By Darrin Kelly
As the second largest energy producer in the United States, Pennsylvania has long viewed natural gas and energy production as key drivers of the Commonwealth's economy. More than 250,000 Pennsylvanians work in the energy sector every day to ensure the region has electricity to power our businesses, heat to power our homes and gas to power our cars.
Our region has an unparalleled legacy of energy production – our oil fields and coal mines powered the Industrial Revolution, and our union workers operated the steel mills that made Pittsburgh a global center of industrial production. These economic opportunities for working people lifted people and their families out of poverty and spurred the emergence of the middle class and the modern labor movement.
Western Pennsylvania continues to be an energy leader today – and our energy sector is one of our greatest strengths as we look to rebuild our industrial base and attract jobs and industries that will help our region grow in the decades to come. As our country develops the energy sources of the future—from hydrogen to nuclear—Pennsylvania and its skilled workforce will continue to play a key role.
As we invest in the energy sector, we must ensure we protect union members, their families and our environment.
Gov. Josh Shapiro and CNX Resources, a leading natural gas producer in Pennsylvania, recently teamed up to do just that. As CNX continues to invest and create jobs in our region, the company is also taking important steps to protect the health and safety of Pennsylvanians.
CNX will disclose every chemical they use in their operations so Pennsylvanians know what is going into our environment. They will also conduct transparent air monitoring and publish the data online for everyone to access, starting at their well in Washington County. CNX intends to expand this monitoring and disclosure to its Pennsylvania operations.
CNX has also agreed to voluntary setbacks in areas such as schools and hospitals that go beyond what is currently required.
Agreements like this will help protect the health and safety of people who work and live in communities with natural gas production. The Allegheny-Fayette Labor family is not just workers, we are members of our communities. No one wants safety protocols and clean air and water around these manufacturing sites more than the people who go to work there every day and raise their families in these communities.
While some people will tell you that we cannot have sound environmental policies and a thriving energy economy, Shapiro and I know that this is the wrong choice. We don't have to choose between protecting good-paying union jobs in the energy sector and protecting our environment. These two things go hand in hand here in Pennsylvania.
We are pleased that Shapiro believes in our union workers and finds ways to bring people together to protect lives and livelihoods. His administration is committed to ensuring Pennsylvania remains an energy leader and fighting to ensure the energy industry remains in Pennsylvania and continues to create jobs here while protecting the health and safety of the people of Western Pennsylvania.
Darrin Kelly is president of the Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council.
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