Calling on energy producers currently engaged in hydrocarbon recovery operations in the Marcellus Shale to discount natural gas molecules to the City of Philadelphia due to the downstream environmental risks in order to facilitate economic growth and to create a mutually beneficial relationship between Philadelphia and the energy industry.

WHEREAS, Philadelphia is one of the largest cities in the United States of America and home to several world-class universities, hospitals, and research laboratories. The combination of these factors has resulted in a surplus of technicians and skilled laborers throughout the Philadelphia region; and

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama has called for the expansion of American energy export capacity. Philadelphia is recognized as a global city capable of generating stable, long-term growth and the City and Port of Philadelphia can easily adapt to encompass a role as an energy export terminal; and

WHEREAS, Marcellus Shale lies under headwaters and tributaries of the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers, both of which provide drinking water for the residents of Philadelphia. Concerns have arisen over natural gas drilling industry standards and practices on environmental downstream risks; and

WHEREAS, Even though natural gas drilling directly takes place more than one hundred miles away from the City, drilling taking place in the Delaware River Water Shed without the proper disposal of flowback water can cause radioactive waste water to flow into Philadelphia streams; and

WHEREAS, Both the City and Port of Philadelphia maybe adversely affected by natural gas drilling practices and the entire water supply could be contaminated if toxins from these tributaries flow into either the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers; and

WHEREAS, Marcellus Shale has invested over twelve billion dollars, supported the development of over 200,000 jobs, and created more affordable energy prices across the Pennsylvanian region in 2011; but the City lacks an impact tax regime to remediate potential adverse environmental impacts; and

WHEREAS, Due to these environmental concerns and lack of safety regulations, the City of Philadelphia calls for discounted natural gas molecules, which will not only promote growth, but also stimulate the local economy; now, therefore

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Calls upon companies engaged in hydrocarbon extraction in the Marcellus Shale by way of hydraulic fracturing to invest in the City of Philadelphia by discounting the shipping rates for natural gas molecules transported to Philadelphia.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the energy industry consider Philadelphia as a natural gas export terminal for the purposes of creating jobs and economic development aligned with the strategic interests of the United States.

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