No Frack Ohio Rally

[Youngstownshrimp]

Dennis Spisak is a Legal liability-time-bomb for this site, this site if it does not police its members is exposed to civil liabilities or criminal charges.

[Youngstownshrimp]

Yes, and Astro Shapes should fail because we really don't need jobs anymore, God will provide.

[Mary_Krupa]

can't drink money

[Towntalk]

New YSU institute to offer Utica Shale-related minor program

Youngstown State University today announced plans for a Natural Gas and Water Resources Institute to better prepare its students for jobs related to the Utica Shale.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/nov/30/new-ysu-institute-offer-utica-shale-related-minor-/

YSU plans Natural Gas and Water Resources Institute

Youngstown State University plans a Natural Gas and Water Resources Institute as part of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/nov/30/ysu-plans-natural-gas-and-water-resources-institut/

[Towntalk]

7 Protesters Arrested At Oil Well Company

Seven people were arrested for disorderly conduct on Ohio Works Drive for blocking the driveway of a business that owns an injection well site near Salt Springs Road.

They were part of a protest held in conjunction with the area's first shale conference held Wednesday at the Covelli Centre. Nearly 100 people gathered and marched through downtown while the conference was taking place.

Police said the seven people arrested were blocking trucks from entering and leaving D&L Energy Group on Salt Springs Road, which owns a brine injection well site that some speculate has been causing numerous small earthquakes in the area. The arrests happened about noon after an order from Youngstown Police Chief Rod Foley.

The seven were arrested and booked at the Mahoning County Jail, where it is expected they will be released on bond. They are due in Youngstown Municipal Court on Thursday.

SOURCE: WKBN-TV News

Downtown Youngstown Protesters: Stop the Fracking Lies

Nearly 100 protesters marched through downtown Youngstown Wednesday in an effort to to speak out against what they said are risks and long-term damage from hydraulic fracking.

They gathered in protest of the Youngstown Ohio Utica and Natural Gas (YOUNG) conference being held at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown today, holding signs saying "Fracking exposed," "Stop the frackin' lies" and "Fracking jobs are grave digging for our children."

The day-long shale expo -- which is being considered the state's first Utica shale play conference --  included more than 65 professional exhibitors and hundreds of business professionals who will have a hand in supporting the drilling industry. There was standing room only during Wednesday morning presentations, where roughly 600 members of the public attended.

The protesters started their march at the First Unitarian Church and wound through YSU's campus and downtown Youngstown before reaching the Covelli Centre. Several speakers were set to appear at a rally following a march.

The agenda for the rally included speakers like the Sierra Club's Dave Simons on the lack of state support for renewable energy in Ohio; Liberty Township Trustee Jodi Stoyak, who is working to educate constituents and advocate those harmed by drilling; and Pittsburgh City Councilman Doug Shields, on a Pittsburgh ban and proposed trespass legislation.

SOURCE: WKBN-TV News

Crowds Pack Covelli for YOUNG Shale Expo

It's standing room only at the Youngstown Ohio Utica and Natural Gas (YOUNG) conference at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown.

And one of the first items of business during the day-long expo was the announcement of a new institute at Youngstown State University to train students for jobs expected to flourish due to the Utica shale drilling industry.

YSU's Martin Abraham, dean of science, technology, engineering and math, said the Natural Gas and Water Resources Institute will offer a minor to students beginning in the fall of 2012. The minor still needs to be approved by YSU's board of trustees. The institute will also provide research on fracking methods and the drilling of the area's shale.

More than 65 professional exhibitors and hundreds of business professionals who will have a hand in supporting the drilling industry are expected to attend what's being called the state's first Utica shale play conference. There was standing room only during Wednesday morning presentations, where roughly 600 members of the public attended.

