The Marcellus Shale boom has inspired some in Philadelphia to imagine their city as the "next Houston"—if it can attract the businesses and infrastructure to bring oil and gas in for the benefit of a homegrown manufacturing economy.
Patrick Kerkstra interviews Phil Rinaldi, the CEO of Philadelphia Energy Solutions and the "public face" behind plans to position Philadelphia as a global "energy hub."
According to Kerkstra's explanation of the plan, "Rinaldi proposes constructing a new, very big pipeline, with enough capacity not just to supply existing demand (which is how pipelines usually get built) but future demand as well. He imagines companies with high-energy needs moving to the city in big numbers, both driving up demand for gas and creating jobs." (For a more complete background on the energy hub idea, see an article by Kerkstra from September.)
The interview delves into the likelihood of the energy hub idea coming to fruition, which, Rinaldi makes very clear, begins with the construction of a pipeline into the city. So far, according to the interview, the idea of building a pipeline has not proceeded as far as route planning, so there's still a long way to go.
FULL STORY: The Energy Hub Architect Talks Politics and Plausibility

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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