Author Archives: Elizabeth Rueve-Miller

Writing Letters to the Editor

Why you should write letters to the editor

Writing a letter to the editor (LTE) of your local or regional newspaper is an effective and easy way to reach a large audience, including government officials and corporations, with your message.   Here’s why:

  • The editorial page is one of the most read pages in the paper
  • Congressional staffers monitor editorial page so they can keep a ‘pulse’ on issues of importance to their constituents
  • You can reach both a wide public audience and your elected officials with the same effort
  • They often influence news content when lots of letters on the same topic are written

Here are tips on writing letters to the editor:

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Duke Energy in the News

Duke Energy explains likely cause of downtown Greensboro explosions

7 hurt, 30 homeless after explosion, fire in Lebanon

Is Lynn Good the smartest (new) CEO in the energy industry?

Gas Line Explosion in Alexandria

Dever to Duke: Ditch gas pipeline routes

DUKE/FLUOR DANIEL AWARDED CONTRACT TO BUILD 1,240-MEGAWATT NATURAL GAS-FIRED POWER PLANT IN OHIO

Duke Energy Buying NatGas Distributor for Nearly $5 Billion Cash

Dominion, Duke, others form JV to build natural gas pipeline

Stagnant electric demand sparks mega mergers

Duke Energy, Progress Energy to merge in $26B deal

 

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April 29, 2016 Natural Gas Transmission Line Explosion

It was like looking into hell” – First responder

Date: April 29, 2016, 8:00 am

Location: Rural Salem, PA (31 sq. mi radius/pop. 6,500)

Injuries: Richard Johnston did not come into contact with any flames.  The heat from the explosion was so intense, it burned him inside his home ¼ mile away from the explosion.

Damage Description:  12 foot deep hole, 1500 sq. feet; scorched 44 acres

Issues: First responders could not get out of their emergency vehicles ¼ mile from explosion because heat was so intense.

Answers Elusive in Salem, PA Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion

Local eyes fixed on Spectra gas pipeline explosion/

Man burned in Salem Twp. gas line explosion; homes, businesses evacuated

Pipelines drained, evacuation order lifted as feds investigate cause of Salem Township explosion

PA Pipeline explosion: Evidence of corrosion found

 

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We need you!

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Please support us by becoming involved.  Stay up to date on the latest developments — things are happening fast.  Volunteer your voice, time or talent.  We need everyone’s help to influence key stakeholders in Ohio Government, Duke Energy and even Federal Policy Makers to try to influence not only the route of this pipeline, but others that may be planned for Cincinnati, Hamilton County and other communities like ours.

High Pressure Transmission Lines

A transmission line is kind of like a super highway for moving massive amounts of gas across great distances.  The proposed transmission line through Hamilton County will either be supplied by similar transmission lines originating in the south, or transmission lines from the Utica and Marcellus shales.

The lines in your neighborhood are service lines, not transmission lines.  While size varies, service lines typically range from ½ – 2 inches in diameter.  The pressure in the service line when it reaches your house is less than 1 PSI.  Duke’s proposed 30 inch transmission pipe is a high pressure line containing 720 PSI in a single 1 inch cube.  But the real measure of the pressure in the pipeline is what is called total force…that equals 507,000 psi’s and a major explosion if the pipeline were to fail and ignite.

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Contacting Government Officials

When you reach out to express concerns to your local, state and even federal officials you may hear the same initial response we got, “There is nothing we can do”.  Technically, this is true, but only from a legal standpoint.  Utility companies like Duke Energy have been given the blanket privilege of “Emminent Domain”, which basically means they can do anything they want with your property and the property of your local municipality, as long as it is for “the greater good”.   Speaking with a representative from the Ohio Power Siting Board, there is only one project that he can ever recall not qualifying as being for “the greater good”.

Do not let them get away with this response.  We have spoken with many local and state government officials who have been more than willing to intervene on our behalf.  They can certainly express objections about the pipeline to the Ohio Power Siting Board, as State Representative Jonathan Dever has on our behalf.  They can also connect you with other citizens being impacted by the pipeline, leverage their communication tools to educate and inform the public, work with other municipalities to create a united front, and solicit feedback from other cities who have gone through or are going through this process to see what they have learned.

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Contacting Duke Energy

#1 – Contact Duke Energy

http://[email protected]

513-287-2130

There are many things that you could discuss with Duke Energy to express you feelings about the proposed pipeline.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Explain how the pipeline will affect you, personally.  Help them understand the human toll associated with their project.
  • Ask any questions you have to deepen your understanding about the project
  • Express your concern about the pipeline being routed through densely populated residential areas
  • Communicate displeasure with Duke’s lack of transparency about the plans, motivations behind the plans, decision making process, secrecy, etc.
  • Ask about other alternatives for routing and why they were rejected or whether they would be willing to consider revisiting those options
  • Communicate your anger about Duke’s abuse of power through the use of eminent domain

 

 

Ohio Reo. Jonathan Dever meets with residents

On Saturday, April 30th, Ohio Rep. Jonathan Dever met with some residents of Blue Ash to listen to their concerns.  In that meeting Rep. Dever committed to help get answers and facilitate a meeting with key stakeholders so that communities affected by the proposed Central Corridor Pipeline could be heard.rep Johnathon Dever listens to pipeline safety concerns expressed by Blue Ash residents

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