According to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce website, the event is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. During that time, attendees may view all of the exhibits, as well as learn about the science of hydrofracking and essential tips for landowners. Speakers will include:
·   Trina Rauscher Cooper, Human Resource Director, V&M Star. Topic: V&M Staffing Update: A Discussion of Job Search Resources, Skill Set Requirements and Employment Opportunities.
·   Michelle Ball, Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. Topic: Job Opportunities in the Shale Industry and How the Department of Jobs and Family Services is Linking Job Seekers to Openings.
·   Dr. Jeffrey Dick, Chair of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Youngstown State University. Topic: Fracking: Fact vs. Fiction.
·   Atty. Eric Johnson, Johnson & Johnson. Topic: Legally Speaking, What Do Property Owners Need To Know?

The afternoon session will target local and national companies that want to learn more about the supply chain for the oil and natural gas industry and hear about Ohio's receptiveness to the investment and job creation activities associated with shale gas. Speakers will include:
·   Joel Mastervich, President & COO, V&M Star, Topic: V&M Star's Expansion: It's Status & More.
·   Thomas E. Stewart, Executive Vice President, Ohio Oil & Gas Association (OOGA). Topic: Ohio's Oil and Gas Industry, Its Potential Shale Play Opportunities and the OOGA.
·   David Mustine, General Manager for Energy, Jobs Ohio. Topic: Ohio's Open-For-Business Approach to the Oil and Natural Gas Industry.
·   Daniel Rice, III, Managing General Partner, Rice Energy; Managing Director, Blackrock Capital Global Resources Team. Topic: Shale Plays and Their Impact on Financial Markets.
SOURCE: WKBN-TV News

V & M Affiliate Investing $57 Million, Bringing 100 Jobs

More jobs are heading to the Valley thanks to the Marcellus and Utica shale boom.

VAM USA, a Houston-based manufacturer of premium pipe connections, announced that it will open a finishing plant adjacent to the current V & M Star expansion on the border of Youngstown and Girard. The investment totals about $57 million.

V&M Star and VAM USA are both affiliate companies of the Vallourec Group.

"It will take an existing building, completely stripping it down to the superstructure and completely renovating that," said M. Judson Wallace, president of VAM USA.

The 200,000-square foot structure sits on V & M Star property. VAM produces premium pipe connections, which are now in high demand because of the horizontal drilling operations used to extract natural gas from Utica and Marcellus shale.

"We can make the pipe at V & M Star. Judson's company can then thread it for customers that are largely in this area. It's a finished good instead of having two seperate companies at two seperate sites," said Joel Mastervich, president and chief operating officer of V & M Star.

The expansion brings with it 100 jobs, which is good news for an area struggling with job loss since the downfall of the steel mills.

"We've been looking for a homerun ever since then and I believe this will be the homerun for the Mahoning Valley," said Youngstown Mayor Chuck Sammarone.

"What is so exciting is the fact that when you drive down past that site, that you see what was a 100-year-old vacant steel building, formerly the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co., is now coming back to life. That doesn't happen very often," said Girard Mayor Jim Melfi.

The first phase of the finishing plant is expected to be done around August of 2012, bringing on about 60 employees. The final phase should be finished by the end of 2013, bringing on the addtional 40 workers.
 
"Our products are the industry leader in the natural gas production industry," Wallace said in a press release announcing the project. "Expanding in Youngstown made sense for us as it brings us very close to customers working in both the Marcellus and Utica shales, where business is booming. Our new facility will enable us to improve service to existing customers and connect with new customers."

Work on the Youngstown site has begun.

SOURCE WKBN-TV News

[Rick Rowlands]

And I am certain that it irritates a few on this forum to no end that Youngstownshrimp is one of those capitalists making money!

[Rick Rowlands]

I listened to Rivers' entire show this morning, and also saw the sorry group as they marched down Wood Street at 1 pm. 

Fracking is an old technology, used hundreds of thousands if not millions of times since the process was invented. It is a proven safe technology but was largely behind  the scenes.  But now, it is in the forefront because the "carbon is bad" crowd needed to come up with a boogeyman to try to vilify the new oil and gas boom. 

