The first Thanksgiving in 1621 occurred after the pilgrims of Plymouth overcame food scarcity thanks to the bountiful harvest their Wampanoag neighbors helped produce. Fast- forward four centuries, and New Englanders face two modern scarcities: Patriot wins and affordable energy.
The former is a gift for Steelers fans hoping Pittsburgh finally breaks its Lombardi Trophy tie with New England. But what does the latter have to do with anyone cheering on the black and gold?
Well, despite Pennsylvania’s natural gas bounty, political and regulatory obstacles make it nearly impossible to build new pipelines that would help our New England neighbors. Instead, Patriots fans must rely at times on liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipped thousands of miles from foreign lands, saddling them with some of the highest home heating and electricity rates in the nation.
So, as you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner and debate with family and friends the Steelers’ chances of winning a seventh ring, spare a thought for suffering Patriots fans and give thanks for the clean, affordable, domestic energy Pennsylvania harvests year-round.
Then remind those around you: When energy policies prioritize people and practicality over politics, everyone wins — no matter what team they cheer for.
Joe Sinnott
O’Hara