The Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp. is supporting the proposed PennEast pipeline and requests quick approval.

In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Kathy Henderson, director of economic development for the chamber, urged the commission to approve the 114-mile PennEast pipeline. The pipeline is slated to cut through northeast Pennsylvania, including Carbon County, to southern New Jersey.According to Henderson's letter, the Chamber Public Policy Committee's Energy and Environmental Committee participated in an interactive forum to educate and engage members representing regional chambers about the PennEast pipeline. The letter does not state who or what agency conducted the forum.In her letter Henderson said the energy and environmental committee was tasked to determine if the pipeline would improve the economy and quality of life for Lehigh Valley businesses and that the chamber concluded that the proposed pipeline would be a "critical piece of this region's infrastructure."Citing a study conducted by Drexel University, the projected benefits included $1.9 billion in easement purchases, $1.6 billion in additional wages, revenues and investments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, creation of 12,600 jobs in construction, an estimated $17.5 million in personal income taxes during construction and $23 million in annual economic impact and 98 permanent jobs in support of the pipeline.Henderson's letter quotes numerous statistics quoted directly from PennEast regarding reduction in energy costs to consumers, PennEast's commitment to use the gas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and stabilizing energy costs to businesses throughout its region.Henderson said the chamber believes that the environmental, economic and safety concerns raised by opponents to the pipeline have been have been dealt with in a "comprehensive and fair manner.""Some groups have questioned the potential environmental impacts of the project," Henderson wrote. "Several agencies, including the Delaware River Basin Commission, Pennsylvania and New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, have the authority and responsibility to review the environmental impact and to make route changes or stop construction entirely. PennEast has stated it will restore any displaced vegetation along the pipeline route."One of the groups that has not only questioned the impacts on the environment, residential property values and local tourism is Save Carbon County.Save Carbon County's President Linda Christman reacted to Henderson's letter:"While I appreciate the chamber's work to improve the economy and jobs outlook for Carbon County, they have been misled by PennEast propaganda," Christman said. "This pipeline will not create jobs. PennEast's own application states that only 12 permanent jobs will be created by the pipeline. As for the temporary construction jobs, we will be seeing a lot of Texas and Oklahoma license plates in our county but few construction jobs."Christman also disputes Henderson's claims that the pipeline will stabilize energy costs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey."We already have a very reliable supply of natural gas. In fact, we have a glut of natural gas in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey," says Christman. "The N.J. Rate Counsel, an official body charged with protecting the interests of consumers, has said that this pipeline is not needed and will actually cause gas prices to rise because consumers will be required to repay the costs of this pipeline plus up to 14 percent interest."Henderson concludes her letter by adding that the PennEast pipeline will be monitored "round-the-clock through a combination of on-the-ground, aerial and computerized resources.""Data shows that while natural gas demand has increased, the frequency of serious pipeline incidents has decreased by 90 percent over the last three decades alone, primarily as a result of significant efforts by the pipeline companies to upgrade and modernize infrastructure.""Therefore, in consideration of the foregoing, the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp., a regional partner chamber of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber is in support of the proposed PennEast Pipeline Project."Christman was concerned with the chamber's failure to consider the impact on tourism in the area as well."I doubt that tourists will be attracted to the damaged environment of our state parks and state forests if this pipeline is built - not to mention the impacts of a year of heavy construction," Christman said.