The participants in that march is a Who's Who list of the same old tired people who want to stop any economic development that they do not approve of.  I am sure Dennis the Menace was there, iwasthere, the Occupy Youngstown bunch (sans tent and barrel), Phil Kidd, John Russo, Bob Hagan and I wouldn't be surprised if Staughton Lynd was being pushed along in a wheelchair.   These people would rather keep the status quo of government handouts and class warfare going instead of see any capitalist make a profit.

I am happy to see that the conference was packed with thousands of people while the protest could only attract a handful of the usual suspects. 

[Towntalk]

PROTESTERS WILL BE THERE TO PROTEST!

A group called Fracking Exposed: A State of Emergency is planning a counter-convention outside Covelli and at Central Square.

The group, made up of about 30 organizations, wants fracking banned in Ohio, or at the least, a moratorium on it.

[Youngstownshrimp]

I'm pleased free enterprise what I have been preaching here is finally taking root.  Youngstown is given a second chance, I hope the Marxist wannabes and the community organizing opportunist quickly exit the City, like they exited this site.

[Towntalk]

The Other Rally

Where will the jobs be? And what role will local businesses play in the upcoming Marcellus/Utica shale drilling boom?

That's the focus of Wednesday's Youngstown Ohio Utica and Natural Gas Conference (YOUNG) at the Covelli Centre. 

"We can't remember the last time we've had an industrial trade show in the Mahoning Valley of this size," said Eric Planey, vice president of international business attraction for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber.

The first of its kind locally, more than 65 professional exhibitors were busy setting up ahead of the show on Tuesday. In addition to the trade booths, hundreds of business professionals who will have a hand in supporting the drilling industry are expected to attend. 

The YOUNG Expo was put together by the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber. It's a move they said is geared at getting local businesses networking with national and international companies.

"We're trying to help our local companies get involved in the supply chain for the oil and gas industry," said Planey. "We want to help our local manufacturing get ramped up as fast as possible so that they can take advantage."

The show will be set up in two parts. 

The morning session is open to the public and will focus on job creation and education. The second part of the show is for businesses only. 

Speakers will include Dr. Jeff Dick, the head of the geology department at Youngstown State University, who will talk about the pros, the facts and the fiction of fracking. Human resources representatives from V&M Star also will talk about the hiring process there.

Officials at YSU said they will be making a significant announcement at Wednesday's conference as to the role the university will play in the expanding industry."

The more that I can connect with the companies that will be there, the more potential opportunities we can facilitate for our students," said Dr. Martin Abraham, dean of the university's STEM college. "These are good paying jobs in the profession, in the field our students are being educated in, and that's the connectivity that we want to provide for them."

Source: WKBN-TV News

[Rick Rowlands]

Well then that makes it all worthwhile.  Who needs high paying blue collar jobs when we can have minimum wage restaurant jobs when the protests come to town.   

[jay]

Maybe the people who attend the rally will also have lunch at a downtown restaurant.

[irishbobcat]

Fracking is not safe......

Fracking destroys property, water, and land......

Fracking is only supported by folks who are only interested in making a short-term dirty buck and
not the long term environmental harm and depreciated land values that eventually occurs....

Fracking companies are known for neglect and accidents at fracking sites.....because they are in such a hurry to drill
the next well there is huge neglect in the drilling process and accidents do occur which destroy land and water.....

JUST SAY NO TO FRACKING!

[ForumManager]

It is very simple, produce one documented court case anywhere that harvesting our God given energy is destructive?  You won't find any, I looked for years, NADA....all incidents were accidents or neglect.

I haven't looked into the court cases but that doesn't make some of us with water wells feel secure.  Accidents and neglect DO happen- Murphy's law and all.

[Rick Rowlands]

My rant wasn't directed at you ForumManager.  It was directed at people organizing this protest and those who enable them such as Rep. Hagan.  Just look at his latest remarks in today's vindicator.