Letter to the editor: No benefit to Upper Burrell compressor

I just read the article “Marcellus shale natural gas driller proposes compressor station in Upper Burrell” (Nov. 28, TribLIVE). Olympus says it is needed to maintain pressure and flow to take the gas to market. Who are they trying to fool? The only market they have in mind is the offshore market.

When the Marcellus shale fracking started, we were promised an abundance of natural gas at lower prices. This never happened. Natural gas prices have been steadily increasing with no end in sight. This winter is supposed to see even higher increases because of so-called shortages of natural gas. What countries did this gas eventually benefit? Not ours.

Or is it just the greediness of the companies seeing higher profits at our expense? Our gas bills are paying for these companies to send gas out of our country.

Here is a quote from eia.gov showing the exports in 2019, the same timeframe that our gas prices were increasing: “In 2019, total annual U.S. natural gas exports were 4.66 Tcf — the highest on record, and the United States was a net exporter of natural gas for the third year in a row.”

I hope Allegheny Township and the state and federal governments look at this closely, and that the citizens living close to this compressor site voice their opinions. The noise from the compressor constantly running and the chance of a major gas explosion will likely devalue properties for miles, with no benefit for us.

I’m guessing Olympus will tell us it is for our benefit.

Bob Cihil

Harrison