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Closing of Western Pennsylvania power plants leaves workers at a loss [Obama destroys 380 jobs]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | July 21, 2013 | Jessica Contrera

Posted on 07/21/2013 10:32:39 PM PDT by grundle

A job for life. That's what they were promised.

It wasn't in a contract, but to the 20 men who gathered for Bud Lights and commiseration Wednesday night in Greene County, working at a power plant was the equivalent.

"This was the job everybody wanted," said Ray Christner Jr. of Brownsville. "We had it. And now it's gone."

Nine days had passed since FirstEnergy announced it will shut down two power plants: Hatfield's Ferry, Greene County, across the Monongahela River from Masontown, Fayette County, and Mitchell in Union Township, Washington County, by Oct. 9 -- leaving 380 people without work.

"First, we were shocked. Then we were upset. Now, we're just angry," said Gregg Jerome of Uniontown, an electrician at the plant.

The employees are mainly from Greene, Fayette and Washington counties. Many started at the plants soon after high school and some have stayed for more than 30 years. Others were transferred to Hatfield's Ferry and Mitchell when FirstEnergy closed six coal-fired power plants in Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania last year.

Those at Hatfield thought the plant would surely be safe from closure, as Allegheny Energy invested $650 million on scrubbers meant to eliminate sulfur and mercury emissions just four years ago.

If the workers lived somewhere else, losing a job in the power business might not be as stressful. But in Pennsylvania, where coal-fired power production has decreased 28 percent since 2005, there are few, if any, jobs that can replace what the workers at Hatfield's Ferry and Mitchell had: regular hours, salaries between $22 and $30 per hour, and good benefits, all without a college education.

"I understand the importance of regulations and clean air," said technician David Donaldson, 45. "But ask Obama this -- what good is green energy to me if I can't support my family?"

(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: abortion; deathpanels; globalwarminghoax; greenenergy; obamacare; pennsylvania; pittsburgh; powerplants; zerocare
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1 posted on 07/21/2013 10:32:39 PM PDT by grundle
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To: grundle

It is a sad, sad world when you know more people that are laid off and without jobs, then you know people that are employed.


2 posted on 07/21/2013 10:41:02 PM PDT by doc1019 (Get our troops the hell out of the ME)
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To: grundle

Wow, reminds me of the Mitt Romney campaign smear commercials. All they need is wives with cancer who lose their benefits. No-one will report that though right?


3 posted on 07/21/2013 10:41:20 PM PDT by poobear (Socialism in the minds of the elites, is a con-game for the serfs, nothing more.)
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To: grundle

And how many of these guys voted for Obama? How’s that hopey changey stuff working out for them?


4 posted on 07/21/2013 10:41:43 PM PDT by Wingy
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To: grundle
Fear not, Hatfield's Ferry employees, Obama is going to give a major economic speech announcing the broad brush strokes of hit economic recovery plan. Surely there are some shovel-ready infrastructure jobs for you.

YOU HEARD HIS PLAN FOR COAL, WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING?

5 posted on 07/21/2013 10:42:28 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Unindicted Co-conspirators: The Mainstream Media)
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To: NonValueAdded
Surely there are some shovel-ready infrastructure jobs for you.

Gravedigging is a shovel-ready job, and Obama has one for you - digging your own ...

6 posted on 07/21/2013 10:45:08 PM PDT by Lmo56 (If ya wanna run with the big dawgs - ya gotta learn to piss in the tall grass ...)
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To: grundle

Thankfully my younger brother got the hell outta there when Sunoco closed their plant.He had a job in Texas within 24 hours.Never looked back.Shame about those that a left.


7 posted on 07/21/2013 10:48:39 PM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Life's tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
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To: grundle

Whenever I see a story like this one, I wonder how many of those poor souls voted for the African communist Ubama in the first place.
I just want to laugh at those morons.


8 posted on 07/21/2013 10:55:49 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: grundle

The RNC should run ads every day featuring these layed off workers.


9 posted on 07/21/2013 11:00:35 PM PDT by RginTN
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To: doc1019

It’s even sadder knowing that they were warned by every conservative that they would be laid off, if Obama got re-elected and they probably voted for him anyway.


10 posted on 07/21/2013 11:13:09 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
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To: RginTN

The RNC is making matters worse with its amnesty agenda.


11 posted on 07/21/2013 11:13:17 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Jonty30

Amen!


12 posted on 07/21/2013 11:16:14 PM PDT by doc1019 (Get our troops the hell out of the ME)
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To: Jonty30

Looks like Romney was right about Detroit as well. Such is the fate of fools who listen to and believe lies.

While its sad, PA consistently votes for a Demoncrat president every election year. The Bible is right when it says: ye shall reap what you sow.


13 posted on 07/22/2013 12:17:27 AM PDT by Catsrus (`)
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To: grundle

“...what good is green energy to me if I can’t support my family?”

Some of these folks should’ve thought of that before voting for Obamagabe.


14 posted on 07/22/2013 12:20:23 AM PDT by Stingray (Stand for the truth or you'll fall for anything.)
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To: Lancey Howard; grundle
I am ground zero for this BS. I live in Washington Co., work in Fayette Nam and hunt in Greene Co. commander zero did not win any of them. This is third world, banana republic, yeah, I said it, banana republic BOHICA.

This is absolutely devastating to this area.

If it weren't for fracking this area would look like Detroit. Actually downtown Brownsville does look like Detroit on a good day but it only cover 1/ 10 of their city block.

15 posted on 07/22/2013 12:55:53 AM PDT by Eagles6 (Valley Forge Redux)
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To: grundle

And Penn. will continue to vote Democrat.


16 posted on 07/22/2013 12:55:59 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: RginTN

The RNC is too afraid of offending Obama and McCain.


17 posted on 07/22/2013 12:57:31 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: Eagles6

I’ve been to many similar areas. My daughter-in-law’s family is in the Luzerne / Edwardsville / Forty Fort area across the river from Wilkes Barre. I had roommates and friends from places like Sunbury, Shenendoah, Tamaqua, and (yes) Frackville. That’s more central PA, but it is an area that was built around coal mining and now it’s mostly just hanging in. A lot of people who grew up there, stay there, though. It is a beautiful area.


18 posted on 07/22/2013 1:34:13 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Wingy
Fayette County, PA is represented by Bill Shuster - Republican.

Greene County, PA is represented by Kieth Rothfus - Republican

Washington County, PA is represented by Shuster and Tim Murphy - Republicans

Does anyone see a pattern developing here?

19 posted on 07/22/2013 1:47:05 AM PDT by FroggyTheGremlim (Palin was right (again)!)
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To: Eagles6
Urkel "Did I do that" when the brown outs start needs to understand you can't go shuttering coal fires steam generator power plants without first having means already on line to replace that massive loss. That means it must be replaced first with energy that is affordable and practical to generate. The choices for such are very limited.

Trying to discuss an economical and practical national energy policy with a Liberal is like trying to teach rocket science to a dog.

20 posted on 07/22/2013 1:54:47 AM PDT by cva66snipe (Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?)
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