Atlantic Coastline Pipeline Analysis

In the small city of Bridgeport and generally throughout West Virginia, the overall perception of the Oil and Gas Industry remains positive. The industry continues to bring hundreds of jobs into the immediate area that in turn greatly stimulates the local economy. Not only does the community benefit by the addition of new jobs, but it has also been improved by the increase in need for housing, restaurants, stores, and so forth. Local businesses including construction, real estate, and retail establishments all experience a direct increase in revenue attributable to the Oil and Gas Industry. The resulting increase in local and State tax revenues in turn benefits everyone. Despite the many obvious advantages of having such a strong Oil and Gas Industry in this area, there remains a significant minority of people who perceive the industry in a less than positive overall light. …show more content…
This is necessary to ensure extraction and delivery of sufficient energy is possible. Nationwide, there has been controversy about the Atlantic Coastline Pipeline. It spans approximately 600 miles and will bring much needed affordable energy and many economic benefits. But many environmentalists are more concerned about the farmlands and forests that they believe will be negatively affected by this addition. They argue that the damage this pipeline will cause outweighs the benefit. Those focusing on just the environmental impacts however fail to recognize how vital these fossil fuels are to everyday life. While all energy sources should be pursued as part of an overall strategy, fossil fuels remain the overwhelming dominant source of affordable energy. Without a prosperous Oil and Gas Industry everyone would experience higher prices and a lower standard of