Jun 21, 2019 3 min read

Jamie Protin’s May 29 opinion piece reads like a superhero comic book with oil and gas playing the role of the hero, stepping in to save the area from the villains. It sounds like the community members are indeed those villains, as he states, “the only thing stopping us is us.”

He paints a rosy picture of what he thinks the region will resemble; however, he ignores all the negative impacts of this extractive industry. Once again, we are observing our region’s transformation into a “resource colony” for both domestic and foreign corporations.

His fantasies include “walkable downtowns and attracting tourists,” but when was the last time someone walked around a refinery in Texas or toured a petrochemical facility as part of a family vacation?

He also states, “we know our problems so there is no use in continuing to restate them.” I would be curious to know what he thinks these problems are? As I see it, one of our main problems is that our communities never get a chance to weigh in on our ideas for a vision of what we want for our community.

Instead, outside interests court local, state, and federal politicians in efforts to access our resources. Without adequate public input, these “robber barons” make all the plans. Those politicians then roll out the red carpet of tax incentives. They determine the types of economic development that are welcomed into our towns. With “jobs, jobs, jobs” being the mantra, they silence any dissent by spinning a positive-only narrative, as does Mr. Protin in his piece.

Ironically, he speaks of a “sustainable future” as he promotes an industry that is anything but sustainable. As he says, we do have a great work ethic. I, along with many of my relatives, worked in the steel mills of the region. Those days of steel being king are gone, but there are many other opportunities that could lift up the region without sacrificing our air, water, and health. Imagine what a $6 billion-dollar investment in clean, green energy could accomplish. Recent economic data shows that renewable energy is outpacing fossil fuels for job creation. Other possibilities include investing in local agriculture, industrial hemp, and green building products.

Instead of adding to our climate crisis by promoting plastic cracker plants that release 2.25 million tons of carbon dioxide, 484 tons a year of volatile organic compounds, 159 tons of particulate matter, we could be investing in electric cars, wind turbines, or solar panels, which are now made primarily in China.

The prosperity Mr. Protin speaks of is not being experienced equally by all Valley residents. Only a few see any major economic benefits, and those who gain the most are the CEOs of companies who will never have to worry about drinking contaminated water or breathing polluted air.

If we continue to allow our communities to become “resource colonies” for outside corporations we will be contributing to the death of our region and to the climate crisis. There can be no compromise for taking action on climate change. That rising tide Mr. Protin speaks of will be the permanent rise in the global ocean levels caused by the climate crisis we refuse to acknowledge.

Dr. Randi Pokladnik

Uhrichsville, Ohio