.”
Onorato backs a severance tax on Marcellus shale drilling that is competitive with other states, and he would use the proceeds to fund enforcement by the Department of Environmental Protection, to help local communities address the impact of drilling on their roads and other services, and to pay for the renewal of Growing Greener – which funds the state’s environmental conservation and preservation programs.
Corbett opposes a severance tax, even though every other major gas-producing state has such a tax.
Corbett has also called for “voluntary drilling standards” [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6/23/2010] based on “consensus” with the industry [Corbett public statement, 6/23/2010] – which would likely mean environmental regulations are even weaker than they are today.
And Corbett is against limits on new drilling in State Forests [Associated Press, 5/12/2010].
“I have a plan to both advance our economy and protect the environment,” said Onorato. “I’m the only candidate who’s putting the concerns of the Commonwealth first.”
A life-long Pennsylvanian, Dan Onorato was raised in a working class neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s North Side. He graduated college from Penn State and received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Onorato has served as Allegheny County Executive since 2004 and was unopposed for re-election in 2007. Prior to being elected County Executive, Onorato served as Allegheny County Controller and a Pittsburgh City Councilman. Dan and his wife Shelly reside in the Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh with their three children.
