Michael Sauers
June 6, 2025
For fifty years I have been supporting communities who find themselves being pressured by the Federal Government, State Government, Economic Development Agencies (CANDO, SEDCO, Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance) and Proposing Industries to accept industry proposals. These proposals have usually involved consequences that would substantially alter the character and quality of life in the affected communities/areas.
For example, communities are expected to tolerate noise, light pollution, traffic, infringement on nature/wildlife, water demands, power demands, air, water and land pollution (some carcinogenic) via emissions, discharges, lagoons, and waste storage/transport. WOW!
Additionally, most proposals also benefit from bilking taxpayers through corporate welfare in the form of direct subsidies, loans, grants and favorable tax policies. This would include tax credits, investment tax credits, job creation credits, industry-specific credits, accelerated depreciation, profit shifting/tax havens, “check-the-box” and “CFC look-through” loopholes, deduction/exemptions, deductions for employee stock options, and bailouts. All of these punish taxpayers by distorting markets, burdening taxpayers, affecting central planning, distorting transparency and accountability and privatizing profits/socializing losses. Double WOW!!
The final insult to taxpayers comes in the form regulatory capture. This simply means that some industries are given special treatment. Fracking in Pennsylvania is a good example. This would include overriding local zoning, impact fee/not tax, infringement on constitutional rights, loophole for chemical disclosure, secrecy in government, setback distances/buffers, lack of regulatory enforcement/oversight, risky waste management, produced water treatment and health concerns. Triple WOW!!!
My experience with the above scenario began with Governor William Scranton and continues to the present Governor, Shapiro. It has been an evolution that has gotten progressively worse. Currently, Governor Shapiro and the Legislature are foisting Senate and House Bill 502 on Pennsylvania citizens. This bill sets up an APPOINTED, not elected, state board to expedite the permitting/approval and construction of gigantic energy projects. Supposedly, by speeding up the permitting/approval process this legislation will boost energy development and investment in the state.
This legislation reduces/prevents the input and involvement of local government and citizens. Governor Shapiro likes to spout slogans like; Pennsylvania is open for business, Let’s cut red tape, Let’s reduce hurdles and regulations, We’re moving government at the speed of business, and We’re getting shit/stuff done. He has a “Lightening Plan”. He is running for President and needs Pennsylvania to look good for business, especially fossil fuels. This is the same Governor who has refused to meet with grassroots environmental/community groups since he was elected. He ignores them! That is disgraceful!
The people who propose/promulgate this type of legislation should be ashamed. They come bearing gifts or so they say but inevitably they chip away at democracy. APPOINTED/RIGGED boards are insulting. Lessening community/local involvement is a slap in the face that deserves a counterpunch.
I propose legislation that would give communites muscle to deal with development proposals. Drop corporate welfare and use the money from industry taxes and/or just plain taxpayer money to hire experts, lawyers and consultants to study, evaluate and advise. Most of the time citizens groups revert to panic fund raising efforts which never bring in enough to truly challenge community altering proposals. Limiting the time and opportunities that citizens have to learn, digest, evaluate, challenge, support or oppose a proposal is a BAD idea.
502 is bad for PA citizens but good for proposals that cannot stand on there own and participate in a full throated debate.